By Emmanuel Oluwakorede, Lokoja.
In a bid to serve the people of Kogi State better, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Friday signed 7 Executive Bills into law.
The signing of the bills followed their passage by the State House of Assembly after they were approved on June 2nd by Kogi State Executive Council Meeting presided over by the Governor.
Speaking shortly after signing the bills, Governor Ododo said his administration is fully ready to implement the law with the provision of the necessary political will for them to achieve their objectives.
The bills assented to are; the Law restricting Heavy Duty vehicles from passing through the state capital during day time as well as the law granting autonomy to the administration of the Local Government Area in line with the Supreme court judgment on Local Government Autonomy.
Others are; Kogi State Oil Producing Area Development Commission Law 2025; Repelling and Enacting Kogi State Emergency Management Agency Law 2024 and Kogi State Climate Change Agency Law 2025.
The rest are Repelling and Reenacting Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) Law, 2023; Establishment of the Kogi State Bureau of Lands Law, and Amendment of the Commodity Exchange and Export Promotion Law 2024.
The Governor stated that the new laws are in line with his vision to improve the living condition of people of the State and attract development to the State.
“These laws are not just mere words on paper; they are bold steps toward reshaping critical sectors of our development journey, from oil-producing community advancement to electoral reform, land management, environmental protection, and urban regulation.
Governor Ododo explained that the amendment to the Kogi State Oil Producing Area Development Commission Law will ensure that oil-producing communities in the state benefit from a more transparent, structured, and impactful development framework.
According to him, the re-enactment of the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency Law will equip the Agency with the legal framework to respond to emergencies in a more coordinated manner.
Governor Ododo also highlighted the importance of establishing the Kogi State Climate Change Agency, saying it will protect the State ecosystem, enhance environmental protection, sustainable living, and securing a safer, greener future for generations to come.
He particularly explained that signing of the heavy duty restriction law will reduce to the barest minimum loss of lives especially around Felele axis of the State capital occasioned by Trailers and tankers accidents and decongest the state capital
He described the legislation as “long overdue,” noting that the increasing risks posed by unregulated movement of heavy trucks necessitated immediate and decisive action to restore order, reduce accidents, and improve the flow of traffic in the city.
The Governor pointed out that the new Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) Law, will provide a stronger legal foundation for transparent, credible, and all inclusive Local Government Elections as it will deepen governance at the grassroots.
On the law repealing the establishment of the Kogi State Bureau of Lands, the Governor explained that the agency will modernize land administration, eliminate unnecessary bottlenecks in land acquisition and documentation, and boost investor confidence in the state’s property sector.
He emphasized the importance of agriculture to Kogi’s economy, stating that the amendment of the Commodity Exchange and Export Promotion Law was aimed at empowering farmers, strengthening the agricultural value chain, and positioning Kogi as a major player in national and international agro markets.
He cited his recent visit to Lagos, where he signed a landmark partnership deal targeted at transforming the lives of farmers and scaling Kogi’s agricultural output.
“I remain committed to delivering a Kogi State that works for all,” the Governor said. “A state where governance is not about promises but about action; not about words, but about impact.”
While responding to the request for the digitisation of the State House of Assembly, the Speaker, Alhaji Aliyu Umar, the Governor said though the Assembly is autonomous, his administration will look into it.
Earlier, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Aliyu Umar commended the Governor for his development strides in the state, assuring him of the cooperation of the House of Assembly.
He urged the Governor to throw all his political will behind the smooth implementation of the laws.
He specifically eulogized the governor for sponsoring what he termed “People -oriented” laws, saying some of the bills has taken care of some agencies that have been operating in the state for more than 30 years without legal backing.
