Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo has challenged critics questioning the state’s international airport project to visit the construction site and witness the ongoing work firsthand, insisting that the project is real and steadily progressing despite doubts. The governor issued the challenge while inspecting the project at Zariagi, near Lokoja, where he said he was satisfied […]
Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo has challenged critics questioning the state’s international airport project to visit the construction site and witness the ongoing work firsthand, insisting that the project is real and steadily progressing despite doubts.
The governor issued the challenge while inspecting the project at Zariagi, near Lokoja, where he said he was satisfied with the level of work and reaffirmed his administration’s determination to deliver the airport to the required standards.
In a statement released by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, Ododo maintained that the project was not merely an online or artificial intelligence-generated claim, but an active construction site with equipment and workers on the ground.
“Please, I want them to come here to see things by themselves. It is not an AI thing. You can see the equipment working, and they are working day and night. We are not going to make noise about it; we invite them to come and see,” he stated.
Ododo described the airport as an important infrastructure investment capable of opening up Kogi State to greater economic opportunities. He noted that the state’s location, with access to several commercial centres and the Federal Capital Territory, made air transportation particularly valuable.
He also credited President Bola Tinubu’s administration with supporting the project, saying Kogi had previously operated without its own airport despite its strategic geographical position.
According to the governor, the facility is expected to improve connectivity, encourage investment and support economic growth. He pledged to continue supervising the project to ensure that construction meets the required specifications and deadlines.
Ododo further expressed hope that the project would attain an advanced level of development by 2027, calling on residents to consider the long-term advantages it could bring to the state.
Meanwhile, the project manager, Engineer Sun Yishi of CCECC Nigeria Limited, disclosed that construction was approximately 20 per cent complete. He explained that workers were concentrating on earthworks involving excavation, filling, laterite placement and ground preparation for the runway.
The lead consultant, Architect Adebayo Adidipe of Arcade Consultants Limited, estimated overall completion at between 20 and 25 per cent. He praised the state government’s support and said the prompt resolution of issues raised by the project team had helped construction activities.