By Editor
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday inaugurated some legacy projects in Kogi State carried out under the administration governor Yahaya Bello.
The President while commissioning the projects scattered across the three Senatorial districts of the state eulogized the governor for his efforts at turning the state around especially in terms of security and infrastructural development.
The commissioning of the projects started from the governor's home town of Okene where the new ultral modern palace build for the Ohinoyi of Egbiraland was commissioned followed by a visit to the first class new Reference Hospital, which the president toured.
The President then commissioned the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara before coming to Lokoja where the GYB Modern Science Secondary school, the Over head bridge at Ganaja junction, and the Civic Centre named after the President was commissioned.
Other legacy projects across the East and Western Senatorial districts of the state were commissioned virtually.
Speaking at the Town Hall meeting at the new Ohinoyi palace in Okene, President Buhari stated that his administration will ensured the completion of the Ajaokuta steel, stressing that talk are at advanced stage with a USA firm to take over the operation of the steel company.
BUHARI
"The commissioning of the projects is in realization of our campaign promises to the people of Kogi state. I have been briefed by Governor Yahaya Bello for the numerous projects he has executed for the people which include Confluence University of Science and Technology at Asara, Rice mill in Ejiba, hospitals in Idah, Kabba and Okene, construction of roads in the three senatorial districts, GYB model secondary schools among others.
"In Lokoja there is a flyover project the first of it kind in Kogi state.
"Kogi state play host to AKK gas pipeline projects that will be completed next year. It will boost the economic activities of the country and it will have a multiplying effect to the people of the state.
"Our administration is working to reposition Kogi state as an investment hub through the activation of solid minerals in the state.
"No project that is dare in our heart like the Ajaokuta steel company local in Kogi state which we inherited in moribund condition from previous administrations.
"The steel company has dispute both locally and internationally, I am glad to say that through our concerted effort we are able to settle the dispute by paying some money and the company is now ready for concesioning to competent private investors that will operationalize it for the people of Kogi state and Nigerians at large.
"We are in talk with a reputable company in United State and by God grace Ajaokuta very soon will come back to serve the people of Nigeria.
"The significant of making Ajaokuta steel working again is enormous as it will generate over 500, 000 jobs for Nigerian youth and also generate high revenue for the state and the country in the tune of over 1.6 billion dollar annually .
"Nigerians should be rest assured that my administration will pursue the issue of Ajaokuta steel company to logical conclusion before I leave office as president of Nigeria.
"I am impressed by the performance of Governor Yahaya Bello, he has done very well in the area of security and projects execution in Kogi state .
"We are proud of him and we urged him to do more for the people and I am appealing to the people of Kogi state to support him so that he can achieve and deliver more dividend of democracy and achieve peace and development of the state."
GOV. BELLO
Governor Yahaya Bello on his own said he has delivered on the thematics areas of his campaign promises to the state, "Today is a historic day and a historic moment in the lives of Kogi state and indeed in the lives of entire Ebira people and other tribes in central senatorial district of the state.
"We are happy the very day you granted approval to come to Kogi state for the commissioning of few out of many projects this administration has executed for the people of Kogi state.
"When I was sworn in on the 27th of January, 2016 we were determined to serve our people and we quickly commissioned multidimensional sector to form what we call new direction blueprint. From that period till date this particular document has served as a guide for accelerated development in Kogi state.
"We took our time to move round the state to determine what the people are lacking and what they really want that can improve the standard of living, and every year we zeroed down such need to our budgetary provision and we ensured that we follow it to the latter.
"Since that time Mr President during campaign we promised to fulfil all our promises and today those projects you will commission for us and other you may not be able to commission for want of time are projects we executed from the resources available to us.
"We ensured that the entire people of Kogi state benefit from our projects executed from internally general revenue, national resources and every other resources God gave to us in Kogi state.
"Mr President we hit the ground running and you told me to be courageous in Leadership and how to bring out my best and today the projects is an attestation of our best to the people of Kogi state.
"I followed your footsteps in ensuring that projects and infrastructures that has direct impact on the people.
"Agassa -Upogoro- Benin road, the new Ohinoyi palace, the Reference Hospital are projects you have commissioned among other projects.
"In Lokoja you will Commission one of the best flyover in the north central, ultra modern GYB model science school, the secondary school can be liking to some universities in Africa.
"Muhammadu Buhari square is also in Lokoja for commissioning, modern security vehicles equipped by state of the art equipment will be commission too in Lokoja to fight crime and criminalities.
"We appreciate all your support to Kogi state and we are appealing for the completion of Ajaokuta steel company because no nation can achieve industrialization without iron and steel. We are still confident that your effort toward revitalization of the steel company will still be achieve before the expiration of your tenure."
However, the representative of the Ohinoyi of Egbira land, the Ohi of Okengwe, Alhaji Muhammed Anaje at the Okene town hall meeting urged president Buhari to ensured that the Ajaokuta steel company came alive before the end of his tenures
"I commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the enormous support he gave to Governor Yahaya Bello for the developmental projects he has executed for the state.
"We are still appealing to Mr President for the revitalization of Ajaokuta steel company. We the traditional rulers in Kogi state highly appreciate all the support you gave to Kogi state and the dividend of democracy that we are enjoying in the state."
Anaje also eulogised governor Yahaha Bello's administration, said the governor's 'new direction agenda" has surpassed the previous administrations in terms of achievements and performance in all sectors.
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