By Sunday John
Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has described Nigeria’s 66-year journey as a story of resilience, sacrifice, perseverance and hope, and said Nasarawa at 30 has fulfilled the vision of its founding fathers.
Sule stated this on Thursday in Lafia during his address marking Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary and 30 years of the creation of Nasarawa State.
The governor said leadership is a trust, not a position, and thanked the people for the privilege to serve since 2019.
He congratulated Nigerians on 66 years of nationhood, recalling that the country attained independence on Oct. 1, 1960, and has remained united despite political instability, economic difficulties, civil conflict and insecurity.
He paid tribute to patriots whose sacrifices made freedom possible and urged Nigerians to heed President Bola Tinubu’s call for unity of purpose and shared responsibility in nation-building.
On Nasarawa State, Sule traced the agitation for its creation to 1980 during the Second Republic, which culminated in its creation on Oct. 1, 1996 by the Gen. Sani Abacha administration alongside five other states.
“We therefore pay special tribute to the founding fathers and all those who contributed to the struggle for the creation of Nasarawa State.
“Their vision was not merely to have another state on the map of Nigeria that is why 30 years later, we can confidently say that their vision has produced a living legacy,” he said.
The governor said the anniversary calls for sober reflection, which informed the anniversary lectures delivered by Prof. Attahiru Jega and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.
He noted that Nasarawa’s diversity of ethnic nationalities, languages, cultures and faiths should remain a source of strength, not division.
Sule paid tribute to former administrators and governors, including Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim (late), Col. Bala Mande (Rtd), Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, late Aliyu Akwe-Doma and Sen. Tanko Al-Makura, for laying the foundation for development.
Highlighting his administration’s strides since 2019, Sule listed security, investment, public service, infrastructure, health, education and agriculture.
On security, he said the state is relatively peaceful due to synergy with the Federal Government, citing the establishment of military super camps in Keffi and Udege in Toto and Nasarawa LGAs, Four Special Forces in Doma, Mobile Police Training College in Ende Hills, and Air Force Special Forces Base in Lafia.
He disclosed that following the expansion of the Nigerian Army from 8 to 12 divisions, the state secured the deployment of 10 brigades with three battalions in Wamba, Awe and Toto and an artillery regiment in Nasarawa LGA, with Brigade Headquarters at Shabu.
He added that the state government would sustain the logistics support to security agencies and collaborate with traditional institutions, vigilantes, and hunters.
On the economy, Sule said the state developed the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS) and established Nasarawa Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA) to attract investment.
He cited two lithium processing firms – Avatar New Energy Materials Company Ltd with 6,000 metric tons capacity and Ganfeng Lithium with 3,000 metric tons – and efforts to resume drilling at Ebenyi-A oil well in Obi LGA.
“Others include; construction of state secretariat complex, clearance of 100 per cent gratuity backlog from 1996 to 2012 and ongoing payment for 2013, stabilisation of salaries and pensions, construction of flyovers in Lafia, Keffi and Mararaba, rural roads, bus terminals in Lafia and Karu, and modern markets in Keffi, Akwanga, Nasarawa-Eggon and Doma.
In health, he cited free medical outreach, relocation of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital to Akwanga, facilitating the establishment of the Federal University of Lafia and construction of primary health centres.
In agriculture, he mentioned distribution of inputs and tractors, the Jangwa-Agwatashi farms, and establishment of Nasarawa Agro-Commodity Company (NASACCO) which produced NASACCO rice.
Sule commended the State House of Assembly and the judiciary for their patriotism and cooperation, which he said contributed to stability and development.
He urged citizens to sustain government support and called on youths to utilise the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational Institute, Lafia and Skills Acquisition Centres instead of focusing on TikTok and Facebook.
“30 years ago, our founding fathers gave us a state. The generation that followed started building the foundation. Our generation created the development we see today. The responsibility belongs to the next generation to take Nasarawa even higher,” Sule added. (NAN).
