Kogi State

Congratulations to all GYB corpers…

GOVERNOR BELLO APPROVES 100% INCREMENT IN CORPS MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES

. SUPPORTS MEMBERS’ LOGISTICS WITH N37.7M

. TASKS THEM ON GOOD CONDUCT

The Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Yahaya Bello, CON, has approved 100 per cent increment in the allowance of members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed to Kogi State for their mandatory one-year service.
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The Governor approved the raise considering the current economic realities and the overall importance of the NYSC scheme to national and state development.

He spoke during the closing ceremony of the 2023 Batch ‘B’ Stream 2 of the NYSC at the State’s Orientation Camp, Asanya, in Kabba Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, on Tuesday.
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The Governor also announced a donation of N37.7 million as logistics support for the Youth Corps members as they move to their respective places of primary assignments and called on private sector employers to prioritise their welfare.

He charged the Corps members to be of good behaviour and encouraged them to embrace the spirit of ‘One Nigeria’ and treat all citizens as fellow Nigerians, transcending ethnic and religious boundaries.
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He urged them to demonstrate diligence, hard work, commitment, and understanding throughout their service years, as these qualities would prepare them to overcome challenges after completing their service period.

Governor Bello commended the State Coordinator of the NYSC, Pastor (Mrs) Adebimpe Williams, for the camp’s overall infrastructure improvement and assured that other developmental requests would receive due attention.
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The State’s Coordinator of the scheme, Pastor (Mrs) Adebimpe Williams, and the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon Idris Musa, commended Governor Yahaya Bello for his administration’s longstanding support for the program.
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Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, CON, extends his warmest congratulations to Arc Yomi Awoniyi, our esteemed former Deputy Governor, as he marks another milestone in his life today, September 4, 2023.

The Governor recognizes Arc Yomi Awoniyi as a dedicated and visionary leader whose contributions to the development of Kogi State and the nation have left an indelible mark. His unwavering commitment to public service and the welfare of his constituency’s people has set an exemplary standard.

During his tenure as Deputy Governor, Arc Yomi Awoniyi played a pivotal role in supporting the then Governor in shaping the policies and initiatives that propelled our state forward.

Governor Bello acknowledges that beyond our state’s borders, Arc Yomi Awoniyi’s influence has extended to the national stage. His advocacy for good governance, social justice, and the well-being of the people has earned him the respect and admiration of many.

As family, friends, and associates of Awoniyi celebrate this special day in the life of a remarkable statesman, the Governor expresses his gratitude for his selfless service and dedication to the betterment of our society. He says Arc Yomi Awoniyi’s legacy of respect, diligence, and commitment continues to inspire young leaders to work tirelessly for the progress and unity of our great state and nation.

The Governor joins the people on this special day in celebrating Arc Yomi Awoniyi’s accomplishments and wishes him good health, happiness, and continued success in all his endeavors.

Architect Yomi Awoniyi was born into the family of late Pa Sunday Awoniyi on September 4, 1960. He was the deputy governor of Kogi State between 2011 and 2015.

ONOGWU Muhammed
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
September 4, 2023

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT,
KOGI STATE
PRESS RELEASE

Kogi State Governor, His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Bello, CON has approved the appointment of Yahaya Ade Ismail as the Commissioner for Special Duties. This appointment underscores Governor Bello’s dedication to recognizing exceptional individuals who have demonstrated unwavering commitment and service to our beloved State.

Yahaya Ade Ismail, who has previously served as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, has consistently shown outstanding dedication and an impressive track record of service. His deep-rooted commitment to the progress of Kogi State has earned him this esteemed recognition.

It is important to note that the appointment of Yahaya Ade Ismail as Commissioner for Special Duties is currently pending confirmation by the State House of Assembly. This process aligns with established procedures, ensuring that the selection is carried out in a transparent and accountable manner.

The Governor firmly believes that Yahaya Ade Ismail’s extensive experience and insights will greatly contribute to the advancement of our State’s development objectives.

Mrs Ayoade Folashade Arike, PhD, Secretary to the Government of Kogi State.

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR YAHAYA BELLO OF KOGI STATE ON THE 32ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE CREATION OF KOGI STATE BEING SUNDAY, THE 27TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2023

Protocols.

