Jonathan: A Northerner In Actions, Achievements!
Since the President came on board, the opposition party has done so much to taint and paint the present administration negatively as if it has not done anything with regard to the North, but this piece is intended to open the Pandora's box of achievements for Nigerians to see that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is more a northerner in his developmental strides. It is believed in many quarters that his major achievements were concentrated in the North than in any region of the country.
Since the advent of democracy in Nigeria, it is widely believed that no Nigerian President has concentrated enormous strength and energy in the northern region like Jonathan. Some Nigerians want to be recognized as the Awolowos, the Azikiwes and Bellos of our time, but we don't, have the discipline, the selflessness, the liberalism of mind including the analytical and sacrificial traits that these men possess. We are opportune to have someone in person of GEJ, who is after the hearts of Nigerians and who is leading the nation with a human face.
The real change we need as a nation, will not take place when we keep recycling old hands, tired legs and brains, who led us to nowhere before. The change Nigerians desperately need will come when we are directed towards exploring our rich cultural potentials in diverse fields and resources in lands, agriculture, oil and gas, manufacturing, tourism, commerce and trade.
Under the Jonathan Administration, Nigeria rebased its GDP for the first time in over a decade to become the largest economy in Africa. It also revived the moribund automobile industry and today we have made-in-Nigeria vehicles made from the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company (IVM), Nigeria's flagship indigenous automobile. The country also became the first in West Africa to host the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2014 and it has been adjudged as the most successful so far.
Women have never had it so good since independence, but today, Nigerian women have been given a voice and they are now being appointed and elected into positions of authority in governance.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, is standing tall as the richest man in Africa and 26 th in the world, is also from the Northern extraction. He attributed these positive economic leaps in development to favorable economic policies of Mr. President. The present administration has promoted and practised true democracy by creating an enabling environment for all to thrive while conducting free and fair elections since coming on board by guaranteeing freedom of speech and press liberalization.
In spite of the daunting challenges exacerbated by the opposition, doing all they can to undermine the government capabilities and programmes, President Jonathan, has remained undaunted in his determination to raise bar in the country's development in all sectors. He faces not one but dozens of crises, each big enough to define any Presidency in better times and he had come out stronger and better for the Nigerian State. He took the oath of office on 29 th May, 2011, amidst thunderous expectation of a new dawn, given the plethora and mountain of problems that characterized our nation at that time.
Under the transport sector, since he came on board, a lot of roads in the region have been constructed, dualized, including on-going such projects across the region. The dualization of the Kano-Maiduguri Road with a total length of 553 kilometers for easy transports of goods and agricultural products including easy access to the rural areas and the expansion of developments along this road is a major factor and the movement of people across the various states. The reconstruction of the Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Kontagora-Makera Road in Niger state is another major construction that will open free flow of goods, commerce and easy movement of people along these paths as intra and inter-state transportation will be greatly enhanced for development.
The rehabilitation of Kunya-Kanya-Babban Mutum Road in Jigawa State as part of the phase 1 construction of the Federal Government projects, is a thing of joy for the populace who had longed for the access road for so many years and with the coming of the present administration, PDP in the state and at the Federal level, it had become a dream come true.
A community leader, Mai Kunya praised the government of President Jonathan and said that the people in his community will continue to assist government in its efforts to bring development to the local people by living in peace and be law abiding citizens. Nevertheless, the construction of Wudil-Utai-Achika-Darki-Jagawure Road in Kano and Jigawa states, the rehabilitation of Kano-Kazaure-Daura-Mai Adua Road in Katsina State, including the rehabilitation of the access road to Kaduna refinery in Kaduna State and the Mararaba-Pambeguwa-Samunaka-Jos Road axis also in Kaduna State is a major pointer of government's commitment of bringing development to the communities across the state and opening up access roads for the much agrarian economy planned by the Federal government knowing fully well that agriculture (perishable) products are evenly distributed to the people.
The Federal Government also made significant strides in the construction of fly-over at Kundila Roundabout and the construction of Falali Bridge in Kano State, the dualization of Abuja-Jere-Kaduna Road, the completion of funtua-Gusau-Sokoto axis, the Talata-Mafara-Sokoto section in Sokoto State linking Zamfara State, the Anka-DakiTakwas-Gummi Road, in Zamfara State, the much talked about by the pundits, of Hadejia-Nguru Road and Hadeija-Kirikasama route in Jigawa State remains a model yet to be seen anywhere in Africa.
Also worth mentioning is the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway with zero potholes programmes that is ongoing currently and highly commended by commuters on this highway which has significantly reduced road accidents.
