Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has announced that civil construction works on the proposed Zariagi International Airport will officially commence in 2026. The disclosure came during the 2025 AKK Business Development Roadshow and the strategic launch of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, held at the Government House in Lokoja.
Governor Ododo explained that the airport’s design phase took eight months to complete and is currently undergoing stakeholder review to ensure compliance with technical and regulatory standards. He emphasized that the project has already attracted interest from several local and international investors willing to support the infrastructure phase of the development.
Highlighting Kogi State’s strategic location as the gateway between Northern and Southern Nigeria, the governor described the airport project as a key component of his administration’s vision to unlock economic opportunities and strengthen regional connectivity.
He reaffirmed his commitment to a governance culture built on continuity, accountability, and completion of inherited projects, stressing that no government initiative will be abandoned under his leadership.
The proposal to upgrade the Zariagi Airstrip into an international airport was initially presented to the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development by the Kogi State Government in 2024.
With the design stage now near completion, the state is positioning the project as a transformative infrastructure investment capable of driving trade, tourism, and industrial expansion.