By Abdul Mohammed Lawal.
Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) in Kogi State is one of the unique LGAs in the Kogi East Senatorial District, owing to its strategic location and multi-ethnic indigenous population. It is home to proud, hardworking people with a rich cultural heritage and fertile land. Yet, despite these many blessings, Bassa remains one of the most neglected areas in the state.
For years, the people have watched as roads crumble, projects are abandoned, and government presence fades into a distant hope. Many residents feel forgotten; not because they are silent, but because their voices are often ignored. The sense of abandonment has only grown stronger with each passing year.
I was inspired to write this article not as a cry for pity, but as a small way of calling for justice and reminding all that Bassa is not a minor part of Kogi State. It is a vital part of both its present and its future.
Bassa is blessed with vast farmlands and industrious farmers. From maize to yam, cassava to rice, the land produces in abundance. Were you surprised when His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, allocated a significant portion of the state’s fertiliser supply to the area during the 2024 planting season? The people do not wait for handouts; they rise early, till the soil, and keep the markets of Kogi State fed. But what happens when the road from farm to market becomes a death trap?
Most roads in Bassa are in terrible condition. During the dry season, the dust is unbearable. When the rains come, it gets worse; the roads turn into muddy rivers, swallowing vehicles and cutting off villages from one another. Pregnant women struggle to reach hospitals. Farmers lose their produce en route to market. Children trek long distances in hazardous conditions just to attend school.
A community cannot grow when it is cut off from the rest of the world. For Bassa, poor roads have become a daily reminder of its abandonment.
In politics, being seen is not the same as being heard. Bassa people are often present in photographs, meetings, and public events; but when decisions are made, they are rarely given a central role. Despite being part of the Dekina Federal Constituency, Bassa has not enjoyed equal opportunities to produce key leaders or benefit from government projects like Dekina LGA. In fact, the last time Bassa had a representative in the National Assembly was between 1990 and 2003, through Hon. Isaac Ruzama Jimba.
Appointments are few and far between. Elections come and go, yet Bassa voices are rarely found in influential places. Even when someone from Bassa is appointed to a position, it is often not strong enough to shape the bigger picture, or they go to very selfish individuals. This creates an illusion of inclusion; one that hides the harsh truth of political neglect.
This unfair treatment has persisted for many years, gradually eroding trust between the people and the system. The truth is, Bassa does not seek favours, it seeks fairness. This was evident when they wholeheartedly supported the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 Kogi State gubernatorial election. The people want to sit at the table, not watch from the sidelines.
Did you know that the last major road project in the LGA was carried out in 2008 by Acting Governor Clarence Olafemi? Yet, every four years, Bassa becomes popular again; not because its problems have been solved, but because its votes are needed. Politicians arrive with grand promises, loud campaigns, and temporary gestures. Some come bearing bags of rice, wrappers, or token projects meant more to impress than to last.
They greet the chiefs, smile for photos, and speak the local language to gain favour. But once elections are over, they vanish. The roads remain broken, and the people are left to survive on their own, again.
This cycle has continued for far too long. Bassa cannot only matter during elections. Its people are not just voters; they are citizens who deserve respect, development, and attention every day, not once every four years. But they are not broken. In the face of hardship, they continue to press on with strength and dignity.
Farmers still go to their fields. Traders still find ways to transport goods. Children still walk long distances to learn. The spirit of the people remains strong, even when the system fails them.
In recent times, more young people from Bassa have begun to speak out. They are asking questions, challenging the status quo, and calling for real change. Elites close to the corridors of power, elders, and traditional leaders must also begin to raise their voices. There is a growing belief among the youth that the time has come to demand more; not through anger, but through unity and clarity.
For Bassa to move forward, real and lasting change must happen. The roads must be fixed. Governments at all levels must treat road construction in Bassa as a priority, not a favour. Good roads will open up the area to trade, education, healthcare, and improved living standards. Development is a right, not a gift, and Bassa has waited long enough.
Bassa is not asking for too much. The people simply want what every citizen deserves.
This is a call to those in government, those seeking office, and all who claim to love Kogi: Bassa matters. Its people matter. Its future matters. Let us not wait for another election year to act. Let us not wait for another rainy season to remember the roads. The time to fully include Bassa in the journey of progress is now.
The youthful voices from the Bassa people are growing louder; and this time, it must not be ignored.
