In response to criticisms, the Federal Government recently initiated a Ministerial Platform, which provides ministers the opportunity to present their scorecards to Nigerians.

Consequently, a Good Governance Tour aimed at showcasing some of the projects being executed by the Federal Government across the 36 states of the federation kicked off with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

On October 1, 2012, as the nation was marking its 52nd Independence Anniversary, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, led a team of journalists, members of the Civil Society, and government officials on a four-day Good Governance Tour of government projects in Kwara State.

Ironically, the journey from Abuja to Ilorin, by road, which ordinarily should have taken about six hours, took the team 15hours.

It was due to the dilapidated state of the Mokwa-Jebba-Ilorin road.

In fact,  the choice of the very bad road was considered because the shorter Abuja-Lokoja route which dualisation has been ongoing for over six years, has been overtaken by what President Goodluck Jonathan, in a National Broadcast, described as a "natural disaster".

The Information Minister, the Special Assistant to the President on Media, Mr. Bolaji Adediyi and the Special Assistant to the President on Documentation, Molora Wood, among other officials, had to endure the gruelling trip.

However, whether they would translate their experiences and observations into a concrete policy that would ensure that the country's road are fixed urgently, is a question awaiting an answer.

The tour which began with a courtesy call on the state Governor, Alhaji Abdufatah Ahmed, took the team to Micheal Imoudu Institute of Labour Studies, Tada Shonga Irrigation Project, Eyenkorin Irrigation Scheme, which is meant to supply 5,000 gallons of potable water to the host communities; Rehabilitation of Lagos-Jebba-Kano Rail, a project of the Nigeria Railway Corporation under the Federal Ministry of Transport, with the Lots1 and 2 Lagos-Jebba-Kano rail line completed by the Federal Government; and the Kwara State's Government effort at developing aviation services through the Aviation College and Cargo Terminal of the Ilorin Airport

During a courtesy call on the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, the minister said the tour was to provide Nigerians the opportunity to assess progress made under the democratic dispensation, particularly efforts made by government at all levels to develop critical sectors of the economy.

Maku who explained that the Tour would enable the media, civil society and other stakeholders highlight the progress of democracy as well as challenges encountered in the process of governance, said, " Under military rule, there was no need to explain anything to the people. But under a democratic dispensation there is need to let the citizens know what government is doing to bring development to them."

He recalled that at the National Economic Council meeting, Governor Ahmed had the privilege to announce the decision of NEC and Governor's Forum to partner with the Federal Government to undertake a National Good Governance Tour throughout the Federation.

In his response, Governor Ahmed called for synergy between all tiers of government in project implementation to avoid duplication of projects by federal and state governments.

The governor urged the Federal Government to put in place a platform that would enable, local, state and federal governments review the dividends of democracy and revenue allocation to enable state governments execute projects that would transform the lives of the citizenry.

He called for a stronger collective effort to ensure that everything happening at the three tiers of government emanate from a common policy with positive impact on the lives of Nigerians.

He said, " We must have a platform whereby state, local and federal governments would review areas of dividends of democracy and also review resource allocation.  The tour would enable the Federal Government review the status of all its projects across the country to ascertain the completed, ongoing or abandoned ones".

The governor added that synergy between the state and federal government in project implementation would enable the state take ownership of Federal Government projects and help address areas of deficit

According to him, "Government needs to assess the impact its project have had in the country and how the resources allocated have been utilized. Our people at the rural areas need to have a first hand information on the principles of democracy in the critical sectors of the economy."

He noted that the National Good Governance Tour would enable Nigerians see projects that are completed, abandoned or not touched at all.

The minister was accompanied on the visit by his counterparts in the ministries of Sports and Labour and Productivity.

After inspecting the Shonga farms project being run by Zimbabwean farmers in the state, the minister noted that funding has always been a problem for most farmers in the country and stressed the need to redefine the nation's Agricultural Funding System and put in place a good policy framework that would support issuance of long-term funding to farmers in the country.

Maku, who observed that commercial lending to agriculture in the country is difficult due to short-term cycle for repayment as well as the high interest rate, said government was looking into all these challenges and was evolving a way of providing funding to farmers through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He noted that President Jonathan had directed that the nation's Agricultural Development Bank be adequately funded to support cheap credits to farmers.

The minister stressed the need to sustain the Shonga farm project and ensure that there is backward integration to carry the local communities along. "It is a project that has the sympathy of the Federal Government, state and all Nigerian stakeholders.