By Musa Solomon
Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, has dismissed claims that the 38-kilometre Kabba-Olle-Iluke-Bunu Road is a World Bank-funded project, describing the reports as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and distort the facts surrounding the project.
Speaking with journalists in Lokoja on Monday, Jones said the road project was being financed entirely by the Kogi State Government and had nothing to do with the World Bank.
The Commissioner explained that World Bank interventions were programmes between the Federal Government and the Bank, usually implemented through grants or loans and, where applicable, counterpart funding by beneficiary states.
He therefore questioned the basis for linking the Kabba-Olle-Iluke-Bunu Road to the World Bank or attributing the project to the influence of an individual outside Kogi State.
Jones said: “It is unfortunate that in recent weeks, some mischief makers, out of ignorance or deliberate intent, have sought to twist facts and mislead the public.
“First, they claimed the road is a World Bank project. But following the State Government’s advertisement, they have now changed their narrative, claiming that the advertisement was hurriedly placed because the same individual outside the State was planning to have the World Bank construct the road.”
The Commissioner stressed that the World Bank does not deal with individuals, adding that the advertisement for the construction of the road was issued by the Kogi State Government through the Ministry of Works under an open and competitive bidding process.
He said the project followed years of agitation by residents of Kabba/Bunu, noting that the State Government responded to the people’s demand after carrying out a comprehensive survey, engineering design and technical assessment of the road.
“For the benefit of those seeking to rewrite history, the process leading to the construction of the road started 12 months ago.
“Upon receiving the cry of the people, the State Government directed a comprehensive survey and engineering design of the road. After the technical assessment and professional recommendation, the State Government decided to go for the total reconstruction of the road to bring lasting relief to the people,” he said.
Jones commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for responding to the longstanding demand of the people and expressed appreciation for what he described as the administration’s commitment to the development of Kabba/Bunu.
He urged those behind what he called malicious misrepresentation to stop politicising a project designed to improve the lives and economic prospects of the people.
“It is better to commend the State Government for constructing this road rather than playing politics with the welfare of our people,” he said.
The Commissioner also pledged the continued support of the people of Kabba/Bunu for Governor Ododo’s administration and its political direction beyond 2027.
The Kabba-Olle-Iluke-Bunu Road is one of three major road projects advertised by the Kogi State Government in national newspapers on September 6, 2026, inviting eligible and qualified contractors to bid under a competitive procurement process.
The other projects are the Idah-Onyedega Road in Ibaji Local Government Area and the Odenyi-Oguma-Sheria Road in Bassa Local Government Area.
