The Kogi State House of Assembly has commended the Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, and the Deputy Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Army Headquarters, Abuja Major General Usman T. Otaru for facilitating the construction of a new edifice and renovation of structures at Oziokutu Hospital and providing it with modern equipment.
In a motion moved by the lawmaker representing Adavi State Constituency, Hon. Asema Baba Haruna at the floor of the house on Wednesday, thanked the Nigerian Army for executing a massive project in the Central part of Kogi State.
Hon. Haruna averred that the Hospital has continued to serve Ozi-Okutu, Inorere, Nagazi, Kabba Junction, Idanuhru, Okunchi Uhucheba and many more in promoting Health care delivery and combatting Increase in the mortality rate in Kogi State.
His words “The Rt Hon Speaker sir, very Distinguished Hon Members, one major aspect of human needs as categorized by Abraham Maslow, is the need for Physique, otherwise known as physical needs. This often depends largely among other things on quick exposure to quality Health services, a major ingredient of production. This, perhaps can best be used to justify the general believe that “Health is Wealth.”
“Informed that the Chief of Army Staff through the Special Intervention Civil- Military Cooperation Project authorized Major Gen Usman T. Otaru, Deputy Chief of Policy and Plans, Nigerian Army Headquarters, Abuja, who is an Ebira born General who hails from the family of Asema Maiyaki, the first Asema of Adavi District, Kogi Central, Kogi state to execute a massive project in Kogi State
” Ozi-okutu hospital was established in 1982 by His Excellency, Late Alh. Adamu Attah, the former Executive Governor of Kwara State for the purposes of providing and promoting quality health care delivery services to the people of Oziokutu and it environs.
” On this strength, the Hospital has continued to serve Ozi-Okutu, Inorere, Nagazi, Kabba Junction, Idanuhru, Okunchi Uhucheba etc in promoting Health care delivery and combatting Increase in the mortality rate
This House should note that after decades of operation under various heads, physical structures in the Hospital got inevitably exposed to dilapidation just as equipment also became unavoidably obsolete.
“Concerned by the negative impact of the dilapidation on the direct beneficiaries of the facility, a patriotic son of the soil with a penchants for human development that is rare to find, Major Gen Usman T. Otaru, Deputy Chief of Policy and Plans considered it necessary to revamp the glory of the Hospital by renovating the structures, building new ones and replacing the obsolete equipment with modern ones.
“The Rt Hon Speaker sir, my respected colleagues, the thought to revamp the glory of the Hospital by this Ebira Gen, Major Gen Usman Otaru was not only an idea conceived, but the one matched with action seen in a well planned and fully executed project through Chief of Army Staff Special Intervention Program in Primary Health Care to the glory of God and service to humanity.
“My esteem colleagues, on the 8th day of October, 2024, Oziokutu community in Adavi Local Government of Kogi state played host to Lt Gen T A Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff, Army Headquarters, Abuja for the Commissioning ceremony of the Health facility under the chairmanship of His Excellency, Alh Usman Ahmed Ododo, the Executive Governor of Kogi State who in his usual pragmatism, provided a fertile ground for a successful Commissioning Ceremony of the structures made up of a Newly built Complex, Renovated/furnished Wards, New Borehole with Overhead Tank for the supply of water, and Renovated Laboratory with modern equipment.
“The Rt. Hon Speaker sir, my Colleagues, the Commissioning Ceremony was exceedingly colourful by the presence of some high calibered dignitaries too numerous to mention.
“On behalf of the entire Adavi people, I appreciate the presence of His Royal Highness, Alh Mamudu Anaje, the Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, top Military Personnel from the Nigerian Army, Hon Bashiru Okatenwu, Executive Chairman, Adavi LGA, Ohi of Adavi, Daudu Adayi Isa Ozi Salami, All Alh Dongo’s Family, All Asema’s family and all othe signatories that contributed directly or otherwise to the success of the project and Commissioning Program”.
The lawmaker prayed that the House do on behalf of the good people of Adavi Local Government appreciate His Excellency, Alh Usman Ododo, the Executive Governor of Kogi State for his leadership roles at the Commissioning Ceremony of the New Edifice and Renovated structures at Oziokutu Hospital
in Adavi Local Government Area.
He also prayed that a strongly scripted letter of Appreciation from the Kogi State House of Assembly be sent to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen T A Lagbaja for his timely support to the Health Care delivery system in Oziokutu, Adavi LGA.
“Another Letter of Appreciation, Recognition and Commendation with well selected words be sent to Major General Usman T. Otaru for
facilitating a new Oziokutu Hospital among other selfless services, to Oziokutu community in Adavi LGA. Adavi Local Government Area be mandated to make available, adequate Security Personnel to provide Security services within and around the facilities” he added.
Hon. Haruna desribed Major General Otaru as a true son of the soil who has contributed immensely to the development of ebira land.