By Victor Ahiuma-Young

Kebbi State government has given insight into how two local contractors built the state secretariat complex for N10 billion, as against the N21 billion quoted by a foreign firm.

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Speaking with Vanguard, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed, lamented that until now with over 22,000 civil servants, many of the public workers operating within Birnin Kebbi, had no functional and efficient workplace.

He added that the need for a secretariat was therefore paramount, to which the newly completed Secretariat Complex stands as a testament.

According to him, the project had been stalled by two previous administrations, leading many to believe it was jinxed, destined to remain unfinished, and a victim of bureaucratic inertia.

He said: “Unhappy with the fact that Kebbi had been without a secretariat of its own, Governor Nasir Idris took a bold step by establishing 27 ministries.

“Without a centralised location, it would have been nearly impossible to coordinate efforts among these ministries.

“Staff faced challenges of transporting documents among various sites, resulting in lost productivity, increased costs, and potential breaches of confidentiality.

“The construction of the secretariat began in 2012 during the administration of Saidu Nasamu Dakingari, with an initial budget of N3.7 billion.

“Work ceased multiple times until that administration ended without completing the project.

“The administration of Atiku Bagudu came and went, providing minimal funding toward the end of its tenure, investing less than a billion Naira in a last-ditch effort to mollify public demand for completion.

“At one point, total costs ballooned to over N7 billion, eventually reaching around N12 billion.

“Due to a lack of political will, the project faced long periods of neglect. The people of Kebbi state, regardless of their political leaning, were united in their common desire to have it completed having already witnessed billions spent.

“The state uniquely lacked its own secretariat, and the prospect of enhancing the town’s appearance motivated residents to advocate for its advancement.

“Recognizing this sentiment, Dr. Nasir Idris made the Secretariat’s completion a priority during his electioneering campaign, vowing to bring it to fruition upon election.

“Once in office, he resurrected the plans for the complex and reached out to the original foreign contractors for a completion proposal.

“To his surprise, they quoted an exorbitant N21 billion. The governor flatly rejected the offer, turning instead to local firms, M-Tech Nigeria and ZBCC Construction Company, encouraging them to submit competitive bids.

“Dr. Idris emphasized the importance of empowering local contractors to build capacity, reduce capital flight, and stimulate the state’s economy.

“In a remarkable turn, the two local companies presented a combined bid of just over N10 billion. True to their word, they finished the project ahead of schedule, adhering to all specifications and meeting public expectations.

“This achievement underscores two key points: a courageous governor who turned promises into reality, and the maturation of local contractors who are now capable of rivaling their international counterparts.

“It also highlights the critical role of electing leaders who challenge the status quo in pursuit of progress.

“With Dr. Nasir Idris at the forefront, Kebbi is poised for a brighter future, marking a departure from past shortcomings.”

Vanguard News