My great people of Kogi State,

I address you today with a heart that is brimming with pride and hope as we celebrate the 32nd Anniversary of the creation of our beloved Kogi State. This historic occasion is a day of remembrance and recommitment toward progress, even as we pause again to reflect upon our journey, our achievements, and our dreams for the future.

Kogi State emerged as an entity from parts of Benue, Niger, and Kwara States on the 27th day of August, 1991 full of the promise and possibility of a new era for our people. Since that day, we have come a long way. In the process we have overcome challenges and though our history has been chequered, we have continued to journey towards a stronger and more vibrant Kogi State.

On this Anniversary, I have decided to reference my own contributions as a leader over the 8 years of my tenure which began on 27th of January, 2016 and will round off, by the grace of God Almighty alone, on the same day next year 2024. As for my predecessors, it suffices to say that their times in office, including their triumphs and failures, all contribute to the land and people we have become and are becoming as we march resolutely towards the greater future that we dream of. I salute each and everyone of them and do thank them sincerely, on behalf of all of us, for their services – such as it may have been.

Throughout my tenure as Governor, my commitment to the New Direction Blueprint has been the major driver of our actions and decisions. This policy plan has served us well as our guiding light, leading us towards the accelerated and proportional development we envisaged from inception across all constituencies in our State.

In education, health, infrastructure, youth empowerment, civil service reform, security, agriculture, and more, we have taken remarkable strides that are both visible and impactful today – even to the worst naysayer or skeptic. We have been able to do so much irrespective of the back to back years of financial underdelivery which has characterized our tenure from start to finish.

Our advances have been made possible because of our determination to display both astuteness and probity in Public Financial Management. We have diligently reformed our budgeting, procurement, debt management, revenue generation systems, and more. It is no longer news that our commitment to financial transparency and accountability has earned us the top position among Nigerian states in the World Bank’s States’ Financial Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) index, time and again.

In a nutshell, our success in leadership and governance has been meticulously planned and executed, and it is with the same intentionality that we embarked on the creation of the Kogi State 32-Year Development Plan earlier in the year. This plan will project our developmental aspirations for the next three decades, outlining both the short-term objectives that will derive from it and the longer term aspirations that we must pursue. Just as Alan Lakein once said, “Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.”

Our vision is clear: to provide a ready Blueprint for our future leadership to continue developing Kogi State into Nigeria’s foremost and most secure emerging commercial hub, leveraging our geographical location, natural endowments, and human resources for a sustainable future. This envisions a functional sociopolity with self-sufficient economy, high standards of living and abundant socioeconomic opportunities that is sustained by industrialisation in an operational environment that promotes ease of doing business and climate-smart processes. We anticipate improved infrastructure, education, healthcare, security and agricultural advancements, with enhanced cooperation and integration amongst citizens.

Today, I look to that future with an urgent imperative to ensure that we do not fall into the hands of a leadership in our State after me that will ignore the needs of our people or of our State for good governance and proportional cum accelerated development that respects our great diversity.

In this regard, and as I round off my time in Office, I aim to ensure that Kogi State transitions into the hands of a successor that is committed to Continuity and Consolidation of the far-reaching legacies of our Administration and is able to keep providing our people with the empathetic, practical and transformational leadership that is so crucial the next stage of our development.

Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman is the candidate that we have selected and presented to Kogi State as the candidate for the 2023 Gubernatorial Elections and our preferred successor to the GYB years. He is well known for his humility and humanness, underlined by professionalism and strong leadership skills. I am confident in his ability to continue the upward trend in our growth graph established by our New Direction Administration and I solicit your support for him in the November 11 Kogi State Governorship Elections.

For the records, Kogi State is fully in support of recent hard decisions taken by the Administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to free Nigeria from some institutionalised practices with which ordinary Nigerians have been forced, for far too long, to subside their own despoliation at the hands of a rapacious few among the elite. I refer, of course, to the removal of the agelong fuel subsidy regime and the floating of the Naira.

