***So far refurbished donated over 120 vehicles and acquired 200 motorcycles.
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
Kogi Security Trust Fund (STF) has has presented vehicles refurbished for the Kogi Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and security agencies to boost the security architecture of the state.
Mr Abdulazeez Ozovehe Ohiare, chairman of the trust fund, who presented the vehicles at the state Civil Service Secretariat, Lokoja, described the gesture as a significant move to enhance security in Kogi State.
According to Ohiare, the Fund has so far refurbished over 120 vehicles and acquired 200 motorcycles for vigilante services, hunters, civil defense, Nigerian police, and state security services.
“The Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has mandated us to do the best we can do for the security agencies.
“We came on board 2nd January, 2023. On assumption of office, we discovered a lot of challenges in operational vehicles of our security agencies. For the Nigerian police, the Nigerian army, the military service, even our local hunter.
“And we felt that the best thing we could do for this government is to save fund and we begin to refurbish most of the operational vehicles of security agencies in state.
“The Executive Governor mandate us to acquire motorcycles. From History and experience, we discovered that most of these criminals are not in the main town.
“They are mostly in the interior parts of the villages of our local governments and most of the security agents need motorcycles. So, by the special grace of God, we’ve acquired over 200 motorcycles for security agencies.
“The only place we are left with is the Nigerian Army. And by the special grace of God, in no distant time, we’ll be able to fix and republish about 10 operational vehicles for the Nigerian army.
“What we are doing here today is to present the republished operational vehicles for Nigerian Police, the Civil Defense, and the equally given out 15 motorcycle to State Security Services (SSS)”, Ohiare said.
Speaking in appreciation of the gesture from the STF, Chairman of Kogi Council of NUJ, Comrade Seidu Ademu expressed “deep appreciation” to the Security Trust Fund especially for the short time frame within which the bus was refurbished.
He thanked Governor Ododo for according the STF full cooperation in executing its mandate and urged that more funds be made available to the agency to go more technical in their operations.
Representatives of the security agencies including the Nigeria Police, National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), SSS, Vigilante groups, Hunters and others commended the STF for the gesture. (Ends)