Building symbiotic partnerships with the people to create growth that is more innovation-led, inclusive, and sustainable
Abubakar Bagudu , Governor Kebbi State Nigeria, is an inspiring and reassuring leader. A well-organized man of process and strategy, he is, often admired, for his belief in building trust and bridges based on a shared future, decided by the ballot box. No wonder, he is concerned with the well-being and security of his people, giving hope, building trust, tolerance and understanding and safety in a corner of Nigeria numbed by brutal terrorist violence, social injustice, economic deprivation.
His all-inclusive style of leadership and governance activities have kept Kebbi state secure and businesses in different industries in profit. And this has downplayed the traditional rivalry between the four emirates of the state and provided a common pedestal for all sons and daughters of the state, irrespective of party affiliation, to discuss the common interest of the state. Whoever is who in Kebbi State identifies with the government.
in this regard, he is turning the state to a land where the rich are becoming richer and the poor becoming better off than they have ever been, where services are being delivered more to rural areas, where accessibility via roads and bridges which used to be of major concern are being constructed. Not a place where public servants are working just for the interest of their political leaders and not the way people want or deserve.
With these, Governor Bagudu has validated the assertion that the world needs a decisive leader to whom they can look up to for guidance and reassurance. True indeed, people in different states want to look up to a reassuring leader rather than one who gives excuses. That is why it is in their best interest that the people of Kebbi state considered voting for someone like Bagudu to lead them in 2015. It is a huge thing they have done for their own good and for the good of humanity.
A man of strategy and few words and a man true to his word, he has single-handedly done more to prevent crimes and violence in his own part of Northern Nigeria — where one of the longest-standing terrorist campaign in West Africa festers that has claimed over 1000 lives and displaced 36,000 more — than many other governors in the region.
On June 12, Governor Bagudu gave an address where he talked about some of his achievements. since coming into power in 2015. He said these achievements were recorded in many sectors of the state, notably in agricultural transformation. Apart from this, other areas where achievements have been recorded include education, healthcare delivery, infrastructural development, power distribution, security network and environmental sanitation. He said that the state government had purchased 100 tractors, threshers, rice rippers and power tillers to enhance agriculture. These he said had given rise to 450,000 news jobs and created 40,000 multimillionaires in the agricultural sector.
Of course, it is not possible to capture the multitude of the glaring giant strides recorded by Governor Bagudu, these achievements are indeed as tangible, as timely, relevant and efficacious in further uplifting the ‘Land of Equity’ to greater heights. This has been the dream of Bagudu.
Agriculture
There is no doubt that Bagudu’s re-election for a historic and momentous second term by the people of the state is a clear indication and testimony to the ceaseless and invaluable love people of Kebbi State have for him in view of his tireless efforts to move the state forward in all spheres of human endeavour. Kebbi has remained the unbeatable pacesetter and trailblazer in agriculture, especially rice production with the attendant multiplier effects for the citizens, as well as the economy of the state and that of Nigeria in general.
It is no doubt that governor Bagudu’s giant achievements in agriculture, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Anchor Borrowers’ Program geared towards improving rice production. Although, the 15 billion Naira scheme is owned and financed by the Federal Government as part of President Buharis economic diversification agenda, to make Nigeria sustainably self-sufficient in food production, especially bolstering the rice value chain.
This effort has greatly assisted President Muhammadu Buhari’s diversification agenda, to reduce over dependence on oil, as well as assisted the country in overcoming the hitherto economic recession and the stoppage of rice importation into the Country.
The scheme which was launched and flagged off by President Buhari himself, in November 2015, in Kebbi, had achieved tremendous successes, with the political support of governor Bagudu. Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu’s administration supported the program by also providing logistics support to the Anchor Borrowers Program committee to go out to all the 21 LGAs, to capture the bio-data of all genuine benefiting farmers, in order to ensure that, the only genuine small holder farmers got the loan.The program has also made many youths and civil servants who were hitherto not farmers to go back to the farms.
From 2016 to 2017, most of the pilgrims that registered to travel on holy pilgrimage to Mecca were farmers who got their money through the rice cultivation. The story did not also end here as many Kebbi farmers became instant, jubilant millionaires. The state also witnessed the influx of both foreign and local investors. Rice processors established rice mills, both big and small. Modern rice mills like Labana and Wacot established their bases in Birnin Kebbi and Argungu, respectively. Other mini ones abound in different parts of the state, such as the one in Lolo, Kamba, in Dandi local Government Area, Jega and Bunza, among others. It is on record that Oxfam, an international non-governmental organization came out to openly commend Kebbi State Government for allocating 10% of its budgetary allocation to agriculture, for over two years in a row. In 2016, N12.6 billion was allocated to agriculture and in 2017, a whopping N14 billion was further injected into the agricultural sector by Bagudu’s government.
