By Abel Leonard
The Nasarawa State Executive Council has approved the sum of N2.9bn for the construction of the 15km Sisin Baki-Kwarra road in Wamba Local Government Area, as well as the completion of the Lafia cargo airport.
Mr. Dogo Shammah, state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, made this known while briefing journalists, shortly after the State Executive Council meeting, the first this year, on Wednesday.
According to the Commissioner, the council specifically approved N2.4bn for the Sisin Baki-Kwarra road, with N595, 882, 000 earmarked for the completion of the Lafia cargo airport watch tower.
Mr. Shammah said this followed intense deliberation by the council, focussing on policies that will touch the lives of the people of the state.
He explained that the approvals was in line with the determination of the administration under the leadership of Engineer Abdullahi Sule, to open up Nasarawa State to investment opportunities and facilitate the industrialization thrust of the state government.
The Commissioner emphasized that the administration considers rural roads as a priority, in order for development to trickle down to the rural areas.
Mr. Shammah further disclosed that, in a bid to boost the mining sector, council approved for a delegation to travel to South Africa, to meet with development partners, who are expected to come in an develop the sector.
In the same vein, the Information Commissioner, flanked by his colleagues from the ministries of health and education, stated that following the visit by Engineer Sule to the headquarters of the Islamic Development Bank in Jedda, Saudi Arabia, officials of the bank will visit the state to partner in the areas of agriculture and ICT, among others.
He added that council equally approved for a project to improve water supply across the state, particularly in the area of preventive measures to people that are being exposed to environmental hazards.
Speaking on the areas of health, the state Commissioner for Health, Pharmacist Ahmed Baba Yahaya, highlighted on the readiness of the ministry to tackle the Lassa Fever epidemic in the state.
Pharm. Yahaya disclosed further that Engineer Sule has endorsed the Save One Million Lives programme for free, with the implementation plan underway.
He stated that under the programme, 117 tenders will be made public, for the renovation of 61 health facilities across the state, including 51 Primary Health Care centres, one tertiary hospital, 9 secondary facilities, as well as central medical stores.
The health Commissioner pointed out that, for equity and fairness, 4 PHCs from every LGA will be upgraded to meet national standards.
On her part, the Commissioner of Education, Hajiya Fati Sabo Jimeta, said the provision of quality education remains an important policy thrust of the present administration, stressing that government has resolved to beef up security across schools in the state, especially boarding schools.
In this respect, Hajiya Fati pointed out that her ministry will henceforth involve the community in providing security in schools, with communities, registered vigilante groups and members of the Nasarawa State Youth Empowerment Scheme (NAYES) to be engaged to provide security in schools.
