Most people would probably not understand what Capt. Idris Wada, Kogi State Governor, meant when on assumption of office he said his administration would do things differently.
The recent two year score card of the Wada led administration, shows that his desires and policy are geared towards making living more pleasurable and fruitful for the people of the State.
Buoyed by the encouraging results his administration has so far achieved and seeing how the peoples lives are being transformed, the activities of Capt. Wada shows that he is determined to take Kogi to where it ought to be and to also ensure that it is within the top 10 States in Nigeria as models of people oriented development and good governance.
While inaugurating equipments worth N332 million for road maintenance procured recently by his administration, the Governor declared operation zero potholes on all roads in Kogi State.
The governor disclosed that he is guided by the four cornerstones of his administration’s transformation agenda towards making life meaningful for the people.
The importance of good roads in the Economic development of the State Capt Wada disclosed remains a key element and the driving force behind his administration’s roads development programme which he said subsumes in his transformation agenda.
For Capt Wada, good road networks not only aid economic activities,it reduces the distance between people, markets, services and knowledge.
Provision of infrastructure has remain cardinal to good governance. This will, perhaps explain why governments all over the world and at all levels, place it on their topmost agenda.
Infrastructure like; Roads, Portable Water supply, Electricity among several others, remain key issues of development. Apart from being evidences of development, they also enhance both economic and social lives of the people.
A hitherto unknown settlement can be advertised by a mere link through a good road. Little wonder, many communities in Nigeria will stop at nothing to have government come to their aid by fixing their roads. It will instantly open such communities to opportunities and enhance their socio -economic status.
It is also equally true that pothole infested roads, are increasingly responsible for most of the accidents that happen on our roads. At the same time, bad roads hasten the process of tear and wear of various cars and impoverish the owners.
It is for this reasons and the need to ensure effective and efficient management of all the State roads with a view to making them safe and motorable all year round, that the present administration decided to establish the Kogi State Road Maintenance Agency.
It is also pertinent to state that within the last twenty four months,under the Wada led administration, road construction and rehabilitation has taken a large chunk of resources and attention of the on-going transformation agenda in the state.
Some roads executed within the last two years Include:
a).Ganaja Junction – Ganaja Village (Diversion)
b).Erosion Control, Ajaka – Ibachi Road
c).Ogaminana Township Road
d).Dualisation of Idah Township Road
e).Dualization of Ankpa Township Road
f).3 & 4 Span Bridges on Shintaku Odugbo Mozun Road
g).Okura Township Road
h).Ankpa – Oloku – Okaba. Road
Also in the same sub-sector, the following roads are on-going:
I).Abejukolo Township Road
ii).Ageva – Ogori Road
iii).Kabba Township Road
iv).Lokoja Township Road Lot 5 – 75% Completion
v).Iyara Township Road
vi).Lokoja Mount Patti Road
vii).Rehabilitation of Koton-karfe Township Road
viii). Ofugo – Ika – Iloni –. Icheke Road among several others.
The Kogi State Roads Maintenance Agency was established a year ago,primarily to ensure effective and efficient management of all existing trunk roads in the state with a view to making them safe and motor able all year round.
Within its first year of establishment, the Kogi State roads maintenance Agency has successfully rehabilitated: IBB road; NTA roundabout and GTB road, as well as Lugard road. Other roads rehabilitated by the agency are road networks within Government House, Okene/ Barracks road, old market roundabout to Rimi Road; Rimi to Angwa Pawa road, Angwa Pawa/Ma-anai road, Dunamis/Federal University road and cemetery road junction in Lokoja metropolis amongst several others outside the metropolis by direct labour.
The inauguration of a Motor grader with rappers, a Pay loader, Asphalt paver, a single division compactor, Asphalt cutting machines with blades by Capt Idris Wada recently underscores his administration's desire to make State roads motor able.
Other equipments he inaugurated for the agency include; a Bulldozer with Rappers, portable double drum roller, double Axle truck with a 60 tonne low bed; 2 nos Toyota Hilux vans and a Dara patcher model of portable patcher.
The Governor also gave approval for the immediate employment of professionals in the road construction and built industry to work in the agency.
Capt Wada’s deliberate policy regarding road maintenance and using the direct labour option by the Road Maintenance Agency is not only a cost effective means of tackling the menace of failures of roads infrastructure, but has gainfully provided direct and indirect employment to teeming youths in the State.
All over the world, the new strategy about road maintenance which the Wada administration is imbibing shows that maintenance starts the day construction stops. Experiences in the past has shown that the negligence of road maintenance has cost government large sum of money in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads in the State.
Government’s decision to therefore re-position the Kogi State road maintenance agency to carry out these maintenance function effectively by procuring necessary tools and machines that will enhance their performance remains commendable. More commitment to duty by the agency is what is therefore expected following government's huge investment.
There is no doubt that the newly inaugurated equipments alongside the proposed N3 billion capital expenditure as presented in the 2014 fiscal year estimate,is geared towards ensuring effectiveness in the activities of the road maintenance agency.
The charge to the agency and its staff therefore is to ensure that all trunk roads in the State as well as roads within the metropolis are kept in motorable condition all year round as encapsulated by the vision of the Wada administration.
For a man whose administration has been guided by the vision to build a greater Kogi State, Capt. Wada's sincerity of purpose, in affecting the lives of the citizens through improved infrastructure,particularly, with the inauguration of the road equipments, is daily making his transformation vision a reality.
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