News From Kogi
Nigeria@64th: Kogi indigenes lament economic hardship, proffer solutions
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
AS Nigeria marks its 64th independence anniversary, and 25 years of unbroken democratic experience, a cross section of Nigerians from Kogi State have expressed concern over the country’s economic struggles, hardship and despondence.
Speaking on the 64th Independence Anniversary and 25 years of uninterrupted democratic practice in Nigeria, a cross section of Nigerians in Kogi State have registered their frustrations and grievances over what they term, government insensitivity to the plight of the people.
They expressed the view that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s body language and reforms do not align with his signature tune of not wanting to keep the people “Hungry and Angry.”
Adeiza Egidi, a civil servant noted that with economic reforms mitigating sources and means of livelihoods of most Nigerians, emphasis is now on food, shelter and security to avoid sliding into Thomas Hobbes State of Nature.
Adeiza pleaded with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who likened his economic policies to a pregnant woman in labour, to do something urgently “to ease this labour room pains so that the mother can survive to see her baby.”
Mr Hamza Aliyu, Executive Director of Initiative For Grassroot Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA), agreed that Nigerians are facing numerous challenges ranging from high cost of transportation to dearth of food, housing, security, education among many others.
“Nigeria’s inability to manage its economy effectively has undermined the average citizen’s ability to meet basic needs like shelter, food, and security,” Aliyu said.
He attributed the issue to the lack of a clear economic formula and development plan, leading to trial-and-error governance.
He said that to address this, we need a well-articulated development plan, engaging all tiers of government with viable mass transit systems, Agricultural subsidies to reduce food costs and promote self sufficiency food production.
According to him, by tackling transportation and food costs, Nigeria can reduce pressure on foreign reserves, boost commercial activities and create jobs.
Mr Victor Adejoh, Country Director, Synergos Nigeria, noted that the economic woes being suffered by Nigerians are direct consequences of the breakdown in the nation’s economic policies.
He said that the national, economic, social and foreign policies have not been very well taught out and articulated. So this is where we are at the moment adding that the removal of subsidy was ill-timed.
“Government needed to understand the dynamics and the realities of the times. We just came out of post-COVID with a lot of global happenings. It wasn’t the right time for government to make policies around subsidies.
“So, we’re not taking into cognizance the global dynamics. We just came out of COVID, Russian-Ukraine war started, look at what is happening in the Middle East. The different political activities across the globe have impact on our economy.
“Now, we are not producing anything. The impact of the subsidy is heavy. As many companies are closing, unemployment keeps increasing. So all indicators are just negative. Look at the impact on Agriculture”, Adejoh said.
Also speaking on the nation’s 64th Independence anniversary and the economic down turn, Mr Idris Miliki Abdul, Executive Director of Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), said inability of present and past government’s to manage the economy well had plunged citizens into untold hardships.
Miliki said every segment of the nation’s economy has been affected culminating in astronomical cost of feeding, clothing, transportation, health, education and security with all going beyond the reach of the common man.
According to him, situation in Nigeria is dire, with many people looking backward instead of forward due to widespread corruption and insincerity from the government circles.
He emphasized the need for sincere leadership, accountability, and a functional Federal system as he highlighted the daunting challenges facing Nigerians including hyper food inflation and poor governance.
“The issue is not about looking back and sliding back to early man era. It is about looking forward to find the best way to move forward,” he stressed.
Miliki further hinted that a 50 per cent reduction in corruption would improve Nigeria’s prospects saying that the key challenges of high costs of basic necessities and poor governance were all products and direct consequences of widespread corruption and insincerity. (Ends)
The Wife of the Kogi State Governor, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, has called on women across Nigeria to take advantage of every available opportunity to better their lives. Mrs. Ododo made this statement during the distribution of sewing and grinding machines to over 100 beneficiaries through the Ododo Cares Empowerment Programme, held at the Government House in Lokoja. The initiative was organized by the Kogi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
The First Lady explained that the programme aims to support small and medium-scale businesses throughout the state. She encouraged the beneficiaries to make good use of the items to enhance their livelihoods and support their families, while also warning them against selling the equipment.
Hajia Sefinat reiterated Governor Usman Ododo’s dedication to creating an environment that fosters wealth creation for all citizens. She emphasized the state government’s continuous efforts to empower women and the general population, aiming to alleviate poverty across Kogi State.
Mrs. Ododo also expressed her gratitude to the Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Fatima Momoh, for her initiatives and unwavering support for women’s empowerment through the ministry.
