The Kogi Central Senatorial District Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Engr Abubakar Ohere, says he represents the yearning and aspirations of people of the district, pointing out that his antecedents and pedigree is what is sending fears into the camp of his opponents.

Engr. Ohere made the disclosure while taking stocks of the overwhelming support his aspiration has garnered, thus making him to be confidence of victory, says, “Our people know me. I have lived with them all year round. I was with them all through tick and thin and having seen what I can offer, they have resolved not to be deceived with mundane sentiments but to overwhelmingly vote for me in the forthcoming February election”.

Engr Ohere says if politics is local and about numbers, says he has all the needed support to coast home to victory in the forthcoming February General Election, described APC as the party of choice in Kogi Central and his aspiration the desires of the people.

While pointing out that his unprecedented support base has silent and sent jitters into the camp of his opponents, assured however that he would not be dragged into joining them to bath in the mud, as he explained that there plans is to introduce violence, which he pointed out has begun with the destruction of billboards overnight.

He however expressed confidence that since the election would be held in the day and not in the night when his opponents go to destroy billboards without being noticed, expressed optimism that his victory is not in contention as what is upper most on his minds is to secure a landslide margin of lead with his majority support that is visible not in contention.

Engr. Ohere described the outstanding infrastructural development programs carried out by Gov. Yahaya Bello as what has made his work in the Central an easy one for him, lauded the present administration for its outstanding impact and performances in the district in all sectors of the economy like has never been witnessed in the State’s history.

Engr. Ohere assured of an issue based campaign devoid of name calling and violence by the APC, assured that his desires to represent the district is borne out of the need to improve on the well-being of the people using the instrumentality of legislation and quality representation.

Engr. Ohere used the opportunity to call for the people to imbibe the Spirit, teachings of Jesus Christ by showing love and affection, sharing of alms with one another at all times as enshrined in the Holy Book during this Christmas.

Engr. Abubakar Ohere reminded Christians that the birth of Jesus Christ symbolises love, peace, humility and, indeed, dignity for the human race prayed to God to make the season a joyous one for everyone in the Central Senatorial District.

He explained that It is for this reason that Jesus Christ embodies self-sacrifice, good neighborliness, charity and reconciliation among humankind wished the Christian community and the entire people of the state with Kogi Central in particular,” Merry Christmas.

Dr. Usman stated this during the budget defense of the institution before the House Committee on Education, Science and Technology.

The Rector noted that instead of increasing tuition fee, the management has decided to introduce new courses that are unique to Polytechnic education such as Mass Communication, Printing Technology, Aerospace Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering among others.

He said the move was to expand spaces to accommodate more students instead of using tuition fee to cause hardship on the people.

Dr. Usman explained that his administration will introduce more innovations and reforms with unflinching support of the State Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

The Kogi State Government, on Tuesday extended the distribution of free science textbooks to Senior Secondary Secondary (SSS 2) students in public schools in the Eastern Senatorial district of the state.

The free 11,000 Chemistry and Physics textbooks, was sponsored and donated by Alhaji Usman Ododo, the Kogi Auditor-General for Local Government, in support of the State Government’s School Adoption and Mentorship Programme.

Speaking at Our Lady of Schools (OLS), Anyigba, Gov. Yahaya Bello, commended the donor for boosting his Administration’s effort to revamping education and for extending the gesture across all the three senatorial district.

Bello, who was represented by the State’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, FCIB, said that the distribution of the 11,000 science textbooks was inaugurated on November 12, at Okene, in Kogi Central.

Bello reaffirmed his commitment to continue to give utmost priority to education sector particularly the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The governor stressed that education remained the most expensive venture that any government could fund, and expressed his full support for the school adoption and mentorship programme.

The governor enjoined individuals and organisations to support government’s efforts through its School Adoption and Mentorship Programme to bringing back the glory of education in the state.

The governor advised the schools’ principals against selling the textbooks, saying government had put machinery in motion to ensure the books were effectively utilised as intended.

Bello noted that the education ministry was already working with another individual who has volunteered to sponsor the production of Mathematics textbooks.

He further said that the state government during the recent State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, approved the elongation of service years for teachers from 35 to 40 years in service as well as 60 to 65 years’ retirement age.

