The Nation Newspaper

Tag: KOGI

  • Seven killed in Kogi communal clash

    Seven people have reportedly died in a renewed clash between Fulani herdsmen and residents of Kupa community in Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.

    The Maiyaki of Kupa, Alhaji Muhhamadu Kabiru Isah, recounted yesterday the ordeal of his community in the hands of the herdsmen.

    The community leader said seven people died in the clas.

    He said four buildings were razed, adding that several tractors, vehicles and motorcycles were destroyed in Ekpan-Abugi.

    Isah alleged that over 200 Fulani herdsmen were involved in the attack.

    The community leader called for increased police in presence in the area.

    Governor Idris Wada described the mayhem as one too many.

    Reacting on his behalf, Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi said the government would intervene to avert a recurrence.

    He called for vigilance among the residents.

    The governor said the State Emergence Management Agency (SEMA) would be directed to provide succour to those displaced, adding that more security presence would be deployed to the troubled area.

    He hailed the Maiyaki for handling the crisis with maturity.

  • Kogi courts discharge 7,850 cases in 2013/2014

    Courts under the Kogi State Judicial Service successfully handled 7,850 cases during the 2013/2014 legal year, it has been learnt.

    It was also learnt that 5,663 others were outstanding.

    The Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajanah, spoke at the maiden Kogi State Chief Judge’s Annual Awards, which held at the State High Court Complex in Lokoja, the state capital.

    Justice Ajanah hailed the Judiciary for exceptional performance during the outgoing legal year, adding that it would fast-track the administration of justice in the state.

    He said: “In the 2013/2014, the High Court had 1,323 cases, which include the cases brought forward from the previous year. Of the figure, 846 cases were completed, leaving an outstanding, which was carried into new legal year. At Magistrate Court level, 3,507 cases were filed before Magistrate’s courts but 2,138 cases were disposed of and 1,369 are pending.”

    He added that the Area courts had 8,690 cases filed, out of which 4,701 were disposed of and 3,989

    According to him, the Family Court, which handles matters involving children of 18 years and below, recorded 121 cases and disposed of 73, leaving 48 cases pending.

     

  • Reject December salary, NLC tells Kogi workers

    The Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed civil servants in the state to reject their December salaries to protect the jobs of over 6,000 workers slated for sack by the government.

    The NLC gave the directive yesterday in Lokoja, the state capital, in a communique issued at the end of the meeting of its executive committee.

    The communiqué was signed by James Odaodu (Chairman) and John Kolawole (Secretary).

    It noted that the leadership of the NLC was piqued by the arbitrary removal of the names of over 6,000 workers from December pay roll.

    The NLC added that the only way to protect the interest of the affected workers was for the entire workforce to reject this month’s salaries.

    Congress accused the Commissioners for Finance, Budget and Planning and the Accountant-General of ‘hijacking’ the job of the committee constituted by government to implement the report of the recent screening of the state work force.

    It urged the officials to ‘hands-off’ to ensure “thorough implementation” of the report of the exercise.

    While appreciating the government for involving labour in efforts to sanitise the state civil service, the NLC frowned at what it called “selective” implementation of the report of the screening.

    “We condemn the plan by government to implement part of the report.”

  • Kogi council chairmen challenge ouster

    Sacked local government chairmen in Kogi State have challenged the State High Court judgement nullifying their election.

    But it was learnt yesterday that the state government might have dissolved the 21 local government executives.

    The decision is said to be in line with a court order asking the government to comply with its December 8 judgment, which nullified the election of the council chairmen.

    A Government House source confided in our reporter that the government had directed the embattled chairmen to hand over government property in their possession to senior directors in the areas.

    The source said: “As I am speaking with you, they (chairmen) have been directed to hand over government property with them to the directors. The government is acting in compliance with the recent court pronouncements. That is the position right now.”

    The chairmen, represented by Labaran Ibrahim (Kogi Local Government Area), Aloysius Okino (Ajaokuta), Zekari Umoru (Igalamela/Odolu) and the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), in an application supported by a 19-page affidavit, is asking to be joined in the suit filed by the All Progressive Party (APC), which culminated in their removal.

    A Kogi State High Court, sitting in Koto-Karfe, on Wednesday, ordered the chairmen to vacate office within 24 hours.

    The quit order was received with jubilation in some of the local government areas.

    Councils where the chairmen’s ouster was received with applause included Lokoja (Aliyu Usman), Adavi (Saliu Adaviriku), Kabba/Bunu (Emmanuel Funsho) and Mopa-Amuro (Folorunson Daniel).