END
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), is soon to embark on Needs Assessment and Community Mapping Enumeration of flood prone riverine communities in Kogi state.
Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, Managing Director of the Commission said the effort is to drive its interventions in effective provision and distribution of needed infrastructures and other facilities for flood disaster victims.
The Managing Director disclosed this during a visit to the Atta-Igala, His Royal Majesty Matthew Opaluwa Oguche-Akpa in continuation of the Flood Advocacy Sensitization to Idah, Kogi East Senatorial District.
Yelwa who was represented by his Director of Administration and Finance (DAF), Alhaji Haruna Jimoh Gabi said the effort was aimed at assuaging the hardships caused by the floods and as well, uplift the living standard of the flood disaster victims.
“The Need Assessment and Community Mapping Enumeration will enable N-HYPPADEC know facilities that are either lacking or insufficient in various riverine communities for its quick intervention.”
He said that the Commission would commence provision of basic infrastructures such as potable water, health facilities, roads, rural electrification and relief materials in order of needs of the people after the needs assessment and mapping.
“I am assuring you that in the next one week, enumerators will commence work on the project to enable us know relevant facilities the people need in order of their priorities,” he said.
Yelwa urged members of the riverine communities to avail themselves of the opportunity by co-operating with the enumerators for the success of the project.
Responding, the Atta Igala, His Royal Majesty Alaji Matthew Opaluwa Oguche-Akpa, commended N-HYPPADEC for its humanitarian interventions to assuage the plight of the people across the state, especially among flood prone communities in the state.
The Atta-Igala who was represented by one of his chiefs, His Royal Highness Ibrahim Atadoga, the “Inalogu-Atta”of, described the Need Assessment and Community Mapping Enumeration Project as a welcome development.
He assured N-HYPPADEC of cooperation of his subjects towards the realisation of the project.
The Monarch once again, reiterated his call on the Federal Government to construct more dams on Rivers Niger and Benue channels across the country to check the annual flooding of parts of the country. (Ends)
***Lauds Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi’s devt strides
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
KOGI State Elders Forum has decried the persistent neglect of Federal University Lokoja (FUL) by the state government leaving developmental initiatives in the institution to the Federal Government and private individuals.
Chairman of the Forum, Chief (Dr) Julius Elukpo disclosed this when he led some members of the forum on a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi at the Felele Campus of the institution.
Elukpo regretted that while other Federal universities created same time with the FUL were developing fast with the support of the Federal and host State Governments, the Lokoja Federal varsity was lagging behind.
He said, “We observed that the University in our domain in Kogi State, compared to the universities it was created together with at the same time, is lagging behind.”
Chief Elukpo said the state might not be aware of its responsibilities to the Federal University saying, “The VC has said that they’ve not felt the impact of the Kogi State Government on this campus of the Federal University, Lokoja.
“They may not be aware of their responsibilities towards it. We are going to have interaction with the State Government and to discuss the areas both the state government and some individuals would come to assist the university.
The Forum Chairman however applauded the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Akinwumi for changing the narratives of lack of development saying that his era has witnessed dramatic turn around.
“Sometimes in the past, we were not satisfied with the performance of the Federal University in our domain in Kogi State as we discovered that it was lagging behind compared to the universities it was created together with.
“And we saw this as an issue of performance of the leadership. So, the Elders Forum craved for the appointment of an Indigene as the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University. Fortunately, an Indigene was appointed. Now we are proud of the university”, the Elders Forum Chairman declared.
Other members of Kogi Elders Forum on the visit Amb. Usman Bello, Alhaji Isa Adeboye, Chief (Dr) Femi Ajisafe and Aderemi Seyi Ayodele.
Speaking earlier, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, lamented over the utter neglect of the University by subsequent administrations in Kogi State.
The Professor of History said that despite being a Federal institution, it was imperative for the state to show interest in the its development as he noted that the Federal government alone can not provide all the needs of the University.
The Vice Chancellor said that the institution was facing difficulties in which the state could intervene adding that the students’ population had grown from 6,000 to 17,000 with 10 faculties from four aside the new College of Health Sciences.
He said that the University was facing difficulties in obtaining a Certificate of Occupation (C of O) for the permanent aside security concerns, hindering the use of the gigantic students’ hostels adding that Kogi State presently has no
representation in the University’s Governing Council.
Prof. Akinwumi urged the Kogi Elders Forum to become ambassadors for the university, attracting development and support from the state government and private entities. (Ends)
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