State of The Infrastructure in Kogi State
A nation without infrastructure in place is said to be a doom for it’s citizens.
“Infrastructure is the systems and services such as transport (road, rail, water and air), building and power supplies that a country or organization uses in order to work effectively” According to dictionary.cambridge.org
Kogi is one among the states created in 1991; history has it that the first civil servants who works within Lokoja the state capital-were faced with acute shortage of offices and residence. Some were subjected to pass nights in their Peugeot cars.
This among other reasons, made the first civilian Governor-Prince Abubakar Audu of blessed memory converted the residence of Nigeria’s first governor-general, Sir Fredrick Lord Lugard to governor’s office. Till today, the seat of Kogi State government is called ‘Lugard House.
Prince Audu further awarded the construction of 200 Housing Units, Aneibo, and Lokongoma Phase I and II quarters all for the comfort of the civil servants. As if that was not enough, Audu’s successors Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and Capt. Idris Ichala Wada built more, such as the 500 Housing Units Estate at Ganaja and Otokiti areas of Lojkoja metropolis, as well as Wada Estate Jimgbe-Ajaokuta road, Ganaja Village Lokoja.
Other infrastructure was road construction and provisions of electricity for the masses in various locations in the state between 1999 to 2015.
Their successor, the incumbent governor is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that Lokoja wears a new look in all facet of infrastructural development. In view of this task, kogi’s capital was recently named one of the fastest growing cities in Africa.
“Need I tell you that Gov. Yahaya Bello (GYB) has made Lokoja the capital of the confluence state of Kogi one of the fastest growing cities in Africa” says Prof. Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr, co-ordinator of ‘Got Your Back Nigeria’.
However, a look at the State of The Infrastructure in Kogi State especially the major roads like Lokoja township road, Ankpa-Anyigba road, Okene-Kabba road, Dekina-Anyigba road, Anyigba-Ajaokuta road and many other local councils’ roads are an eyesaw. The road to Ibaji local government which is behind the enlisting of Kogi as one of the oil producing state recently, is in delapidated state begging for government’s urgent attention.
His excellency can give the experience of how citizens suffers worst road in Oganenigu area since he once visited the victims of Fulani herdsmen in the area sometimes ago.
Though, government is constructing roads in some parts of the state; but there is need to step-up the tempo of it’s action in ameliorating the suffering of the commuters and residents of the state by providing the basic needs of the people.
Nonetheless, the power supply being the general problem facing the country does not leaves Kogi as an exception despite having Geregu Power Company in Ajaokuta LGA of the state. Other infrastructure that could better the lives of the Kogites but was deliberately or unintentionally are Ajaokuta Steel Company, Itakpe Iron and Ore, Confluence Fertilizer and among others.
By: Ugbede Benjamin Ademu
