By Muhammed Khadijat
Nasarawa State, located in North Central Nigeria, came into existence on 1 October 1996 through the efforts of General Sani Abacha’s government. The state was formed by separating the western part of the old Plateau State. Lafia serves as the state capital, and the state is further divided into 13 local government areas alongside 3 senatorial districts.
Since 1999, Nasarawa State has had the following governors: Senator Abdullahi Adamu (People’s Democratic Party, PDP): May 29, 1999 – May 29, 2007
Alhaji Aliyu Doma (PDP): May 29, 2007 – May 2011
Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura (Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, later APC): May 2011 – May 2019
Engineer Abdullahi Sule (All Progressives Congress, APC): May 29, 2019–present (re-elected in 2023)
These governors have led the state through democratic civilian administrations since the return to democracy in 1999.
At the heart of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s legacy in Nasarawa State lies a comprehensive industrialisation agenda aimed at transforming the state’s economy from agrarian to manufacturing-based.
Sule’s administration concentrated on fostering job creation, economic growth, and internal revenue generation, leveraging his extensive private sector experience.
Key elements of his legacy include
Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS): A blueprint for economic prosperity.
Nasarawa Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA): Established to attract investors and facilitate company setups.
Infrastructure development: Construction of critical roads like the 15km Sisin Baki-Farin Ruwa and 25km Mararaba-Udege roads to open up resource-rich areas.
Youth revolving loan scheme: A N500 million facility to support SMEs in partnership with the Bank of Industry.
Business enabling reforms: Including the Nasarawa State Enabling Business Environment Council and participation in the World Bank’s SABER program to improve investment climate.
Nasarawa Technology Village (NTV): A major PPP project with a tech hub to foster innovation and job creation.
Executive Order One: Mandates investors to establish processing plants locally, boosting mining and agro-allied industries.
Major industrial projects: Commissioning of the world’s largest lithium mining and processing factory (Avatar Energy), tin mining and processing factories, and tractor manufacturing collaborations.
His administration funded all legacy projects without borrowing, underscoring fiscal responsibility. President Bola Tinubu recently visited Nasarawa to commission several of these projects, including the Lafia bridge, Shendam dual carriageway, tractors, and the ultra-modern state secretariat complex.
As the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule approaches its end, it is crucial to select a worthy successor who will uphold his legacy and advance the projects initiated by his government.
The state demands a young technocrat with a similar vision to Sule, who can drive the state’s development further. Alhaji Musa Muhammed Maikaya possesses the requisite qualities.
Alhaji Muhammed Musa Maikaya, (Ciroman Toto) is a prominent philanthropist, grassroots politician, and former APC governorship aspirant from Toto Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
He is the founder and CEO of the Maikaya Development Foundation (MDF), established in 2015 with the mission to improve lives through education, healthcare, youth and women empowerment, and community development.
Key aspects of Maikaya and his foundation’s work include:
Educational support:
The foundation annually awards scholarships and financial aid to hundreds of students from Nasarawa State pursuing tertiary education across Nigeria.
In 2025 alone, 525 students received N20,000 each to support their studies.
Healthcare initiatives:
Collaborated with Nasarawa State government to enroll 750 vulnerable individuals into the state health insurance scheme, improving access to healthcare.
Community development:
Provides essential services like boreholes, solar lighting for markets, and supports agricultural research and poverty alleviation programs.
Youth and women empowerment:
Offers financial aid and skills acquisition programs, organizes sports events to promote peaceful coexistence, and supports startups for young entrepreneurs.
Leadership philosophy:
Maikaya emphasizes service, inclusion, accountability, and continuity in governance.
He believes in empowering youth and marginalized groups and has remained active in philanthropy beyond political ambitions.
In 2019, Alhaji Musa Muhammed Maikaya participated in the APC gubernatorial primaries but however lost to incumbent Governor Abdullahi Sule, unlike his counterparts who disappeared into the thin air, Maikaya has remained active to his responsibility catering for his people, a development he repeatedly said was to compliment Gov Sule efforts to do more.
Maikaya has received accolades and awards from within and outside the State for his philanthropist gestures towards humanity.
Muhammed Khadijat can be reach via Gmail: Muhammedkhadijat241@gmail.com. 09034301411