The revival of the comatose rail system in the country is happening under the current Goodluck Jonathan's administration. The North is priority in the revamping of the railway, with the completion of Kaduna-Abuja standard gauge rail line, which is currently at 72 per cent completed, the movement of goods and services between Abuja and Kaduna will be greatly facilitated.
The extension of the railway lines from Kaura-Namoda to Sokoto to Birnin Kebbi and to the Niger Republic border at Illelah is a novel transformation that will make the export and import of goods and agricultural product accessible to the rural areas and also enhance the growth of exchange of goods along the border.
The rehabilitation of the western corridors, the Kano-Lagos axis has commenced in earnest and services along the routes had resumed. Just few weeks back, the Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation, Engr. Adeseyi Sijuade received new coaches that will be deployed over the next few weeks on an extension of the train service from Makurdi to Gombe passing through Lafia, Kanfanchan, Kuru, Jos, Bauchi and with a spur line from Kanfachan to Kaduna.
He disclosed that while two new rail buses will be deployed for inspection of certain parts of the rail network, the 18 motorized trolleys will be allocated to railway maintenance engineers to facilitate regular inspection of tracks. While the commencing and flag-off of the intercity passenger service that runs from Makurdi to Port Harcourt will be done in two weeks time from now.
The educational sector under the present administration has achieved a tremendous transformation as 12 federal universities out of which four are situated in the North-West cities of Dutsinma in Katsina, Dutse in Jigawa, Gusau in Zamfara and Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi State, while 125 Almajirai Schools have been constructed and commissioned with adequate teaching facilities to provide basic qualitative education to the less privileged in the society.
The construction of the New Petroleum Institute in Kaduna with international standards laboratories, lecture facilities, administrative buildings, hostel and staff quarters and the even distribution of uniforms, textbooks and basic sciences and technological materials for both junior and senior secondary schools across the northern states is a thing of pride to Mr. President.
The back to school programme, an initiative of the present administration, has also benefited a lot of schools and tertiary institutions in the North as many are now equipped with libraries and science laboratories to aid learning and the development of human capital in the region.
The Goodluck Jonathan administration has been silently transforming Nigeria from its dark ages of under-development to a 21 st century economic and political force, especially in the North, where a lot of mind-blowing achievements are recorded. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, the President unbundled the electricity distribution after 52 years, power supply more than ever doubled after almost 100 years after amalgamation to (4.237mw) into profit making successor private companies.
While the North have projects currently going-on in Kaduna, a 215mw thermal power plant at Kudendan Industrial Area, the 30mw Gurara hydro-power plant also in Kaduna including the 132 KVA high voltage transmission line of 140 kilometres to Kaduna being mounted from Gurara to evacuate and distribute power to the industrial area and other parts of the state including neighboring states.
The Galma hydro-power project that will transmit 330kv transmission lines to Kano, the Katsina Wind Power Project almost at a completion stage while the Jibiya hydro-power project in Katsina State and the rehabilitation of the Bakalori irrigation hydro-power project in Zamfara State and other sub-station in the North, will increase and enhance the high level of electricity distribution in the North and also power textile industries rejuvenated by the present administration.
“Health, they say is wealth.” The present administration arrested the dreaded and highly contagious Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in record time and won wide acclaim across the world for the feat and Nigeria today has remained a reference point and had currently sent our medical practitioners to assist our sister nations across Africa.
In an effort to bring special medical care to the country and reduce the amount of Nigerians traveling abroad for medical tourism the present administration has modernized and re-equipped 14 teaching hospitals to international standards and those commissioned include the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Usman Danfodio Teaching Hospital in Sokoto and has continued to lay emphasis on sensitization and disease control, including polio eradication in the North, coupled with 'Roll-back Malaria' programme and routine immunization across the northern states. In 2013, Nigeria was among the five African countries certified Guinea Worm Disease free by WHO, as a result of the systematic approach and drive by government.
The administration has also reduced the spread of HIV/AIDS, including VVF through the establishment of VVF centres across the northern states and to fight against fake and adulterated drugs distribution in market places across the north. All these were achieved as a result of the sensitization, publicity and concerted efforts put in place by the government to see that the scourge is eliminated in the north once and for all.
The transformation of the agricultural sector, in the words of the Agriculture Minister, Akinwumi Adesina, “ Nigerians will stop thinking of agriculture just as a means of livelihood, but more as a business.”
The country has reduced its imports and moving to self sufficiency in all ramifications. While the administration has supported the North with several agricultural equipment worth billions in cash loans and the region has tremendously benefitted 70 per cent of agricultural reforms since the administration came on board. The sector has unlocked potentials by ensuring food security, job and wealth creation for a lot of youths across the region, who now takes to agriculture as their source of livelihood.
