Text of a State Broadcast by His Excellency, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya CON (Dan-Majen Gombe), Governor of Gombe State, on the Occasion of the 6th Anniversary Celebration of His Administration, Thursday May 29, 2025.
My dear people of Gombe State,
2. It is with profound gratitude to Almighty Allah and a heart full of appreciation that I address you today as we mark the sixth anniversary of our administration. Six years ago, you placed your trust in me to lead our beloved state as governor. In 2023, you reaffirmed that trust with an even greater mandate. For this, I am deeply humbled and eternally grateful.
3. As we celebrate today, we recognize that the curtain is gradually drawing on my time as governor, with 75% of the time already spent. The years ahead will be dedicated to consolidating the remarkable progress we have made together, by ensuring that Gombe State emerges stronger, more prosperous, and better positioned for the future than ever before.
4. When we began this journey six years ago, we promised to transform Gombe into a model of development, and today, that promise has become a reality. Across all sectors and within every corner of our state, the evidence of progress is undeniable.
5. Our administration has recorded tremendous achievements in the health sector. In 2020, we launched an ambitious healthcare revitalization program, successfully delivering one fully equipped 1Primary Healthcare Center in each of our 114 political wards, and recruited 440 PHC workers and 145 midwives who are strategically posted to underserved communities in order to ensure safe deliveries. Building on this success, we recently embarked on the second phase of the program, which will add another 114 fully functional PHCs -bringing the total to 228 modern primary healthcare facilities across the state. At the secondary healthcare level, we undertook a comprehensive upgrade and remodelling of the Gombe Specialist Hospital, extensive renovations of General Hospitals in Bajoga and Kaltungo, and the construction of a state-of-the-art General Hospital in Kumo – which has been graciously elevated to a Federal Medical Center by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
6. To address critical manpower shortages in the health sector, we established a 1000-capacity School of Nursing Sciences. The Gombe State Contributory Health Scheme (Go-Health) has so far enrolled over 369,817 beneficiaries, including about 100,000 vulnerable citizens who are receiving free healthcare coverage. We further strengthened our health system through strategic institutions like the HospitalsManagement Board, Gombe State Pharmaceutical Supply Company Limited (Go-Pharma), and the Gombe State Drugs and Medical Supplies Management Agency (GODMA). These coordinated interventions have produced great results, leading to more than twofold increase in immunization coverage from 18% in 2018 to 49% in 2023 as reported by the National Demographic and Health Survey, thus transforming Gombe into a national benchmark for healthcare reforms.
7. Following the declaration of state of emergency in the education sector in 2019, our administration’s comprehensive education reforms have yielded remarkable results across all levels. We have constructed and renovated over 1,600 classrooms in 350 schools, and recruited more than 1,000 qualified teachers to enhance learning outcomes. Through the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) program, we successfully mopped up over 350,000 out-ofschool children into formal education. To sustain this progress, we are building modern Integrated Almajiri Tsangaya Centers in each Local Government Area, and appointed a Special Adviser on Almajiri Education. We are also working on establishing an Almajiri and Outof-School Children Commission, thus demonstrating our innovative approach to blending traditional Islamic learning with modern western education in order to leave no child behind.
8. At the secondary education level, we transformed five legacy schools into state-of-the-art Mega Colleges and established the Secondary Schools Management Board to ensure quality oversight. Our reintroduction of mandatory mock examinations for secondary schoolshas ensured both academic excellence and value-for-money, thus contributing to a dramatic rise in performance—from 22% pass rates in 2019 to 76% in 2024 in national examinations for students who scored a minimum of 5 credits including English and Mathematics. At the tertiary level, we increased funding to Gombe State University, and all our other tertiary institutions, and established two strategic new faculties across two campuses: the Faculty of Environmental Sciences in Dukku and the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Kwami in order to help address pressing societal challenges, ranging from food security to sustainable urban development.
