By Boluwaji Obahopo

Lokoja — The Kogi East APC Legacy Group has applauded Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo for moving to implement key infrastructure projects requested by stakeholders in the eastern senatorial district, particularly roads and secondary schools.

The group said the development followed a memorandum it presented to the governor last month, outlining priority needs of Kogi East in roads, education, power, healthcare, water and security.

In a statement on Tuesday, the group’s spokesperson, Dr Johnson Musa, said recent public notices by the Kogi State Government showed that some of the projects had advanced into the formal procurement and contract-award process.

According to him, two major road projects listed in the Works Ministry’s invitation for tenders are located in Kogi East: the 37-kilometre Idah–Onyedega Road in Ibaji Local Government Area and the 13-kilometre Odenyi–Oguma–Sheria Road in Bassa Local Government Area.

He said the deadline for submission of bids for the road projects is September 17, 2026.

Musa noted that the two roads were among the priority infrastructure needs presented to the governor. Their completion, he said, would improve transportation, ease the movement of agricultural produce and people, enhance access to markets, healthcare and other essential services, and reduce transport difficulties in the affected communities.

On education, the group said the state government’s plan to construct and upgrade secondary schools under the World Bank-assisted AGILE programme would benefit all nine local government areas in Kogi East.

The programme covers 28 schools across 21 local government areas in the state, with nine of the schools located in Kogi East. The beneficiaries are: UBE Junior Secondary School, Enjema (Ankpa); Government Science Secondary School, Oguma (Bassa); UBE Junior Secondary School, Efakwu Egume (Dekina); Government Secondary School, Onyedega (Ibaji); Idah Secondary Commercial College (Idah); UBE Junior Secondary School, Odolu (Igalamela-Odolu); UBE Junior Secondary School, Agojeju (Ofu); Ukoh Community Secondary School (Olamaboro); and Government Science Secondary School, Ogodu (Omala).

Musa said the spread of the projects across the nine local government areas was significant and would expand access to secondary education while addressing infrastructure gaps in the district.

“We thank Governor Ododo for listening and for acting with speed. These roads and schools were among the needs we placed before him. Their appearance for construction shows a government that keeps faith with its people,” he said.

The group also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as support for development projects in the state.

It stressed that the projects demonstrated the importance of equitable distribution of public infrastructure and said communities across Kogi East deserved a fair share of government investment.

The group added that it would continue to engage the government on other demands in its memorandum, including a proposed national electric transmission substation, rural water schemes, revitalisation of general hospitals, improved security, additional road projects, and greater openness concerning the Ankpa coal and Ibaji oil resources.

It pledged to monitor the implementation of the projects while expressing support for the Ododo administration and the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.