Opinions

Of Nasarawa’s trailblazing at 27

FOR the people of Nasarawa State, there is always a double celebration on October 1 of every year. The day doesn’t only serve as the country’s independent date, but the state was also created on October 1, 1996. It therefore celebrated 27 years of existence as one of the 36 states in the country last Sunday. The state since creation has had its ups and downs like many of its peers. It also has undergone significant transformation over the years. It has been administered by six personalities so far since inception. Some stakeholders are unanimous that its current leader, Abdullahi Sule, has been a unifying force, forging alliances and bringing the many diverse ethnic groups that made up the state together for the betterment of the people. It is also the opinion of many, that since assumption of office in May 2019, Sule has been doing all he can to further transform the state through various projects that have impact on the lives of the people of the state.

Governor Sule had promised from the onset to focus on security, education, healthcare, investment, industrialisation, economy, agriculture. Other areas he pledged to focus on include rural and urban development, youths and women empowerment, restructuring of civil service for utmost performance, strengthening of traditional institutions, and cultural reawakening among the people. The governor equally placed priority on the completion of projects embarked on by past administrations, while also embarking on new projects. Some of the projects inherited and completed include the new Presidential Lodge which he named after the immediate past governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura; the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC; the speedy completion and handing over of Lafia International Cargo Airport to the federal government; the Kilema – Shinge road; Agyaragu Tofa road, Kwandare – Keffi road; and the Fertiliser Blending Company, among others. The governor also embarked on many urban and rural roads across the three senatorial districts in the state, some of which have been completed or at various stages of completion. The affected roads, include the 48. 7 Km Toto- Umaisha, which linked several communities across the axis. The Toto-Umaisha road is an upgrade to asphalt, beginning from Toto Junction to Umaisha at an estimated cost of 4 billion naira. There is also the Gitata/Panda/Gurku road being handled by CEEZALI Construction Company that would link to Mpape in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The road when completed will assist greatly in reducing the daily traffic grid lock being experienced along Keffi-Abuja expressway.

Others include the 26Km Eyenu-Mararaban Udege and Odu roads in Nasarawa local government area of the state, which have been completed; the dualisation of the single lane leading to Federal Medical Centre, to roundabout and old Kaduna Road junction in Keffi town. The affected road also leads to the Emir’s Palace. In Akwanga local government area there is the 41.9km Nunku-Agyaga-Rinze double cast surface dressing with spur at Akka-Lalle, Andu Koko and Anjida. Governor Sule is also working on the N2bn Gudi-Moroa17km road being handled by Tilley Gyado also in Akwanga local government as well as the 15.5km Kwarra-Sisinbaki-road in Wamba local government area of the state.

There are also the 27km Kofar Gwari-Bakin Ayeni rural road in Kokona LG; 15km Keana-Abuni road in Awe and Keana LGs; 10km Shabu-Doka-Anigba-Akakyo road; 21km Agwade-Shupe-Atabula-Obi road; 27.9km Kanje-Abuni road; 6km Kagbu-Atsoko-Kagbu Wana road; 5km Masaka-Luvu road; 14km Nasarawa-Ara road; 12km Ribi-Jangwa road; 27km Assakio-Obi road; 54km Angoro Junction/Bassa road;1km Gudi-Anguwan Dorawa road;19km Baure Grazing Reserve; 2.2km Akurba Power Substation road;3km Sabon Garin Salawo/Tudun Wada road in Keffi; 3km Kaibo Fulani-Kaibo Mada road; 16.9km Kofan Gwari-Bakin Ayeni-Amba road; and 5km Alushi/Wakama among others. The governor also initiated and completed Ultra Modern markets across the three senatorial districts of the state in a bid to ease difficulties traders go through as they struggle to earn a living.

Aside from the markets, the governor also constructed state of the art motor parks in a bid to centralize the activities of operators and decongest major towns in the state.

He is also being applauded for his performances in the health sector which earned him an award. Perhaps one of his key achievements in the sector is the completion of the multi-billion naira Infectious Disease, Diagnosis and Research Centre in Lafia. The centre which is equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities and has a provision of a Biosafety levels II and III laboratories, an isolation ward, an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), an administrative structure and a conference hall. The facility is described by health experts as the best in West Africa. In December, 2022 he was recognized by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) for his giant strides in primary health care development. The NPHCDA had rated the State as the overall best in the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory for its implementation of best practices in COVID-19 vaccination and routine immunization. Gov Sule had reiterated during this year’s 27th day celebration speech that quality healthcare delivery to the people was one of the primary concerns of his administration. “My administration is seriously committed to ensuring that the people of the state get access to quality and affordable healthcare,” he said. His administration has recruited a number of medical doctors and medical workers in order to address the manpower shortage in the sector. For Rt. Hon. Dr. Musa Ahmed Mohammed, a former two term speaker of Nasarsawa state house of assembly and the present accountant general of the state, said,”the impact has been felt in the state civil service following a reform to digitalise their operations and improve their welfare including prompt payment of their salaries, gratuity and pension. This is after he had cleared the backlog of workers’ salaries and pensioner’s entitlement running into many months”; Dr. Mohammed said. Mohammed who is the Baraden Nasarawa, added that “In the investment and economic sector, he believed to stand out among his peers, ditto in agriculture, education, security, solid minerals among others”; he added.