Kogi East leaders applaud Tinubu, Ododo over infrastructure projects
By Soni Daniel
Lokoja — Political and community leaders in Kogi East Senatorial District have expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, for what they described as significant socio-economic and infrastructural development across the zone.
The commendation came as the Renewed Hope Ambassadors and the Presidential Communications Team continued their inspection of legacy projects executed by the Federal and Kogi State governments.
Leading the commendation was the Chairman of Ankpa Local Government Area, Alhaji Ademu Muhammed Yahaya, who praised the administration of President Tinubu and Governor Ododo for their interventions in the area.
In Ankpa, the team inspected a 12-kilometre internal road project supported by a 24-kilometre double-sided drainage network being constructed by the Ododo administration.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Engr. Joseph Oluwasegun, who is also the state chairman of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, described the road network as a major legacy intervention.
He explained that the project, implemented through the World Bank-supported ACReSAL programme, involved land reclamation, environmental stabilisation and channelisation aimed at controlling erosion, reclaiming degraded land and creating more space for agricultural and economic activities.
Oluwasegun commended Governor Ododo for prioritising the payment of counterpart funds required to access World Bank support, noting that the release of funds for ACReSAL projects depends on the state’s fulfilment of its financial obligations.
“I want to first commend Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo for always according counterpart funds for ACReSAL projects across the state utmost priority,” he said.
“The World Bank will only release its funds when the state government provides its counterpart funds for compensation and other ancillary needs. Governor Ododo is one of the governors that do not default in the provision of counterpart funds.”
The commissioner said the project had improved livelihoods in the area through erosion control and the micro-loan component of the intervention, which has supported rural farmers and cooperative groups.
He disclosed that more than $2 million had been disbursed to cooperative groups in the community, helping to reduce poverty and improve economic activities.
Oluwasegun described the intervention as the fulfilment of a campaign promise by Governor Ododo to the people of Kogi East, adding that similar projects were ongoing across other senatorial districts because of their impact on residents.
Earlier, the Ankpa council chairman described the erosion control and road project as the largest government intervention ever undertaken in the local government area.
“Ankpa Local Government is an old local government. It was in the Benue-Plateau State and later in the old Kwara State before the creation of Kogi State. But I can categorically say this project is the biggest and most impactful by any administration for this local government,” he said.
He added: “We cannot thank the Governor and President Bola Tinubu enough. We will show our appreciation fully during the polls.”
A community leader and Secretary of Olubojo Community, Elder Yahaya Samuel, said the project had brought relief to residents who had suffered years of hardship caused by erosion and poor road infrastructure.
He expressed gratitude to the state government and pledged support for President Tinubu and other All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates during the 2027 elections.
At Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, the team inspected the new College of Health Sciences building constructed under the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) 2024 intervention programme, as well as the university’s new Senate Building funded through the agency’s 2024 High Impact Intervention.
The projects were valued at N643 million and N3.1 billion respectively.
The team also inspected the ongoing Iyale-Ogane-Enugu Road, a 60-kilometre rural road project in Dekina Local Government Area.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Timothy Ojoma, said the road project reflected the government’s commitment to opening up rural agricultural communities, boosting production and improving commerce across the state.
