GOVERNOR WADA’S ENDURING ROAD AND TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT FOR ECONOMIC WEALTH

​The importance of good road networks and efficient transportation system in any given society cannot be over emphasized. It lends credence to improved standard of living for the citizens as it enhances free flow of transportation both in rural and urban communities. 

It also aids and boosts transportation of goods and services within and outside the State. The occupation of the majority of the people of Kogi State is basically farming hence the need for improved road networks for farmers to effectively transport their agricultural produce to all the nooks and crannies of the States as well as other parts of Nigeria and beyond. Governor Wada’s popular Agricultural Programme has also empowered several youths across the State on Agro-Allied businesses who require good network of road to market their product.

​This explains why in the early life of the present administration, Capt. Idris Wada launched a comprehensive road development programme. It was an initiative he took after a careful assessment of the deplorable state of roads across the three senatorial districts of the State. Capt. Wada’s determination to improve transportation as well as the rural and urban outlook of the State in line with his Transformation Agenda, made him to identify intra-city, state and township roads as the cornerstone of overall development programme. With systematic approach, Capt. Wada has been going about this programme to the delight of the citizens of Kogi State.

​In the spirit of continuity, a principle he has adopted with good governance, Governor Idris Wada incorporated the completion of inherited road projects into his administration’s road development scheme. The Ankpa township road dualization project is one of such projects. He funded and completed the road within one year at the cost of N622 Million. It is a very important road as it has enhanced the urban outlook of the erosion- prone town. The road was commissioned by the Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema during a visit to Kogi State. The Governor in his speech, praised his Kogi State counterpart, Capt. Idris Wada for prudent management of the State resources and for responding to the plight of his people. Another very important township road project completed by Capt. Idris Wada’s administration is the 702kilometre Ayegba Oma Idoko-Federal Polytechnic, Idah road Dualization project. The road project has given the ancient city a facelift.

​Similarly, the Idah-Onyedega road, part of which was washed away by the 2012 flood that ravaged the riverine communities of Kogi State is being rehabilitated by the State Government. The damaged portion of the road has been repaired thereby easing free flow of traffic to and from the riverine crude oil producing community which is also rich in food production.    

​The road development programme of Capt. Wada addresses certain age long infrastructural collapse of some towns which have been made to suffer as a result of the diversion of highways that previously passed through them. Okura town in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State is one of such communities that Governor Idris Wada has brought relief to. The project is expected to address the ecological challenges facing the residents of the town. The sum of N263 Million was expended on the projects.

​It was also a moment of joy for the people of Ochinobi-Ojoku-Okaba-Odagbo in Ankpa Local Government Area when Capt. Idris Wada flagged-off the construction of their N723 Million road project. The project has since been completed. Other road projects in Kogi East Senatorial District include; Icheke road, the N2.6 Million Ogugu-Adum-Ikem road, the Ajagwumu-Ogboyaga Road and the 2.5kilometre Iyale school of the disabled road. All these roads have reached appreciable levels of completion.

​Also, the roads under construction in the Central Senatorial District include:

The N992 Million Ogaminana-Obangede-Okaito-Omavi road, the five Kilometre, OzioKutu-Obangede Secretariat road, linking Adavi and the asphalt overlay of the 2.7kilometre road with surface dressing in Okehi Local Government Area.

​Furthermore, in Kogi West Senatorial district, the following road projects were awarded for construction: The 10kilometre Iyara township road was awarded at the cost of N660 Million. The construction of Koton-Karfe township and the 7kilometre Kabba township roads while Lokoja, the Capital City of Kogi State, also in the Western Zone, is witnessing facelift with the rehabilitation of some major roads which has been in deplorable state before the present administration came on board. They include; Rehabilitation of Hassan Usman Katsina road, construction of 6.1kilometre asphalt overlay of Hassan Usman Katsina-Mount Patti Access road, construction of 20.8kilometre Felele Agbaja road, rehabilitation of IBB way, emergency repairs of Obasanjo square-Nataco Junction as well as Ganaja-Junction-Ganaja village road.

​Capt. Idris Wada believes in fairness, equity and justice. This has reflected in the equitable distribution of his road projects across the State. Over 1500kilometre of roads have been completed all over the State and about 10 township roads are on-going in the three senatorial Districts.

The Governor has also allocated a whopping N20.4 Billion Naira representing 29.16% of the total 2014 budget to the Transport Subsector.

Recently, the State Government sort for the procurement of N20 Billion bond from the World Bank for infrastructural development. Out of this amount, N5 Billion has been released. Part of the money(N2.9billion) is currently being used for construction of the 16kilometre Otokiti-Ganaja-Lokoja Multi-lane carriage way, and Asphalt overlay of New Market/Murtala Mohammed/Barrack/Kabba Junction 20.75kilometre road.

​Wada’s administration has also not relented towards the revitalization of the collapsed Kogi Transportation Company with the approval of N400 Million to procure 100 buses by the State Executive Council for intra-city transportation. This, according to the State government, will bring relief to the people of the State for easy movement at affordable cost. ​The State Government is presently employing both drivers and conductors to run the intra and inter-city transport services.  ​

​Wada’s Road development project is also understandably premised on the tourist status of Kogi State. He taught it wise that for the State to realize its full potentials in the area of tourism, a good network of Roads is very germane to enable visitors enjoy the abundant tourist sites that are scattered all over the State.

​Capt. Wada has come to terms with the fact of History in Kogi State. He realized that throughout history, the wealth and military power of a people or a nation have been closely tied to efficient transportation. It provides access to natural resources and promote trade, paving way for the accumulation of wealth and power.

​​In summary, the inherited and completed road projects by Governor Idris Wada’s administration include; Ejule-Alloma-Otukpa Junction Road, Ganaja Junction-Ganaja Village(Diversion) Road, Odo Eri-Igbaruku-Okeri-Iyamerin-Okeri Road, Erosion control, Ajaka-Ibachi Road, Ogaminana Township Road, Idah Township Road, Ankpa Township Road, 3 & 4 Span Bridges on Shintaku-Odugbo-Mozun road, Ageva-Ogori Road, Lokoja Township Road, Okura Township Road, Ankpa- Ojoku-Okaba Road

Also in the same sub-sector, the following roads are on-going: Abejukolo Township Road, Iyara Township Road, Kabba Township Road, Lokoja-Mount Patti Road, Rehabilitation of Koton-Karfe Township Road, Ofugo-Ike-Ilori-Icheke Road, Mopa Township Road, Itakpe-Kuroko Road, Otokiti-Ganaja-Lokoja Multi-lane Carriage way, Asphalt overlay of New Market/Murtala Mohammed/ Barrack/Kabba Junction 20.75kilometre Road.

​There is no doubt therefore that the development of road and transportation sub-sector in Kogi State is a cardinal programme of Capt. Idris Wada’s administration which will go a long way in changing the outlook of the rural communities and enhancing the beautification of Urban centre’s. The period of Governor Idris Wada in Kogi State have been very exciting and hopeful for more rewarding commitment to the sustenance of the current tempo of his road development programme in fulfillment of his Transformation Agenda.

In all, we see a State with great potentials for emerging new orders--- a state aptly captained by a Flight giant flying the State onto higher altitude. As it is said, good wine needs no bush. Dispassionate observers will agree that Captain Wada means well for Kogi State and he has the rare attributes to re-position Kogi in an enviable stead in the comity of States in Nigeria.