Gov Ododo Urges Investment in State’s Mineral Sector

By Abah Benjamin Eneojoh

Lokoja
June 24, 2025

In a bid to harness the mineral resources in the state, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has called on both foreign and domestic investors to explore the abundant solid mineral wealth that Kogi has to offer.

In a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Mr Unubi Emmanuel, the Governor made the call during his address at the 2025 International Conference of the Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining, and Materials Engineers in Lokoja on Tuesday.

Governor Ododo, represented by his Deputy, Comrade Joel Salifu, emphasized that Kogi State is blessed with approximately 32 untapped mineral resources in commercially viable quantities. He revealed that the government’s substantial investments in infrastructure, security, mining machinery, and regulatory reforms has provided a conducive environment for investment and business growth in the state.

He stressed that the current administration is resolutely committed to transforming Kogi into a premier mining hub in Nigeria and Africa, with the aim of unlocking the value of the state’s mineral wealth for the benefit of its people and the nation at large.

The Governor pledged the government’s support for prospective investors, which includes a robust regulatory framework, incentives for sustainable mining practices, and access to a skilled labor to be sourced from the state-owned institutions.

Governor Ododo urged professional bodies within the mining and metallurgy sectors, as well as tertiary institutions, to collaborate with the state government in fully harnessing the mineral potential of the state in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.

Earlier in his opening address, Engr. Prof. Abdulrahman Asipita Salawu, the Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining, and Materials Engineers (NIMME), stated that the conference aims to devise sustainable strategies for the federal government to diversify its economy through the development of metals and solid minerals, particularly in light of the rapid depletion of crude oil reserves.

He expressed gratitude to the Governor for his steadfast commitment to the advancement of solid minerals in Kogi State, as well as his support for the success of the conference. Prof. Salawu said that the professional body selected Kogi State as the venue for the conference due to its rich deposits of mineral resources, and a home to many companies like Ajaokuta Steel Complex, Itakpe Iron Ore Mines, West African Ceramics, Obajana Cement Plant, and Mangal Cement, among others.