Education
Education is another vital sector Bugudu’s administration prioritised, sensing that the sector holds the backbone of development of any society. The educational sector in Kebbi had previously suffered serious neglect by previous administration.The Kebbi State Government undertook massive renovation and reconstruction of new and existing primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across the state. In his Inaugural speech on the 29th May,2015, he decried, “the educational sector of the state is in shambles, schools over stretched without qualified teachers and structural infrastructure like classes, toilets and dormitories are in ruins over the years.”
To demonstrate his determination to overhaul the educational sector in the state, education received the highest allocation in his maiden budget. Governor Bagudu doled out over 5 billion Naira for the renovation of both primary and secondary schools in the state, including setting aside additional funds for the purchase of assorted learning materials in that same year to 2016.
Teachers and principals were appointed on merit, unlike a few years back when appointments were politicised. The students are motivated to perform and there is positive competition and that make them work harder. As a result in Kebbi secondary schools today, any failure cannot easily get into the system.
The Governor also awarded a contract for the renovation of 25 secondary schools across the state. The schools cut across the six zones; Argungu, Birnin Kebbi, Bunza, Jega, Yauri, and Zuru. To further enhance teaching and learning in 2019, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu also approved the recruitment of three thousand (300) teachers for schools across the state. Girls secondary Schools across the state from each of the 4 senatorial zones were provided with new busses to facilitate their movement, to take part in sports and extracurricular activities, within and outside the state.
Governor Bagudu also ensures the prompt payment of scholarship to students studying at various institutions of higher learning, within and outside the state, including the payment of WAEC and NECO examination fees for secondary School students of the state. He also upgraded three higher institutions which are under the Ministry for Higher Education. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Higher Education in the State, Dr. Isa Muhammad Sama, confirmed the development. The three institutions upgraded are Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu, the Kebbi State School of Nursing and Midwifery, Birnin Kebbi and the School of Health Technology, Jega.
Health
Health is vital to life. Governor Bagudu is concerned with the health of people, though with a philosophy that health is everybody’s business in Kebbi state.Whether farming, processing rice in the mills, gardening, dancing, attending mosque or church, selling fish at the market or in formal employment, all Kebbi people and their families benefit when each person participates.
This is to solve the threats facing the health of his people, to ensure that families, communities and workplaces do not lose the productive years of their men and women, that many women do not die giving birth to children, that babies don’t lose mothers and husbands don’t lose wives, that babies and children under five are no longer dying from preventable diseases.
When Bagudu got into office in 2015, Kebbi health systems were facing tough and complex challenges, partly derived from new pressures, such as ageing populations, growing prevalence of chronic illnesses, including the procurement and distribution of medical supplies. He attacked these from the taproots. This is to ensure that serious illness and preventable diseases do not take the productive years of Kebbi men and women. Also that they are in a clean and safe environment.
Bagudu was able to prepare a road map for achieving and delivering healthcare to citizens of the state, as well as to bring all health care sections under one roof, by providing an enabling law through the State House of Assembly. A series of medical outreaches were successfully conducted in the state, in collaboration with Moses Lake Medical Foundation from USA. Medical services including surgeries and medication, including feeding of patients were all provided free of charge to thousands of patients in Kebbi and neighboring states. Primary health care centers are being rehabilitated across the 225 wards in the state.
With his effort, preventable diseases appear to be leveling in prevalence in many part of the state as awareness of healthy lifestyles, sanitation and primary healthcare continues to increase rapidly throughout the state
Governor Bagudu was in Takalau and several other rural areas to commission the renovated primary healthcare centers. In an effort to increase the manpower of the health sector and improve their working conditions, he approved employment of health personnel, especially Doctors, Pharmacists, Nurses/Midwives and other lower cadre staff such as cleaners, drivers and watchmen among others . Bagudus government also strengthened the free drugs programme for pregnant women and children under the age of five years, as well as routine immunization which led to the success of eradicating transmission of wild polio virus in the state. Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi , one of the oldest General hospitals in the Northwest, is totally reconstructed, with new blocks, to a new befitting modern health institution by the Bagudu administration for greater delivery.
On the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19), pandemic that is ravaging the world, Bagudu swiftly swung into action by taking plausible measures to contain the disease in the state, including setting up a Taskforce to control the spread of the disease and provide medication to patients. The governor doled out mouthwatering allowances to the Frontline medical health workers and members of the Task force. Isolation center and ICU were set up in Kebbi Medical Center, Kalgo and Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital , Birnin Kebbi, with adequate beds and ventilators. This is in addition to the massive awareness campaign on Covid -19 specific to personal and environmental hygiene carried out for women groups and associations across the state.
