With the current deplorable state of the economy and the pressure on the federal government to deliver on its promises to citizens, it is very easy to miss out on the meritorious work being done by some state governors in the country.

Here are some of the ones to pay well deserved attention to as the change we so badly crave might actually be coming from these unexpected quarters:

Borno state governor, Kassim Shettima: Ruling the Northern state mostly affected by the Boko Haram insurgency is an apparently tough job. As it is, the state plays host to insurgency refugees who troop, in their numbers, into Borno from neighbouring towns. The camps spread across the state are home to thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Malnutrition is still rife across the camps and support facilities are just not enough but the Borno state government is not resting on its oars. As part of his reconstruction efforts, the state governor has relocated to Bama, the Borno town that was under Boko Haram’s control for almost two years. In justifying this action, Governor Shettima said his decision to live and work from Bama is based on his preparedness to fully supervise the rebuilding of infrastructure in the state. He says he will be in constant contact with the state capital to ensure IDP affairs and other government programmes are properly managed.

Anambra state governor, Willie Obiano: When the Anambra state government reeled out its plans to abate the impact of the recession on residents of the state recently, it was widely commended. This is the essence of the devolution of power to states and Anambra is the first state in the country to take a step towards providing relief to its residents since the recession. The governor announced the suspension of some tax systems, including hawkers permits and wheelbarrow tax. Small businesses will also be provided with funds that come with interest rates as low as 9 percent. There is also a social intervention programme for households that are currently surviving on low incomes.

Akwa Ibom state governor, Udom Emmanuel: At a media briefing to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the state, Governor Emmanuel disclosed that Akwa Ibom is the only state in Nigeria that generates over 150 megawatts of electricity. According to him, some communities enjoy close to 20 hours of power per day. Governor Emmanuel proudly announced that in addition to this laudable success, the state will be building two sub-stations in the capital, Uyo and a metering factory in one of the local governments. This is aside a second power turbine that is currently under construction.

This is just three out of 36. Other state governments should take on the challenge of providing relief on these levels to residents, especially in these very difficult times.