The administration of Capt Idris Wada as Governor of Kogi State, has made some giant strides relative to the financial resources at his disposal. Abu Michael, Chief Press Secretary to Kogi State Deputy Governor, writes on the journey so far.
From the onset of his administration, Governor Idris Wada had shown determination to rewrite the Kogi’s story.
On assumption of office as Governor, Capt Idris Wada adopted four cardinal development priorities as a platform for achieving the transformation agenda objectives of the state.
His priorities were Education, Agriculture, Health and Social Infrastructure.
Within the last eighteen months, a sustained investment has been made in the Education Industry. The Wada administration has deployed enormous financial resources to the development of schools, infrastructures and standardization of facilities in its tertiary institutions. The gesture is aimed at guaranteeing quality teaching and learning.
The Wada administration under the education sector has also carried out renovation of class room blocks at all the levels of education in the state and has built new ones to provide good learning environment for pupils and students.
Worthy of mention is the enormous financial resources that has been spent by the Wada administration in the provision of infrastructures and academic ancillaries at the College of Education, Technical Kabba.
Similarly, the Wada led administration has facilitated the accreditation of engineering courses at the Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja.
It has also included Medical Studies at the Kogi State University faculty of Medical Sciences.
The present administration has equally commenced the process of establishing a Teaching Hospital for the State University.
In the area of Agriculture, the Wada led administration has embarked on aggressive production of rice, cassava and palm tree plantations at a rate that has generated employment. The administration has also enhance the living standard of the citizens of the state through the promotion of export for the purpose of earning foreign exchange.
Presently, to consolidate on the administration’s Agricultural transformation agenda, government has procured excavators, mounted planters, harrows and levelers, harvesters and water pumps for farmers in the State.
A healthy nation the adage says is a wealthy nation.
The present administration in collaboration with the Rural Outreach Ministry introduced free health care services to the rural populace.
Towards providing qualitative health care delivery services to the people of the state, the Wada led administration has also embarked on the establishment, renovation and purchase of standard hospital equipment to health facilities across the state.
At Present,work is on going at the Kogi state Diagnostic Hospital, established in lokoja to complement the services of the State Specialist Hospital.
In the course of laying a solid foundation for an inclusive development, growth as well as the improvement in the living standard of kogi people, the present administration in the state embarked on massive construction of rural township and intra state roads across the state.
For the benefit of hindsight, the Wada led administration inherited 36 road projects. Most of which were at less than 40% completion stage.
But in line with the development profile of the present administration that is aimed at avoiding the incidence of abandoned projects in the State, the Wada led administration took the decision to fund all inherited road projects all in the best interest of the people. This has saved the people of been defrauded and also waste of scarce resources.
Among the road projects inherited by the present administration, two were revoked, one of the site was inactive while five others were abandoned.
Aside the inherited road projects, the Wada led administration has equally embarked on the construction of new other road projects as a hallmark of the administration to transform the transport sub sector.
The new roads presently under construction are: Okura township road and construction/asphalt overlay of Otukpa junction – Ojokwu – ajobe – Okaba road.
The administration is equally embarking on the emergency repair of the damaged portions of roads swept by last year’s flood as well as the rehabilitation of Lokoja township roads.
At present work is on going on the Ganaja road; Shintaku – Odugbo – Mozum road; Idah – Onyedega road; Kabba and Iyara township roads; – Ogaminana – Obangede – Okaito – Kabba junction road, while rehabilitation work is on going on Ebiya – Patasi – Adogo – Onosi; Oziokutu – Obangede secretariat roads.
Many other roads under repairs and rehabilitation include: Hassan Katsina road; Mounti Patti – Stadium road; NTA – Kogi Circle – FEN junction road and IBB way.
Also,over 51 Rural Water Projects, involving the provision of motorized bore holes and 20m3 Capacity Pressed Steel Over – head tank; installed with 30KVA Generator and a Generator house is currently on-going in rural communities and some institutions across the State.
In addition, Kogi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, has drilled bore holes at about 97 locations in 13 Local Government Areas of the State.
Already the present administration has completed 27 rural electrification schemes in some Rural Communities. Two others are at advanced stages of completions.
Similarly, 27 transformers to boost electrification in some Communities across the State have been installed.
5,000 jobs have equally been created in the state for unemployed school graduates through the Youth Empowerment Scheme of the Wada administration.
The administration has equally opened the space for foreign and private investors from foreign nations to have sign memoranda of understanding with the Kogi State Government for investments in Agriculture, coal to power and the exploration of other mineral resources in the State.
Aside been able to achieve some measure of social cohesion and unity among the various ethnic groups in State, tremendous Socio – Cultural integration has also been attained by the Wada led administration.
The present administration in the State has more than any other administration strengthen the bond of unity existing among the people through the equitable distribution of developmental projects.
The numerous achievements recorded so far by the Capt Wada led administration is in accordance with his declared objectives for Kogi State to emerge as a model of good governance and to be rated among the top ranking States in Nigeria in terms of rapid and sustainable socio – economic development.
Without mincing words and amidst financial and other challenges facing governance in Nigeria,the present administration of Capt Idris Wada has worked day and night for the good of the people towards enjoying a new lease of life.
There is also no gain saying the fact that having re branded governance in the State by orienting Government actions through structured planning,with a primary focus on human development, and the modest achievements so far recorded relative to the financial resources at the present administration’s disposal, Kogi State is on the march again.
Quality education, job creation and access to the basic necessities that will help recreate environment, wealth and engender development is the mission been accomplished by the Wada administration.
