Lokoja Boat Regatta leaders urge Kogi State investment

During the seventh edition of the Lokoja Boat Regatta held at the Kabawa Waterfront, leaders and officials called for increased government investment to transform the festival into a major tourism driver.

Alhaji Idris Baba’ango, Chairman of the Lokoja Forum of Patriots, urged the Kogi State Government to provide sustained funding and institutional recognition to protect the city’s aquatic traditions and promote economic growth. He noted that the regatta serves as a vehicle for unity among diverse ethnic groups and could attract national and international tourists if properly supported.

Supporting this call, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Umar Yusuf, emphasized that developing the event to international standards could create jobs, stimulate commercial activities, and attract foreign investors. Barrister Ahmed Naseer also highlighted the importance of preserving the festival as a symbol of the city’s history and identity.