Kogi’s Bonds of Development by Richard Elesho and Mike Abu

In Kogi State, Capt. Wada is laying an ingenious example that demonstrates that inspite of lean and dwindling federal allocation, states can look inward and innovate ways of sourcing for funds if the right men are at the helm of affairs.”Look before you leap” is an oft-repeated admonition from wise men since the olden days.  The saying emphasizes the importance of proper appraisal of a situation and adequate preparation before actions are taken. Kogi Governor, Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada and his Deputy Abayomi Awoniyi have demonstrated this fact in their approach to governance and development issues in the state since coming to office in January 2012. Drawing heavily from their professional backgrounds in aviation and construction respectively ensured that they had well articulated policies before take off.

One fact that was clear from the onset was that the financial position of the state was in dire straits- The monthly allocation would not be enough to settle the state’s obligations.  Instead of playing to the gallery and engaging in politics of blame games,  the administration took the bulls by the horns by facing the enormous challenges which included a recently increased wage bill,  pension arrears from as far back as 1991 and a  huge infrastructural deficit amongst others. They set out immediately to increase the Internally Generated Revenue by mandating e- collection of revenues rather than the desk collection by MDAs’.  That singular action drew the ire of  the cabal who were profiting from the old system of cash collections. Other humane means of improving IGR employed by the administration have seen the states IGR increase by over 300% since 2012.

The next measure they took was to tidy the states financial records- and approach the capital market for a bond of 20 billion naira.  After a long campaign of calumny mounted by opposition elements masquerading as elders of the state,  The bond was  eventually approved in tranches of 5 billion naira by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.   The state government applied the bond to various capital projects spread across road construction, provision of water , health, transport, housing etc.  They ensured that about half of the projects are revenue generating.

One of the major projects being financed by the bond is the upgrading of the Welcome to Lokoja road.  This main highway was in a terrible state of dilapidation because of poor quality of work done when it was constructed by the previous administration.  By the time, the construction works is completed, the face of the city of Lokoja would have been transformed and the nightmares commuters face on that road would have been eradicated.
Another road that will bring succour to the commuters of Lokoja is the New Otokiti- Ganaja dual carriage bypass which is being constructed by this administration.  This road will open a new part of Lokoja up for development.

Another  projects that is worthy of note is the 250 bed University teaching hospital that is being planned as a reference hospital that will serve not only residents of Kogi State but patients from all over the country.  The hospital was designed by Indian consultants and plans are underway to affiliate the hospital with a hospital in India so that our people can benefit from leading medical expertise from abroad. Zonal hospitals are also being upgraded to provide back up for the hospital.  The Odu Orthopedic hospital is also being constructed from the bond.

In the area of housing, the government has embarked on the construction of 500 housing units- the first phase is being built in Lokoja- While the remaining will be built in Ayangba and Okene.  The Modern Motor park which will serve as a central terminal for all transportation activities in the state is also underway. When completed, the terminal will serve as a hub for the Kogi Transport project which has already kicked off with pilot project of the first publicly subsidized transport system in the nation tagged the Lokoja city bus service (LCBS).  Other aspects of the transport project are the Kogi Line- the interstate franchise scheme and a intrastate transport scheme that will be run in conjunction with NURTW.

Hitherto, Kogi was the only state that did not have a state house in the central district of Abuja. the land allocated for this purpose had been converted to personal use by unscrupulous citizens of the state.  After a long tussle, this administration- regained control of the land and has begun the construction of the 11 storey Kogi House project. This project which will dwarf other state houses in Abuja will serve as a huge source of revenue for the state.

Mathew  Jobele an engineer and long time resident of Lokoja described Wada as a ‘Leader with great foresight ‘. “People may not see the motive of the administration in the immediate. But it will soon be clear to all that the Governor is laying a solid foundation for the future growth of the state”, he says.

Till date, the state has so far accessed 8 billion out of the 20 billion approved and most of the projects are well underway.  The campaign of calumny  and misrepresentations by self styled opposition elements has continued unabated. Their various petitions and the decline in the capital market contributed in no small measure to the delay in accessing the second trance but the administration is committed to leaving no stone unturned to achieve Capt Wada’s dream of taking Kogi State into the comity of twenty most developed states in Nigeria by the year 2020.

By Richard Elesho and Mike Abu, Press Secretaries to the Kogi State Governor and Deputy Governor respectively.