Kwara State Health Insurance Agency on Tuesday inaugurated a regional office of the agency in Kaiama, Kaiama local government area, assuring the residents of a proper health insurance coverage.

The office which is situated at the premises of Kaiama General Hospital, was aimed at bringing affordable and accessible healthcare delivery to the door steps of the people at the grassroots, according to the

Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr. Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter, who performed the function.

Dr. Jetawo-Winter described social health insurance as the only financing vehicle available to subsidize health services, and to draw in all segments of the population equitably regardless of socio- economic classification.

“Social health insurance not only seeks to create demand, but also helps to improve the quality of services, through our stringent assessment and accreditation process of health facilities and providers, ahead of being empaneled into our pool of healthcare providers under the scheme,” she said.

“As part of our strategies to ensure that access, and availability of healthcare services are made convenient for beneficiaries, the agency has decided to open regional offices in areas that are much far away from our head office in Ilorin, to feed into our hub (Central Office) in Ilorin”.

She said the agency plans to open five branch offices in Kaiama, Baruten, Edu, Offa, and Irepodun LGAs, out of which three have now been opened, including Kaiama.

“These regional spokes will provide the same services to the people in these catchment areas, just as we would provide from our office in Ilorin. At these regional spokes, potential beneficiaries can register for health insurance, enroll, make inquiries, address complaints and concerns, and offer many more services.

“As you all know, our operations are carried out on a digital platform that allows real time delivery of our services, and information collected are registered on our central database. We also like to use these engagements to familiarize ourselves with the communities, and be better acquainted with common practices.

“We understand that because health insurance provision to the populace in Nigeria is still a very new initiative, we have an arduous task ahead of us, to ensure that every resident of Kwara is familiar with the concept of health insurance, and understand the benefits that would accrue to them once they enroll.

“We will not stop or relent in our efforts to ensure that Kwara State attains universal health coverage by ensuring that every household has a health insurance cover to protect them from any catastrophic spending as a result of an illness,” she said.

The event had in attendance the representative of Kwara First Lady Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq and TIC Vice Chairman for Kaiama Local Government, Hajia Fatimoh Jummai; Kwara State Commissioner for Health Dr Aminat El-Imam represented by Director Medical Service and Training, Dr Odunaiya Musilihu; Kwara State Coordinator for National Health Insurance Authority, Hajia Bello O. Bello; representative of Kaiama TIC Chairman and Supervisory Counselor for Health, Hon Yusuf Suleiman; and Wakilin Kaiama, Alhaji Haliru Ahmed, who stood in for Kaiama Emirate Council; among others.

Kwara First Lady, Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the TIC Vice Chairman, Kaiama, Hajia Fatimoh Jummai,, commended the agency for its efforts at ensuring the attainment of universal health coverage.

She urged the people of the local government to take advantage of the scheme by enrolling themselves in order to enjoy the benefits accrued therefrom.

“We commend the effort of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in supporting the agency towards attaining universal health coverage especially with the opening of regional offices aimed at bringing affordable and accessible healthcare delivery to the door steps of the people”, she said.

Dr Aminat El-Imam, for her part, said the importance of insurance in attaining universal health coverage cannot be overemphasized, commending the agency for bridging the gaps in the delivery of healthcare services to the people.

“As we gather here today, let us reaffirm our dedication and support for Kwara Health Insurance Agency in its mission to take healthcare delivery to the grassroots”.

Hajia Bello, in her remarks, described the creation of the state Health Insurance Agency as a turning point in the efforts to provide access to quality and affordable healthcare for all Kwarans.

“Today, we celebrate the progress we have made, but we also acknowledge that there is still much work to be done. We must continue to collaborate and strive towards our common goal of providing quality healthcare for all”, she said.

The Wakilin Kaiama, Alhaji Haliru Ahmed assured that the Emirate Council under the Emir of Kaiama would mobilize people at various communities and villages to enroll in the scheme.

Mrs Bilikisu Habib and Ibrahim Abdullahi among other enrollees who gave testimonies at the event, said they have been enjoying affordable healthcare delivery since their enrollment in the scheme, and appreciated the state government for what they described as laudable initiative.

Dr. Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter and her team later paid a courtesy visit to Palace of the Emir of Kaiama, Alhaji Omar Sheu Muazu, and were received by the Waziri Kaiama Alhaji Adamu Abdul.

Mashood, Abdulrafiu Agboola

Deputy Chief Press Secretary Government House

April 17, 2024.

1. The Ward Chairman of APC Adewole, Mallam Sulyman Nuhu Alfa Amunutuka, has received the former PDP chairman in Adewole into the All Progressives Party, APC.

