Abdulllahi Idris Zuru (Sadaukin Zuru) is the Special Adviser to Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State on Communication and Strategy. In this interview with our Kebbi State correspondent, YARIMA HARUNA, Sadaukin Zuru spoke on what his principal is doing in the health, education, and agricultural sectors, as well as how he is tackling the security challenges in the state in the last three years. Excerpts…
Recently, your principal, the Governor of Kebbi State, marked his three years in office. Can you take us through his achievements?
The Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Nasir Idris, has celebrated the three years of unprecedented infrastructural development and social investment. His administration has overseen a wave of infrastructure and social sector projects aimed at repositioning Kebbi State, and changing the narrative of development in the state. It is, therefore, not easy, if not impossible, to comprehensively present his scorecard in a limited time and space, considering the unprecedented development witnessed in the state compared to the numerous challenges of infrastructural decay and deficit. As an advocate of social justice, educational development and improvement of the socio-economic well-being of the people, having been a former National President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Deputy National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Governor Idris came into office with a development blueprint focused on continuity, rehabilitation of inherited dilapidated infrastructures, completion of ongoing projects, and execution of valuable socio-economic development programmes and projects across the state. Among the uncompleted projects includes the state ultra-modern secretariat complex named ‘Bola Ahmed Tinubu Secretariat’ abandoned for over ten years. It has the capacity of accommodating over 27,000 workers, a 2,000 capacity international conference centre, and spacious parking space. Major streets in the state capital, hitherto referred to as a glorified local government headquarters, (have been) expanded, dualised into three lanes, and fitted with solar-powered streetlights and beautiful roundabouts aimed at giving it a comprehensive face-lift that made it favourably compete with its contemporaries in terms of development. Similar expansion and beautification projects are ongoing in Argungu, Yauri, Zuru, and some urban areas under the government’s urban renewal programme.
How has the administration addressed the issue of infrastructural deficit, especially the road network in the state?
There is no gainsaying that network durable roads can facilitate socio-economic development communities, and improve their economic well-being. Conscious of that, Comrade Idris’s administration embarked on gradual rehabilitation of the dilapidated roads and construction of new ones across the state. As of now, about fifty inter town roads have either been completed or ongoing. Worthy of note is the reconstruction of the 87km Koko-Zuru federal road abandoned for about ten years. The abandonment of the road project that links Zuru, Danko/Wasagu, Sakaba, and Fakai local government areas has paralysed the socio-economic well-being, and subjected the people to years of hardship and economic deterioration. Governor Idris insistence on taking over the project yielded positive results as the reconstruction has reached about 60 per cent stage of competition.
Since the removal of fuel subsidy, public transport has become a nightmare to Nigerians, including the people of Kebbi. What has the Governor done or is doing to ease the burden of public transportation in Kebbi?
In line with the Governor Idris’s administration’s commitment to viable infrastructural development, an ultra-modern motor park to be used for the local, national, and international business transactions have been constructed in the state capital, while fifty brand new buses have been provided for commercial purposes within the communities and neighbouring states at highly subsidised transport costs. It is envisaged that the modern motor park will promote profitable business opportunities among the business communities in the state, neighbouring states, particularly promote cross border socio-economic development, thereby improving the economic fortunes of the people.
Let’s look at what he has done, if any, in the educational sector.
Deeply concerned and committed to improving and encouraging educational development, which suffers some setbacks in the past, the Comrade Governor has selected and renovated, as well as furnished and equipped about 1,000 inherited dilapidated primary and secondary schools, and constructed over sixty new schools, with additional four new mega secondary schools established in Birnin Kebbi, Argungu, Yauri and Zuru for the teaching of science, technology, and skills acquisition to further broaden self-reliance opportunities for the youths’ sources of income. To ensure effective utilisation of the facilities, teaching and learning materials in the schools, the administration employed an additional 2,000 teachers, and reviewed upward the retirement age for teachers from 35 years of service to 40, and from 60 to 65 years of age. Much earlier, the administration has cleared over N6 billion inherited backlogs of debts on both foreign and local scholarships.
How is the health sector fairing under him?
The health sector has also been given the required attention, with the rehabilitation of 24 general hospitals out of which four located in Birnin Kebbi, Argungu, Yauri and Zuru are being upgraded and equipped to serve as referral hospitals. The brain drain in the nation’s health sector has also affected Kebbi State. To maintain and encourage the available medical doctors in the state, Comrade Idris’s administration has also reviewed upward the retirement age from 35 years to 40 years and from 60 years to 65 years of age in both the human and veterinary medicine.
The agricultural sector remains the largest employer of labour in Northern Nigeria, including Kebbi. Has the Comrade Governor given the sector deserved attention?
Yes, much more than expected because his policy of welfarism for economic empowerment through farming is unprecedented in the history of the state. Conscious of the significant impact of agriculture in poverty reduction, Comrade Idris’s administration has introduced a deliberate policy for supporting and encouraging the people of the state, the majority of whom are farmers. Accordingly, the administration, since its inception three years ago, has been providing free fertilizer, certified seeds, solar irrigation pumps, power tillers, and financial support to the farming communities in the state for both raining and dry seasons farming. Interestingly, there has been remarkable improvement in the socio-economic fortunes and well-being of the people
Tell us about social intervention programmes in Kebbi State.
The Comrade Governor’s wives, Hajiya Zainab Nasare Nasir Idris and Hajiya Nafisa Nasir Idris, oversee two introduced economic empowerment programmes being executed in the rural areas. The beneficiaries of the programmes are mainly widows, orphans, persons with disabilities, vulnerable women, and youths. Under the programmes, assorted food items, clothing, moderate shelter, sponsorship of marriages for the poor, and skills acquisition training in addition to start-up capital are being offered.
So much is being said about insecurity in Kebbi State. What is your principal doing about it?
Let it be understood that the responsibility is under the purview of the Federal Government, and the present unfortunate challenges affect all the states of the federation. However, Governor Idris has found it absolutely necessary to do all that is humanly possible, regardless of the financial implications to protect the lives and properties of the innocent people of Kebbi State. That was his resolution to consistently provide complementary support for security agencies in tackling the persistent armed banditry menace in the state. To date, his administration has provided over 100 Hilux vehicles 7,000 motorcycles, funds for maintenance and financial support for the officers and men in the field. Considering the vital role of the traditional rulers in promoting peaceful coexistence and better knowledge of their respective domains, Governor Idris upgraded the palaces of emirs and district heads, provided the emirs with vehicles and logistics support to facilitate their supervisory role at the grassroot levels.
Briefly, what has been achieved in all sectors?
The successes achieved in all sectors within the last three years were unprecedented while the acknowledgement and appreciation being expressed by the people was being demonstrated by an unarguable presentation of facts during the continuous thank-you visits to Governor Nasir. The administration’s policy of continuity and even the spread of development across the state has apparently been among the factors responsible for the endorsement of Governor Idris as the All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in 2027.
Do you see the Governor returning elected in 2027?
Of course, yes, Insha Allah, considering the unity of purpose among the stakeholders of the APC, the demonstrated genuine commitment and interest of the people in the continuity of Governor Idris based on the visible unprecedented development witnessed in the state, and the impact on the well-being of the people which is unprecedented in Kebbi State. As the clock ticks towards 2027 polls and the formal endorsement of Governor Idris as the APC governorship candidate, the people of Kebbi State have continued to appreciate and consistently express their preparedness to pay back in 2027 for the patriotic and selfless services provided by the Comrade Governor which turned around the socio-economic fortunes and improved the well-being of the people, victory come 2027 appears guaranteed, Insha Allah.