Civic advocacy groups in Kogi State have expressed deep frustration over what they describe as Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s failure to address the pressing housing needs of state civil servants, nearly a year and a half into his administration.
Leading the charge is Comrade Idris Miliki Abdul, Executive Director of the Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), who spoke with journalists on Wednesday in Lokoja. Miliki criticized the governor’s administration for its inaction in the housing sector, despite the establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Housing shortly after Ododo assumed office.
“Not a single unit of housing has been built by this government since it came into power,” Miliki said. “It is unacceptable, especially in a state that hosts two major cement producers,Dangote and Mangal.”
He noted that past administrations in Kogi State had undertaken several housing projects, including the Otokiti Housing Estate, Aniebo Quarters, and Workers’ Villages, while the current government has yet to lay a foundation stone.
“The presence of cement factories in Kogi West presents an opportunity for public private partnerships. A simple memorandum of understanding could pave the way for large scale housing development, but the government seems uninterested,” Miliki added.
Calling the situation “worrisome and condemnable,” the activist urged Governor Ododo to take immediate steps to correct what he called a glaring oversight in worker welfare.
Hamza Aliyu, Chairperson of the Kogi Accountability Platform (KAP), echoed the concern, warning that the government’s regular salary payments could be rendered meaningless if workers are forced to spend most of their income on rent.
“Civil servants in Lokoja are paying through the nose for accommodation. Without affordable housing options, salary payments don’t translate into real welfare,” Aliyu said.
An estate surveyor who also weighed in anonymously said it was baffling that after more than a year in office, the Ododo administration had not initiated any significant housing projects. “Affordable housing isn’t a luxury,it’s a basic need, especially for civil servants,” he remarked.
Civil society actors are now urging the state government to prioritize the housing sector as a matter of urgency. Many say it’s not too late for the administration to change course and deliver on the expectations it raised with the creation of the housing ministry.
