From Ahmed Muhammed Danasabe, Lokoja
The Kogi State Government has announced plans to regulate the movement of heavy-duty trucks within Lokoja, the state capital, following a series of fatal accidents involving articulated vehicles.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, who presided over the State Executive Council meeting on Monday in Lokoja, directed the immediate commencement of legislative processes to restrict truck movement during peak hours.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said the move was a response to the rising number of truck-related accidents, including a recent incident near the Federal University, Lokoja.
“You will recall that these trucks have killed a lot of people. The last tragic incident occurred near the Federal University, Lokoja. Following that, the Governor promised the students and university management that proactive measures would be taken,” Fanwo said.
He added that the council approved plans to send a bill to the State House of Assembly to restrict truck movement during specific hours in the metropolis.
The Commissioner also gave updates on key infrastructural projects at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, noting that the perimeter fence—constructed following a security breach—is 90 per cent complete.
“The structure is already up. What remains are plastering, fittings, and other finishing works,” he said.
Fanwo said both the male and female hostels have been completed and handed over to the university authorities, while the perimeter fencing project at Kogi State University, Kabba is also progressing steadily.
The state government has also approved the drafting of a bill for the establishment of the Kogi State Agency for Climate Change, aimed at coordinating climate action and environmental sustainability initiatives across the state.
Fanwo said the decision was influenced by the state’s recent participation at the international climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Engr. Joseph Oluwasegun, represented the state.
“This agency will give legal backing to our climate strategies and reinforce the seriousness of Kogi in addressing environmental issues,” he said.
The Commissioner said the steps taken so far reflect Governor Ododo’s commitment to ensuring safety, sustainability, and development in the state.
“These are practical steps to not only protect lives but also ensure the sustainable development of our state,” Fanwo added.