Gov Bala Mohammed Inaugurates Solar Facilities, Others At Yankari

Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, has commissioned solar-powered facilities and renovated chalets at the Yankari Game Reserve.

He said the upgrades were part of the state’s efforts to reposition the tourist destination and create jobs for young people and economic opportunities for the host communities.

The governor, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Hon. Auwal Muhammad Jatau, said the development marked a significant milestone in the state’s drive to transform Yankari into a major tourism and economic hub.

Mohammed said the projects went beyond improving tourism infrastructure, stressing that they were designed to generate employment, support local businesses and strengthen the people’s sense of ownership of the state’s tourist assets.

“These projects are about more than tourism. They are about jobs, about local businesses and about giving Bauchi people a reason to be proud of what we have,” he said.

Mohammed said the state government could not develop Yankari single-handedly, urging traditional rulers, community leaders, residents and conservation stakeholders to regard the facilities as collective assets belonging to the people of Bauchi State.

The upgrades include solar electrification across the resort, renovation and modernisation of chalets for tourists, families and researchers, and improvements to the water supply system.

According to the Governor, the adoption of cleaner energy and improvement of hospitality facilities would enhance visitors’ experience, encourage longer stays and increase spending within the local economy.

The Governor also linked the investment in tourism to his administration’s broader economic development agenda, particularly in agriculture.

He said the state government had invested in modern farming inputs, rehabilitated irrigation schemes, introduced tractor-hiring services for smallholder farmers, and expanded the State Fertiliser Blending Company by using locally sourced raw materials.

These interventions, he added, were aimed at strengthening food security, creating employment and improving the livelihoods of residents.

However, Mohammed expressed concern over the growing threat posed by climate-related disasters across the state, revealing that about 1,800 communities were vulnerable to flooding, gully erosion and stream-bank erosion.

He therefore appealed to the Federal Government to provide additional intervention to protect the affected communities and prevent further deterioration in their living conditions.

“I therefore wish to call for further intervention of the Federal Government to save these communities from further aggravation of their plight,” he appealed.

The Governor also commended the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) for its efforts towards ensuring equitable revenue allocation, urging the commission to take into consideration Bauchi State’s prudent and judicious management of resources in its future recommendations.

He stressed the importance of security, environmental protection, and community participation in sustaining Yankari’s development, saying the state government remained committed to making the reserve a major driver of tourism, employment, and economic growth.

With the latest upgrades, the state government is positioning Yankari Game Reserve not only as a premier tourist destination but also as an important economic asset benefiting the people of Bauchi State and its host communities.