tourism in kogi state

Top Kogi State Attractions

Things to do in kogi state.

• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for Kids
• Good for Big Groups
• Adventurous
• Budget-friendly
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Couples
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Nike Art Gallery,Guesthouse & Workshop

2. Chucks Shopping Mall

3. Confluence state tours

Top Things to Do in Kogi State, Nigeria

Places to visit in kogi state.

• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for Kids
• Good for Big Groups
• Adventurous
• Budget-friendly
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Couples
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Nike Art Gallery,Guesthouse & Workshop

2. Chucks Shopping Mall

3. Confluence state tours

• 2 Other destinations
• 3 Understand
• 4.2 By train
• 5 Get around
• 10 Stay safe

Kogi State is a state in North Central Nigeria . The state is nicknamed the "Confluence State" due the fact that the confluence of the River Niger and the River Benue occurs next to its capital, Lokoja.

Cities [ edit ]

• 7.801944 6.744167 1 Lokoja
• 7.6885 7.0488 2 Ankpa
• 7.493366 7.173639 3 Anyigba
• 7.6885 7.0488 4 Dekina
• 6.86667 6.8 6 Ibaji
• 7.08333 6.75 7 Idah
• 8.095 6.08 9 Illah Bunu
• 7.833333 6.066667 11 Kabba
• 8.088889 6.797222 12 Koton-karfe
• 7.55 6.233333 14 Okene
• 7.7 6.3 15 Okehi
• 7.755 6.0137 16 Ogidi

Other destinations [ edit ]

Understand [ edit ].

The state is bisected by the Niger River, which flows southward; the Benue River, a significant tributary of the Niger, forms part of the state's northeastern boundary. East of the Niger, the Igala people are the dominant ethnic group, whereas west of the river, the Igbira and Yoruba inhabit. Agriculture is the economy's backbone. Yams, cassava (manioc), rice, sorghum, beans, corn (maize), and cotton are among the most important crops.

Geographically, the state is within the tropical Guinean forest–savanna mosaic ecoregion. Important geographic features include the key rivers with the Niger flowing from the northwest and the Benue coming from the northeast before the two rivers meet in Kogi's centre and bisect the state southward.

Get in [ edit ]

By bus [ edit ].

You can travel to Kogi State by bus from major cities like Abuja, Lagos, Benin, Kano and Port Harcourt. Transportation company(s) such as ABC Transport (with air-conditioned luxurious bus rides), God is Good Motors (GIGM), Big Joe Motors, Chisco Transport (CTN) and Young Shall Grow, etc, all provide transport services from other parts of the country to Kogi State.

By train [ edit ]

• 7.6216 6.3222 1 Itakpe Train Station Nigeria Railway Corporation has completed an inter-city line between Kogi, Abuja and Kaduna , where you can connect with the rest of the Nigerian rail system. Trains arrive and depart from Itakpe The train service offers three types of such as Economy, First Class and Sleeper. The schedules and current fairs can be found on the Nigeria Railway Corporation website.

Get around [ edit ]

See [ edit ].

Tourist attractions in Kogi State include the colonial relics (such as Lord Lugard House), Mount Patti, World War Cenotaph, the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue, Ogidi (an African town with formations of ogneous rock mountains and a traditional art & craft industry), and natural land features hills and terrains that serve as hiking trails.

Being a 2-hour drive from Abuja some tourists come for day trips.

Do [ edit ]

Eat [ edit ], drink [ edit ], stay safe [ edit ], connect [ edit ], go next [ edit ].

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• North Central Nigeria
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Top Things to Do in Kogi State, Nigeria - Kogi State Must-See Attractions

Things to do in kogi state.

• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for Kids
• Good for Big Groups
• Adventurous
• Budget-friendly
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Couples
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Nike Art Gallery,Guesthouse & Workshop

2. Chucks Shopping Mall

3. Confluence state tours

Exploring Kogi: A Comprehensive Travel Guide

Kogi, a state in central Nigeria, is known for its diverse landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture. The state offers a wide range of attractions, from natural wonders to historical sites and bustling markets. In this comprehensive travel guide, you’ll discover the best places to visit, the ideal time to explore Kogi, things to do, transportation options, dining experiences, accommodation choices, and valuable travel tips.

Places to Visit in Kogi

• Confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue: Kogi State is home to the mesmerizing confluence of two of Nigeria’s most significant rivers, the Niger and the Benue. This is a natural wonder and a must-visit site.
• Mount Patti: For panoramic views of Lokoja, the state capital, hike or drive up Mount Patti. You’ll be rewarded with breathtaking vistas.
• Lord Lugard’s Residence: Explore the historical residence of Lord Lugard, the first British colonial Governor-General of Nigeria. The building offers a glimpse into Nigeria’s colonial past.
• Koton Karfe Caves: Delve into the mysteries of the ancient Koton Karfe Caves, which are said to have been used as hideouts during inter-tribal wars.
• Igala Kingdom Palace: Visit the royal palace in Idah, which is the traditional seat of the Igala Kingdom. It’s an architectural marvel and a hub of cultural activities.

Best Time To Visit Kogi The best time to visit Kogi is during the dry season, which typically falls between November and March. The weather is more favorable for outdoor activities during this period, and the rivers’ confluence is particularly captivating.

Things to Do in Kogi

• River Cruises: Enjoy boat rides on the Niger and Benue rivers for a unique perspective of the confluence.
• Hiking: Hike Mount Patti for exercise and breathtaking views.
• Historical Exploration: Dive into Nigeria’s history by visiting Lord Lugard’s Residence and other historical sites.
• Cave Exploration: Embark on an adventure to the Koton Karfe Caves, which are both intriguing and historically significant.
• Cultural Immersion: Attend local festivals and events to experience the vibrant culture and traditions of Kogi State.

How to Get Around in Kogi

• Taxis: Taxis are commonly available in major towns and cities within Kogi. Ensure you agree on fares in advance or request the use of the meter.
• Commercial Motorcycles (Okadas): Okadas are a popular mode of transport for shorter distances and navigating through traffic.
• Buses: Public buses, often referred to as “danfos” or “molues,” provide affordable transportation between towns and cities.
• Car Rentals: Renting a car is an option if you prefer to have more control over your itinerary.

Where to Eat in Kogi

• Local Eateries: Explore local eateries and restaurants to savor traditional Nigerian dishes such as Jollof rice, Suya (grilled meat skewers), and Pounded Yam with Egusi soup.
• Street Food: Don’t miss the chance to sample street food like Akara (bean cakes) and Moi Moi (steamed bean pudding) from local vendors.

Famous Street Stalls in Kogi While Kogi may not have internationally famous street stalls, the state is known for its delicious and diverse street food culture. You’ll find local vendors selling a variety of tasty snacks throughout towns and cities.

Where to Stay in Kogi Kogi offers accommodation options that include:

• Hotels: Several hotels, ranging from budget to luxury, can be found in major towns and cities like Lokoja and Idah.
• Guesthouses: Guesthouses offer affordable and comfortable lodging options.
• Resorts: Some resorts provide a peaceful and scenic atmosphere, perfect for relaxation.

Travel Tips for Kogi Respect Local Customs: Be aware of and respectful of local customs and traditions, especially in rural areas.

Cash: Have enough cash on hand as ATMs may not be widely available, especially in more remote locations.

Language: While English is widely spoken, learning basic phrases in local languages, such as Igala or Ebira, can enhance your interactions.

Weather: Kogi can get quite hot, so wear sunscreen, drink plenty of water, and dress appropriately for the climate.

Kogi State has much to offer travelers seeking natural beauty, history, and cultural experiences. With this travel guide, you’re well-prepared to explore and enjoy the diverse attractions and warm hospitality of Kogi.

