News
Kogi State’s Strategic Partnership with NASRDA to Enhance Science and Technology Integration

……NASRDA Chief Applauds Kogi State’s Progress Under Ododo….
The Kogi State government has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to accelerate technological innovations and fast-track processes to drive sustainable development in Kogi State. This announcement was made during a courtesy visit by the governor to the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NASRDA, Dr. Mathew Olumide Adepoju, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
The governor, represented by the State’s Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, stated that his administration has invested in technological solutions and established relevant institutions to transform the state’s civil service and create wealth. He added that the partnership with NASRDA would allow for synergy among all the institutions implementing technological solutions in the state.
Governor Ododo emphasized the necessity of reviewing the technical partnership between the state and NASRDA to coordinate investments in technology. He said, “If we are to accelerate development and achieve the goals set for ourselves as a government, technology is a sine qua non.”
“The state’s Ministries of Science and Innovation, Education, Environmental and Disaster Management, Mineral and Natural Resources, and Agriculture, along with agencies such as Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) and Emergency Management, will serve as anchors for the partnership. Other government institutions implementing various technological solutions will be brought together to align their efforts,” he added.
Expressing the state’s readiness for collaboration with NASRDA, Governor Ododo highlighted that the Kogi State 32-Year Development Plan is aimed at providing a coherent framework for long-term strategic development to transform Kogi State into a robust and economically viable state in Nigeria.
“We have developed a 32-Year Development Plan aimed at providing a coherent framework for long-term strategic development towards transforming Kogi State into a robust and economically viable state in Nigeria. The Government of Kogi is poised to consolidate on the gains of previous administrations. As such, this team is here to reactivate our previous relationship with the number one Space Agency in Africa. We are well aware of the importance of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to the critical sectors of the nation’s economy, and we are here to leverage Space Technology in various areas of concern in Kogi State. Our 32-Year Kogi State Development is anchored on three pillars: fostering prosperity, building resilience, and providing direction. All three pillars cannot be optimally achieved without space technology,” he said.
Governor Ododo disclosed that Kogi State is aware of the importance of NASRDA to the critical sectors of the nation’s economy and was at the agency to reactivate former agreements on GIS and leverage Space Technology in various areas of concern in Kogi State. He reiterated that the State’s 32-Year Development is anchored on three pillars: fostering prosperity, building resilience, and providing direction, emphasizing that these critical areas cannot be optimally achieved without space technology.
While seeking collaboration with NASRDA in agriculture, Governor Ododo noted that his administration recently launched the Kogi State Green Revolution, where 100 tractors and thousands of tools were presented to farmers across the state.
“Agriculture is a critical sector under fostering prosperity in our Kogi State 32-Year Development Plan, with an objective to boost food production and promote food security using modern technologies. We recently launched the Kogi State Green Revolution, where 100 tractors and thousands of tools were presented to farmers across the state. We have also cleared over 10,000 hectares of land to demonstrate our preparedness in retaining our number one position in agriculture. We didn’t stop there; we are here to also engage NASRDA on innovative technologies in agriculture to drive prosperity in the state,” said the governor.
Earlier in his address, the governor congratulated Dr. Matthew Adepoju on his recent appointment by the President as the DG/CEO of NASRDA to lead the agency. He expressed optimism about Dr. Adepoju’s capacity to lift the agency to greater heights.
In his address, the DG/CEO of NASRDA, Dr. Matthew Adepoju, congratulated Governor Usman Ododo for his exemplary leadership in Kogi State, assuring that under his leadership, the state will witness tremendous transformation. He noted that the objective of the partnership is to identify and evaluate potential scientific and technological manpower already available in the state and harness the unique contributions of various science and technology bodies for the benefit of the state.
Dr. Adepoju stated that the Centre for Atmospheric Research, the Geospatial Tracking System, and other units of the agency are ready to collaborate with the Kogi State Government. The aim is to bring stakeholders together and communicate contemporary scientific and technological knowledge and skills to target groups such as schools, government institutions, and the private sector. He mentioned that under a former agreement, Kogi State GIS digitized fifty-one thousand buildings in Lokoja alone, noting that the agency will visit the state to assess what is on the ground and what needs to be added for the full optimization of education and other critical sectors.
The DG Commended the Governor for the 32 Years Road map, stating that any Governor with such a document is focused and Have a good plan for Rapid transformation. He called on other States to adopt the Strategy.
