Kogi State government says it has supported 7,000 farmers with agricultural credit facilities and farm inputs valued at over N7 billion in its drive to improve food production and livelihoods across the state.
Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo revealed this in Lokoja during a three day training programme on development and infrastructure growth, aligned with the state’s 32 year development plan. Represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Idris Ashiru, the Governor stated that the intervention, provided 100% free, supported farmers during the last wet season. He added that the government had refurbished 140 abandoned tractors at a fraction of the cost of buying new ones.
According to him, the combined savings from the tractor project and the success of treasury management policies yielded more than N20 billion now being channelled into building roads and hospitals. He explained that, “Five hundred women and youths today are proud poultry owners because we gave them not fish, but the means to produce fish, viable farms.”
Ododo said that N6 billion in grants and soft loans had been provided through the Kogi Enterprise Development Agency, KEDA, to more than 15,000 micro, small and medium enterprises across the twenty one local government areas. He described Kogi as an agrarian economy waiting to be fully exploited for growth, investment and job creation.
He said the Lokoja Ultra Modern Market project was designed to redefine market architecture in Nigeria and open up a 25 hectare commercial hub to stimulate trade. The Governor noted that the President had approved development of the International Airport at Zariagi, adding that, “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.”
He disclosed plans for the proposed Kogi Free Trade Zone to be formally announced, explaining that it would sit on about 3,000 hectares within the Ajaokuta economic corridor. According to him, the Zone is expected to harness the state’s natural resources, agricultural strength and location for value-added manufacturing, processing, export and industrialisation.
Ododo reaffirmed commitment to the Alape Processing Zone under the national Special Agricultural Processing Zone initiative. He said it is designed to attract private sector investment, both foreign and domestic, under a coordinated framework with federal agencies and development partners including the African Development Bank, AfDB. He described these efforts as steps to move Kogi from consumption to production and from dependence on civil service employment to agro-industrial leadership.
“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,” he stated. Among them are 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 several rural access roads in Ankpa, Idah, Egbe, Mopa and Yagba.
Ododo noted that more than one hundred rural communities now enjoy electricity for the first time. He explained that the first phase of fifty kilovolt amp transformer distribution had begun to enhance electricity supply, stimulate businesses and improve living standards.
The Governor said employment and empowerment remained important to his administration. Under the Ododo Youth Empowerment and Skill Acquisition Scheme, OYESA, he said hundreds of young people had been trained in solar installation, fashion design, welding, catering and graphic design. He said all beneficiaries received starter packs to begin earning immediately.
Ododo also highlighted education and welfare support, stating that free WAEC, NECO and JAMB forms had been provided for over 35,000 students in 2025. He added that more than 15,000 students in tertiary institutions received bursaries, 2,000 new teachers were recruited, and outstanding local government salaries and leave bonuses were cleared.
He said targeted support for girls was being delivered through the World Bank supported AGILE project which began disbursing N40,000 Conditional Cash Transfer grants 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,” he added.
