The Kogi State Police Commissioner, Mr. Miller Dantawaye, has directed the implementation of watertight security measures across the state to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

The directive was conveyed in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, on Sunday in Lokoja, the state capital.

According to the Sunday statement, the CP ordered the deployment of personnel and resources to black spots and other vulnerable areas to prevent crime and deter criminal activities.

“The security measures are aimed at addressing crime and criminality across the state and making Kogi a peaceful place to stay,” Dantawaye stated.

He tasked Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Area Commanders, and tactical commanders to deploy adequate security assets to deny hoodlums any opportunity to disrupt the celebrations.

“As DPOs, Area and tactical Commanders, you are expected to conduct undercover operations in these areas to prevent and detect crime promptly.

“Endeavour to carry out intensive crime prevention and confidence-building patrols along the major highways, places of worship, residential areas, vulnerable points, and other places of interest,” Dantawaye directed.

The commissioner also urged residents of Kogi State to remain vigilant and collaborate with security agencies.

“I urge you to collaborate with the Police and other security agencies through information sharing on the activities of hoodlums in the state,” he appealed.

Dantawaye congratulated Muslim faithful on the occasion of Eid-el-Fitr and reiterated the commitment of the command to ensuring the safety of lives and property in collaboration with other security agencies.

“The command remains committed, in synergy with other security agencies, to ensuring the safety of lives and property of all in the state,” he added.

The statement emphasized the proactive steps taken by the police to maintain peace during and beyond the festive period.

(NAN)

The Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, over alleged forgery of signatures.

Saturday TheNigerian gathered that the petitions were submitted to the IG and the police commissioner on Friday afternoon.

Some members of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s constituents, led by one Charity Ijese, had submitted over 250,000 signatures at the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters in Abuja with a petition seeking the embattled senator’s recall.

The petition for her recall followed a series of events after she was suspended from the Senate on March 6 for alleged gross misconduct.

This was shortly after Akpoti-Uduaghan accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, of sexual harassment.

On Tuesday, INEC, in a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed receiving the petition from the constituents.

However, the electoral body noted that the petition lacked essential details such as the contact addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of the petitioners.

The following day, INEC wrote to Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Presiding Officer of the Senate, Akpabio, confirming that the contact details of the petitioners had now been corrected.

Shortly afterward, leaked video clips surfaced on social media showing some politicians in the state appending their signatures to the petition.

Suspicion grew further during the week as many questioned how over 250,000 constituents could have signed the petition within 10 days when only 120,000 turned out to vote in the 2023 general election for the senatorial district.

Speaking with Saturday TheNigerian, the suspended senator’s legal team, led by Victor Giwa, revealed that Akpoti-Uduaghan had petitioned the IG and the Kogi State police commissioner over the alleged forged signatures in the recall petition.

He added that a copy of the petition would also be submitted to INEC.

Giwa said, “Firstly, we are aware that those signatures were forged, and it is the act of APC members in Kogi State, who are desperate to remove her. Secondly, we are prosecuting the case in court. We have written our petition regarding the forgery, and we are submitting it to the Inspector General of Police, the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, and INEC. Before 1pm today (Friday), they would have received it.”

He explained that the legal team decided to take the forgery petition to the police because it involved a criminal offence.

“INEC does not have the materials to examine a case of forgery. What they are expected to do is compare whether the signatures correspond with the ones signed by the owners. But we are alleging that it is a case of forgery, and only the police can handle cases of forgery. Let the petitioners present the signatures, and let the police subject them to forensic tests for us to confirm that they were not forged,” Giwa added.

It is expected that after receiving the petition, INEC will embark on verifying the signatures at each polling unit in the constituency.

However, Giwa insisted that the forgery allegation must first be addressed before the commission could proceed to the next stage of the recall process, especially given that a related case was still pending in court.

“The case is in court, and INEC is aware. Secondly, we are now dealing with allegations of fraud. Some people submitted certain signatures, and others claim they were forged, which is a criminal matter. So, as an institution, I believe INEC would need to submit the signatures to the police to confirm whether or not there is forgery. And this should come before the verification exercise,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Ebira People’s Association has condemned the ongoing recall process against Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing it as a politically motivated gang up designed to undermine democracy.

Speaking in an interview with Saturday TheNigerian, the association’s Secretary, Baba Abdulrazaq, criticised the recall process as an “electoral fraud” and a “coup against democratic institutions.”

He urged INEC to resist being used as a tool to subvert the people’s mandate.

Abdulrazaq accused INEC of facilitating an illegitimate recall effort by providing undue support to individuals he described as “impostors and dissidents.”

“The Independent National Electoral Commission has illegally provided support to impostors, dissidents, and petitioners who claim to have gathered 250,000 forged and stolen signatures,” Abdulrazaq stated.

The Kogi State Chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has refuted claims that former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, is now leading the party.

In a statement by Publicity Secretary Isaiah Davies Ijele, the party emphasized that it remains united under National Chairman, Shehu Gabam and is committed to its goals for the 2027 elections.

The SDP acknowledged El-Rufai as a respected member contributing to the party’s efforts.

