By joshua 
“No Vacancy in Aso Rock, Lugard House”: Engr. Bashiru Gegu’s Unshakable Loyalty Powers Kogi’s Mining Revival
By Our Reporter.
Wake him up at any hour and Engr. Bashiru Gegu’s message remains the same: there is no vacancy in Aso Rock and Lugard House.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources is unapologetic about where his political allegiance lies. A die-hard supporter of President Bola Tinubu, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, and former Governor Yahaya Bello, Gegu says his commitment to their leadership is rooted in a shared vision for Kogi’s development.
He stood with the former governor till the end and continues to tell anyone who will listen that he will go down with what he calls “the supreme leader.” For Gegu, loyalty is not negotiable when it aligns with progress. That same loyalty, he argues, is why Kogi’s solid minerals sector is now seeing measurable change.
Since taking charge of the ministry, Gegu has repositioned it from a dormant department into one of the state’s most active revenue-generating arms. His approach combines technical reform with aggressive investment in equipment and partnerships.
One of the first steps was mineral characterization and reserve estimation. Working with the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, NGSA, the ministry began identifying the types, quality, and economic viability of minerals across Kogi. The exercise is laying the groundwork for investor confidence and structured mining projects.
Alongside this, the state doubled its mineral titles from 15 to 30, spreading them across all 21 local government areas. The acquisition is expected to broaden the state’s revenue base and reduce its dependence on federal allocations.
To match policy with capacity, the ministry also procured high-grade excavators, loaders, and dump trucks. The equipment is aimed at modernizing operations and enabling the state to compete effectively with private mining firms.
The results are already shaping expectations. Officials project increased internally generated revenue, new jobs, and a push toward industrialization. With investors showing interest, the sector is being positioned as a driver of Kogi’s economic growth.
Governor Ododo has backed the push, stating repeatedly that Kogi’s natural resources must work for its people. “There’s no reason for Kogi to be poor,” the governor has said, describing the state’s mineral wealth as an untapped engine for prosperity.
For Gegu, the progress validates what he calls “opportunity meeting preparation.” He credits the governor’s political will for giving the ministry the space to deliver.
Known across APC circles as a loyalist who does not shift with the wind, Gegu’s influence in Kogi politics remains tied to his record of delivery and his refusal to abandon the leaders who mentored him.
In a state where mineral resources have long sat idle, his tenure is now being viewed as proof that the right leadership can turn policy into tangible gains.