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Breath-taking views from atop Lokoja’s Mount Patti

Kogi state, no doubt is blessed with many historical, cultural and tourists’ sites yet to be fully harnessed and maximized by government. Mount Patti is…

Kogi state, no doubt is blessed with many historical, cultural and tourists’ sites yet to be fully harnessed and maximized by government. Mount Patti is one of the finest and most interesting tourists’ sites which any first-timer to Lokoja, the Kogi State capital would like to visit. An adventurous climb to the top of Mount Patti which is about 1,500 feet or 458.3 meters above sea level would be a worthwhile experience for a visitor to the ancient town. One interesting thing about this site is its serene ambience and clement weather that both welcome you as you journey to the top. Normally, the prevailing weather condition within Lokoja town is hot but a visit to Mount Patti offers a contrast as the thick lush vegetation along with the rocky hills, giveb off cool breeze all year round. The snaking road that leads to the top of Mount Patti is such a wonder to behold as you walk uphill. Sitting gracefully on top of Mount Patti is a structure known as ‘Lord Lugard Rest House,’ said to have been built around 1900. Lord Lugard, the then Governor General of Nigeria was said to have used the ‘Rest House’ as relaxation spot after his day’s activities. It was also learnt that Lugard equally used the vantage position of the Mount Patti as a surveillance post to observe all activities going on in Lokoja and its environs. Also at the top of Mount Patti are statues of his wife, Flora Shaw and him. Mount Patti once served as a place of refuge for its earliest inhabitants whom the colonial administrators sent down to the Niger valley. ‘Patti’, is a Nupe word which means hill. Flora Shaw was said to have coined the name ‘Nigeria’ (Niger-area) from on top this mount, while working as a foreign journalist during the era of British Colonial Administration. She later got married to Lord Lugard. The wooded height of the hill gives a visitor a vantage position to view the scenic plain surrounding the ancient town of Lokoja. From atop Mount Patti, one can savour the silent grandeur and beautiful nature of the Confluence Rivers, Niger and Benue. But there are however, concerns from people over the manner this great tourists’ site has been left unharnessed by government over the years. Although the administration of former governor Idris Wada carried out some works to restore the site, more work is however needed to make the place a real tourists’ hub. The mount, which many believe has the capacity to generate millions of revenues for government if properly developed as a standard tourists’ site, is currently generating no kobo. Daily Trust reports that despite the unharnessed nature of the place, many Lokoja residents and other visitors to the ancient town have been flocking there on an almost daily basis. It was observed that a large number of Lokoja residents and their families climb to the top of Mount Patti every Saturday morning mostly to exercise and keep fit. Cross section of some of the visitors to the Mount described the place as a ‘great tourists’ site that must be fully developed by government. Badamasi Olalekan, a youth corps member said it was his first time of climbing the mount and that he was amazed by what he saw. “Even though I used to hear about Mount Patti, I didn’t know it is such a wonderful place. At least I had some fun. I’m a youth corps member serving in Lokoja. With this, Nigeria’s future is bright. “I expect government to make this place more attractive for people coming here by putting some recreational facilities in place here. Government can put some gardens in place for people to relax and savour the beauty of this serene environment. Besides, this place can generate revenues for government if properly developed,” he said. “This place can as well serve as a point of cross cultural integration and arouse our national consciousness. For instance, I am a Yoruba but since I came, I have been able to interact with people from other ethnic groups,” he said. Ikechukwu Ugwuoke, from Enugu state who also climbed Mount Patti said: “It’s been wonderful! I have met a lot of people and it’s been fun. I believe government could utilize this place to generate more funds for the state. They can collect little tokens from people coming to the mount and use it to develop the place. This place can also be used to create employment for the teeming unemployed youth if properly developed.” Linda Kuku, who said it was her fourth time visiting the place, said the experience would have been more interesting of if it were better developed. She said: “This place is very interesting but more would have been done in this place because this is a tourist attraction and some recreational facilities need to be put in place for people to relax. “The place is very beautiful and I would encourage other people to come here. Couple with the fact that when you come to the top of the mount, the weather you have is quite different from the weather you experience in Lokoja town. The weather here is friendly and if government can make this place more beautiful, it would be nice,” she said. Miss Jenifa Martins, who was climbing the Mount for the 7th time described the place as ‘nice.’ On why she climbs often, Martins said: “I exercise here, I meet a lot of people I have not met in ages. That is one of the reasons I come to this place. This place is supposed to be a place of leisure and creativity. I think if a wild life park is built here, it would be wonderful and would contribute to the growth of the state’s economy in terms of revenues”. Chima, a student of Federal Univeristy Lokoja, said he has been visiting the site since 2012 to exercise, enjoy nature and relax. “I have been coming here for fun because this place is a nice tourist attraction. We catch fun by trekking up to the mount and we have the opportunity to see Lord Lugard’s Rest House and feel the serenity of the environment. I want government to work on the rehabilitation of portions of the road leading to the top of the mount,” he said. When contacted, Special Adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello on Tourism, Mr Ibrahim Usman said the present government was committed to the hospitality and tourism sector of the state, assuring that government would work towards upgrading all tourist sites in a manner that would generate revenues to government. “Lokoja has up to 18 tourists’ sites which Mount Patti happens to be one of them. We want to encourage packaged trips and packaged tours whereby people who are coming in will come in group of minimum of 10 and would have chosen the place they want to visit ahead of time and then, they would be conducted round those sites. “Unlike now that people come in and try to find places to go, there will be prearranged trips. “Tourists now will come in groups and that way, it is going to be more verifiable. That way, you can tell the number of people coming in and tell what the state will generate,” he said.  Ibrahim, however noted that embarking on such projects would require huge resources, adding government is taking time to work out plans and would not want to rush into doing them.  

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5 MUST VISIT PLACES IN KOGI STATE

Kogi is a Nigerian state in the Northcentral zone of the country. Here is the comprehensive list of the must-visit places in Kogi State.

Kogi is a Nigerian state in the Northcentral zone of the country. Kogi is popularly called the confluence state because the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue occurs in the state.

The capital of Kogi State is Lokoja and there are three main ethnic groups in the state- Igala, Ebira and Okun.

Tourist attractions in Kogi State include the colonial relics (such as Lord Lugard House), the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue, Ogidi (An African town with formations of Igneous Rock mountains and a traditional art & craft industry) and natural land features hills and terrains that serve as hiking trails.

Please note that this list of the 5 must-visit places in Kogi State today, has not been arranged in any particular order and all the visit places in this post are some of the best you can find around. Here we go with this list

MOUNT PATTI

This is a massive hill towering Lokoja, and another added advantage is that the Confluence point of Rivers Niger and Benue can be seen from the flat top.

It is famous for being the place where British journalist and writer Flora Louise Shaw gave Nigeria its name. The name was coined by Flora Shaw in 1914 when looking at Lokoja from top of The Mount Patti

The mountain is 1,349 feet (411 meters). It is a landmark that would excite every tourist and visitor. At the top of the mountain, you will be surprised to discover that some organizations like the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Lokoja and The Confluence Cable Network (TV and Radio) have their offices comfortably seated on it.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF COLONIAL HISTORY

The National Museum of Colonial History houses relics of Nigeria’s colonial past. The Museum displays Lugard’s relics, his properties, and records of his administration. There is so much to see and learn about Nigeria’s colonial past at the Museum.

HOLY TRINITY SCHOOL

I know you might be wondering why a school is on this list of the visit places in Kogi State, here is why. This school was established in 1860 by Bishop Ajayi Crowther. It is the first primary school in Northern Nigeria.

The Holy Trinity Primary school to a very large extent pioneered the spread of education in Northern Nigeria. Students came from far and wide to acquire western education in the school

INIKPE STATUE

This statue was built in memory of Inikpe, the daughter of the first Attah of Igala kingdom who was buried alive on the instruction of the Oracle to restore peace in the land. This site is a cool tourist spot in Kogi State today.

OSOME FALLS

Osome Falls, Ukpogo: Now here is a really cool spot that am sure is going to interest you, Osome Falls located in Ukpogo, Kogi State is a stream that makes its way through rocks of different heights before sharply descending in a valley about 50 metres

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In the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia. Photo by Fausto Giaccone/Anzenberger/Redux

A glimpse of the world’s heart

I wanted to visit colombia’s sacred mountains. but there are some places we cannot go – and some things we cannot know.

by Nick Hunt   + BIO

I am standing on the beach in Santa Marta, a small port city on Colombia’s humid Caribbean coast. Around me, brightly dressed families are eating ice cream and grilled meat. Venezuelan refugees beg for coins, and shredded plastic bags are snagged in the cactuses. Offshore, cargo vessels idle on blue-grey waves, perhaps heading east towards the Atlantic, or west to Panama and the Pacific. The industrial port bristles with cranes and gantries. Looking inland, my view is curtailed by palm trees and crumbling apartment blocks. But somewhere beyond the urban sprawl, densely forested foothills rise towards the summits of a mountain range called the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. This is the reason I’m here.

I’m not the first foreigner to have stood on this coast and imagined the forests and misty highlands that lie beyond. Near me on the seafront is the statue of Rodrigo de Bastidas, the Spanish explorer who founded this city in 1525, laying claim to the ancestral lands of the Indigenous people who lived here: a civilisation of farmers and goldsmiths known as the Tairona. In the centuries since the arrival of de Bastidas, Santa Marta has been the starting point for explorers, conquistadors, settlers, farmers, miners, loggers, narcotraffickers and, more recently, tourists. In their various ways, all have gazed towards that hinterland and seen the gleam of treasure. Even before my journey starts, I wonder if my presence here is also part of that extractive, questing lineage. I am a travel writer. I have come looking for treasure, too.

I have come to Santa Marta in search of a way into those mountains, to learn about a culture that has remained uncolonised. I have come to encounter the sacred landscape that culture has been protecting. At least, as I sweat here on this beach, that’s what I think I have come here for. In the end, this story isn’t about that journey at all.

