TheNewsGuru

Tag: kogi

  • FG to demarcate FCT/ Niger, Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa boundaries

    FG to demarcate FCT/ Niger, Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa boundaries

    The Federal Government has restated its commitment to demarcate the boundaries between the FCT and four neighbouring States.

    Mr Adamu Adaji, Director-General, National Boundary Commission (NBC), made this known in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said the Internal Boundary Committee of the Commission chaired by Mr Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing, had met with the concerned states and okayed the process to begin.

    He said that the demarcation of the boundary was necessary to avoid conflict.

    “We met on Monday and the FCT Minister said he was in touch with the governors concerned and that they pledged their support for the exercise.

    “The FCT is bordered by Niger, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Kogi.

    “We have some uncertainties about the correct alignment of the boundary, because the gaps between the pillars in place to define the corner points boundary are far apart.

    “In some cases, you find pillars that are far as 80km apart. So we agreed that there is need to put more pillars,” he said.

    The NBC boss explained that the Commission had gone far with some other inter-state boundary issues across the country.

    He said the commission has completed tracing exercise for some states and the demarcation process will begin soon.

    “Be rest assured that the Commission is making progress and with the commitment of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, we will do much more.

    “The Commission has fared better in terms of funding from the Federal Government and cooperation from the states.

    “Very soon we will have those boundaries properly defined.

    “Also, a boundary cannot serve its purpose until it is properly recognised on ground, and for you to do that, you must have markers on ground for people to know.

    “Also note that boundaries are not barriers or made to cause division of families and properties, it is just for administrative convenience,” Adaji said.

  • Olu of Warri lauds Yahaya Bello for his developmental efforts

    Olu of Warri lauds Yahaya Bello for his developmental efforts

    The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III on Thursday lauded Gov. Yahaya Bello’s progressive achievements in Kogi.

    The traditional ruler gave the commendation when he visited Gov. Bello in the Government house ahead of the coronation and presentation of the Staff of Office to the

    The Olu specifically commended Bello for the visible development projects which he said he saw on his way to the state.

    “Visiting the state for the first time was more of a homecoming for me, where part of the origin of the Itsekiri Kingdom could be traced to.

    “The significance of the Kogi as a confluence state where the two great rivers, Benue and Niger meet will bring in more blessings and prosperity to the state.

    “Everybody knows that I am the King of waters. And since here is where the two Rivers meet here, I use my authority, my great office to declare that Kogi is a prosperous state, it is a blessed state, it is a productive state.

    “And the blessings that God intends to emanate from here will grow across the nations, and we release that today,” he said.

    The Olu thanked the people of Kogi for their hospitality.

    Responding Bello thanked the traditional ruler for the visit and for accepting the invitation to attend the coronation of the Attah of Igala.

    Bello also congratulated Olu on his installation.

    “Your coronation as the Olu of Warri was a great development for the current generation to see young people vested with such responsibilities and powers.

    “When the kingmakers chose you to ascend the throne of your ancestors, my hope, my dreams, my aspirations, my desire, my wish for this country was elated.

    “And I know that this generation at this time is going to be blessed. They could not have been a better selection than yourself.

    “Let me use this opportunity to congratulate you, to congratulate the people of Delta and the Kingdom at large to have a monarch of my own generation as a young person.

    “When you were talking, I began to feel the blessing already because I know the words of our ancestors are coming forth.

    “Every prayer of our ancestors coming through you from the heavens shall be accepted by each and every one of us.

    “I am going to work closely with you to ensure that your own reign in our own time is a blessing to our generation and nation at large,” Bello said.

  • Kogi declares ‘state of emergency’ on education

    Kogi declares ‘state of emergency’ on education

    The Kogi Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Wemi Jones, on Friday said the State Government has declared ”a state of emergency” in the education sector in the state.

    Jones disclosed this on Friday during the Educational Task Force Meeting with some critical Educational Stakeholders in Kogi Central Senatorial District, at Government Day Secondary School (GDSS), Iruvucheba, Okene Local Governnent Area of the state.

    He expressed optimism that the move by Gov. Yahaya Bello, had brought innovations and remodelling of secondary schools in the state, with a view to making the state regain its lost glory in Education.

