Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to accelerating development, expanding economic opportunities and consolidating investments in critical sectors.
The Governorn was speaking as the state marks 30 years of statehood alongside Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
In a special anniversary message marking 1st October, Governor Yahaya described the twin celebrations as an opportunity to reflect on Gombe’s transformation over the past three decades and chart a clear course for its next phase of growth and development.
Since its creation on 1 October 1996, he said, Gombe had evolved from a newly created state into an increasingly important economic and administrative hub in the North-East, driven by strategic planning, investments in critical infrastructure and reforms designed to create an enabling environment for socio-economic development.
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The Governor attributed much of the state’s development trajectory to the Gombe State 10-Year Development Plan, DEVAGOM, which provides a long-term framework for sustainable and inclusive growth.
According to him, the plan was developed through extensive stakeholder consultations and continues to guide government interventions and investments across key sectors, including human capital development, infrastructure, economic growth, environmental sustainability and improved quality of life.
Development Under DEVAGOM
Governor Yahaya said his administration had, under the Development Agenda for Gombe State (DEVAGOM), implemented broad-based interventions covering education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, industrialisation, environmental restoration, public-sector reforms, ease of doing business, Youth and women empowerment.
He said the interventions had produced measurable progress across critical sectors, particularly in expanding access to essential services, improving public infrastructure, stimulating economic activity and strengthening the foundations for sustainable development.
“In education, the administration has focused on improving infrastructure and human capital through the construction, renovation and upgrading of schools, as well as the recruitment of qualified teachers to address manpower shortages and improve teaching and learning,” Governor Yahaya said.
According to him, the health sector has also received significant investment, including the revitalisation of 228 primary healthcare centres, the upgrading of general hospitals and improvements in specialist healthcare services.
He said the government has further recruited health professionals, improved their salary structure and expanded health insurance coverage in an effort to make affordable healthcare accessible to more residents.
Governor Yahaya said the state has constructed and rehabilitated more than 1,000 kilometres of roads under the Network 11-100 programme and other interventions.
Industrialisation and investment
On industrialisation and investment promotion, Governor Yahaya highlighted the development of the 1,000-hectare Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, which is being positioned as a major hub for industrial activity and private-sector investment.
He said this had been complemented by efforts to improve the ease of doing business, attract investors and create an environment conducive to enterprise development and job creation.
The Gombe Governor said on the area of agriculture and livestock, the administration has focused on expanding productive capacity through the Agro-Livestock Development Zone, with interventions designed to support farmers and livestock producers, promote value addition and strengthen the sector’s contribution to economic diversification and food security.
On environmental restoration, he said the government has intensified efforts to tackle gully erosion and land degradation through targeted erosion-control and ecological restoration projects.
The Gombe Goes Green (3G) initiative has also supported tree planting and environmental regeneration as part of the state’s response to desertification and climate-related challenges.
Public-Sector Reforms
Under public-sector reforms and workers’ welfare, the administration has maintained the prompt payment of salaries while addressing inherited liabilities.
Governor Yahaya identified the clearance of the inherited backlog of outstanding gratuities owed to retired civil servants as a major milestone, alongside measures aimed at improving the efficiency and morale of the public service.
The administration has also implemented youth and women empowerment programmes focused on skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, agriculture and access to economic opportunities, with the aim of increasing participation in productive activities and reducing barriers to self-reliance.
Nigerians At 66
Governor Yahaya, who is also Chairman of the Northern Nigeria Governors’ Forum, congratulated President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians on the country’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
He described Nigeria’s journey since independence as one characterised by resilience, diversity, challenges and progress.
The Governor called on Nigerians to remain committed to unity, peace, justice and democratic development, stressing that the country’s diversity remains a source of strength.