Investments
Investment and Infrastructural development are two areas the administration of Bagudu accords priority with a lot of successes recorded. Government policies and programs in the agricultural sector, especially the success recorded in the Anchor Borrowers Programme, triggered the establishment of private rice mills, hence, big, medium and small ricemills sprang across the state. Notably, Labana Rice mills in Birnin Kebbi, Dangote Rice Mills at Shanga and Wacot in Argungu are glaring examples of big modern ricemills established in the state. Other medium and small ricemills also followed suit in Lolo, Dandi, Bunza, Jega, Suru, Yauri local government areas and even within Birnin Kebbi metropolis.
The establishment of such private ventures has no doubt led to employment of thousands of Youths and even women in the agricultural sector. Other prominent investors like Dangote and other Companies, as well as International Organizations like United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the partnership between the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), and the Kebbi State Government strategic partnership for $10 Million enterprise investments cooperation in February, this year, were all geared towards industrialisation and opening up more opportunities for investments in the state. The joint memorandum of understanding to promote enterprise development of producer cooperatives in the state had since became effective.
The two parties have agreed to support agricultural producers and enterprises in the state ranging from provision of funds, equipment and capacity building. Each party has provided $5 million, making it a $10m dollars scheme for selected farmers’ cooperative groups across the state. A major Cassava- based Ethanol Programme is being undertaken under the able leadership of an illustrious son of the state, Professor M.A Kaoje. The programme which is being undertaken in partnership with NNPC, shall lead to ethanol production in Zuru Emirate. This project promises to churn out a whooping N388 billion revenue when finalized. Tomato factory at Gafara in Warra, Ngaski local government area of the state has reached an advanced stage. All these developments were sequel to the conducive business environment provided by government, such as tax waiver or reduction, free land allocation, access roads and other incentives necessary for the establishment of any company.
Infrastructural Development :
Bagudu also deployed man and machine to give the pothole riddled Koko-Mahuta-Dabai road a facelift, Commuters now ply the road with ease. The government has also executed various projects that includes construction of bridges, culverts, and erosion control across the state. The completed bridge on the Suru-Giro, Kaoje-Illo and the Shema-Bakoshi roads that allows for free vehicular movement, business and other developments that strive in the areas are some of these projects.
Others are the 2.0 Kilometer completed erosion control project in Bunza, the Kwanar Dabai- Zuru township road awarded has been complete as well as the completed Maga-Ribah road and another 56.8 kilometer Ribah-Bena road projects.
Governor Atiku Bagudus administration has embarked on the rehabilitation of several other township road across the state. These includes the Sultan Abubakar road which runs from First-Bank to Rima round about through the Government House, and the First Bank round about to Sir Yahaya round about as well as Ahmadu Bello way which have been completed with effective drainage system. Other roads projects are the completed access road around Mechanic village, Birnin-Kebbi, the completed 31km Jega township, the rehabilitation of the Koko township, as well as the Tudun Wada Zuru and Birnin-Kebbi roads The abandoned Sabiyel-Kashinzama road inherited from the previous administration has been completed.
To solve the problem of the perennial flooding in some areas of the state capital Birnin Kebbi, the government expanded the Rafin Barau outfall, one of the major drainage in Birnin-Kebbi metropolis, to allow for free flow of water. To elide the re-occurring problems of flood in Birnin Kebbi. The administration discovered that unless the drainage is extended, the problem will persist, thus contract was approved by the state government to extend the outfall down to the Fadama area. Work on the Badariya-Kola Zuguru road which was awarded to the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers on direct labour.
To encourage land and housing ownership, the present administration has allocated 10 hectres of land Gwadangaji to the Federal Government for its Mass Housing Project. 140 applications have been processed for the grant of Statutory Rights of Occupancy, 20 applications for consent for Mortgages and 88 certificates of Occupancy processed.
The importance of potable water cannot be overemphasized especially considering the adverse effect of unsafe water on the health of the people.
People of Kebbi State have, for long, grappled with problem of inadequate water supply. The State capital and other major towns were having problems with their water works while villages had their hand pumps, boreholes and other schemes not functioning.
In realization of the importance of potable drinking water to the generality of the urban and rural populace, the administration of Governor Bagudu embarked on the expansion and renovation of broken down water supply schemes in various parts of the State. These include motorized, solar operated boreholes as well as hand pumps and the procurement of water treatment chemicals for the supply of clean and healthy water to Birnin Kebbi, Zuru, Argungu and Yauri.
