A Special feature On One year Anniversary Of Kebbi State Governor

By Yahaya Sarki

Chronicling the giant strides of the quintessential Kauran Gwandu in one year

The quantum of development recorded within one year of the incumbent administration of Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu of Kebbi State elected on the 23rd of March,2023 is unprecedented.

Kebbi State has witnessed revolutionary infrastructural turnover particularly,the state capital, Birnin Kebbi which is often referred to as a ‘ Glorified local Government Area ‘ due to many years of neglect by previous administrations which resulted to underdevelopment and dearth of basic aminities required of a state capital.

It is not a hidden fact that most of the states created alongside Kebbi State have gone too far ahead of the State in many sectors of development.

However,it is gratifying to see that the narrative is fast changing with the emergence of a God-Given leader,that is resilient,focused,transparent,firm and decicive. That chosen Charismatic gentleman that ascended the leadership of Kebbi State through the democratic mandate of people of Kebbi State is comrade Dr.Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, a classroom teacher,a labour leader and a title holder of the prestigious Gwandu Emirate, the ‘ Kauran Gwandu’.

This is a man that is resolute on his campaign promises to the electorate and people of Kebbi State faithfully, even at the heat of election litigation against him from the opposition . Kauran Gwandu has triumphed from Election Petition Tribunal to the Court of Appeal and finally the Supreme Court, this has certainly left the naysayers dumbfounded.Their calculated attempt from one court to another has failed woefully and yet they have now embarked on unguarded comments and unnecessary criticism against the Kauran Gwandu-led administration.

Even though criticisms are a central and logical aspect of democratic governance, but when such criticisms lack factual information on significant development issues, the purpose is defeated and becomes irrelevant .

Kauran Gwandu is never deterred, his campaign promises were as realistic as his blueprint that will guide his four year tenure to develop Kebbi State. Protecting the lives and property of people, massive infrastructural development with particular reference to the State capital, Birnin Kebbi,sustaining Agricultural development, improving Healthcare delivery, education and women and youth empowerment .

The return of peace and security in Kebbi South comprising Fakai,Danko Wasagu and Zuru where the obnoxious activities of bandits who often infiltrate from the neighbouring Niger and Zamfara States into some local government areas afformentioned to cause havoc by destroying farmlands, rustling castles and destruction of lives and property is certainly a testimony of Kauran Gwandu’s tenacity,effectiveness and dexterity towards achieving peace in the area.

For many years ,peace has eluded farming communities of these areas only for the intervention of Kauran Gwandu’s approach in dealing with insecurity. Farmers who have deserted their farms due to insecurity, have now happily returned to their farms in most areas of Kebbi South.

Many a times ,time without number, Governor Nasir Idris declared that his topmost priority as the chief security officer of the state is to protect lives and properties of people so that they can sleep with their two eyes closed.

Sensing very well that without security, there is no development, Governor Nasir Idris invested heavily in Security . His administration spends 500 million naira on monthly basis on security, to make sure that the lives and property of Kebbi people are protected.

His approach to security is multidimensional. He ensured regular security meetings with all the security chiefs in the state including the vigilante. Purchased 27 new Hilux brand of vehicles to security operatives, 1000 motorcycles to vigilantes to promote grassroots community policing to compliment effort of the police,ensure regular and timely payment of allowances to security personnel operating across the state as well as providing other working materials required by them.

All these have facilitated peace and security in Kebbi State and making the state one of the most peaceful place to stay in Nigeria .

As a labour leader and a classroom teacher who has dedicated most of his years as a civil servant, providing siund education to children as well as struggling to better the lives of workers, Kauran Gwandu knows the importance of a conducive working environment for civil servants.

Civil servants as a bedrock of implementing government policies and programmes, obviously need a conducive working environment to operate. That is why the first project he embarked upon when he was sworn in as the Governor of Kebbi State on 23rd of May, 2023 was to approve the completion of the Gwadangwaji Secretariat complex which was started over 15 years but abondoned by previous administrations. The Gwadangwaji Secretariat complex, which is a ultra modern Secretariat complex gulped over 9 billion and has reached 80 percent completion stage.

The ultra modern building edifice when completed would bring together all the state’s ministries, boards and parastatals under one roof with the State of the art working materials.

