Second year Anniversary; Kogi NGOs calls for establishment of state, LG Audit Board

— lauds Ododo on infrastructure, security, healthcare delivery others

The Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET), has stressed the urgent need for the State Government to appoint and inaugurate Statutory boards especially the state and Local Government Audit Board to ensure transparency in government transaction.

This was part of the recommendations of KONGONET to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo as his administration clocked two years. Governor Ododo was sworn into office on January 27, 2023.

The Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) is the apex coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating across Kogi State, working in the areas of governance, health, education, human rights, humanitarian response, transparency, accountability, social inclusion, and sustainable development.

In a statement signed by Hamza Aliyu and Reuben Joshua, Chairperson and Secretary of KONGONET, respectively, and titled
“Two Years Of Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo’s Administration In Kogi State: Gains, Gaps, And The Road Ahead, noted that the the administration has recorded notable progress in infrastructure, health engagement, agriculture, security collaboration, and openness to civic engagement in the last two years.

They however observed that persistent challenges in water supply, waste management, citizen participation, and procurement transparency threaten to undermine public confidence.

The duo maintained that as the administration enters its final two years, decisive action on these issues will not only demonstrate positive governance outcomes but will also shape citizens’ perceptions ahead of future electoral contests.

They maintained that KONGONET remains committed to constructive engagement and stands ready to work with the Kogi State Government to advance accountable, inclusive, and people-centred governance.

In addition, it stressed that the government must institutionalize quarterly town hall meetings, through establishment of regular, structured town hall engagements across senatorial districts to rebuild trust and ensure citizen voices inform governance as contained in his 2023 electioneering campaign manifesto.

Others according to the statement are: Publishing annual procurement plans, contract awards, project implementation status and the state financial commitment in accessible formats.this is more so at the Local Government level were the Statutory Bodies and Commissions have not been constituted.

“Declare a State of Emergency on Urban Water Supply and Prioritize sustainable water solutions for Lokoja and other cities through rehabilitation of waterworks and transparent partnerships.

“Implement a comprehensive urban sanitation strategy, including private-sector participation, enforcement of sanitation laws, and community engagement.

“Translate international exposure and commitments into concrete local reforms with measurable milestones.

“Institutionalize structured engagement with CSOs, including policy consultations and joint monitoring of government programmes.

“Develop a viable Mass Transit system especially in Lokoja the State Capital that will comprise an integrated Road, Water transport system. Also, government must as a policy issue, provide a subsidized Mass Transport for citizens to cushion the effects of the removal of Subsidy as demonstrated by the Federal Government.

“Support and accelerate the development and signing of a Social Protect Policy Framework to provide a legal document for provision of support for our most vulnerable. Also provide adequate funding for the Agency for Social Security and Protection of Older Citizens Law 2019 to ensure we have a safety net for our aged citizens. The statement stressed

Statement in full

TWO YEARS OF GOVERNOR USMAN AHMED ODODO’S ADMINISTRATION IN KOGI STATE: GAINS, GAPS, AND THE ROAD AHEADAbout KONGONET

The Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) is the apex coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating across Kogi State, working in the areas of governance, health, education, human rights, humanitarian response, transparency, accountability, social inclusion, and sustainable development.

KONGONET exists to amplify citizens’ voices, promote accountable governance, and foster constructive engagement between government and the people of Kogi State.As part of our mandate to track governance performance and civic outcomes, KONGONET presents this press statement to mark two years in office of Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo, elected in 2023, and to offer an objective assessment of progress, challenges, and priorities for the remaining two years of his administration.

Assessment of Key Achievements

1. Infrastructure DevelopmentOver the past two years, the Ododo administration has recorded visible investments in infrastructure, particularly in: Rehabilitation and construction of roads across parts of Kogi Central, East, and West; Continuation of selected legacy road projects; Improvement of access roads linking agricultural communities to markets.

These efforts have contributed to improved mobility and economic activity in some corridors. However, infrastructure development remains uneven, with rural communities still experiencing poor road access, especially during the rainy season.

2. Health Sector; The administration has demonstrated commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery through: Support for primary healthcare facilities with the construction of new Primary Health Centres and reconstruction of old ones; Engagement with development partners and donor-funded health programmes; Increased attention to disease control interventions, including tuberculosis, immunization, and maternal health.

While these efforts are commendable, health facilities in many rural LGAs remain under-equipped, with challenges related to staffing, essential drugs, and satisfactory service delivery. Also, the poor funding of the Kogi State Agency for the Control of AIDS (KOSACA) has began to reverse the gains made by the State in the fight against HIV

3. Agriculture and Food Security; Agriculture has remained a focal point of the administration, given Kogi State’s agrarian advantage. Notable efforts include: Support for farmers through input distribution and extension services; Promotion of agribusiness and value-chain development;Improved rural road access supporting farm-to-market linkages.

On-going construction of a modern Market in Lokoja; Despite these gains which mostly came in through world bank supported projects, smallholder farmers continue to face challenges related to poor fund releases to the Ministry of Agriculture, access to credit, climate-related shocks, insecurity in farming communities, and post-harvest losses.

4. Security; The Ododo administration has prioritized security through: Collaboration with federal security agencies; Support for local security initiatives; Efforts to address kidnapping and banditry in vulnerable areas.

Development of a Prevention and Countering of Violent Extremism Policy Framework (PCVE-FP) in partnership with the Civil Society. While relative stability has improved in some parts of the state, security concerns persist, particularly along border communities and rural settlements, where farmers and travelers remain vulnerable.

5. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)In the WASH sector, progress has been mixed. Some communities have benefited from:Rehabilitation of boreholes; Support from donor-funded WASH interventions.However, urban water supply remains a critical challenge, particularly in Lokoja and other major towns, where access to safe and reliable water is grossly inadequate. Sanitation infrastructure and hygiene promotion have not kept pace with population growth.
6. Citizen Engagement and Open Government: KONGONET acknowledges positive steps taken by the Ododo administration in citizen engagement and openness, including: Continued participation in the Open Government Partnership (OGP);Government support for civic engagement platforms; Sponsorship of Kogi State representatives to international forums, including the Global OGP Summit in Spain, demonstrating openness to global best practices.These actions signal commitment to transparency and inclusive governance, though their impact depends on sustained local implementation.
7. Transparency and Financial Management: The administration has maintained a posture of relative fiscal discipline, including: Improved public communication on government activities;Continued use of formal budgetary and financial management systems; Engagement with accountability frameworks promoted under OGP.Nonetheless, citizen access to detailed, annual financial audit report of the state remains elusive, and procurement transparency requires further strengthening.

Critical Challenges and Unmet Campaign Promises; Despite recorded achievements, significant gaps remain, particularly in areas that were central to Governor Ododo’s campaign promises:

1. Citizen-Centred Governance and Town Hall MeetingsbOne major expectation was the institutionalization of regular town hall meetings across the state to enable direct engagement with citizens. Two years into the administration, such forums remain irregular and largely symbolic, limiting meaningful citizen direct engagement with the elected governor, limiting input into policy and project decisions.
2. Public Procurement and Accountability Public procurement processes are yet to become fully transparent. Citizens and CSOs continue to raise concerns about:Limited access to procurement plans and contract details;Weak oversight of project execution;Insufficient disclosure of contractors and project costs.
3. Water Crisis in Lokoja and Urban Centres; The water situation in Lokoja, the state capital, has reached an alarming level. Many residents depend on unsafe water sources or expensive private vendors. Similar challenges exist in other urban centres, undermining public health and quality of life.
4. Waste Management and Urban Sanitation Poor waste management has become one of the most visible governance failures, particularly in Lokoja. Uncollected refuse, blocked drainages, and indiscriminate dumping have earned the capital the unfortunate reputation of being “the dirtiest state capital” in the country.

This poses serious environmental and public health risks.5. Poor Transportation Sector The State occupies a strategic geographic position in Nigeria, serving as a major gateway between the North and South and hosting two of the country’s most important rivers—the rivers Niger and the Benue. Despite this advantage, the state continues to experience significant transport challenges, particularly in road and inland water transportation, which constrain economic growth, service delivery, trade, and citizens’ quality of life across urban and rural communities.Despite the humongous advantages in Kogi State transport sector, Lokoja, the State Capital is without any form of Mass Transit system. Citizens are still at the mercy of “Shylock” Private operators who capitalize on the clumsy transport sector nature of the state to extort poor Kogites.

This is evident on “market days” where students and market men and women are left stranded.

KONGONET Recommendations for the Next Two Years As Governor Ododo approaches the second half of his tenure, and in light of his reported re-election aspirations, KONGONET makes the following recommendations:

1.Institutionalize Quarterly Town Hall Meetings. Establish regular, structured town hall engagements across senatorial districts to rebuild trust and ensure citizen voices inform governance as contained in your 2023 electioneering campaign manifesto.

2.Strengthen Procurement Transparency. Publish annual procurement plans, contract awards, project implementation status and the state financial commitment in accessible formats.this is more so at the Local Government level were the Statutory Bodies and Commissions have not been constituted.

3.Declare a State of Emergency on Urban Water Supply. Prioritize sustainable water solutions for Lokoja and other cities through rehabilitation of waterworks and transparent partnerships.

4.Implement a comprehensive urban sanitation strategy, including private-sector participation, enforcement of sanitation laws, and community engagement.

5.Translate international exposure and commitments into concrete local reforms with measurable milestones.

6.Institutionalize structured engagement with CSOs, including policy consultations and joint monitoring of government programmes.

7.Develop a viable Mass Transit system especially in Lokoja the State Capital that will comprise an integrated Road, Water transport system. Also, government MUST as a policy issue, provide a SUBSIDIZED Mass Transport for citizens to cushion the effects of the removal of Subsidy as demonstrated by the Federal Government.8. Support and accelerate the development and signing of a Social Protect Policy Framework to provide a legal document for provision of support for our most vulnerable.

Also provide adequate funding for the Agency for Social Security and Protection of Older Citizens Law 2019 to ensure we have a safety net for our aged citizens.

9. there is the urgent need to appoint and inaugurate Statutory boards especially the state and LG audit board for transparency purpose

Conclusion; Two years into his administration, Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo has recorded notable progress in infrastructure, health engagement, agriculture, security collaboration, and openness to civic engagement.

However, persistent challenges in water supply, waste management, citizen participation, and procurement transparency threaten to undermine public confidence.As the administration enters its final two years, decisive action on these issues will not only demonstrate positive governance outcomes but will also shape citizens’ perceptions ahead of future electoral contests.

KONGONET remains committed to constructive engagement and stands ready to work with the Kogi State Government to advance accountable, inclusive, and people-centred governance.

HAMZA ALIYU Chairperson, KONGONET

REUBEN JOSHUA Secretary, KONGONET