Ibaji stakeholders accuse KOSOPADEC of failing oil-producing communities
Stakeholders from Ibaji Local Government Area of Kogi State have raised the alarm over what they describe as the complete absence of development projects by the Kogi State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (KOSOPADEC) in their communities, despite years of oil derivation funding.
The stakeholders, drawn from various interest groups across Ibaji LGA, met on December 26, 2025, in Onyedega, the local government headquarters, to formally articulate their grievances and bring public attention to what they termed a “systemic failure” by KOSOPADEC to fulfil its statutory responsibilities.
In a resolution conveyed through a letter signed by the Ejeh of Ibaji, HRH (Dr) Odiche John Egwemi, and presented to the Chairman of KOSOPADEC, the stakeholders expressed deep concern over the prolonged inactivity of the commission in Ibaji, which is officially recognised as a host oil-producing area.
The letter noted that no tangible development project had been executed in any oil-producing community in Ibaji LGA, despite the regular inflow of the constitutionally guaranteed 13 per cent oil derivation funds from the Federation Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) to the Kogi State Government.
According to the traditional ruler, the concerns are grounded in the provisions of the Kogi State Oil Producing Area Development Commission Law of 2023, particularly Section 14, which mandates KOSOPADEC to receive and administer 50 per cent of the state’s 13 per cent derivation fund exclusively for the rehabilitation and development of oil-producing communities, while also ensuring fair and adequate distribution of projects across such areas.
He stressed that these provisions constitute a legal and moral obligation to communities that bear the environmental and social burdens of oil exploration, describing the continued absence of projects in Ibaji as a breach of trust.
The stakeholders observed that the derivation funds had continued to flow to the state under both the previous administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the current government of Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo, yet no corresponding development could be seen on the ground in Ibaji.
They warned that the situation raises serious questions about the utilisation and management of the funds, which are meant to reduce poverty, address infrastructure deficits and improve living conditions in oil-producing areas.
The letter highlighted the persistent lack of basic amenities in Ibaji’s oil-bearing communities, including poor road networks, inadequate healthcare facilities, under-resourced schools and limited employment opportunities for youths.
According to the stakeholders, these challenges are precisely what KOSOPADEC was established to address, and the commission’s failure to act has fuelled frustration and a growing sense of abandonment among residents.
They further argued that the non-application of the derivation funds for their intended purpose amounts to a violation of principles of equity and distributive justice, undermining confidence in governance and resource management.
The stakeholders called for urgent intervention, transparency and accountability in the administration of the derivation funds, insisting that development projects must be fairly and visibly implemented in Ibaji in line with the law establishing KOSOPADEC.