He commended the state for being up-to-date with the SUBEB capacity-building efforts in collaboration with NASRDA. Dr. Adepoju also pointed out that Kogi State’s strategic location at the confluence of the Rivers Niger and Benue makes it more vulnerable to flooding. Therefore, the agency and the state will collaborate on a strategic early-warning mechanism and address issues of residency along floodplain areas. He assured that NASRDA would align its plans with the state’s development goals and work hand-in-hand to realize the state government’s ambitious ideas.
In his opening remarks, Dr. James Musa commended Governor Usman Ododo for his exemplary leadership. Noting his close association with the state’s activities under Governor Ododo’s administration, Dr. Musa observed that the state is witnessing tremendous progress and urged the governor to sustain this momentum. He reiterated that the agency would plan in alignment with the state’s development plans and work collaboratively to achieve the government’s lofty objectives.
The representative of the governor, Mukadam Asiwaju Idris Asiru, was accompanied by several key officials: Commissioner for Education, Hon Wemi Jones; Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Timothy Ojoma; Commissioner for Environment, Hon Joseph Oluwasegun; Commissioner for Science and Innovation, Dr. Helen Aderibigbe; Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon Sunday Faleke; Director-General of Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), Barrister Ladi Jato; Director-General of SEMA, Hon Muktar Altima.
News
Nigeria: There’s Fire on the Mountain, and no one is a runnin’
It is sad that foreign armed groups are able to overrun the nations’ security apparatus not minding the mind bugling amount of funds voted every year in the nation’s budget on security.

By John Segun Odeyemi
Image credit: Burnt Community in Benue
Until now, I have refrained from writing commentaries about the political landscape of our country, Nigeria.
I have become disenchanted with the downward spiral of the absurdities that have become common place within the political space.
Within the last few days, I have read several articles on the killings in Plateau, Nasarawa and Benue States, and I am convinced to add my voice to the outcry of government’s inability to act proactively in securing the safety of Nigerians from marauding and murdering Fulani insurgents, Boko Haram terrorists and the incessant and now common place kidnapping for ransom.
Anywhere in the world, the first duty of any government is to secure the safety of its citizens in and outside of the country.
It is clear that the government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is either incapable or unwilling to tackle the continuous decimation and subjugation of our people.
In most other climes that claim democratic principles, those in leadership should have resigned from office.
Not in Nigeria! Here we glorify ineffectiveness and inefficiencies.
In the epic 2008 song titled, “There is Fire on the Mountain,” by the Nigerian musician who goes by the name Asa, she makes the claim even though this fire is raging, surprisingly, no one is running.
I find two corollaries, one in an old English idiom, and the other in traditional Yoruba oral tradition; for the English, “The proverbial ostrich that buries its head in the sand.
And the Yoruba wisdom, “No one lights a torch and leaves it burning around a thatched roof.”
In both instances, the culprit is inertia or the lack of desire to act in preventing a disaster.
Either of which does not describe, even at the minimal level, a people willing to act fundamentally from a place of common sense!
Unfortunately, when I see the shenanigans, politicians have reduced my country to, I can only conclude we have politicians who have knowingly set a fire to the country.
And we have a citizen who see the fire and refuse to run.Human life is sacred and each individual’s life should be protected.
Sadly, the entire nation seems inured to a culture of bloodletting, savagery and the disposal of human life.
Our social media space is diffused with gory videos and pictures of unthinkable scenes of inhumane accounts of man’s inhumanity and cruelty to other humans.
Anywhere in the world, the first duty of any government is to secure the safety of its citizens in and outside of the country.
More specifically, of brigandry to defenseless communities.
A situation where aggressors over run entire communities, displace the communities and inhabit their homes without re-adjudication or lawful intervention by constituted authority and, or state intervention.
I continue to hear of “insecurity” in the nation when in reality, what we have is the invasion of our sovereignty as a nation.
It is sad that foreign armed groups are able to overrun the nations’ security apparatus not minding the mind bugling amount of funds voted every year in the nation’s budget on security.
One is forced to question the usefulness and functionality of government sponsored and funded state security agencies.
One cannot but wonder why insurgents are better equipped than the nation’s army in arms and intelligence gathering?
Who are the invested players who supply them with arms and ammunition?
How can bandits become so powerful as to brazenly over run our country’s army encampment, capture Nigerian soldiers, take their armored cars and weapons and put all of this on social media?
There are multiple narratives circulating and making the rounds especially on social media.
Unfortunately, there is no way of verifying the authenticity of some of these claims.
Some shadowy entities trace the incessant bloody and extremely violent attacks on a bid, either for the Islamization of the country or Jihad aimed at a land grab in favor of all shades of Fulanis from the Sahel.