The twin policies, though acutely necessary for freeing our people from the clutches of chronic Exploitation, have not been without labour pains. Indeed, their implementation have been quite hard on all Nigerians, including our people here in Kogi State. In response, the Federal Government has laid out a scheme of palliatives to cushion some of the painful impact. Let me assure us that here in Kogi State your Government is putting finishing touches to your own basket of palliatives and will soon deliver them to your doorsteps. These are hard times, but we promise to be with you every step of the way.

In closing, let us remember that any success we have seen as a state since we became one of the Federating units in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not the work of a single individual or administration, but the collective effort of every Kogite. I thank you all for your dedication to working together with us to achieve a brighter future for Kogi State that transcends all personal and clique interests.

May the Almighty God continue to bless our Kogi State, increase our greatness and comfort us on every side.

Thank you.

YAHAYA BELLO
Governor of Kogi State

Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello on Saturday attended the coronation of the Akinrin of Ekinrin Ade, Oba Johnson Kolade-Otitoju where he re affirmed his respect for the traditional institution in the state and particularly Ekirin-Ade, a community he described as peaceful and courageous.

The governor at the occasion also directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Deedat Ozigi to immediately commence the process of upgrading the stool of the Oba of Ekirin-Ade to a first class status noting that for fairness, justice and equity which his government represents, the community deserved such recognition.
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Governor Bello congratulated the newly coronated traditional ruler, who he recalled to be a pioneer teacher at Abdul-Azeez Atta Memorial College, Okene describing him as a disciplinarian while also attesting that the Royal Father have lived a fulfilled life with point of reference to successful wards the Oba has raised.

While assuring the Royal Father of continued support from the government, he noted that Ekirin-Ade would benefit from several of his administration’s plan for the traditional institution including the plan by the Ministry of LGA and chieftaincy Affairs to give traditional palaces a befitting appearance across the state.

The governor also used the occasion to congratulate Kogi West senatorial district whom he described as great lovers of education over the recent approval of the establishment of Kogi State University, Kabba. He also thanked the citizens for their efforts and cooperation towards the actualisation of this long desired aspiration by the people of the region.
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He pointed out that his government was solely interested in ensuring that the people make progress and they feel the impact of good governance while he again appreciated the traditional institution for their support and encouragement which he noted has compelled his government to deliver dividends of democracy to the people.

In his vote of thanks, Veteran journalist and son of the coronated traditional ruler, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju thanked the governor and his entourage for gracing the occasion to rejoice with the community and gift such a pleasant surprise of the stool upgrade.

He noted that the governor made the occasion a memorable one adding that his good deeds would continue to be remembered in the history of the state.

The Governor was accompanied to the event by the November 11 Gubernatorial Candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, his Chief of Staff, Pharm. Abdulkareem Jamiu, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Deedat Ozigi, State Accountant General, Alhaji Jubril Momoh as well as other top government functionaries.
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The Kogi Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello has charged Local Government Chairmen on the need to protect public infrastructure in their domain.

The Governor’s charge was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo while briefing newsmen after Mondays Extraordinary State Executive Council Meeting in Lokoja.

The Governor was quoted to have expressed disappointment in the manner public infrastructure are vandalized by hoodlums, saying such will not be acceptable going forward.

“The vandalization of our broadcasting facilities at Ochaja is unfortunate and uncalled for. The Governor expressed disappointment over such wanton destruction and has charged Council Chairmen to beef up security around public infrastructure in their areas”, he said.

The Governor also charged law enforcement agencies to get to the root of the Ochaja Broadcasting Corporation vandalization with the aim of bringing the perpetrators to book, expressing confidence in law enforcement agents to apprehend the “enemies of the public “.

Fanwo said the State Governor also promised to set machineries in motion to ensure the station is back on air in the earliest possible time to continue to sensitize the Kogi East people.

It would be recalled that vandals numbering about 30 a few weeks ago stormed the Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, OCHAJA, carting away generators and cables as well as components of the transmitters.

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has made significant progress in the state’s legislative agenda by signing five bills into law. The signing ceremony took place on Monday at the EXCO Hall in the Government House, Lokoja, and was witnessed by esteemed dignitaries, including the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Matthew Kolawole, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim (SAN), and the Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Dr. Ayoade Arike Folashade.