The former PDP Chairman, Hon. Dahud Lawal Olushola, made the declaration during a meeting with the Adewole APC Executives, stakeholders, party’s elders, and members of the All Progressive Party, APC on Sunday, having been convinced by the numerous achievements of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in worker’s welfare, education and health sectors, among others.

The Former PDP Chairman further stressed that politics is not a religion that one should take as a ‘do or die’ matter, as he received many untrue publications following his decision to leave the PDP to join the Progressives family.

He maintained that his decision to join the progressive fold is neither under duress nor undue influence and that he is fully ready to work for the party’s progress and success of our illustrious Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Ultimately, the defector was warmly welcomed and received by the Adewole APC executives, stakeholders, elders, and all members in attendance. Speakers in this joyous meeting were the APC stalwart Alh. Amuda Olugbon (Stakeholder), Comr. AbdulMajeed Wahab Temidire (Aburo Gomina), Mallam Ibrahim Idowu Abdulrasaq (S.A to Minister), Mallam Asimi (Elders chairman), women leader Mrs. Muibat Gadafi, Youth leader Mallam Mashood Salman and others while Hon. Dahud Lawal (defector) gave final thanksgiving and beseeched Almighty Allah to continue his maximum guidance and protection upon our illustrious and exceptional leader Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

All politics, they say, is local!

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq heartily rejoices with the Muslim community on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Fitri, which marks the end of the Ramadan fast.

The Governor congratulates the leader of the faithful in Kwara Emir of Ilorin Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari on the successful completion of the fasting period.

He asks the Muslim community to make the noble activities of the holy month — including alms giving, abstinence from negativities, and good conducts — an integral feature of their daily lives.

Governor AbdulRazaq urges the community to unite upon goodness and avoid anything that may eat away the rewards of their fast or question their sincerity as devotees.

He asks Allaah to grant

everyone a blessed Eid and better years ahead in the best state of faith (eeman).

Rafiu Ajakaye

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

April 9, 2024

I write to address the recent disinformation triggered by a recent report in the BBC on the Kankan LGEA School in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State.

I understand that the BBC report was a standalone story, which did not delve into the context of the peculiarity of the Kwara situation as a result of our history. The Honourable Commissioner for Communications Mrs Bola Olukoju has done justice to the story, and it is hoped that the BBC and our other friends in the foreign media are properly guided on the issue and related ones.

One of the biggest issues His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq confronted in 2019 is the mismanagement and stealing of education intervention funds during the previous administration.

Upon assuming office in 2019, however, the Governor addressed the mismanagement of funds that led to the official blacklist of the state from accessing UBEC funds for six consecutive years. His Excellency first paid N450m, which was the balance of the 2013 FGN-UBEC/SUBEB Matching grant diverted by Alhaji Abdulfatai Ahmed led administration, and this led to the lifting of the ban on the state.

After paying matching grants of N7.1bn in 2020, Kwara State received a substantial intervention fund totalling 14.2 billion naira, representing 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. This was utilized for the construction, renovation, and remodelling of facilities/structures across 605 schools, including provision of both teachers and students furniture, WASH facilities, and digital literacy centres across all 16 local. government areas. 33 schools were also fenced to prevent land encroachment and provide safety for our children.

Having said this, it is important to clarify that only 605 schools out of a total of about 2,187 basic schools in the state benefited from the interventions. Definitely, there is still more work to be done, and this point has been made several times.

The tangible results of these interventions are evident in the significant improvements witnessed in the infrastructural improvement of our basic schools throughout Kwara State when compared with the pre-2019 era.

These interventions can be seen in all the 193 wards across the 16 LGAs.

Notwithstanding the above, the government remains committed to steadily addressing the outstanding deficits in the sector. In 2023, Governor Abdulrazaq again fulfilled the state’s counterpart fund obligation for 2020, amounting to 1.4 billion naira, which was allocated for the construction and remodelling of additional 105 classrooms across the state. More teachers and pupils furniture, with WASH facilities( toilets and motorised boreholes with solar panels), were also provided for our schools.

Furthermore, His Excellency has recently approved the payment of 2021-2023 counterpart funds. The implication of this is that infrastructural upgrades will get to more schools soonest. Kankan LGEA School in Asa LGA and many more schools have been captured.

A Governor who has done this much should deservedly be given his flowers because not only did the administration before him fail to commit funds to the sector, but it, in fact, stole the little grants it received from the Federal Government.

We urge members of the public to continue to support the Governor and his administration as he continues to rewrite the story of basic education for posterity.

