Thirty-five years after Kogi assumed the status of a full fledged State, the Central Senatorial District of it still carries on as if nothing has happened because virtually, very little good things have changed. The state was created on August 27, 1991 by the government of military President General Ibrahim Babangida.
No doubt, Kogi Central Senatorial District, comprising of Okene, Okehi, Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ogori/Magongo Local Government Areas, had before and after the creation of the state, enormous human, agricultural, mineral, industrial and cultural resources. Yet, its transformation has not matched its potentials.
A serious discussion of its development in the present political context, must go beyond roads and government projects. It should necessarily examine governance, human capital, economic structure, politics, culture, institutions, infrastructure, security and the relationship between the district and the wider Nigerian economy.
To be sure, Kogi Central possesses considerable agricultural land, mineral resources, commercial centres, a large youthful population, strong entrepreneurial traditions and the enormous industrial promise represented by Ajaokuta and the surrounding metallurgical/mineral belt. Yet the paradox is striking. It presents a picture of a district that is endowed with people and resources but continues to struggle with infrastructure deficits, unemployment, inadequate industrialisation, weak local economic systems, poverty, poor rural connectivity, inadequate healthcare, educational shortcomings and insufficient value addition to its natural resources. The problem is therefore not simply that Kogi Central lacks resources. Rather, the central question is why have the district’s enormous resources not been converted rapidly enough into sustainable prosperity for its people?
The answer lies in a combination of structural, institutional, political, economic and social factors.
One is however, not unaware of the recent government’s documents that show the State as having put substantial resources into capital expenditure and identified agriculture, healthcare, education, roads and infrastructure as priorities. The 2026 approved budget for example, provides more than ₦455 billion for capital expenditure, including about ₦25 billion for agriculture. However, what the Kogi Central, in particular needs at this particular time, against the background of the campaign for the 2027 senatorial seat is what one would like to call “the unity of purpose” and indeed, a declaration that: “Kogi Central First” by all the political gladiators, without exception.
There’s no shying away from the fact that the wind of bitter political rivalry is looming between the camp of former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the incumbent Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). What may be missing is the need for a development-oriented united front that puts the interests of Kogi Central above political differences. Such a united front does not necessarily mean that either person must abandon his or her political party, ambition or supporters. It means agreeing that development issues should not become casualties of political competition. The district needs a development strategy that transcends individual politicians, political parties and electoral cycles.
The major point is that politics should end where development begins, believing that the greatest mistake Kogi Central can make is to allow political disagreements between prominent leaders to become permanent divisions among the people.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and former Governor Yahaya Bello have different political identities and constituencies, commanding considerable political attention. Instead of their supporters spending all their energy attacking one another, their political structures could compete peacefully while cooperating on issues that affect everybody. The question should not be: “Who is stronger?” but should be
“What can we achieve together for Kogi Central?”
A Development Compact should be established. It should be coined “Kogi Central Development Compact” (KCDC), involving representatives of
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s political structure and
Yahaya Bello’s political structure. It should also be made up of other political parties and tendencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth organisations, women organisations, professional associations, business leaders, farmers, labour unions, civil society organisations, local government representatives, Ebira cultural institutions and Non-Ebira communities living in the district
The compact should identify 10–15 priority projects and pursue them regardless of who wins future elections. Ajaokuta must become a central economic priority. The Steel Complex should be treated not merely as a political slogan but as a long-term economic project for Kogi Central and Nigeria.
A united front should lobby the Federal Government for full rehabilitation of the development of steel-related industries, industrial parks, skill acquisition centres, technical colleges, rail connectivity, reliable electricity, private-sector investment, mining and mineral-processing industries. The objective should be to transform Ajaokuta from an abandoned industrial dream into an industrial engine for Kogi Central.
Also Kogi Central Economic Development Council (KC-EDC) need to be established as a non-partisan development platform. Its responsibilities should include identifying development priorities, preparing project proposals, attracting investors, engaging the Federal Government, engaging development agencies, mobilising diaspora investment, monitoring government projects, publishing annual development reports, coordinating legislators and local governments and creating a database of investment opportunities.
This would give the district a permanent development institution rather than relying exclusively on whichever politician happens to be in office.
We should be educated enough to know that Kogi Central cannot achieve sustainable development if thousands of young people remain unemployed or underemployed. The united front being sought should be able to establish a Kogi Central Youth Economic Programme (KCYEP), focusing on technology, agriculture, mining, welding and fabrication, automobile repairs, construction, renewable energy, digital skills, entrepreneurship, apprenticeship, small-scale manufacturing.
Ajaokuta’s industrial ecosystem could provide enormous opportunities for technical and vocational training.
