The Gombe State Executive Council has approved more than N16bn for township road projects in Billiri and Kaltungo Local Government Areas, alongside N1.4bn for solar-powered street lighting projects in the state capital.
The Punch reported that the decisions were reached during the council’s 55th meeting, presided over by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya.
Briefing journalists after the meeting on Friday, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Saidu Fawu, said the council approved the procurement and installation of 198 solar-powered street lights along the four-kilometre corridor linking the Hajj Camp to the Brigadier Zakari Maimalari International Airport.
The project also covers the airport’s internal roads and was awarded for N400.467m.
Fawu said, “The council ratified the procurement and installation of 198 solar-powered street lights along the four-kilometre road corridor from the Hajj Camp to the Brigadier Zakari Maimalari International Airport, including the airport’s internal roads.”
He added that the council also approved another solar street lighting project covering the Ashaka Junction–Federal College of Education route and adjoining roads around the city centre.
According to him, the project, involving double-arm solar-powered street lights, was awarded to Mega Tech Consult Nigeria Limited for N1,087,475,891.
“The contract, valued at N1,087,475,891, was awarded to Mega Tech Consult Nigeria Limited,” the commissioner stated.
Fawu said the lighting projects were intended to improve visibility along major routes, enhance security and make movement within Gombe metropolis safer.
Airport gets N1.25bn intervention
The council further approved N839.471m for the renovation and furnishing of facilities at the Brigadier Zakari Maimalari International Airport.
Fawu explained that the project would involve the rehabilitation of essential airport facilities as well as repairs to the airport’s fire service truck.
He said, “The project includes the rehabilitation of critical airport infrastructure as well as the repair and restoration of the airport’s fire service truck to improve operational efficiency, strengthen emergency response capability and ensure compliance with aviation safety standards.”
An additional N414.345m was approved for repairing washouts caused by recent heavy rainfall at the airport.
The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Usman Maijama’a Kallamu, said the intervention followed damage sustained by the airport during the rains.
He added that the government remained committed to preserving critical infrastructure and ensuring that public facilities continued to function effectively.
N16bn approved for Billiri, Kaltungo roads
In the road sector, the council approved N7.295bn for the construction of Kaltungo Township Road and N8.752bn for Billiri Township Road, bringing the combined value of the two projects to more than N16bn.
Kallamu explained that the two road projects were initially awarded in 2022 but could not begin because of compensation-related challenges.
“The projects had initially been awarded in 2022 but could not commence due to issues relating to compensation,” Kallamu said.
He said the latest approvals took into consideration current market conditions and would enable work to begin.
“The fresh approvals reflect prevailing market realities and will pave the way for the immediate execution of the projects,” he added.
The council also approved N891.175m for the grading, surfacing and asphalting of the Mararaban Kuri-Kuri Town Road.
Gombe adopts education reform programme
The council adopted the Gombe Basic Education and Skills Transformation initiative, known as GOBEST, as part of efforts to reform basic and technical education across the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr Aishatu Maigari, said the decision followed consideration of recommendations from the Task Force Committee on the Reforms and Revitalisation of Basic and Technical Education in Gombe State.
The committee was inaugurated by Governor Yahaya on November 17, 2025.
Maigari said, “One of the key recommendations adopted by the council as an actionable strategy is the Gombe Basic Education and Skills Transformation initiative.”
She described GOBEST as a flagship programme intended to reposition basic and technical education while improving learning outcomes.
The council also approved N998.004m for the purchase of 22,000 mattresses and beddings for boarding schools across the state.
According to Maigari, the provision was aimed at improving accommodation conditions for students.
She said, “The approval became necessary to provide a more conducive learning environment for students in the state’s mega schools and other boarding institutions.”
Council adopts strategic youth policy
The council also approved the Gombe State Strategic Youth Policy, designed to provide a framework for youth development and strengthen existing government interventions targeted at young people.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Micah Hamman, said the policy was aligned with the state’s 10-year development plan and would focus on skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, capacity building and other human capital development initiatives.
Hamman said, “With over 60 per cent of Gombe State’s population comprising young people, the present administration has consistently prioritised youth-focused programmes.”
He added, “The new policy would consolidate existing investments to empower young people and prepare them for productive participation in society,” he said.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Waziri, said the ministry would work towards effective implementation of the policy.
Waziri said, “The policy will significantly address the challenges hindering youth development in Gombe State while sustaining and consolidating the achievements already recorded in the sector.”
200,000 fertiliser bags for farmers
The council also reviewed plans for distributing 200,000 bags of high-quality fertiliser purchased by the state government for farmers during the current farming season.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Waziri Muhammad, said about 80 per cent of the fertiliser had already been distributed across the state’s 11 local government areas.
He said, “About 80 per cent of the fertiliser has already been distributed to the eleven Local Government Areas to ensure timely access by farmers at the grassroots.”
He explained that the remaining fertiliser would be allocated to large-, medium-scale and registered farmers’ groups, associations and other qualified beneficiaries under the state’s distribution arrangement.
Muhammad said the intervention was designed to boost agricultural output and strengthen food security.
“Agriculture remains one of the administration’s priority sectors, and this intervention is designed to increase productivity and support farmers during the current farming season,” he said.
Administration targets consolidation
The Commissioner for Information, Strategy and Culture, Moses Kyari, said the latest approvals reflected the administration’s focus on consolidating its development programmes as it approaches the final phase of its tenure.
He said the approved projects and policies covered infrastructure, education, youth development and agriculture.
Kyari said, “The approvals are in line with Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to consolidating the developmental gains recorded since the inception of his administration.”
He added that the state government would continue implementing projects and policies aimed at improving infrastructure, developing human capital and supporting economic activities across Gombe State.
