How Governor Al-Makura Backed down On Cargo International Airport Project Over State Bankruptcy
Rabiu Omaku
The chairman House committee on Works and Transport, Hon Abubakar Imam Zanwa has attributed the dwindling economic meltdown as a major reason why the state Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has backed down the proposed cargo International airport, Lafia.
Zanwa said the biting effect of the economy has seriously affected the revenue base of the state, the member House of Assembly representing Lafia central (APC) stated this in an interview with Journalists recently.
“The project is not our priority right now due to the paucity of fund, saying the issue of change has since commences in 2011”.
Also speaking on the position of the Assembly on the abandoned Farin Ruwa Hydro Electric Power Project (HEPP) Hon. Abubakar Zanwa opined that the project ceased to exist for now.
He attested that the state Government also stand down on the multi-billion naira HEPP conceived by the first executive Governor of the state, Abdullahi Adamu, he asserted that the effort of connecting the state capital with 330KVA by Power Holding Company Nigeria (PHCN) if completed will bring an end to the incessant blackout experienced in the state capital and its environs.
“We invited Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to answer question over the unabated power outage which they revealed that Lafia, been the state capital will very soon benefit from 330KVA which is beyond the state capital and it environ.
When asked whether the Assembly will revisit the project which was used as conduit pipe to drain the state of it hard earned resource, the lawmaker said the 330KVA is an alternative to the HEPP project which he said will cost the state Government a whooping N4bn to be completed.
“In my own opinion even if the Farin Ruwa HEPP is at eighty (80) percent completion i will suggest that the state Government should forget it”.
He applauded Governor Al-Makura for turning around the dream of the people of the state, the Hon member enumerated the success story of Al-Makura in the health, education sector extended to other sectors as a litmus test.
Zanwa described the Governor as the best Governor the state has produce as from 1999, he affirmed that the performance of the Governor is a clear testimony that change has come, adding that is a paradigm shift in times of democracy.
” Al-Makura is the father of modern democracy in Nasarawa state ,he listed some of the string of successes recorded include the construction of “state of the art” Taal modern school which he said is an eye opener that change has arrived.
He stated that the APC regime has done a lot in the state owned State University, Keffi, Hon.Zanwa confided that NSUK witnessed a multi-dimensional change .
“Virtually all the Local Government General hospitals were established, he buttressed that the Governor succeeded in building model schools cut across the length and breadth of the thirteen Local Governments”.
While fielding question over the allegation of awarding contract without following due process, he described the statement as a mere allegation raised by opposition in the state.
