The Kogi NGOs Network (KONGONET) has called on the state government to intensify efforts to address insecurity, poor road infrastructure, shortage of health workers, flooding, inadequate water supply and other challenges confronting residents across the state.
The network made the call in a position paper presented at its 2026 Annual General Meeting held yesterday in Lokoja, Kogi State, and signed by its Chairperson, Hamza Aliyu.
KONGONET acknowledged the government’s investments in infrastructure, workers’ welfare, agriculture, health, education, security and open governance, but said citizens continued to face serious development pressures requiring urgent attention.
On security, the organisation said kidnapping, unsafe highways and threats to farming communities remained major concerns, stressing that the success of security interventions should ultimately be measured by whether citizens could farm, travel, trade and attend school without fear.
It called for stronger community early-warning systems, improved protection of schools, farms and major roads, better inter-agency coordination, support for victims and appropriate accountability for security spending.
On flooding, KONGONET said the state should move beyond seasonal emergency responses and adopt year-round preventive measures, including early warning systems, drainage clearance, mapped evacuation routes, safe shelters, pre-positioned relief materials and flood-resilient public infrastructure.
The network also expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of federal, state and rural roads, saying the situation was increasing transportation costs, damaging vehicles, delaying emergency medical care and making it difficult for farmers to transport produce to markets.
It urged the government to publish a road rehabilitation and maintenance programme, sustain engagement with the Federal Government on critical federal corridors and improve routine maintenance of state, rural and agricultural feeder roads.
On healthcare, KONGONET said investments in health infrastructure would not translate into quality services without adequate personnel.
It therefore called for accelerated implementation of the state’s health workforce recruitment and deployment plan, a statewide staffing audit, transparent recruitment based on verified needs and improved incentives for rural posting and retention of health professionals.
The organisation further demanded full implementation of the Kogi State disability legal framework, including accessibility audits, reasonable accommodation, accessible communication and greater inclusion of qualified persons with disabilities in public employment and decision-making.
“Disability rights are rights, not charity,” it stated.
KONGONET also raised concern over the increasing visibility of persons with apparent mental-health conditions on the streets of Lokoja, Okene and other towns, urging authorities to adopt a humane approach rather than criminalising or merely removing such persons from public spaces.
It advocated assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, social welfare support, family tracing where appropriate and specialised training for officers responding to mental-health crises.
On water, sanitation and public transportation, the network urged the government to complete and sustainably operate the Greater Lokoja Water Works, expand water systems to underserved communities, improve waste collection and drainage maintenance and establish an affordable, properly managed and disability-inclusive mass transit system.
KONGONET described the forthcoming October 2026 Local Government elections, implementation of the Open Government Partnership State Action Plan and management of public resources as important tests of institutional credibility.
It called for peaceful, inclusive and transparent elections, impartial security, credible observation and accessible complaints mechanisms.
The organisation also urged the state government to improve procurement and project disclosure, strengthen citizen monitoring, protect civic space and media freedom and ensure that citizens could easily establish what was budgeted, released, implemented and completed.
According to KONGONET, the central challenge confronting the state is not necessarily the absence of plans and policies, but their effective implementation.
It identified safer communities, flood prevention, urgent road maintenance, recruitment and retention of health workers, implementation of disability rights, humane mental-health interventions, reliable water and sanitation, affordable public transport, credible local government elections and stronger public accountability as priority areas.
The organisation called for a renewed relationship between government, citizens and civil society based on openness, evidence, respect and accountability.
“Development becomes meaningful when citizens can see it, use it and feel its impact in their everyday lives,” KONGONET said.
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