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Kogi Assembly Passes 59 Bills in Three Years, Speaker Hails Legislative Productivity and Development Gains

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The Kogi State House of Assembly has passed 59 out of 76 bills considered since the inauguration of the 8th Assembly, a feat Speaker Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf described as a testament to the legislature’s commitment to good governance, infrastructure development and improved social services across the state. Speaking during the Third Legislative Session Anniversary held on Thursday in Lokoja, Yusuf disclosed that the Assembly recorded a cumulative passage rate of 77.6 per cent over the last three years, reflecting what he described as a focused and productive legislature dedicated to advancing the welfare of Kogi residents. According to the Speaker, the Assembly received 23 bills during the Third Legislative Session alone, comprising 19 Executive Bills and four Private Members’ Bills. Out of the number, 19 bills have been passed into law, while four are still undergoing committee scrutiny. “Since the inauguration of the 8th Assembly, we have considered 76 bills, comprising ...
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Okun Media Professionals Mourns with Chairman Chief Olugbemi Femi Over Loss of Mother-in-Law, Madam Aina Asara

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LOKOJA – Members of Okun Media Professionals are in mourning following the death of Madam Aina Asara, mother-in-law of the group’s Chairman, Chief Olugbemi Femi. In a press release signed by Secretary Comrade Bolu Obahopo on Wednesday, the association said it received “with deep sadness the news of the passing of Madam Aina Asara, the beloved mother-in-law of our Chairman.” According to the statement, Madam Asara passed away yesterday in Owo, Ondo State after a brief illness. She was described as “a woman of strong character, compassion, and faith whose life touched many within her family and community.” Chief Olugbemi Femi paid tribute to the late matriarch, calling her “a matriarch of virtue who lived for others and left an indelible mark on all who knew her.” The group extended heartfelt condolences to Chief Femi, his wife, children, and the entire Asara family of Owo. “We pray that God grants them strength, comfort, and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” the rele...
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Police Arrest Key Suspect, Recover 100 Rustled Cattle After Deadly Bandit Attack in Kogi

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The Kogi State Police Command has arrested a key suspect linked to the coordinated attack by suspected bandits on Ayegunle-Igun Bunu Community in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, which resulted in the abduction of about 30 persons and the death of two victims. The Command also recovered 100 rustled cattle during a joint security operation launched in the aftermath of the attack. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Saliu Oyiza Afusat, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday. According to the statement, preliminary investigations revealed that the attack was masterminded by a notorious bandit kingpin identified as Batijo, who allegedly ordered the invasion of Ayegunle Community at about 2:00 a.m. "Intelligence gathered so far indicates that the attack was carried out in retaliation for the arrest of some associates of the gang leader," the statement said. The police revealed that the traditional ruler of Ayegunle Comm...
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Kogi Assembly Advances Bills on Free Maternal Healthcare, Environmental Sanitation

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The Kogi State House of Assembly has passed for second reading a bill seeking to provide free maternal and neonatal healthcare services for pregnant women and newborns in state-owned health facilities across the state. The Assembly also advanced a separate bill aimed at preventing public littering and the defacement of public and private properties, describing it as a crucial step toward improving environmental sanitation and public health. Both private member bills were sponsored by the member representing Omala State Constituency, Hon. Umar Yahaya, popularly known as "Connect." The maternal healthcare bill, titled “A Bill for a Law to Provide for Free Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare Services for Pregnant Women and Newborn Children in State-Owned Health Facilities in Kogi State and Other Matters Connected Therewith, 2025,”was first read on October 14, 2025. The proposed legislation comprises seven parts and 31 clauses. Leading the debate on the bill, Hon. Yahaya...
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Lokoja Monarch Lauds Afemai People’s Role in City’s Development, Pledges Traditional Council’s Support

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... Commends Onogie of Afemai for Exemplary Leadership The Maigari of Lokoja, HRH Alhaji Gambo Muhammad, has commended the leadership style of HRH Alhaji Zakari Ahmadu Dangana, the Onogie of Afemai people in Lokoja, describing it as charismatic and instrumental to the peaceful coexistence of Afemai residents in the city. The Maigari gave the commendation on Tuesday when he received a delegation of Afemai people living in Lokoja, led by the Onogie, who paid him an Eid-el-Kabir Sallah homage at his palace. He lauded the Afemai community for their immeasurable contributions to the socio-economic development of Lokoja from time immemorial. He noted that the historical relationship between the people of Lokoja and the Afemai has been mutually beneficial, stressing that Afemai indigenes have played vital roles as teachers, administrators, and missionaries in the growth of the city. The monarch also praised the new generation of Afemai people for sustaining that legacy of positive...
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BEYOND THE HEADLINES: WHY NIGERIA MUST MOVE FROM REACTIVE SECURITY TO PREDICTIVE SECURITY

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By Ambassador Tosin Michael Owonifari The recent kidnapping of students and teachers in Oyo State is another painful reminder that insecurity remains one of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s future. Unfortunately, the incident in Oyo is not an isolated case. Around the same period, reports emerged of attacks on schools and the abduction of children in Borno State, while kidnappings, attacks on travellers, assaults on communities, and other violent incidents continue to affect different parts of the country. In Ekiti State, growing concerns over kidnappings and attacks in several communities have also generated calls for stronger security intervention. From Oyo to Borno, from Ekiti to other affected parts of the country, the pattern is becoming disturbingly familiar. The locations may differ, but the underlying questions remain the same: why do these incidents continue to occur, and what structural reforms are required to reduce their frequency and impact? As a nation, we ha...
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Kogi Government Suspends Echane Festival, Directs Security Agencies to Enforce Order

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The Kogi State Government has suspended the Echane Festival in Ebiraland with immediate effect over security concerns. The government said the decision was informed by credible intelligence reports indicating that activities associated with the festival could threaten public peace, safety and security and potentially lead to a breakdown of law and order in parts of Kogi Central Senatorial District. The announcement was made in a statement issued  by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Kingsley Femi Fanwo. According to the statement, while the government recognizes and respects the cultural significance of traditional festivals and their role in preserving the rich heritage of the people, the protection of lives and property remains its foremost responsibility. The statement disclosed that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo approved the suspension in the interest of maintaining peace and public safety across the affected communities. "The Governor has direc...
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