The Kogi State Government has reaffirmed commitment to due process, international standards, and robust stakeholder collaboration in the execution of the proposed Zariagi International Airport, Lokoja International Market, and other key infrastructure projects across the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Finance, Hon. Idris Shuaib, gave the assurance on Tuesday in Lokoja during an inspection tour of the proposed project sites by members of the Sukuk Project Monitoring Team and other critical stakeholders.
Hon. Shuaib revealed that a high-level stakeholders’ meeting was held in Abuja two weeks ago, bringing together all partners involved in the Airport and International Market projects.
The meeting, he said, was aimed at aligning expectations, deepening understanding of the project environment, and advancing plans to adopt non-interest financing options for key infrastructure development in the state.
According to him, extensive preparatory work has already been completed, including feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, and social responsibility evaluations — all conducted in line with international best practices.
Providing technical updates, the Lead Engineer at the Kogi State Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Achema Enemakwu, disclosed that the Zariagi International Airport has successfully scaled the design stage and it is now set for full construction following government approval of the bidding process.
Engr. Enemakwu further revealed that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has approved the commencement process and made a budgetary provision of ₦50 billion for the project in the current fiscal year.
He noted that the airport, situated on approximately 4,000 hectares of land, is projected for completion within two years, with construction expected to commence as early as March, 2026.
From the financing perspective, a Senior Analyst at One17 Financial Services Ltd, Kamil Isah Shuaib, said the partnership between the Kogi State Government, his firm, and Ava Capital is focused on exploring non-interest financing structures that offer flexible and competitive funding options.
He noted that the inclusion of the Head of Sharia Advisory for the Sukuk Bond is intended to ensure full compliance with non-interest principles, thereby enhancing the projects appeal to investors seeking ethical, long-term investment opportunities.
In his remarks, Imam Shuaib of One17 Ethical Advisory Services and Sharia Adviser to the Kogi State Sukuk issuance emphasized that the Sukuk structure is carefully designed to ensure full compliance with the principles of
Sharia.
Also speaking, Amin Muhammed, Head of Public Sector at EVA Capital, described the inspection visit as timely, citing strong investor interest in the state’s infrastructure projects.
He commended the Kogi state government for accelerating impactful development projects and pledged the support of stakeholders toward the successful completion of the projects.
He added that the airport and international market projects would stimulate commercial activities, attract investors, and significantly boost the state’s economic growth.
Meanwhile, the Site Engineer for the Lokoja International Market project, Engr. Omojola Benjamin of SABC Ltd, expressed satisfaction with the inspection process and assured stakeholders of timely completion in line with the project timelines.
