The people of Toungo local government of Adamawa State were gripped with joy and excitement as governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri commissioned the first electricity project 25 years after the creation of the local government.
Toungo which shares international borders with Cameroon and one of the local governments in Adamawa South senatorial zone where former vice president Atiku Abubakar hailed from was since its creation wallowed in total darkness.
During his campaign tour to the local government in the build up to the 2019 guber polls, governor Fintiri has promised to electrify the local government if elected.
Our medium checked that so far, Toungo local government is the only LG headquarters yet to be electrified in the state.
Commissioning the electrification project in Toungo, the former deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Senator Bello Tukur noted scored Fintiri’s administration high saying that the governor was among the four best performing Governors in Nigeria.
Senator Tukur acknowledged with excitement that the Toungo electrification project is now a reality as God has brought Governor Fintiri to deliver the area from the long total neglect.
In his remarks, Governor Umaru Fintiri said the commissioned project is the first phase which is a 33kv main line from Ganye Tee Junction to Toungo and linked to the YEDC main station with 11kv Low Tension in Gamu and installed transformers and distribution lines.
The Governor added that the second phase is the one from Toungo to Kirri which takes the line from Toungo to Kirri which has already seen ninety percent poles erection and is still in progress declaring that his administration will soon commission the project.
He revealed that even though his administration did not meet the six months deadline as promised, stressing that since his swearing in, he sleeps and wakes up with a pricked conscience on all promises he made including the Toungo electrification project.
Giving reasons for the delay in the execution of the project, Governor Umaru Fintiri said his administration underated the quantum of work required coupled with economic impact occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic across the world.
The Speaker Adamawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Aminu Iya Abbas expressed happiness for the power project and revealed that the state legislature will continue working in unison with the executive for the development of Adamawa.
Contributing, the All Progressives Congress (APC) member representing Toungo in the State House of Assembly Honourable Umar Nyako while expressing joy with the electrification project, assured Governor Umaru Fintiri block votes in 2023 elections.
The Commissioner of Rural Infrastructure and Community Development, Alhaji Abdullahi Prambe observed that the electrification project will boost the economic activities in the area and urged the people to take full responsibility of protecting the facility.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman Toungo local government council, Honourable Kefas Calvin said the area has been in darkness for twenty five years and thanked Governor Umaru Fintiri for salvaging the people of Toungo.
Highpoint of the event was cultural dance display among other musical entertainment.
Meanwhile, former deputy Governor Bello Tukur had also commissioned Toungo – Kirri road spanning about 12km which is part of the 347km of rural roads spread across Adamawa constructed by the present administration.
Senator Tukur in company of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and other senior Government officials as well as dignitaries commissioned the project along Kiri road in Toungo local government area on Friday.
The former deputy Governor lauded Governor Fintiri for constructing the road which he believed will open up access to transportation of goods and services thereby revamping the socioeconomic fortunes in the area and Adamawa in general.