    Workers in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area had demanded Funsho’s removal over sundry allegations, including financial impropriety. But Governor Idris Wada prevailed on the workers.

  • Ajaokuta is Kogi’s hope – Wada

    Ajaokuta is Kogi’s hope – Wada

    When he assumed office in January 2012, Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State did not only set out to build on the achievements of his predecessors, he was also poised to raise the level of development many notches up. Nearly three years after, the numerous projects so far initiated and those completed in the state are clear indications that he is on track in his quest to change the face of Kogi State.

    The Ministry of Information recently took the media on a tour of projects to assess the governor’s efforts so far. The level of work put in place so far suggests that the governor is passionate and far-sighted in his effort to transform Kogi to a modern state.

     

    On tourism development

    Lokoja is a historic city. The government has mapped out historic relics in the state. These include: the cenotaph of some national heroes; the point where the Royal Niger Company flag was switched to the Union Jack. It also includes the site of the first bank in Northern Nigeria; the first primary school in Northern Nigeria; tombs of some emirs that were arrested and brought to Lokoja by the colonial masters, among other interesting sites. The Lord Lugard House, where the former Governor-General used to rest at the top of Mount Patti, is another site being developed by the state government as a tourist attraction. Aside from the Lugard House, other tourist and historical sites have been refurbished, remodelled and renovated. Tour buses have been provided by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The ministry has also trained tour guides who are knowledgeable enough to take visitors round tourist destinations.

    The government is at the point of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a partnership agreement with a private company for the development of the tourism potentials in the state, beginning with the Mount Patti. The site is being developed into a special tourist and leisure site where people can come to unwind, when they want to escape from the hustle and bustle of big cities like Abuja and Lagos. The government is also promoting excursions by schools from within and outside the state. The Confluence Hotels in Lokoja has also been developed. It has been refurbished and upgraded. For instance, a golf course has been added as part of the hotel’s facilities. The accommodation facility is also being modified, to attract a higher calibre clientele, particularly those who may want to spend time in the state for leisure or those in transit.

     

    The bond projects

    We applied for a Bond of N20 Billion and we are doing 11 projects with the fund. We have received the first tranche of N5 Billion and we have kick started all the projects conceived in respect of the Bond. In terms of prudent management, the Securities and Exchange Commission sends a team periodically to assess how the funds released is being utilised. The issuing houses monitor you to see where you are on the projects for which the fund is meant and also see the challenges you face to advise the government on steps to ensure the successful implementation of the projects. All of these affect the release of subsequent tranches of the fund. We have a team of commissioners monitoring the progress of implementation of the Bond projects to ensure that all the projects are of the right quality and the pace at which we want them to go. We also have a team of consultants who are monitoring the projects and present periodic reports to us on the performance of the projects and on any challenge the projects may be facing. This is to certify that the funds are being utilised prudently. Contracts for all the projects were awarded through due process.  These are tested contractors and so far we are happy with their performance. I am satisfied that the money so far released is being used prudently.

     

    Water Project

    The Greater Lokoja Water Project was done by the previous administration but they had not completed the payment when we took over. We made substantial payments for the completion of the project.  We have also been involved in the operation and maintenance. You know it is one thing to build, it is another thing to operate and maintain so that the project is of value. That is the role we have played as an administration in the Greater Lokoja Water Project.

     

    Curbing political violence and restiveness

    We were determined during the electioneering campaign not to be involved in thuggery. We made very clear statements everywhere we went that our political aspiration is not worth the loss of life of any individual or person. And that nobody should fight for us to have votes. They should just allow us to canvass for votes in the most civilised and peaceful way by talking about issues and the programmes and projects that we would bring on board if and when we get elected. I think people trusted our sincerity and that posture that we would not tolerate thuggery. And when we came in, we mobilised the security agencies to handle those who were identified with such practice or of violent dispositions and once we made example of few people.  With the support of the security agencies, the posture of our government and the grace of almighty God, we have been able to control incidence of political violence in the state.

     

    Expansion and orderly development of infrastructure in the state

    We have done the mapping of the city with proper layout of different segments of the city. For instance, there are new layouts along Lokoja-Okene Road like the place where we have the permanent site of the Federal University in the state. We have also mapped out industrial areas. We are also mapping out new areas along the Ganaja bypass as you saw during your tour of the state capital. We are laying out that whole area so that people can live in an organised way. We are also looking at the eastern side of our state which is separated by Rivers Niger and Benue. We have proposed the construction of a link bridge. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a private company to construct the bridge on a Public Private Partnership basis. The construction of the Shintaku Bridge from Lokoja to link the eastern part of the state will facilitate the link between the western part of the state and the east. The eastern part of the state capital has a considerable amount of flat land and we can exploit this link to expand the capital city. The main challenge is that the construction of the bridge is very expensive.

