By Dada Ahmed,Abah Eneojo.
The world over, the essence of good governance does not end in improving the well-being of the citizens.
Political analysts have argued, convincingly, that the process of governing or overseeing the control and direction of a country or a state must also take into cognizance,in practical terms, the need to develop the physical infrastructure of making life easy for the people.
Indeed, they further contend that construction of houses,roads and formulation of other people-oriented policies and programmes remain a litmost test of democratically elected government in actualising the concept of the social contract its signs with the people for a better living condition.
The current All Progressives Congress in Kogi State, led by Governor Yahaha Adoza Bello, says it is not unmindful of its statutory responsibility to the people of the state and as such, has embarked on the development of physical infrastructure of the state, a development many believe became much feasible in the governor’s second term in office.
As it were, the State Ministry of Works and Housing becomes the platform for fulfilling such a resolve as excemplied by massive reconstruction of roads by the state government, starting from Lokoja,the state capital in kogi West Senatorial district down to east and central Senatorial districts.
Cataloguing the various infrastructural programmes of the Bello-administrstion, the Commissioner in charge of the Ministry,Engr. Abubakar Ohere, noted that government had embarked on road construction in Lokoja, the state capital.
In a statement by the Public Relations Officer for the Ministry, Mr Abah Benjamin Eneojo,the effort is in fulfilment of Governor Bello’s Second Term Promise to Impact on infrastructure development of the area.
Ohere, who made the disclosure during a routine visit to the ongoing road infrastructure in Lokoja and other ongoing infrastructure development in the State Capital,named such works to the road construction work from the Maigari Palace,through the traditional areas of Lokoja, described Governor Bello ‘as a leader with rare credentials of a true Leader, committed to the welfare of his people”.
He disclosed that the road construction, running from the Maigari Palace to the adjoining link roads, also involved the roads from Government House to Zenith Bank Junction and expressed happiness with the pace and quality of work being done.
Abah qoute his boss as having mentioned during a recent inspection of ongoing work at the Ganaja Flyover Bridge, that Governor Bello had promised to speed up work on the Lokoja township roads, to enhance movement of people and goods, adding that the ongoing embarkment along the bank of the River Niger in Kabawa was aimed at controlling the incessant flooding affecting Lokoja.
Construction work going on at one of the construction sites in Lokoja.
Other sites where physical developmnt is feasible, according to the Commissioner, include:GYB Model Science Secondary School, Adankolo, the Lokoja Civic Centre, Lokoja street lights, pointing out that the beautification work on the street median is equally in progress.
Other projects inspected by Engr. Ohere include: the Desilting of drainage at NTA – Kogi cycle road, NTA – Post Office – Ministry of Works road, Cementary -Hydro junction road, Wallace – Maigeri – Old Central Mosque road
And Stella Obasanjo – Government House road and failed section of roads with asphalt overlay of interior road networks within the state capital.
Facelift of Lokoja: Maigari of Lokoja Commends Gov. Bello, Says It’s a Dream Come True
The efforts of the present administration in the state to give Lokoja a befitting facelift did not go unnoticed as the Maigari of Lokoja, Alhaji Mohammed Kabiru Maikarfi 111, has showered praies,on the governor, describing the development as one that would write its name in gold, adding the roads had been abandoned for long.
Ohere told the traditional ruler that the aesthetic value of the city, the interchange and roads he would boost the socioeconomic activities of the State.
The Commissioner also revealed that the state government has long commenced work on 54 -kilometre road on Idah -Ajaka- umomi- Ejule -Anyigba road to ensure seamless transition of people and goods across the length and breath of East and construction of ultra-modern GYB Model Science Secondary school at Ajiolo in Dekina Local Government Area.
Besides,he said government had also started the construction of Ultra-modern Teaching Hospital Complex at Prince Abunakar University Anyigba, the complete construction of Ankpa Township road and that of Ankpa – Abejukolo road as well as the facilitation of the New Map project At Ogugu in Olamaboro Local GovernmentArea and Ogane-aji in Dekina Local Government Area, East Senatorial district of the state.
” There is ongoing construction of Central Reference Hospital
2.Ongoing Constitution of okene Township roads,
Ongoing Construction of Police Squdron unit with Quarters at Oro in okene, ongoing renovation of GSS Oboroke in Ihima.
Establishment of Confluence University of Science and Technology at Osara and the faciltation of Newmap intervention program in Agasa, Okene in the Central Senatorial district.
On West Senatorial district, Ohere confirmed the ongoing construction of General Hospital in Isanlu, construction of Kabba Township roads, Provision of street light in kabba and the modelling of Kogi state specialist Hospital lokoja in West Senatorial district among other projects.
While some residents in Lokoja gave kudos to the present state government for its conscious effort as aimed at changing the deplorable physical nature of the state, they, however, pleaded for the inclusion of reconstruction of roads in Bassa Local Governnent Area of the state.
They described the local government as one of the first set of councils created in 1976, yet, 46 years behind its contemporaries in terms of physical and other developments.
The people also called on Governor Yahaha Bello to ensure completion of the projects his administration initiated and being implemented,as the best way to leave worthy legacy for his successor in less than two years from now.
Ahmed is the Editor in Chief, The Reporters, while Eneojo is the PRO,Kogi State Ministry of Works and Housing.
