The Lion of the Niger

By Abdullahi Suleiman

Alhaji Yahaya Bello served as Governor of Kogi State from 2016 to 2024. At inauguration he was 40 years old and became Nigeria’s youngest governor at the time. His admirers gave him the name “White Lion” to describe his bold and fearless approach to leadership and his determination to reposition Kogi State.

When he assumed office in 2016, Kogi was facing serious security challenges including kidnapping, armed robbery and communal clashes, especially along the Lokoja-Abuja and Okene-Ajaokuta corridors. To address this, his government provided over 200 patrol vehicles, motorcycles and communication equipment to the Police, Army, DSS, NSCDC and local vigilantes. The Kogi State Vigilante Service was also formalized to strengthen community policing across all 21 local government areas. There was heavy security deployment around critical assets like the Ajaokuta Steel Complex and major highways. By his second term, Kogi was consistently ranked among the most improved states in North Central for security, and cases of kidnapping along major roads dropped significantly according to reports from that period.

In healthcare, the focus was on expanding access from the primary to the tertiary level. Over 100 Primary Healthcare Centres were renovated, equipped and solarized across the 21 LGAs in partnership with NPHCDA, WHO and UNICEF. Three 200-bed senatorial reference hospitals were built or upgraded in Lokoja, Okene and Anyigba. The Lokoja hospital received new ICU, dialysis and radiology units, while the ones in Okene and Anyigba were expanded to serve Kogi Central and Kogi East. The Kogi State Health Insurance Scheme was also launched to provide affordable healthcare to civil servants and vulnerable groups, with over 30,000 beneficiaries enrolled by 2023.

In tertiary education, the emphasis was on access, infrastructure and creating new opportunities. The Confluence University of Science and Technology, CUSTECH Osara, was established in 2020 as a specialized STEM university to support Ajaokuta Steel and the solid minerals sector. The first set of students resumed in 2021. The Kogi State Polytechnic in Lokoja underwent major upgrades with new faculties, an ICT center, hostels and accreditation of new courses. The College of Education Ankpa and technical colleges also received renovations and regular subventions to prevent strikes. Payment of bursary to Kogi students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria was resumed after several years. At the twilight of his administration, he established the Kogi State University, Kabba. This action has further balanced the narrative across the 3 geopolitical zones ensuring fairness across the senatorial zones in access to tertiary education.

The gigantic and timely completion of the Ganaja flyover is a landmark achievement and legacy that continues to outlive his administration.

Beyond these, there were also investments in the Lokoja Mega Rice Mill, and rural roads linking agricultural communities.

In the area of civil service reforms: A staff verification exercise was carried out to clean the civil service payroll.

His cabinet recorded one of the highest numbers of youths and women as commissioners and special advisers, and several empowerment programs were rolled out.

The Kogi State Internal Revenue Service was also repositioned to improve internally generated revenue and to better harness the state’s solid minerals.

On the national scale, Alhaji Yahaya Bello went all out when there was a seeming dispute between northern food traders and southern traders – foodstuffs were blocked from reaching the southern part of the country. Alhaji Yahaya Bello went to the presidency to get all necessary clearance and further called all parties to the table to dialogue. This act further helped in unifying the country in such a critical time in our national history.

He also helped at some point to foster dialogue between Niger Delta beneficiaries of the Amnesty program and the Federal Government.

He may have his shortcomings which is normal for every leader or humankind but he has continued to champion the unity of his state, community and local government.

I am writing a book for him. The book will give a comprehensive and detailed articulation of his scorecard while in office–decisions taken while in office and circumstances surrounding those decisions.

Alhaji Yahaya Bello is no doubt a pathfinder, trailblazer whose actions and inactions have continued to define the trajectory of politics, policies and economic prospects of Kogi State. Thanks to the unveiling of the Kogi State 32-year developmental blueprint from 2024-2054.

His footprint has extended beyond the banks of the River Niger as he is not your everyday regional leader but has proven to be a national hero- ‘The Lion of the Niger’.

– Abdullahi Suleiman O. writes from Kaduna.
abdullahiramat423@gmail.com

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