He said, “The SDP remains united under the leadership of our esteemed National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, and we are committed to working together to achieve our shared goal of rescuing Nigeria in the 2027 elections.”

The SDP urged the public to disregard the misleading rumors, attributing it to opposition parties who are concerned about the SDP’s growing popularity.

Popular Kogi State-born philanthropist, Asiwaju Prince Olatunji Olusoji, has in his usual ways of giving back to the society, donated cash gifts for Arewa Youth Gamji Emirate Council and Muslim faithful in Ayere community, Ijumu local government area of Kogi State ahead of this year’s Ramadan fast.

Arewa Youth Gamji Emirate Council is a coalition of northern youths, which has its structures across the 19 States of Northern Nigeria.

Recall that the group had recently honoured Prince Olusoji by conferring on him the prestigious title of ‘Turakin Arewa Gamji’. The title was a result of his unwavering commitment towards community development and generosity towards human capital development.

Asiwaju Prince Olatunji Olusoji has an eye for serving humanity with his many philanthropic gestures to improve humanity through selfless donations and contributions.

In preparation for this year’s Ramadan, Asiwaju Prince Olusoji has once again blaze the trail by compassionately donating generously to the Muslim Umma to ensure a seamless observation of the holy month.

Responding, the Arewa Youth Gamji Emirate Council thanked the philanthropist for his kind gestures towards the Muslim Ummah and humanity at large.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) was established on April 3, 2024, by President Bola Tinubu, who signed the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act into law, which gave birth to NELFUND.

However, in Kogi State, not many students have been able to access the loan. Some students of the Federal University Lokoja who spoke with our correspondent in Lokoja said their application had been pending months after they applied, while others complained of difficult registration procedures, among other challenges.
When contacted, FUL authorities said the institution had not received any NELFUND payment for students. The university’s public relations officer said, “The accountant said he is not aware of any such disbursement yet.
“Sir, no such payment has been received in FUL.”

The vice chancellor of Kogi State University (KSU), Kabba, Prof. Kehinde Eniola, disclosed to our correspondent who visited the school in Kabba that 750 students of the institution have so far benefited from the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) under the President Bola Tinubu administration.

The VC gave the breakdown as follows: 101 students were captured in August 2024, 326 in September 2024, and 247 in November 2024, while 76 students were captured in January 2025. The VC was very optimistic that more students would benefit from the programme.

It was also gathered that NELFUND credits the account of Prince Abubakar Audu University for 127 students for school fees. Information obtained on the website said, “The management of Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, has officially acknowledged the receipt of ₦13,615,750 as payment for the school fees of 127 students.”

NELFUND is a financial institution that provides loans to Nigerian students for higher education, vocational training, and skills acquisition. The loan scheme is designed to help students and parents overcome financial barriers to education.

According to the law, the loan is interest-free and available to new and existing full-time students in tertiary institutions. It is a revolving scheme, with repayment starting two years after the completion of the NYSC scheme.

Speaking with our correspondent in Lokoja, Isah Haruna, a parent whose two children attend the federal university, called on the federal government to make the process seamless and more accessible.

“With all the noise about NELFUND, not many students have been able to access it in Kogi State. My children have applied since the beginning of the programme, and they have yet to get it. Their application is still pending. They should simplify the process,” Haruna said.

A Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has barred Enemona Anyebe from parading himself as the chairman of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

Justice Yahaya Adamu of the State High Court 5, Lokoja, issued the order on Tuesday in suit number HC/Okp/8/2024, filed by John Ojodale against the PDP and one other. The court ordered a fresh election within 45 days to fill the vacancy for the Chairmanship position, ruling that Enemona Anyebe was not qualified to contest.

In his ruling, Justice Adamu stated that Anyebe was not a contestant in the PDP Congress held on 31 August 2024, due to his alleged suspension from the party.

Reacting to the court’s ruling, the first runner-up in the 31 August 2024 PDP Congress in Kogi State, Hon. Muhammad Sani Gambo, maintained that he remains the duly elected chairman of the party.

Gambo argued that he is the chief beneficiary of the judgment, as the ruling did not invalidate the election but instead declared that Enemona Anyebe was not supposed to be a contestant.

However, he opposed the court’s directive for another election within 45 days, asserting that the prayer for a fresh election was not included in the originating summons and amounted to contempt.

“Our case is before the Federal High Court. We are going to appeal the section of the ruling where the judge ordered a fresh election within 45 days,” he said.

“This was not part of the plaintiff’s originating summons, and we were not even party to the suit filed at the State High Court.”

Gambo further stated that he was not declared chairman partly because he was not joined in the suit. He revealed that he has approached the Federal High Court in Lokoja, seeking a declaration that he is the rightful winner of the election.

He called on his supporters and PDP members in the state to remain calm, assuring them that the Federal High Court will do the needful and declare him the duly elected chairman of the state PDP.

An auto crash involving an articulated vehicle in Kogi State has claimed the lives of seven people, including four students from the Federal University, Lokoja, while another student sustained injuries.

The FRSC Kogi Sector Commander, Mr Samuel Oyedeji, revealed the details to newsmen in Lokoja, the state capital, on Monday, attributing the accident to brake failure.