Agriculture should receive serious attention. The five Local Government Councils should develop agricultural value chains rather than simply producing crops for consumption. Potential areas include cassava, maize, rice, yam, cashew, soybeans, livestock, poultry, fisheries and food processing. As a matter of fact, roads and transportation development cannot take place where communities remain poorly connected.
The proposed united front should produce a Kogi Central Road Master Plan, identifying federal roads, state roads, local government roads and rural roads as well as industrial access roads and arm-to-market roads.
Rather than politicians making isolated promises, the district should present a unified list of priority roads to Abuja.
The proposed united front should jointly campaign for modernisation of hospitals, primary healthcare centres, maternal health services, Ambulance services, diagnostic centres, specialist medical services, medical laboratories, drug availability, rural health outreach. In other words, healthcare should not be seen as being the sole concern of the APC, PDP or any other political party. This because, for a fact, sickness does not check a person’s party membership before attacking.
There should be, in attempt to move education to the next level, a serious agenda for the renovation of schools, creation of easy scholarship structures, promotion of teacher training, science laboratories, ICT centres, vocational institutions, technical education, University partnerships, adult education and girl-child education. A special Kogi Central Scholarship and Skills Fund could be established through contributions from government, philanthropists, businesses and diaspora organisations.
Women should be at the centre of development. A particularly important advantage of a broad coalition would be the opportunity to mobilise women’s organisations across the district. Women should have access to microfinance
Cooperative societies, market infrastructure, skills acquisition, agricultural financing, digital training, small-business grants and leadership development
This should become one of the areas where Natasha’s political network and other political structures could collaborate without necessarily compromising their political identities.
The two camps should publicly commit themselves to no violence, no intimidation, no destruction of property, no personal attacks, no mobilisation of youths against political opponents and no politics of revenge.
Political competition should be based on ideas, programmes and performances.
The supporters should be told that the two camps and others may disagree politically, but that they are brothers and sisters of Kogi Central. There is the need to create a Kogi Central Elders and Stakeholders Council (KCESC). Respected elders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, professionals and community leaders should provide a neutral platform for dialogue. Its mandate should include conflict prevention, political reconciliation, development advocacy, cultural preservation, youth engagement and peacebuilding. It should help to prevent political disagreements from becoming permanent social divisions.
Natasha’s group and Yahaya Bello’s group should be made to jointly sign a document that should be tagged:
KOGI CENTRAL UNITED DEVELOPMENT AGENDA 2027–2035.
The Agenda should have the following as priorities: Ajaokuta Steel and Industrialisation, Roads and Transportation,
Youth Employment,
Agriculture and Agro-Processing,
Education and Skills Development,
Healthcare Development,
Women and Youth Economic Empowerment,
Mining and Mineral Development,
Digital Economy and Innovation as well as
Peace, Unity and Good Governance,
The document should contain measurable targets rather than political rhetoric.
The two camps should become one development constituency: Natasha supporters should remain Natasha supporters. Yahaya Bello supporters should remain Bello supporters. APC members should remain APC members.
PDP members should remain PDP members.
But when it comes to Ajaokuta, roads, schools, hospitals, employment, agriculture, investment and the welfare of Kogi Central, they should speak with one voice.
That would transform political rivalry from a destructive force into a healthy competition over who can deliver more development.
The general philosophy should be:
Not Yahaya Bello First.
Not Natasha First.
Not APC First.
Not PDP First.
But KOGI CENTRAL FIRST.
The emerging political contest makes this conversation particularly timely. Reports describe the 2027 Senate race as a potential major confrontation between Yahaya Bello and Natasha. It should be ideally made as a deliberate peace-and-development framework for the purpose of attaining more valuable and beneficial benefits to the constituents.
The political rivals from whichever point, need to therefore join hands not necessarily to contest together, but to ensure that Kogi Central’s development is bigger than any individual politician.
Ultimately, the biggest obstacle may not be money. It is the absence of a sufficiently coordinated development culture, for, a district can receive billions of naira and still remain underdeveloped if the money is fragmented into consumption, politically motivated projects, poorly designed programmes and projects without maintenance, whereas another district with fewer resources can achieve remarkable development if it possesses competent leadership;
long-term planning;
accountability;
entrepreneurial culture;
private-sector participation;
skilled citizens;
institutional continuity.
One must insist that Kogi Central is not a district condemned to underdevelopment. Its geographical position, agricultural potential, mineral resources, industrial heritage, youthful population, entrepreneurial people and proximity to Abuja give it exceptional possibilities. The district’s challenge is therefore not primarily a shortage of opportunities, but the failure to consistently convert opportunities into productive economic systems.
Yusuf Ozi-Usman, nipr is Editor-in-chief of Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper and hardcopy magazine, Author of Standard Ebira-English Dictionary and Co-author of Translated Holy Qur’an into Ebira…
