Ododo urges Nigerians in UK to support Tinubu’s reforms, invest in Kogi

Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi has urged Nigerians in the United Kingdom to support President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms and invest in the development of the state.

Ododo made the call on Thursday at a town hall meeting with Kogi indigenes and other Nigerians in London.

The governor also urged the diaspora to promote Nigeria positively, describing them as important partners in the country’s development through investments, expertise, innovation and global networks.

The development is contained in a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Information,  Kingsley Fanwo, and made available to newsmen in Lokoja.

Ododo said that Nigeria’s future depended on the collective efforts of citizens at home and abroad, urging Nigerians in the diaspora to become active partners in nation-building through investments, expertise, innovation and global networks.

“You may have crossed oceans in search of opportunity, but you have not crossed beyond your identity.

“Wherever you excel, our homeland is honoured,” Ododo said.

He urged Nigerians abroad to bring home not only investments but also ideas, expertise, innovation and global networks, stressing that knowledge, values and vision were essential drivers of national transformation.

According to him, the engagement was aimed at strengthening collaboration between the diaspora and the Kogi Government to promote sustainable development through partnerships, innovation and increased investments across critical sectors.

Ododo said that the unity deliberately nurtured in Kogi over the past decade had become a foundation for development, enabling residents to rise above ethnic and religious differences in pursuit of shared progress.

“There was a time when our differences were exploited against us.

“Today, we understand that poverty has no tribe, hunger has no religion and underdevelopment respects no ethnicity.

“Our unity has become the engine of our progress,” he said.

He commended President Tinubu for implementing what he described as difficult but necessary reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy, unification of the foreign exchange market and fiscal measures aimed at strengthening the financial capacity of states.

According to Ododo, the reforms have enabled governments to increase investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and other priority sectors, thereby laying stronger foundations for sustainable economic growth and improved service delivery.

He highlighted Federal Government projects in Kogi, including the international airport, free trade zone, agricultural processing zone, revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company and reconstruction of strategic federal roads.

Ododo added that investments in security, agriculture, solid minerals, tax reforms and ease-of-doing-business policies were restoring investor confidence and positioning Kogi and Nigeria for long-term economic expansion.

He said his administration had leveraged Federal Government opportunities through investments in roads, free education, healthcare improvements, expanded health insurance coverage, agricultural mechanisation and empowerment programmes for youths and women.

The governor noted that the collaboration with the Federal Government, Office of the National Security Adviser and security agencies had improved safety for farming, commerce and investment in the state.

He urged Kogi indigenes at home and abroad to support the state’s rebranding efforts by promoting its strength and investment opportunities and projecting a positive image of Nigeria globally.

Also speaking, Salman Idris, said the Ododo-led administration was working with the Federal Government to facilitate the revival of Ajaokuta Steel Company for economic development and job creation.

Idris urged Kogi indigenes in the diaspora to support the state’s development through investments and knowledge transfer, expressing confidence that the project would boost the economies of both Kogi and Nigeria.

Participants commended the governor for achievements in infrastructure, security, education, healthcare and economic development, pledging to contribute expertise, attract investments and support reforms aimed at promoting sustainable national growth.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