Ibaji people of Kogi State have raised serious concerns about the Kogi Oil Producing Area Development Commission (KOSOPADC) Law, amended in July 2025, claiming it undermines their rights as the state’s only oil-producing community.
At a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, Apeh Abuchi, President of Ibaji Youths, criticized the amended law, stating, “The changes threaten the constitutional rights of the Ibaji people.”
He emphasized that Ibaji, as Kogi’s sole oil-producing area, deserves equitable representation in the commission’s leadership.
Organized by the Ibaji Youths Foundation, Ibaji Unity Forum, and the National Association of Ibaji Students, the briefing highlighted the community’s long-standing fight for fair access to benefits from their natural resources.
Abuchi noted that the original KOSOPADC Law, signed on December 20, 2023, by former Governor Yahaya Bello, ensured that “key leadership positions within the commission would be occupied by indigenes of the oil-producing communities.” He pointed to similar laws in Imo, Ondo, and Delta States, which prioritize local representation for accountability and community-focused governance.
However, Abuchi explained, “The July 25, 2025, amendment has fundamentally altered the KOSOPADC Law,” stripping Ibaji of guaranteed leadership roles.
He revealed that the revised law assigns the Chairman to Kogi West and the Secretary to Kogi Central, leaving Kogi East, where Ibaji is located, without significant representation. Abuchi called the amendment process “flawed and egregious” due to the absence of public hearings or community consultation.
Describing the changes as a “legislative ploy” to marginalize Ibaji, Abuchi urged the Kogi House of Assembly to restore the original 2023 law.
“We insist that strategic leadership positions within KOSOPADC reflect Ibaji’s unique contributions as the sole oil-producing area,” he declared.
He also appealed to Governor Usman Ododo and the broader Nigerian public to ensure justice and fairness in addressing the community’s grievances.
(NAN)
