FIC REPORT (KOGI STATE) – The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has flagged off the construction of the 38.5-kilometre Kabba–Oke Ofin–Olle–Iluke road project in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, as part of efforts to improve rural connectivity, strengthen security and stimulate economic activities across the state.
Ododo performed the flag-off ceremony on Thursday at the Community Secondary School, Oke Ofin, where he said the road project was part of his administration’s commitment to connecting villages, communities and towns to facilitate development and improve the living conditions of rural dwellers.
The governor recalled that the area had experienced security challenges, particularly in June when suspected kidnappers attempted to abduct students of Iluke Secondary School while Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) students were writing their final examinations.
He said following an assessment visit to the area after the incident, he promised that his administration would reconstruct the deteriorated road to address the transportation difficulties confronting residents and improve security in the affected communities.
Ododo stressed that security without development is incomplete, noting that the provision of good road infrastructure would complement security efforts by improving accessibility and facilitating the movement of security personnel and other essential services.
He described the road project as one of the dividends of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, the support of the Tinubu administration has created opportunities for infrastructure development, adding that the road, when completed, would significantly reduce travel time and transportation costs while boosting commercial activities and economic growth in the area.
The governor urged indigenes of Bunu land, particularly those living outside their communities, to return home and invest in the area, stressing that sustainable development required collective responsibility and active participation by the people.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring that no community in Kogi State was left behind in the drive to improve infrastructure and connect rural settlements to major economic centres.
The governor called on the contractor handling the project to deliver quality work within the stipulated timeframe, warning that there would be no room for excuses or unnecessary delays.
Hegʻ disclosed that the project had a completion period of 24 months.
Earlier, the Managing Director of the contracting firm, Tech Engineering, Mr. Simon Xi, appealed to residents and indigenes of the benefiting communities to cooperate with the company to ensure the smooth execution of the project.
He urged the people to regard the road as their collective property and support the construction process to guarantee its successful delivery.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, Zachius Dare, recalled the kidnapping incident at Iluke in June, saying the governor had subsequently made a commitment to address the deplorable condition of the road.
Dare expressed appreciation to the state government for fulfilling the promise, noting that the project would improve security, facilitate movement and create opportunities for economic empowerment in the benefiting communities.
Also speaking, the Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi, described the road project as a significant development for the area, saying opening up the axis would promote economic activities and strengthen security.
The traditional ruler noted that improved road infrastructure would make movement easier, attract investments and enhance interactions among communities.
Similarly, the Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Mr Wemi Jones, said the area had suffered considerable setbacks, including loss of lives and disruption of business activities, partly due to the poor state of the road and security challenges.
He said the intervention by the Ododo administration would help reverse the situation, expressing optimism that improved road connectivity would revive commerce, strengthen security and restore economic activities across the communities.
The 38.5-kilometre road is expected to improve connectivity among Kabba, Oke Ofin, Olle and Iluke, while providing residents with easier access to markets, schools, healthcare facilities and other essential services.
Maryam Abubakar Gulma
CIPRO
Federal Information Centre Lokoja
12th November, 2026
