By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi has unveiled 147 Operational Vehicles for the state Vigilante Services in furtherance of his government’s determination to ensure security of every lives and property across length and breadth of the state.

The operational vehicles distributed include105 Sienna and Volkswagen Sharan patrol vehicles and 42 motorcycles at five cars and two motorcycles per Local Government Area.

In his address at the Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre, venue of the unveiling, on Friday in Lokoja, Governor Ododo reiterated his administration’s commitment to safety and security of every life and property of the people.

He said that the set of operational vehicles were to enhance the operational efficiency and capability of security architecture in the state, particularly the local vigilante services for community policing.

Ododo stressed that flag off event was a further testament to his administration’s collective resolve as a government to tackle security challenges in the state head-on with enhanced speed and overall efficiency of security operatives.

The Governor hinted that the 147 operational security vehicles were the first installment of several hundreds to be provided in the next few weeks to advance the safety and security of lives and property in all parts of the state.

“This stands as one of our most significant operational responses to recent upsurge in criminal activities in some parts of the state.

“Therefore, the recent launch of the Metropolitan Quick Response in Lokoja and other major towns in the state and this unveiling of operational vehicles are among series of evolving security measures.

“These are geared towards ensuring that we keep our environment safe and to build on the solid foundation of the security architecture laid by the immediate past administration in the state”, the governor said.

Ododo reiterated the state government’s unequivocally resolve to maintain law and order in all parts of the state as it maintains consistent review of the security situation to fight against criminals in our state must be won.

“We cannot, and we will not allow criminal elements to undermine the progress and prosperity we have worked so hard to achieve in our state”, he said.

The Governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) for his unwavering commitment to reverse the spate of inherited security challenges in the country.

“As a government, we are in total support of Mr. President in his determination to take the fight to the terrorists in all parts of the county as we have seen in recent onslaughts to degrade cells of bandits and terrorists across Nigeria.”

“We want to further assure Mr President that we are fully committed to a comprehensive approach to address security challenges in the State, we shall bring the remnant of these criminals and their sponsors to justice in no time.”

Ododo said that the new addition to the state security master plan would involve all security agencies feeding from the credible intelligence and direct community engagement.

This, he said, would enable the people in the farms, markets, homes and every part of the community to ensure that people are safe to engage in legitimate economic activities.
(Ends)

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

Chief Medical Director of Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, Prof. Yahaya Isa Adagiri, has described recent allegations against his leadership as the handiwork of a syndicate of belligerent staff bent on pulling the hospital down.

Addressing newsmen in a rebuttal of the allegations in Lokoja on Thursday, the CMD said the syndicate had attacked every successive administration of the Specialist Hospital and were not prepared to spare him.

He said that his predecessor, Prof. Onumiya was fought to a standstill by the same syndicate because he opposed the fraudulent and recalcitrant staff who would stop at nothing to bend the rules to their advantage.

Prof. Adagiri pointed out that what he met on assuming office as the CMD of the tertiary health facility was a glorified General Hospital with corruption in virtually all departments and therefore, decided to reorganize and turn it around.

He said that the revenue generation in the hospital was at abysmal level while the National Health Insurance Unit smacked of high level corruption with very low enrollment adding that with a staff strength of over 500, one could hardly find 100 staff on duty each day.

The syndicate, he added, also perfected means of circumventing the facility’s electronic medical and payment records and syphoned the hospital’s finances, a practice he thwarted in his reorganization drive.

“They organized themselves into a group to give my administration negative image. They come from different trade unions but they hardly represent the interest of their unions.

“Some are unruly, redundant and always drunk. We posted some of them from Admin and Accounts departments to the NHIS unit. About two persons refused the posting.

He said that two accounting officers including one to whom over N200,000 was remitted but could only account for N32,000 were dismissed on the recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee.

Three others who offences would ordinarily attract dismissal in line with the civil service regulation, he said, were given light punishment of three months suspension without pay on the advice of the state Ministry of Justice.

On the sundry allegations of fraud, hike medical charges, paucity of Medical Doctors, auction of unserviceable vehicles and tenure of office of the CMD pending before the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Adagiri said investigation had commenced.

Prof. Adagiri, a Professor of Chemical Pathology, said the status of the Hospital must be backed by infrastructure and personnel and in this regard, government has done a lot in that regard.

“In the last two years, we have not increased any of our medical charges. Former Governor Yahaya Bello spent over N1 billion to reposition and remodel this hospital. A new Psychiatrist Unit was also built among others.

“Our services are the best and lowest in cost. We charge very low. Our hospital is very busy and it is well patronized. The paucity of Medical Doctors can be attributed to the “Japa Syndrome.”

“Before the Japa Syndrome, this hospital secured approval to replace any doctor that leaves. We have the approval to replace 14 doctors but they are not just available. As part of our motivational efforts, we provide meals for doctors on duty.

“We have been invited by the ICPC and the volume of documents they are requesting is massive. So, I asked them to give us more time to gather the documents to help their investigations.” Prof. Adagiri said.

It would be recalled that a group under the agies of “Surveillance for a Better Kogi State” in a publication, accused management of the hospital led by Prof. Isah Yahaya Adagiri as CMD of extorting the public with exorbitant medical charges from their patients.

The group, in a statement by its spokesperson, Adeiza Ibrahim, lamented that the Hospital which used to be a safe haven for patients because of it accessibility and affordability had become a shadow of its former self as cost of services have gone beyond the reach of common man. (Ends)

***As Bill For A Law Prohibiting Discrimination Against PL-HIV, AIDS scales First Hearing

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

Kogi State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed a new Commissioner Nominee, Hon. Acharu Okpanachi, whose name was transmitted to it by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for screening and approval.

Okpanachi who was screened and confirmed at Wednesday plenary sitting of the House in Lokoja hails from Idah Local Government Area in Kogi East Senatorial District of the state.

Upon her appearance for the screening and after reading her resume, a member of the House representing Idah State Constituency, Hon. Usman Ochidi moved that the nominee be honoured by asking her to take a bow and leave.

Ochidi described her as a loyal APC member who had contributed immensely to the success of the party in Idah and its environs.

He held that in view of her contributions aside encouraging and giving opportunity for more women to join the cabinet of His Excellency, Governor Ododo, she should rather be congratulated than subjected to questions.

Chairman of the Committee of the Whole who is also Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, acting on the overwhelming support for the motion, asked the nominee to take a bow and go.

Meanwhile, the 7th Legislative Assembly in the State also at Wednesday’s plenary gave First Reading to a private member Bill for the protection of the rights and dignity of persons living with HIV and AIDS in Kogi State.

The bill was titled: “A Bill For A Law To Provide For The Prevention Of HIV And AIDS Based Discrimination And Protection Of The Rights And Dignity Of People Living With And Affected By HIV And AIDS And For Other Related Matters, 2024.”

The Bill is being supported by a coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working on HIV/AIDS in the state, led by the Initiative for Grassroots Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA).

It was presented to the House at plenary on Thursday March 29, by its sponsor, Hon. Bin Ebaiya Shehu-Tijjani (APC-Lokoja I).

The Bill when passed into law, is expected to among others, prohibit all forms of stigmatization and discrimination against Persons Living with HIV (PL-HIV) in the state.

In similar vein, a Bill on Multi-door Court House and other matters connected therewith, bill 2024, was also given First Reading at Wednesday’s plenary as the House thereafter, adjourned sitting to 30th April. (Ends)