Ahmed Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi State, has said that leadership is not measured by the promises politicians make during campaign, rather it’s measured by the changes the people can touch, drive on and feel in their pockets and their hearts.
Ododo disclosed this at a three-day training programme on Promoting Development and Infrastructure Growth in Alignment with the 32-year development plan on Thursday in Lokoja.
Represented by Asiwaju Idris, Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, the governor informed the participants that they are there to re – arm themselves intellectually, sharpen their execution skills and anchor every decision, every resolution and every kobo of public funds o to the bold vision of the Kogi State they all aspired to see in 2056 – prosperous, industrialised, secured and equitable confluence of opportunity.
Ododo used the opportunity to review his two years in office, saying, “In less than two years, this administration has moved from rhetoric to results. Allow me to place before you not a catalogue of intentions, but a balance sheet of delivery.
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“We decided that Kogi would no longer remain a civil-service dormitory. We revived the Confluence Rice Mill with private-sector partnership; today, Kogi rice is back on shelves, and hundreds of our youths now have direct employment.
“We supported over seven thousand farmers with inputs worth more than seven billion naira—100% free —during the last wet season.
“By refurbishing 140 abandoned tractors at a fraction of the cost of new ones, we saved the treasury over twenty billion naira, which is now being used to build roads and hospitals.
“Five hundred women and youths today are proud poultry owners because we gave them not fish, but the means to produce fish —viable farms.
“Through KEDA, N6 billion in grants and soft loans has reached more than fifteen thousand micro, small and medium enterprises across the 21 local government areas.
“You can walk into Okene, Kabba, Ankpa and other communities today and meet these beneficiaries.
“Fitch Ratings rewarded our credit profile with a “B” stable outlook, clear evidence of fiscal discipline and improved performance.
“Intensified efforts are being made on the New Ultra-Modern Market located along Zone 8–Crusher Road. This market sits on 25 hectares of land, and our objective is to open up the area, boost trade, and create a massive hub for commercial activities to thrive upon completion.
“The Lokoja Ultra-Modern Market is poised to redefine market architecture in Nigeria. The President has granted approval for the development of our International Airport at Zariagi. This is a legacy that this administration is fully committed to seeing through.
“The design has been completed, and tendering is imminent. Our aim is to expand economic growth and investment, enhance trade and connectivity, strengthen infrastructure and urban development, promote social and regional integration, and, most importantly, create a wide range of job opportunities for the youths of Kogi State.
“The proposed Kogi Free Trade Zone, planned on about 3,000 hectares within the Ajaokuta economic corridor, will, in a matter of day,s be formally announced, as the president has graciously approved its development.
“The zone aims to harness Kogi’s natural resources, agricultural potential, and geographic advantage for value-added manufacturing, processing, export, and industrialisation.
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“We are confident that this will serve as another avenue for job creation, economic growth, stimulation of entrepreneurship, industrialisation, and the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment.
“We reaffirm our commitment to the Alape Processing Zone — a broader agro-industrial programme under the national Special Agricultural Processing Zone (SAPZ) initiative — which will enhance our drive to attract private sector investment (both foreign and domestic) under a coordinated framework with federal agencies and development partners such as the African Development Bank (AfDB).
“These are deliberate steps to move Kogi State from consumption to production —from civil-service dependence to agro-industrial dominance.
“We are also exploring the Ajaokuta. –Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Natural Gas Pipeline project will spur economic growth, create jobs for our citizens, and improve electricity supply for industries and homes across the state”.
On infrastructure, the governor said, “We promised roads that open economies, not roads that merely win elections. Over five hundred kilometres of roads have been completed or substantially rehabilitated in less than twenty-four months, cutting across all three senatorial districts.
“The Zone 8 –Crusher–Zango–GYB Junction dualization has tamed the chaos of Lokoja traffic.
