The Honourable Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, has reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo-led administration to the welfare and prosperity of the people of Kogi State.
Speaking with journalists in Lokoja, Sunday, Fanwo said the administration’s strategic focus on industrialisation, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development is already yielding remarkable results, with improved livelihoods across urban and rural communities.
“Kogi is on the move. We are witnessing unprecedented industrial growth, and this is directly creating jobs for our vibrant youth and building wealth among the populace,” Fanwo said. “Our efficient land and tax administration, strengthened security architecture, and deliberate investment-friendly policies are paying off. Investors are coming in, and Kogi is fast becoming a hub for industrial activity.”
The Commissioner emphasized that the agricultural policy of the Ododo Administration has been instrumental in combating food inflation while reinforcing Kogi’s status as one of Nigeria’s foremost food baskets.
“Our agricultural revolution is not only feeding our people but also empowering our farmers through policies that promote value addition. Today, farmers are becoming entrepreneurs, thanks to agro-processing initiatives that are creating wealth right from the farm lands,” he stated.
Fanwo also noted that the administration’s unbending commitment to healthcare development has led to the upgrade of over 300 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) to secondary healthcare status, making quality healthcare accessible, especially in rural areas.
“With healthcare facilities improving and agriculture booming, rural-urban migration has reduced significantly. People are staying back in their communities, working, producing, and living healthier lives,” he said. “This aligns with Governor Ododo’s agenda to make Kogi a producing state, one that meets local consumption needs and also contributes to national exports.”
Highlighting other achievements, the Commissioner said the Ministry of Rural and Energy Development has spearheaded massive rural electrification projects, while rural access roads are being constructed and rehabilitated across the state in partnership with the World Bank.
“The focus isn’t just on towns and cities. We are reaching the grassroots, ensuring that rural communities feel the impact of governance,” Fanwo said.
He revealed that water supply projects have been revamped in Lokoja and other parts of the state through the Ministry of Water Resources, building on the solid foundation laid by the previous administration of His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
In the humanitarian space, the government, through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, has consistently delivered quarterly palliatives to the vulnerable, while hundreds of youths have been trained in various skills under the Ministry of Youth and Sports in conjunction with the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs; with starter packs provided for sustainability.
“Our state is a construction site,” Fanwo added, noting that the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development are actively rehabilitating rural roads and constructing educational infrastructure across the state.
On education, he said the government has sustained the heroic legacy of the Yahaya Bello administration. The transformation of the former Reference Hospital in Okene into the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) Teaching Hospital and the progress toward making the Prince Abubakar Audu University Teaching Hospital fully operational, were cited as milestones.
He also praised the Ministry of Environment for its efforts in cleaning up and regenerating the environment and reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to women empowerment and protection.
On security, Fanwo stressed the strategic importance of Kogi’s location, adding that the state’s security architecture has been fortified under the leadership of Commander Jerry Omodara (Rtd), the State Security Adviser.
“Security in Kogi is not just a state priority, it is national service. We are safer today because we are intentional about protecting lives and investments,” he said.
His words: “Kogi is moving forward. The signs are visible. From healthcare to education, roads to water, jobs to security, the ODODO Administration is delivering real results, and the people are feeling the impact.
“We also wish to announce that the State Government is working hard on resolving ecological challenge across the state. These efforts are spread across the state and the contractors are working hard to deliver beautiful projects”.