Sir, give us an insight into the state of affairs in Kebbi State since the new governor, Nasir Idris took over some three months ago?
Thank you so much for this very important question. Kebbi is changing for the better fast. It’s like he is working in anger at the missed opportunities to use resources to make it a better place. Kebbi is unarguably on the threshold of accelerated infrastructural development with the renewed hope accentuated by the massive outlay of infrastructure which our governor has launched from day one of his taking over. All the deficits in infrastructure especially in road networks across the state are being addressed with vigour.
The governor came at a time Kebbi was yearning for a leader that would change the rural nature of our state capital and major towns as is the case in many states in Nigeria. Of course, everyone knows that Kebbi had been cocooned in dilapidation and infrastructure decay which made it difficult for us to move forward rapidly. The story is beginning to change as a visit to the state will convince you that there is indeed a new dawn in our state.
What exactly is happening in the area of infrastructure in Kebbi State that made you sound so optimistic?
Let me tell you the truth. For those of you who have been to Kebbi before, there is no gain saying that Kebbi had suffered from mindboggling deficit in anything that has made other states the urban centres that they are known for. Most visitors to the state and indeed the indigenes themselves have often bemoaned and lamented the rural outlook of both Birnin Kebbi, the state capital in particular and the state in general. But the assumption of office of the present governor barely three months ago has changed all that. Kebbi has become one huge hub of construction activities with the awarding of contracts for the construction of roads. A fifteen kilometre-three-lane dua-carriage township road in Birnin Kebbi has been awarded at a total cost of N9.4 billon to primarily give the state capital the needed facelift and to provide roads for the enhancement of economic activities, easy movement of goods and services and changing the unfortunate reference of the state in very unpalatable terms by those who feel aggrieved by its rather low level of development. Work is ongoing.
Can you throw more light on the specifics of these developments you are talking about?
First of all, the long-abandoned state secretariat complex contract that had suffered long lay-offs has also been re-awarded to two indigenous, reputable and competent companies at the cost N10 billion. The basic education sector too has seen an investment of N2.4 billion for the construction and renovation of schools in the 21 local government areas of the state while 86 new schools would be constructed and 224 other existing ones would be rehabilitated.
Also, 7215 sets of furniture for classrooms have been procured and three computer laboratories fully equipped with ICT accessories for digital learning are being provided. Quite a lot of other interventions in this sector amounting to billions are being executed across the state. Billions have also been channeled to water supply to address perennial water shortages across the state, ditto for security to save lives and property; in empowerment to reduce poverty of the vulnerable; in healthcare delivery to enhance accessibility to health care.
Can we then conclude that past governors in the state have not done their best to develop the state?
I am not in any way downgrading anybody’s contribution because it will be uncharitable to do so. Every governor of the state had done his level best but the dynamics of governance and development variables require that more should be done or should have been done to truly move the levers of development. The fact that everyone including visitors is unanimous in their judgment that Kebbi was rural and urgently needed some repositioning meant that the state was in dire need of a leader with the Midas touch, vision, commitment and the bravura to channel resources to critical areas that will develop the state. Governor Nasir Idris, on coming to power in May this year, hit the ground running by firstly taking the bull by the horns to address the multifaceted challenges of development.
His first job was in the water supply area where he spent millions to purchase the much-needed water treatment chemical to deal with the age-long acute water scarcity in both the state capital and its environs.
But we have received reports of peoples’ resentment at what was rightly or wrongly perceived to be the high cost of completing the state secretariat complex, which the state government put at a whopping cost of N10 billion. Can you throw more light?
What you referred to as resentment was a product of ignorance of the nature of the project, its history of abandonment and the attitude of the original contractor. The contract for the building of a befitting secretariat was awarded in 2012 by the Dakingari administration at an initial cost of just over N3 billion. The project suffered some delays and some years after, the contractor asked for a review of the cost to about N7 billion. It dragged on until Nasir Idris became governor and inherited it. Its completion was one of the cardinal electioneering campaign promises of the governor. When he won, he went for it and asked the original contractor to make submissions of what it will take to complete it. To our chagrin, the contractors made a staggering costing of N21 billion. The government flatly rejected it and decided to revoke it. When the contracting company was announced government’s intention to revoke the contract, it sat well with them. So, it was revoked and two reputable indigenous companies made a joint submission of N10 billion to complete it and the government, seeing the advantages, awarded the contract to them. We are talking about halving the cost and getting it finished in 18 months. So, it beats me how anybody would raise eyebrows or cry wolf where none exists.
Education is one key area Kebbi tend to be having problems especially on delay in prompt payment of registration fees for WAEC and NECO. This is seen as unhelpful in the long run. What will you say here?
We are just three months old in office. It is therefore unfair to judge us so soon. But I can assure you that our governor is not just a teacher by profession but a one-time national president of the Nigerian Union of Teachers and an activist. If there is anything close to his chest, it’s education.
When he served as NUT president, he brought about very radical changes which shaped the way the federal and state governments see education at the primary level. Here, he has also brought his tact and vision to bear and I can tell you that he has taken many decisions that will make it easier for our students. He will never be found wanting in this regard because all his life, it’s devotion to the development of education. Just sit back and watch us unfold our programme of action in the coming weeks, months and years.
