The administration of Captain Idris Wada is three years old. The administration is one that has made positive impact on the lives of the people and the landscape of the state, yet it has been misunderstood on several issues because there is no exchange of information. This therefore makes the third year anniversary apt as it affords the administration the opportunity to put on the table lasting legacies attained in the last three years.
Captain Wada’s administration is one that has never hidden the fact that it has a lot of responsibilities to meet following the many expectations of the people.
From inception, the Governor who was aware of the enormous responsibilities set up a highly knowledgeable team made up of Kogi indigenes to develop a blue print for the rapid transformation of the State.
Sadly, the resources available to the State have been on a sharp decline, creating a huge gap between Government’s plan and its capacity to meet those plans.
On assumption, the present administration inherited a number of personnel related problems, among which are unpaid salaries to teachers, salary arrears in the Local Government Services, incidents of ghost workers and unqualified persons using fake certificates.
There was also the challenge of a huge personnel cost that makes it difficult for a sufficient spread of resources to other critical sectors. Related to this is the huge liability on gratuity payments, dating back to the creation of the State in 1991.
Kogi State has a relatively poor economic base that limits the opportunities for internally generated revenue. But in all of these challenges,the Capt Wada administration has not resigned to helplessness. A number of achievements have been recorded over the last three years.
The administration on assumptions made the completion of most on going projects such as the greater Lokoja Water projects, the Confluence Stadium, the Zone 8 link road, Idah township road, Kabba township road and Ankpa township road, among others a priority.
In the primary education sector, the state government expended the sum of N1.6billion on the provision of classroom blocks, furniture, instructional materials and sanitation facilities in schools across the state.
In the Post Primary School Sector, several upgrades where carried out on many public schools. Schools like Abdulazzez Attah Memorial College, Okene, Government Secondary School Dekina, St Augustine’s College Kabba, Holy Rosery School Idah and St Charles Idah. Assessment work is presently on going at Crowther Memorial College, Lokoja, Titcombe College Egbe, Government Technical School, Mopa and St Kizito’s College, Isanlu.
Towards mitigating the acute shortage of accommodation for students in the tertiary institutions in the state, the present administration has constructed hostels at the Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja and the Kogi State University, Anyigba.
Towards enhancing self actualization and economic independence for youths, the present administration has cooperated with the Korea International cooperation Agency to develop a vocational Institute, a first of its type in Sub Saharan Africa.
Also through cooperation with the vietnamese government students of Kogi State Origin are currently undergoing University education in Vietnam.
The State has in the last three years continuously paid bursary to its students.
A number of remarkable achievements have also been recorded in the Health sector. This includes: the on going construction of a Comprehensive Diagnostic Centre at the Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, the on going construction of the Kogi State University Teaching Hospital, Anyigba, Rehabilitation and equipping of Zonal Hospitals, General Hospitals and Cottage Hospitals across the State.
The administration has in the last three years become famous in its Free Medical out reaches.
The administration has also Constructed Hostels at the School of Nursing Obangede and Constructed a new general hospital at Odu among others numerous to mention.
As part of efforts to promote social well being, 500 units of mass housing programmes are currently under construction in Ganaja and Crusher area in Felele. The scheme is to be replicated in other parts of the state on a micro scale.
The State owned Kogi and Confluence Hotels is being re-developed, with many Colonial Relics, including the Rest House of Lord Lugard on Mount Patti have been rehabilitated to promote tourism and physical appeal.
The State Government is currently building a modern Motor Park in Felele to facilitate traffic management and complement the urban management plan. The State Government also began an Intra-City bus service.
The major road that traverse the state capital from Lokoja International Market to Zango Daji is currently under construction. A dual carriage way bye pass is also under construction from Army Barracks to Ganaja which on completion will divert traffic from the East and the South heading North vice versa.
The Capt Wada administration gave attention to dry season farming as a creative response to the adversity of the 2012 flood. Today the state has been placed on the Agricultural map of Nigeria.
The State Government is presently disbursing the sum of N750million Agricultuaral loan to farmers across the state.
Besides, the state government commitment attracted the Federal Government to set up a staple crop processing Zone at Alape in Kabba-Bunu LGA.
Over ten thousand youths have been trained and engaged in public works while many others have been trained in Agricultural Businesses and provided with loan facilities and starter packs.
Without mincing words, and for sustaining the tempo of development initiated by the previous administration in the state as well as setting a new agenda, the Capt Wada’s administration, by virtue of its record breaking efforts in meeting the yearning and aspiration of its citizenry, is one that will assessed by posterity for writing its name in gold.
That the Wada administration has remained efficient, focused amidst challenges, even though some very few may claim that the state is still not where it ought to be, has not taken away the fact that the steps so far taken signals a renewal of hope that the state is on a march as a people to greatness.
Capt. Wada has no doubt shown that so much can be achieved if the leadership is consistent, focused and purpose driven.
In concluding, the last three years of Wada in all honesty, putting empirical evidenced of growth and development, peace and tranquility into perspective, was geared towards truly serving the people. To God be the glory.
Three years after: Wada remains fired by passion in meeting the yearning and aspirations of Kogi people is a commentary written on the achievements of the Capt Idris Wada administration by Mike Abu