T he city that de Bastidas founded was one of the first Spanish settlements in what would later be named Colombia, and the second oldest Spanish city in South America. It marks a cultural ground zero. This is where the meteor hit. You can still feel its impact. From this point, the European invasion rolled across the continent, collapsing civilisations as it went and dragging silver and gold from the rubble, a pressure wave of devastation that reached almost everywhere.

Everywhere but the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.

At first, the Tairona of the coast resisted the seizure of their lands, with a major uprising taking place in 1599. But by the mid-17th century, they had been overwhelmed. In the face of slavery, genocidal violence and disease, the survivors of the invasion fled to mountain settlements, protected by dense tropical jungle and precipitous terrain. The Spanish saw no need to pursue them, as riches could be found more easily elsewhere. Stripped of its coastal territories, the Indigenous civilisation collapsed but, in the fastness of the mountains, descendants of the Tairona survived.

Over the centuries, those descendants separated into four tribes. The Wiwa, the Kangwama and the Arhuaco each found their niches in the range, living at different altitudes with varying degrees of acculturation to the settlers around them. The Kogi, meanwhile, living nearest to the tops of the mountains, cut themselves off from the world below and maintained almost total isolation. Incredibly, that isolation endures today. An uncolonised Indigenous culture has thrived less than 50 kilometres from one of South America’s first colonial Spanish settlements, literally within the invaders’ sight. For all that time, two separate worlds have existed side by side.

Its foothills touch the Caribbean Sea and its peaks are crowned year round with snow

On maps, the mountains bear their Spanish name, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. But in the language of the Kogi they are called Gonawindúa. Colloquially, they are also known to the Indigenous people who live there as El Corazon del Mundo , which means ‘the Heart of the World’.

Rising like a pyramid to a height of more than 5,700 metres, the Heart of the World is the tallest coastal mountain range on Earth. It stretches 160 kilometres across the north of Colombia, with foothills that touch the Caribbean Sea and peaks crowned year round with snow. Between those two extremes exist vastly different ecosystems, ranging from glaciers and misty highlands to steamy tropical jungle. It is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Because of its extreme elevation and changes in topography, the range is a haven for more than 600 species of birds, including 36 found nowhere else, and 189 species of mammals. In 2013, the International Union for Conservation of Nature named the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park the most ‘irreplaceable’ site in the world for endangered species.

The mountains are geographically and ecologically important but, for the Kogi, the Heart of the World must also be understood cosmologically. According to their traditions, this is where all life began. They regard themselves as the ‘Elder Brothers’, protecting the Heart’s vitality by tending its sacred sites with rituals, prayers and offerings to maintain the wider ecological and spiritual balance of the planet. This balance is threatened by the actions of the ‘Younger Brothers’, the name that the Kogi, and others in the sierra, call us, the foreigners who invaded their land. Given the damage of colonisation, it is a generous description. It paints us not as monstrous or malevolent, but as toddlers wrecking unfathomable destruction, unable to comprehend the consequences of what we do – poisoning rivers, burning down forests, pillaging precious metals and coal. For centuries, the Kogi have gazed at their violent siblings below with a mixture of alarm, bewilderment and dismay.

Like many people, I first encountered the Kogi in a documentary. In the late 1980s, the tribal priests, or Mamos, made the difficult decision to end their centuries of isolation – the only thing that had saved their culture from destruction – and invited a journalist into the sierra. Alan Ereira, a British filmmaker, collaborated with the tribe over the next two decades to produce From the Heart of the World (1990) and Aluna (2012). In these documentaries, the Kogi delivered a message to the Younger Brothers, warning us in simple terms what our plundering ways were leading to. The sacred rivers were drying up. The glaciers were melting on the peaks. The Heart of the World was growing sick. Perhaps it was even dying.

I n Ereira’s book The Heart of the World (1990), he describes how his first experience with the Kogi ended. After work on the documentary was finished, the camera crew crossed a small bridge and:

[The Mamos] symbolically closed the bridge behind us. The Younger Brother should not return, we were told. The message had been given, no one else should come. Only I was to come back, with the finished film, so that they could see that I had done what I had promised.

Ereira did what he promised, but ecological breakdown has only accelerated in the years since. The warning, in the Elder Brothers’ eyes, has been ignored.

The films have a complex legacy. They have made the Kogi iconic among ecologically minded Westerners and, through increased visibility and an international profile, have given the tribe a measure of unofficial protection against further encroachment from those who might seek the Heart’s resources. The Colombian government, mindful of its image, now has more stake in their survival. But inevitably this new-found fame has attracted tourists, as well as anthropologists and spiritual seekers of all kinds, who venture to the mountains in the hope of meeting an ‘untouched’ Indigenous culture and being enlightened by its wisdom – or at least taking some photographs. Of course, this threatens the very isolation on which the Kogi have depended.

This is not a travel story – or, rather, it’s a different type of travel story

As a travel writer, I have long been fascinated by stories of the Heart of the World. But I know this fascination presents a deep dilemma: the prohibition against outsiders visiting could not be clearer. This is spelled out by one of the Mamos in Ereira’s first documentary:

[W]e want Younger Brother to know that he can’t come here again, he can’t come back. We are putting a barrier here so that he respects us. Understand, we don’t want him coming up here and interfering with us. He has destroyed so much.

But, as it turns out, the Mamos did not close that barrier completely.

Since Ereira first visited in the late 1980s, a small number of outsiders have been admitted to the sierra as guests rather than gatecrashers: academics, linguists and ecologists whose motives the tribe can trust. Official permission must be gained through the Gonawindúa Tayrona Organisation (OGT), which acts as the representative body of the Indigenous government. Its offices are in the Casa Indígena (‘Indigenous House’) in a suburb of Santa Marta.

That is why I am here: to ask for the OGT’s permission to enter the sierra; to encounter that sacred landscape for myself; to tell a story about a different way of being in the world.

But the story I end up telling will be different. I do not get to the Heart of the World. I do not climb the mountain. I do not hack my way through impenetrable jungle with a machete, or hike up steep hillsides, to reach its unspoiled villages, or its places of spiritual power, or the springs where its sacred rivers start, hidden high above the clouds in a land few Westerners have seen. This is not a travel story – or, rather, it’s a different type of travel story. Rather than being about my journey into a sacred landscape, it’s about a sacred landscape expanding beyond me.

T he Casa Indígena is situated in a district called Los Naranjos, ‘The Oranges’, but there are no orange trees to be seen. My mototaxi drops me off in front of a compound with high walls. Standing outside is a group of men, women and children all dressed in white. The men wear loose cotton tunics and trousers, and the women wear cotton shifts. All have woven bags made of cactus fibre slung around their chests. One of the men wears a conical white hat like a helmet. He is a Mamo, a Kogi priest. His hat represents the snow-capped peaks of the sierra.

Inside the compound, I sit across from the OGT spokesman Jose Manuel, a softly spoken man also dressed in white cotton with two white bags around his chest. Fluent in Spanish and well travelled, he is an ambassador, an intermediary between the spheres of the Elder and Younger Brothers.

He begins by explaining why his people first chose to make contact. By the 1960s, the long-delayed tide of colonisation was finally lapping at the foothills of the sierra. Colombian farmers had flocked to the region, burning back forests to create grazing land. Once the soil was depleted, many of them turned to more lucrative cash crops: marijuana and, later, cocaine. In the subsequent decades, narcotrafficking fuelled both sides of a brutal civil war between communist guerrillas and Right-wing paramilitaries, both of whom had established bases in the surrounding jungle.

As the Younger Brothers spread further and further up the mountains, burning things and fighting each other, the Kogi saw that their continued isolation was threatened as never before. ‘Maltreatment. Murder. Enslavement. Sexual violence. Dispossession. Banishment.’ These are Jose Manuel’s words for what the tribe feared was coming. Without some form of representation, his people would have no voice with which to advocate for their rights and legal protection. ‘The Kogi were in danger of disappearing,’ he says.

If the body of the world grows sick, the Heart of the World grows sick

The first step was to learn the language of the invaders. The neighbouring Wiwa spoke Spanish, so already had a foot in both worlds. Now some Kogi stepped across the linguistic divide. Early contact was fraught with difficulty, not least among the Kogi themselves, as different communities scattered across a wide area of mountainous terrain were now presented with the challenge of speaking in a united voice. The OGT was founded in 1987 as their mouthpiece. It is the channel through which communication flows – as well as requests to visit the sierra, such as mine.

When I ask Jose Manuel to describe the Heart of the World, he answers with a picture.

On a sheet of paper, he draws a wobbly pyramid divided into four quarters labelled ‘Kogi’, ‘Arhuaco’, ‘Kangwama’ and ‘Wiwa’. This is a map of the sierra, but it is more cosmological than cartographic. Near the summit he draws four dots, connected by meandering lines to four different dots at the range’s base, along the Caribbean coast. He labels these dots ezuamas .

