Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, says his administration plans to generate electricity from the state’s abundant solid mineral resources, particularly its coal deposits, as part of efforts to boost economic growth and create jobs.
Ododo disclosed this during an engagement with stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress party at the Government House in Lokoja, where he outlined plans to harness the state’s mineral resources and expand employment opportunities through a major recruitment exercise into the state civil service.
The governor said Kogi’s vast mineral resources had remained largely untapped despite their potential to transform the state’s economy and improve the livelihoods of its residents.
He identified the coal deposits in Ankpa and other parts of the state as key resources that could be harnessed to support his administration’s development agenda.
“The coal deposits in Ankpa and other local government areas are enough to drive the prosperity agenda of the state government, in addition to other solid mineral deposits in the state,” he said.
Ododo said his administration was determined to convert the state’s natural resources into tangible economic benefits for residents by promoting development, creating jobs and improving their standard of living.
He also announced plans for a major recruitment exercise into the Kogi State Civil Service, saying hundreds of qualified residents would soon have the opportunity to join the government workforce.
The governor assured residents that the recruitment would be conducted through a transparent and rigorous process to ensure that qualified citizens had a fair opportunity to secure employment.
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He said the implementation of the new minimum wage, improved federal allocations and increased internally generated revenue had strengthened the state’s financial capacity to sustain its workforce.
According to him, the recruitment exercise would also help replace civil servants who had retired or were approaching retirement.
“There are plans to make the resources of the state more available to many more people within the state, so they can feel the impact of the government,” he said.
Beyond economic and employment initiatives, Ododo called for greater unity among the people of Kogi State, saying internal divisions and the inability of residents to collectively support one another had hindered the state’s development.
He urged APC stakeholders and other residents to support his administration’s programmes and policies, stressing that collective action was necessary to achieve sustainable development in the state.
The governor also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as the Federal Government’s support for Kogi through increased funding and infrastructure interventions.
He cited the Federal Government’s intervention on the Abuja-Lokoja-Okene-Benin road, developments around the Free Trade Zone at the Ajaokuta Economic City, investments in the state’s oil and gas sector, and the proposed Kogi International Airport in Zariagi.
Ododo said the interventions were aimed at stimulating economic activity, attracting investment and improving the welfare of residents of Kogi State.
Oma News
