Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State was in Washington DC, United States (U.S.) recently where he attended a summit on infrastructure development. At the event, the governor spoke with our U.S. Bureau Chief, ABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI, dwelling on the challenges he faces in office and the 2015 elections, among others. Excerpts:
You were at the last forum on infrastructure in Washington DC. Do you envisage any positive impact on Nigeria’s infrastructural developments from U.S. investors?
Yes thank you very much. This forum was packaged by credible organisations in Nigeria and the United States and the focus or theme of the conference is ‘Bridging the gap of infrastructure in Nigeria through private investors.’ Like you know, America is a wealthy country with lots of people who are ready to participate in business endeavours that will be a success. So when I got the invitation, I felt that there could not be a better opportunity because Nasarawa state, at this point in time, has a priority not too far from the provision of infrastructure. In fact, that is our main concern.
This conference has been an eye opener and an opportunity to meet people that would impact positively on the state’s infrastructural development. At this stage, Nasarawa state needs infrastructural inputs for its development. These are in the areas of power, housing and land, solid minerals, transportation and environment. During my presentation, I made known our needs in the areas of infrastructure and the response I have started getting from American investors even from the venue of the conference is really making me happy.
Can you tell us about the structures you have put in place in Nasarawa State for foreign investors?
The priority of the state government is infrastructural development. As regards that, we want to liberalise all the conditions and processes for easier participation by these investors. Actually, we are going to make our template flexible for investors to participate, so that it can go in line with their framework for BPP or BOT. Any investor that has an interest in any of these areas will be welcomed, supported and protected by the government of Nasarawa state. Together, we can collaborate to do projects that would bring development and progress to the people of the state.
My administration will do everything to provide an enabling environment for foreign investors to do business in the state. Like I said during my presentation, Nasarawa State is the home of Solid Minerals. The state has got more than 70 solid minerals during the last count. I want foreign investors to invest in Agriculture in Nasarawa state because the state has over 200,000 hecters of arable land available for rice farming. I want to say that lands are available for investors to cultivate other crops.
On environment, I want to tell you that Nasarawa state has incentives for investors in the areas of land resources, prompt issuance of land title, fast track establishment of business, tax holiday, and guaranteed security of life and investment. The state is very secure for foreign investors from the United States of America and other foreign countries to do business.
Can you tell us about some of the challenges you face as governor?
People need to know the kind of challenges I have been facing since I came to government. I want to say that the state was indebted to the tune of almost N32 billion as at the time I got in as governor. Secondly, the state lacked basic infrastructure especially in the area of roads, power, water. When you talk of social services and health, you will be moving to another area of distress because my predecessor did not do anything in these areas.
The schools were totally decayed because he did not commit to developing education in the state. Same with the health sector. The hospital we inherited had no quality, no drugs. This was the situation I found myself in 2011. I just had to start working seriously to develop the state.
Unfortunately, I could not take up all the challenges at the same time because there were overwhelming debts. What I had to do was to prioritise the urgent and basic needs of the state and its people. That is why in my first one year in office, I was able to provide good roads.
So what are the changes you have effected in your state as regards infrastructural developments?
The administration has done a lot in the last 16 months. When I came in, we had 18 megawatts (MW) out of the required 30MW for the state to have constant power supply. So what I did was to provide up to 40 pieces of transformers. Our power supply increased to about 20 to 25MW. Also, the 40MW Farin Ruwa hydro IPP is almost completed and available for Public-Private Partnership in the state. River Mada can also generate 100MW of hydro power. We are working to generate 145MW of solar power and other renewable energy like winds, geothermal and biomass.
On road construction, in the whole of Nasarawa before I came in, there was no single kilometre of asphalt road but I want to boldly say that almost 3,200 kilometres of state roads are available for construction. For instance, the 200-kilometre by-pass from Nasarawa to Abuja and another one to Borno, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe and Plateau states are under construction.
Also we have 500 kilometres of arterial roads in the proposed six districts of Karu. We have provided for more than 25 kilometres of asphalt road with traffic lights within the metropolis of Lafia and other local government areas.
We are also looking into how we can work on the provision of feeder roads in the rural areas. One of the major priorities of this administration is to concentrate on providing relief to the people in the rural areas because before now, they have been completely abandoned.
On the education sector, as I am talking to you now, we have awarded contracts worth more than N1.5 billion for the rehabilitation of schools. We have also paid counterparts funds for the rehabilitation of primary health centres and hospitals. The counterpart fund is the matching grant to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Despite the meagre resources that you always say the state gets, how are you able to achieve all that you mentioned? Did you raise funds from the Capital Market?
Thank you. The allocation that Nasarawa gets monthly is very small but the only reason why we are able to develop the state is because we use prudence to see that the little resource at our disposal are used to the maximum benefit of the people. Let me tell you, since I became governor, I have not bought one single new vehicle. This is because if I have to buy vehicles for all the executive officials, I will be talking about almost N200 million or even more.
But prudence made me not to buy any new vehicles and we have been using the old ones that we inherited. I can only be buoyant to buy new cars for government officials when the government is about one and half years old. Not only that, I reduced all the allocations that my predecessor was receiving. Now, I am receiving only half of what he was receiving so that we can have enough funds to develop the state.
Sir, some political office holders have started warming up for the 2015 general elections. Are you preparing for it too?
Thank you. I don’t think it is morally right to talk about 2015 now. I have a mandate and covenant with the people of Nasarawa for four years and I will want to restrict myself to that. If we want to be fair to the electorate, we should not be talking about a second term now when we have not even done all what we promised to do for them in the first term.
As far as I am concerned, 2015 is out of the question for now because my mandate is my commitment to the people for these first four years. Let me see how I manage the affairs of the state and it is the electorate that will decide if they want me to continue after 2015 as a result of their conviction about my government.
I want to focus on ethical re-orientation because if you want to change the things that have decayed, you have to get the people’s mind prepared; you have to get their mentality in line with your good initiatives.
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