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“They say,Look before you leap” is an immemorial injunction. This implies proper appraisal of a situation and adequate preparation before actions are taken. Immediate past Governor, Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada had demonstrated this tact in his approach to governance and development issues in the state between 2012- 2016.
Drawing heavily from his trainings and personal experiences in aviation, the man used the first half of his four year tenure, on the drawing board, planned and strategized for take off.
As usual in situations like that, the opposition masqueraded as people of the state, who are eager for development clamped on the duo and berated him,as doing nothing. But the government remained undaunted and focused.
After it achieved significant improvement on Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, from as low as between 150Million monthly, to more than three times of 600 Million monthly, it approached the Stock Market for a bond of 20 billion Naira.
The first tranche of 5 billion Naira was secured, that changed the equation of development. And just like the night gradually breaking into the day,after the first four years, efforts of the administration blossomed.
Testimonies to the use of the bond fund abound all over the state. Construction works went on in virtually all sectors of the economy. Then,the mantra of non performance had given way and the people filled the impact of a well meaning and hardworking administration on their lives.
A flagship project of the administration was the construction/expansion of the road linking Welcome to Lokoja Circle on one end of the Okene to Abuja Highway through the town, to the International Market, on the other end of the Abuja Highway.
The project had three phases. The first first was the construction the Six Kilometers from Lokoja Circle, through Zango-Daji to Otokiti into a dual carriage way.
The Second phase was the expansion of the existing dual carriage from Otokiti through Ganaja junction/IBB way to International Market, to three lanes on each side. The final face entailed drainage system, beautification and street light of the entire 20 kilometer road.
The project was awarded for 4.2 billion Naira to the contractor mobilized and the work moved on progressively towards completion
Similarly work on the Ganaja- Otokiti bye pass. Again, the project was designed as a double lane road. The virgin project turned a forest without form into a cascaded new town.
The Sixteen Kilometre road was awarded to the contractor, included the earth work, worked day and night that led to adherence with the expected date of delivery, though abandoned by the current administration .
The road created an alternative route for travelers from the West/ Central Senatorial Districts of the state to the East, thereby reducing the usual heavy traffic on the notorious Ganaja junction in the state capital. A new Lokoja was started growing along the path of the road.
Some residents of the new location described Capt Wada as a foresighted leader. “People did not see the motive of the administration in the immediate.
But it became clear to all, that the Governor had laid a solid foundation for the future growth of the state”, they said.
Capt Wada himself does not hesitate to echo the same refrain. At a forum with journalists in Lokoja, former Governor reiterated his dream to take Kogi State to the forefront of the twenty most developed states in the Nigerian federation by the year 2020,when given another opportunity in 2019 .
The unalloyed commitment to the growth of tourism in the state.One arm of the commitment was to properly harness and protect existing archival/ tourist sites, while the other arm was the expansion of its hospitality industry.
Part of the bond fund was used for construction of a new Kogi Hotel after the second tranche of 3 billion naira .
Although the hotel have been in existence from the days of the old Kwara State, it’s structure had decayed over the years. The administration demolished the old colonial structures and erected modern buildings in their place.
Work on many of the Chalets were completed and commissioned, along with work on the multi story main edifices.
The bond also brought succor to Kogites in the area of house ownership.The government built more than five hundred units of houses in two locations in the state capital, which included Ganaja and Crusher villages.
The houses are designed in One Bedroom, Two bedroom and Three bedroom bungalows. Each of them also came with Police Post, Recreation Centre and good road network.
The houses was meant for direct purchase to the public and on owner-occupier basis to Civil Servants.
Outside the state, the bond is also re-vibrated in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja.There, the state government built a 12 story sky scrapper, Kogi House.
The twelve story multi purpose edifice was at a cost of 9 Billion Naira. The contractor worked round the clock to ensure early completion,but now abandoned by the present adminstration
In Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada laid an ingenious example, that in spite of lean and dwindled federal allocation, states can look inward and innovate ways of sourcing for funds, if the right men are at the helm of affairs.
The zeal for continuous and accelerated development of the state, is also his desire to return to Lugard house in 2019, to attract more development both in human and infrastructural advancement
Abubakar Yusuf Writes From Abuja
