Bassa local Government Area of Plateau State has had an unflattering profile, often seen as one of the least developed in the state.
Well, that profile is changing, thanks to its chairman Hon. David Rancha. Communities in the council are picking up: water is running, roads are paved and there is electricity.
Village heads and community leaders in the council have described the recent social infrastructural development in their locality as a “breath of fresh air”.
The paramount ruler of the local government and President, Bassa Traditional Rulers Council, the Utu Ugo Kiche of Rukuba Chiefdom, His Royal Highness, Ati Adamu Adiuwu said he was pleased that such developments were happening under his reign.
Indeed, the people of Bassa local government have begun to witness a new lease of life.
All the three districts of the local government are witnessing infrastructural development in various communities.
Bassa local government is as old as 38 years, created the same time as the state. But in spite of its age, Bassa remained poorly developed, being one of the least growing in the state. This is in spite of the fact that it is one of the closest local governments to Jos, the state headquarters, as well as being the gateway to neighbouring Kaduna State. It was believed by the residents that the backwardness of the local government had to do with poor leadership by past administrators, particularly council chairmen.
The leader of the Legislative Council, Hon Mrs. Rahila Yahaya Hamza, said, “A number of chairmen have come and gone, yet the local government remained under-developed.”
This explains why, when the present administration led by Hon Rancha took over the mantle of leadership, many in the local government never gave him a chance. It was believed Hon Racha would only come to warm the office and leave like his predecessors without changing their situation. That was why he was given a cold reception when he assumed office. The cold reception notwithstanding, Hon. Rancha, himself an indigene and fully acquainted with the deplorable condition of things, set to work.
Equipped with good knowledge of the locality as well as their yearnings and aspirations, the new chairman had no problem in outlining the areas of priority. He made a commitment to change the feelings of the people towards governance at the third tier. He spring into action almost immediately, and today, one year after, the story of Bassa local government has changed for good.
When the council chairman Hon David Rancha marked his one year in office at Crest Hotel Jos, he merely rolled out series of unexpected achievements to the surprise of stakeholders of the local government.
In the area of rural road construction, the council boss said, “As part of efforts to link rural communities and also enhance commercial activities, the administration has embarked on the construction and rehabilitation of several roads across the local government area. They include a ten kilometer twin Hills, Renwienku – Katumai road linking Irigwe and Rukuba Chiefdoms. 15.3Km Gurum – Assak – Bomo road linking Pengana and Rukuba Chiefdoms, 11.6Km Assak – Jebbu Bassa road linking Buhit and Assak Wards, 9km Rimi – Bakin Kogi road linking the two wards in Pengana Chiefdom.
Apart from the rural roads which are capable of turning around the economy of the people, the chairman made efforts to provide electricity to villages that had been in darkness. Hon Racha said, “It is obvious that the resources of the local government is very low and we will not be able to provide electricity to all the communities in need, hence we decided to carry out such social services one in each of the three chiefdoms in the local government. In Irigwe Chiefdom we installed a transformer at Te’egbe to serve the electricity needs people of the areas, in Pengana Chiefdom a transformer was installed at Angwan Gabar in Jengre. And in Rukuba Chiefdom, we installed a transformer at Dutsen Kurra.
The administration has also, within the one year in office made concerted efforts to solve the problem of scarcity of water to the people. According to Hon Racha, “A total of nine borehole projects were executed across the local government, each of the three chiefdoms having three. That of Pengana Chiefdom is located at LEA Primary school Lungu-Katako in Kadamo ward, Jengre market in Jengre ward and the third one is in Mista Ali market.
In Rukuba Chiefdom, the three boreholes can be found in Abanizara, Nyakala and Uranden villages. While those of Irigwe Chiefdom are located at GSS Kwall, PHC Te’egbe and Chinye villages respectively.
Besides, the administration secured two additional boreholes from the federal ministry of water resources, Abuja. The two boreholes are located at Baginji vegetable market and Miango market in Zobwo ward. In addition, the administration also secured two other water project from the federal government water project, the included the abandoned Minago – Kwall Water Dam Project. The water dam project has dual advantage to the people; for irrigation and hydro-electric power generation. The second one is the Ariri earth dam project located at Ariri in Irigwe Chiefdom.
The executive chairman has also showed serious concern in the well being of citizens of the local government with series of health program. For instance, the chairman re-introduced the monthly sanitation exercise in the local government as the chairman took over the supervision of the monthly exercise from house to house. The comatose drug revolving loan has been fully revived and made functional to service the drug needs of the people. In addition, the local government had collaborated with the state ministry of health for massive distribution of treated mosquito nets to all primary school pupil and pregnant women to reduce the scourge of malaria in the rural communities.
Leader of the local government legislative council, Hon. Rahila Yahaya Hamza while responding to the scorecard presented by Hon Racha at the one anniversary dinner said, “The record of achievement presented by the executive chairman was made possible through a combine efforts of the executive and legislative council. She added that the working relationship between the two arm of government have been smooth due to the leadership quality and understanding of the executive chairman.
She appeal to citizens of the local government to support the administration and remain peaceful, law abiding so as the guarantee more benefiting projects.
