Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has disclosed that civil construction on the proposed Zariagi International Airport will commence in 2026, marking a new phase in the state’s aviation infrastructure plans.
He announced this during the 2025 AKK Business Development Roadshow and the strategic launch of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, which took place at the Government House in Lokoja.
According to the governor, the design process for the airport lasted eight months, and the project is now undergoing assessment by the appropriate stakeholders.
He emphasized the state’s openness to working with both domestic and foreign partners, noting that a number of investors have already expressed interest in participating in the development of the Zariagi airport infrastructure.
Governor Ododo, who highlighted Kogi’s central role as a transportation link between northern and southern Nigeria, pledged that his administration will uphold continuity and responsible governance, assuring that no ongoing project will be left unfinished.
He further committed to building on the progress made by previous governments while ensuring that all current projects advance as planned.
The initiative to convert the Zariagi Airstrip into an international airport was first presented to the federal ministry of aviation and aerospace development by the Kogi State Government in 2024.
