News
JUST IN: Kogi: Governor Ododo Swears-in 18 Commissioners, Says I Will Lead By Example

You must be reminded that we are neither the best nor the most deserving of the over four million Kogites
The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo on Wednesday sworn in Folashade Arike Ayoade as the Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Ali Bello as his Chief of Staff and five other aides.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Ismaila Isah, said “while acknowledging the support his administration has received from the people of the state, Governor Ododo promised to lead by example by putting ensuring a culture of service, probity, transparency and accountability in service to the people of the state.”
He also said that the people of the state expects a better performance from the new administration, adding that “a system of performance evaluation has been put in place to track and measure the impact of the government on the lives of the people at every point in the tenure of the administration.”
The Governor administered the oath of office on the SSG while the oath of office was administered on the Commissioners and senior aides by the State Solicitor General, Justice Falilat Yusuf.
Ododo charged the new appointees to be fair to everyone in the discharge of their responsibilities while offering their best services to the administration.
He said that the appointees were chosen on the basis of their enviable track record and they are therefore expected to demonstrate commitment by being worthy representatives of the people of the state.
“As you assume office in your various ministries, departments and agencies of the Kogi State government, you must be reminded that we are neither the best nor the most deserving of the over four million Kogites that are equally very eminently qualified”, he said.
Ododo enjoined the appointees to work in the interest of all Kogites without discrimination in whatever guise or form, stressing that they must be dedicated, committed and do right to all manner of people in the course of their service to the state.
He called on the new appointees to work as a team to deliver on the mandate of the people for consolidation and continuity under the new administration.
Responding on behalf of the new appointees, the SSG thanked Governor Ododo for the confidence reposed in her and other appointees and promised not to disappoint the governor and the people of Kogi State.
The new commissioners and their portfolios are Muizideen Yunus Abdallah (Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice); Muhammed Ihiezu Abdulmutalib (Rural Development and Energy); Momodu Salami Ozigi Deedat (Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs); Dr. Adams Abdulziz (Health); Fatima Momoh (Women Affairs); Abanika Taiye (Housing and Urban Development); Muhammed Yusuf (Works); Hajiya Rabiyetu Okute (Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation) and Timothy Ojoma (Agriculture and Food Security).
Others Commissioners are Asiwaju Ashiru Idris (Finance, Budget and Economic Planning); Bashir Muhammed Abubakar (Solid Minerals and Natural Resources); Sunday Faleke (Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations); Kingsley Fanwo (Information and Communication); Farouk Danladi (Water Resources); Joseph Olwasegun (Environment and Ecological Management); Wemi Jones (Education); Anyebe Aridaojo (Youth and Sports); and
Muhammed Mukhtar Shaibu (Commerce and Industry)
The senior aides sworn in along with the Commissioners are Air Commodore Jerry Omodara (rtd, State Security Adviser); Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege (Auditor-General for Local Government;
Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim (Director-General of Protocol in Government House); Ismaila Isah (Special Adviser, Media); and Oladele John Nihi (Chief Press Secretary).
News
CIoD appoint new DG Nolas-Alausa

The Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria (CIoD Nigeria) has announced the appointment and resumption of Dr. Taiwo Nolas-Alausa as its new Director General/Chief Executive Officer.Dr. Nolas-Alausa succeeds Mr. Bamidele Alimi, who completed his second and final four-year term as the DG/CEO of the Institute on 31 July,2025.
He is aLearning and Development Consultant with over 22 years of leadership experience across Africa.
Dr. Nolas-Alausa brings to CIoD Nigeria a dynamic blend of strategic insight, communication expertise, and a deep commitment to institutional growth and capacity building.
The President and Chairman of the Governing Council, CIoD Nigeria, Otunba Adetunji Oyebanji, said: “On behalf of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria, I am pleased to officially welcome Dr. Taiwo Nolas-Alausa as the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute.
News
LASG declares 176 estates illegal for lacking approved layouts
Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Oluwole Sotire, disclosed that some of the identified illegal estates include Adron Homes, Elerangbe; Aina Gold Estate, Okun-Folu; Diamond Estate, Eputu; Prime Water View Garden, Ikate-Elegushi, and Royal View Estate, Ikota, among others.

Lagos State Government has declared 176 estates at the Eti-Osa, Ajah, Ibeju-Lekki, and Epe axis of the state illegal.
Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Oluwole Sotire, disclosed that some of the identified illegal estates include Adron Homes, Elerangbe; Aina Gold Estate, Okun-Folu; Diamond Estate, Eputu; Prime Water View Garden, Ikate-Elegushi, and Royal View Estate, Ikota, among others.
He added that the illegal estates compromised the sustainable development ethos and the T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda of the government by operating without approved layouts.
Consequently, the government has given the owners a 21-day ultimatum to process their layout approvals.
The estates, which were deemed illegal due to the failure of the owners to obtain layout approvals from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, were listed in a document published by the ministry, yesterday.
News
VISA: US demanding $15,000 down payment for some visitors
The funds will be returned if the applicant complies with all visa terms. If the applicant remains in the United States past the deadline, the funds will be forfeited.

The US State Department says that some visa applicants will soon be required to pay bonds of up to $15,000 to discourage visa overstays as part of President Donald Trump‘s crackdown on migration.
Starting later this month, the pilot program will require applicants from certain countries to pay a sum of “no less than $5,000” as collateral for the issuance of their visa.
The funds will be returned if the applicant complies with all visa terms. If the applicant remains in the United States past the deadline, the funds will be forfeited.
“Consular officers may require covered nonimmigrant visa applicants to post a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance,” the agency said in a notice to be published Tuesday in the US Federal Register.
The 12-month program would only affect foreign nationals from countries considered to have “high visa overstay rates” based on a 2023 Department of Homeland Security report, the notice said.
-
News3 days ago
NLC rejects FG’s new policy stopping frequent industrial strikes
-
News3 days ago
NGE Condemns Arbitrary Closure of Badeggi Radio Station by Gov Bago for allegedly promoting violence
-
Health3 days ago
Nurses Back to Work After Four-Day Nationwide Strike
-
Sports3 days ago
I hawked Olive oil, Zobo at church before fame — Super Falcons’ Ajibade
-
News3 days ago
Olumuyiwa Adejobi Becomes Deputy Commissioner of Police
-
Sports18 hours ago
Afrobasket win: President Tinubu Delights D’Tigress with $100,000 each ,Technical Crew $50,000 each
-
News18 hours ago
WASSCE 2025: Students performance in English, Maths decline by 38.32%
-
News5 hours ago
Halima Layeni Launches New Book, Dear Man, Championing Men’s Mental Health and Emotional Healing