The recent decision by the Kogi State Government to put the Lokoja Mega Terminal to use is a clear indication that Yahaya Bello is beginning to understand the concept of governance.
As at January 14th 2016 when the terminal was commissioned by the outgoing administration of Capt Idris Wada, signing the tripartite PPP operations agreement between the State Government, Planet Projects and Kogi State NURTW Chapter was all that was outstanding.
Wada in his wisdom didn’t sign the agreement because he wanted the incoming Bello administration to be part and parcel of the project. In the 900 page handover notes, the overall operational plans for the park were clearly spelt out.
Bello, rather than continue from where Wada stopped, opted to probe the Wada administration. To date nothing tangible has come out of the probe panel.
Bello’s data-boys claimed the project wasn’t completed by Wada. They cite skeletal works (Painting and Furnishing) carried out recently as proof of completion by the current administration.
Having reviewed the elements that made up the overall contract sum of 1.6 Billion Naira, it is clear that the cost of furnishing was built into the costing from the onset. So the bogus claim that Bello furnished the park isn’t tenable.
They also fail to remind Kogite that Wada’s administration also funded the erosion control project they claim credit for. Wada awarded the project for the erosion control and made sure the funding was available. It is on record that he left a total sum of 800 Million Naira in the Ecological Funds account domiciled with UBA. This monies were meant to be used to fund the erosion control project.
Bello’s decision to abandon the park has cost Kogi a lot revenue losses.
The park when functional will provide services to fourteen thousand (14,000) passengers daily, Two Million Eight Hundred (2,800,000) passengers monthly and Thirty Three Million Two Hundred (33,200,000) Passengers annually.
Aside from these numbers, Wada also made provision for the establishment of revenue generating support services around the terminal. These include filling stations, hotels, police station, mechanic workshops and etc.
Looking at these figures, one begins to wonder the economic impact this terminal would have had on the State, assuming it was fully operational since 2016.
For Yahaya Bello, governance has always been a jamboree rather than a continuity. His decision to revisit this project won’t be far-fetched from his desire to showcase himself to Nigeria as he pushes forth with is “RICKETY” Presidential Run.
While he embarks on the presidential jamboree, we call on him to complete the other legacy projects started by the previous administration. If completed these projects will add to the economic growth of our state.