By Abdullahi Idris Sadaukin Zuru
The state battling to join its contemporaries since its creation in 1991, Kebbi State, eventually bounced to limelight following the emergence of Dr Nasir Idris as the state governor having recorded a landslide victory at the general elections in 2023.
Unknown to some mischievous critics of his candidature in the opposition, Comrade Nasir Idris, a trained teacher and active an active unionist, has the capacity to provide a purposeful leadership that will change the narrative of the state development, in view of his experience in the management of labour matters having served as National President of both the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and Deputy National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
With the acquired experience in governance, Comrade Nasir Idris who leaves in the state all his life, has been able to acquired considerable knowledge of the needs of the people, developmental challenges in addition his demonstrated commitment to philanthropic gestures and humanitarian services.
With the favourable background and determination, Comrade Governor Nasir had soon after inauguration produced a comprehensive developmental blueprint that encompasses all sectors of development which included his new administration’s proposed projects, rehabilitation and completion of inherited dilapidated infrastructures in line with his administration’s policy of continuity in governance.
It is an undisputable fact that within the last three years, Comrade Governor Idris has positively transformed the socio-economic fortunes of the state, particularly in infrastructure and economic empowerment. socio-economic impact on the well-being of the people.
The initial priority was the state capital, where dilapidated and outdated structures were rehabilitated and upgraded.
Other critical infrastructures simultaneously executed in Birnin Kebbi included the completion of the state ultra-modern Secretariat complex abandoned for over ten years, expansion, dualisation and beatification with solar-powered streetlight installed along the major streets dualized in to three lanes each giving the state capital a comprehensive face-lift that made it a model, thereby reclaimed it pride of place in the comity of the nation’s states.
Other major towns, Argungu, Yauri, and Zuru, are equally being transformed with some of the facilities and infrastructure either being rehabilitated, upgraded, or constructed. Some killometers of major streets in Argungu and Yauri have been expanded, dualized, and beautified while the 87km Koko-Zuru abandoned federal road project has been taken over by the state government and the execution of the project was progressing.
Worthy of note is the establishment of Mega secondary schools for teaching additional subjects on skills acquisition and a well equipped referral hospitals in the headquarters of the four emirates in addition to the 24 general hospitals in all parts of the state being upgraded, equipped and adequately staffed.
Now three years down the line, the All Progressives Congress ((APC) controlled Kebbi state government under the leadership of comrade Governor Nasir Idris gradual and sustained execution of valuable infrastructure and programmes in all sectors and evenly being spread across the state has apparently sent tongues wagging and had confused the opposition in Kebbi
Now, three years down the line in the life of the All Progressive Congrss (APC), under the leadership of comrade Governor Nasir Idris can boastfully outline vividly achievements.
The multi-billion naira ultra-modern Secretariat complex abandoned for over ten years has been completed. The twenty-five thousand capacity Secretariat named “BOLA AHMED TINUBU SECRETARIAT “also has a two thousand capacity international conference hall and a spacious parking space divided between the staff and visitors.
Under the administration’s urban renewal programme through the ministry works, about fifty inter town roads have either been completed or on going in different parts of the state.
To further strengthen cross border socio-economic relationship, Comrade Governor Idris constructed an ultra-modern motor park of international standard in Birnin Kebbi which was commissioned along with fifty brand new buses in order to ease transportation challenges among the people.
The new motor park is expected to serve as the state central motor park for commuters carrying out business transactions from different parts of the state and the communities of the neighbouring Republic of Benin and Niger.
Conscious of the vital role of agriculture in facilitating economic empowerment of the people, Comrade Governor Nasir Idris introduced a deliberate policy for supporting and encouraging the people of the state majority of whom are farmers.
Accordingly, since the assumption of office, the Comrade Governor has been providing free fertiliser, certified seeds, solar powered irrigation pumps, power tillers, and financial support. Interestingly, there has been remarkable improvement in the socio-economic fortunes and well-being of the people.
The education sector was among the critical sectors in an unimaginable terrible condition inherited by the Comrade Governor Idris, who decisively confronted it head-on.
So far, the administration has gradually cleared the over six billion naira inherited backlog of debts on both foreign and local scholarships, rehabilitated over one thousand dilapidated and fully equipped primary and secondary schools, constructed and equipped over sixty schools, employed over two thousand teachers and reviewed retirement age for teachers from thirty-five years of service to forty years and from sixty years of age to sixty-five years.
In the civil service sector, although backlog of unpaid debt on gratuity, efforts were made in clearing the debts while prompt payments of salaries, pensions, gratuity and death benefits has been maintained as at when due.
Traditional institutions including Emirs and district heads Kebbi state, never had it so good, as Comrade Governor Idris not only upgraded the structures at their respective palaces but also provided vehicles and logistics support to complement the efforts of the security agencies towards overcoming the unfortunate security challenges in their respective domains.
Prior to that, the administration has provided over one hundred Hillux vehicles and 7000 motorcycles as complementary support for the federal government’s efforts.
A special programme aimed at reducing the poverty level to the barest minimum was introduced and implemented by the Comrade Governor through, Hajiya Zainab Nasare Nasir Idris Hajiya Nafisa Nasir Idris, his two wives.
While the Governor provided financial and material support for the small, medium, and large-scale farmers and business communities, the two wives concentrated in the rural areas supporting the widows, orphans and other vulnerable people with food items and clothing.
They also provide training on skills acquisition at established centres across the state where graduates are supported with initial take-up capital
As the clock ticks towards 2027 polls and the formal endorsement of Comrade Governor Nasir Idris as the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate, the people of the state have continued to express satisfaction with his endorsement and preparedness to appreciate by paying back for his selfless services that turned around the socio-economic fortunes and improved their well-being by massively voting for him in 2027.
Zuru is the Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to Kebbi State Governor.
