The House of Representatives has commended Kogi state government for revitalizing numerous primary health care centers across the state.
House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare Services, led by the chairman, Hon. Amos Magaji, gave the commendation during a visit to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in Lokoja on Monday.
Magaji said that the delegation had visited the state for oversight functions to evaluate the state of primary health care service delivery and the extent of implementation of the Basic HealthCare Provision Fund, with the aim of ensuring that limited resources from donor agencies are prudently utilized.
He commended the state government for the payment of a full year upfront for the state health insurance scheme for its citizens, and the recent increase of the annual health budget.
He, however, urged the government to recruit additional personnel for health facilities across the state and to enhance the state annual budget for health.
The lawmaker expressed condolences to the government and the people of Kogi State on the passing of the Governor’s father, the late Alhaji Ahmed Momoh Sani Ododo, who departed in August 2025, praying for his eternal repose and for the fortitude of the state to bear this profound loss.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, stated that the administration of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo is committed to enhancing health delivery in the state. He noted that the government had revitalized over seventy primary health centers across the state to bolster health delivery and alleviate suffering.
Dr. Adeiza stated that the Governor had approved an impressive sum of over one billion naira for the counterpart funding of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund to ensure the full operational capacity of the primary health care centers in the state, along with ongoing plans to increase the state budget for health.
The Chairman of the State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Usman Ochidi, expressed the readiness of the State Assembly to collaborate with the executive branch in ensuring the delivery of effective health care services to the people.
The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Comrade Joel Salifu, during the reception, expressed gratitude to the lawmaker for their visit, noting that the state is experiencing the positive impact of the federal government’s initiatives in the health sector, and he promised that the state government would leverage these initiatives to provide quality health care to the citizens.
He assured that the Governor is diligently addressing every aspect of the state, particularly in the health sector, to enhance the quality of life for the residents.
Comrade Joel Salifu reaffirmed his commitment to improving health services in the state, emphasizing that stakeholders at the rural centers are cooperating to ensure the delivery of superior health services.
The Deputy Governor assured the team that the Governor is making concerted efforts to recruit more health workers, stating that the Governor’s intervention to introduce and accredit health courses in tertiary institutions is aimed at providing a greater number of qualified personnel for the sector.
He lauded the purposeful approach of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu towards the Renewed Hope Agenda to revitalize the health sector, saying that the state is a significant beneficiary of the President’s commendable initiatives.