Ezuamas , he says, are sacred sites such as springs and river mouths, connected by a spiritual current that flows invisibly through, and beyond, the sierra. The Spanish word he uses to describe this current – Mother Earth’s life-energy – is intocable , ‘untouchable’, but its existence is completely real to the Kogi. The role of the Mamos is to guard the ezuamas and ensure that they stay healthy, that the life-energy flows. But increasingly, as shown in Ereira’s films, the Mamos are concerned that the sites are growing sick. The reason is environmental devastation, from the pollution of rivers to the extraction of metals and coal. These are not ‘resources’ in the Kogi’s eyes, but the living organs of Mother Earth’s body.

If the body of the world grows sick, the Heart of the World grows sick. Each localised point of damage affects the system as a whole. In a feedback system that is intricately connected, nothing is divisible from or independent of anything else. Despite their apparent segregation, ensconced in a land above the clouds, the Kogi have never been isolated but rather connected to everything in subtle, intocable ways that outsiders cannot see.

‘Now the ezuamas are disappearing, the knowledge is disappearing,’ Jose Manuel says simply. ‘We are very sad about this.’

Despite these disappearances, the region is more stable today than it was when Ereira first visited. Most of the guerrillas, paramilitaries and narcotraffickers have moved on. The Indigenous peoples of the sierra have jurisdiction over their land, and officials like Jose Manuel – in his traditional white clothes, but with a smartphone in his hand – act as two-way transmitters, conversant with both cultures.

We pause while an assistant brings us both a cup of Kogi coffee, harvested from wild plants in the tropical forests of the foothills. We sip in silence for a while. Then at last Jose Manuel comes to the subject of my visit.

Patiently, he explains that I have come at a sensitive time. Growing numbers of Younger Brothers have been finding their way to Kogi land, and the OGT has decided that restrictions should be tightened. In the past, outsiders have come to the mountains to extract Indigenous knowledge, removing it from its legitimate owners without permission. This is a type of theft, he says, like extracting precious metals or coal. In order to receive permission, I would need to write a proposal explaining what knowledge I am seeking to gain, what I intend to do with that knowledge, and who I plan to share it with. A decision would then be made in the mountains; the answer could take months.

Unfortunately, I don’t have months, only weeks here in Colombia. My request to visit the Heart of the World is gently but firmly declined.

B ack in my hostel in Santa Marta, in the wet heat of a Colombian spring, I ask myself why I came, what I wanted to find in the Heart of the World.

Like others who came before me, I wanted to learn more about the Kogi, how they have survived for all this time. In crude terms, I suppose I wanted to understand their secret. Perhaps I also wanted to assuage my ecological grief and fear. In a damaged world that is spiralling ever deeper into catastrophe, who wouldn’t desperately want to learn – from some of the few people who never forgot – how to stay more connected to the earth, how to live without destroying it? Who wouldn’t want to be admitted to the world’s heart?

But I also came as a travel writer, looking for a story. I came in search of observations, descriptions and local colour. I came looking for material, and to take that material home with me, to be refined into a product that other people would consume.

The Kogi are taking the steps that are needed to safeguard their culture

When foreigners first came to these lands to extract material wealth, the knowledge of those they invaded was rejected and discarded. At best, that knowledge was seen as useless; at worst, it was evil. Now that the easily extractable resources have been taken, another market is booming in Indigenous wisdom. Academics and researchers need data. Others seek spiritual salvation. They come to find knowledge of medicinal plants and routes to a higher consciousness; to learn techniques for reconnecting with nature; to understand different forms of healing and transformation. Given the depth of our appetites, no wonder the Kogi are wary of anyone coming to take something away – even an idea.

In this context, I am somewhat relieved that my access has been refused. Clearly the Kogi are taking the steps that are needed to safeguard their culture. But before I left the Casa Indígena, clutching my map with its scribbled ezuamas , Jose Manuel tells me I am welcome to talk with his brother, Simigui, who also works with the OGT. He does not live here in Santa Marta but 80 kilometres further up the coast, in the mountains near Palomino, on the outskirts of Kogi territory.

The following day, I am headed east to meet Simigui.

F or the next week, I stay in a village called Rio Ancho, a short mototaxi ride from Palomino, situated on a rocky river that flows from the mountains to the sea. Greenery surrounds it, and its roads are made of mud. Its houses have breezeblock walls, and their windows contain no glass – partly because glass is expensive, and partly because it never gets cold here, only a few degrees north of the equator. My first impressions are of brightly painted walls, amplified music, motorbikes, dogs, many children, and the ever-present crash of the river.

This is a settlement of colonos , literally ‘colonists’, Colombian farmers who have moved to the region in the past few decades. Much of the original forest has been cleared for crops and grazing land. But a few Wiwa families live here, too – the people who first found a footing in both worlds – and 15 kilometres up the road is the Kogi village of Tungueka. Rio Ancho is also home to several foreigners, including gringas like Nina Dahlgreen.

Dahlgreen is a Dane who has lived here for a decade, having fallen for a Colombian man when she was travelling. Her house is airy, with a wide veranda and a garden containing tropical flowers, banana trees and coca plants whose leaves, when chewed or steeped in tea, are a medicine and stimulant. Next door is a family of Evangelical Christians who sing joyous hymns, and a parrot that shouts ‘ Hola! ’ in a cracked voice. Dahlgreen rents me two adjoining rooms with a mosquito-netted bed and a tin roof that thunders when it rains.

From her, I learn that Rio Ancho is safe because ‘only one paramilitary group is active in this region now.’ They have a base somewhere in the hills but also live openly in the village, and every mototaxi driver, hotel owner or property developer must pay them protection money.

They are moving back down the mountains to resettle ancestral lands

‘Safe’ in Colombia is very much a relative term. On the highway that runs to Palomino, she points to a spot where a body was dumped just a couple of months ago – someone who didn’t pay his dues. Sometimes, there are irregular targeted killings by vigilante groups. Two friends of hers, a husband and wife who were campaigning for land reform, were shot dead several years ago as payback for their activism. In Colombia, environmental defenders, and land activists, many of whom are Indigenous, are murdered at one of the highest rates in the world.

Tungueka, the Indigenous village on the periphery of the Heart, is a two-hour walk away. Kogi people from the village are often seen, distinctive in their white clothes, buying supplies in Rio Ancho’s bodegas, leading mules back up the mountain or taking rides on mototaxis, their long hair flying behind them. Dahlgreen says in the past few years some have bought their own motorbikes. Living in close proximity to the Younger Brothers, unlike their cousins higher up the mountains, these Kogi are becoming ‘civilised’ – at least, that is the term that the local colonos use. When I arrived in Rio Ancho, I assumed that the incomers, whether peasant farmers or foreigners, were encroaching on Tungueka, and eroding the boundaries of Kogi land. But the truth is more surprising.

Far from being an ancient settlement whose long isolation is under threat, Tungueka is only 15 years old. Another Kogi village nearby was established only in the past five years. During the past decade, the area around both villages has been reallocated as Indigenous land but, like everything in Colombia, the situation is complicated. Land in this region was originally granted by the state to poor farmers, many of whom then sold it on to foreigners for a higher price, which means that the reallocation of land back to its traditional owners is not without dispute. But the result is that, seemingly against all odds, the Kogi are moving back down the mountains to resettle ancestral lands, effectively expanding their territory for the first time in five centuries.

Tungueka consists of 100 conical huts, with mud walls and thatched roofs, clustered around a larger construction called a nuhue , a sacred ritual gathering place only for Kogi men. (Women, understood as being intrinsically closer to Mother Earth, are considered already sacred.) Tungueka, I have learned, is an ‘open’ village that accepts visitors, and which seems to function as a cultural interzone. Just as the Kogi visit Rio Ancho to buy products that are useful to them, Colombian and foreign tourists are allowed into Tungueka. There is a small entrance fee, and a Kogi guide gives a tour. Toddlers reach out pudgy hands for biscuits, and women accept bags of rice, both of which visitors are advised to bring as offerings.

In The Elder Brothers’ Warning (2009), Ereira describes Kogi culture as one of silence and secrecy. ‘Communication with the outside world is taboo,’ he writes, ‘children are taught to hide from strangers, and adults regard all outsiders as dangerous.’ Clearly things have changed in the 14 years since the book was published – or at least they have here, on the outskirts of the sierra. The Kogi adults who visit Rio Ancho seem to be on friendly or neutral terms with the local colonos , whom children see as a source of biscuits.

Many aspects of my visit make me uncomfortable, especially the distribution of gifts, with the colonial power dynamic implicit in this exchange. It turns me into another tourist, gawking at the life of an ‘authentic’ Indigenous village, at people going about their day, washing clothes, and preparing food.

But the Kogi of this region, on the border of a re-expanding domain, also seem to exercise a high degree of control. Entrance is at their discretion. Going further up the mountain is banned. Behind the huts, the foothills rise abruptly in an imposing wall, dense with jungle and veiled by cloud – the beginning of the guarded sierra that is firmly closed to me. Against that backdrop, Tungueka appears less like a village under siege and more like an outpost in decolonised land.

