By joshua 
LOKOJA NOT WHAT MISCHIEF MAKERS SAY IT IS – KOGI ENVIRONMENT COMMISSIONER OLUWASEGUN DELIVERS ON CLEAN CITY VISION WITH GOVERNMENT BACKING
By Abu Micheal.
The Kogi State Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management, under the leadership of Hon. Commissioner Engr. Joseph Oluwasegun, has been credited with transforming the sanitation landscape of Lokoja since assuming office, with residents and officials insisting that the state capital is “not what mischief makers say it is.”
Since taking charge, the Ministry has prioritized the cleanliness of Lokoja, the strategic transit hub connecting about 11 states including the FCT. Despite initial challenges in getting residents to sustain proper waste disposal habits through sensitization campaigns, the Ministry’s swift and consistent intervention has kept the city clean.
A key part of the success has been the significant increase in the employment of sanitation workers and the intensification of daily refuse evacuation and drainage clearing exercises across major parts of the metropolis.
Commissioner Oluwasegun has earned praise for his hands-on leadership style, often reported to be on duty from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. His visible commitment has given Lokoja a noticeable facelift, with cleaner streets and improved environmental management becoming the new standard.
Stakeholders have described the Commissioner as a “rare breed technocrat” who is leaving nothing to chance in his drive to maintain a clean and healthy environment.
The Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sensitization to the Governor, Hon. Yussuff Bonanza, faulted a recent Sahara Reporters publication alleging that heaps of refuse had overtaken Lokoja, saying it was misleading and based on a single location at Nostalgia Junction.
“Such generalization does not reflect the true sanitation condition of the Kogi State capital. Lokoja remains one of the cleanest state capitals in the country,” Bonanza said.
He commended Engr. Oluwasegun for his tireless efforts in keeping the city clean through regular refuse evacuation, drainage clearing, and round-the-clock monitoring of sanitation activities. Bonanza also acknowledged the support of Alhaji Ali Bello (Atimpo), Chief of Staff to the Governor, for his commitment to ensuring Lokoja and its environs remain clean for healthy living.
“There is visible evidence of ongoing cleaning operations in several parts of Lokoja, contrary to the impression created by the online report,” Bonanza added, while urging media organizations to verify facts before publishing.
Joining the voices of commendation, Abu Michael, Journalist and Publisher, also praised the Commissioner’s efforts, describing him as someone who “needs all the necessary support” to sustain the ongoing environmental reforms in the state capital.
Michael noted that the Ministry’s proactive approach marks a clear departure from past practices, adding that Lokoja residents are now experiencing a more responsive and accountable sanitation system.
Bonanza reaffirmed that the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has continued to place priority on environmental cleanliness as part of its broader development agenda. He said the state government’s support for the Ministry has been “top notch,” stressing that the cleanliness of Lokoja will not be compromised under the current administration.
“The government is determined to sustain the gains made so far and ensure that residents enjoy a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment,” he stated.