Kaduna state government has spent N6.3 billion on 73 capital projects in Kachia local government area of the state in last three and half years, the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industries, Mrs Ruth Alkali, has said.
Addressing the Policy Townhall Meeting in Kachia, on Monday, the Commissioner said that out of the figure, N5.1 billion was invested on infrastructure such as construction of three roads, railway crossing and clearing of 30,000 hectres of land for pulse farming.
On education, Alkali said that “N778.5 million was spent on rehabilitation of 45 classrooms, construction of one block of classroom, a block of examination hall, 14 solar-powered borehole and 11 toilets. Others are supply of school uniform and other consumables.
“A total of N305.1 million was spent on the renovation of 12 primary healthcare centres, renovation and extension of labour room and mini thearter, construction of four solar-powered bore holes and procurement of hospital equipment. To improve water supply, sanitation and hygiene, N45.8 million was spent on the construction of nine hand pump borehole and latrines,” she said.
She said that the meeting was organised by Planning and Budget Commission in collaboration with Ministry for local government and chieftaincy affairs to present achievement of the current administrational in the las 44 months.
“The achievements were in the area of economic development, social welfare, security and justice, and governance to strengthen accountability, transparency, sustainability and community participation in governance. The Nasir el-Rufai led-administration will continue to do its best in bridging the gap between urban and rural areas through infrastructural development,” the commissioner said.
Chairman of the LGA, Mr Peter Agite, called on the government to promote ginger production in the area by attracting investors and creating the needed market. Agite urged the people of the area to support the government by being law abiding so that peace would thrive for development to take place.
“We will embark on people-oriented projects that will make life comfortable for our people, but we can only achieve that in an atmosphere of peace,” he said.
Mustapha Abubabkar of Kachia Development Association commended the government for the effort to improve the quality of lives of the people but called on the government to create more jobs for the teeming youths.
