From John Bassey, Kebbi.
As Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary, Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, has called on Nigerians to keep hope alive, remain united and continue to pray for the country’s leaders at all levels to deliver on their responsibilities and advance the nation’s development.
The Governor, in a message congratulating the people of Kebbi State and Nigerians on the historic occasion, described Independence Day as a moment of national pride, sober reflection and renewed hope for a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.
He said:
“Independence Anniversary is a moment of pride, reflection and renewed hope for our great nation.
“Today, we honour our founding fathers whose sacrifices gave birth to Nigeria, while celebrating the resilience of our people, particularly the people of Kebbi State, who continue to uphold peace, productivity and the values that bind us together.”
Governor Idris said his administration had deliberately embraced people-centred governance, with policies and programmes designed to directly improve the welfare and living conditions of citizens.
He noted that Kebbi State now pays a minimum wage of N75,000, above the Federal Government benchmark, while maintaining regular payment of salaries and pensions.
According to him, the administration has also cleared more than N10 billion in gratuities, death benefits and arrears, while N2.11 billion was recently released to settle entitlements involving 772 retirees and bereaved families across the state.
On education, the Governor said his administration had constructed, renovated and furnished more than 2,000 schools, recruited 2,000 professional teachers, ended casualisation in the teaching profession and provided thousands of modern classroom furniture.
He added that the government had maintained industrial harmony by recognising workers as critical partners in the development of the state, while recently approving responsibility allowance for primary school teachers to further boost their morale and sense of belonging.
Governor Idris described healthcare as another major pillar of his administration, saying 22 general hospitals, 179 primary healthcare centres and 63 dispensaries had been revitalised, while more than 2,200 health workers were recruited to strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.
On infrastructure, the Governor said the impact of the administration’s development agenda could be seen across the state, citing the construction of the ultra-modern State Secretariat named after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the dualization of 88 roads and the construction of an ultra-modern Central Motor Park.
He said the government had also reconstructed Kayan Gwari Market, deployed more than 800 mass transit buses to improve transportation and was delivering more than 300 kilometres of rural roads to strengthen connectivity between farming communities and markets.
“Agriculture remains the backbone of our economy. We secured N45 billion in African Development Bank financing for the Special Agro-Processing Zone in Argungu, alongside transformation centres in Kalgo and Zuru.
“Through the Kaura Cares Livelihood Programme, we disbursed N100,000 each to 65,000 citizens, supported 3,200 persons with disabilities and empowered women and youth entrepreneurs,” he said.
The Governor further disclosed that the state government had distributed 500 affordable houses to workers, describing the initiative as part of efforts to improve their welfare, strengthen their sense of ownership and motivate them to remain committed to their duties.
In promoting gender inclusion, Governor Idris said his administration had appointed five female Permanent Secretaries, in addition to several other women serving in political and strategic positions across government.
He said the government had also invested more than N30 billion in security to strengthen operations, intelligence gathering and community-based security structures, while N15 billion had been allocated to water supply and rural electrification projects.
Governor Idris also highlighted the growing confidence of investors in Kebbi State, noting that the maiden Kebbi Investors Forum attracted investment commitments valued at $4.1 billion across mining, renewable energy, agriculture, manufacturing and logistics.
He said the administration remained determined to translate investment commitments into concrete economic opportunities, jobs and improved livelihoods for the people.
The Governor called on Nigerians to make unity, peace and patriotism the foundation of the country’s next phase of development.
“As Nigeria marks 66 years of independence, let us reject division and embrace unity. Let our diversity remain our strength as we work together to build a secure, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
“I urge our people to keep hope alive, support development efforts and continue to pray for our leaders at all levels. The challenges before us are real, but with unity, perseverance, responsible leadership and collective commitment, Nigeria will continue to move forward.
“On behalf of my family, the government and people of Kebbi State, I wish all Kebbi citizens and Nigerians a happy 66th Independence Anniversary. May God continue to bless Kebbi State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