Anothet cogent sucesses recorded by the Kauran Gwandu-led administration since he assumed office in May ,2023 is the timely Payment of Workers , Government running cost, Payment of Pension and Gratuity to retirees. The government has also settled outstanding Leave Grant of civil servants in the state.

Perhaps, the Kauran Gwandu’s project which stands tall and made indelible mark in the heart of people of Kebbi State and any stranger coming to the State capital remains the ongoing construction of Birnin Kebbi township roads, the state capital .

This is in consonance with his urbanisation program and in line with keeping to his campaign promise to make Birnin Kebbi a befitting State Capital, not a glorified local government headquarters.

The Governor performed the epoch-making event of REMODELING KEBBI STATE CAPITAL, BIRNIN KEBBI on 25/7/2023 by awarding the contract for the reconstruction of major roads of the state capital to Habib Engineering Nigeria Limited.

The project entails the rehabilitation of 15 kilometres of road in the city from NNPC mega station through Emir Haruna road to Haliru Abdu round about extending to AP 2 round about to be completed in 18 months, also with the provision of solar street lights and drainages.

Kauran Gwandu also reiterated that not only the State capital, Birnin Kebbi, other major towns in the four senatorial districts of the State would be urbanised and rural areas too will recieve the desired attention in terms of infrastructural development in all the 21 local Government Areas of Kebbi State.

Already, construction of 5 kilometres township roads have commenced in Yauri and Ngaski while that of Argungu ,Zuru and other local Government Areas are on the pipeline as promised by our amiable governor. Interestingly too, contractor handling the deplorable Malando Road in Ngaski Local Government has been mobilised by government and had since returned to work.

On distribution of palliatives to reduce the harship of people as a result of the present economic quagmire and improving Agricultural production, an economic sector which is the life wire of the state,the incumbent administration in Kebbi State had spent over twenty-one billion naira, 21 billion on the purchase and distribution of palliatives, pumps, fertilizer, as well as the disbursement of financial support to its people to improve their livelihood.

Kauran Gwandu, very mindful of the enormous need to support people particularly the less privileged in the society, purchased hundreds of truckloads of grains, including rice worth billions of naira. This includes 200 truckloads procured during the Ramadan period, which were distributed free to the people throughout the state.

The Kebbi State Government under the able leadership of Comrade Dr Nasir Idris Kauran Gwandu has also taken drastic measures to promptly combat the threat of migratory birds, particularly quelea birds, to improve food security.

The government has sprayed over 4,000 liters of chemicals and conducted numerous flight hours to protect agricultural yields from pests. Government also purchased fertilizer worth N2.6 billion, which was distributed free to farmers.

Furthermore, N8.5 billion was spent on the procurement of solar-powered water pumps, CNG pumps, conversion kits, power tillers, and motorized sprayers to support farmers and reduce operational costs, with the aim of improving agricultural productivity and sustainability.

All these laudable gesture by government of comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, is aimed at providing essential interventions to enhance food security, implement policies to empower individuals,support farmers, and provide free sustenance to the populace.

The Birnin Kebbi Central Motor Park for many years has been in a state of dilapidation and neglect even with its economic and social importance to the populace.
Kauran Gwandu’s midas touch is now changing the narrative as the Governor approved the sum of N2.99 billion for its reconstruction and rehabilitation into a modern befitting modern motor park for public transport.

Among facilities under construction are adequate water supply, modern administrative block, lock up shops, available sit out for commuters, gallery, up to date readable electronic information board and restaurant. The motor park when completed would serve as convenient centre for both local and international travellers and freight collation coming from all over the country and the neighbouring Republics of Niger and Benin.

As a classroom teacher, Dr. Nasir Idris believes that Quality Education is the backbone of any societal development, and one of his administration’s key agenda. Governor idris’s never hides his feelings as a teacher to turnaround and reform this vital sector. Since he assumed leadership of the state,he made conscious effort to salvage education and make schools conducive and friendly for both teachers and students.

The Kebbi State Government has spend billions of naira on education sector particularly on construction and rehabilitation of schools across the state with provision of instructioal materials.
The present administration under Governor Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu made the education sector in a sorry state with dilapidated structures , lack of teaching facilities and low teacher morale.These situation necessitated the governor to embark on renovation of both primary and secondary schools.The projects being embarked upon by the Kauran Gwandu-led administration in schools from June 2023 to May 2024, the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB recorded significant level of accomplishment in construction, renovation, procurement, furnishing and provision of instructional materials to the tune of over 8 billion naira.

