Abu Micheal, Chief Press Secretary, Kogi State Deputy Governor, looks at the efforts made in building and rebuilding infrastructures by the Captain Wada administration,concluding that the governor’s effort, amidst noticed challenges known to all, if sustained, will earn the state a complete face lift.
Infrastructures development is critical to achieving human capital development in any society. Without doubt the growth of any country’s economy rests largely on the status of its infrastructures.
J.F. Kennedy, a former President of the United States of America, USA, once put the relationship between infrastructure’s development and economic prosperity into proper perspective when he said that, “America had good roads, not because America is rich, but America is rich because it has good roads”.
On assumption of office as Governor, Capt Idris Wada adopted four cardinal development priorities as a platform for achieving the transformation agenda objectives of his administration.
This priorities were Education, Agriculture, Health and Social Infrastructure.
Despite lean resources accruing to the State in the last two and a half years, and a huge salary wage bill amidst so much to be done, the State Government under Wada’s leadership has continued to remain true to its mandate; working to provide much needed social services, geared towards accomplishing the transformation agenda of the administration.
It is not out of place to say that all the expectations of the people may not have been met, but several positive steps have however been taken by the Wada administration to improve the lot of the people from where he met it.
With the achievements and successes the governor has made after two and a half year in office, there is a strong indication that the people are not disappointed by the governor’s performance, with consensus of opinion saying they will vote him a second time if he indicates his interest to run, hinging their reason on the need for continuity.
Though on many occasion, Capt Wada has rebuffed overtures to make him declare his interest for another term. The governor believes that meeting the yearning and aspirations of the people who gave him the first mandate in the first instance remains top most on his mind.
But as much as he avoids the second term question, the agitation is always heightened on daily basis with political analysts believing that the governor will have no choice in the coming months but to accept.
His decision to run again in 2015 many say will engender peace which has been the hallmark of the Capt Wada administration.
Though the governor may not have indicated his interest to run yet, evidences however abound that the people aside the few usual facebook critics, are comfortable with the governor’s style of governance. A style that is: silent, impact full, result and his goal oriented method of service delivery under a peaceful atmosphere.
Since his assumption of office. Captain Idris Wada, the Kogi State Governor has began and completed some intercity and intrastate roads. It would be recalled that the Governor has in the last two years completed over 1500Km of roads. Some of them he inherited, others began by his administration in almost all the local government areas in the state capital, are now either completed or are on course to be used by the people.
Specifically, in the road construction sector, Kogi State has remained a major construction site especially as it relates to the on going repair of Lokoja townships roads. for example, Government presence is being felt in new layout area where couple of roads along Cinema junction, Federal pay office, Angwan Tiv, Karaworo, Angwa Kura and several other streets are undergoing transformation befitting of roads in a state capital.
Work will begin after rain on the welcome to lokoja, through the Army barracks, Ganaja junction, Mobil roundabout to the international market road. The contract for the expansion and resurfacing of the Major road in the capital has been awarded to CGC construction company.
These roads are not built because there is generally a likeness for building roads but because according to Captain Idris Wada; roads define a peoples way of life. They help them reach their businesses and other destinations quickly and safely.
The pledge to ensure that all inherited projects are not abandoned is another plus and hallmark of the administration.
Some of the inherited and completed projects to mention a few are the completed confluence stadium, confluence beach hotel, new civil service secretariat complex among several others.
If not until the rains became intense, the administration in the state has so far maintained a Zero tolerance policy for pot hole infested roads. Little wonder driving in Lokoja and its environs has been made easy; the driver literally drives with his two eyes closed.
On the provision of decent accommodation, for the people, aside the 270 housing units built for those affected by the 2012 flood that ravaged Kogi State in 2012, the State Government has commenced work on the building of a 500 housing units for Civil Servants in the State Capital with several intervention and partnership with private developers geared towards building close to 2500 other houses for civil servants in the state.
In line with the present administration’s job creation strategy, aside the 7,000 job opportunities it created through the YAD4KOGI programme, employment of Teachers, Health and Medical Personnel and others permanently into the State Civil Service, has remained a recurring decimal.
Also through the massive construction sites that abound the State, especially the road construction and the housing sectors, numerous citizens of the state are either employed directly or indirectly through the supply Chain of Sand, Gravel, Wood and Fittings as well as food vendors and transporters.
