The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo, has urged engineers, supervisors and technical personnel to uphold professionalism, accountability and safety in the execution and monitoring of public infrastructure projects.
Ododo gave the charge on Tuesday at the Government House in Lokoja while unveiling project inspection kits produced by the state Ministry of Works for engineers and other personnel involved in project supervision.
He described the Ministry of Works as a key driver of the state’s development, noting that its performance directly affects the implementation of government policies and infrastructure projects.
The governor said the quality of public infrastructure depended largely on the competence, commitment and effectiveness of the professionals responsible for its delivery and supervision.
He commended engineers, accountants, technicians, supervisors and other civil servants for their contributions to the state’s development, expressing confidence in their ability to address infrastructure challenges.
According to him, many civil servants have the knowledge and professional skills required to deliver results but need an enabling environment, encouragement and institutional support to perform effectively.
‘When you work for the people, you are indirectly working for yourself. When you project your commitment, you are also projecting yourself,’ he said.
Ododo urged public servants to recognise that their contributions to the state’s development would remain part of its history, stressing the need for dedication to duty and service to the people.
He also called for closer collaboration between political officeholders and professional civil servants, urging engineers to offer technical advice and recommend better approaches to improve project delivery.
The governor said constructive engagement, mutual respect and adherence to due process were essential to preventing errors that could compromise the quality, durability and value of public infrastructure.
He described the inspection kits as an intervention to strengthen project monitoring and improve public service delivery, expressing optimism that effective supervision and collaboration would accelerate development across the state.
Ododo, in his capacity as the state’s Chief Security Officer, formally unveiled reflective jackets designed to improve the safety and visibility of engineers and other technical personnel during construction site inspections.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Works, Hon. Barr. Salami Momodu Ozigi Deedat, described the ministry as the backbone of infrastructure development in Kogi State, noting that the delivery of roads and other public projects depended significantly on its performance.
He said the ministry remained committed to completing inherited projects while pursuing ongoing infrastructure initiatives, particularly road construction and other projects aimed at improving connectivity and public services across the state.
Ozigi Deedat explained that the inspection kits were introduced to give government engineers and inspection teams a distinct professional identity during official site visits.
He noted that government inspection personnel had often relied on arrangements provided by contractors during project monitoring, making it difficult to distinguish officials from contractors at construction sites.
According to him, the new kits would make government engineers and inspection teams easily identifiable while performing their official duties.
The commissioner urged engineers and other relevant personnel to use the kits appropriately and maintain regular communication with the ministry’s leadership to improve project monitoring, supervision and accountability.
He also acknowledged Ododo’s continued interest in the ministry’s activities, saying the governor’s attention to project implementation placed greater responsibility on officials to remain committed to their duties and uphold professional standards.