Members of Kogi House of Assembly are to visit President Goodluck Jonathan over the deplorable condition of Ajaokuta Steel Complex and other abandoned federal projects in the state.
The House took the decision at a plenary session on Friday following the adoption of a motion raised by Alhaji Yakubu Yunusa, the Majority Leader and member representing Ofu Constituency.
In his motion, Yunusa observed that the President had, during his campaigns and subsequent visits to the state, promised massive development of infrastructure in Kogi state.
He said the president also promised to expand federal presence in the state in view of its proximity to the Federal Capital Territory.
The Majority Leader said the state had witnessed partial fulfilment of the promises.
Yunusa cited the establishment of a Federal University in Lokoja, the expansion of Geregu Power Plant, the establishment of Green Field Refineries and the Greater Lokoja Waterworks as examples of the fulfilment of Jonathan’s promises.
He, however, noted that federal presence in the state was far from being sufficient with the upsurge in population occasioned by the emergence of satellite settlements in and around Lokoja.
Yunusa said that vehicles and commuters from 22 states of the federation traverse roads in the state every day.
“Our roads can no longer cope with the volume of traffic that ply them on daily basis.”
He expressed regret that in spite of its abundant mineral deposits, Kogi had no viable industrial base, adding that most federal roads in the state were either deplorable or had collapsed.
Yunusa said that unemployment and crime were on the increase in the state.
“The National Iron Ore Company at Itakpe and the Ajaokuta Steel Company that would have served as catalysts for industrial revolution and socio-economic transformation are moribund.”
The legislator, therefore, recommended a visit to the president to “express our profound gratitude and appreciation to him for the attention so far given to the state since he came on board.”
Yunusa said the visit was also intended to draw Jonathan’s attention to the deplorable condition of some federal projects and infrastructure in the state and plead with him to salvage them.
The motion, which was seconded by Mr Christopher Atule, representing Ibaji constituency, received overwhelming support of other members of the house.
The Speaker, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, who amended the motion to include the extension of Abuja-Lokoja road dualisation to Okene among other projects, constituted a five-member committee to facilitate the visit to the president.
Speaker, Kogi State house of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdullahi Bello