Under Better Education Service Delivery for All, BESDA, program, over 5 billion was spent on construction, renovation and training of teachers in different locations across the state. The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education also spent over 3 billion naira on the procurement of instructional materials for schools across the state to enhance teaching.

It is also gratifying to point out that contract for the construction of 5, five Mega Schools in Birnin Kebbi, Argungu, Yauri and Zuru has since been awarded by Government, all in furtherance of the incumbent administration agenda to provide quality education to our teaming youths in the state.

The whole essence of these proactive policies by the people’s Governor is to ensure education equation, because whenever there is child friendly , student friendly environment there most be increase in enrollment,retention and transition in our schools .

Health is wealth, the incumbent administration of Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu has provided medical treatment to 23,542 patients with mental health problems and related illness at Zauro Psychiatric hospital. General Hospitals across the state are being renovated and provided with modern health facilities. As part of his efforts to ensure retention of health workers in our hospitals, the governor increased the entitlements of doctors and nurses as well as abolished the employment of casual staff in our hospitals.

Payment of scholarship to students in tertiary institutions has been the hallmark of this administration to students studying within and outside Nigeria such as India and Egypt. Recently Kebbi State Government released the sum of over N309,584,041.80 for payment of foreign scholarship to 64 students in India amounting to N228,150,148 and 23 students in Egypt to the tune of N81,433,893.80 this was after payment of scholarship to our students in various tertiary institutions across the country under the Ministry for Higher Education to the tune of N967,685,854 million naira covering 20,908 students for 2022/2023 Academic session.

It is worth mentioning the Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris created eight new Ministries including the Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs and Internal Security.

Idris also created Ministry of Rural and Community Development, Establishment,Training and Pension,Solid Minerals Development and Mining,Rural and Community Development, Religious Affairs, Physical Planning and Urban Development as well as Ministry of Digital Economy.

Creation of additional Ministries has paved the way for broadening the civil service and restructuring it for effective servive delivery as well as for more job creation to citizens of the state.

On Youth and Women empowerment, over 500 were trained across the four Emirates of the state in cosmetics, barbing, hair dressing, popcorn making,tailoring, computer application, handset repairs,animal husbandry among others. More opportunities are also provided to women and youths organisations in the agricultural sector.

The inaugural flight for the 2023 airlift of intending pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is still fresh in our minds. Vice-President, senator Kashim Shettima on Wednesday 15th of May,2024 inugurated the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj exercise.

The epochal event for the first in the history of Kebbi State took place at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) granted the hosting right of the inaugural flight to Kebbi State sequel to the uncommon commitment of Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, to the sucess of the 1445AH Hajj season preparations.This is the first time Kebbi State has witnessed the flag off of intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia in its home soil and it happened under the able leadership of Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu .The President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Saad Abubakar and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON are all full of praises to our amiable governor, Dr. Nasir Idris for putting up one of the most successful Hajj preparations in Nigeria.

The myriads of achievements recorded by Kauran Gwandu led administration in one year are too numerous to be mentioned here. However, others include sponsorship of the State athelets, football and other sports to Zonal,National and International tournaments, establishment of Kebbi State Commission for persons Living with Disability, the establishment of two additional units at the State Ministry for Justice,they are the Citizens’ Rights and Public Engagement and Gender Based Violence Support Unit,all in the bid to boost the administration of justice in the state, renovation of Government House,Birnin Kebbi and many others too many to be mentioned.

The popular saying ‘ Behind every successful man,there is a woman’ is very correct as the Governor has two educated wives whom have been his pillar, who have supported his rise to stardom in governance among equals.

Each of the two wives of the governor, Hajiya Zainab Nasare Nasir Idris and Hajiya Nafisa Nasir Idris have all contributed alot to people of Kebbi State through their foundations, the Nasara Foundation and the NANAS Foundation respectively.

The modus operandi of these two foundations are philanthropic in nature as well as empowerment particularly to the women folk and the less privileged in the society and people with disability touching their lives positively in education, healthcare, religion, SMEs and empowerment .

Credit: Yahaya Sarki,
Special Adviser (SA) to the Governor on Media and Publicity