The last time Kaduna State witnessed such a massive harvest of roads construction and rehabilitation , was during the administration of then Governor Ahmed Makarfi, (now Senator), and to whom the present Governor, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa was an able deputy. But as the Chairman House Committee on Works, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Philmon Usman said at the flag off of the Kwagiri- Kussom- Wasa road; “31 new roads , costing more than 28 billion naira and all at a go, it never happened!”. The same theme of the unprecedented nature of the undertaking , was what the contractors harped on at the signing ceremony. Not only was the road construction/rehabilitation unprecedented, but generous, they stressed, as the government paid them 25% in advance, to enable them mobilize to site and quickly get to grips with the task of helping the Governor bring the dividends of democracy to the people.
When Yakowa , promised total development of the state , many cynics did not believe in the capacity of the state government to deliver. Because for one , the State though third largest in terms of population, ranks tenth in the allocation from the federation account, the IGR is also nothing to write home about, and then there is the huge wage bill of about 4.3 billion naira monthly, which Governor Yakowa strongly believes is heavily padded and is working hard to reduce . The serious security challenge the State is facing has not also helped matters. There is no doubt ,that It is an uphill task governing Kaduna State (famed home of the Kaduna Mafia), only a miracle worker, with the help of God Almighty can accomplish , like Yakowa is doing. The uncharitable group, who have constituted themselves into an opposition just for the fun of it, who have no idea of the Internally Generated Revenue capacity of Kaduna State, but would compare the State to Lagos State, that generates more than 23 billion naira a month. And when it suites them they cite Akwa Ibom State, that has just announced a budget of more than 459 billion naira for 2013, of which it hopes to spend over 340 billion naira on capital projects. The monthly wage bill and overhead expenditure of Kaduna State they are ignorant about. The Kaduna State budget this year was just 150 billion naira, a joke when compared to the figure for just capital projects of Akwa Ibom State.
Undeterred, and being a tested hand, Yakowa went to work. Critical to him has been raising the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state and blocking the leakages. This has made it possible for the administration to embark on critical projects in all the sectors.
Since the award, signing and flag off of the31 new roads, the state has not been the same again, because there are on- going projects in education, water resources where for instance , the contract for a total of 680 boreholes has just been awarded. Same in ministry of health, where a multi-million contract for the conversion of the state hospital into a teaching hospital has commenced etc .
The road projects is about opening of areas and thus were carefully chosen. One needs to understand how difficult it is for the people living in Kudenda (it takes them an hour to do a ten kilometer road), to appreciate their unrestrained joy ,that their road will be constructed. They are yet to come to terms with the reality that a Daniel has finally come to Judgement. That Daniel that heard their cry and came to their rescue is Yakowa.
Usman’s “it never happened before” is just one of the many positive comments. For the people of Kwagiri – Kussom – Wasa ,in Jem’a /Sanga local government areas, and the people of Kawo , where a sitting judge of the High Court said “he had to be part of the flag off”, it has been a celebration. At the flag off of the Kagoro – Manchok – Mubushi road ,a road that will connect not just Zangon – Kataf and Kaura local government areas , but serve as an alternative route, to the very treacherous kafanchan through forestry road to Jos, Plateau State. This road shaves off about 40 minutes and increases trade between the two states. The story was also one of jubilation. In fact everywhere the governor has gone to flag off the construction , he has been embarrassed . But so far none has come close to the carnival the people of Karatudu in Chikun Local Government Area put up . And like the governor said “it will remain indelible” , but not just on Yakowa’s mind , but on that of everyone present .It was the same at Jem’a and Sanga Local government Areas. His stance that “am only doing the job you elected me to “has not cut ice with the people , who reasoned that he could have decided otherwise.
The kudos he has been receiving also has to do with the fact ,that in the usual Yakowa style the 31 new roads are spread through- out the twenty –three (23) local governments areas of the state for equity ,justice and fairness – the hallmark of his administration.
It was emotional seeing Yakowa at the verge of tears , at the emotional reaction of the people, the we understand body language , that if Yakowa had the resources he would deliver more than 31 roads. And it is reactions like this, that gives him the strength to work from morning to night , to ensure that people can move from point A to point B with ease. That the farmer can evacuate his produce to the market and get good price , that the middle men do not cash in, on the bad state of the roads to short change them.
But unknown to many people , is that while the euphoria of his” roadcrazy” , is yet to die down, he is already tasked his commissioner for works Engineer Suleiman Richifa and the able director civil works ,Engineer Ishaya Yem , to identify critical roads projects , that will receive the “Yakowa treatment” in 2013. There is just no time, especially as we seem to have longer period of rainfall ,than dry season now. And the road needs of the people is understandably insatiable. At Kaura he actually called them Oliver Twists.
About three weeks ago, he had also commissioned equipment – loaders , graders etc for the Kaduna State Public Works Agency (KAPWA), for the rehabilitation of roads that have failed in part due to old age, the heavy rains and the indiscriminate digging up and erection of speed bumps. But what is equipment ,without funds to buy the bitumen ,cement etc to carry out the repair work ? So about 143 million naira was released to KAPWA , to ensure that Kaduna roads are fixed once the rains are over. They have since commenced work, to the delight of the people whose trust in government, Yakowa has restored by keeping to his word.
But this article is not about an elected governor performing what is in my opinion , a routine exercise that should at best attract the attention of the commissioner in charge of works , it is about leadership. Kaduna State, in a good month gets about 5 billion naira from the federation account . It has a huge work force , that takes about 4.3 billion naira of this. The Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), is between 700 million and 1 billion naira. In terms of population, it has a projected population of about 7.1 million using the 2006 figure. It is the third largest state in Nigeria , but in terms of revenue allocation ,it is a distant tenth(10). And a land mass area of 46,020 square kilometer. The distance between Saminaka to Birini –Gwari is about six(6) hours, the same number of hours, it will take somebody travelling from Kaduna town to Benin City , Capital of Edo State.
Governor Yakowa has not and will never complain about his “good luck”, but an appreciation of facts and acknowledgement of the efforts to change the fortunes of the state , will be a tonic, rather than uninformed criticisms and wild allegations. Only last week , a magazine had alleged that under his watch the state had collected over 100 billion from the federation account. An information any serious critic would have cross checked from the web site of the federal ministry of finance.
With the improved IGR , it is obvious that sky is the limit for this servant of the people. Many of the contractors were dumbfounded when the government declared that it would pay 25% advance, to enable them mobilize to site. The cynicism that greeted the decision suggests that there is a tinny minority, praying that he fails all because of 2015. Yakowa, like everybody knows is not a magician. What he has done , is prudent management of the very little resources and expanding the revenue base.
The government going by the governor’s pronouncements will not slow down on its rural transformation agenda. Through the Kaduna State Rural Access and Mobility Project (KADRAMP), the governor has further committed himself to improving access for rural communities. The underlying reason, being that it will promote economic development. To date , more than 144 river crossings, linking several communities , in more than ten local government areas have been built. The programme has also constructed 464 kilometers of feeder roads. These projects have been executed at the cost of over 8.4 billion naira. But the benefit goes beyond the amount spent – it is the improved earnings of the farmers, truck owners that no longer crash their vehicles due to bad roads and most importantly life, that nobody can put a figure to.
The way forward is support and payment of taxes to enable government continue to meet its obligation.
Emmanuel , is External Media Consultant to Governor Yakowa.
