By Onakpa Habiba Ibrahim
The transformation of primary health care across Kogi State’s twenty-one Local Government Areas has become a defining hallmark of the Administration of His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Since assuming office in January 2024, Governor Ododo has prioritized health as a cornerstone of human development and a pillar of his government’s social contract with the people. His approach is a model of inclusiveness, equity, and sustainability in the delivery of quality health services to every community in Kogi State.
Restrategizing the Foundation of Healthcare
Primary Health Care (PHC) is the bedrock of any functional health system. In Kogi State, decades of neglect had left many PHC facilities in deplorable condition.
The health centres in these communities were under-staffed, under-equipped, and under-utilized.
Recognizing that the journey toward Universal Health Coverage must begin at the grassroots, Governor Ododo launched a comprehensive Primary Health Care revitalization programme covering all the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
The initiative targets the upgrade and remodeling of more than 150 Primary Health Centres, ensuring that at least three functional facilities are available in every Local Government Area.
Consequently , In March 2024, the government approved and commenced the rehabilitation of 88 PHCs at a cost exceeding ₦7 billion Naira.this is in addition to over 70 others already undergoing renovation across various communities. These facilities are being transformed into fully equipped, solar-powered, and staff-friendly centers capable of providing maternal, child, and emergency health services.
Few among these facilities include:
1. Obuburu Primary heathcare centre in Adavi LGA. Recently, Governor Ododo visited and commended progress at the Obuburu PHC as it is being Upgraded.
2. Various PHC sites in Lokoja LGAs.
3. PHC in Yagba East, Yagba East and Mopa-muro LGAs among many others.
Human Resource and Capacity Development
No healthcare system can function without skilled manpower. The Ododo administration therefore initiated a Human Resource for Health (HRH) Mapping and Gap Analysis, the first of its kind in the state, to identify shortages of doctors, nurses, midwives, laboratory scientists, and community health workers. Based on the findings, a multi-year recruitment and deployment plan (2025–2028) is now being implemented to ensure that every PHC in all 21 LGAs has qualified personnel on duty.
By addressing human resource imbalances, Kogi State is ensuring that the revitalized facilities do not remain empty buildings but become active hubs of medical service delivery.
Plans are properly put in place to ensure adequate insensitive for pesonnel serving in the rural areas.
True to his words, the Governor recently approved a welfare package of a whopping sum of three hundred thousand naira(300,000) for health personnels in a bid to motivate them and also curb the ‘Japa’ syndrome of health workers bedeviling the State and the Nation at large.
Universal Health Coverage Through Insurance and Inclusivity
Governor Ododo’s vision extends beyond infrastructure. His administration has institutionalized access through the Kogi State Health Insurance Scheme
On 1st October, 2025, the Governor launched and kickstarted The Kogi State Health insurance Scheme for the Local Government Staffs.
Through this system, indigent families, pregnant women, children under five, and elderly citizens can receive medical attention without the burden of out-of-pocket payments. This aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and Nigeria’s National Health Policy, positioning Kogi State as one of the leading states in the drive for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Infrastructure and Strategic Partnerships
To ensure sustainability, the Ododo government has built strategic partnerships with development agencies, including the World Bank, and strengthened co
