By Abubakar Shuaibu A.
The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, FCA, has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to peace, security, and sustainable development as the foundation for good governance.
Speaking through the Deputy Governor, His Excellency Joel Salifu, at the Government House, Lokoja, on Tuesday, during a reception for the Commandant, faculty members, and participants of the National Defence College (NDC) Course 34 on a study tour of the state, Governor Ododo said the visit came at a time when his government is consolidating gains in security and inclusive growth.
He noted that his administration has strengthened collaboration with security agencies, empowered community policing structures, and deployed technology to monitor flashpoints across the state’s borders with nine neighbouring states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“These efforts,” the Governor stated, “have yielded remarkable progress in safeguarding lives, protecting investments, and ensuring the free movement of people and goods across the state.”
Governor Ododo further emphasized that security and development are interdependent, adding that his administration is investing heavily in infrastructure, agriculture, education, healthcare, and the solid minerals sector to create jobs and reduce poverty.
He commended the management of the National Defence College for shaping the minds that drive national security and policy direction, describing Kogi State as a “microcosm of Nigeria—diverse, strategic, and rich in potential.”
While welcoming the team to Kogi State, the Governor urged the participants to engage deeply, observe critically, and draw valuable lessons from Kogi’s governance experience to inform broader national strategies.
In her remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the State, Mrs. Folashade Arike Ayoade, Ph.D., welcomed the NDC Course 34 participants to the Confluence State, noting that with the abundance of mineral resources in Kogi, the state “has no business being poor if its God-given resources are properly harnessed.”
Mrs. Ayoade also advocated for the payment of derivation to Kogi State for natural resources extracted from its land, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to critically consider the issue in the interest of fairness and national development.
Earlier, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, represented by the Provost, Professor Adam Okene Ahmed (CSRS), thanked Governor Ododo for the warm reception and for providing an enabling environment for the study tour.
He explained that Course 34 comprises eight faculty members and 35 participants drawn from the Nigerian Navy, Army, Air Force, Police, DSS, as well as participants from Nepal, Kenya, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali, alongside representatives of key government ministries.
He noted that the NDC, being the highest military training institution in the country, selected the theme “Solid Mineral Development and National Security: Kogi State in Perspective”, and assured that findings from the study will be shared with both the Kogi State Government and the Federal Government.