The governor stressed that Kogi remained the first State to domesticate such education policy of the federal government on the elongation of teachers’ service years.

He disclosed that the government would round up the ongoing teachers’ recruitment processes in the next two weeks.

”We need adequate and competent human resources that will teach in our schools, and that is why we have ensured a transparent recruitment processes from the aptitude test to the final employment.

”You can not achieve anything meaningful in life without education. We are bringing back the glory of education to Kogi State,” he said.

He, therefore urged the students to utilise the textbooks effectively by studying hard, saying there was no more room for examination malpractice in the state.

The governor warned that any erring student, teacher as well as parent involved in examination malpractice would be prosecuted in line with the newly enacted education law of the state.

In their goodwill messages, Mr David Apeh, Kogi Commissioner for Agriculture; Dr Gabriel Ottah, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information & Communication; and Prof. Daniel Atidoga, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), all commended the donor for the gesture.

They praised the governor for given topmost priority to education and his determination and commitment to revamping the sector in the state.

They commended the education commissioner for the initiative and for his unprecedented achievements in the sector, saying history would not forget him.

On their part, Mr Robert Awodi, the President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), and Mr Ojo Ranti, the state’s Chairman, Academic Staff Union Of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), both thanked the donor for extending the distribution of the textbooks across the state.

The unions commended the governor for given approval for elongation service years and retirement age for teachers in the state.

Some of the students, Fatima Yusuf from Holy Rosery College, Idah; Umar Farouk, and Goodness Egbunu from Community Secondary, Abocho, all expressed their excitement over the free textbooks, saying it would help them to pass their exams.

End

The attention of the Prince Abubakar Audu University Anyigba, has been drawn to an online publication by the name “PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU UNIVERSITY STUDENT’S NEWSLINE” which is not registered with the University, and whose main administrator goes by the name, Saeed Jibrin, a 300 Level student of the Faculty of Law.

The widely circulated publication misinformed the public and our law abiding students that the University under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, has increased school fees without confirmation of the said increase from the University Management.

Consequently, the University Management wishes to categorically state as follows:

1. That there is no increase in school fees payable by the returning students;
2. That the fees payable by the returning students still remains as itemised below:
   i. Tuition = N21, 900
   ii. Third Party Fees = 23,000
   iii. Students Levies and Dues (charged by various students’ associations) = N1, 650
   This brings the total charges to N46, 550
3. That only recently, after a successful resource verification by the National Universities Commission (NUC), a set of new programmes were approved for the University to commence in the 2022/2023 academic session.
4. That these new programmes include B. NSc. Nursing Science, B.Sc. Pharmacology and BMLS. Medical Laboratory Science;
5. That these new programmes are highly capital intensive which attract higher fees across all Nigerian universities for their peculiarities;
6. That to guarantee the sustainability of these new programmes, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, cannot be different; that is why there is need to charge appropriate fees;
7. That, also, for the sustainability of some programmes currently on offer in the University, predominantly those that have two cycles of accreditation, it has become unrealistic to continue to charge a fee of N46,550 to run these programmes.
   Conclusion
   In line with a circular recently issued out on mode of communication in the University, the University Management wishes to reiterate that students strictly abide by the content of the circular. We therefore wish to inform the public that the position was not as presented in the said publication. The presenter embarked on a frolic of his own without sufficient information. As stated earlier, the returning students are not to pay more than the school fees known to them.

Signed:
Management, PAAU, Anyigba

The Minister, Hajia Sadiya Farouq, who inaugurated the disbursement on Tuesday in Lokoja, said other beneficiaries under the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) would also get their various package.

She said the programmes include: Government Enterprise and Empowerment Program (GEEP 2.0), Digitised Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), NPower and Home Grown School Feeding Program (HGSFP).

She said the NSIP remained a project that is consistent with the deliberate National agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari, to lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.

She said the GVG was designed to provide a one-off cash grant of N20,000 to some of the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians in the rural and peri-urban areas to ease them out of poverty.

The Minister, who was represented by the Director of Special Duties in the Ministry, Mrs Nadia Soso-Muhammed, said their target was to disburse the grant to 3,415 beneficiaries across the 21 local government areas of Kogi.

