A coalition of civil society organizations championing the promotion of participatory democracy, good and transparent governance, Kogi NGO Network (KONGONET) has called on Governor Yahaya Bello to direct the relevant ministry to bring back state-owned Radio Kogi FM 94.1 to full operation with immediate effect.
KONGONET made the call at its quarterly press briefing in Lokoja on Wednesday.
The Chairperson, Idris Muraina Ozovehe, noted that Radio Kogi (FM 94.1), the only state-owned radio station, has been off-the-air for close to 15 months despite repeated calls from civil society for its reactivation.
He stated that “radio is crucial for adequate information dissemination before, during and after the ongoing electioneering activities across the country, our people deserve to have access to quality and verified information from state owned radio station.”
“The response to the letter earlier written by KONGONET to the Hon Commissioner of Information as regards to the state of Radio Kogi stated that its (Radio Kogi) revitalization was in days away which has turned out to be months away with no solution in sight.”
KONGONET also called on Governor Bello to return the Children Amusement Park in Lokoja to its original mother ministry, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
“We call on the Executive Governor to act on this without delay to avoid exposing our children to danger.
“The state coordinator of Association of Orphan NGOs in Nigeria (AONN) called the attention of KONGONET to the unpalatable situation of Children Amusement Park been withdrawn from Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).
“This action will pose a lot of disadvantages to our children and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development as the main objective of setting up an amusement park for Kogi children would be defeated by the activities of adult in the safe space of children.
“It is never a good practice for children and youths to cohabit in same safe space, negative influence will definitely set in.”
KONGONET tasked the Kogi State House of Assembly to provide the network’s state steering committee on ageing to prepare, draft and push forward a bill to establish Kogi State Senior Citizens Centre to cater for our aged citizens.
“Within the reporting quarter, the state steering committee on stakeholders consultative forum on ageing held several meetings and agreed to pursue the course of setting up of Kogi State Senior Citizen Centre to be backed by state law. The committee is currently co- chaired by Elder Steve Salawu and Elder Titus Alonge in Kogi state,” he said.
The coalition sympathised with residents who have been displaced by the current flood disaster in the state.
KONGONET, however, lamented that despite forecasts and warning by National Mtrological Agency (NiMET), there was no adequate preparation by individuals and government.
“This information and warning came early enough to allow for adequate preparation by individuals and governments at different levels to minimize damage and destruction the flood would have cause to lives and properties. As at the end of September, 2022 about nine local government areas of the state has been flooded badly,” he lamented.
KONGONET called on Kogi state government to provide food and necessary social amenities across flood victims IDP camps in state as a matter of urgency.
