By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
Former Nigeria’s Head of State and elder statesman, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, on Friday challenged Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State to ensure that he leaves a meaningful legacy that the incoming administration in 2023 will consolidate on.
He also called on the Federal Government to refund funds the State has use in constructing federal roads across the State, so that it can be rechanneled into other sectors.
Gowon disclosed while flagging off the construction of the flyover (interchange) at British-American junction and dualization of the road to Lamingo junction roundabout, in Jos, the State Capital.
He said, “I commend you for embarking on this project, and want to urge you to make sure you leave a meaningful legacy for the administration that will take over from you.
“I want to appeal to the Federal Government to refund funds that the state used in constructing federal roads so that such funds will be use to intervene in other sectors in the state”, he maintained.
In his remarks, Lalong said, “You will recall that when we were elected into office in 2015, we vowed to leave Plateau State better than we met it. Indeed our initial 5-pillar policy gave us the guide for resetting the myriad of problems we inherited from the previous administration.
“Our people will remember that I made a promise that the Rescue Administration will make an impact in their lives through the provision of critical infrastructure in all parts of the State.
“In particular, I emphasised that we will not abandon inherited projects especially those which have direct bearing on the lives of the people because doing the contrary will amount to waste of public funds.
“This explains why the most part of our first tenure was pre-occupied with completion of abandoned projects by the immediate past administration and those of previous governments which it refused to touch.
“We however chose to change the narrative by completing most of these projects despite the fact that we inherited them from a government of an opposition party. To us, the interest of the people is bigger than party or personal ego”, he maintained.
“After settling some of these abandoned projects, my administration awarded various projects some of which have been completed and commissioned while others have reached advanced levels of completion.
“Because of our passion to spread development across the entire State and in the spirit of equity, fairness and inclusivity, we awarded contracts for road projects in the three senatorial districts. Some of them are almost completed and will soon be commissioned.
“This administration is committed to funding and completing these projects before leaving office in 2023” the Governor assured.
Lalong further explained that, “Our decision to take the construction of this fly over and dualization up to Lamingo junction is borne out of the need to place the State on a pedestal for economic growth knowing that the long hours people spend on traffic impedes commerce.
“Besides, this same road is a major carriageway that links the North-East Region to the Federal Capital Territory and other parts of the country.
Also speaking on behalf of the three Governors present at the occasion( Sani Bello of Niger, Abdulrazak Abdulrahman of Kwara and Godwin Obaseki of Edo, who was represented by his Deputy Philip Shuaibu), Governor Bello said, “It is my prayer and hope that this project will be completed before its 12 months completion time.
He commended Lalong for his developmental strides in the state, urging to continue in that light.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner of Works , Hon. Pam Botmang, said, “The cost of the project is N9,998,949,835.74 with its attendant cost of funds and with a 12-month completion period.
“So far Access bank has fully mobilized the contractor to site on mutually agreed terms and they are ready to make further payments on receipts of Certificates of Valuation on Permanent Works executed
by the contractor, certified by the Ministry of Works and as approved by His Excellency, up to project completion”, he assured.