    He noted that with the state having two Universities, there was a dare need to adequately prepare students in secondary schools to fit into the vision of the governor for quality assurance and become self reliant.

    Jones described education as the only guarantee for the future, noting that the emergency system had also manifested in several ongoing renovation and rehabilitation projects in the Central Senatorial District and helped to reposition the education system in the state.

    He emphasised the need for the state to move in the direction of science, technology, English and Mathematics, for it not to “be left behind in the new wave of educational development, hence the declaration of a State of Emergency on the sector”.

    He described the commitment of Bello to education as unprecedented, adding that the state government was conscious of the shortfall of teachers in secondary schools and making efforts to fill the vacancies occasioned by retirements, transfers and the civil service reforms.

    Jones, however solicited the support of stakeholders to the success of the adoption and mentorship programme, saying that the state government could not do it alone while calling on teachers and students to maintain discipline.

  • Bello receives first Kogi female air commodore

    Bello receives first Kogi female air commodore

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, on Monday in Abuja, received Air Commodore Halima Musa, first female Kogi indigene to have attained such rank in the Nigerian Air Force.

    Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Mr Onogwu Muhammed, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

    The statement quoted Bello as expressing joy and congratulating Musa on the elevation, stating that she had made the state and the nation proud.

    The governor, who has large chunk of female appointees in his government, noted that women had contributed immensely to development of the country, hence the need to give them more opportunities to thrive.

    While recalling the contributions and the exemplary professionalism being exhibited by Kogi indigenes in the military, Bello said that Musa had opened another beautiful chapter in the history of the state.

    The governor also congratulated officers of Kogi extraction who were promoted to the rank of Major-General in the December 2021 Nigerian Army promotion exercise.

    He urged them to continue to be good ambassadors of the state and the country at large.

    Musa had earlier thanked Bello for standing by the people of the state at all times.

  • Kogi hosts fourth Nigerian World Maulid

    Kogi hosts fourth Nigerian World Maulid

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Thursday in Lokoja received His Spiritual Eminence, Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse, Grand Khalifa, Jamiyyatu Ansarideen (Attijaniya) Worldwide, as the state hosts the fourth Nigerian World Maulid celebration.

    Thenewsguru.com (TNG) reports that the event, with the theme “The prophetic solutions to questions of humanity”, holds in Lokoja from Jan. 6 to Jan. 8.

    TNG reports that also in the entourage is former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido, who is President of the Jamiyyatu Ansarideen (Attijaniya) Worldwide, amongst other Islamic clerics.

    The Maulid Anniversary which is in honour of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), is organised by Jamiyyatu Ansariddeen (Attijaniyya), under the leadership Sheikh Niasse.

    The event is also expected to bring in Islamic clerics from across the nations with several lectures to be delivered on the teachings of the Holy Prophet (SAW) as it relates to the present times.

    The event will include visiting and praying for the sick at different hospitals in the state, a special dinner in honour of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

    There would also be a Zikrul – Juma’at, also known as the Friday Islamic praise worship, which will be held at the Central Mosque in Lokoja.

  • Yahaya Bello to criminals in Kogi: You will not leave this state alive

    Yahaya Bello to criminals in Kogi: You will not leave this state alive

    Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has vowed to deal with criminals attempting to seek refuge in the state.

    He assured that no criminal seeking safe haven in the state would leave there alive.

    The governor spoke in Lokoja on Saturday when he played host to Chairman of Yagba West Local Government Area, Pius Kolawole.

    Kolawole went to brief the governor of a robbery incident in his domain and the success achieved so far.

    The LCDA chairman said some of the robbers were arrested while others were killed.

    Bello said no criminal who enters Kogi to perpetrate crime would leave the state alive.

    “If 20 criminals enter Kogi, they will leave in zero,” he said.

    The governor noted that Kogi is not an open play field for criminals adding that anyone who is caught would face the wrath of the law.

    He reiterated the determination of his administration to collaborate with security agencies to flush out criminal-minded people out of the state without mercy.

    Bello commended the local government chairman for his doggedness saying he had demonstrated capacity and bravery.

