Yobe begins construction of intercommunity roads, others – Report
Story from Sa’adatu MAINA, Damaturu
Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, has said that his administration is presently undertaking a new intercommunity road construction projects across the state.
The Governor made this known on Wednesday during a press briefing in Damaturu to mark his five years in office by 12th June 2024.
Represented by Secretary to Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali, Governor Buni said the new inter community road project were; Damaturu-Kalallawa 25.5-kilometer dual carriage way for easier access to the Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport, completed the dualization of Abattoir Junction-New Bye-pass Roundabout along Potiskum Road and the construction of Damagum-Gubana Road.
Others are Bulanguwa-Kumagannam, Nguru-Bulanguwa, Danchuwa-Garin Abba-Garin Bingel, Chumbusko-Tagali, Nguru highway-Karasuwa Galu town, Fika-Maluri, Jaji Maji-Karasuwa town and Kukuri-Chukuriwa-Dawasa roads, among others.
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According to Governor Buni, contracts have been awarded for the construction of township roads in Damaturu, Nguru, Potiskum, Gashua, and Geidam in addition to the earlier township roads constructed.
He revealed that these projects, which are in various stages of completion, are being carried out with a view to opening up the communities and their adjoining settlements for enhanced socio-economic activities.
He further said that in order to improve the artistic beauty of Damaturu metropolis and give it a facelift, two City Gates have been completed and construction of another two are ongoing in Damaturu as well as many other township roads and drainages are being provided in various locations within the state capital and most of the Local Government headquarters.
In the education sector, Governor Buni noted that the state have been able to establish six new Model Schools, seven Mega Schools, nine new Government Girls Day Senior Secondary Schools, eight new co-education Government Day Senior Secondary Schools and additional one for boys across the State.
Additionally, one IDP School was also established in Buni-Yadi. All these were in addition to construction of new classes, laboratories, ICT centres, hostels and other vital structures as well as the provision of teaching and learning materials to primary, secondary and tertiary institutions of learning for the attainment of conducive learning atmosphere for students and pupils.
“Over 4,000 teaching and non-teaching staff were recruited and posted to various primary and secondary schools, and 26,000 teachers were trained or retrained to enhance their capacities.
“Through sustained school feeding programme and prompt payment of counterpart obligation as well as school, tuition and examination fees for our candidates studying nationwide and abroad, we have been able to achieve massive increase in school enrolment and pursuance of education at all levels.
“For healthcare delivery, to achieve our target of providing one functional primary healthcare centre in each of the 178 electoral wards of the state, so far 140 PHCs have been completed and commissioned.
“We have also procured and launched 88 customized tricycle ambulances and distributed to the remote areas to ease movement of patients to the health centres.
:The Yobe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA) was established and over 300,000 people, including civil servants and other members of the general public have enrolled in the scheme. The scheme enables patients to pay only 10% of the total cost of medication.
“Our tertiary healthcare delivery service was enhanced with the provision of a well-equipped Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Complex at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital.
“The complex has 300-bed capacity with 7 blocks comprising Gynecology Clinic Ward, Obstetric Theatre, Labour and Delivery Suites, Emergency Pediatric, Pediatric section and a Special Baby Care Unit.
“The complex has vastly increased the Teaching Hospital‘s bed capacity to over 700 and made it the biggest and one of the most equipped hospitals in the xountry.
In the area of electrification, the Yobe Governor added that over 25 villages were electrified while electricity was extended to over 200 different locations.
“We have also rehabilitated and strengthen Damaturu – Potiskum, Potiskum – Gashua, Gashua – Yunusari, Damaturu – Babbangida – Bayamari, Bayamari – Geidam – Bukarti, Bayamari – Yunusari, Potiskum – Kukar Gadu and Maiduwa-Gadaka 33KVA lines.
“We have also ensured the provision of a 24-hour power supply to all the General Hospitals in the state as well as the provision of generator sets to some government establishments.
He said, “In the state’s continuous efforts to boost commerce and promote industrialisation, it has reactivated the Sahel Aluminium Company, Yobe Flour and Feed Mills Company and Pre-stressed Concrete Pole Company.
“The state has so far completed and commissioned the Ibrahim Geidam Ultra Modern Market, Damaturu; Senator Ahmed I. Lawan Modern Market, Gashua and the Sheikh Ngibirima Ultra Modern Market, Nguru while construction works are ongoing in Geidam and Potiskum Markets.
“Furthermore, construction of Potiskum Truck Transit Park and Mega Shopping Mall in Damaturu are ongoing.
“Being the state with the largest production of high quality Sesame seeds, we are making efforts to complete the establishment of three Sesame Seeds processing factories in Damaturu, Nguru and Machina towns.
“Agriculture is the mainstay of the state economy that employs 80% of people. The sector plays a key role in women and youth empowerment, employment generation, and poverty alleviation, among others.
The governor appreciated the cordial working relationship with the Yobe State House of Assembly that immensely contributed to all the successes being recorded so far.
“With such mutual cooperation, we believe we can transcend the state achievements in the next three years,” said Governor Buni.