Gov Fintiri’s face-lift of Adamawa

Nigerians across tribe or religion are the easiest people to please. The average Nigerian does not expect the government to do everything for them. Unfortunately, years of audio governance has reduced Nigerians to individual local governments, virtually providing everything for themselves. Perhaps, the public amenity with the most impact on the lives of Nigerians which has all but been abandoned is road infrastructure. It is the cord that connects every other social and economic amenity and is at the very heart of rural and urban transformation. Indeed, road infrastructure improves the possibility of healthcare delivery, electricity and water supply.

Unfortunately, Adamawa state was for a long time completely starved of road development. For instance, the last administration that was ousted by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri did not add as much as 10 kilometres to the existing road network in Adamawa state. This as well as previous neglect of the infrastructure left Adamawa roads in a very bad shape. Consequently, many communities were cutoff from the state capital, Yola.

Then came Governor Fintiri. The ATM governor brought action, where complacency hitherto reigned supreme. And one kilometre at a time, Adamawa state is seeing a renaissance in road construction as well as plethora of other critical infrastructure across the state.

Within the last four years alone, the Fintiri administration has surpassed its predecessors by far. This is because, despite the paucity of funds, the governor has been able to construct over 100 kilometres of critical roads across Adamawa state. This is not surprising, because his diversification agenda, especially on agriculture, is heavily reliant on the provision of good and motorable roads to enable farmers take their produce to the market.

This targeted road development approach is typified by the construction of 37.5 kilometers Kiri Junction, Kiri-Shelleng road and the commencement of Pella – Maiha road which was abandoned for over a decade before the coming of Governor Fintiri.

Other roads that have simultaneously received a new lease of life around the state capital and environs under Governor Fintiri include the Bachure road construction at the forefront, Benue Street, Kaduna street, Lusaka, Abeokuta, Ndaforo, Philip Maken and Links 2.5km, Lagos Street,1.5km
Falu Road and Links – 2.31km, Mambila and Jambutu Street 2.7km, Old Government House Road and Links – 1.35km, Reconstruction of Bachure road – 3.185km, Rehabilitation of Nepa Road – 2.2km.

Abandoned roads reconstructed include selected roads in the Adamawa State University Mubi – 5.3km. Mubi Township roads phase II (12.55km), Some selected Ganye Township roads, (Buwangal-sangasumi road) – 7.0km Song Bridge and Approach Roads, Mustapha Ismail Street × Links in Jimeta, Construction of Additional Road and Links in Dougirei and part of Lekki Taba.

Indeed, you can’t desire development for Adamawa and not appreciate Governor Fintiri’s doggedness, audacity and persistence. Where others delivered lamentations and inertia, Fintiri has brought succour and he seems poised to keep going strong.

Joseph writes from Hong, Adamawa state