A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutepa, has launched a scathing critique of the proposed international airport project in Kogi State, describing the ₦50 billion initiative as unnecessary and poorly conceived.
The project, reportedly approved under Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, is to be sited in Adavi Local Government Area and spans about 4,000 hectares. But Okutepa argues that the state lacks the economic foundation and infrastructure to justify such an ambitious undertaking.
In a statement shared via his X (formerly Twitter) account, the senior lawyer questioned the rationale behind building an international airport in a state he described as underdeveloped.
“Does Kogi State need an airport, not to even talk of an international airport? I do not think so,” he said, challenging the government’s priorities.
Okutepa maintained that the ₦50 billion earmarked for the project could be better invested in sectors with immediate impact on citizens’ lives—particularly agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure. According to him, such investments would generate employment and improve living standards far more effectively than what he termed a “fanciful” mega project.
He painted a grim picture of conditions across the state, citing poor road networks, weak power supply, and a lack of functional healthcare facilities—especially in Kogi East. Public hospitals, he alleged, are largely unequipped, operating more like consulting clinics than full-service medical centres.
“There are no motorable roads. Power supply is near zero. What does Kogi State have to build an international airport? What are international travellers coming to do?” he queried.
The SAN further warned that the airport project risks becoming a “white elephant,” suggesting it could serve as a conduit for mismanaging public funds rather than delivering real value.
Urging a rethink, Okutepa appealed directly to the governor to abandon the plan and refocus on critical development needs.
“It is not viable. It is not needed. It is unnecessary and unreasonable. It is a gross waste and a misplaced priority,” he concluded.
His comments add to growing public debate over large-scale infrastructure projects in Nigeria, where questions of economic viability and social impact continue to shape policy discussions.