By Safiyat Muhammed | The Bureau News
The people of Ibaji communities in Kogi State have rejected the controversial amendment to the Kogi State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (KOSOPADC) Law, accusing the state government of sidelining them from the management of oil revenues.
At a press conference on Monday, the Ibaji Progressive Youth Foundation and the Ibaji Unity Forum described the July 25, 2025 amendment, signed into law by Governor Usman Ododo, as an “unconstitutional attempt to disenfranchise the only oil-producing local government in the state.”
Ibaji Leaders Cry Foul
The groups, led by Comrade Apeh Kelvin and Joshua Augustine, reminded the public that the original 2023 KOSOPADC Law, enacted under former Governor Yahaya Bello, guaranteed host communities direct participation in resource governance.
Section 6 of the 2023 law specifically provided that key positions in the commission — Managing Director, Chairman, Executive Directors, and board members — be reserved for indigenes of oil-producing communities, aligning with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and similar models in Imo, Ondo, and Delta States.
They accused the Ododo administration of removing this provision and instead zoning the Chairman’s position to Kogi West and the Secretary to Kogi Central, effectively excluding Kogi East and Ibaji, the sole oil-producing region, from leadership.
“If the oil were in Kogi Central or Kogi West, would they accept being excluded? Our rights are not negotiable. They are enshrined in the constitution,” the leaders declared.
Lack of Consultation Sparks Outrage
The Ibaji community also condemned the legislative process that produced the amendment, alleging there was no public hearing and that their representatives were not consulted.
They described the development as a deliberate disregard for due process and an attempt to “rob Ibaji of its rightful place in oil governance.”
“The amendment of July 25, 2025, is a legislative sleight of hand that seeks to silence our voices and deny us the benefits from resources extracted from our ancestral lands,” the groups stated.
Demands for Justice
The Ibaji leaders issued a strong call to action, demanding that the Kogi State House of Assembly immediately reject the amendment and restore the original 2023 KOSOPADC Law.
They insisted that all five community representatives on the board and strategic leadership positions — Chairman, Secretary, and Managing Director — must be occupied by qualified indigenes of Ibaji.
“We insist that strategic leadership positions within KOSOPADC must equitably reflect the unique contributions and sacrifices of Ibaji, as the sole oil-producing local government in Kogi State,” they said.
The groups further reminded the state that Ibaji has borne the environmental costs of oil exploration while supporting Kogi’s economic aspirations.
“What we ask for is fairness and justice. The future development of Kogi depends on inclusivity. Laws must remain instruments of justice, not tools of oppression,” they emphasized.
Wider Implications
Analysts warn that the dispute highlights the broader struggle for resource control in Nigeria, where host communities often accuse state governments of exploitation and neglect.
The Ibaji case could become a legal and political flashpoint, especially given its alignment with the Petroleum Industry Act’s host community provisions.
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