A hair-raising mototaxi ride brings me to Palomino, 12 kilometres to the west, for my appointment with Jose Manuel’s brother Simigui. Palomino, like Rio Ancho, takes its name from a river. The river takes its name from Rodrigo Álvarez Palomino, a Spanish explorer who drowned in its rapids in the early 16th century, after helping de Bastidas establish Santa Marta. To the Kogi, this river – called Wazenkaka – is sacred. Palomino, the colono village that grew up at its mouth, had until recently a violent, sleazy reputation as a battleground for armed groups. Though the violence has diminished, the sleaziness remains.

Today, the village has been reinvented as a backpacker tourist resort, squeezed between a highway and a white-sand beach. There are hostels and thatched beach bars, ambient techno music thumping from behind bamboo walls, and the tropical air smells of sewerage and marijuana. Posters advertise full moon parties, DJ sets and magic mushrooms, as well as ‘Indigenous tours’ to Tungueka: ‘Experience the Untouched Culture of the Kogi’ says one. Pierced and tattooed foreigners browse shops that sell ethnic souvenirs, and the whole place has an atmosphere of lazy indulgence.

I meet Simigui in a café garden shaded by banana trees. He has travelled down the sierra for a couple of hours to be here. In his bright white clothes and tall straw hat, he is instantly recognisable. His lips are green from chewing coca leaves, and in his hand is the poporo used by all Kogi men: a sacred gourd containing burnt seashells, the lime of which combines with the coca to amplify its narcotic effect. Its application is believed to foster harmony with Mother Earth. Using a stick, he brings the powder to his mouth and wipes the excess on the gourd, which is coated with residue from many years of use. Like the white hats worn by the Mamos, and the conical roofs of the huts, this thick pale-yellow crust represents the sierra’s snows. Throughout our conversation, he chews the small, bitter leaves as naturally as he blinks and breathes.

While his brother spoke of how the Heart of the World is being constricted, Simigui speaks of the ways in which it is also expanding.

He conjures the mountains as a node in a web of connections that stretches between distant ecosystems

‘Recovery comes from the sea,’ he says. Ever since the Spanish invasion severed access to the coast, the Kogi have been cut off from some of their most sacred places. They have kept a connection to the sea by ingesting the lime of shells, but sourcing these shells and transporting them back to the mountains was often dangerous. In 2013, with the backing of the Colombian government and international charities, the tribe raised enough money to buy back a sliver of coastline. The sacred site of Jaba Tañiwashkaka, 32 kilometres east of Palomino, was formerly a degraded wasteland covered in tonnes of plastic trash; after a decade of restoration, mangrove forests have been replanted, and fish, caiman, crabs and capybara have returned. The ezuama at the mouth of the Jerez River is under a Mamo’s protection again. After 500 years, the Kogi have regained the sea.

Simigui tells me of the linea negra that is central to Kogi thought. Like many things in the Kogi world, this ‘black line’ can be understood both physically and intangibly. In one sense, it is a line on a map, a border that skirts the base of the sierra, demarcating the traditional boundary of Indigenous lands. In 2018, this was used as the basis for the Black Line Decree, in which the Colombian government gave formal recognition to the ancestral territories of the Kogi, the Wiwa, the Arhuaco and the Kangwama. But in another, intocable sense, the black line is spiritual. It binds together sacred sites on the periphery of the Heart – ezuamas , such as the one at Jaba Tañiwashkaka – to ensure the continued flow of life-energy between them.

To these explanations, Simigui adds a further layer of meaning. The black line, he says, can be understood not only as a border, and a link between local sacred sites, but metaphorically as a connective thread reaching beyond the sierra to other points in the world – Europe, Africa, Asia. He conjures an image of the mountains as a node in a web of connections that stretches between distant ecosystems, and places of spiritual energy, across the planet. ‘The sierra is the Heart of the World,’ he says, ‘but she has arms.’

In this sense, the violence of colonialism did not just break the line around Kogi territory, but a more fundamental connection that once joined all things to all things. By reconnecting the mountains with the sea to maintain contiguous ecosystems between glaciers, highlands, montane forest, jungle and tropical coastline, the Kogi have taken on the task of weaving the threads back together.

That task, clearly, is immense. The damage is still being done. Perhaps the most urgent signs of this are the glaciers on the mountaintops – the eternal snows that are represented everywhere in Kogi culture, from hats to huts to the yellow-encrusted gourd in Simigui’s hand. Today, they are rapidly melting, causing landslides, droughts and vanishing rivers. The scientific view attributes this to climate change, reducible to the parts-per-million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but Simigui’s explanation turns this framing on its head. The sacred places are not sick because of distant climate change; rather, climate change is occurring because the sacred places are sick, the ezuamas having been neglected and abused for too many years.

This explains the deeper importance of reclaiming ancestral lands. The damage is physical, but the restoration must be spiritual. To the Kogi, saving the world begins exactly here.

But, Simigui says, the Mamos can’t help Mother Earth recover on their own. There must be dialogue between the Elder and Younger Brothers. ‘Reciprocity. Understanding. Balance. Harmony.’ These are the words he uses.

After we shake hands at the end, he takes one of the cactus-fibre bags from around his neck. A few stray coca leaves flutter down as he empties it out. ‘ Un regalo ,’ he says. A gift. Then we walk back to the street and go our separate ways.

A fter our meeting, I follow a winding path away from the tourist town. I have no destination in mind, no mountain to ascend. Soon the jungle envelops me: a living mass of fern-covered trunks, palms, vines and leaves, labyrinths of entangled roots, things growing on other things. The canopy whoops, whirrs and wails. Leafcutter ants march everywhere. At every turn, I scatter clouds of iridescent blue butterflies. I have never been anywhere so astonishingly alive.

In the jungle, the path traces the contours of steep slopes, drops down to the wide green river and steeply climbs up again. I pass a Mamo with his poporo , a barefoot woman with a wrinkled face, and a young girl who is weaving a bag with white thread as she walks. I also pass a party of tourists carrying giant inflatable tubes. They’ll use them to drift down the green river in a leisurely flotilla, pumping out music and drinking beer as they float toward the sacred ezuama at its mouth.

To the Kogi, Ereira writes, the end of the world will come when ‘Columbus reaches his final goal’, penetrating the Heart of the World and plunging the environment into chaos: ‘The snow will melt on the peaks, the waters will dry up. The balance of nature will be overthrown.’ For the first time, I have a glimpse of what the Kogi are protecting.

There are some places we cannot go; some things are not ours to know

After an hour comes a break in the canopy ahead. There are distant plots of maize, cooking smoke rising from conical roofs. Above soar the summits of the sierra, so close yet unreachable. At first, I think I am seeing cloud in the whiteness of their peaks; in this dripping heat, it takes some time to recognise it as snow.

This is as close as I will come to the Heart of the World.

There are some places we cannot go; some things are not ours to know. After centuries of exploration, colonisation and exploitation, perhaps we are entering a time when travellers (and travel writers) must recognise the extractive impulses that drive us forwards.

But as I leave, retracing the path through the jungle back towards Palomino – and from there to Santa Marta, and my flight home to England – it seems that something else is travelling with me as I walk. I am struck by an image of the sacred landscape behind me expanding, its threads being rewoven by Kogi hands, refilling the space that was left when the meteor hit.

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Kogi State – "Confluence State"

Located in north-central geopolitical zone (also called middle-belt region) of Nigeria, Kogi State was created out of the former Kwara and Benue States in 1991 covering the area of the former Kabba Province. The state is popularly called the confluence state because the confluence of River Niger and River Benue is at its capital, Lokoja, which is the first administrative capital of modern-day Nigeria.

History The state was formed in 1991 from parts of Kwara State and Benue State with the administrative headquarters in Lokoja. The state is presently made up of the defunct Kabba Province of Northern Nigeria. The state which is structured into 21 LGA’s comprises of three major ethnic groups i.e. Igala, Ebira and Okun (Yoruba) other minor groups include – Bassa Komo, Bassa Nge, Kakanda, Kupa, Ogori-Magongo, Nupe, Oworo, Gwari etc.

It was in Lokoja that the name Nigeria was coined by Flora Shaw – later addressed as Flora Lugard after she married Lord Lugard who was a British colonial administrator – while gazing out at the river that stretched before her in the late 19th century.

People & Culture Ebira, Igala, Nupe and Yoruba are the major languages widely spoken in the state while other languages are considered to be minority.

Farming is the main occupation of the people of the state and crops produced include cassava, yam, rice, maize, guinea corn, beans, soya beans, asha and millet. The state is blessed with precious mineral resources like columbite, coal and aquamarine.

