Follow Us on Google
The governorship candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Nasarawa State, Musa Shugaba Abdullahi, has promised to transform the state into Nigeria’s medical hub and reduce the need for Nigerians to travel abroad in search of medical treatment.
Shugaba made the declaration yesterday shortly after his affirmation as the party’s governorship candidate during the NDC substitution primary in Nasarawa State, which was witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The affirmation was part of the party’s substitution primaries for various elective positions in the state, where candidates for the governorship and five other constituencies were affirmed.
Those affirmed include Iliya Emmanuel Ayas for Kokona West State Constituency; Lucy Kigbu Anzaku for Keffi East; Mohammed Rabo Ramalan for Keffi West; Micah Mamman for Obi I State Constituency; and Hussaini Mustapha Ganuwa for Toto/Gadabuke Federal Constituency.
The NDC also constituted a three-member election committee for the exercise, with Dr Peter Onigah as Chairman, Hon. Alfred Perekere as Secretary and Tony Jude as member.
Speaking after his affirmation, Shugaba unveiled a five-point agenda which he said would guide his administration if elected, with education, healthcare, infrastructure, economic empowerment and security forming the core of the blueprint.
On healthcare, he said the state would be positioned to attract Nigerians who currently travel to countries such as India, the United Kingdom, Dubai, Qatar and Saudi Arabia for treatment.
“We want Nasarawa State to be the medical hub of Nigeria. People going to India, Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UK, we want them to come to Nasarawa State for medical treatment,” Shugaba said.
He said the plan would require investment in healthcare institutions and an improvement in the quality of medical services available in the state.
On education, the NDC candidate promised free and compulsory education from the age of three to 19, saying the policy would help reduce illiteracy and address some of the social challenges confronting the state.
“We want to have a free and compulsory education from the age of three to 19. We want to reduce illiteracy to the barest minimum,” he said.
Shugaba said his administration would also explore subsidising education for young people between the ages of 19 and 25, particularly those studying NCE, OND, vocational and selected medical courses.
“From 19 to 25, if we can subsidise, we pay a certain percentage, or maybe we pay the school fees, and the parents take care of feeding and other expenses,” he said.
He listed nursing, medical laboratory science and other vocational programmes among areas that could benefit from the proposed intervention, subject to the resources available to government.
Other News
The candidate linked the education policy to the need to tackle youth unemployment, illiteracy and social vices, saying a combination of Western and religious education was important to the development of young people.
On infrastructure, Shugaba promised to embark on development projects across the state, stressing that government would identify the specific needs of individual communities before deciding on interventions.
“We want to develop the state, the entire state, in terms of infrastructure development,” he said.
“Every community has its own specific need. What is needed here might not be what is needed in the other local government or the other one.”
He also promised an empowerment programme targeted at making residents economically independent.
Shugaba, however, said he would not impose a uniform empowerment programme on communities, insisting that the people would first be consulted to determine what they actually needed.
“I cannot decide for you without sitting with you and saying this is what I identify for you. Maybe what I want for you is not what you want,” he said.
According to him, economic independence would help reduce begging and other social vices, while enabling more residents to support their families.
“Once people are economically independent, begging and other vices reduce. They can get married. They can do whatever for their family. Begging will reduce,” he said.
On insecurity, Shugaba acknowledged that the state government had limited control over most of the security agencies, which are under the Federal Government.
He, however, pledged to work with the Federal Government and relevant security agencies to reduce insecurity across the state.
“If there is a way we can partner with the Federal Government and reduce insecurity to the barest minimum, I want to do that,” he said.
Shugaba thanked God for making his emergence possible and apologised for arriving late at the event, saying he would not have reached the stage without divine support.
