Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has called for greater collaboration among key national institutions, including the Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers and other professional bodies, to accelerate Nigeria’s infrastructural and economic development.
The governor made the call on Tuesday when he received Team 5 of Senior Course 34 of the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja, who were on a study tour of Gombe State with the theme “Optimising Natural Resources for Industrialisation, National Development and Security in Nigeria.”
Yahaya noted that meaningful security and development can only be achieved through deliberate investment in industrialisation and socio-economic empowerment, stressing that without a focused drive toward industrial and economic transformation, the quest by governments at all levels to secure the lives and property of citizens may remain elusive.
In a statement by his media aide, Isma’ila Uba Misilli, the governor urged the NDC participants to be objective in their assessment, saying their findings would be vital in shaping policies that link economic growth with national stability.
The governor emphasised Gombe’s readiness to collaborate with national bodies in executing strategic projects that stimulate growth and foster regional integration.
He cited his administration’s flagship “Network Eleven Hundred” project, which targets the construction of at least 100 kilometres of road in each of the 11 local government areas, as evidence of the state’s commitment to infrastructure-led progress.
Highlighting Gombe’s strides in industrialisation, Governor Yahaya pointed to the ongoing development of the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park in Dadin Kowa, describing it as a transformative investment aimed at turning Gombe into an industrial hub of the North-East.
“So far, we have invested over N26 billion in the Industrial Park. We provided more than 25 kilometres of road networks, over 2 million litres of water storage facilities and an independent electricity source to power industries. We have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Chinese firm for the provision of 100 megawatts of solar energy to boost the state’s power supply.”
Governor Yahaya further noted that the industrial park is designed to enhance agro-industrial value chains, support large-scale farming, and reduce post-harvest losses, critical steps toward food security and employment generation.
On peace and security, the Governor highlighted Gombe’s proactive conflict-prevention measures, particularly in addressing farmer-herder clashes. He explained that the state had implemented seasonal grazing restrictions during harvest periods, a move that has significantly reduced communal tensions.
Earlier, the leader of the NDC delegation, Brigadier General Olumide Adeleke Ojo, commended the Governor for his leadership vision and development-driven governance. He lauded Gombe’s investments in water, power, and infrastructure, describing them as critical enablers of sustainable industrialisation and security.
He said they were impressed by the developmental projects in the state, saying that they demonstrate foresight, planning, and a commitment to human capital and industrial development.