NAN reports that the accident caused a severe traffic gridlock on the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja Road, leaving travellers stranded for hours.

The university students, aggrieved by the tragic loss of their colleagues, blocked the highway in protest.

Among the deceased were three female students, one male student, and one male student who sustained injuries.

Oyedeji explained that the articulated vehicle, reportedly from the southern part of the country, was en route to Abuja when the incident occurred at Felele on the highway.

He said the accident took place around 3:40 p.m., when the truck, carrying timber logs, lost its brakes, veered into the opposite lane, and crashed into a shuttle bus carrying FUL students.

The sector commander confirmed that both the driver of the shuttle bus and one other passenger were among the seven fatalities.

“Our officers, in collaboration with the police and the NSCDC personnel, carried out the rescue operation.

“The injured student has been rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja for medical treatment.

“The seven bodies have been deposited at the mortuary of the same hospital,” Oyedeji stated.

Oyedeji also disclosed that the truck driver fled the scene, likely out of fear of being arrested.

He urged motorists, especially drivers of articulated vehicles, to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on any journey to avoid endangering lives.

The highway was eventually reopened after intervention from the State Police Commissioner, Mr Miller Dantawaye, the State Security Adviser, Retired Commodore Jerry Omodara, and the Vice Chancellor of FUL, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi.

The officials addressed the students, urging them to remain calm and refrain from further actions that could cause additional hardship to the public, already mourning the tragic accident.

NAN

The Federal Road Safety Corps has confirmed the death of four students of the Federal University, Lokoja in an auto crash.

The Kogi State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Samuel Oyediji, said the accident involved an articulated vehicle which lost control due to brake failure and crushed a shuttle bus conveying students to the campus.

Oyediji also disclosed that “apart from the four confirmed deaths, another student was injured, and currently receiving treatment at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lokoja.’

Our correspondent reports that the accident caused heavy traffic on the ever-busy Okene-Lokoja-Abuja road, with travellers stranded along the way.

Oyedeji said, “The articulated vehicle, allegedly from the southern part of the country, was heading to Abuja when the said incident occurred at Felele along the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja road.”

According to him, the accident occurred around 3.40 p.m. when the truck carrying timber (woods) lost its brake, crossed over the other lane and crushed a shuttle bus carrying the students.

However, officers of the FRSC were on hand to rescue some victims who were trapped under the articulated vehicle.

The state Sector Commandant of the FRSC, Mr. Samuel Oyedeji, who personally led the rescue team disclosed to TheNigerian Metro that those who were injured had been moved to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja and Kogi State Specialist Hospital also in Lokoja for further treatment, while the bodies had been deposited in the morgue of the hospitals for identification.

The Kogi State Government has restated its commitment towards providing the right environment for businesses to grow and blossom, which it described as a confluence of opportunities.

The Commissioner of Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, who stated this at the impact tour of Kogi by Convergence of Africa, noted that the government of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is working very hard on the security of the entire state, saying no business can thrive in an unsecured environment.
The Commissioner for Information acknowledged that the convergence of African transgenerational connections is building alliances and leveraging for a sustainable business future in Kogi state.

He said that the business remodelling with the target audience in fashion, food, and fitness would help participants champion a course promoting intra-regional trade and harmonising investment policies for the state and Africa.

While describing the event as very impactful, he noted that the government feels it will help many business owners in the state, adding that the programme will take them to the next level in their businesses.

“We encourage them to leverage networking and Collaboration with other business owners to grow their businesses. They are also encouraged to network and have a handshake across the board. No one can do it alone.

According to the Commissioner, the 32-year development plan of the government was deliberate, saying that the maximum that any administration can spend is 8 years. “But the development plan is designed for 32 years, which means it is very ambitious and will ultimately take the state to an enviable height.

“We are very religious about the implementation of the plan. Kogi will be where we want it to be regarding development.

The Convener, convergence of Africa, Barr Patient Olusiyi said that the initiative became imperative for a sustainable business future, saying that the aim is to capture 150 participants for a sustainable business future in the state.

She disclosed that Kogi State was the first among ten states to be visited in the country. Convergence of Africa will train participants in fashion, food, and fitness businesses to improve their objectives and set a pace for Generations yet unborn to achieve Excellence without dependence, where companies can outlive their owners.

 

The Kogi State Government said that it has concluded arrangement to organise a training programme for frontline healthcare workers in the State.

According to the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abdulaziz Adams Adeiza, the training was a collaboration between the Kogi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency and State’s Ministry of Health and partners.

He added that the State governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, whom he described as the Chief Servant of Kogi State and a health-friendly leader, will officially declare the training open on February 10, 2025 at 10am.

According to him, the training aims to enhance the skills and effectiveness of healthcare workforce in the state and as well strengthen the overall healthcare system.

He added that the training was specifically designed to build the capacity of Local Government Health Workers, noting that the programme will equip them to provide high-quality, patient-centered care.

“Additionally, it will address key challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, shortage of skilled personnel, and limited resources in Primary Healthcare Centres,” Adeiza added.