FIC Report (Delta State) – His Royal Majesty Asagba of Asaba; Asagba Professor Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge SAN, OON, FNIALS, FICMIC, KSG, KSJI, has commended the leadership and members of Committee of Heads of Federal Government Establishments (COHEADS) Asaba, Delta State.
The revered Monarch who is the 14th Asagba of Asaba made the commentation while playing host to the executive members of the Committee of Heads of Federal Government Establishments (COHEADS), led by its chairman and State Coordinator Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), Mr. John Onovroke in his Palace in Asaba the State capital.
The Asagba who welcomed the COHEADS leadership in company of some of his Palace Chiefs expressed happiness while receiving the leadership of COHEADS. He however, noted that if he had met with the members of COHEADS earlier, perhaps it would have changed his narrative during his recent engagement with Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, when he met with Mr. President on 20th March 2025 in Abuja.
The Asagba expressed happiness noting that from the visit of COHEADS and the scenario presented, clearly showed that there is Federal presence in Asaba Delta State.
Asagba Prof. Epiphany Azinge a former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies noted that for more than 30 years he had been involved with Federal Government in policy formulation, thus making him conversant with the activities of most Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). He emphasized the need for partnership stressing that the Palace can also speak on behalf of MDAs present in Asaba as he engage with a lot of Ministers.
The Asagba recalled that one week after his visit to Mr. President the Hon. Minister of State for Health visited Asaba and it enabled him to make case for Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Asaba, adding that same way he can make case for other MDAs that are in Asaba. He noted that for the Federal College of Education (Technical) Asaba, he spoke with the Hon. Minister of Education stressing that the relationship between his Palace and Federal MDAs should be mutually beneficial.
He also disclosed that he was to meet with the Hon. Minister of Interior Tunji Ojo with a view to making case for Nigerian correctional Service (NCoS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) among others.
The Asagba expressed his willingness to seek intervention on behalf of Federal MDAs operating in Asaba emphasizing that if the MDAs are well positioned in terms of facilities most of them can perform their jobs creditably and meritoriously in Asaba. He noted that by so doing the MDAs can serve the people and at the same time serving the greater interest of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Speaking further, the Asagba stated that there is need for this engagement; firstly for him to know COHEADS and secondly to underscore the point that as a body, COHEADS is accessible to the Palace and vice- versa.
He also stated that the Hon. Minister of Works Senator David Umahi came for a flag-off of the access road to the second Niger Bridge where he met with him and the Governor but noted that before the Hon. Minister’s visit, the Palace had written regarding the dilapidated portion of the Benin-Asaba expressway, a situation he pointed out, that in an attempt to bypass the highly dilapidated portion of the Benin-Asaba Road at the Bonsc axis had resulted in motorists using the inner roads within Asaba and in the process causing serious traffic conjunction while the roads are getting bad.
Acknowledging the presence of non-indigenes who have come to work and live in Asaba either as government or private workers, the Asagba noted that Asaba people are very hospital, very accommodating and peaceful in nature and will continue to remain so. He disclosed that Asaba people were exposed to Western influences and Civilization at an early age, explaining why the greatest industry in Asaba is education.
The Asagba expressed happiness emphasizing that because of the peaceful and accommodating nature of the people of Asaba most non-indigenes that have come to work in Asaba have decided to build their houses in Asaba and brought their families to live and settle in Asaba. He urged COHEADS to continue doing their jobs and offered his royal blessings to members of COHEADS.
Earlier the COHEADS chairman and State Coordinator Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Security (FMAFS) Mr. John Onovroke while congratulating His Royal Majesty Asagba Prof. Epiphany Chigbogu Azinge SAN, OON, FNIALS, FICMIC, KSG, KSJI, following his emergence as the 14th Asagba of the ancient Asaba Kingdom.
He noted that Asaba people have always been blessed with eminent personalities adding that COHEADS considered it necessary and important to come and pay homage to the Asagba and solicit his Royal blessings. Mr. Onovroke stated that COHEADS which comprises all Federal MDAs both within and outside Asaba including the the Police and other Paramilitary Services operating in State are ready and willing to identify with Asaba people assuring the Asagba that COHEADS was glad and honoured to identify with the Palace as their visit was to also assure the Asagba that they are also his subjects even as they carry out the mandates of their respective MDAs while working in Asaba.
COHEADS Chairman further assured the Asagba and his Council of Chiefs that Federal MDAs in Asaba will factor in the interest of Asaba people in their programmes noting that they have also enjoyed and continued to enjoy the blessings in Asaba land.
The high point of the visit was the presentation of copies of COHEADS 2025 calendar to Asagba by the COHEADS Chairman followed with group photograph with the Asagba and his Chiefs present during the visit.
Signed
Felix Ijomah.
FIC Asaba
4th April 2025.