She noted that President Buhari through his deliberate social inclusion agenda, had directed that 70 per cent of the beneficiaries should be women, and 30 per cent youths.

She added that 15 per cent of the total beneficiaries would be allocated to the people with special needs and the senior citizens.

She explained that the GEEP 2.0, was in three categories: Trader-moni, Market-moni and Farmer-moni, in which beneficiaries would get loans ranging from 50,000 to N300,000 with zero interest depending on the category.

She stressed that the GEEP 2.0 was designed for the vulnerable and low-income Nigerians involved in commercial activity and capacity but never had opportunity to access loans.

She said about 1,142,783 potential beneficiaries had been registered across the 774 LGAs in Nigeria out of which 50,394 were from Kogi.

She added 14,404 out of the 50,394 registered in Kogi had been verified out of which about 3, 437 were enumerated and selected for payment in the first phase.

The minister said a total of 9.9 million children are currently being fed nationwide, adding that President Buhari had approved additional 5 million children to be included.

She commended Governor Yahaya Bello for his immense contribution and commitment which had ensured the great success the NSIP had recorded in Kogi.

Farouq urged all beneficiaries of the various programmes to use the grant and the loans to improve their productivity, create wealth, employment, and improve their living standard.

In his remarks, the Governor thanked the President and the Minister for all the various intervention programmes that the federal government had put in place for Kogi people and Nigeria at large.

The governor, who was represented by the Head of Service, Mrs Hannah Odiyo, thanked the Ministry for identifying with the people of Kogi during the flood disaster that ravaged the state.

He noted that aside partnering with the federal government on NSIP, he established healthcare programme, known as ”Bello Care Programme” which had been taken care of the health needs of the vulnerable citizens of the state free of charge.

The governor said that as ‘a pace setter’ he remained committed and not relent in setting the pace for others to follow in all aspects of the economy.

He urged the federal government to do everything within its power to make Kogi a disaster resilient state, so that it could withstand the incessant flood disasters.

Earlier, Hon Abdukareem Suleiman Onyekehi, the State’s NSIP Focal Person, said the programmes were huge and unprecedented, and meeting government’s aims and objectives towards eradicating poverty, and creating job.

Onyekehi, who doubles as the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Projects, said a total of 353,768 beneficiaries had directly and indirectly benefitted from the NSIP in Kogi State.

According to him, 12, 964 youths benefitted in the Npower Batch A and B, while over 26,000 are benefiting in batch C (Stream 1&2) with 30,000 monthly stipend.

The focal person added that about 200,000 public schools’ pupils are currently benefitting in the school feeding programme with the engagement of 3000 cooks in the state.

He further said that over 74,000 poor and vulnerable citizens are beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer who are receiving N10,000 bi-monthly, aimed at eradicating poverty in the state.

He, therefore appreciated the President, the Minister and the Governor for the laudable programmes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the representatives of the minister and the governor presented the cash grant and other items to the various beneficiaries based on their categories.

Mr Ibrahim Arome, the Chairman of Persons with Disability in Kogi, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the the President, the Minister, the Governor and the focal person for the gesture.

Arome specially thanked the governor for the practical inclusion of persons with disability in the state, saying they have been involved directly in all the intervention programmes.

End

The coordinator and leader of Labour Party (LP) in Olamaboro Local Government Area, Mr David Apeh, and over 200O others, on Monday defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kogi State Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, received the defectors with enthusiasm at Okpo Olamaboro.

Onoja eulogised the LP leader, his followers and several other defectors from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) for heeding to the voice of reasoning by joining APC.

The deputy governor explained that the APC worked tirelessly to defeat PDP in 2015, repeated same in 2019, expressing confidence that 2O23 would be a walkover.

He stressed that the ruling party had performed tremendously well in social economic and infrastructure development across the council and the state at large under Gov. Yahaya Bello’s administration,

The deputy governor assured that with the increase in the number of registered voters, the LGA would double its winning streak.

He further called for massive support for the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, saying Kogi would hugely benefit from Tinubu’s administration if elected Nigeria’s president.

Reacting on the allegations against him by LP House of Representatives candidate, Chief Peter Ameh, that he authorised the destruction of billboards, Onoja urged the LP candidate to do the needful by obeying the law.

