Just In: Top Nigerian Governor Shuts Schools Till Feb 16, Gives Reason
- The Kogi state government has shut schools in the state to enhance security for students amid rising threats
- The state government emphasised proactive measures rather than reactive responses to avoid potential crises
- The development comes amid calls for police decentralisation to empower local governments in tackling insecurity
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Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi state has announced the closure of schools in the state as part of a preventive decision following credible intelligence and the overriding need to ensure that protective measures are in place around schools to protect students, pupils, and teachers.
Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the state commissioner for information and communications, while addressing journalists at the state capital in Lokoja on Tuesday, February 3, noted that the move was not a result of panic, but that of a responsibility. He said that the government decided to act proactively rather than waiting for incidents that are avoidable.
Source: Twitter
His statement reads in part:
“Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed all relevant agencies to immediately deploy necessary modalities to ensure that schools resume academic activities as soon as it is safe, so as not to disrupt the state’s academic calendar.”
The Punch reported that the commissioner commended the security operatives in the state for their actionable and timely intelligence, stressing that the cooperation showed how effective the security architecture in the state is.
He then assured the people of the state that the Kogi government is on top of the situation and that security agencies are already working around the clock to identify, locate and decisively flush out the criminals from their hideout.
Kogi and mass kidnapping in northern Nigeria
Recall that late last year, states like Kwara, Kebbi, Kogi and Niger experienced a spike in the kidnapping of school children and worshippers at their religious venues. The development has led to widespread outrage from Nigerians and condemnation of the government for not doing enough to protect lives and property in the West African country.
Reacting to the crisis, Binzak Azeez, a legal practitioner, has called for the decentralisation of the police to tackle the growing insecurity across Nigeria. Azeez made the call while speaking with Legit.ng in an exclusive interview.
The lawyer told Legit.ng:
"The present security architecture of the country, which has received more attention, should also be redesigned. The overconcentration of power in the hands of the president is not helping in the fight against abduction and insecurity generally. The state government, through the local government, should be constitutionally empowered to maintain security in their respective state. This reform will put the state governments on their toes to guarantee security and to further effectively hamper security saboteurs in each state, as the state government will be directly responsible for security. With this security arrangement, no state can further hide under the Federal Government shield."
Source: Twitter
Kogi: 3 APC chieftains die
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Kogi state government announced the death of three prominent chieftains of the APC, with many Nigerians expressing condolences and some calling for clarity on the circumstances of their deaths.
This was attributed to Kingsley Fanwo, the state's commissioner for information and communication, who announced their deaths in a statement on Monday, January 12, not mentioning the circumstances of the leaders' demises.
Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
