By A. M. Nasiru.
Member representing Ankpa, Omala and Olamaboro federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali Halims has in furtherance of the House sub committee on reformation institutions’ oversight functions visited three correctional centres in Kogi State.
While on the visitations, the federal lawmaker was accompanied by the Kogi State Command Controller of Correctional Service, Ahmed Musa Ahmed, divisional officers, staff of the National Assembly and the press.
The two days working visit started at the Koton-Karfe prisons after a royal homage to the palace of Ohimege-Igu of Koton-Karfe. The monarch expressed satisfaction in the oversight which he described as an act of effective legislation and appealed to the Sub Committee chairman to remain steadfast in both constituency development and overall contributions to the reformation of Nigeria’s criminal justice system cum convicts.
The team visited critical infrastructure areas of the state command, carried out a rigorous facility tour of the ongoing projects at Koton-Karfe and Zone Eight(8) area of Lokoja before proceeding to Ankpa.
Rep Halims, in accordance with best protocols, paid homage to the Onu Ankpa, HRH Abdulmalik Umar his first point of call at Ankpa. While making his remarks at the Onu Ankpa’s palace, been the member representing the area and Chairman of the House Committee on Steel Development, Hon Halims, revealed that about sixteen borehole, a five kilometer rural roads are among others are projects he has facilitated to the Federal Constituency in the revised 2020 appropriation act.
Like a golden fish that has no hidden habitat, Hon Abdullahi Ibrahim Ali Halims was eulogised by the Onu Ankpa just like the latter’s counterpart, Ohimege-igu of Koton-Karfe. While on the Ankpa Correctional Service tour, Rep Halims commended the officer in charge, Onuh Ayegba for maximum environmental hygiene, inmates welfare and divisional officers’ conduct.
However, the federal lawmaker frowned at the absence of enough health personnel decrying the lack of a medical doctor in the entire Kogi State Command.
Renovation works at Koton-Karfe Correctional Centre having necessitated a temporal relocation of inmates and people awaiting trial to Kabba/Bunu, Hon Halims led the team to kabba/Bunu Correctional Center on day two of the tour.
The team went round the facilities, had brief interactive sessions and returned back to Lokoja, on a courtesy call to the Governor of Kogi State, who was ably represented by the Deputy Governor.
