By Admin
Former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State is warming up for the political contest in Kogi Central, riding on a record of transformative governance across infrastructure, healthcare, education, security, and revenue reforms.
During his tenure, Bello prioritized road rehabilitation linking key towns including Lokoja, Anyigba, Kabba, Idah, and Ogugu, significantly lowering transport costs and boosting local commerce and agricultural value chains.
Urban renewal projects and public facility upgrades in Lokoja enhanced civic spaces and contributed to a doubling of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Healthcare improvements were a hallmark of Bello’s administration.
The establishment of the Reference Hospital in Okene, equipped with MRI, CT scanners, dialysis machines, and a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, expanded specialist care locally.
Zonal hospitals and medical centres in other areas brought services closer to rural communities.
Education also saw major reforms with nearly 4,000 teachers recruited, classrooms and laboratories were upgraded, and state-owned universities—including Confluence University of Science and Technology (Osara) and Kogi State University (Kabba)—were established to expand tertiary access.
Scholarship programmes further supported students from low-income backgrounds.
Security initiatives included the creation of the Kogi State Vigilante Service, joint security task forces, and the construction of a forward operating base for the Nigerian Army, strengthening regional stability.
Bello received multiple awards recognizing his peace and security achievements, including the 2021 Peace Achievers International Award.
Revenue and governance reforms under Bello focused on fiscal discipline, digitized revenue collection, and civil service modernization, improving efficiency and public accountability.
Youth and women empowerment programmes were integrated into governance, with vocational training and entrepreneurship support enhancing social inclusion.
Observers note that despite political controversies and allegations from opponents, Bello’s governance record has left enduring impacts on Kogi State’s infrastructure, human capital, and institutional reforms—factors that now underpin his political positioning in Kogi Central.
