Seven big scores of Mala Buni, by Mahmud Jega
For a man who doesn’t talk much, it is worth listening to him when he finally speaks out. Mai Mala Buni has been the Governor of Yobe State for five and a half years. Previously, he served as the National Secretary of the APC and, for two years, was the ruling APC’s Caretaker National Chairman. In all these roles, he was not known for boasting or bragging. His personal motto, apparently, is that actions speak louder than words and that empty drums make the most noise.
As the year 2024 draws to a close, however, Governor Buni chose to speak at a press briefing in his state capital, Damaturu. Most certainly, he succumbed to the pressure of aides who know that words travel farther when uttered by the boss himself. At the briefing, Buni reflected on the seven big goals his administration achieved within the year, all against the backdrop of insecurity in the state’s northern parts, including the destruction of electricity towers by Boko Haram agents.
1. Humanitarian Support
Buni scored his first goal in the area of humanitarian support. Under his leadership, the Yobe State Government provided ₦3.9 billion in multi-purpose cash assistance to 52,000 households and over 200,000 individuals. Additionally, 974,220 individuals received food and non-food assistance items within the year.
2. Agriculture
His second goal came in agriculture. The governor launched an agricultural empowerment programme and spent ₦15.3 billion to support 5,340 farmers across the state. In addition, ₦1.7 billion was spent on procuring grains for strategic reserves.
3. Healthcare
Buni’s third goal was in healthcare. Yobe State won $500,000 in the North-East Primary Healthcare Leadership Challenge this year due to significant improvements. These included recruiting 311 healthcare workers, adjusting salary scales, offering free dialysis programs, renovating hospitals, supplying medical equipment, and expanding contributory healthcare schemes.
4. Infrastructure
The governor’s fourth goal was in infrastructure. His administration completed and initiated numerous road projects, including the 76km Gujba-Ngalda road and urban road networks in major towns. Solar-powered boreholes and streetlights were also installed in rural and urban areas to enhance water supply and energy access.
READ ALSO: Leading Yobe Forward: Governor Mai Mala Buni’s achievements across sectors, by Maji MB
5. Education
Education was Buni’s fifth goal. Significant strides were made in basic and higher education through teacher recruitment and training, infrastructure upgrades, and enhanced student feeding programs. In 2024 alone, ₦2 billion was spent on tuition and exam fees for secondary school students, a remarkable boost for a state considered educationally disadvantaged.
6. Economic Empowerment
Buni’s sixth goal was in economic empowerment. His administration rolled out programmes including cash grants for micro and small entrepreneurs, vocational training for youths, and the distribution of tools and equipment to beneficiaries. Modern markets and processing facilities are also under construction to enhance commerce and industry.
7. Environmental Protection
The seventh goal focused on environmental protection. As a Sahelian state with a fragile environment, Yobe undertook erosion control projects, reforestation programmes, and distributed solar-powered cooking stoves, all aimed at mitigating environmental challenges.
This affable gentleman did not claim all the credit for these achievements. At the press briefing, he acknowledged the contributions of civil servants, traditional rulers, the military, police, local vigilantes, the media, and other stakeholders in driving progress across multiple sectors. In other words, it wasn’t just the Centre Forward’s efforts that scored all the goals; other strikers, wingers, defenders, and the goalkeeper contributed significantly.
Looking ahead to 2025, Governor Buni promised that his administration would double down on service delivery, aiming to consolidate infrastructure and other socio-economic developments. In his words, Yobe State is poised for a “goal feast” in 2025.
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