The people of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area have commended Kogi State Government for initiating the 38-kilometre Kabba–Iluke–Bunu road project.
Kogi Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, gave the commendation at a press conference on Monday in Lokoja on behalf of the people of Kabba-Bunu.
Jones, who is from the area, stressed that the road would be entirely funded by the state and not by any external agency.
He dismissed insinuations that it was a World Bank project or was influenced by an individual outside the state.
Jones said the road project was conceived and approved about 12 months ago following years of public outcry over the deplorable condition of the corridor.
He added that the decision for total construction, rather than mere rehabilitation, was based on a comprehensive survey and engineering design carried out by the state government.
He noted that the clarification came days after the Ministry of Works published an advertisement on Sept. 6, 2026, inviting qualified contractors to bid for the project under an Open Competitive Bidding process.
J
ones explained that the technical assessment revealed that due to the failed portions of the road, rehabilitation alone would not provide lasting relief to motorists and residents.
“For the benefit of those seeking to rewrite history, let it be known that the process leading to this project commenced about 12 months ago.
“The professional recommendation was for the total construction of the 38km road to bring lasting relief to our people,” Jones said.
He listed other roads captured in the Sept. 6 advert to include the Idah–Onyedega Road in Ibaji LGA and the Odonyi–Oguma–Sheria Road in Bassa LGA.
Jones faulted what he described as “deliberate misrepresentation” by some persons who first claimed the road was a World Bank project and later alleged that the state hurriedly advertised it because an individual outside the state was planning to attract World Bank funding.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the World Bank does not deal with individuals.
“World Bank interventions are between the Federal Government and the Bank, and are usually executed through grants or loans with counterpart funding by the beneficiary state,” he stated.
Citing the ongoing AGILE Project in Kogi as an example, the Commissioner noted that World Bank-funded projects are clearly labelled as such in their advertisements.
He said the Kabba–Iluke–Bunu road advert was issued solely by the state sovernment through the Ministry of Works and had “no World Bank involvement whatsoever.”
“We in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area are elated that after years of agitation, our voice has finally been heard.
“Gov. Ododo has given us a sense of belonging by approving this critical road project,” Jones said.
He urged those behind the “malicious misrepresentation” to commend the governor instead of playing politics with the welfare of the people.
He stressed that the people of Kabba/Bunu reject any attempt to politicize or hijack credit for the intervention, stressing that the road was “conceived, approved, and funded by the administration of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo.”
Jones assured the governor of the continued support of Kabba/Bunu people for his administration and political ambition “now and beyond 2027.”
“Leadership is measured by impact. With this road, Gov. Ododo has demonstrated that he listens, and that he cares,” he added.
The Kabba–Iluke–Bunu Road links several agrarian communities and have been described by residents as a major economic corridor that has suffered neglect for years.