It lies on latitude 7.49oN and longitude 6.45oE with a geological feature depicting young sedimentary rocks and alluvium along the riverbeds, which promotes agricultural activities. The state features ferrasols soil type and famous hills like ososo hills, which spread from Edo State to the western part of Kogi State and aporo hill on the eastern part. Another famous mountain is Mount Patti, which lies in Lokoja and stands at about 750 metres above sea level.

Weather/Climate Kogi State has an average maximum temperature of 33.2°C and average minimum of 22.8°C. Lokoja, the state capital is generally hot throughout the year. The state has two distinct weather viz dry season, which lasts from November to February and rain season that lasts from March to October. Annual rainfall ranges from 1016mm to 1524mm.

The vegetation of the state consist of mixed leguminous (guinea) woodland to forest savannah. Wide expanse of fadama in the river basing and long stretches of tropical forest in the Western and Southern belt of the state.

Cities & Towns Other important cities and towns include Lokoja, Kabba, Okene, Idah, Koton-karfe, Dekina and Ayingba.

World War Cenotaph, Lokoja: The cenotaph was built in memory of soldiers who lost their lives during the Second World War. This is a massive concrete block on top of which is mounted an old artillery. Beside it are light cannons and machine guns mounted on small pavements and the names of the soldiers who distinguished themselves during the wars were written on tables mounted on the side of the cenotaph.

Osome Falls: Located in Ukpogo, Osome is a stream that winds its way through vast igneous rocks of varying heights and sharply descends into a valley about 50m below the towering rocks, producing thunderous sounds which could be heard about one hundred metres away.

Lord Luggard’s Residence & Office: This is the official residence and office of Lord Fredrick Luggard, the first colonial Governor General of Nigeria. The materials used in the construction of his official residence and office were imported from England.

Mount Patti, Lokoja: This is a massive hill towering over Lokoja with about 15sqkm flat top where on could see the confluence point of River Niger and River Benue.

The Iron Liberty: Located in Lokoja near the banks of River Niger, this is an important centre for slave trade during slavery era in Nigeria. It also the path through which the European explorers and missionaries in the early 19th century settled in the country.

Confluence of River Niger & Benue: River Niger remained a marvel to the Europeans until John and Richard Landers passed through the confluence in 1830, completing the journey that Mungo Park had earlier started. Rivers Niger and Benue are the two largest rivers in West Africa and the two rivers meet at Lokoja forming a Y-shaped structure and draining southwards into the ocean.. While River Niger is brownish in colour, River Benue is light green in colour. Fishing is carried on extensively on the rivers. There are ferry and boat services plus cruishing facilities within view of the confluence.

European Cemeteries: The biggest European cemetery in Nigeria with remains of european soldiers of the West African Frontier Force (WAFF) in Lokoja until 1926 and those of European missionaries. Some of the tomb stones in the cementaries date as far back as 1867.

Holy Trinity School, Lokoja: The school which was founded by the famous Bishop Ajayi Crowther in 1860, is the first primary school in Northern Nigeria. The pyramidal block of classrooms erected since its inception are still in place. The compound also houses the framed Iron of Liberty which slaves touched to regain their freedom.

Awo Tunnel: The tunnel which is about one kilometer long was dug during the reign of Onoja Obani and it serves as a hiding place for the royal family during the wars in Idah.

Koton-Karifi : Located in Okene and about 20 miles north of the confluence of the river Niger and Benue, Koton Karifi is a paradise for fishing where the locals come to fish.

Late Atta of Ebira’s Palace: Built in 1927, the palace was constructed with the combination of ancient and modern architecture.

Agbaja Plateau: Located around 14 kilometres from Lokoja, the hill is 335 to 366m above the sea level and it is a nice spot for picnic and mountaineering.

Cometonigeria Staff

Related articles.

Plateau State – "Home Of Peace And Tourism"

Kwara State – "State Of Harmony"

Benue State – “Food Basket Of The Nation”

Abuja FCT – "Centre Of unity"

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Kogi – About The State

About kogi state .

Kogi, state, central Nigeria. Kogi is bordered by the states of Nassawara to the northeast; Benue to the east; Enugu, Anambra, and Delta to the south; Ondo, Ekiti, and Kwara to the west; and Niger to the north.

Abuja Federal Capital Territory also borders Kogi to the north. Interestingly, it is the only state in Nigeria to border ten other states. The state is nicknamed the ‘Confluence State’ because the confluence of the River Niger and the River Benue occurs next to its capital, Lokoja. There are three main ethnic groups and languages in Kogi: Igala, Ebira, and Okun (similar to Yoruba) with other minorities like Bassa, a small fraction of Nupe mainly in Lokoja, Gwari, Kakanda, Oworo people (similar to Yoruba), ogori magongo and the Eggan community under Lokoja Local Government.

Capital: Lokoja

Date of creation: August 27, 1991

Motto : “ Unity, Development, Progress”

Geopolitical Zone: North Central

Slogan : The Confluence State

With a centrally controlled Government from the state capital Lokoja, the state has twenty-one (21) local government councils three senatorial Districts, eleven Federal constituencies, and thirty (30) state assembly constituencies as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As presently constituted by the 1999 constitution, the Executive arm is headed by the state Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo as the chief Executive elected under the All Progressive Congress (APC).

He is principally in charge of the day-to-day running of its affairs with his deputy Salifu Joel Oyibo and members of the state Executive council assisting.

Governor: Ahmed Usman Ododo

Deputy Governor: Salifu Joel Oyibo

House of Assembly: 25 members

House of Representatives:  9 members

Senate : 3 Members

Political Party : APC

There are twenty-one (21) local government areas in Kogi state:

• Igalamela-Odolu
• Koton Karfe
• Ogori/Magongo
• Demographics

Kogi State, in north-central Nigeria, presents a fascinating demographic picture. Here’s a breakdown of its key characteristics:

Population:

• Sizeable and Growing: Kogi is a populous state, with estimates exceeding 5 million people (as of 2022) according to public finance data.
• Predominantly Young: The population skews young, with a significant portion falling under 15 years old. This trend suggests a youthful and growing workforce.
• Igala:  The dominant group resides primarily in the eastern part of the state.
• Ebira:  This group is concentrated in the central region.
• Okun (Yoruba subgroup):  Predominantly found in the western and central areas.
• Minority Groups: Other ethnicities include Bassa Nge, Bassa Komu, Nupe (Kakanda and Kupa subgroups), Ogori, and Oworo.
• Reflecting Ethnicity: The three main languages spoken in Kogi correspond to the dominant ethnicities: Igala, Ebira, and Yoruba (Okun dialect).
• Multilingualism:  With such a diverse population, multilingualism is likely common, with individuals conversant in their native tongue and Hausa, the lingua franca of northern Nigeria.
• Predominantly Muslim:  Islam is the majority religion in Kogi State, particularly in the north and central regions [reference needed].
• Christian Minority:  There’s also a Christian presence, especially in the southern parts.

Overall, Kogi State’s demographics showcase a vibrant mix of ethnicities, languages, and religions. This diversity contributes to the state’s rich cultural heritage.

Kogi State, nicknamed “The Confluence State” due to the meeting point of the Niger and Benue rivers, holds hidden treasures waiting to be explored. While not a mainstream tourist destination yet, Kogi boasts a unique blend of historical sites, natural wonders, and cultural experiences for those willing to venture off the beaten path. Here’s a glimpse into what Kogi has to offer:

Historical and Colonial Relics:

• Lord Lugard’s House and Office:  History buffs can delve into Nigeria’s colonial past by visiting the residence and office of Frederick Lugard, a British colonial administrator.
• European Cemetery:  This cemetery serves as a reminder of Nigeria’s colonial era, housing the final resting places of European missionaries, soldiers, and traders.

Natural Wonders:

• The Confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers:  Witness the majestic meeting point of Nigeria’s two major rivers, the Niger and Benue, creating a spectacular confluence.

Cultural and Traditional Sites:

• Ogidi Rock Paintings: Explore the ancient Ogidi paintings, and mysterious artworks on igneous rock mountains, offering a glimpse into the artistic expressions of the past.
• Palaces:  Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage by visiting the palaces of the Ata of Igala and the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, traditional rulers of the two dominant ethnicities.

Other Activities:

• Hiking:  Kogi’s hills and terrains offer opportunities for hiking and nature trails for outdoor enthusiasts.
• Water Activities:  The confluence area provides options for boat tours or exploring the rivers by canoe.

Considerations:

Kogi’s tourism sector is still developing, with infrastructure and amenities evolving. While luxury resorts might be scarce, the focus is on a more authentic and immersive experience. Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Developing Infrastructure:  Be prepared for potential limitations in terms of accommodation and tourist facilities.
• Unique Cultural Experiences:  Embrace the opportunity to connect with the local culture and traditions.
• Adventure Travel: Kogi caters more towards adventurous tourists seeking historical exploration and natural beauty.

