The Kogi State Government has rejected allegations by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) concerning the alleged diversion of funds from the state’s Security Operations Account, describing the claims as politically motivated and lacking in evidence.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, the government said it was compelled to respond in order to correct what it described as misleading narratives capable of undermining public confidence in the state’s security efforts.
According to the statement, CISLAC failed to provide any evidence of wrongdoing, investigative report or findings from any competent authority to substantiate its claims.
The government stressed that maintaining security requires substantial and continuous investment in intelligence gathering, logistics, communications infrastructure, operational mobility, surveillance, community engagement and support for security agencies.
Fanwo stated that Kogi has consistently invested in strengthening its security architecture, noting that such investments have enhanced intelligence gathering, improved operational response and fostered stronger collaboration among security agencies.
“What CISLAC deliberately failed to tell Nigerians is that Kogi State has, over the years, invested heavily in strengthening its security architecture. Those investments have enhanced intelligence gathering, improved operational response, strengthened collaboration among security agencies and contributed significantly to making Kogi one of the safest states in the country despite its strategic location as the gateway connecting the North and the South,” he said.
He further faulted attempts to portray transactions involving contractors and service providers linked to security operations as suspicious, explaining that such engagements are essential components of modern security management.
“It is therefore irresponsible to equate the existence of financial transactions with evidence of diversion. Such a conclusion can only be reached through investigation, verification and due process, not through speculation, assumptions and sensational headlines,” the statement added.
The government also noted that the CISLAC publication acknowledged that the allegations remained unproven and that no anti-corruption agency had established any wrongdoing against the state government.
“It is not lost on discerning Nigerians that the publication comes at a period when political activities are beginning to gather momentum. Experience has shown that such periods often witness desperate attempts by vested interests to weaponize misinformation, half-truths and manufactured controversies against governments and public officials who refuse to compromise established processes for personal or political advantage,” he stated.
The statement maintained that the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has continued to record progress in security, infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, education and investment promotion, insisting that residents are witnessing the positive impact of government interventions across the state.
The government reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability, saying it welcomed lawful scrutiny of public institutions and would cooperate with any legitimate investigation backed by credible evidence.
“We wish to reaffirm that the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo remains committed to the prudent management of public resources, the strengthening of our security architecture and the protection of lives and property across the state. No amount of misinformation, speculation or politically motivated distractions will deter us from these responsibilities,” the commissioner said.
The Kogi State Government also assured residents that it would continue to support security agencies and invest in measures aimed at guaranteeing peace, stability and sustainable development across the state.