According to Onoja, the state has passed a signage law through Kogi Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), which stipulated the amount payable by candidates of political parties before mounting billboards and posters in the state.

He disclosed that as sitting Deputy Governor, he paid huge amount of money to advertising agencies for him to paste posters and mount billboards when his principal, Governor Yahaya Bello was contesting for presidential ticket of the APC.

”My name is a catalyst for news, a brand that if not added to a story by my detractors, their stories will not sell.

”I never ordered anyone to destroy billboards, because I am chairman of KGIRS,” Onoja said..

Earlier, the coordinator of the defectors and LP leader, said he was an ‘intensed political archenemy’ of the deputy governor with several confrontations in many fora .

”But having sat down and did a comprehensive analysis of the political trends in the country, i realized that labour party was not going to have a meaningful headway in the 2023 polls.

”I, therefore decided to pitch my tents along with my over 2000 numerous supporters with the ruling party,” he said.

Apeh enjoined all sons and daughters of Olamabiro in opposition parties to join APC, stressing that the party had brought unprecedented developmental strides to the areas.

Other dignitaries at the events were: House of Representatives member for Olamaboro/ Omala /Ankpa Federal Constituency, Mr. Abdullahi Halims; and Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Gabriel Olofu.

Others included the Chairman Olamaboro, Mr Friday Adejoh; member, House of Assembly member, Anthony Ujah Alewo and a host of other sons and daughters of the LGA.

End

A statement on Tuesday in Lokoja by the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof Isah Adagiri Yahaya, said the publication in a section of the social media credited to one Chukwuemeka Mohammed, was misleading, malicious and unfounded.

According to him, Chukwuemeka Mohammed in his write up tried albeit fruitlessly all efforts to bring to disrepute the effective service delivery status achieved by the present management of KSSH and the Administration of Governor Yahaya Bello in the revolution of the Health Sector.

”It is an acknowledged fact that the Specialist Hospital Lokoja under the present administration has been repositioned in the areas of infrastructure, human resource, towards meeting emergencies at the hospital.

”It is important to state that KSSH is amongst Government agencies that has been given the leverage to opt out of the single treasury accounting system.

”All of this decisions are geared towards meeting patients’ emergency need and the restocking medicaments where and when necessary.

“Through Chukwuemeka’s social media post, several questions come to mind: was there any attempt for Chukwuemeka to complain to the department responsible for Insurance Management in the hospital?

”Was there any effort to draw the attention of the Matron on compound duty, the Hospital Publicity Director or the Medical Doctor in charge of the Accident and Emergency to any of the challenges you encountered?

”We will like to know the Clinical status of Chukwuemeka’s client before she was rushed to Specialist Hospital, and where she was referred from? Her HMO and who her Primary Provider is?

”Was any of the KSSH insurance Department staff contacted? Because we intend to be fair, balanced, scientific, objective and clinical about all his claims.

”Since the Establishment of Kogi State Specialist Hospital, can Chukwuemeka give us data showing that the hospital is a cemetery for burying dead people, His quote: ‘specialist hospital has turned a death trap’

”Let it be placed on record that the hospital has a 24hr policy of attending to emergencies without payment and accumulating a debt to the tune of N20,000 before the client’s relatives are contacted.

”We have several countless examples of person’s who are alive because of this EMERGENCY POLICY of the hospital, NHIS or NOT,” he said.

He added: ”we’re in a Civil Society and as such, there are civil ways of addressing concerns and complaints.
”With the manner and way this post was written, it seeks to: Undermine the management and staff of the Kogi State Specialist Hospital.

”There seem to be a clear motive behind this post which is geared towards portraying the Chief Medical Director in person of Prof Isah Yahaya Adagiri in very bad light without any due diligence to fact checking and balanced reportage.

”Deliberately painting the Government of his Excellency, Yahaya Adoiza Bello in bad light for no realistic reason before the good people of Kogi State and environs.

”Deliberately undermining all the time, resources and attention paid to the health care sector by his Excellency, intentionally Inciting Public Hate and stirring up Civil disobedience against the Hospital and Government of Kogi State.

”We wish to therefore say that Chukwuemeka’s post is designed and masterminded to sell a private hospital which is his entitlement, but we frown at his attempt to denigrate or cast aspersion on a government owned hospital without clear proof or facts.

