Ododo: Lokoja International Market to Boost Nigeria’s Economy, Create Jobs, Connect North and South

By Abah Benjamin Eneojoh
Lokoja, October 30, 2026

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, FCA, has described the ongoing construction of the Lokoja International Ultramodern Market as a strategic investment that will transform commercial activities, create employment opportunities and strengthen economic connections between Northern and Southern Nigeria.

Governor Ododo stated this on Friday during an inspection tour of the project in Lokoja, where he expressed satisfaction with the quality, speed and level of construction, while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting infrastructure development across the states. He described the President as a working leader confronting the economic challenges inherited by his administration.

The Governor challenged critics of the Federal Government to visit Kogi State and witness ongoing projects, insisting that the impact of President Tinubu’s support for subnational development was visible. “This is not AI. You can see the machines working and human beings working. This is real. This is Kogi State, and this is Mr President,” he declared.

Explaining the strategic importance of the project, Ododo said Kogi’s geographical position as a connecting point between the North and South made Lokoja suitable for an international market. He noted that traders travelling from either region would have opportunities to stop over, exchange commodities, establish business relationships and explore investment opportunities, adding that the facility was designed to serve Nigeria and beyond.

The Governor explained that the decision to construct a new market was informed by the need to provide a safer and more organised commercial environment, as the existing market location had become inadequate and exposed residents and traders to road accidents. He assured that the future use of the old market would be determined through consultations with relevant stakeholders after completion of the new facility.

Ododo also commended the indigenous contractor for engaging local expertise and providing employment for young people. He observed that the number of workers and equipment deployed to the site demonstrated the project’s contribution to reducing unemployment and promoting local content. He further assured the contractor that the state government would meet its financial obligations to sustain the pace of construction.

Earlier, the Project Supervisor of SABC Construction Limited, Engr Lamidi Lasisi, assured the Governor and the people of Kogi State of the company’s commitment to delivering the project within the agreed timeline. He disclosed that the market would feature warehouses, a clinic, a bank, a fire station, loading and offloading facilities, market halls and other essential structures designed to accommodate future commercial demands.

Engr. Lasisi disclosed that the project was scheduled for completion by June, expressing confidence in the company’s capacity to meet the deadline.