9. These interventions have positioned Gombe as a national leader in education innovation, earning commendations from the Federal Ministry of Education and development partners for our holistic, datadriven approach to systemic improvement in learning outcomes.
10. We have significantly transformed the road infrastructure landscape in Gombe State through the implementation of our flagship Network 11/100 Project, which has so far delivered over 900 kilometers of rural and urban roads across the state. This ambitious intervention has greatly enhanced connectivity between communities, unlocked economic opportunities, and facilitated the seamless movement of people and goods. Our focus has been on constructing critical road networks that were neglected by previous administrations. Key examples include the Degri–Talasse, Bambam–Tula Yiri, Malala–Zange, Mona–Kutare, Tashan Magarya–Papa, and Kuri-Lambam roads. In Gombe metropolis, we have also opened up access to underserved communities such as Tumfure, Nayinawa, Mallam Inna–Kagarawal, and Arawa, easing intra-city mobility and accelerating socioeconomic development.
11. All township roads constructed under this initiative are equipped with solar-powered streetlights, which have significantly improved night-time visibility and enhanced community security. The planned Gombe Northern Bypass stands out as the crown jewel of this intervention. Spanning over 20 kilometers, it is designed to bypass Gombe metropolis, provide direct linkage to the Gombe–Potiskum Road, and eventually connect to the Gombe–Biu Road, thus positioning the state as a major transit and logistics hub in the region.
12. Our administration has positioned Gombe as the premier industrial hub of North-East Nigeria with the development of the 1,000-hectare Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park. Building on this momentum, we 4are actively optimizing the irrigation potentials of Dadinkowa and Balanga Dams to boost agricultural productivity. Soon, we will commence the construction of a transformative 184-hectare AgroIndustrial Hub, featuring an International Grains Market, International Livestock Market, and a state-of-the-art commercial abattoir. This visionary project will elevate Gombe beyond a regional leader and establish it as Northern Nigeria’s agribusiness and trade powerhouse, thereby creating boundless economic opportunities for the people.
13. Agriculture is the bedrock of our economy, and a source oflivelihoods for the vast majority of our people. Over the past six years, our administration has prioritized farmer and herder support through the consistent and timely distribution of fertilizers and farm inputs, animal vaccination campaigns and conflict mitigation. With strategic projects like the Balanga Dam canalization, the upcoming agroindustrial hub, and Gombe’s inclusion in the Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) initiative, we are poised to witness tremendous transformation in the agricultural sector. These efforts will not only bolster food security but also transform the lives of millions of our people by creating jobs, increasing productivity, and fostering sustainable economic growth.
14. Urban development in Gombe has been significantly strengthened through the creation of GOGIS (Gombe Geographic Information System) and GOSUPDA (Gombe State Urban Planning and Development Authority), which are instrumental in modernizing land administration and ensuring regulatory compliance. Key projects, such 5as the ongoing development in Shehu Abubakar District and other urban renewal initiatives, reflect our commitment to fostering structured and sustainable urbanisation. As Gombe metropolis continues to expand, it is imperative that this growth remains wellplanned and orderly, aligning with the city’s evolving status as a thriving urban center.
15. These policies and projects have succeeded in creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, as evidenced in our top position on PEBEC Ease of Doing Business Ranking in 2021 and 2022. With the recent signing of the Gombe State Electricity Law, we are taking bold steps toward creating a robust energy market in Gombe, thus enhancing energy sufficiency, which will serve as a catalyst for industrial growth and sustainable development. We equally set up theGombe State Investment Promotion Agency, which is expected to drive pro-business reforms and harness Gombe’s tremendous investment potentials.
16. Addressing the environmental challenges remains a major focus of our administration. We are investing significant resources towards environmental remediation through the planting of millions of trees under the Gombe Goes Green (3G) project. Through projects like NEWMAP and ACReSAL, we have broken the jinx by taking decisive action to reclaim Gombe from the grip of erosion, tackling monstrous gullies like the ones at FCE(T), GSU, GGSS Doma and Hayin Kwarin Misau, thereby protecting our environment and enhancing the livelihoods of our people.
