Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari will complete his first term in office next year. The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain is seeking a second term. Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU examines his achievements within the context of his 2015 ambition.
Then Governor Abdulaziz Yari took over the mantle of leadership in Zamfara State almost three years ago, he promised to reposition the state. At the swearing in ceremony, he promised an all-inclusive government, stressing that governance is a collective enterprise.
’’We shall streamline policies and programmes where the need requires to enhance service delivery to the people. At the same time, we shall continue to envelop policies and programmes that will serve the needs and aspiration of our people and improve their livelihood. Our goal is to ensure that citizens of this state live in peace and harmony with one other in an atmosphere of affluence,’’ he said.
Three years after, the governor said that he has fulfilled his campaign promises. To observers, the governor has brought rapid development to Zamfara within the short time.
Yari inherited many challenges. One of them was the acute water shortage. To halt the water crisis, especially in Gusau, the state capital, the water corporation was revived. From one million gallons, the supply rose to four million. The Commissioner of Information, Hon. Ibrahim Muhammad, said water shortage has now become a thing of the past in many towns, including Zumril, Talatu Mafara, Bungundu, Nasarawa Burkunu, Danguibi and Dankurmi. Now, the governor has unfolded plans for extend the scheme to 80 towns.
The health sector is also thriving.The Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital project has been completed. The commissioner for Information, Hon. Ibrahim, said: “This project was initiated by The Aliyu Shinkafi Administration, but could not be completed before the tenure expired. As a result of our determination to provide basic health facilities for the people, we found it very imperative to complete the project, furnish it and staff it.A total of N1.1 billion was spent on the project”.
The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Aminu Bello, explained that the hospital was commissioned in May last. However, due to logistics problems, operations started on March 18, 2013. The hospital has received recommendation from the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council. Now, the hospital has a dialysis unit. Residents of Zamfara no longer travel to Sokoto, Zaria and Kano for medical attention. But, there were some hurdles to cross. Bello recalled that the lack of consultants slowed down the pace of work. He said that the challenge was overcome when Zamfara indigenes in the Diaspora returned home to work there.
Shortly after assuming office, Yari set up the Primary Education Assessment Committee. It was headed by Prof. Tukur Adamu. The committee was charged with the responsibility of assessing the state of the primary education in the state. The assessment report revealed the rot in the sector. The challenges included inadequate infrastructure in the schools and dearth of teachers. The governor kicked off the school renovation programme. The administration also set up a centre for the training of teachers at the Zamfara Universal Basic Education Board (ZSUBEB). The centre has 12 classrooms to accommodate 600 teachers at once. It also has two hostels that can accommodate 600 participants. There are two additional duplexes to accommodate the training facilitators. Plans are now underway to construct a workshop and provide equipment for training in scientific programmes.
The centre has an ICT centre that will accommodate 31 users. It is furnished with state of the art information technology equipment. This is particularly aimed at addressing the challenge of global advances in information technology.
Also, 43 primary schools have been provided with similar ICT centres to catch the children young and introduce them to information and communication technology. The centre, in collaboration with the Universal Learning Solution, United Kingdom, has conducted a pilot study in “Jolly Phonic training”. Jolly Phonics is a fun and child centred approach to teaching through synthetic phonic. With actions for each letter sounds, the multi-sensory method is very motivating for children and teachers.
The College of Art and Science, Zamfara, which was a high school, converted into a tertiary institution. It used to be Government Teachers College, Gusau. When Yari noticed that the population of the school was increasing, he built more lecture theatres for students. The secondary schools in the state are being rehabilitated, re-equipped, and renovated to meet the challenges. The schools include Zawuyya Islamiya Schhol, Unity Secondary school, GSS Maru, College of Agriculture Bakura, and Nomadic School, Mabangala.
Yeri is also fighting the infrastructure battle. He has converted the state into a huge construction site. He said the provision of roads will assist the farmers in transporting their produce to the cities for sale.
Many of the roads were death traps. Following their construction, indigenes now have better access to markets, schools, hospitals and courts. The roads include the Gusau-Kasuwar Deji road, which was abandoned by the Federal Government for many years, and others in Kaura Nomoda, Zurmi, Birni Magaji and Shinkafi.
Also, the Kaura Namode – Dauran – Zurmi – Gidan Jaja Road, another 46km road abandoned by the Federal Government, also received attention. Before the road was completed, commuters would spend about three hours to travel on it. The road was commissioned in May, last year by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwa.
The 71.5km T/Mafara – Rini – Kaya – Lambar – Boko Road contract has been also awarded. The road links five local governments. It has a bridge across a river in Boko village. Yari said that the project will be completed in May.
Other roads being constructed include the 75.9 km Wanke – Bawa Ganga – Danjibga – Kucion Kalgo – Kingana Bilbis – Kucheri Road linking two local governments, the Magami – Dangulbi – Dankurmi – S/Birni – Bagega – Anka road linking three local governments, the Yandoton Dji – Mada road links another two local governments, the Tsafe Council and Gusau Council roads, which were commissioned during the governor’s first year in office, and the Mayanchi-Anki road.
Agriculture is the pride of Zamfara State. It is its major economic backbone. Yari has invested in the sector to boost food production and enable the farmers to earn income. On his assumption of office, the governor purchased 21,630 metric tonnes of assorted fertilizer worth N2.4 billion. He distributed them as loans to farmers. A bag was loaned at N1,000 per bag and payable after harvest. This made the grain reserve to rise by 30 percent.
Poverty alleviation and empowerment programmes are also top priorities. The Zakat used to be done once in a year, but Yari decided to make it twice a year. It used to be between N10,000 and N20,000 per beneficiary. But now, each beneficiary gets N100,000. Each district is entitled to 15 beneficiaries. The district heads are saddled with the responsibility of screening beneficiaries, based on categories and requirements set by the Zakat board. After the district heads have selected, a committee set up by the board goes around the districts to do some further screening.
The money is a charge levied on every contractor employed by the state. The tax used to be 1 percent of every contract, but Yari increased it to 2 percent to meet the demands of the people. This in addition to a N2m monthly distribution by the government. Some privileged indigenes also have the opportunity to contribute to the empowerment programme.
There is also the subsidized car and power equipment loans for the people. The state government, in conjunction with local governments, has given out over 3000 cars and power equipment to individuals and local government areas to empower them. The vehicles were given out on subsidised loan at about 40 percent of the original price. The payback period is long and there is no interest. To ensure that the drivers are responsible, the monthly payments are strictly enforced by the threat of repossession.
The judiciary is also not deprived of funding. The abandoned Zamfara State High Court and Sharia Court have been completed. Same with the Sharia Court.
The Yari Administration inherited a N42 billion debt. The governor has paid the debt. He has also embarked on many capital projects. According to the Finance Commissioner, Hon. Mu’azu Muh’d Nalado, although Zamfara has financial constraints, prudence is the watchword. “Governor Yari has ensured the blockage of all leakages and got his priorities right. In the budget, we are able to achieve 70 per cent capital expenditure and 30 per cent recurrent expenditure,” said the commissioner.
The governor’s style has also been hailed by stakeholders. Yari, as the commissioner put it, is a humble administrator driven by service, adding that he is selfless, sincere and he has integrity.
However, the governor has some regrets. The state is poor. There is no money to fund projects. Also, the enormous resources of Zamfara, including gold, barite, iron ore, pyrite, and serpentine are not being tapped adequately because, according to the law, they belong to the Federal Government.