Overall, Kogi State offers a unique and off-the-beaten-path travel experience for those interested in Nigerian history, culture, and natural wonders. With its historical sites, scenic landscapes, and cultural treasures, Kogi has the potential to become a more prominent tourist destination in Nigeria.

• Notable People

Some of the most notable people from Kogi State include:

• Joseph Benjamin – Actor
• Halima Abubakar – Nollywood Actress.
• Darey – Darey Art Alade
• Mercy Johnson – Nollywood Actress
• Jaywon – Musician
• Dino Melaye – former Senator from Kogi West
• Praiz – Songwriter, Artiste
• Idris Alooma Ogegere: Former Governor of Kogi State
• Clarence Peters: Renowned music video director
• Atuegwu Igweh: Former professional footballer
• Mineral Resources

Kogi State is rich in mineral resources, including:

• Cassiterite

Note: However, challenges in infrastructure and security hinder large-scale mining activities.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy. Major crops include yams, cassava (manioc), rice, sorghum, beans, corn (maize), and cotton. Riverine fishing is also important. Coal is mined for national distribution from the Okaba fields in the northern Udi-Nsukka Plateau, east of the Niger River. Other key industries are crude oil extraction and the livestock herding of cattle, goats, and sheep. Kogi has both the 23rd highest Human Development Index and GDP in the country.

GDP: The nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Kogi State is estimated to be around $8.2 billion (as of 2020).

• Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State
• Kogi State University Anyigba
• Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara
• Salem University, Lokoja
• Federal Polytechnic Idah (FEPODA), Kogi State
• Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Kogi State
• Prime Polytechnic Jida, Bassa, Kogi State
• Central Polytechnic Ankpa, Ankpa Kogi State
• Federal College of Education, Itakpe, Okene, Kogi
• Kogi State College of Education, Kabba
• Kogi State College of Education, Ankpa
• Tolulope Ayeni, (2021, January 21) Top 10  tourists attractions in Kogi State that you must visit this 2021. kikiotolunews.com. Retrieved September 17, 2022, from Source
• Fapohunda, O. (2022b, January 12). List of Universities in Kogi State. MySchoolGist. Retrieved September 17, 2022, from Source
• List Of Mineral Resources Found In Kogi state. (2022, April 11). Kogi State Hub. Retrieved September 17, 2022, from Source
•  Kwara | state, Nigeria. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved September 17, 2022, from Source
• Description: Christianity among the Yoruba in Kwara State (Nigeria). (2003). Retrieved September 17, 2022, from Source

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A COMPREHENSIVE ROADMAP FOR THE HARNESSING OF TOURISM POTENTIALS IN KOGI STATE

—as tourism experts unveiles iconic and historical tourism sites in kogi state..

By Otori Ozigi

It goes without saying that tourism development in Kogi State, Nigeria, holds a significant potential due to its diverse natural and cultural attractions.

Situated in the central region of Nigeria, Kogi State boasts a rich tapestry of landscapes, historical sites, and cultural heritage that could be leveraged to attract domestic and international tourists.

One of the prominent attractions in Kogi State is the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue, which occurs at Lokoja, the state capital.

This natural phenomenon presents a unique opportunity for tourism development, offering scenic views, water-based activities such as boat cruises, and opportunities for eco-tourism initiatives along the riverbanks.

In addition to its natural wonders, Kogi State is endowed with historical sites that reflect its rich cultural heritage. The state is home to relics of ancient civilizations, including the centuries-old Igala Kingdom, with its fascinating artifacts, palaces, and festivals. Sites such as the Ejule Ojebe Festival Ground, the Attah of Igala Palace in Idah, and the Mount Patti Hill offer glimpses into the region’s storied past and provide avenues for cultural tourism experiences.

Moreover, Kogi State boasts diverse ecological landscapes, including dense forests, rolling hills, and wildlife reserves, such as the Mount Patti Forest Reserve and the Okpara Game Reserve.

These areas present opportunities for adventure tourism, wildlife safaris, and nature-based activities, catering to the interests of nature enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers.

After a holistic and extensive tour of all the potential tourist sites,a team of tourism experts led by Hajia Bilqis Abdul, the Chief Executive Officer of Bboog travel and tours,Abuja, came up with the under listed tourism sites, that could be harnessed to generate additional revenue for the state in the years ahead.

They are not listed in any particular order, please.

1. OBANGOGO MOUNTAIN RESORT, EGUNGBE, KABBA, KOGI STATE 2. ⁠OMI DAM, YAGBA WEST LGA, KOGI STATE 3. ⁠NIKE ART GALLERY OGIDI, IJUMU, KOGI STATE 4. ⁠UKPOGO WATERFALL, OKENE, KOGI STATE 5. ⁠EKUKU DAM OKENE, KOGI STATE 6. ⁠OGENGENOSI MOUNTAIN, MAGONGO LGA, KOGI STATE 7. ⁠OKENE WATER WORKS OKENE LGA, KOGI STATE 8. ⁠POTTERY MAKING OKEHI LGA KOGI STATE 9. ⁠OSARA DAM, Adavi LGA, KOGI STATE 10. ⁠GANAJA PORT, LOKOJA, KOGI STATE 11. ⁠KPATA ROCKS, BASSA NGE LGA, KOGI STATE 12. OLD MISSIONARY HOUSE, BASSA NGE KOGI STATE 13. ⁠⁠OLD MISSIONARY CLINIC, BASSA NGE KOGI STATE 14. ⁠ABU-JA RIVER OLOFU AYINGBA, DEKINA LGA, KOGI STATE 15. ⁠THE EJEH OF ANKPA PALACE, DEKINA LGA KOGI STATE 16. INIKPI STATUE, EGA, IDAH KOGI STATE 17. ⁠⁠PRINCESS OMODOKO STATUE & INACHOLO RIVER IDAH LGA, KOGI STATE 18. ⁠EGANE EARTH BRIDGE, OFU LGA, KOGI STATE 19. ⁠MOUNT PATTI LOKOJA KOGI STATE 20. ⁠NATIONAL MUSEUM LOKOJA KOGI STATE 21. ⁠OLDEST CLUB IN WEST AFRICA, CLUB 1901, LOKOJA, KOGI STATE 22. THE FIRST PRISON IN NORTHERN NIGERIA, LOKOJA, KOGI STATE⁠ 23. ⁠KOGI HOTEL(UNCOMPLETED) & NATIONAL ART GALLERY LOKOJA, KOGI STATE 24. ⁠THE SPOT OF THE ROYAL NIGER COMPANY WERE THE FLAG WAS LOWERED (JANUARY 1ST 1900) 25. ⁠EUROPEAN CEMETERY, LOKOJA, KOGI STATE 26. ⁠THE CONFLUENCE BEACH HOTEL, LOKOJA, KOGI STATE

Against this background, therefore,it is crystal clear that kogi state is poised to maximize the full potentials of tourism sector as a tool for economic prosperity and additional revenue generation.

The future of tourism in Kogi state holds a key to unlock more opportunities to diversify the economy of the state at a time like this.

Tourism beckons.

By Otori Ozigi,a veteran Journalist and PR Consultant, writes from Okene,Kogi State. 08073295000– SMS only.

What do you think?

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First Lady of Kogi State Congratulate Little Miss Kogi 2024, Aisha Salawu Audu, Stresses Girl-child Empowerment

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WHO to commence HPV vaccination in Kogi state on May 27

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed plans to kickstart vaccination against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in Kogi State, beginning on May 27.

Dr Muktar Toyosi, the state’s Team Lead of WHO, disclosed this during an advocacy visit to the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Lokoja on Wednesday.

Dr Toyosi emphasized that the vaccination campaign targets girls aged nine to 14. He highlighted the ongoing sensitization efforts aimed at informing and educating the populace about the importance of vaccinating their children to shield them from cervical cancer in the future.

The commencement of HPV vaccination in Kogi

• “Kogi falls within the second phase of the programme. We are soliciting for the cooperation of the media in educating the people of the state on the HPV vaccination. There is a need for girls across the state to take the vaccination to safeguard their future,” Dr Toyosi remarked.

He also noted that while the vaccine was initially scarce and difficult to obtain, it is now readily available, thanks to government intervention.

Dr Ahmed Attah, the State Technical Assistant for WHO, emphasised the significance of the HPV vaccination, stating that it primarily affects women and serves as a preventive measure against the disease.

He urged parents and guardians to ensure their children receive the vaccination to justify the government’s investment in healthcare.

Responding to the initiative, Mr Seidu Ademu, the Kogi NUJ Chairman, praised the vaccination campaign as a significant step in the right direction for the health sector.

Ademu emphasized the importance of informing, educating, and sensitizing the public about the necessity of embracing the vaccine, particularly by ensuring that girls within the specified age range receive the vaccination.

What you should know

In October 2023, Nigeria integrated the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its routine immunization program, with an ambition to immunize 7.7 million girls aged 9-14 years.

