Chief Peter Ameh, former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and ex-2019 presidential candidate, has strongly criticized the proposed Kogi State international airport in Zariagi, describing it as a “monumental waste of state wealth” and a “shameful misallocation of scarce taxpayer resources.”
In a statement released on Tuesday, Ameh rejected claims by Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, that “no state in Nigeria needs an airport more than Kogi.” He argued that the state’s predominantly agrarian population, composed mostly of subsistence farmers and rural dwellers, would gain little from the multimillion-naira project, which he estimates could cost around ₦50 billion or more.
Ameh described the proposed airport as a “grotesquely misguided” and “utterly irresponsible” project that would do nothing to address Kogi’s pressing issues, including poor road networks, dilapidated schools, inadequate healthcare, chronic power outages, and lack of market access for agricultural produce.
He suggested that the funds earmarked for the airport would have a far greater impact if invested in establishing high-capacity rail connections between Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory. According to Ameh, such infrastructure would provide relief to thousands of commuters, boost the transport of agricultural goods, create sustainable jobs, and stimulate economic growth across the state.
Citing Ebonyi State’s Chuba Okadigbo International Airport as a cautionary example, Ameh noted that the facility, despite costing over ₦55 billion, has struggled with operational setbacks, repeated rehabilitations, and low utilization, diverting funds away from critical social services.
“Genuine development must uplift the forgotten masses, not pamper a minuscule elite,” Ameh said. He urged the Kogi State Government to abandon the airport plan and prioritize people-centered projects such as roads, rail, education, healthcare, and agricultural empowerment.
Ameh concluded, “Kogi deserves real, equitable progress not this extravagant, tone-deaf waste of public funds.”
