Natasha Flags Off Smart Markets In Kogi Central, Says Suspension Couldn’t Stop Service

The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has reiterated her unwavering commitment to the people of her constituency, declaring that her recent suspension from the Senate did not deter her from delivering quality representation and development projects.

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan made the statement on Sunday during the official flag-off of two smart market projects in Okene and Okehi Local Government Areas. The initiative, aimed at uplifting grassroots commerce and empowering local traders, particularly women marked another bold step in her ongoing development drive across Kogi Central.

“Despite my suspension, I never stopped working. I have remained constantly engaged in serving the people and pursuing their welfare,” she said, addressing a crowd that included traditional rulers, women groups, and youth organisations.

Each market will feature 80 modern shop units, 40 lock-up shops and 40 open stalls equipped with solar-powered electricity, boreholes, modern toilet facilities, electrical sockets, truck-friendly loading bays, and security-enhancing streetlights. The projects are sited at Ihima Central Market in Oboroke, Okehi LGA, and a new community market in Okene LGA, both selected for their strategic locations and potential for expansion.

The markets, expected to be completed and commissioned in November 2025 to mark Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s second anniversary in office, form part of a broader constituency development plan, with more projects slated for rollout in the coming months.

Speaking on her leadership philosophy, the senator said, “I represent all the good people of Kogi Central at the Senate. Politics happens during elections, and after that, it’s performance that would impact everyone irrespective of political differences.”

She emphasised that her work as a senator is driven by inclusion and people-focused governance, not partisan considerations. “Service to the people transcends political affiliation,” she added.

Community leaders and supporters at the event praised the senator’s resilience and unwavering dedication to her duties despite what many described as persistent political hurdles. They lauded the smart market initiative as a game-changer for local trade and women’s economic empowerment in the region.