• The inaugural rollout of this initiative was marked by a five-day mass vaccination campaign, reaching schools and communities across 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
• Nigeria geared up for the second phase of the vaccination introduction, slated to commence in May 2024 across 21 states, including Kogi state.

Nigeria’s 5G subscriptions rise to 1.24% in March 2024—NCC

Bloody run: ngx investors suffer n3.62 trillion loss in april, chioma chukwunedu.

Chioma Chukwunedu is a pharmacist and health analyst. She uses data and articles to educate the public about healthcare services and systems so they can make informed decisions about their health.

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Region by region: How these states could broaden abortion access

The year began with nationwide conservative efforts to shrink abortion access . Advocates for the procedure hope to end 2024 by reversing some of these restrictions, via the ballot box.

And the outcome of their efforts could have major implications for something opponents have long waged war on − interstate abortion travel.

With ballot initiatives underway in nearly a dozen states to let voters weigh in on where to set the limits, the success or failure of these measures will have impacts beyond state lines and on regions broadly, advocates told USA TODAY.

Acting as a sort of sanctuaries for neighboring abortion access deserts, states with more liberal abortion laws have seen an influx of out-of-state patients since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case guaranteeing a constitutional right to the procedure. 

And a slew of proposed abortion-related constitutional amendments in 2024 could add to the map.  

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

How many people got abortions in 2023? New report finds increase despite bans

“Unless there's a national right to abortion care, we're absolutely doing it state by state, community by community as best as possible,” said Adrienne Mansanares, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. 

Abortion travel escalated post-Roe

After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and decades of federal abortion precedent in June 2022, decisions around the procedure and any limits or exceptions returned to states, creating a nationwide legislative patchwork.  

Over a dozen predominantly red states have implemented near total bans on abortions, while a handful of blue states including Oregon and Vermont allow abortions regardless of the gestational period, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. Some states restored an abortion limit similar to that of Roe. 

The varying laws have led to a rise in patients traveling between states seeking an abortion, Mansanares said.

Planned Parenthood’s health centers in Colorado, a state with wider abortion access, saw a tenfold increase in patients seeking care from nearby Texas, Oklahoma and Arizona between 2020 and last year, according to the organization's records. In October 2020 through September 2021, their Colorado health centers saw 374 of these out-of-state patients; from October 2022 through September 2023, the clinics served approximately 3,800 patients from the same three states. Over 75% of these women scheduled appointments for abortions.

The bulk of women came from the Lone Star State, where the procedure is almost completely banned. 

"When state bans go into effect, they impact the entire country,” Mansanares said. 

This year, voters in at least three states will decide whether to enshrine abortion access in their constitution. And there are still ongoing initiatives to add such a decision to the ballot in about a dozen more states, including Colorado. 

If passed, these referendums could cement some states’ statuses as abortion access points, while opening new points of access in others. 

Women travel both to and from Florida for abortions

Sitting in the southeast where some of the country’s tightest abortion laws are concentrated, Florida has been a relative haven for patients in the South in the wake of Roe’s overturning. 

But with the state’s current 15-week limit about to drop to six weeks, after a recent state Supreme Court ruling, women in Florida and the surrounding region could face a shortage of care, said Serra Sippel, interim executive director of The Brigid Alliance, a group that provides resources for abortion travel. 

Already, Florida is among The Brigid Alliances top states from which they help patients travel, often seeking abortions in D.C. or Maryland, Sippel said.

And she said the group is bracing for this need to grow after May 1, when the six-week limit is set to go into effect. 

November ballot measure could change Florida yet again

The Florida Supreme Court at the same time cleared the way for a measure protecting abortion through viability, often around 24 weeks, to appear on November’s ballot.  

Tami Fitzgerald, executive director of the “100% pro-life" group North Carolina Values Coalition, said she is worried about the effects of both Florida court decisions in her own southern state. 

“All states in the South, once Florida's heartbeat bill goes into effect, will have either a heartbeat bill or a gestational limit at conception,” Fitzgerald said. “And so that means North Carolina's 12-week limit on abortion will cause women to flood across our borders, again, to obtain abortions.” 

Along with Virginia, which allows abortion through 26 weeks of pregnancy, North Carolina has some of the lowest restrictions on the procedure compared to the rest of the south. Even after the state legislature last summer lowered the limit from 20 to 12 weeks, with exceptions, North Carolina saw one of the highest number of out-of-state patients in 2023, behind Illinois, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

Fitzgerald said she wants a limit like other southern states for the Tar Heel State and is concerned about referendums like Florida's.

“It should be a concern for everyone who believes in the sanctity of human life,” she said. 

Travel for abortion care is 'not ideal'

Still, abortion access advocates say interstate travel is an imperfect solution. 

“It is not ideal," said Tara Romano, executive director of Pro-Choice North Carolina, “because not everyone can leave the state to access abortion. And this is really just how chaotic it's been since (Roe was overturned).” 

“If you're in a state where you cannot access abortion, being able to get to another state is going to be really critical,” she added. “It's just that it's not going to be able to help everyone,” including patients in emergency situations, Romano said. 

For those seeking an abortion, Mansanares said considerations range from travel costs to finding somewhere to stay in a different state, along with taking time off work and, for the many women who are already parents, finding childcare. 

“It's a huge financial burden. And then the act of traveling out of your home state for care has a tremendous psychological impact as well,” Mansanares said. “Our patients are very fearful. They experience a deep amount of shame or stigma. Many of them feel terrorized." 

And aid from organizations like The Brigid Alliance are “being stretched to the max, Sippel said. 

“I want to emphatically say that it's a good thing that this referendum will be on the ballot,” Sippel said of Florida. “If it's passed, that is excellent news for Florida. And then, of course, it won't be enough.” 

Dubai plans to move its busy international airport to a $35 billion new facility within 10 years

Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, will move its operations to the city-state’s second, sprawling airfield in its southern desert reaches “within the next 10 years” in a project worth nearly $35 billion, its ruler said Sunday.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s announcement marks the latest chapter in the rebound of its long-haul carrier Emirates after the coronavirus pandemic grounded international travel. Plans have been on the books for years to move the operations of the airport known as DXB to Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central which had also been delayed by the repercussions of the sheikhdom’s 2009 economic crisis.

“We are building a new project for future generations, ensuring continuous and stable development for our children and their children in turn,” Sheikh Mohammed said in an online statement. “Dubai will be the world’s airport, its port, its urban hub and its new global center.”

The announcement included computer-rendered images of curving, white terminal reminiscent of the traditional Bedouin tents of the Arabian Peninsula. The airport will include five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates, the announcement said. The airport now has just two runways, like Dubai International Airport.

The financial health of the carrier Emirates has served as a barometer for the aviation industry worldwide and the wider economic health of this city-state. Dubai and the airline rebounded quickly from the pandemic by pushing forward with tourism even as some countries more slowly came out of their pandemic crouch.

The number of passengers flying through DXB surged last year beyond its total for 2019 with 86.9 million passengers. Its 2019 annual traffic was 86.3 million passengers. The airport had 89.1 million passengers in 2018 — its busiest-ever year before the pandemic, while 66 million passengers passed through in 2022.

Earlier in February, Dubai announced its best-ever tourism numbers, saying it hosted 17.15 million international overnight visitors in 2023. Average hotel occupancy stood at around 77%. Its boom-and-bust real estate market remains on a hot streak , nearing all-time high valuations.

But as those passenger numbers skyrocketed, it again put new pressure on the capacity of DXB, which remains constrained on all sides by residential neighborhoods and two major highways.

Al Maktoum International Airport, some 45 kilometers (28 miles) away from DXB, opened in 2010 with one terminal. It served as a parking lot for Emirates’ double-decker Airbus A380s and other aircraft during the pandemic and slowly has come back to life with cargo and private flights in the time since. It also hosts the biennial Dubai Air Show and has a vast, empty desert in which to expand.

The announcement by Sheikh Mohammed noted Dubai’s plans to expand further south. Already, its nearby Expo 2020 site has been offering homes for buyers.

“As we build an entire city around the airport in Dubai South, demand for housing for a million people will follow,” Dubai’s ruler said. “It will host the world’s leading companies in the logistics and air transport sectors.”

However, financial pressures have halted the move in the past. Dubai’s 2009 financial crisis, brought on by the Great Recession, forced Abu Dhabi to provide the city-state with a $20 billion bailout.

Meanwhile, the city-state is still trying to recover after the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in the UAE , which disrupted flights and commerce for days.

• Sunday, April 28, 2024

© 2023 - Businessday NG. All Rights Reserved.

Top Kogi State Attractions

Things to do in kogi state.

• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Good for Kids
• Good for Big Groups
• Adventurous
• Budget-friendly
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Hidden Gems
• Good for Couples
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Nike Art Gallery,Guesthouse & Workshop

2. Chucks Shopping Mall

3. Confluence state tours