By Abah Benjamin Eneojoh
Zariagi, Lokoja
October 27, 2026
Kogi State Governor, His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, FCA, has described President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assist for the state’s worldwide airport venture at Zariagi, Lokoja, as an indication of the Federal Government’s dedication to extending crucial infrastructure improvement to the subnational degree.
Governor Ododo acknowledged this on Tuesday throughout an inspection go to to the continuing Kogi State International Airport venture web site, the place he assessed the progress of labor and expressed satisfaction with the extent of building actions.
The Governor, who described the airport venture as a strategic funding in the way forward for Kogi State, mentioned the initiative mirrored President Tinubu’s recognition of the developmental wants of states and the significance of offering infrastructure able to stimulating financial progress, bettering connectivity and attracting funding.
Ododo defined that Kogi State’s geographical place, bordering a number of main industrial centres, together with the Federal Capital Territory, made an airport a strategic necessity for unlocking the state’s financial potential.
He famous that regardless of the state’s strategic location and industrial connections, Kogi had operated with out its personal airport till the intervention of the Tinubu administration, which authorised the venture and supplied assist for its execution.
Ododo additional disclosed that his administration was dedicated to monitoring the venture intently to make sure that building progressed based on the required requirements and timelines.
He expressed optimism that the airport would attain a complicated stage of improvement by the next 12 months, whereas urging residents to understand the infrastructure initiative and its potential long-term advantages.
The Governor additionally used the event to problem critics of the venture to go to the location and assess the work firsthand relatively than depend on hypothesis about its feasibility.
“Please, I want them to come here to see things by themselves. It is not an AI thing. You can see the equipment working, and they are working day and night. We are not going to make noise about it; we invite them to come and see,” he mentioned.
Providing an replace on the development, Engr. Sun Yishi
Project Manager
CCECC Nigeria Limited
Kogi State Project Office mentioned work had reached roughly 20 per cent completion, with the present part targeted largely on earthworks for the runway and its related security areas.
He defined that the earthworks constituted one of the vital demanding levels of the venture, requiring intensive excavation, filling, laterite placement and floor preparation earlier than subsequent pavement building might proceed.
Similarly, the lead guide, Architect Adebayo Adidipe of Arcade Consultants Limited, put the general degree of completion at roughly 20 to 25 per cent.
He expressed confidence within the venture’s progress and recommended the assist obtained from Governor Ododo, the State Ministry of Transportation, the Commissioner and the Permanent Secretary, noting that points raised by the venture group had obtained immediate consideration.
