Olu Samuel, Lokoja
The Kogi State Government has presented additional 10 refurbished operational vehicles to Security agencies to fight crimes and criminalities in the State.
This follows a similar presentation last month of 5 refurbished operational vehicles to Army,police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, NSCDC with the Logo State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists benefiting from the largess as one of it’s vehicles was refurbished by the Kogi state security trust fund under the leadership of Abdulraheem Ozovehe-Ohiare.
Presenting the refurbished vehicles to heads of the Nigerian Army, Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, (NSCDC), in Lokoja on Thursday, the Chairman, Kogi State Security Trust Fund Hon. Abdulraheem Ozovehe- Ohiare disclosed that the agency will continue to provide logistics support for security agencies in the State.
Ohiare thanked Governor Ododo for the prompt release of funds for the successful operations of the agency.
“Security is everybody Business. I must appreciate God and thank His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo for making funds available to Kogi State Security Trust fund. If there is no funds, there is nothing we can do. We are doing our constitutional work to provide logistics support for security agencies in the State. What we did today is what we have been doing for a long time.
“Today, we are giving out 10 operational vehicles. What makes it unique today is that the Nigerian Army has not been carried along for 11 months that we have been in office. But today, by the special Grace of God, we are giving out four refurbished vehicles to the Nigerian Army.
“The Governor has given us a matching order to as a matter of urgency from now till January, all operational vehicles of the Nigerian Army must be on the road. That is what we are going to do. By tomorrow, they will be bringing another four for us to refurbished. By the Special Grace of God, first week of December, I can assure Kogites that another four refurbished vehicles will be given to the Nigerian Army”.
According to him, mechanism has been put in place by the agency to checkmate abuse of the operational vehicles.
Explaining further, Ohiere said”There is a committee set in our office under the leadership of the Director of Administration, Publicity Secretary of the Agency, and our internal Auditor. This are the team that are in charge of monitoring this Vehicles that we have refurbished in the State. Am assuring the general public that proper monitoring will be done to see how the operational Vehicles will be put in use”.
He warned criminals elements to relocate from Kogi State. *Our State is not a safe place for criminals. During the period of former Governor Yahaya Bello, criminals were dealt with. The present Governor is equally doing his best to secure lives and properties in the State.
“Am assuring the People of Kogi State that they will continue to sleep with their two eyes closed that is why the agency took it upon themselves since they can’t acquire new Vehicles, we should be able to refurbished the old ones that the State Government provided for security agencies” he added.
Earlier in his speech, the Chairman, Kogi State House of Assembly Committee on Security Hon. Major Enefola lauded the management of the agency for it achievement in the State.
He said “A desperate situation calls for a desperate action. The people are happy with the management of Kogi State Security Trust fund. Insecurity will soon be a thing of the past in Kogi State”.
Receiving the refurbished vehicles, the head of Operation 12 Brigade Nigerian Army Major Garuba Mohammed said the agency has been up and doing in Kogi State stressing that, the Nigerian Army will not relent in smoking out criminal elements from their hide out.
On his part, the Kogi State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Comrade Ademu Seidu also commended the agency for their good work in the State.
He solicited for more funds for the agency towards ensuring that crimes and criminalities remain a thing of the past in Kogi State.