Prof. SHEHU Raheem Adaramaja
Executive chairman, KWARA SUBEB
April 8, 2024

• speaks on BBC story

Kwara State Government has refuted claims that it is behind the current corruption trial of former Governor Abdulfatahi Ahmed, saying the burden of governance does not permit any distractions or targeting of anyone, including former public officials.

In a statement on Thursday, Kwara State Commissioner for Communications Bola Olukoju said the trial of the former Governor is the exclusive prerogative of the anti-graft agencies who may have found against him following their own investigations of different transactions involving his administration.

“We find the accusation of the opposition party as cowardly, baseless, and wrong-headed. The right place to prove the innocence of anyone accused of wrongdoing is the court of law, not on the pages of newspapers or through shadow-boxing. They should leave us out of the issue,” she said.

“This administration has moved on from whatever happened in the past, except where historical references are inevitable. Our task is so enormous that we are left with no time to waste.

“Regardless, the truth is that the administration still grapples with the burden of fixing the most basic things, including those that should have been done but had resources meant for them blatantly stolen by these PDP officials. An example is the UBEC funds, which were brazenly stolen. We reported a case of a particular N1bn UBEC intervention funds that were withdrawn cash and stolen. The evidence is damning. This barefaced and irresponsible conduct led to the blacklist of Kwara by UBEC and set the state back for many years in education infrastructure and many other sectors. As if that was not enough, there had not been any meaningful investments in the basic education until our administration came up in 2019. It is not surprising, therefore, to see a Kankan LGEA School in some parts of the state, in spite of the huge funds we have pumped in the sector. This was the essence of the government’s public communication dated July 24, 2022 and titled ‘Next Time You See an Oke Apomu LGEA School.’

“Even so, our focus has been governance. This is why we feel scandalised by the lack of context in the recent BBC report on LGEA School Kankan in Asa local government. The media owe the public not just a duty to tell a story but to give appropriate context to such stories for lessons to be learnt. Kankan LGEA School, like many of it across the state, did not just get there. They have all been documented, and steps are being taken to put them in shape in phases.

“Between 2019 and now, this administration has paid for and accessed UBEC counterpart funds for years 2014, 2015,
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 to fix school infrastructure in more than 600 locations in the state. This has been confirmed by UBEC itself, and they were done to specifications in the UBEC-SUBEB work plans.

“Yet the gap is understandably huge that it will take many years of such consistent investments to bridge. To date, we have paid counterpart funds for eight years, whereas we have only spent less than five years in the saddle. What this means is that we shoulder the burden of fixing school infrastructure that should have been done since 2014 or earlier. But the funds were stolen under the same people now in the PDP who are accusing the EFCC of witch-hunt.

“This is the context to the Kankan story. While we do not deny that it is our responsibility to fix the deficits and we are indeed doing same, we reject any report that lacks the context to tell the full story and guide public understanding of the issues.”

Mrs. Bola Olukoju
Honorable Commissioner for Communications
April 4, 2024

Hon. Shuaibu Jimoh, the Kwara North Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial Chairman has resigned.

According to a report, Mr. Jimoh assumed the position in 2022 and served until his resignation.

The resignation letter was received on behalf of the Party by its State Secretary, Mr Abdulrahman Kayode Abdullahi Kayode.

In a statement by Olusegun Olusola, the State Publicity Secretary, Kwara PDP, Shuaibu Jimoh said his resignation followed his aspiration to assume another role within the party.

However, the ex-Kwara North Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial Chairman didn’t disclose the new role he wants to assume within the party as claimed.

PDP has been confronted with the resignation of a number of its top members before and after the conclusion of the 2023 general elections, with some citing the autocratic leadership style of Bukola Saraki and his refusal to account for how the 2023 election campaign funds were spent as reasons for their resignation.

The ex-State Youth Leader, Prince Haliru Mahmoud Dantsoho, resigned from his position after he called Saraki out in a viral video to give a proper account of the presidential campaign funds, which Saraki didn’t but instead facilitated his suspension. An action the Party Headquarters would later describe as ‘unconstitutional’.

The scribe of the Party, Mr Abdulrazaq Lawal, the Organizing Secretary and former commissioner, Dr Bilikisu Oniyangi, and the Publicity Secretary, Prince Tunji Moronfoye, have also resigned their positions from the Party amid the presidential campaign funds imbroglio.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has flagged off the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), a six-year $500m food security programme supported by the World Bank and the Federal Government.

Both the Federal Government and World Bank commended the Governor for providing quality leadership and platforms for livestock value chain production and commercialisation in the state.

