The Nasarawa State Government has credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration with improved revenue and increased financial support that it says are enabling the state to accelerate infrastructure and development projects.
The Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government, Shibu Labaran, stated this while taking journalists on an inspection of key projects across the state.
Labaran said the state’s newly developed government secretariat, which accommodates several ministries, was made possible by improved revenue accruing to the state through the Federation Account.
According to him, the project was initiated by Governor Abdullahi Sule to bring ministries operating from scattered and, in some cases, dilapidated offices into a central and more conducive environment.
He also stated the secretariat’s one-megawatt solar power plant, which he said was designed to provide electricity for the government complex, street lighting and other facilities.
Labaran said the plant could generate more power than required by the secretariat, prompting consideration of extending the benefit to neighbouring communities.
He further disclosed that the state government is promoting the use of cleaner energy, noting that cabinet members use hybrid vehicles while electric charging points have been installed within the government complex.
The SSG also pointed to the deployment of electric motorcycles across many ministries, departments and agencies for official movements.
He said the government has established dedicated technical and cleaning teams to ensure the continued maintenance of the secretariat and its facilities.
According to Labaran, the secretariat was commissioned by President Tinubu during his working visit to Nasarawa State last year and has since been fully operational.
He said the conducive working environment has improved productivity among civil servants, allowing them to work comfortably beyond normal hours when necessary.
The inspection also covers major road and infrastructure projects, including the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Interchange, which Labaran said was constructed at a cost of about N16 billion by the state government.
He added that the delegation would inspect ongoing efforts to address flooding and erosion problems affecting communities around the Emir’s Palace corridor.
On industrialisation, he also highlighted the emergence of major lithium processing investments in the state, including a plant recently commissioned by Vice-President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Tinubu.
He said the developments were evidence of growing industrial activity in Nasarawa and credited the Federal Government’s economic policies and support for creating an environment conducive to investment.
The inspection will also cover major federal road projects in the North-Central region, including the Abuja-Kaduna corridor and the Keffi-Karu-Abuja road.
Labaran said the projects were particularly significant because many residents of Nasarawa State commute daily to Abuja for work.
While acknowledging the importance of physical infrastructure, the Secretary to the State Government said Governor Sule remained particularly focused on human capital development.
He said the administration’s ultimate objective was to create an enabling environment where citizens could acquire the knowledge and skills required to become self-reliant.
Labaran maintained that the combination of improved revenue, infrastructure investment, industrial development and human capital development was positioning Nasarawa for sustained economic growth.