From Everest Ezihe
The Kogi Diaspora Association (KDA), United Kingdom, has applauded the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for what it described as remarkable development strides across Kogi State, urging Kogites at home and in the diaspora to support his administration’s vision for sustainable development.
In a press statement signed by its Secretary General, Sir Andrew Okwor, the association said it has closely monitored developments in the state from the United Kingdom and is satisfied with the administration’s commitment to continuity, service delivery and grassroots development.
The group particularly commended the governor’s efforts in the health sector, noting the revitalisation of more than 150 Primary Healthcare Centres across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
According to the KDA, 88 Primary Healthcare Centres have been rehabilitated with an investment exceeding ₦7 billion, while more than 70 others are undergoing renovation. It added that over 80 of the revitalised centres had been commissioned as of November 2025, with improved equipment, electricity, water supply and other essential amenities.
“The KDA considers this particularly significant because it demonstrates that Governor Ododo is not concentrating development only in Lokoja or other major urban centres; he is deliberately taking government services to the communities where the majority of Kogites live,” the statement said.
On education, the diaspora association praised the completion and commissioning of the GYB Model Science Secondary Schools, as well as continued investments in tertiary institutions across the state.
It noted that the administration’s decision to complete inherited projects reflects what it described as a mature approach to governance, ensuring that political succession does not result in developmental discontinuity.
The association also acknowledged progress in agriculture, rural development and infrastructure, citing investments in agricultural mechanisation, farm inputs, support for farmers and ongoing road projects across the state.
KDA further referenced the state’s proposed ₦820.49 billion 2026 budget, which prioritises food security, healthcare, education, road connectivity and infrastructure expansion, while calling for disciplined implementation, transparency and accountability.
On fiscal management and workers’ welfare, the group acknowledged reported efforts at domestic debt reduction, settlement of inherited obligations and improved welfare for workers and pensioners.
It stated that the regular payment of salaries and pensions, alongside pension harmonisation efforts, represents an important measure of development that goes beyond the provision of physical infrastructure.
The diaspora body contrasted the current approach with political practices in which successive administrations abandon projects initiated by their predecessors, saying Governor Ododo has instead chosen to build on the foundations laid by former Governor Yahaya Bello in infrastructure, education, healthcare and institutional development.
“From our perspective as Kogites living abroad, perhaps the most encouraging feature of the Ododo administration is the deliberate effort to sustain a developmental trajectory instead of allowing political rivalry to destroy institutional continuity,” Okwor stated.
The KDA, therefore, called on Kogites to unite behind a development agenda that transcends partisan interests.
It stressed that its support for the Ododo administration “is not a blank cheque,” but rather a recognition of measurable improvements that deserve encouragement, while citizens continue to demand transparency and accountability from those in government.
The association expressed its readiness to support every genuine effort aimed at moving Kogi State forward and improving the lives of its people.
