Controversy Trails Zariagi Airport Plan As Kogi Govt Refutes Claims

A strategic communication and political consultant, Muyiwa Fatosa, has raised concerns over the proposed ₦50 billion airport project in Kogi State, questioning its economic viability and alignment with the state’s development priorities.

Fatosa joined several critics of the project who have been dominating the media space in recent times, in a policy commentary issued in Abuja on Sunday.

The political consultant said airport infrastructure is typically driven by passenger demand, commercial activity, and strong economic ecosystems, warning that projects lacking these fundamentals risk becoming difficult to sustain.

According to him, Lokoja, the state capital, does not currently demonstrate the level of passenger traffic required to support a viable aviation route.

He noted that in situations of low demand, airlines often increase ticket prices to cover operational costs, which could limit access for residents.

He further questioned the underlying rationale for the project, asking what specific challenges the proposed airport is intended to address.

The public communication consultant identified other pressing infrastructure gaps within the state, including poor inner road networks across communities, which he said continue to hinder access to markets, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

Fatosa also drew attention to the deplorable condition of public schools across the state, noting that many operate in environments that undermine effective learning and human capital development.

On the state’s growing mining sector, he pointed out the need for stronger frameworks to ensure that resource extraction translates into tangible benefits for host communities.

He emphasized the importance of policies that promote infrastructure development, environmental protection, and local economic integration.

“Rather than investing heavily in a new airport, I am suggesting that the state could adopt a more layered infrastructure approach, prioritising road development, education, and regulatory frameworks for resource management,” he said.

He also proposed a transport integration model that would involve collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Works to develop a rail connection between Abuja and Lokoja.

He added that such a system could provide indirect access to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, without the cost of building and maintaining a new airport.

Fatosa noted that similar models are used in other regions, where smaller cities rely on efficient rail systems to connect with major aviation hubs.

He stressed the need for development decisions to be guided by impact and sustainability, urging policymakers to consider investments that directly address the needs of citizens.

The project, reportedly approved under Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, is to be sited in Zariagi in Adavi Local Government Area of the state.

The project has received condemnation from some notable citizens and groups in the state who oppose it.

Many of them have described the project as one of the “white elephant” ventures that could be used to siphon taxpayers’ money without delivering meaningful benefits.

The Kogi State Commissioner for Transport, Levi Atulukwu, while responding to an inquiry from LEADERSHIP, said the state occupies a strategic position in Nigeria as the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue, as well as a gateway between the northern and southern regions of the country.

He said the absence of an international airport in that location represents a structural gap.

“Zariagi facility will help to decongest Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport because it will serve as a proximate alternative. This will serve at least 10 states,” he said.
He therefore dismissed the agitations as inconsequential.