Electricity
As for electricity supply in the state, the people cannot but thank the present administration for ensuring steady electricity supply, especially in the state capital. The Rural Electricity Board has expended huge sums of money on the repairs of high tension lines, the connection of Equity FM Radio and other communities to the national grid. These include improvement of electricity supply to Gwandu town, supply of electricity to the Adamu Augie College of Education Argungu, Supply of 30 units of assorted transformers in the first phase and 40 supplied in the second phase. The 500KVA capacity of the new transformers have been installed at Hajiya Turai YarAdua General Hospital Zauro/Ambursa, Haliru Abdu Secretariat in Birnin Kebbi and two others to service Jega town.
Other areas that received the transformers are Gamji Gulumbe, Birnin Kebbi Local Government, Zara Birni, Gumbin Kure, Kuberi, Giwa-Tazo, Kalgo as well as in Nakengan and Kwali-Kwali in Dandi Local Government. They were also installed at Gwabaren Kasawa and Alwasa in Argungu Local Government, General Hospital Bagudo, Jabaka town, and Gudale in Augie Local Government Area, Nasara, Jiga Birni and Gumbin Dari in Aliero Local Government as well as Arewa Local Government Secretariat, Kangiwa.
Women and Youth development
In recognition of their vital role as caregivers and home planners, the Kebbi State Government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs has recorded laudable achievements in the promotion and implementation of programmes and activities geared towards the welfare of women and children ranging from health, education and entrepreneurship. Many women and youth organizations have benefited from trainings on skills acquisition, in addition to soft loans given to individuals and organizations, for enhanced businesses. Livestock, fish farmers, handset sellers and even transport unions like the NURTW and NARTO, have benefited from the loans guaranteed by the State Government to enhance their business.
Tourism Development
Over ten years, the Argungu International Fishing Festival known world wide for its fascinating fishing and cultural festival had been inactive. The festival could not hold largely due to security concerns. However, with improved security and huge financial resources released by Bagudu led administration, the festival took place successfully with President Muhammdu Buhari, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawal and many state Governors and Emirs across the country and beyond attended the event. The Kebbi State Government spent millions of Naira to rehabilitate and reconstruct major infrastructure in Argungu like roads, hotels, the fishing village, street lights and other facilities in the town. The Yauri Emirate ‘Rigata’ Festival was also revived with the active financial backing of Bagudu led government. The Uhola festival of Zuru Emirate and the Hutungo Fulani festival in Gwandu Emirate too had been supported by government to ensure their sustainability and boost the tourism sector of the state.
Peace and Security
Strengthen security, law and order is of prime interest to Governor Bagudu. He rose to this occasion. and he is doing everything possible to ensure that Kebbi state safe and peaceful for all so that industry and social lives can thrive without interruption. The Government routinely supports security agencies in the state especially in the areas of logistics and some materials. Even the National Bureau of Statistics adjudged the state to be the most peaceful state in Nigeria.
Some parts of Northern Nigeria have come under siege in recent times due to the fact that they are being used by foreign criminal syndicates for transnational crimes, targeting mostly the North-East and some parts of the West Africa region. This could well be the case for terrorist activities too. But not in Kebbi state..
Kebbi is different from the rest of the North because of its security architecture and cooperation with the different emirates. Under Bagudu, Kebbi seems to tenfold its security strategy and operations. And this is a wakeup call for other states to upgrade the level of effectiveness of national security resources in terms of manpower, logistics, infrastructure and funding, to effectively contain the prevalence of criminal activities.
Bagudu. Of course, advanced developments in telecommunications such as internet and mobile phones with advanced applications, has made the world more accessible in terms of networking, planning and coordination, especially on the part of the perpetrators. Bagudu is aware of this, he has equally deployed them for security purposes.
To ensure security of lives and property of all citizens in the State, the Bagudu led administration participated in a joint security operation covering the Kamuku/Kuyambana forest involving seven states of Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kano, Kaduna, Niger and Katsina.
The state operation code name Operation Sharan Daji
Through this Sharan Daji operation, involving the Nigeria Army, Police, Air-force and other security operatives the state is secured against the menace of cattle rustlers and other criminals. Because of this secure nature of the state, farmers in different areas go about their normal daily activities without any fear.
Realizing the importance of peace to the development and progress of the state, the administration of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has resolved the age long border dispute between Benin Republic and communities in Kebbi state and also wadded into herdsmen farmer disputes across the state by identifying and institutionalizing the old cattle routes and grazing reserves.
To ensure the traditional rulers played a critical role in the maintenance of peace and security of lives and properties in their domain, a security summit was organized for traditional rulers in the state to intimate them on them as chief security officers of their respective domains.This enables security agencies to raise the level of performance in order to be able to provide counter operations, including enhanced counter intelligence sharing.
In the last five years that his administration came into office in Kebbi State. Bagudu has delivered a lot of positive changes in the ways governance is done in the state and ensure the revival of critical sectors of the States economy such as Tourism, Massive Agricultural Production and Investment.
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