Describing the event as unprecedented and a milestone in the state’s history, Governor Bello emphasized the importance of the bills in improving rural infrastructure, education, cultural advancement and transformation of the the state. He expressed his administration’s strong commitment to rural development and praised the Kogi State House of Assembly for its exceptional performance.

“We have never had it this good in the history of the State House of Assembly,” said Governor Bello, expressing his gratitude to the Speaker and other principal members of the House. He acknowledged the harmony, synergy, integration, and cooperation among the various arms of government under his leadership.
Governor Bello also commended the state Attorney General for meticulously reviewing the bills to ensure their compliance with existing laws of the country. He affirmed his administration’s dedication to taking the state to greater heights.

Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Mathew Kolawole, in his remarks, expressed delight that the bills were not just passed but also signed into law. He commended Governor Bello for fostering a peaceful atmosphere and promoting a harmonious working relationship between the executive and the legislature.

The bills signed into law by the governor include:
1. A law to establish the Glory College of Health Science and Technology, Oke-Bukun, and other related matters (2023).
2. A law to provide for the retirement of teachers in Kogi State and other related matters (2023).
3. A law to establish the Kogi State Roads Fund Management and Administration Board (KOSRFMAB) for the management, planning, development, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and maintenance of Class “B,” Class “C,” and Class “D” roads in Kogi State and other related matters (2023).
4. A law to provide for the peaceful celebration of Ebira traditional and cultural festivals in the Central Senatorial District of Kogi State and other related matters (2023) to advance cultural development and maintain peace and security during cultural festivals.
5. Kogi State Rural Access Roads Agency, RARA which is aimed at managing, developing, rehabilitating, reconstructing and maintenance of Class “C” and Class “D” roads in the State.

Governor Bello’s commitment to enacting these laws signifies his dedication to the development and progress of Kogi State, and it is expected that they will contribute significantly to the betterment of the state and its people.

ONOGWU Muhammed
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
22/05/2023

The President-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has bestowed his blessings upon Hon. Ododo Ahmed Usman, OAU, the APC Gubernatorial candidate for Kogi 2023, while assuring him of victory at the November polls.

During Ododo’s visit to his residence in Abuja on Saturday, Asiwaju urged party members in the state to work towards the party’s victory at the polls. He stated that Kogi has been an APC stronghold with consistent electoral victories since 2015 and expressed no doubt that Ododo would emerge victorious in November. The President-elect also commended the party leadership and supporters for their overwhelming victory in the last general election.

Earlier, the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who led Ododo on the visit, said that party members chose Ododo as the candidate based on his capacity, competence, and ability to lead effectively. He assured Asiwaju that the people of Kogi State would vote for consolidation, which Ododo’s candidacy represents, having witnessed the progress made in the state in the last seven years.

On April 14, 2023, the Kogi State APC Primary Election Committee declared Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo as the winner of the Kogi APC Governorship Primary Election, having garnered 78,704 votes to defeat other contestants in the race.

ONOGWU Mohammed

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

April 29, 2023

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in his office at the presidential villa, Abuja received the APC candidate for Kogi 2023 Gubernatorial election, Ododo Ahmed Usman.

Ododo who was led by Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello was warmly received by Mr President.

President Buhari congratulated Ododo and wished him success at the general election which comes up November, 2023.

On April 14, 2023, the Kogi State APC Primary Election Committee announced Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo as the winner of the Kogi APC Governorship Primary Election, having polled 78,704 votes to defeat other contestants in the race.

ONOGWU Muhammed

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

28/04/2023

Ododo Ahmed Usman has emerged victorious in the APC’s primaries for the 2023 Kogi State Governorship Elections held on Friday April 14. Ododo garnered 78,704 ahead of Deedat Momodu Ozigis the closest of his 6 challengers who got 1,506 votes. The elections which held simultaneously in all 3,508 polling units across the 239 wards of the State were by the direct primaries mode and were characterized by large turnout of party faithfuls and prevalence of law and order.

It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the Kogi 2023 gubers for November 11 when Ododo will face the candidates of other parties for the right to lead the Confluence State for the next 4 years after the conclusion of the second term of incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello on January 27, 2024.