Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has awarded the contract for the construction of the about 50km road linking Toto, headquarters of Toto Local Government Area, with Umaisha, estimated to cost over N4bn.

Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, disclosed this while delivering a speech during the distribution of relief materials to victims of the recent flood in Umaisha, on Thursday.

This is just as the speaker confirmed that Engineer Sule, only three days ago, approved for the relese of another N500m for the electrification of Ugya to Umaisha, with work on the project already commencing.

Commenting on the impact of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration led by Engineer Sule, Rt. Hon Abdullahi, appreciated the Governor for tackling the menace of bandits and kidnappers, who previously plied their nefarious trade freely and unchecked.

He commended Engineer Sule for taking appropriate measures to secure the lives and property of the people of the area.

The speaker equally lauded the Governor for the award of a contract for the construction of a modern market in Toto to enhance economic activities, just as he acknowledged that Toto Local Government has its fair share of political appointees both at the Federal and state levels.

Rt. Hon Abdullahi also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for awarding the contract for the construction of the Abaji/Keffi road.

As a measure of the confidence and trust, the speaker assured the Governor of maximum support during the 2023 general elections.

“The people of Toto know the right thing to do. We are the home of APC. We will continue to support our amiable Governor and ensure that he secures another term in office,” the Speaker said.

In his speech, Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, sympathized and commiserated with those affected by the recent flood in the area.

Engineer Sule disclosed that, aware of the perennial nature of the flood with its devastating impact, governors met to find lasting solutions to the flood caused by the release of water from dams in neighboring Cameroon.

He said that governors have agreed to meet President Muhammadu Buhari on a two-way approach that could permanently address the seasonal flood.

“We will not wait every year for the floods to come and ravaged our communities, which explains why Nigerian governors sought for a permanent solution to the recurrent floods. Even with the flood detection technology installed here in Umaisha, the flood still came with its devastating impact.

“We approached the Federal Government with a view to contacting Cameroon to address the seasonal release of water from dams. We agreed to support Cameroon to expand their dam to contain more water. Also, we intend to appeal to commercial farms along waterways to construct their dams in order to reduce the inflow of water,” the Governor explained.

He announced a combined donation of relief materials from the Federal and Nasarawa State governments, aimed at cushioning the plight of the people affected by the recent flood.

The Governor equally made a personal donation of four million naira, to be shared among the four communities affected by the flood in Umaisha, as well as another one million naira to be shared among women and youths who witnessed the event.

He used the opportunity to appeal to the people, particularly the youths, on the need to live in peace, appreciating security agencies operating in the state, especially the police, army, special forces and the Nigerian Air Force for their surveillance which saw to the banishment of criminals from the area.

The Governor thereafter presented the combined relief materials to include mattresses 150, mosquito nets 380, blankets 290, towels 290, plastic mats 290, wrappers for women290, brocade for men 290, buckets 290, plates 290, cups 290, spoons 290, diapers for nursing mothers 38 cartons, sanitary pads 38 cartoons, soap 24 cartoons, detergent 22 cartoons, cooking pots 38, stoves 22, men’s clothing 220, children clothing 290 and women clothing 290.

On its part, the Nasarawa State Government donated beans 38 bags, rice 38 bags, maize 38 bags, millet 16 bags, guinea corn 22 bags, sugar 11 bags and garri 11 bags.

Engineer Sule equally appreciated spirited individuals who came to the rescue of the flood victims through the donation of food items and cash.

In a goodwill message, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, appreciated the Governor for not only coming to the rescue of the people of the area affected by the recent flood, but for his laudable development strides in Toto Local Government Area.

Earlier in a welcome address, Chairman, Toto Local Government Area, Hon Abdullahi Tashas Aquatic, appreciated Engineer Sule for awarding the construction of an asphalt road linking Toto to Umaisha, as well as the construction of a divisional police station in Umaisha.

Hon Aquatic used the opportunity to further request for the fencing and furnishing of the newly completed police divisional office in Umaisha, urging the Governor to reactivate the decision taken 20 years ago, to construct a bridge across the river passing through Umaisha that will link the North with the South East.

He announced that spirited individuals already came to the rescue of the affected persons whose houses and farms were destroyed by the flood.

He listed those that donated to the victims of the flood to include the Right Honourable Speaker of the state assembly who donated N4m, National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu donated food items and cash, Architect Oseze donated N1m, Dr Faisal Shuaib donated two trailers of food items and cash, Hon Ahmed Aliyu Wadada gave N2.5M, Barrister Labaran Magaji donated 250 bags of rice, Architect Shehu Tukur brought food items and cash and Alhaji Saad Ibrahim Turaki who donated N500, 000