    For now, we are doing the Geographical Information System of the state capital to restore order in land allocation and housing development in the Lokoja. That would give us clear satellite imagery of Lokoja and the neighbouring locations so we can build better houses in the city. We have mapped them out, structured them and clearly identified the places where people can build either as developers and private individuals who can own their houses and live in decent locations rather than build houses on hills.

    In terms of road construction, we have awarded the contract for the construction of a four-lane carriage way.  The four-lane road is the main road in our state capital. The road will be the signature road in our state to enhance the beauty and aesthetics of our capital city. We want to do it properly with good drainage system and pedestrian lanes and an embankment to protect the shore line. We want to make it a reference point in road construction in the state and to add to the beauty and aesthetics of our capital city. Because of the topography of the area and proximity to water, every time the road had been constructed in the past, it deteriorates after one year. This time around, we want to make it the reference road and you will be proud of it when you come to Lokoja. We have approved payment for mobilisation of contractors.

     

    Unity of divergent groups in the state 

    Our efforts to unite our people in terms religion and ethnic groups is achieving a lot of results. In terms religion, we have the State Inter-religious Council which meets regularly in a bid to sustain religious harmony in the state. In terms ethnic balance, we have ensured equitable distribution in appointments and projects such that people can see and attest to across board.  We are deliberate about equity and justice in the state.

    Employment generation through Ajaokuta and Obajana Cement

    Ajaokuta is the hope of Kogi state. We are making efforts to get the Federal Government to give the project the level of attention it deserves. We believe that Ajaokuta Steel Company will revolutionise Nigeria. Our transformation as a nation cannot go the full course without Ajaokuta being operational. Mr. President has said several times that he would get Ajaokuta working. I have put a lot of pressure on the Federal Government to make sure that Ajaokuta works. Recently, I worked with both the minister of Trade and Investment and that of Solid Minerals Development to see how far they are going. We are in the process of preparing a report to be presented to the Federal Government. I have visited Ajaokuta four times since I became the Governor and I have continued to encourage the management and staff and that have resulted in the rise in their morale. We are privy to the negotiations that have brought on a number of private investors in Ajaokuta.  Right now there are four lines which are basically operational now.  Four out of the 24 lines are working. The State also derives employment and some revenue from tax from Ajaokuta.

    Obajana Cement is the largest cement project in Africa. And Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the promoter of the company has helped our state in so many ways. Recently, we signed an MOU with him to establish a vocational training Centre in Lokoja to train our young people towards self-employment. I am aware that he had committed funds and other resources to this project already.

     

    Youth empowerment

    When we came into office, one of our first programmes was to create opportunities for youth. We have a programme called Youth Advancement Programme for Kogi (YAD4KOGI). Under this programme, we take 1000 youths across the 21 LGAs in the state every 3 months. They are camped at NYSC Orientation camp in Asaya in Kabba Bunu Local Government Area of the state.

     

  • Fake police officer arrested with rifles, charms

    A man claiming to be on official assignment from ‘Abuja’ was last Saturday arrested at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat, Lokoja.

    Claiming to be a policeman, he was arrested and taken away by officers from the state force headquarters.

    Eagle-eyed policemen had accosted the man, following which a search of the
    vehicle he came in with another accomplice was searched, leading to the
    discovery of the arms and other assorted charms.

    From the outcome of the PDP state assembly primaries, the Speaker of the
    Kogi State House of Assembly won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
    ticket to contest for the Okene II state constituency.

    Other serving lawmakers in the state that emerged victorious at Saturday’s
    PDP primaries included the Chief Whip, Hon. Sulaimon Babadoko.

    An aide to Senator Smart Adeyemi, Ade Omofaye emerged from Ijumu state
    constituency.

    Hon. Nathaniel Taiwo (Kabba-Bunu), was however upstaged by Prince Kolawole
    Samuel.
    Others that emerged included Muhammed Haruna (Ajaokuta) Local Government
    Constituency, Eric Fiki (Mopamoro), Hon. Ali Akuh (Omala).

    Results are still being expected for Ofu and Adavi local government areas
    among other.

