By Abah Benjamin Eneojoh
Kogi State
December 31, 2025
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, formally approving a budget of over ₦820 billion for the fiscal year. Tagged the “Budget of Shared Prosperity,” the financial plan is strategically designed to drive sustainable development, enhance wealth creation, and ensure inclusive growth across the state.
He described the budget passage and signing as a major milestone in the state’s development trajectory, applauding the Assembly for prioritizing the collective interest of the people.
Governor Ododo reaffirmed his commitment to fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability, assuring that every allocation will be implemented in line with the law to improve livelihoods and expand access to public services.
The Governor Ododo also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and ongoing fiscal reforms have boosted revenue flows to sub-national governments, enabling states like Kogi to record better internally generated revenue.
He highlighted that the state achieved notable progress in 2025 across critical sectors, education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, and women and youth empowerment and pledged to consolidate and scale up these gains in 2026. Priority areas include food security, accessible healthcare, quality education, road connectivity, and infrastructure expansion.
Reiterating that governance is not politics and that will define his administration in 2026, the governor unveiled plans for a major transformational project like the development of an international cargo airport in Kogi. He explained that Kogi’s strategic location as the state closest to the Federal Capital Territory and its rich mineral deposits make the project viable and economically essential.
According to him, seven professional consultant firms have already spent nine months completing all required design stages. Procurement activities for the airport are expected to commence by the end of January 2026. Governor Ododo assured that the project would be executed with full transparency, legislative oversight, and without jeopardizing workers’ welfare or state security, adding that the financing structure was carefully designed to minimize financial risk.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Yusuf, described the passage of the 2026 budget and other key bills as part of Governor Ododo’s enduring legacy. He stated that the administration’s prudent financial management has reduced the state’s debt burden and positioned Kogi to responsibly access development financing.
Among other bills assented to were laws domesticating federal tax reforms, legislation to curb multiple taxation, bills expanding revenue generation following recent Supreme Court judgments on lottery operations, and a new audit law granting greater autonomy to auditors thereby strengthening accountability and intensifying the fight against corruption.