With regards to health care delivery, Captain Idris Wada aside the employment of health and midwifery educators, has embarked on a massive upgrade of infrastructures at the State’s school and colleges of nursing.
Accreditation of courses and efforts to make them HND and ND awarding is also almost completed at the schools of health Idah and colleges of Nursing in Egbe and Obangede owned by the state.
A School of Medicine at the State University has also been established.
The State University will by the next academic session begin the admission of Medical students.
An imaging centre in Lokoja as well as the rehabilitation of the State Medical store is on-going. There is also a massive rehabilitation of all General Hospitals across the State.
They General Hospitals are also being equipped with standard medical equipments.
Considering the importance of education to the overall development of the society, Government in Kogi State has recorded remarkable improvements in the sector.
Aside the recent approval to employ 500 teachers at the first phase, there is a massive rehabilitation of all Iconic and first generation secondary schools across the State.
This is aside the building and rehabilitation of Primary Schools also on-going across the state.
The State Government equally built additional hostels in the State University and Polytechnic.
Serious attention was equally placed by Wada on infrastructures development at the Colleges of Technical Kabba and Ankpa.
The pledge of his administration’s commitment to the development of education has remained unwavering and a priority.
Until the strike action embarked upon teachers, recent development in the education sector, shows that the provision of physical infrastructures in some public schools by Capt Wada, is also said to have increased pupil and student enrollment.
Thus, many were already seeing a situation where after the clean up and screening exercise currently on- going in the education sector, as well as the improvement in manpower needs and infrastructures, public schools in the state will be the centre of attraction when the strike action is called off.
With regards to transportation, the government of Captain Wada has continued with its approach to reduce the pain of its citizens.
The administration recently procured buses for a mass transit scheme. The buses ply the state’s intra and intercity routes at 60% subsidized rates.
It is the highest subsidy made by a government any where on record.
With a demonstration and resolve to ensure security of lives and properties. The State Government has remained proactive and has worked with relevant security agencies, thus, making the State relatively peaceful among states in the federation.
Through a security trust fund, the State Government strives towards supporting security agencies. This partnership has made citizens to a large extent to sleep with their two eyes closed in the state.
Through a procured bond, effort is also been made towards ensuring that macro and mini waterworks are either constructed or rehabilitated across the State.
With a dwindling federal allocation, without coercion, there has been an increase in the state’s internally generated revenue from N200 million at inception of the Wada administration to N500 million. It is expected to rise to N1 billion by the end of 2014.
It is also remarkable that Kogi State Government has continued to pay workers salaries even as it tries to clean the system, as well as perform its other obligation to the State workforce.
It is also to the credit of the present administration that it has since its assumption of office, made it a constant responsibility to increase pension and gratuities. Under the Wada led administration, It has been a new chapter of cordial working relationship between the labour and Government.
Without gain saying the fact, the administration of Captain Idris Wada has through the provision of quality public services, earned the confidence of the people.
There has been an on going transformation in Kogi State made possible through the inflow of foreign investors who have stimulated the State’s economy. At the last count, over fifteen Memorandum of Understanding has been entered into by the State with reputable organization.
With an agricultural sector in Kogi State that has really undergone major
reforms and transformation under the administration of Capt. Idris Wada, the state has been catapulted and placed on the world map due to the successes the administration has achieved.
The government’s efforts in the last two and half years amidst noticed challenges, is no doubt, the best way to build the social contract between a government and its citizens.
The renewed effort, which is considered a major milestone has being achieved through good governance, transparency and best practices which has been the flagship of the Captain Idris Wada led administration.
A look therefore at the efforts made in building and rebuilding quality infrastructures that has direct bearing on the lives of Kogi people by the Captain Wada administration, many say will make 2015 election if Capt Wada contest a fait accompli. This is because the governor will be running on a record of a sincere monumental achievements amidst human and financial challenges.
That the people of Kogi State have always recognized and acknowledged good leadership for there singular commitment to their well being and to the development of the State has never been in doubt.
The Governor’s well planned infrastructure developmental effort, though may be slow in the eyes of some people, it has no doubt endeared him to the heart of the people. Thus, making many in the state to conclude that if sustained, his subsequent acceptance to contest the 2016 election will earn him a second term. This is believe can be achieved collectively support Capt Wada enjoys all and sundry.
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