Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura, of Nasarawa state, took over the mantle of leadership of the state, as the third democratically elected governor, on the 29th of May,2011.
Al-makura’s emergence as the governor of the young state has indeed changed its political destiny, thereby giving hope to the down trodden masses, who defied rains and sun, to bring the desired positive change.
The governor, since assumption of office six months ago, left much to be desired than imagined and he never left any one in doubt, when he kept assuring the people of the state, of his administration’s resolve to tackle the socio-economic challenges that has bedeviled the state.
As a practical demonstration of his resolve, the governor paid working visits to some ministries, parastatals and organizations. He also visited Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the Karu International market, Lafia Hotels, International Cultural Centre, the abandoned Masaka beef processing company, Lafia fertilizer blending plant and a host of others too numerous to mention.
Without any iota of doubt, the governor’s visits to some of these organizations have since yielded positive results. For instance, the persistent lack of tap water inherited by this administration has been addressed, with water supply now restored in Lafia, Doma, Keffi and Nasarawa towns. Power supply, has also improved significantly in the state.
Still in the area of power supply, the governor has supplied 40 units of electric transformers to improve power supply in Lafia, the state capital and some were distributed to Akwanga, Keffi and other designated urban areas.
The governor, in the area of provision of health care services to the people of the state, aside getting the striking doctors which he inherited back to work, he brought in two medical teams to offer free medical services to thousands of the poor masses of the state.
Within the period under review, the governor also had to tackle security challenge occasioned by the spillover of conflict between the Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen, at the Nasarawa- Benue borders. This challenge was immediately tackled by governor Almakura and his Benue State counterpart, Gabriel Suswan, through the constitution of a joint high powered committee to find lasting solution to the crisis.
Governor Almakura, has also build synergy between his government and other development partners both international and home based. These organisations, include the Central Bank of Nigeria, the World Bank and the International Fund for Agriculture and Development, all as part of deliberate efforts by the present administration to deliver quality service to the people.
The governor, in a bid to promote transparency in governance, held a bid session for contracts for the construction of some road networks within Lafia metropolis and work has since commenced in earnest in some of the roads, aimed at transforming the capital city to a model.
Al-makura, has also put smiles on the faces of civil servants in the state, when he graciously approved the implementation and commenced the payment of the N18, 000 new minimum wage. Nasarawa state, if not the first, was among the first states to implement the new minimum wage to its civil servant.