…urges Finitiri to invest massively in agriculture
Former Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Services, Hamman Bello Ahmed Kojoli, OFR, has declared plans by the Governor Ahmadu Fintiri-led administration in Adamawa State to construct flyovers in Yola, the state capital, as unnecessary waste of resources.
Kojoli, who is an indigene of Adamawa State, argued that awarding contracts worth billions of naira for the construction of flyovers in Yola was needless as the state did not have the problem of traffic congestion to warrant having such expensive infrastructure.
He advised the Fintiri administration that rather than embarking on borrowing to construct such grandiose projects such as flyovers, the government should invest its scarce resources in agriculture, an area where he said the state had a comparative advantage.
Bello, in a statement by Tom Garba, in which he proffered solution, raised questions on whether the flyovers were the priorities of the people in the state, asking, “Do we have congestions on our roads that warrant the construction of Flyovers?”
The former Customs boss said Adamawa State today could hardly stand on its own economically without the monthly Federal allocation, adding that the state needed only investments that would generate internal generate revenues needed to build the flyovers, rather than borrowing to build such infrastructure when it was not necessary.
The elder statesman, therefore advised that the state government should embark on investment in Agriculture taking advantage of the state’s massive land mass, adequate rainfall and large volume of water in the Benue valley for irrigation farming.
Bello noted that instead of planning for the needless flyovers, the state should harness its human resources and government should construct a bridge along the Chuchi valley to boost irrigation farming system that would also connect Jimeta and Yola towns to enhance commercial activities in the state.
He said, “The Natural Parda Lake should be dredged for Irrigation and fisheries. The Kiri Dam is also there for Irrigation and Hydro-electricity generation. The Jada Dam contract should be revisited and concluded for Irrigation and Hydro-electricity supply.
“The Mubi, Ngurore and Ganye Cattle markets should be expanded and upgraded to Free Zone Cattle markets. Adamawa State should be opened to trade and commerce. The Mubi – Sahuda – Marwa, the Jabbi Lamba – Bell – Garwa, Yola – Fufore – Gurin – Tarawa in the Cameroons and Ganye – Tongo – Koncha roads should be rehabilitated to open up Adamawa State for trade and commercial activities.”
The former Customs CG further called on Governor Fintiri, the three Senators, House of Representatives members representing the state in the National Assembly as well as the state Assembly members, to continuously plead with the Federal Government for the dredging of River Benue from Lokoja through Makurdi to Yola and Garwa in the Cameroons.
Bello said, “Construction of Railway Line from Lokoja through Wukari, Jalingo, Mayo-Belwa, Jimeta, Mubi and finally link up with the Maiduguri Rail Line. Revisiting the PTF Chochi Irrigation Project. Rehabilitation of Pela – Maiha – Mubi, Lifiya – Gewana, Tola Junction – Binyeri and Kojoli – Jada – Mbulo – Yebbi – Ganye Roads. These roads were built by the late Governor Abubakar Barde administration of Gongola State. Ever since, no rehabilitation work was carried out on these roads.
“Establishment of Rice Mills and Meat Factories in the three Senatorial Zones of the state for the processing, packaging and exporting of the abundant Paddy Rice and Meat that the state is blessed with rather than allowing exportation of the raw materials. With this in place, I believe Adamawa State will stand on its feet financially rather than depending on monthly Federal allocation. Then the profits derived from these projects could be used to build the Flyover.”