VP Sambo Commends Gov Wada's Transformation Agenda In Kogi

The Vice President, Arc. Mohammed Namadi Sambo, has commended Kogi State Government for keying into President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda, particularly in the areas of education agriculture, healthcare and several other infrastructural development in the State.

            Sambo said he was aware of the giant strides of Governor Idris Wada in the provision of relevant infrastructure, the eloquent efforts he has made in catapulting the state into reckoning in the eyes of both local as well as foreign investors and the citizenry.

            Speaking today at the foundation laying ceremony of Kogi House in Abuja, the VP said the ceremony underscores the fraternal and deep cordial working relationship that exists between the Federal Government and the people of Kogi State.

            He said, “…the land was allocated to the Kogi State Government for over twenty years running but that your administration took the bull by the horn to develop it in order to harness and generate revenue and improve the economy of your state.  It is most interesting to note your economic and financial innovation in funding the development of this 11-storey edifice via a Public Private Partnership model.”

            He also said that “in addition to Mr. President’s commissioning of the 450MW Geregu Power Plant, we shall soon commission the standard gauge railway to Warri Port, the Banda Inland Water Port is at sixty percent completion, we are supporting the private sector in development of 1,000MW coal power plant as well as development of all the solid minerals and hydro-carbon.  We shall continue to partner with you in the development of Kogi State, very soon Ajaokuta Steel Industry will be brought back to life.”

            Sambo noted that Abuja is a symbol of Nigeria’s unity and strength and therefore, it behooves all state governments to strengthen this unity and cooperation by establishing a string of liaison offices in the capital city. He also urged state governments to emulate the strategy of Kogi State in achieving infrastructural development for the benefit of citizens.

            Earlier, the Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada, thanked the Almighty God for helping him “to develop Kogi State in line with the blue-print of his administration to take the state to the comity of states in the country.” 

            Wada said the foundation laying of the Kogi House has underscored the new branding of the State as the “Confluence of Opportunities”, noting that the State has consistently keyed into the Federal Government’s Transformation Agenda in the area so agriculture, human capital development, good governance and infrastructure development and these has formed the transformation agenda of his administration.

            He applauded the President Jonathan’s transformation agenda, which he said, has transformed the country, especially the  commissioning of Geregu Power Plant, the establishment of Federal University and a processing zone in the state have enhanced human development in the state.

            Governor Wada further revealed that the Kogi House funded by the proceeds of the Bond collected by the State government, would bridge the housing need and employment in the FCT as well as generate revenue to the State.  He said Kaibo Engineering Group Holdings Limited of China would contribute twenty percent and management of the project under the Private Partnership Agreement while the State government contributes 80 percent.

            The former Governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, former PDP Chairman, Senator Ahmadu Ali, Senator Smart Adeyemi and others in their goodwill messages commended Governor Wada for being hardworking and his visionary leadership and for carrying the Kogi people along.  They pledged their support to his administration.

            Others in the occasion were former governors of the State and deputy governors, first class traditional rulers including Attah Igala, Ministers of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed and Solid Minerals, Alhaji Musa Sada and many other dignitaries.