Former Qua'an-Pan LGA Council Secretary Nath Doeko'os Provides Insight on How To Maximize Infrastructure Support Fund For States

HOW TO MAXIMIZE THE INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT FUND FOR STATES

The recently approved establishment of Infrastructure Support Fund (ISF) for the 36 States of the Federation as part of measures to cushion the effects of the petrol subsidy removal on the people is a good idea. 

"The Infrastructure Support Fund is for States to intervene and invest in the critical areas of Transportation, including farm to market road improvements; Agriculture, encompassing livestock and ranching solutions; Health, with a focus on basic healthcare; Education, especially basic education; Power and Water Resources, that will improve economic competitiveness, create jobs and deliver economic prosperity for Nigerians."

"Out of the June 2023 distributable revenue of 1.9 trillion Naira, only N907 billion will be distributed among the three tiers of government, while 790 billion will be saved. These savings will complement the efforts of the Infrastructure Support Fund (ISF)." 

Dele Alake 

To maximize the benefits of the Infrastructure Support Fund for the benefit of citizens, me thinks Plateau State should do the following:

1. TRANSPORTATION: Establish CNG conversation centers, provide inter and intra LGA shuttle busses, provide pick up vans and mini trucks for farm produce. Establish Plateau Spare parts fabrication center and market for the Dili talents. 

2. EDUCATION: Ensure the renovation, expansion or establish at least one standard Nursery/Primary School in each State Ward and a standard boarding Vocational and Technical Secondary School in each LGA. It will provide skills for both regular students when school is in session and part time students during holidays. Provide bursary assistance to tertiary institution students.

3. HEALTHCARE: Renovate, expand existing PHCs, and construct new ones. Every State Ward should have at least a standard functional PHC while every LGA should have a standard and functional General Hospital and one Specialist Hospital in each of the Senatorial Zones. This time, PLASCHEMA should adequately cover children under 6yrs and the aged for free. 

4. ACESS ROADS: Rehabilitate all inter LGA roads, Construct at least 10KM in each LGA & construct one major farm to market access roads in every State Ward.

5. AGRICULTURE: Provide one tractor in each State Ward, two harvesters per LGA, timely provision of fertilizer and other farm inputs. Provide storage facilities to cut post harvest losses and establish agro processing centers in each LGA.

6. WATER RESOURCES: Dredge all rivers and streams to improve flow efficiency and minimize flooding, construct dams and provide equipment and training for all year round farming. Establish treatment plants in each LGA and provide motorized boreholes in every State Ward and hand pump boreholes in every polling unit.

7. POWER: Expand NESCO to adequately cover Northern Zone and Bokkos, activate the IPP station in Kanke to cover the rest of Central and Southern Zone. Harness the abundant solar energy to establish small solar grid in each LGA to complement the national grid.

8. LOW-COST HOUSING: Invest in construction of low-cost Housing Estates across the 17 Local Government Areas. Urban LGA's can have 200 units each, semi urban LGA's 150 and Rural LGA's 100. This will crash rent rates, ensure strict physical planning and development across the State.

9. BUSINESS SUPPORT: Provide free basic business skills training/mentoring through PLASMIDA, single digit facilities to MSMEs and  establish industrial parks/free trade zone in each LGA.

Nath Doeko'os

21/07/2023