Enamoured of the exploits of Governor Yahaya Bello in the areas of security and youth empowerment, the Nigeria Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, is understudying ways the Governor has been able to achieve this.
The Course 40 of the Command is carrying out the study as part of events lined up to celebrate the 2018 Nigerian Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
The Secretary to the Government of Kogi State, Dr Mrs Ayoade Folashade Arike with the Chief of Staff to His Excellency, Hon Edward Onoja; the Head of Service, Deaconess Deborah Ogunmola; the Security Adviser to His Excellency, Cdr, Jerry Omodara (Rtd), and other members of the New Direction team joined the Governor of Kogi State as he received the team led by Brigader General Olu Irefin on a courtesy visit to His Excellency at Government House, Lokoja today.
Alhaji Yahaya Bello who commended the team for for making the State one of their ports of call assured them of the full cooperation of the New Direction team towards achieving the aim and objectives of the tour.
The team on Nigeria Study Tour to Kogi State expressed appreciation to the State Government for the warm reception they were given.
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The Study Tour is themed ‘National Security and Youth Empowerment’.
The Governor in a speech he delivered at the occasion expressed gladness that security organizations and institutions have made it a habit of regularly coming to understudy the programme and progress of his administration in the area of security.
“This means there is something we are doing right that is attracting all the agencies to come and understudy us. As I have said, I am more concerned about the welfare of the people of the state than the politics,” Bello said.
He recalled the recent awards he has received from the nation’s security forces, stating that they have encouraged him to do more for the purpose of ensuring the safety of lives and property of the people of the state.
Bello reiterated his pronouncement that he is not in government to play politics, but to serve his people, adding that the security forces have assisted him in no small measure towards providing tranquillity for the people.
“All the studies that have been conducted so far and the reports we have gotten, are more or less like scorecards of the records of our government. I am so glad to receive you in Kogi state,” he said.
The Governor, who commended citizens of the state serving in the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies for making the state proud for their gallantry, called on other members of the security services to emulate them.
Team Leader, Brig. Gen. Irefin had earlier thanked Governor Bello for creating the enabling environment for them since their arrival in the state, and thanked the people for their hospitality.
He said what attracted them to the state was the fact that Governor Bello has been doing excellently in creating empowerment for youths in the state and enhancing the security of lives and property of the people.
“We know Kogi was a hotbed and confluence of criminality in the past. We want to know how you have achieved so much mileage in security in such a short period. We are here to learn how you did it,” he said.
