There is no contesting that Jigawa State, under Governor Umar Namadi’s administration, is a work in progress. The array of infrastructural development, alongside the implementation of numerous people-oriented programmes and policies, has helped make the state stand out.
As should be expected, residents of the state are continually praising the governor. The recent commendation came from the Emir of Dutse, His Highness Alhaji Hameem Nuhu Sanusi, who spoke the minds of millions of his subjects when he expressed elation at the level of transformation across the state.
Speaking during the flag-off of the N10.8 billion erosion control projects in some parts of Dutse metropolis, Emir Sanusi said the developmental projects currently springing up across the state will no doubt relieve the plight of the common man, adding, ” They will certainly improve the social and economic life of the Jigawa people.”
The monarch maintained that the projects executed by Governor Malam Umar Namadi’s administration have a direct bearing on the lives of the citizens.
According to the emir, the gully erosion control projects will provide a lifeline to residents of Kargo community and other communities who live in agony and poverty due to the erosion that has ruined their areas over the years.
He noted that Governor Namadi’s works “speak louder for him,” adding that through his focused determination to implement people-oriented projects, the governor was writing his name in the annals of history as an exemplary leader.
“We have nothing to say than to continue to support you and also pray to Almighty Allah to give you more strength, wisdom and good health to deliver us to the promised land. Indeed, we have confidence in your purposeful leadership,” he said.
It is evident that since his return from an 18-day foreign trip on 17th November 2024, Governor Namadi has swung into action and continued executing development projects. In less than two weeks, he touched all 27 local government areas of the state with various developmental projects.
These projects included the N10.88 billion erosion control projects at Danmasa, Kalgo and Yalwawa communities. The Danmasara – Kalgo-Yalwawa Erosion Control Project, initiated by the Jigawa State government, is being funded under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), a World Bank programme.
The gully erosion and flood mitigation project also encompasses the payment of compensation to four hundred and seventy-nine (479) persons affected by the projects, known as Project-Affected Persons (PAP), most of whom are vulnerable.
Based on the design, the project involves the construction of about seven (7) kilometres of U-shaped gravity-driven drainage structures, dozens of culverts of various dimensions with connecting roads over them, and additional reinforced concrete structures sideways to ensure lasting resilience.
When completed, the project is expected to reclaim over 400 hectares of land along the gully corridor. While mitigating future erosion in the entire area, it will also restore the sustainable means of livelihood for the thousands of households that live within the area.
Fascinatingly, residents whose properties were directly affected by the erosion control work were also given compensation. Over N189.94 million was paid to 479 individuals affected by the project.
Furthermore, a goat-breeding support programme was also launched, in which some vulnerable persons were supported and empowered to rear goats as a means of enhancing their livelihood.
Governor Namadi also launched the N2,297,708,000 solar-powered water project to be executed in the three local government areas of Birnin-Kudu, Hadejia, and Gumel.
The project, which is also under ACReSAL, aims at boosting the supply of drinking water in the beneficiary’s area by using clean and environmentally friendly energy. It included the construction of 47 solar-powered boreholes, each with a capacity of supplying approximately 10,000 water cubic litres per day.
Findings revealed that other project components, including the construction of an 878 cubic meter Braithwaite Surface Tank at Masaya, a 200 cubic meter pressed steel overhead tank in Gumel and Hadejia, fully equipped and furnished office blocks comprising offices, stores, and control rooms, and a solar-powered security lighting system over a 5-hectare fenced area, would be constructed in each of the three project locations.
Further still, Governor Namadi approved N6.3bn for the renovation of classrooms, hospitals, and other public infrastructures. The approval included the award of a contract worth N2.4bn for the construction, supply, and renovation of over 100 senior secondary schools across the state.
Other plausible approvals by the governor included N38.5m for the renovation of 9nos student hostels at JSS Karkarna and a block of two classrooms at Rauda Primary School, Yankwashi LGA; N35.519m for the construction of 2 classrooms with office and procurements and Early Child Care Development Education plastic classrooms furniture.
Additionally, the government okayed the sum of N956.5m for contract review to complete the construction of the access road at the new legislative quarters, while the sum of N899,745,102.48k was approved for the renovation of the state secretariat complexes A and B.
The council equally approved the sum of N810,581,065.32k for the construction of a standard workshop and painting bay at Dutse, with N40,433,238.57k for consultancy services for the project.
The sum of N280,765,597.23 was approved for phase II additional works at Gumel Orthopedic Hospital, and the sum of N1,841,464,359.61 for the construction of a diagnostic centre in Dutse; N612,316,841.52k for the completion of Hadejia Specialist Hospital; and N761,678,049.09k for Kazaure Specialist Hospital.
Other approvals included enrolling 5,740 elderly persons into state social security, with 20 beneficiaries from each of the 287 political wards. Each beneficiary will receive an N10,000 grant and enjoy a full health insurance package.
The contract for expanding the ongoing construction of the New Faculty of Medicine at Sule Lamido University (SLU) to provide additional structures for more specialised departments, laboratories, heavy-duty electrical installation, and other administrative blocks were also awarded. The amount was reviewed from N2.74 billion to N6.5 billion. N1.3 billion was approved for the construction of two 480-capacity female students’ hostels at Sule Lamido University.
In Jigawa State, November witnessed an array of approvals in line with Governor Namadi’s determination to radically change the face of the state and its people through the execution of massive infrastructure projects. Perhaps this justifies the royal accolades from His Royal Highness, Emir of Dutse. More than anything else, the accolades by the revered monarch are one in a series of many others that are aimed at showing appreciation to the governor.
