By Our Correspondenr
Nasarawa State governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has disclosed that the World Bank, in its recent development update, has rated Nasarawa State as leading other states in the country in terms of infrastructure spending.
Engineer Sule disclosed this in the sidelines, when he hosted members of the Board of Trustees (BoT), of the Alago Development Association, at the Government House, on Tuesday.
Citing the latest World Bank report, which is yet to be made public, the governor said Nasarawa State was able to attain through improvement on budgetary allocation to develop infrastructure from N16bn in 2019 to N33bn in 2021, recording an increase of about 109 percent.
He added that, during the same period, Nasarawa State was rated No. 16 best state in the country, jumping up from its previous position of No. 28.
He disclosed further that, the World Bank report rated Nasarawa State favourably on its fiscal responsibility index, placing Nasarawa second after Kwara state in the North Central geopolitical zone.
Engineer Sule emphasized that, the state was able to attain these feats mostly because of the relative peace prevailing across the state.
Commenting on the reason for the visit, he announced that his administration will set up a reconciliation committee to resolve the lingering mutual suspicion between the Alago Nation and Tiv Nation.
The governor said this has become necessary in order to address series of allegations over land occupation and other sundry issues, that are constituting a threat to peace, especially among the two ethnic groups.
He expressed the determination of his administration to pursue a peaceful resolution of the impasse, which can be attained through the setting up of the committee, which will be chaired by the state deputy governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe.
While reiterating the significance of peaceful coexistence among the diverse ethnic groups in the state, Engineer Sule recalled that the National Boundary Commission, has already waded into the matter, towards redefining boundaries between Nasarawa and Benue states.
He further disclosed that, the 177 Military Battalion has established a new base in Kadarko to augment the Operation Whirldstrock personnel in Giza, aimed at reinforcing security along the border communities.
Earlier in an opening remarks, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Alago Development Association, Adole Drmain Adi Sabo, commended the leadership style of the governor, which is bringing about stability and peaceful coexistence among the different ethnic groups in the state.
Elder Sabo used the opportunity of the visit, to draw attention of the governor on the festering mutual suspicion between the Alago Nation and the Tiv Nation, urging the state government to intervene by constituting a panel of enquiry to look into the issue.
