Hon. Ismaila Isah, Special Adviser to the Governor of Kogi State on Media, has emphasized that the current administration in Kogi has successfully established a functional local government system that is better serving rural communities.
Speaking on Sunday Politics, a flagship program on Trust TV, Isah highlighted that local government authorities in the state operate independently, with the state governor, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, refraining from interference in their activities. He explained that the local government chairmen have significantly contributed to improving governance at the grassroots level.
Isah further revealed that Kogi State has secured 15 mining licenses as part of efforts to involve locals in the mining industry, thereby creating job opportunities and fostering wealth generation for the state’s people.
“It will interest you to note that Kogi State has over 600 mining sites legally, and there could be hundreds more that are illegal. Out of all these mining sites, neither the state nor our people are benefiting as they should,” he stated.
He went on to add, “Probably only one or two of the mining sites are owned by Kogi people who are genuinely interested in the wellbeing of the local communities. Some of these people in the mining business don’t even care about the environment. We own the resources, but we don’t benefit in any way, and this is what the state government is worried about. That is why we are adopting a local approach to mining in Kogi State. We are going to empower 25,000 of our young people to take an active part in the business.”
On the topic of security, Isah reaffirmed that the state government is collaborating with neighboring states, focusing on intelligence gathering and surveillance to curb criminal activities.
He also noted that in the agriculture sector, the Ododo-led administration plans to allocate 50,000 hectares of land for the upcoming farming season to strengthen food security.
Additionally, the Special Adviser pointed out that the health sector is receiving significant attention, with hundreds of primary health care centers being renovated and the introduction of health insurance coverage for workers, pensioners, and students in state-owned tertiary institutions.
Despite the progress made under Governor Ododo’s leadership, Isah stressed that the governor remains committed to ensuring good governance and understands the importance of creating tangible, lasting impact on the lives of the people of Kogi State.