17. In the last six years, our administration has made significant strides in improving water access by constructing over 900 boreholes and expanding the Gombe Regional Water Supply scheme to benefit surrounding communities. To further address water scarcity in our LGAs, we are collaborating with local governments to implement sustainable LGA-level water supply schemes. Beyond water provision, we are equally committed to enhancing sanitation through the construction of public toilets and waste disposal facilities, while strengthening GOSEPA’s operational capacity to ensure efficient waste management and a cleaner, healthier environment for all residents.
18. Our administration is deeply committed to the welfare of our civil servants, as demonstrated by the timely implementation of the new minimum wage and the payment of over 21 billion naira in inherited gratuity obligations—ensuring our retirees enjoy a dignified life after service. Through the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, we are further transforming the civil service by enhancing efficiency through capacity-building programs and modernizing infrastructure. Key projects, including the construction of an ultra-modern State House of Assembly, State High Court, and State Secretariat Complexes which make up the Three-Arms Zone, will provide a conducive work environment for public officials while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.
19. We are also committed to safeguarding our cultural heritage. This is evident in the ongoing construction and renovation of traditional palaces across the state, thus ensuring our revered emirs and district heads reside in royal accommodations worthy of their esteemed status. Furthermore, we have taken proactive steps by establishing a committee tasked with preserving and restoring historic buildings and cultural landmarks in Gombe State. These initiatives reflect our dedication to protecting our cherished cultural heritage.
20. Recognizing that sustainable development cannot thrive in an environment of fear and instability, our administration continues to prioritise the security of the people. I am particularly proud that Gombe State has maintained remarkable peace and security despite regional challenges – a testament to our collective resilience and unity in diversity. This achievement is not by coincidence, it is built out ofour strong commitment to equity, fairness, and justice for all. Through strategic initiatives like the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Gombe State Security, Traffic and Environmental Corps (GOSTEC), community-based conflict resolution mechanisms, and sustained support to security agencies through donations of vehicle and operational logistics, we have ensured Gombe remains one of Nigeria’s most peaceful states.
21. My dear people of Gombe State, our journey over the past six years has been one of resilience, unity, and transformative change. Together, we weathered historic storms—from a global pandemic to economic recessions, and geopolitical upheavals—yet we emerged stronger, turning every challenge into an opportunity for growth. This success story belongs to you: the hardworking people of Gombe State. To each and every one of you, I say a big thank you.
22. Yet, as we celebrate these milestones, we recognize that the task of building a prosperous Gombe requires the collective effort of every citizen—regardless of political, ethnic or religious affiliation. The legacy we seek to leave is not for a select few but for all Gombe indigenes, present and unborn.
23. In the coming two years, we will intensify our efforts to solidify Gombe’s strategic advantages in commerce, agriculture, and renewable energy. We will strengthen our institutions to sustain transparency and good governance, and we will continue to empower our youth with the skills and opportunities they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
24. At this juncture, I would like extend my deepest appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his unwavering support and visionary leadership which continue to inspire our progress. My sincere gratitude also goes to the Gombe State House of Assembly and the State Judiciary for their exemplary cooperation and commitment to good governance. To our revered traditional rulers, religious leaders, community stakeholders, political leaders, security agencies, and civil society organizations—thank you for your steadfast support and cooperation. As we enter the final phase of this administration, we remain grateful for your continued support as we work together to deliver on our shared vision for Gombe State.
25. My dear people of Gombe State, we have come too far to turn back now. The foundation we have laid is strong, but there’s still some work to do. Let us move forward with the same unity, determination, courage and resilience that brought us this far. Together, we will exceed every expectation and build a Gombe State that shines as a beacon of hope and progress in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
26. Thank you once again for your unwavering support and prayers. With God on our side and your collective support, there is no limit to what we can achieve.
27. Thank you for listening and God bless you all!
God bless Gombe State!!
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!