Some even make the claim that it is both issues morphed into one.
I find some plausibility at least in the Fulani bid to find a home in Nigeria.
The current governor of Borno state made that claim on national TV. When asked if the Fulanis coming from outside Nigeria are Nigerians.
He blatantly said “Yes.” Immediately, when I encounter political impropriety and lack of diplomacy at this level, my mind goes into a default.
I try to find a matching partner for buffoonery; in this instance, I thought his less- cellency should be sent to Donald Trump’s school of diplomacy and should not be allowed to return without a doctorate.
For far too long, we have behaved like the ostrich, unable to confront, nationally, the real issues we need to confront; our federalism vis-à-vis regionalism, state policing, our current constitution, our so called “democracy”, and the relationship between the North and the rest of the country.
I believe there is enough land and space in the North to accommodate kith and kin from other climes to settle and graze their cattle up north.
Ranching versus grazing and any other animal husbandry is fine as long as your business does not disrupt mine.
But we all know that grazing is intentionally done to destroy people’s hard work on their farms.
We all know it, but we are looking the other way and mumbling the fool’s mantra, “It is well!”
It is not well, and there is no way it will be well, if some psychotic, marauding murderers, rapists, and demented drug addicts are allowed to kill innocent citizens of our country.
We can no longer be silent if we are human and sane.
If the corridors of power are playing politics with our fellow citizens’ property, security and lives, we have a moral obligation to rise up in holy and righteous anger to stump on evil.
Just last week, we witnessed in the United States, how an entire country came out en-masse to protest what was perceived as oligarchy, an affront on the idea of American democracy, which was tagged “No King.”
Why are we unable to hold our politicians accountable? Why is it that it seems we do not understand that they work for us (even though they steal from us all the time!)
If we do not force a change by our action as citizens, knowing that our so-called politicians are only interested in their own welfare; we must then ask ourselves the mother of all questions… pardon me to borrow from Asa again; “…
One day, the river will overflow and there will be nowhere for us to go.
And we will run, run, wishing we had put out the fire.”
When all has been said, we need to all agree as Nigerians, that these killings are too much! If you do not feel this empathy, then know you are a part of the killing spree.
Those who nurture this theater of war are not interested in building a nation or having a viable ecumenical union among religions in our country. it is all about disorder so they can continue to steal and enrich themselves; “… the more you see, the less you understand, Abracadabra!” If we keep quiet, they continue to eat away at the innards of our country and the rest of us, shall be unaware of what our infestation is coming from?
From within, they will polarize our peoples, dislocate the unity of our communities.
From our jaded communities, we help spew hate and hate and more hate. This in turn corrodes our ability to build a unified front.
Our politicians place their lighted touch under a thatched roof and go to bed on their watch.
When the fire starts, where are we going to run? We can douse the fire now if we imagine the conflagration that a burning Nigeria will look like.
∆ John Segun Odeyemi, is a Catholic Priest and assistant professor of Systematic theology at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies, Xavier University of Louisiana.
Crime
Kaduna Police Command reveals identity of man in Tinubu’s recent near attack (Video)

The Kaduna State Police Command has revealed the identity of the man who caused panic after charging towards President Bola Tinubu during his visit to the state.
According to the police, the suspect has been identified as Umar Mohammed, a resident of Anguwan Muazu in Kaduna.
The incident happened during the commissioning of a 300-bed specialist hospital in Millennium City.
As President Tinubu was addressing the audience, Mohammed suddenly broke through the crowd and rushed toward him, triggering a swift response from security operatives.
The moment left Tinubu visibly shocked, as seen in a widely shared video showing his startled reaction and the confusion among his security team.
Police later disclosed that the man has a mental health condition he has lived with since birth.
They described his actions as unplanned and driven by excitement, adding that he was unarmed and posed no real threat after being restrained.
Despite the scare, the event continued as planned.
Governor Uba Sani led the inauguration of the hospital, which is expected to boost healthcare access in Kaduna.
Video credit: TVC (Twitter)
News
Hardship: Govs Agree to Dismantle Illegal Road Blocks, Multiple Taxes
The communique was signed by NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Governors of the 36 states of the federation have agreed to dismantle illegal road blocks and multiple taxes across the country.
They made the resolution after a meeting of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in Abuja, which ended early Thursday.
The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who read the communique at the end of the meeting, said that the governors resolved to dismantle illegal road blocks and multiple taxes, which they said contributed to food inflation in the country.
The communique was signed by NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
(ThisDay)
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