In the heart of Kogi State, a quiet transformation is taking root—one that puts people, not politics, at the centre of governance.
Speaking on Trust TV’s flagship programme Sunday Politics, Hon. Ismaila Isah, Special Adviser on Media to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, revealed that the state’s renewed focus on grassroots empowerment is beginning to yield tangible results.
“There’s a functional local government system in Kogi today,” he said. “The Governor doesn’t interfere. He allows council chairmen to operate independently, and they are truly delivering results for the people.”
This renewed trust in local governance is just one part of a broader vision. The state government is now taking bold steps to reclaim ownership of Kogi’s rich natural resources and build wealth for its citizens—especially the youth.
With over 600 legally recognized mining sites in Kogi, and possibly many more operating outside the law, the state is moving to ensure that the benefits of these resources are no longer lost to outsiders.
“We’ve secured 15 mining licenses, and we are going to empower 25,000 young people to be active players in the mining sector,” Isah said.
He lamented that only a handful of these sites are owned by indigenes. “We are the rightful owners of the land, but not of the value. That’s what we are changing.”
Governor Ododo’s people-first approach doesn’t stop at mining. The state is preparing 50,000 hectares of farmland for the next planting season, aiming to boost food security and agricultural self-reliance.
In health, the story is changing too. Hundreds of Primary Health Care Centres are being remodeled, while insurance coverage is being extended to workers, pensioners, and students in public institutions.
On security, Kogi is intensifying collaboration with neighbouring states to prevent crime before it happens, using intelligence-led operations.
“Governor Ododo is focused on results, not fanfare,” Isah said. “His goal is to touch lives in every corner of Kogi. He understands that real leadership means meeting people where they are—and lifting them up.”
For a state long burdened by untapped potential, the winds of change are starting to blow. And for the people of Kogi, it feels like hope is finally local again.