“The 8.5 km Ogaminana. –Obangede–Okaito road with a spur to Oziokutu, the 19.55 km Obajana –Uro–Aku RAAMP road, the 16 km Oguma –Sheria Road, and dozens of rural farm-to-market roads in Ankpa, Idah, Egbe, Mopa, and Yagba are now opening up communities.
“These are economic arteries, not political souvenirs. Thousands of solar street lights now illuminate Lokoja, Okene, Anyigba and Kabba, making our cities safer and more vibrant at night.
“Over one hundred rural communities now enjoy electricity for the first time. In October, we flagged off the first phase of distributing 30 units of 500KVA transformers across the state’s three senatorial districts to boost electricity supply, stimulate economic activity and improve quality of life.
“Very soon, when you turn on your tap in Lokoja, water will flow —the Greater Lokoja Water Works rehabilitation is in its final stages.
“Hundreds of new boreholes and rehabilitated hand pumps have brought clean water closer to our people than ever before because we place great priority on the health of our citizens, we have revitalised over 80 Primary Healthcare Centres, which were commissioned last month.
“This project was meticulously executed in collaboration with the World Bank-supported Impact Project. We have also handed over basic healthcare equipment and family planning commodities donated by the Federal Ministry of Health/NPHCDA.
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“All these efforts are aimed at delivering accessible, quality 24-hour healthcare services to our people”.
On human capital and social welfare, Ododo equally pointed out that “No society rises when it leaves its weakest behind. Under NG -CARES and KG -CARES, we have delivered one hundred and seventy community -selected that have touched almost two hundred thousand lives. For the first time, rural women in Kogi are learning digital skills that will grow their businesses through innovation.
“Over seventy-three thousand of our poorest citizens now have health insurance. Caesarean sections are free; accident victims receive seventy-two hours of free emergency care; the elderly, widows, orphans and persons with disabilities continue to enjoy subsidised care under the expanded Bello Care Programme.
“Through OYESA— the Ododo Youth Empowerment and Skill Acquisition Scheme —hundreds of young Kogites have graduated in solar installation, fashion design, welding, catering and graphic design, each leaving with starter packs to begin earning immediately.
“We kept faith with education: free WAEC, NECO and JAMB forms for over thirty-five thousand students in 2025 alone; bursaries for over fifteen thousand Kogi students in tertiary institutions; two thousand new teachers recruited; outstanding local government salaries and leave bonuses cleared.
“To strengthen the girl child in our state, the administration, in collaboration with the World Bank, flagged off the disbursement of N40,000 Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) grants under the AGILE project in September.
“Pre-loaded ATM cards were issued to parents and guardians of beneficiaries across the State. This is not a one-off payment but part of an ongoing project to empower 13,359 adolescent girls.
On security, the governor said that development and insecurity cannot co-exist. “That is why our administration has employed 1,050 hunters across the State—50 in each of the 21 LGAs —and equipped them with security gadgets and protective gear, including ballistic vests and boots.
“We established a Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Omala, where peace has now been restored and criminality stamped out.
“We handed over 125 brand new vehicles and 300 motorcycles to security agencies and vigilantes. We established the Metropolitan Quick Response Unit in Lokoja, Okene and Anyigba.
“We pay allowances to our sons in Operation Hadarin Daji without delay. Recently, we formalised the absorption of all vigilante operatives into the civil service —professionalising local intelligence and ensuring accountability in community policing.
“The result? The once-dreaded Lokoja –Abuja and Lokoja. –Okene highways are significantly safer today. We have also resolved that we will not wait for criminals to attack us —we will take the fight to their camps and ensure insecurity is decisively nipped in the bud.
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On governance, he said, “Every contract above five million naira is published online. Biometric verification has eliminated over two thousand ghost workers, freeing up billions now being invested in building the Kogi of tomorrow.
“And yes, Kogi workers now receive their salary alerts on or before the 25th of every month”.
Ododo equally disclosed that these are not campaign slogans; they are verifiable milestones recorded in under two years, pointing out that the training is important.
The 32-Year Development Plan is not a document meant to gather dust; it is the compass that guides this administration daily.
