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27 years in the life of a nation, a state and even individual is very important for evaluation and stock taking. Kogi State was created on the 27th of August 1991 and it share boundaries with 9 other States including the Federal Capital Territory which make it invariably the most central State in Nigeria.
The state has the largest mineral deposits in Nigeria and holds the largest cement factory in West Africa. It also holds the confluence of River Niger and Benue and the largest Steel Mineral Resources in Africa located in Ajaokuta. Despite this God gift, the State is lacking in meaningful development. It is worrisome 27 years of creation, it lack good road networks, and general infrastructural development.
More worrisome looking at the importance and the role information dissemination and media development across the world that promote the culture of the people and also create large number of employment, Kogi State remain without a State owned Television 27 years after and no genuine effort is being put in place to establish one. What should have been responsible for this regrettable circumstance we find ourselves in Kogi State?
All successful administrations in the State have failed to properly utilise the Rivers Niger and Benue located in Lokoja the state capital for economic and agricultural development. The state lacks the ministry of mineral resources to highlight and development the mineral sector.
It is worrisome under the current administration that, no single housing estate has been built and commission under the current dispensation in the last two and halve years despite the location of Obajana Cement Factory in the State. We wonder the economic and development blueprint without a housing policy. What is the relationship between the government of Kogi State and Obajana Cement Factory, that would have assist in providing housing for the people of Kogi State under the Public Private Partnership (PPA) despite the existence of such agency in the State?
It is worrisome and regrettable that the State Government has no policy or an agency on Marine sector despite the existence of Rivers Niger and Benue. The tourism that should have attracted huge revenue is neglected and not developed as even hotels built by the State government have been abandoned.
Can a State like Kogi develop and create employment for its citizens without industry? What is the industrial development policy in the state and what is the blueprint for industrialisation in the state?
Despite this gloomy and disappointing situation 27 years on, the situation that Kogi State find itself under a successive government in the last 27 years, all hope is not lost, if all hand can be on deck and the right strategies adopted.
We call on the citizens of Kogi State in and around the world to come together in respective of their ethnic, religion and political background and work out the development plan that can assist both the present and in-coming generations as the development of Kogi state is a collective responsibilities by all and for all.
Happy Birthday, Kogi State at 27!
Signed:
Idris Miliki Abdul
Executive Director,
Centre for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution,
Lokoja, Kogi State.
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