  • Unknown gunmen kill Kogi varsity lecturer

    A lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Economics of the Kogi State University (KSU) in Anyigba, Dr Justice Olurotimi Otitolaiye, has been killed by unknown gunmen. He was killed three days to the defence of his professorial thesis before the Senate. The deceased was said to have been abducted by the gunmen while running an errand for his family.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the lecturer was abducted at 9pm on Friday around the campus. A colleague of the slain lecturer, who did not want his name in print, described the late Otitolaiye as a man who never “bore no grudge against anyone”, saying he maintained cordial relations with everyone, including students.

    Reacting to the incident, the Dean, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Prof Charles Oyewole, said the late Dr Otitolaiye was  lively and loved by all. He wondered who could have killed Dr Otitolaiye.

    Oyewole said: “Dr Otitolaiye was friendly. Everyone that had contact with him can testify to this. Every student and staff of the university was his friend. He had a nickname for everyone in the faculty and they had nicknames for him too.”

    A top member of management, who was among those that retrieved the lecturer’s remains, told CAMPUSLIFE that the body was found at Ejule, a neighbouring community, following a tip-off by residents.

    A lecturer said the late Otitolaiye’s wife informed his colleagues when her husband did not return home on time. It was learnt that the slain lecturer left his residence at 3pm and was seen in company of his friends drinking at a restaurant close to the campus.

    CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the deceased left the restaurant to pick up a bag of Semovita for his family. This was when his assailants came and reportedly bundled him into their vehicle.

    A source said: “Dr Otitolaiye’s car was seen across the road by one of his friends with the front door left ajar. So, when the friend came down from his own vehicle to try to find out what was going on, he found the car empty. He called Otitilaiye’s phone and learnt it was off. He then raised the alarm as to a possible case of kidnap.”

    Stella Madu, a student of Agricultural Economics, fought back tears when she learnt about the death of her lecturer. She said: “Dr Otitolaiye was like a father to many of us.”

    Meanwhile, the management of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences has paid a condolence visit to the family of the slain lecturer.

    The late Otitolaye is survived by a wife and three children.

  • Edo, Kogi schools qualify for SEC quiz competition

    Two public secondary schools in Edo and Kogi States have progressed to the zonal final of a national quiz competition organised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria.

    Holy Trinity Secondary School, Sabongida-Ora, won the ticket for Edo State, while Ogori Comprehensive High School, in Ogori-Magongo LGA, won for Kogi State on Monday.

    Ogori Comprehensive High School scored 65 points to beat host school, St. Clement Seminary and Army Day Secondary School, both of Lokoja, to second and third positions with 60 points and 37 points.  The school will compete in the zonal final with other representatives from the Northcentral zone in Kaduna.  Holy Trinity which beat five other schools (Word of Faith School, University Demonstration Secondary School, ABC Secondary School, Auchi, University Secondary School, Ekpoma, and Government Secondary School, Irrua) in Edo will contest against other Southsouth representatives in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    At the Edo competition, leader of the SEC delegation, Mr Sufian Abdullcarim, said the quiz contest, which is in its sixth year, is organised to teach the students about the stock market, which is worth about N13.9 trillion.

    “We hope to through the competition to prepare our kids ahead of their future and to teach them how to invest the little money they get instead of wasting it on frivolities,” he said.

    Director in charge of Science Vocation and Technical Education in the Edo state Ministry of Education, Mrs Osariemen Okawele, stated that the quiz competition would broaden the knowledge of “‘our future leaders of the intricacies of investment.’’

    She said “the competition I must say is a worthwhile exercise for the students who are our future leaders.

    Vice Principal of the victorious Ogori Comprehensive High School, Mr Abdul Adepoju, attributed his pupils’ performance to hard work and discipline.

    He said that the school will go back to the drawing board to map out winning strategies for the zonal final coming up in Kaduna.

    One of the pupils, Master Samson Makanjuola also promised that the school would give serve as worthy ambassador of the state at zonal and national levels of the competition.

     

  • Kogi’s antidote for violence

    Kogi’s antidote for violence

    How is Kogi State responding to violence and other social challenges in the state?

    It is providing jobs for youths, reasoning that their joblessness is much to blame for the vices.

    The state’s Youths Advancement and Development for Kogi (YAD4KOGI) introduced in September 2012 is seen to be making a difference. It encompasses training in skills, sporting activities and environmental cleaning exercises, among others.

    The result is that more and more idle hands are engaged in productive activities, culminating in a more peaceful environment.

    There are several other spin-offs from the jobs scheme. The programme has generated  employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths and reduced rural-urban drift, in addition to creating wealth for the people. It has also helped to thin down thuggish behaviour and youth restiveness in the confluence state.

