Kogi govt takes proactive step in health sector dev, partners FG on 2026 AOP

By Ezurike Ugochukwu 

The Kogi State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and development partners, has initiated the development of the 2026 Annual Operation Plan (AOP) for the state health sector.

The plan aims to guide operational activities, direct initiatives, and assess progress in the health sector was inaugurated by the Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, Wednesday, at the Barcelona Hotel, Blantyre Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.

Dr. Adeiza, reiterated that the AOP is intended to serve as a living document that will guide operational activities within the state health sector.

He noted that the 2026 AOP will act as a strategic framework to direct various initiatives and will be utilized to assess the sector’s progress.

The Commissioner expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the substantial resources allocated to support the health sector across Nigeria.

He also acknowledged the commitment of Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, who has prioritised healthcare as a key focus of his administration.

Adeiza also commended the foundational work laid by the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, in advancing the state’s health sector.

While reassuring participants of improved funding for healthcare, the Commissioner urged them to dedicate their efforts towards the advancement of the health sector.

In the technical session, Dr. Asiru Adamu from the National SWAP Office highlighted that AOP is a critical driver of both state and national health policy programs and initiatives. He encouraged participants to adopt intentional strategies in the implementation of health activities within their respective departments, institutions, and agencies.

He expressed his sincere expectation for a departure from traditional practices, advocating for a creative and improvement-oriented mindset to ensure that past mistakes are not repeated.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Johnson Aieyedogbon, the Director of Health Planning, Research, and Statistics at the State Ministry of Health, expressed his enthusiasm for Kogi State being the first in the nation to initiate the development of the 2016 Annual Operational Plan (AOP).

He stressed that the achievement underscores the state government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare service operations and delivery for the overall well-being of its citizens.

Mr. Aieyedogbon noted that the AOP development process is a week-long endeavor, relocated from Lokoja to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure participants’ focused engagement, thereby maximizing contributions and achieving successful outcomes.