The Kogi NGOs Network, KONGONET, has lamented the growing insecurity in Kogi State.
The association made its position known during its first quarter 2024 press briefing.
The Chairperson of KONGONET Idris Ozovehe Muraina observed with dismay a sharp rise in crimes and criminalities across the state.
According to him, “The security situation within the reporting quarter nosedived, this could be deduced from the two bank robbery incidents at Anyigba, kidnap of a construction worker in Okene and Robbery incident around Felele axis of Lokoja the state capital.
” We acknowledge the supreme price paid by our gallant security officers during the above-mentioned incidents; however, our security architecture needed a level of rejig. More worrisome is the kidnapping of a foreigner in the central senatorial district.
“As the apex Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Network in the state, our interest is to ensure that the well-being, lives and property of our citizens are protected at all times and we pursue this with vigour. The business of securing lives and property of citizens is the business of all, though legally coordinated by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF)”.
He called on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to urgently intervene through the state security architecture and stem the recently observed sharp rise in crimes and criminality across the state.
“We call on the Commissioner of Police and other security operatives in the state to take charge and ensure the recent upsurge of kidnapping, bank robberies and other criminalities across the state are dealt with decisively” he added.
On the State of the economy, Muraina expresses worries over the persistent increase in the prices of food commodities across Kogi State.
He said “The effects of fuel subsidy removal are still hitting hard across the state, as the state is yet to unveil a comprehensive strategic mitigation plan, despite civil society recommendations on workable strategies.
“The worrisome and persistent increase in the prices of food commodities across the state leaves lots of questions unanswered in regards to the capacity of relevant government MDAs to act and respond sufficiently to issues of pressing need of Kogites. Kogi State has consistently retained the title of the most expensive state in Nigeria to leave due to the skyrocketing food inflation in Kogi State”.
“While acknowledging the recent distributed palliative across local government areas of the state, we call on the state government to unveil a detailed plan, aimed at curbing the current economic hardship across the state. Special palliative package should be provided for senior citizens through the appointment, inauguration and operationalization of the agency for social security and protection of older citizens in Kogi State”.
The group, however, faulted the Government for jettisoning section 7 (1) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and re-enacted local government administration law to empower the executive arm of government to unilaterally appoint local government caretaker committee chairmen instead of conducting Local Government election.
“No concrete plans for the conduct of local government elections in Kogi State. The Kogi State House of Assembly should give a second consideration to her decision to jettison the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by giving powers to the Executive to unilaterally appoint local government caretaker chairmen without recurs to the provisions of section 7(1) of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended” he added.
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