    Police ban use of fireworks in Kogi

    Ahead of the Yuletide, the Kogi State Police Command has advised parents and guardians to forewarn their children and wards against the use of fireworks, including knockout.

    The command in a statement it issued yesterday warned it would arrest and prosecute anyone that fails to heed the warning.

    The statement read in part: “The Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command, Idrisu Dabban, calls on all parents to caution their children and wards, particularly the youths and teenagers who are fond of playing banger (knockout) to desist from such acts as the police is determined to deal decisively with anybody that wants to cause disturbance of public peace. Anybody caught will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

    “The Commissioner of Police hereby advises all law abiding people in the state to go about their legitimate businesses and warns that the command would not hesitate to apply the full wrath of the law against persons who take the law into their hands.”

    He urged residents and other members of the public to promptly report any suspicious movement or activities within their neighbourhood, to the nearest security agents.

  • NDLEA bursts human trafficking syndicate in Kogi, rescue 34 children in two commercial vehicles

    NDLEA bursts human trafficking syndicate in Kogi, rescue 34 children in two commercial vehicles

    Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on patrol have intercepted 34 children along the Okene-Lokoja Expressway in Kogi State.

    NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, who confirmed this in a statement on Friday revealed that operatives also seized 64,000 pump action gun cartridges and a new pump action gun in Anambra.

    According to him, the children between the ages of eight and 14 were being trafficked from Ijebu-Ode in Ogun to the Federal Capital Territory.

    The minors packed in two commercial buses – Toyota Sienna and a 12- seater Mazda with registration numbers Lagos LND124FV and Oyo BDJ-683YK respectively, were recovered in the early hours of Thursday, 16th December from the human trafficking syndicate,” Babafemi said in the statement.

    “The bus drivers confirmed that the kids were handed over to them by a woman at Ijebu-Ode to be conveyed to Abuja, adding that on arrival in FCT, the woman is to call another bus driver who will convey the children to Riyom in Plateau State.”

    He stated that the children were initially trafficked from Plateau to Ijebu Ode, where they were distributed to different households as domestic servants.

    “Some of the children were discovered to have served for two years and their rewards sent to the woman’s agent in Jos,” the NDLEA spokesman revealed.

    He explained that the gun and ammunition were seized at a store in Success Line at the Marine modern market in Onitsha in Awka North Local Government Area of the state.

    “The discovery which led to the arrest of an arms dealer 34-year-old Donatus Onyemachi Igwebudu followed credible intelligence on drugs and arms deal in the location,” Babafemi said.

    “Backed by soldiers from the military, NDLEA operatives stormed the store on Wednesday, 15th December 2021 and moved the arm and ammunition to the agency’s office in Awka.”

  • N20bn bailout saga: EFCC is ‘incompetent’ – Kogi Government

    N20bn bailout saga: EFCC is ‘incompetent’ – Kogi Government

    The Kogi State Government has described as laughable the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s attempt to desperately wriggle out of a bad case with another mischief aimed, again, at misleading Nigerians.

    The EFCC on Friday said it has returned the sum of N19,333,333,333 which was allegedly recovered from the Kogi Salary Bailout Account ‘hidden’ in Sterling Bank.

    But in a statement titled ‘EFCC’s desperate bid to cover incompetence laughable’, the Commissioner for Information and Communications in Kogi State, Kingsley Fanwo, said the Government would prepare a comprehensive response to the latest of the desperate moves by the Commission to save its face in view of its obvious goof and unethical conduct in the matter in dispute.

    “The press statement by the Commission is a malicious attempt to rope the state into a matter that ordinarily has nothing to do with our dear state,” he said.

    “We maintain the unassailable truth that the Kogi State Government did not operate such account with the bank as affirmed in a letter by the bank. We sympathize with the EFCC as it has been a herculean task to cover the initial misinformation and deliberate deceit by the Commission,” the statement added.

    Fanwo stressed that the Kogi State Government would react to the latest EFCC statement comprehensively, noting that “every option that is legal will be considered to maintain the innocence and transparency of our Government.”

