Lokoja is Pregnant, Soon to Deliver Completed Projects

Democracy allows for high expectations from the people. This can therefore not be divorced from the reason why like Oliver Twists, there is so much of clamour by the residents of Lokoja,  for the Captain Idris Wada administration to do more for them despite the fact that the administration is spending a large chunk of its resources in Lokoja town.

Since assumption, the Governor has taken bold steps, unprecedented in the state’s history to reposition Lokoja, the Kogi State capital to enable it meet the status of a Modern State Capital.

Sustainable development no doubt is a slow process and in most cases it is expected to take quality time to show forth.

Lokoja town is presently pregnant with projects that has taken the major chunk of government resources. The good news however is that most of the projects are at their delivery stage and would soon show forth.

It is very unfortunate that Captain Idris Wada came into office at a time when the state alongside other states is experiencing a drastic decline in revenue.  Unfortunately, the administration also assumed office when there is a decay in infrastructures calling and begging for attention.

But in all, available indicators have shown that amidst the many difficulties, the Governor is still soaring, and working hard to meet the yearning and expectations of the people.
Lokoja, the State Capital, without exaggeration has had a fair share of project distribution. Unlike in the past, the present administration has refused to concentrate infrastructural development in the State capital alone.

The Wada administration aside placing emphasis on improving infrastructures in Lokoja, the state capital, has also ensured that township roads in most Local Government headquarters, provision and renovation of health centres in all the various councils.

For example all the general hospitals in the State are now been renovated.  The state now has five zonal hospitals, a status that places the zonal hospitals greater than the general hospitals.

Also aside spending about N2billion to reticulate water to Lokoja township and its environs, the administration has also spent close to N400 million in the embankment project to protect the Lokoja greater water works in Lokoja. In the rural areas too, the administration is working on 35 water schemes across the state.  All the 35 water schemes are all located in the rural towns.

While past administrations in the state have invested heavily in improving the status of Lokoja befitting of a  state capital.  It is important to state that under the Captain Wada’s administration, Lokoja the Kogi State Capital is enjoying same and can be said to be literally pregnant with projects, waiting to be delivered.

That the state capital would in the next few weeks wear a new look is not an over statement.  this is because beginning from the welcome to Lokoja, the major road that passes the state capital through to the International Market is under construction at the cost several billion Naira. The road which is a dual carriage road and fitted with side walks and street light, would on completion improve the aesthetic beauty of the State Capital.

Still on road construction, the 16km Otokiti, Ganaja bye pass multi lane carriage way is still on-going at the cost of N2.94billion. The road when completed would create another new Lokoja, a well planned urban settlement and open the landlocked metropolis to other opportunities.

The administration is also constructing the Lokoja  township roads in new-layout, and around the Angwar Tiv area. They are all under construction.  Other roads such as the one that passes beside the Lokoja club, Kasuwa Guest Inn, the NUJ and several others have all been completed in the metropolis.

The Wada administration is also spending N1.6billion to build 500 housing units of houses for Civil Servants in Ganaja and Crusher areas of Lokoja.  This is aside the 270 post flood houses it has constructed.

The remodeling of Kogi hotels is another iconic project of this administration also centered in the State capital.

Mention must also be made of the Diagnostic and imaging centre in Lokoja that is under construction. The centre located beside the specialists hospital would when completed assist greatly in diagnosis and scanning of ailments.

Also in Lokoja is the modern trailer park in Felele.  The projects which is at the cost of N1.68billion when completed would not only clear vehicles off the major highway, would serve as a revenue earner for the state government.  There is also the embankment project that is on-going at Kabawa area of Lokoja at the cost of nearly N2billion.

The project which is been handled by Chizali Nigeria Limited would when completed help prevent the perennial flooding of Kabawa as well as add to the improvement of the sanitary condition of the area.

From the list of the aforementioned projects that are at their various completion stages in Lokoja town alone, analysts, put the cost at close to N30 billion in a state where monthly revenue from the Federation account is put averagely at N3.5 billion, with the monthly wage bill put at N3.2 billion.  The state witnessed its lowest income when the allocation dropped to as low as N2.7 billion, an amount that could not pay salaries of workers in April.

The present administration has also introduced a pilot confluence metro buses service with about 15 Ashok Leyland luxury buses to boost public transportation in the state capital.  With time, the scheme is expected to cover the entire state and other parts of Nigeria.

After the flood, the state government placed its focus on Agriculture.  Lokoja enjoyed more attention in the agric transformation project and the efforts has assisted the state in becoming the leading producer of rice and cassava in the country.

These initiative by the present administration in Lokoja runs into several millions of naira, a feat that has placed the state on the world agricultural map.

The need by the residents of Lokoja to be supportive of these administration’s effort can therefore not be over stated.

Appreciating the modest achievements of the Captain Wada’s administration in Lokoja, amidst difficulties therefore come to the fore.

Though Captain Wada has always disclosed that he has no excuse not to meet the yearning and aspiration of those who voted him into power, on a second thought, the administration rather than have its modest contribution appreciated, to enable it to do more,  gets the most of vilification from residents of the capital for no just cause.

The need for understanding on the part of the of the people knowing fully well that so much sacrifice is been made to develop the Capital over and above other areas therefore comes to mind.  The need to give all support to the Wada led administration thus becomes imperative. While democracy allows for constructive criticism, having the information that so much is been expanded to make Lokoja great would and the envy of other areas in the state may elicit the needed support for Gov Wada.
The present administration with all intent and purposes has remained transparent in its financial and other dealings since its assumption of office in 2012.

The administration without over-stressing the obvious has made sacrifice its watchwords.
It has not only cut down cost of governance, the present administration to all sincere minds does not have room for profligacy and flamboyance.

The administration of Captain Wada when viewed from its investment in Lokoja alone, makes the ancient city, a city that is pregnant with projects that would soon be delivered. This thus call for patience even though the people have a right to demand for more.

While positive criticism is welcomed in the state as the government has remained a listening one, the administration amidst the difficulties of non-available resources, a challenge that has hindered fast pace development across the state, has however not stop the people’s Captain from soaring.

By Abu Micheal