Ejeh of Ibaji, John Egwemi
Pressure is mounting on the Kogi State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (KOSOPADEC) following complaints from Ibaji stakeholders over the absence of visible development projects in oil-producing communities of Ibaji Local Government Area.
The concerns were formally conveyed in a petition dated December 29, 2025, submitted by the Ibaji Progressive Youth Foundation (IPYF) to the commission’s chairman. The group queried why host communities in Ibaji have yet to feel the impact of KOSOPADEC, despite the steady inflow of the 13 per cent oil derivation funds to the state via the Federation Allocation Account Committee (FAAC).
According to a statement by the Ejeh of Ibaji, HRH (Dr) Odiche John Egwemi, the issue dominated deliberations at a stakeholders’ meeting held on December 26, 2025, in Onyedega, the council headquarters. Participants, drawn from across the local government, reportedly expressed frustration over what they described as KOSOPADEC’s inactivity in the area.
The stakeholders recalled that KOSOPADEC was established under the 2023 law to drive development in oil-producing areas, with Section 14 of the law mandating the commission to administer 50 per cent of the state’s derivation funds for the rehabilitation and development of host communities.
They warned that failure to address the perceived neglect could further entrench underdevelopment and heighten social tension in Ibaji.
The group, however, expressed hope that the commission’s leadership would respond promptly by rolling out impactful projects that reflect its mandate and reassure host communities of the government’s commitment to inclusive development.