    “Kogites and indeed, Nigerians should rest assured that we will get to the root of this matter,” he assured.

  • Kogi demands apology from EFCC over frozen N20B

    Kogi demands apology from EFCC over frozen N20B

    Kogi State government has said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must apologise for embarrassing the state by dragging it to court over a N20 billion bail-out fund.

    Recall that the commission had told the court that it was no longer interested in pursuing the case after the state government had given its commitment to return the money to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    The Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed the government’s position at the presentation of awards to senior journalists that participated in the Governor Yahaya Bello (GYB) Essay Competition for Nigeria’s Political and Crime Editors in Lagos.

    Fanwo said it was unfortunate that the commission ignored thorough explanations by the state government on the matter but chose to heed allegations from “hired guns.”

    Fanwo added that it was unfortunate that the Commission chose to believe allegations that it fixed N19 billion out of the money in a new generation bank.

    He challenged the commission to exhibit professionalism in its affairs, noting, however, that the state government had yet to receive details of the judgement.

    Fanwo declared that the state government would address the media after receiving the Certified True Copy of the judgment.

    The commission withdrew the suit seeking the forfeiture of N20billion bailout funds granted to the Kogi State Government by a new generation bank.

    The money, which was meant for the payment of Kogi workers, was alleged to have been domiciled in an interest-yielding account with the bank by officials of the state government.

    Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke granted the order of withdrawal on Friday sequel to a motion filed and argued by EFCC counsel, Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, leading Mr Rotimi Oyedepo.

    Pinheiro listed six grounds upon which the judge granted the prayer, adding that “the EFCC is a responsible body”.

    One of the grounds was that questions resulting in the commencement of the suit had been clarified, and an intention had been shown to return the sum of N19,333,333,333.36 to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

  • EFCC withdraws suit seeking forfeiture of N20bn bailout funds for Kogi workers

    EFCC withdraws suit seeking forfeiture of N20bn bailout funds for Kogi workers

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday withdrew its suit seeking the forfeiture of the N20billion bailout funds granted to the Kogi State Government by a new generation bank.

    The money was meant for the payment of Kogi State workers but was alleged to have been instead domiciled in an interest-yielding account with the bank.

    Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke granted the order of withdrawal sequel to a motion filed and argued by the counsel to EFCC, Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, leading Mr Rotimi Oyedepo.

    Pinheiro listed six grounds upon which the judge granted the prayer, adding that “the EFCC is a responsible body”.

    One of the grounds was that questions resulting in the commencement of the suit had been clarified and an intention had been shown to return the sum of N19,333,333,333.36 to the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN).

    Justice Tijjani Ringim had on August 31, granted an ex-parte application brought by the EFCC for an interim forfeiture of the N19, 333, 333, 333.36 billion, said to be warehoused in the State account number 0073572696.

    Justice Ringim made the order of the interim forfeiture after taken arguments from the EFCC’s counsel, Abbas Muhammed.

    The judge ruled that the order was pending the conclusion of an investigation or possible prosecution by the EFCC.

    When the matter came up on September 28, 2021 before Justice Aneke, he adjourned to hear all applications relating to the loan.

    At the resumption of proceedings Friday, Pinheiro presented the EFCC’s grounds for discontinuance as contained in an October 13, 2021 application.

    The application titled ‘Notice of discontinuance’ stated that ‘the Applicant, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission has resolved to discontinue this matter in SUIT NO: FHC/L/CS/1086/2021 pending before this Honourable Court against the Respondent’s Account herein.”

    Granting the EFCC’s application, Justice Aneke held: “I have listened to the submission of the learned Silk for the application, Mr Kemi Pinheiro SAN vis-a-vis perused the motion to withdraw. My humble opinion is that application is meritorious and ought to be granted

    “Accordingly, the application is granted as prayed.”

    Counsel to the Kogi State Government Professor Sam Erogbo (SAN) commended the EFCC for its “professional approach”.

    He prayed the court that the interim forfeiture order earlier granted should be vacated for the purpose of clarity.

    But Justice Aneke declined.

    The judge noted that the EFCC was “very clear in their motion to withdraw which is clearly established in paragraph 6.”