The administration has invested in the development of the livestock sector to maximise its potential, particularly in beef and dairy production, the Governor said at the flag off late Monday.

“Kwara has a comparative advantage in all areas of livestock production, particularly in beef and dairy production. It serves as forms of income and wealth for families to better access financial services. It is a major form of financial instrument to families, especially now that we are talking about financial inclusion, improvement in standard of living, and improving our GDP in the state,” he added.

“This is why our focus has been on developing, upgrading, and transforming the economy in terms of livestock development. This has had positive impacts on smallholder farmers while also reducing farmer-herder conflict in the state.

“We aim to ensure that the smallholder farmers become commercial farmers so that they can respond to demand for quality food from the urban centres, climate change, contribution to global economy and also ensure that families have adequate supply of animal protein and improved livelihood.

“For these reasons, our administration keyed into programmes like the special agro processing zone and livestock productivity and resilience support project that we are flagging off today.

“Indeed, the utmost objective is in line with our administration’s vision of uplifting the vulnerable, improving the activities of smallholder farmers, providing critical infrastructure for modern livestock production and also mitigating the clash between pastoralists and crop farmers.”

AbdulRazaq called for an improved coordination and synergy for the design and implementation of SAP-Z and L-PRES, given the similarities of the projects.

“We should also work alongside RAAMP (Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project) to make sure we deliver. We will strive to engage more progressively to make sure we deliver this project on time,” he added.

The event was attended by the

Chief of Staff Prince Mahe Abdulkadir; Commissioner for Agriculture Oloruntoyosi Adebayo Thomas; Senior Agricultural Economsit World Bank Chidozie Anyin; Team Lead Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) Emmanuel Sene; National Project Coordinator for L-PRES Sanusi Abubakar; and State APC Chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi.

Oloruntoyosi said Kwara has hit positive milestones in the project because of the commitment of the Governor, adding: “It is not every state that has the privilege of high profile projects like PRESS and SAPZ, but due to the visionary leadership of His Excellency and the processes and policies that he has put in place, we are able to qualify and meet the very stringent requirements of these developmental projects.”

She said the state is aligning all its “livestock transformational projects, including RAAMP, as they are dependent on one another. This will enable us to deliver the most impacts to Kwarans”.

The L-PRES National Project Coordinator said they are excited at the enthusiasm so far shown by Governor AbdulRazaq to revamp and provide platforms for upgrading and modernisation of livestock value chain in the state.

The objectives of L-PRES development objective are to improve productivity, commercialisation, and resilience of targeted livestock value chain in Nigeria as well as strengthen the resilience of livelihood affected by farmers herders conflict, he added.

Abubakar added that Kwara is among the five states being visited during this implementation mission out of fifteen states on the programme.

“This is in consideration of early fulfillment of readiness and eligibility criteria as stated in the project documents. Apart from the fact that Kwara has a largest disbursement of three million dollars, it is also the first state to appreciate disbursement twice since the inception of this project, having already been disbursed in the last quarter of the year 2023,” he said.

“Your Excellency, our mission here in Kwara is for us to interface with the project implementation team at the state coordination office as well as the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

“We are very optimistic that Kwara will succeed in this regard, given the enabling environment granted by your administration and the enormous livestock potentials in the state, such as arable land animal feed production, large vegetation for grazing and considerable livestock population. This is also in addition to peaceful co-existence that exists among various ethnic groups in the state.”

Rafiu Ajakaye

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

March 19, 2024

•Say AbdulRazaq also cleared N5.9bn loan taken by past government

The Local Government Workers in Kwara State has expressed gratitude to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for approving payment of N11b salary arrears of Local Government and SUBEB Workers in the State since assumption of the present administration.

The Worker under the aegies of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Health Workers Association thanked the Governor for taken what they described as a bold step despite several challenges.

The Chairman, Forum of Director Personnel Management(DPM) and the Chairman, Forum of Local Government Treasurers, Mr Oyebanji Gabriel and Mr Adeyemi Oludare in their separate remarks, applauded Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his magnanimity in clearing all the backlog salaries of the Local Government Workers amounting to over N11bn, owed by past administration.

They explained that the money had been fully released and the payment was ongoing, adding that it just left outstanding balance of N1.2b meant for Pensioners arrears at the Local Government.

They also praised the present administration for the settlement of the N4b loan taken by past government and another N1.9 loan inherited from the past government in the State.

They maintained that Local Government Workers would forever remain grateful to the Governor for the kind gesture at this critical period, describing the Governor as a God-Sent.

They also appreciated the State Local Government Service Commission for the positive support and roles rendered to make the payment a reality.

