Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has declared the state as a prime destination for investment in Nigeria. 
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‎The governor stated this during the 2025 AKK Business Development Roadshow, marking the strategic starting point of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline Project at the Banquet Hall, Government House in Lokoja on Thursday.
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‎Speaking to an audience of investors, government officials, and industry stakeholders, Governor Ododo emphasized that Kogi’s central location and natural resource endowment make the state an ideal hub for businesses and industrialization, declaring that “Kogi is open for business.”
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‎He highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing ease of doing business, infrastructure development, and investor protection in the state.
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‎Governor Ododo outlined key initiatives including the Kogi-Hunan Free Trade Zone, proposed Zariagi airport improved road networks, and streamlined regulatory processes as key development components designed to facilitate investor confidence and ease of doing business in the state.
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‎The Governor described Kogi State as a “confluence of opportunities whose progress is anchored on mineral resources, gas pipelines, arable land, and human resources, noting that the Kogi’s strategic location and abundant natural endowments positions it as a hub for industrial and energy development in Nigeria.
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‎He called on both local and international investors to take advantage of the growing opportunities in the state, assuring them of his administration’s readiness to provide a conducive environment and strategic partnerships to facilitate business growth.
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‎Governor Ododo expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his sustained efforts in advancing Nigeria’s economy and for his commitment to the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline Project, which he described as a strategic investment towards making Nigeria a hub cleaner energy in Africa.
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‎Highlighting his vision for Kogi as a leading destination for energy investment, the Governor noted that institutions like the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) was established to equip young Kogites with the technical skills needed to drive the state’s future in technology, innovation, and energy development.
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‎He urged residents to support and protect ongoing projects, stressing the need for collective responsibility to ensure sustainable development that benefits all citizens.
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‎Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Vice President of Gas, Power and New Energy at NNPC Limited, Mr. Olalekan Ogunleye, commended Governor Ododo for his passion and commitment to collaborating with the NNPC in promoting gas infrastructure development in the state.
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‎Ogunleye described Kogi as a “confluence of mineral resources and industrial opportunities,” noting that its strategic position makes it central to Nigeria’s gas network.
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‎ He emphasized that the AKK project represents a model of partnership and collaboration, adding that support by the Kogi state government in areas of security and ease of doing business will make the pipeline a true “line of prosperity.”
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‎Also speaking, the Managing Director of the AKK Pipeline Project, Engr. Audu Ibrahim, provided updates on the progress of the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline Project which he said is about 90 per cent completed.
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‎He described the initiative as an industrial lifeline for Kogi and the nation, expected to enhance Nigeria’s long-term energy security and create thousands of skilled and unskilled jobs.
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‎Engr. Ibrahim reaffirmed that the project will not only power industries but also drive cleaner energy use across Nigeria, further cementing Kogi’s role as a critical hub in the country’s economic and energy transformation agenda.
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