Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has distributed 26 vehicles to his commissioners for official use.
The brand new vehicles distributed to the cabinet members comprised Hilux and utility jeeps, according to the taste of each commissioner, with necessary customs duty duly paid.
Speaking at the occasion in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday, the governor, however, warned commissioners against making Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, their permanent abode without regular visits to their localities to interact with the people.
He cautioned them against cutting ties with rural dwellers for whatever reason, saying such visits would allow the commissioners to comprehend the needs of their locals and requirements for the government’s attention.
The governor asked the commissioners to go around to keep in touch with their people or risk being sacked.
Mr Idris warned that: “No commissioner should sell his or her vehicle; they are for your official engagement to enable you to move around to solve transport difficulty, especially travelling to your communities to interact with the populace, listen to their needs or problems and bring them toward for my attention and action.
“I have made it crystal clear that my administration is a people-oriented government of collective responsibility without the governor being a solitary playmaker.”
The governor intimated the speaker of the state House of Assembly and other members present at the event that the government had also ordered new official vehicles for the legislators.
Afterwards, Mr Idris also distributed 730 motorcycles to vigilantes to complement the operations of conventional security services in tackling security challenges.
The governor announced that 30 motorcycles had been provided to vigilantes in each of the 16 local government areas of the state, while those serving in Birnin Kebbi, Argungu, Bagudo, Danko-Wasagu and Yauri received 50 motorcycles each.
The government recently presented operational vehicles to the police, army, the SSS as well as the special adviser on security and the vigilantes commander to sharpen security surveillance, crime detection and control in the state.
(NAN)