”Chukwuemeka used the term ‘Negligence and lack of sympathy’

”We are looking forward to where he has repeatedly draw-out the attention of the hospital management to these claims and nothing was done about it BY the Medical Staff of the Accident and Emergency Department or any other Emergency Department within the hospital.?

“Considering the manner this post was made, we wish to remind Chukwuemeka that both the NHIS now NHIA and the Kogi State Specialist Hospital are Government owned and fully Established by law.

”Therefore, we will explore all necessary options to address both his claims on the social media space without recourse to due process within five working days.”

End

… As PAAU gets approval to run B.NSc Nursing Science, B.Sc Pharmacology and BMLS. Medical Laboratory Science.

The Vice Chancellor, Prince Abubakar Audu University Anyigba, says Gov. Yahaya Bello’s vision is positively shaping University education in Kogi State.

The Vice Chancellor made the disclosure following the approval granted the PAAU by the National Universities Commission for the establishment of three new undergraduate programmes with effect from 2022/23 academic session.

Prof. Marietu Tenuche said the approval granted the University is coming on the heels of PAAU making history by becoming the first State owned University to clinch the coveted Higher Institution Football League trophy, described the Governor’s midas touch in the State owned University as unprecedented..

The programmes granted approval for the University to run in the 2022/23 academic session she disclosed
are B.NSc Nursing Science, B.Sc Pharmacology and BMLS. Medical Laboratory Science.

The Vice Chancellor explained that the feat the PAAU Anyigba has constantly achieved was made possible by the support of Gov. Yahaya Bello, maintained that the institution have never had it this good.

She expressed her determination to breaking new grounds with the support from the Gov. Bello, described the present administration in the State as one resolutely committed to laying a solid foundation for the coming generation.

The Kogi West Senatorial District Flagbearer for National Rescue Movement, NRM, Mallam Bala Abdulghafar Dirisu has assured of effective representation if elected.

The frontline Kogi West Senatorial District candidate gave the assurance while sympathizing with the people affected by flood in the district, assured of support and palliatives to cushion there losses and displacement.

Mall. Bala noted that the perennial flooding has become a cause for concern, assuring that if elected he will work with the relevant authorities on the need to build dams and other measures to stem the negative effect of flooding.

The NRM Senatorial District Flagbearer says he joined in sympathizing with the people, assured of support that would help them resettle back to their homes.

He called on the people of Kogi West Senatorial District to see NRM as the best alternative to the poor representation the district has witnessed in the past, saying he has a broad understanding of the need of the people.

He promised to work towards ensuring the yearning and aspirations of the people, saying he has worked out a wholistic blueprint that will improve on the quality of lives of the people of Kogi West Senatorial District.

Kogi State Governor, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on Thursday flagged off the Kogi Veterinary Week , 2022, organized by the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), in collaboration with Kogi State Ministry of Agriculture.

The ceremony, which was also held in commemoration of the World Rabies Day, took place at the Muhammadu Buhari Square in Lokoja.

Speaking through his Deputy, His Excellency, Chief (Dr.) Edward Onoja, Governor Bello stated that his government is committed to creating wealth through agricultural activities such as livestock rearing, noting that this has led to efforts to suppress conflicts and diseases.

He explained that the State Government has provided an enabling environment for agriculture by ensuring that farmer-herder conflicts are a thing of the past and organizing various programmes such as veterinary week and mass animal vaccination in past years.

Governor Bello said his administration has invested heavily in disease eradication in livestock, noting that this is important because many of these diseases can be transmitted to humans. He explained that eradicating disease in animals not only benefits the animals but means a healthy life for humans.

The Governor received an Award of Excellence from the NVMA for his support to veterinary medicine in the state while appreciating the effort of the association and the Ministry of Agriculture as well as other stakeholders who organized the event.

He promised continued support for veterinary medicine as well as to give attention to the challenges of veterinary practitioners.

Earlier, in a keynote address, the President, Commonwealth Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Olatunji Nasir, had expounded on the need for collaboration in eradicating rabies and called on the government to take more than passive interest in eradicating the disease.

The event was attended by relevant stakeholders, ministries and agencies.

Promise Emmanuel
Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kogi State.

September 22, 2022.