Special Adviser on Media to Kogi State Governor, Ismaila Isah, has assured that local communities in the state will soon experience major economic transformation with the commencement of mining operations and new infrastructure development projects in the state.

Isah gave the assurance while featuring on Rapid TV in Abuja on Thursday.

He said with the recent acquisition of 15 mining licenses, the Kogi state government is poised to reinvigorate the economy in local communities across the state.

The Governor’s spokesman said youths will take the lead in the emerging solid minerals economy in Kogi state.

“Kogi has over 32 mineral deposits, all in commercial quantities. The state government has floated a special purpose vehicle (SPV), under the solid minerals development company, to open up the mining sector to foreign and local investors. We have acquired 15 mining licenses and ready to go into full mining business.

“Our approach is to make these mining activities community-owned. We are encouraging communities to float cooperatives that will allow them become critical stakeholders in the mining sector. Aside the usual corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts that companies present to our people, we want communities to have a say in the running of mining activities in their lands.

“We will also ensure our youths play critical roles in the mining operations. The state government has unveiled plans to train 25,000 youths to take the lead in the mineral exploration we are embarking upon,” he said.

Isah said Governor Ododo is currently in China where is holding discussions with the international community on investment opportunities in Kogi state.

He said aside from direct investment, Governor Ododo is also discussing about platforms for technology transfer and manpower exchanges towards enhancing skills and technology that will enable development of critical sectors like mining, agriculture, healthcare, education, power and transportation.

He confirmed that Governor Ododo is willing to open up the state’s mining sector to investors that are genuine and willing to align with state’s development agenda.

“We run a very smart government with smart people on board. Some of them have been in government for well over eight years and are grounded in the business of governance.

“We are selling the vast potentials of our state including our large expanse of fertile lands and mineral resources. Kogi is home to some of the most brilliant human beings in the world. We are reputed as a state where most of our human resource exports have done very well, both from the pre-independence era up to this time. We have readily available human resources to support investors interested in Kogi state,” he said.

Speaking on the agricultural sector, the Governor’s spokesman said the Ododo-led administration has adopted a bottom-top approach to ensure economic transformation in different sectors of the state.

He said the state government is focused on farmers and farming communities.

“We are building that up by ensuring that we are mechanizing agricultural production. Last year, we did almost 10,000 hectares of land under our ‘one farmer, one hectare’ policy to ensure that each farmer or farming group have up to one hectare of land so they can cultivate in mass for subsistence and commercial purpose. We are also ensuring that our farmers use tractors and not some outdated equipment to enhance productivity. We are also concerned about securing our farmers and farmlands.”

Isah said within the next year, the Governor will sustain the tempo and ensure rapid economic transformation.

“Governor Ododo is in a hurry to make impact. He is a grassroot man who grew up in the village, on the farm, so he knows where the shoe pinches.

“We are building a robust social register in the state to ensure grants and supports for MSMEs, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups get support from the government consistently.

“We are currently expanding the health insurance scheme to cover elderly people, pregnant women, infants, widows of ex-servicemen among several other groups.

“Our agriculture transformation agenda will be expanded to about 50,000 hectares, far above what we did last year. We will acquire more tractors and other modern farming equipment. We are expanding our rice production initiative as well.”

He assured that all stakeholders in the state will be carried along in the development of the Ododo administration irrespective of political affiliation.

A total sum of N1.578 trillion, being March 2025 Federation Account Revenue, has been shared to the Federal Government, States and the Local Government Councils.

The revenue was shared at the April 2025 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting held in Abuja; .

The total distributable revenue of N1.578 trillion comprised distributable statutory revenue of N931.325 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N 593.750 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N24.971 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N28.711 billion.

According to a communiqué issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), total gross revenue of N2.411 trillion was available in the month of March 2025. Total deduction for cost of collection was N85.376 billion while total transfers, interventions and refunds was N747.180 billion.

The communiqué stated that gross statutory revenue of N1.718 trillion was received for the month of March 2025. This was higher than the sum of N1.653 trillion received in the month of February 2025 by N65.422 billion.

Gross revenue of N637.618 billion was available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in March 2025. This was lower than the N654.456 billion available in the month of February 2025 by N16.838 billion.

The communiqué stated that from the total distributable revenue of N1.578 trillion, the Federal Government received total sum of N528.696 billion and the State Governments received total sum of N530.448 billion.

The Local Government Councils received total sum of N387.002 billion and a total sum of N132.611 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

On the N931.325 billion distributable statutory revenue, the communiqué stated that the Federal Government received N422.485 billion and the State Governments received N214.290 billion.

The Local Government Councils received N165.209 billion and the sum of N129.341 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

From the N593.750 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue, the Federal Government received N89.063 billion, the State Governments received N296.875 billion and the Local Government Councils received N207.813 billion.

A total sum of N3.746 billion was received by the Federal Government from the N24.971 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL). The State Governments received N12.485 billion and the Local Government Councils received N8.740 billion.

From the N28.711 billion Exchange Difference revenue, the Federal Government received N13.402 billion and the State Governments received N6.798 billion.

The Local Government Councils received N5.241 billion and a total sum of N3.270 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.

In March 2025, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) and Companies Income Tax (CIT) increased considerably while Oil and Gas Royalty, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL), Value Added Tax (VAT), Excise Duty, Import Duty and CET Levies recorded decreases.

Bawa Mokwa
Director (Press and Public Relations)

The Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Sunday Karimi has urged the citizens irrespective of political affiliations to be patience with the ongoing reformation agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying that the administration inherited the worst economic challenges so far in the anal of the country.

Senator Karimi stated this while speaking at the maiden edition of Igbaruku Day organised by Igbaruku-Okeri Community Development Association (ICDA) in Igbaruku-Okeri, Yagba West Local Council, Kogi State.

He however pointed out that, the administration had shown commitment towards rebuilding the economy and the transformation of same to a strong, self sufficient economy.

Consequently, he urged Citizens to be more patience with the President’s long-term vision driven by proactive policy towards achieving sustainable economic recovery, is slowly yielding fruits.

While noting that the process of achieving economic recovery should be seen as a collective effort both by government and the citizenry “since government alone cannot make all that is good for the people happen”, the lawmaker charged the people to be patriotic and committed to the development of their communities.

He stated that with the citizens playing thier parts, the economic challenges being faced by the current administration will be reasonably addressed with major successes and in the short-term.

According to him, “the government of President Tinubu inherited a bad, in fact the worst situation, so far. Tinubu met the average gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 1.8 percent. The four years average preceding the administration of Tinubu was 15.1 percent.

“Nigeria was so bad that government printed money without activities to back it up. It is still our government, APC (All Progressives Congress). We admit that. Nigerian Naira was almost turned to paper, where one US Dollar equated 1900 Naira. But the Tinubu government is not resting on its oars.

“They are working tirelessly everyday to find solutions to the problems. Today, one Dollar equals 1,300 Naira. Port Harcourt refinery is back, Warri refinery is back. With patience with President Tinubu, we will live to see the Nigeria of our dream, in the short-term,”

Karimi stated that the purpose of gatherings like Igbaruku Day is to bring people together to work towards a common goal of improving the quality of lives and standards of living in their communities.

While also reiterating his resolve to the infrastructural development of Kogi West, the Senator informed the people of his effort towards ensuring that the Iluhagba-Egbe Federalv Trunk A Road is given a facelift.

He promised that the palliative repairs ongoing would resume very shortly so as to help ease the transportation of farm produce as well as improve the economy of the area.