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Kogi State government said it has taken bold step for industrialisation, growth and development through propagation of 32- year development master plan for the state.
This is just as it reeled out the achievements in the last two years of the administration.
This was disclosed by the state authority in a three-day training workshop held inside the Government House held today in Lokoja.
In a lead paper presented by the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Ashiru Idris, noted that the government is set to transform the state into a strong economy that ensure prosperity for citizenry.
He added that the government is not measured by the campaign promises but a radical changes that touches the heart, soul and economic wellbeing of the people.
He hinted that in less than two years of the present administration, it has moved from rhetoric to result oriented catalogue of balance sheet of delivery.
Asiru Idris declared that Kogi would no longer remain a civil-service dormitory, as it has revived the Confluence Rice Mill with private-sector partnership ensuring that rice becomes staple food on shelves of majority of citizens providing direct employment for the youths.
He added that the government has 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, six billion naira in grants and soft loans has reached more than fifteen thousand micro, small and medium enterprises across the twenty-one local government areas.
The commissioner further stated that the Fitch Ratings rewarded them with 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 the 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 even as President has granted approval for the development of International Airport at Zariagi, a legacy that this administration is fully committed to seeing through.
The proposed Kogi Free Trade Zone, planned on about 3,000 hectares within the Ajaokuta economic corridor, will in a matter of days 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 industrialization.
“We are confident that this will serve as another avenue for job creation, economic growth, stimulation of entrepreneurship, industrialization, 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).
“We are also exploring how 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.
Idris averred that policy of the present administration is to construct roads that open economies, not roads that merely win elections, as 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 roads are Crusher–Zango–GYB Junction dualisation 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 adding that these roads are economic arteries, not political souvenirs, even as thousands of solar streetlights now illuminate Lokoja, Okene, Anyigba and Kabba, making the cities safer and more vibrant at night.
Reeling out other achievements of the administration, he disclosed that over one hundred rural communities now enjoy electricity for the first time.
In October,the first phase of distribution of 30 units of 500KVA transformers across the State’s three senatorial districts to boost electricity supply, stimulate economic activity and improve quality of life.
He assured residents that very soon, epileptic water supply in Lokoja will be over as the Greater Lokoja Water Works rehabilitation is in its final stages.
He said in the health sector, over 80 Primary Healthcare Centres were revitalized and commissioned.
“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.
On Human Capital and Social Welfare, the commissioner disclosed that no society rises when it leaves its weakest behind. Under NG-CARES and KG-CARES, government delivered one hundred and seventy community-selected micro-projects that have touched almost two hundred thousand lives.
Over seventy-three thousand of the poorest citizens now have health insurance, assuring that 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 subsidized care under the expanded Bello Care Programme.
He added that 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.
Asiru Idris explained further that the government has kept faith with education as 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.
Harping on security which he described as the bedrock of development has received attention from the government with the employment of 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—professionalize local intelligence and ensuring accountability in community policing.
While demanding people “s support for the administration, noted that 32 Year Development Plan is not a document meant to gather dust; it is the compass that guides this administration in order to Promote development and aligning infrastructure growth as this plan is critical for strategic, economic and social progress.
Long-term development plans ensuring continuity, stability and direction for enabling sustainable and impactful growth.
