I am delighted to address you at this occasion of the first End of the Year Annual Media Dinner, organized in honour of journalists, broadcasters and social media influencers in the State.
Let me express my profound appreciation to the Directorate of Strategic Communication and Press Affairs, Office of the Executive Governor for initiating and organizing this maiden edition of the End of the Year Annual Media Dinner in
the history of Nasarawa State. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the staging of this all-important event is informed by our desire to honour and appreciate all of you for your enduring partnership and contribution to this Administration. It is also an avenue
deliberately created to interface and interact, as well as to share some moment together with the members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm. It is hoped that our interaction this evening will enhance collaboration with our esteemed media professionals in the dissemination of Government policies and programmes towards the accelerated development of our dear State.
As you are all aware, since our assumption of Office in May, 2019, we have initiated and continued to implement policies and programmes in our commitment to transform
our State.
Accordingly, this Administration has revitalized and overhauled the State Public Service for operational efficiency, effectiveness and to also reduce cost. It is pertinent to state that we have made significant landmarks achievements in various sectors of the State. I am happy to state that we embarked on a Statewide medical outreach for the treatment of Glaucoma and cataract surgery among other illnesses. This exercise is still
ongoing considering the unprecedented number of the cizens of Nasarawa State suffering from this ailment.
Similarly, this Administration is committed to the continuous expansion of the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia to facilitate the seamless transition to a Teaching Hospital. With the support provided by Government, the additional structures provided in the hospital have been put to use. Similarly, the Specialized Hospitals in Akwanga and Nasarawa have been handed over to the Hospitals Management Board. The hospitals are now fully operational.
In the same vein, the newly constructed School of Nursing and Midwifery has been furnished and fully equipped. Following clarification by the Nursing Council, the School of Nursing and Midwifery have fully moved to the new site and resumed full academic activities. As I speak, we have received a high-powered delegation from the National Universities Commission (NUC), which visited the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital for resource inspection prelude to the accreditation of the Hospital as a Teaching Hospital.
In the area of education, we have attracted the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to Nasarawa State through the establishment of a Technology Innovaon Hub. JAMB also provided equipment worth over N200 Million. The equipments have been installed at the JAMB Centre provided by the Government. It is heartwarming to state that arrangements have been completed for the commencement of programmes at the newly established Faculties of Engineering and Medical Sciences, Nasarawa State University, Keffi. In furtherance of our determination to improve the availability of technical and medical manpower in the State.
This Administration has also embarked on the construction of classroom blocks in Angwan Jarme, Mahanga and Mararaban Gongon in Kokona, Awe, and Wamba Local Government Areas respectively in collaboraon with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This gesture is being extended to other schools that are still lacking basic infrastructures for effective teaching and learning. Arrangements have been concluded for the mass construction and rehabilitation of Primary and Junior Secondary Schools in the State under the auspices of the State Universal Basic Education Board’s Projects. Already, the Board has released names of successful contractors which will signal the commencement of the projects.
Similarly, I am happy to inform you that we have formalized the appointments of the two thousand, two hundred and fifty (2,250) engaged teachers. The Teachers Service
Commission has already conducted the screening and Appointment Leers have been issued to them. In our determination to provide basic infrastructure for enhanced socio-economic activities in the State, we have commenced the completion of the ongoing construction of Shinge-Ricemill-Kilema road. The design for the construction of other roads within the Lafia metropolis and some Inter-Local Government roads construction are ongoing to ensure all-round development of the State. Similarly, the construction of 15.5km Asphalt SisinbakiKwarra road project in Wamba Local Government Area was
flagged-off considering the huge potentials that abound in the area. In our commitment to open our rural areas for enhanced economic activities, I also flagged off the construction of three (3) major critical rural roads in the State. The roads are Agwade-Shupe-Atabula-Obi road, Shabu-Doka-ArugbaLakio, Kanje-Abuni and Kagbu A-Atsoko-Kagbu Wana roads. In a related development, Government has procured
transformers and distributed them to various communies to support our rural electrification drive, in addition to the provision of 2km Solar Power Street Light Project in all the thirteen (13) Local Government Areas of the State and also
in some strategic locations in Lafia metropolis. Furthermore, this Administration also made some strides in the agricultural sector. In this regard, we have signed
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dangote Group, as well as Azman Rice Mills and Farms Ltd. This is with a view to open vistas of opportunities as well as wealth creation through agriculture. Government has also concluded arrangements in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to access credit facilities in the sum of N1.5 Billion to enable our youth set-up small scale agricultural and trading enterprises. Disbursement to benefing agricultural cooperatives will soon commence.
To fulfill our covenant with the people of the State, we are determined to enhance agricultural development, as well as to provide social amenities for the generality of our people in the State. Our commitment in this direction is aimed at achieving the twin objectives of encouraging large scale mechanized farming to achieve economic diversification, on the one hand, and the gainful employment of our teeming youths into agricultural and related value chain activities as a necessary mechanism for reducing youth restiveness in the society. As you are all aware, security is the bedrock for harmonious co-existence and socio-economic development of the society. Let me state that our development partners can
only key into the State’s development agenda in an atmosphere of peace and order. We shall continue to strive to sustain the existing stability for the desired progress of
our dear State.
Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me reiterate the commitment of this Administration to the overall development of our dear State. It is for this reason
that we adopted a Performance-Based Budgeting System in the preparation of the 2020 budget which was passed into law today by the State House of Assembly. This is intended to prioritize our development needs for socio-economic development. It is, therefore, imperative for me to commend the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Principal Officers, and Honourable Members of the State Assembly for the speedy passage of the2020
Appropriation Bill into Law. This has further demonstrated the exemplary synergy between the Legislature and the Executive in our collective responsibility to move Nasarawa State to a higher pedestal of progress and development.
My dear gentlemen of the press, let me state that this Administration is not unaware of the independence of the press in the discharge of its statutory obligations. In this
regard, we shall continue to encourage our members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm to discharge their onerous responsibilities to the society considering the critical role
the media plays in information dissemination and enlightenment of the citizenry, particularly on Government policies and programmes. I must, however, implore you to
be guided by the dictate and rule of engagement in the due discharge of your responsibilities to society.
At this juncture, let me once again, welcome you to this dinner and call on you to savour the occasion as we mark the beginning of a sustainable symbiotic, and worthwhile partnership towards the development of our dear State. I wish you happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year in advance. Enjoy yourselves.
Thank you and may God bless us all.
