OPEN EYES on The Southerner Newspaper
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State marked his second year in office two day ago, January 27, 2026, having assumed leadership of the confluence state amid high expectations and significant developmental challenges.
Despite the significant efforts of his predecessor, Ododo’s administration inherrited a state grappling with infrastructural deficits, economic constraints, and the perennial burden of unfinished projects that have defined Kogi’s narrative for decades.
As the political son of his predecessor, former Governor Yahaya Bello, Ododo came into office with the advantage of continuity. Two years into his tenure, it is appropriate to examine what has been achieved, what remains undone, and what the people of Kogi State and Nigeria at large expect from the remaining years of his administration.
On the credit side, Governor Ododo has demonstrated commendable commitment to civil service reforms and salary payments, a departure from the irregular payment patterns that characterized previous administrations. His efforts to ensure that workers receive their entitlements more regularly have earned him goodwill among the state’s workforce, contributing to improved morale and productivity in the public sector.
Additionally, his administration has made noticeable strides in urban renewal, particularly in Lokoja, the state capital, where road construction and beautification projects have enhanced the aesthetic appeal of key areas. The governor’s focus on security, especially in addressing banditry and kidnapping along major highways, has also yielded some positive results, though much work remains to be done in this critical area.
These achievements, while significant, must be viewed within the context of the enormous challenges that continue to confront the state.
However, the administration’s performance in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, and rural infrastructure remains a subject of concern. Many primary healthcare centers across the state remain understaffed and poorly equipped, while public schools continue to suffer from inadequate facilities and insufficient learning materials.
The rural-urban development gap has widened, with communities outside Lokoja, Okene, Kabba, Ankpa and major towns experiencing minimal government presence in terms of infrastructure and basic amenities.
Emphatically, the challenge of the Ajaokuta Steel Company looms large over Governor Ododo’s administration and indeed over Nigeria’s industrial aspirations. Although the steel complex is a federal project, the fortunes of Kogi State are inextricably linked to its potential resuscitation. The governor must move beyond ceremonial visits and photo opportunities at the moribund facility to become a more aggressive advocate for its revival at the national level.
He should leverage his political connections and the strategic importance of Kogi State to push for concrete federal action, including securing international partnerships and investments that could breathe life into this sleeping giant. The economic multiplier effects of a functional Ajaokuta Steel Company would transform not just Kogi State but the entire Nigerian economy, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs, spurring industrial growth, and reducing the country’s dependence on imported steel products.
Let it be known that, the deplorable state of the Abuja-Lokoja highway stands as a daily indictment of governmental failure at both federal and state levels. This critical artery, which connects the nation’s capital to the southern parts of the country, has become a death trap, claiming countless lives through accidents and incessant traffic jams caused by its deteriorated condition. My ordeal at that same road December last year was one I wouldn’t wish for an adversary.
The tragedies usually faced by commuters along Abuja-Lokoja highway has become a defining term among Nigerians for the people of Kogi State. That disgraceful metaphor must end! While this is primarily a federal road, Governor Ododo cannot afford to remain a passive observer to the suffering of road users and the negative impact on economic activities in his state.
He must escalate his engagement with the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, exploring possibilities for state intervention through alternative funding arrangements or public-private partnerships.
Other state governors have successfully negotiated refund arrangements for federal road projects undertaken by their states; Governor Ododo must demonstrate similar initiative and urgency in addressing this humanitarian and economic crisis that has persisted for far too long.
Perhaps nowhere to administrations more evident than in the water crisis plaguing Kogi Central senatorial district. In the 21st century, communities in this region continue to suffer from acute shortage of portable and accessible water, forcing residents to resort to unsafe sources that pose serious health risks. Women and children trek long distances daily in search of water, a situation that is both undignified and unacceptable. Governor Ododo must treat this as an emergency requiring immediate intervention.
The construction of boreholes, rehabilitation of existing water facilities, and investment in modern water treatment and distribution systems should be prioritized. Water is life, and no government can claim to be serving its people while they lack access to this most basic necessity. The administration must allocate substantial resources to solving this problem comprehensively rather than through the usual tokenistic gestures that have characterized previous interventions.
Also, words on the streets continue to lament bitterly on the epileptic power supply ravaging the State. Government to act swiftly to save face and embolden Kogi citizens towards productivity.
As Governor Ododo navigates the second half of his first term, he must recognize that the patience and goodwill of the people of Kogi State are not inexhaustible. The expectations are clear; tangible improvements in infrastructure, enhanced security across all parts of the state, better healthcare and educational facilities, transparent governance, and inclusive development that reaches the grassroots.
Nigerians at large also expect Kogi State, blessed with its strategic location and natural resources, to play a more significant role in the national economy and to serve as a model of good governance in the North Central region. The governor must surround himself with competent technocrats rather than political jobbers, embrace constructive criticism, and demonstrate the political will to make difficult but necessary decisions in the interest of the state’s development.
The path ahead requires Governor Ododo to transition from being a newly elected Governor, to becoming a transformative leader with a bold vision for Kogi State. He must break free from the shadows of political hallelujahs and establish his own legacy built on concrete achievements that improve the lives of ordinary citizens. This demands courage to confront vested interests, wisdom to prioritize projects with maximum impact, and integrity to manage public resources transparently.
The governor should institute regular town hall meetings across the three senatorial districts to engage directly with citizens, understand their concerns, and be held accountable for campaign promises. Performance contracts for political appointees and heads of ministries, departments, and agencies should be introduced to ensure that there are measurable targets and consequences for non-performance.
Governor Usman Ododo stands at a crossroads where the decisions and actions of the next two years will define his place in the history of Kogi State. The challenges are formidable, but they are not insurmountable for a leader who is genuinely committed to service above self. The resuscitation of Ajaokuta Steel Company, the rehabilitation of the Abuja-Lokoja highway, and the provision of potable water in Kogi Central must not remain on the long list of unfulfilled promises that have frustrated generations of Kogi citizens.
Time is of the essence, and history will judge this administration not by its intentions or excuses but by its concrete achievements in transforming the quality of life for the people of the confluence state. The people of Kogi State deserve better, and Governor Ododo has the opportunity and responsibility to deliver that better future. The question is whether he will rise to the occasion or become yet another entry in the long chronicle of missed opportunities that have plagued Nigeria’s governance landscape.
Tomorrow is indeed pregnant! May the sun shine tomorrow…
