By: Monday Munkaila, Gombe
Gombe State Executive Council (SEC) has approved contracts for gully erosion control and various road projects under Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s Network 1100 initiative.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner of Information and Culture, Mijinyawa Ardo Tilde, shortly after the 38th Executive Council meeting presided over by the Governor at the Council Chamber of the Government House.
Hon. Tilde said the council ratified various projects, including building embankments along the Dogon Ruwa River to protect the town from erosion and flooding, and the gully erosion control project along the Nayinawa axis in Gombe Metropolis.
Shedding more light on the works approved under his ministry, the Commissioner for Works, Housing, and Transport, Engr. Usman Maijama’a Kallamu, explained that the approvals followed the washouts witnessed at various locations which threatened the integrity of the affected roads.
The roads involved in the repairs are: Todi-Tudu Kwaya Road in Billiri LGA, awarded at a contract sum of 839 million Naira, and Hina-Gwani East Road in Yamaltu Deba LGA, awarded at 754 million Naira. Both projects are to be completed in two months.
The council also approved the emergency construction of embankments along the Dogon Ruwa River in Kaltungo LGA due to severe erosion threatening lives and properties in Dogon Ruwa Town. The work was awarded to Datum Nig. Ltd at a sum of 1.6 billion Naira, and the contractor has already mobilized to the site.
The council appreciated the gesture by Triacta Nig Ltd for agreeing to construct an access road worth 1.2 billion Naira at the School of Nursing and Midwifery and EEC Nigeria Ltd who offered to construct a road and erosion control project worth 600 million Naira at Government Secondary School Dadinkowa in Yamaltu Deba as their Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR) for the Gombe people to complement Governor Inuwa’s infrastructural drive.
The council resolved to formally forward letters of appreciation to the two construction companies in response to their magnanimity.
He said “Construction works are still ongoing in all five upgraded Mega Schools across the state. In this respect, approval was given for the construction of an access road at Government Girls Secondary School, Doma, at a contract sum of 1.8 billion Naira”.
“Construction of another 1.4-kilometer access road and park was also granted for the Kwadon Rural Market constructed by NALDA for effective use of the facility towards boosting agricultural productivity in the region. The contract was awarded at a sum of 2.2 billion Naira”, he added.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Water, Environment, and Forest Resources, Mohammed Sa’idu Fawu, said that in the governor’s commitment to combat land degradation and control gully erosion, his ministry secured the council’s approval for the gully erosion control project starting from Gombe International Hotel, running through the Nayinawa axis up to Ganduje Road.
“The project was awarded to Triacta Nig. Ltd at a sum of 3.9 billion Naira and will be completed in one year, despite the difficulty of the terrain during the rainy season.”
He explained further that Gombe State Government is taking drastic measures to provide lasting solutions to the aged-long water challenge in the state Capital and environs.
“Government is exploring other sources of water to complement the Dadinkowa regional water supply scheme, which is no longer sufficient to meet the growing demand of the metropolis. We are working to revive the abandoned Malam-Inna Water Scheme for improved efficiency”, he said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the briefing, the Director-General, Press Affairs to the Governor, Malam Ismaila Uba Misilli, gave an update on a series of activities planned to commemorate Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s fifth-year anniversary.
He explained that the anniversary activities would feature special prayer sessions, commissioning of important projects such as the Gombe Mega Park, inspection tours, and a symposium to be delivered by notable intellectuals, including Babatunde Raji Fashola, former Minister of Works, and Professor Umaru Pate, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Kashere as contained in a statement by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General, (Press Affairs), Government House, Gombe.