In his response, the Secretary of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Terry Henry Isaac, praised the Governor AbdulRazaq for the bold step, saying that Local Government Workers had never had it so good in the State.

He explained that the Governor had restored sanity at the Local Government through the payment of the Workers’ salary regularly and ensure clearance of all of backlog salaries.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Coalition of Health Workers in Kwara State, Comrade Bolatito Oladele, thanked the Governor AbdulRazaq for the 100 per cent payment of CONHES and hazard allowance to all categories of Health Workers at the Local Government.

He said the Government is being fair to the entire Health Workers for the approval and payment of the hazard allowance because it’s being long that the Union had been agitating for the payment of the allowance.

The Executive Chairman, Kwara State Local Government Service Commission and The Chairman, Kwara State,Local Government Pension Board, Alhaji Danladi Umar Shero, advised Local Government workers to remain grateful to the Governor for the kind gesture and reman committed to their constitutional duties.

The Executive Chairman however extends his appreciation to the State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development and Ministry of Finance for their support in ensuring all the these feats are achieved while assuring necessary arrangements had been put in place for smooth conduct of 2024 promotion exercise.

Weeks into the 2023 governorship election in Kwara State, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) published a story alleging Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq of directing the traditional rulers in the state to shun opposition politicians. But the Oloffa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye, would rubbish the report, saying it was a ‘false’.

Oloffa, who received Bukola Saraki in his palace when he trashed the story, said: “When I was informed that Dr Bukola Saraki was coming to Offa today, I had planned another engagement but had to suspend it. The reason is that people might misconstrue it to be an instruction from the Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.”

“But in all honesty, the governor has never told any of us to stay away from hosting opposition leaders in the state. The traditional rulers who did that were acting on their own,” the first-class monarch added.

After this story, PDP published several stories alleging Governor AbdulRazaq of using the traditional rulers in the state against the opposition parties. However, they could not provide any proof to back their claims. The recent one was the false claim that the governor was using the traditional rulers in Kwara North for the 2027 elections.

What is apparently giving members of the PDP sleepless nights is the cordial relationship that exists between AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and the traditional rulers in the state. The kind of relationship their leader could not establish when he was in power but instead coerced the traditional rulers to dance to his tunes at every opportunity.

How the PDP leader, Bukola Saraki, ordered Kwara traditional rulers around during his reigns can never be forgotten. Is it how he directed them to welcome his cows at the airport that Kwarans will easily forget, or how he and his handpicked successor owed 220 traditional chiefs in Kwara 20 months salary running into multi-millions?.

Why some of these traditional rulers shunned leaders of the PDP who visited their palaces for endorsement in the last general elections is understandable. Of course, the PDP treated them as irrelevant when in power. So, why visit their palaces during electioneering for endorsement?

However, instead of members of the PDP admitting that they are the architect of their misfortune, they prefer to falsely allege that Governor AbdulRazaq is using the traditional rulers in a region of the state for the next governorship election.

The PDP needs to up their game and stop acting like baby politicians.

•Your drive to create employment through entertainment yielding results: MD Sugar Film Studio

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq CON visited the jaw-dropping Sugar Factory Film Studio, which is believed to be one of its kind in Nigeria and on the continent.

The expansive film studio will produce its first movie in the next few weeks, the Governor said.

Excited with the quality of the facilities at the studio, the Governor said Kwara is ready to cause an upset in the Nigerian creative industry.

“Welcome to Sugar Factory Film Studio. First production will start in two weeks. It is about creativity. It is about creating jobs and expanding the creative industries,” he added.

“This is one of its kind in Nigeria. Just wait and see in the next couple of months what will come out of here.

“To start with, there are very few studios (with the same standard as Kwara’s Film studio) in the subregion. Then, after the studio, we have world-class equipment here. We will continue to upgrade the equipment and expand the studios as well. But from what we have seen here, surely, there is nothing like this in Nigeria today.”

He was accompanied on the working visits by Commissioner for Works Abdulqowiyu Olododo and Alhaji Abdulrazaq Jiddah.

Managing Director, Sugar Factory Film Studio, Mr Olagbenga Titiloye, for his part, said the studio will be the biggest in Africa, commending the vision and economic drive of the Governor.

“Apart from being the biggest in Africa, if you look around, it is clearly a one-of-its-kind facility in Nigeria and Africa as well. His Excellency’s drive to create employment in the entertainment industry is yielding fruitful results,” he said.

“We are 100 percent prepared. You can see the sets and equipment that will be used to shoot the series that is going to DSTV.”