2017 budget: Communities hail inclusion in road projects

FOLLOWING the decision of the state government to embark on massive road construction across Kogi State, the affected communities and their leaders have said the move would further aid agricultural and economic development of the state.

The administrator of Omala Local Government Area, Ibrahim Aboh, lauded the decision of the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, over the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Ankpa-Abejukolo road.

Apart from this, the MONIMO Foundation, an umbrella body of Kakanda pressure groups, also descibed the inclusion of the long awaited Budan/Kupa/Eggan road project in this year’s budget by Governor Yahaya Bello as a mile stone towards agricultural revolution in the state.

Aboh, who made this know while speaking to journalists in Abejukolo, the headquarters of Omala Local Government Area, said the move would further aid the economic development of the area.

According to him, the award of the contract had shown that the governor recognised the local government as one of those in special need of interventions.

He commended the governor for his vision, innovations and commitment to the wellbeing of the people of the state who voted him into office, hoping that  the economy of the state and the nation would improve to enable the governor accomplish his people-oriented programmes.

“The award of Ankpa-Abejukolo road project is quite awesome and commendable. It shows that Governor Yahaya Bello has our interest at heart. It also shows that he was prepared for the job and has a clear vision on how to move the state forward. I thank God for such a committed governor,” he said.

The council boss said that the governor had shown in the state a government deeply committed to the people and that which had touched their lives substantially even in the face of dwindling resources.

He added construction of the road would pave way for easy access that would further develop the socio-economic development of the council.

Also speaking, a leader of the local government, Matthew Ochada, noted that the construction of the road would reduce the hardship of the people of the area.

He said, “I can only describe the governor’s moves to award this road contract as the height of sensitivity to the plight of the people. I commend him for his steadfastness to this accord and pray God to give him the ability to complete this project. Good governance irrespective of any circumstance is all we envisage.”

In the same vein,  the National chairman of the MONIMO Foundation, Alhaji Usman Abdulkadir, lauded the governor for considering the plight of the people living around these communities, particularly the difficulties in moving their farm products to the city.