    In keeping with its mission to positively manage the zeal and energies of the youths, the beneficiaries are usually subjected to a two-week training exercise to ensure a disciplined lifestyle. The training which covers morning drills and parade, environmental cleaning exercise, lectures and sporting activities in the evenings, is targeted at secondary and primary school leavers and school dropouts. The trainees are issued uniforms and other kits. They are trained to carry out environmental sanitation in their various local governments, their activities including complementing the state sanitation and waste management board. The state government wants a clean state.

    The public works component of the YAD4KOGI programme has engaged and empowered about 10, 000 youths as direct beneficiaries in the 21 local government areas of the state with more enrolment on a quarterly basis. The volunteers are encouraged to spend the remaining part of the day acquiring skills.

    The trainees suffer the scorching heat, but many say it well worth it and the sacrifice of the past one year is yielding harvest. The youths have been undergoing skill acquisition training for the past one year, courtesy of the YAD4KOGI. When the organizsers decided on a military-like graduation ceremony for them, they were well prepared. They were trained at Ashaya, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of the state, receiving a stipend of N7000 monthly.

    The state governor, Capt. Idris Wada, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Pastor Tayo Aremu expressed happiness that the programme initiated two years back was achieving the desired result of addressing youth unemployment and reducing poverty to its barest minimum in the state. The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to “youth training for economic development and self-esteem”. He promised continuous government support and patronage for the participants even after their training and skills acquisition programme.

    Yemisi Omotonose, one of the trainees, said that the exercise will change her for good. Yemisi who said she hails from Ijumu area of the state, said: “Before my coming here I had almost lost hope but things have now changed and very soon I am going to establish on my own. I have acquired skills in the making of confectionaries, and by the grace of God I will start my own business together with my sister. I will not be a burden to anybody and I can even support the husband that I will marry in future. Before now, some of my friends were making jest of me saying how can I be taking part in YAD4KOGI after finishing secondary school education. But now level has changed and they are having a rethink. Competition is now stiffer and they all want to join”. Abdullahi Safu, another beneficiary of the training said “I am good to go now, and my plan is to work and make money, while at the same time using the money of my handiwork to further my education career at the College of Education. I have learnt a lot and I don’t intend to waste the opportunity”.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Women Development, Mrs. Temitope Sinkaye said the graduation of the 1090 participants brings the total number of those trained under the scheme to 7,731 males and females. She said “Within the last two weeks participants had the rare opportunity of acquiring various skills of their choice. This skills includes shoe cobbling, beads production, ear ring production, ladies’ handbag production and hat production. This effort is geared towards ensuring that these youths become self-reliant and eventually employers of labour upon their exit from this programme. I wish to bring to Your Excellency’s attention that technical skills have been incorporated into the training activities. At this junction, I wish to reiterate the basic philosophy behind this programme. YAD4KOGI programme is not just about equipping youths for economic development but to rebuild self-esteem in the youths and to re-invent in them the dignity of labour, discipline, as well as ethnic and cultural values. This programme has been a veritable tool in fostering unity and promoting peaceful co-existence in the state, in addition to providing a rare opportunity for youths to interact with each other from different tribes, religions and background.”

     

  • Kogi jail break: External forces attacked us – Comptroller

    Kogi jail break: External forces attacked us – Comptroller

    The Comptroller of Prisons, Aminu Suley, Monday accused “external forces” for the attack on the federal medium security prisons, Koton-Karfe, in Kogi State.
    Attackers Sunday night broke through the prison wall to free all the 145 inmates and vandalizing the record office.
    The attackers, sources claimed operated for over three hours unchallenged.
    While 12 of the inmates who escaped later returned, one died from bullet injuries.
    This is the second time in two years suspected insurgents are overrunning the Koton-Karfi prison to free inmates.
    In 2011, 119 inmates on awaiting trial were freed by the attackers and many never returned.
    “The security men came when the damage had been done,” said the source.
    The Comptroller of Prisons who spoke when the State Governor , Capt.  Idris Wada visited him, said the attackers forcefully released 144 prisoners.

    He said that 26 of the escapees are convicted prisoners, while 119 were awaiting trial for “robbery, culpable homicide and other offences”.
    He pleaded with the governor to prevail on the judiciary to wake up to their responsibilities through speedy trial of suspects awaiting trial.
    He said some of the inmates have no business being in the prison.
    Gov. Wada said that he will continue to collaborate with the prison service and the Federal Government to ensure completion of the new prison in the area.
    He promised to invoke his power on prerogative of mercy to help bring about reduction in the number of inmates languishing in jail without trial.
    Wada also promised to prevail on the state Chief Judge to also exercise his power of prerogative of mercy.