By Queen Madaki, Abuja, Nigeria
The African Transparency Initiative (ATI) has raised fresh concerns over the escalating poverty crisis in Kogi State, urging the international community to support local governments and strengthen accountability across Nigeria.
The call was made during a press conference held on 17 November 2025, attended by Hajia Fatima Umar, Mr. Adekunle, Comrade Chinagorom, and other civic advocates. The gathering highlighted what ATI described as the “alarming disconnect” between federal allocations and the everyday realities of citizens in Kogi.
“President Tinubu is releasing these monies, but are they going to the grassroots?” one speaker asked pointedly.
ATI noted that despite billions of naira being released to states and Local Government Areas (LGAs), many rural communities still lack basic amenities, unemployment is rising, and families are struggling to survive.
The press conference also brought together members of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, the Campaign for Democracy, and organizations such as Community Outreach for Development and Worker Advocacy, forming a coalition focused on citizen-led accountability. The groups focused on five LGAs—Adavi, Bassa, Dekina, Idah, and Yagba East—to evaluate how statutory allocations are used.
According to coalition data, each of these LGAs received between ₦3 billion and ₦5 billion for the 2024–2025 fiscal period. Analysis of financial records from January to August 2024 showed that only 15%–26% of total allocations were spent on salaries and statutory overheads. The remaining 74%–84%, totaling an estimated ₦11–₦21 billion, could not be accounted for. ATI framed this as evidence of systemic diversion of public funds, although officials from the implicated LGAs did not respond to the claims.
Field assessments and community feedback illustrated the human impact. Residents consistently rated local services as “very poor,” with primary health centers reported as non-functional or of low quality. Citizens described their councils as “nonexistent,” signaling a widening trust gap in local governance.
ATI emphasized that its mission is non-political, focusing instead on ensuring that every naira allocated for development reaches the intended beneficiaries. The group also announced plans to intensify citizens’ advocacy campaigns across Kogi, encouraging communities to track public spending, demand transparency, and hold local officials accountable.
In conclusion, ATI urged international development partners, global transparency bodies, and human rights organizations to pay closer attention to Kogi State, helping to safeguard the proper use of federal funds and lift communities out of poverty.
