By Boluwaji Obahopo

Lokoja—Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has assured of adequate security of lives and properties in the state to boost investors’ confidence and see the state as a safe commercial haven to open the economic space to generate jobs.

Yahaya-Bello

Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo in a chat with Vanguard, said Bello’s administration was ready to achieve economic growth through investments and improved revenue generation.

According to him, “To underscore the genuineness of the Governor’s commitment to improving security, he has been able to secure the release of a Police helicopter for aerial surveillance as well as a detachment of specially-trained anti-crime police officers and men. Also, Local Government administrators have also moved to encourage local vigilante groups to boost security at the major flashpoints  across the state. With these efforts, it is hoped that the rate of kidnapping will drop as some arrests have allegedly being made.

“However, the Governor wishes to assure the people of Kogi State of adequate security of lives and properties as well as conscious efforts to gainfully engage the teeming unemployed youth in the state as part of the quick wins of the New Direction blueprint.”

Fanwo said the appointment of a Special Adviser on Job Creation, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises was aimed at ensuring efficient management of government’s efforts at making crime unprofitable by creating jobs and giving a purposeful future to the youth of the state.

On the issue of salaries, Fanwo said, “Governor Yahaya Bello doesn’t see payment of salaries as a major achievement. The failure of previous administrations to meet this basic expectation has tended to make payment of salaries an achievement. To the Governor, achievements are recorded when roads and portable water are delivered to the people; when sanity returns to the healthcare sector; when agriculture becomes the biggest revenue earner for the state and when Kogi becomes the tourist destination in West Africa.”