Two major initiatives of the Jonathan's administration, the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) and the Electronics Wallet (E-Wallet) system, have greatly touched the lives of northern farmers and have revolutionized farming with farm input. Fertilizer is an invaluable input in farmer and for transparency in its distribution with a cheap prize; E-Wallet has tremendously achieved its goal. Right now, FG is even distributing fertilizer free in the North.
We can now talk about rice revolution and the northern states are on target for self sufficiency in the production of foods.
Moreover, the accelerated dry season farming in rice production is a success as most states in the region have enjoyed tremendously from the scheme operated by the Federal Government. Below are the statistics from the states:
1. Jigawa 74,872 farmers produced 299,888mt of paddy rice
2. Kano 31,491 farmers produced 125,694mt of paddy rice
3. Katsina 3,334 famers produced 13,336mt of paddy rice
4. Zamfara 32,391 famers produced 129,564mt of paddy rice
5. Sokoto 46,087 farmers produced 184,348mt of paddy rice
6. Kebbi 55,473 farmers produced 221,892mt of paddy rice
Nigeria is now one of the world's largest producers of cassava with an output of over 45million tonnes in 2014, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nation (FAO). While there is an upsurge of integrated rice mills, the cassava revolution is ongoing in the North, so also is the grain silos construction to ensure food security and the rise in natural food production while the predicted crisis arising from floods and natural disasters are averted in the region.
The present administration under President Jonathan, also releases the sum of N10 billion to kick start the Great Green Wall Afforestation programme aimed at arresting desert encroachment and reviving the region's eco-system.
Consequently, it has also assisted farmers in the region through the water and irrigation projects spread all over the region. The Federal Government has contracted the rehabilitation of Goronyo Dam, the 11,000 hectares Bakalori Irrigation Scheme, the Zobe Irrigation Projects, Hadejia Valley Irrigation Project, Bagwai (water dam) Irrigation Project under construction, the Kano River Irrigation Project and the Zuro Polder project, the Middle Rima River Irrigation including the expansion of Jibiya scheme and other on-going dams projects at Shagari, all in a bid to assist farmers to achieve self-sufficiency in food for the region and Nigeria as a whole.
One of the major thrust of the present administration that is worthy of note, is the revival of the textile industry via the N150 billion textile industry bail-out.
As a result of this, the United Nigerian Textile Limited was reactivated, amongst others, and 4,000 employees re-engaged as a result of this bold initiative by providing the required funding and enabling environment with the Bank of Industry.
The YOUWIN programe initiative by the administration in 2011 aims to generate over 100,000 jobs for innovative unemployed youths across the country in the course of three years and the northern states are the greatest beneficiaries of this initiative for the last three years.
It has trained 24,000 aspiring and young entrepreneurs; so far 52,000 jobs have been created. While at the end of the three months of the programme about 80,000 jobs were created and out of this figure the northern zone account for half of the figures.
However, the Community Service Scheme under Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, is engaging about 500,000 youths in labour intensive work such as the construction and rehabilitation of social and economic infrastructure while about 200,000 persons are already engaged in this region. The Graduate Internship Scheme (under SURE-P) attracts majorly graduates from the region to enhance skills development towards being employed and to date 8,000 graduates have so far benefitted from the initiative.
The induction of the Female Teacher Trainee Scholarship Scheme to give opportunities to women from marginalized remote and rural areas to acquire skills and knowledge is enjoying a major boost in the region. As women teachers are daily undergoing this scheme and reaping the benefits. The TETFUND beneficiaries are also worthy of note, as most primary and tertiary educational institutions in the region are currently enjoying and reaping the dividends of this administration as majority of the universities have now enlarged lecture theatre seats, halls, laboratories, up to date teaching tools including the building of blocks of hostels and accommodation for students in these schools, namely the Bayero University, Kano, Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello University, Kaduna, Kebbi State University, kebbi, Kaduna State Polytechnic, Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, Kano State University of Science and Technology , Wudil, Federal College of Education, Bichi, Federal College of Education Zaria, Jigawa State College of Education , Federal College of Education, Kano, Shanono Primary School, Kano, Yauri Shanga Kebbi, Madobi, Daura Katsina, Federal Government College Kaduna and many more, too numerous to mention.
The present administration has paid enormous attention to our international airports and local airports, the Kano Airport has been upgraded after 57 years and the Kaduna Refinery has also been rehabilitated after 15 years. The present administration under Jonathan enjoys a sizeable amount of northern elites, more than any other region, serving in one capacity or the other since Independence, contributing their quota to national development and for the first time, the administration appointed a woman from the north, a Chief Justice of Nigeria.
What then can we say of this administration again? GEJ is a Northerner in words, actions and achievements!
Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele, is the Media Adviser to the First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The post Jonathan: A Northerner In Actions, Achievements! appeared first on Pointblank News .