By George Ozalla
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has commenced legislative processes to officially name the newly completed Government House Presidential Lodge in Lafia after former Governor and serving Senator, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.
The motion to that effect was moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Suleiman Yakubu Azara, who described Al-Makura as a visionary leader whose administration laid the foundation for many of the state’s key infrastructure projects.
According to him, the proposed naming seeks to recognise Al-Makura’s role in initiating and completing the presidential lodge project during his tenure, as well as his outstanding contributions to the development of Nasarawa State.
Lawmakers at the plenary supported the motion and agreed that a bill would be drafted to formalise the process. The House resolved that the proposal be subjected to further legislative action, including committee consideration and final approval, before transmission to the governor for assent.
Governor Abdullahi Sule had earlier commissioned the Presidential Lodge and the adjoining 1,000-capacity banquet hall in 2020, naming the banquet hall after the late former governor, Aliyu Akwe Doma. The new motion by the Assembly seeks to give permanent legislative backing to the lodge’s naming after Al-Makura.
Umaru Tanko Al-Makura served as Governor of Nasarawa State from 2011 to 2019 before his election to the Senate representing Nasarawa South. Known for his infrastructural drive and reforms in education and civil service administration, Al-Makura remains one of the most influential political figures in the state’s contemporary history.
