29th May, 2015
Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has pledged to continue to pursue probity, transparency and accountability in running the affairs of the state.
He spoke while taking oath of office for a second term in office in Gombe on Friday administered by the State Chief Judge, Justice Akila Heman at the Pantami Stadium Gombe.
The governor promised to carry all stakeholders along to give them a sense of belonging.
He said the sporadic attacks from insurgents and the hosting of internally displaced persons from the neighbouring states affected by the crisis had negative impact on the lean resources of the state.
The governor, however, said his commitment and stringent fiscal management had led to the transformation of the state into a modern metropolis for other states to emulate.
According to him, the administration spent over N10 billion on the procurement and distribution of 225 tractors, employed 147 tractor drivers, technicians and artisans to facilitate land clearing.
“We also procured and distributed 110,000 tons of fertilizers to farmers at subsidized rates for rain-fed and irrigated agriculture.
“In addition, we also procured and distributed 2,280 work bulls and ox-drawn ploughs, provided seedlings and purchased ridge makers, harrowers and ploughs.
“We purchased and distributed 8,000 water pumps to dry season farmers,” he said.
In order to further boost agriculture, he said government disbursed N600 million as Gombe State Revolving Agricultural Fund to increase access to credit by farmers
On education, Dankwambo said the administration renovated and constructed new classrooms, hostels; staff quarters, laboratories, equipment and instructional materials.
Other interventions in the education sector he said were the recruitment, training and retraining of teachers which had impacted positively on teacher-student ration.
The governor also stated that his administration had appointed Senior Management and Officers for the take-off of the newly established higher institutions in the state.
They are College of Education, Billiri, State Polytechnic, Bajoga; College of Legal and Islamic Studies Nafada and Remedial Studies College for Girls, Daban Fulani.
In the health sector, Dankwambo said government upgraded and renovated hospitals, clinics and maternities, procured and installed hospital equipment as well as procured drugs. “Our investment in healthcare services resulted in an increase in the number of hospital beds from 5,000 in 2010 to 13,818 in 2013.
“There was increase in immunization coverage from 65% in 2010 to 85% in 2013, HIV voluntary counseling centres from 45 in 2010 to 215 in 2013, women registered for Family Planning from 22,666 in 2010 to 151,859 in 2013.
“There was an increase in healthcare centres from 445 in 2010 to 531 in 2013, increase in doctors and nurses, reduction in deaths caused by malaria from 563 in 2010 to 134 in 2013, and increase in paramedical staff from 1,430 in 2010 to 1,744 in 2013,” he said.
The governor said his administration spent N79 billion in constructing 350km of asphalt roads, over 500km surface dressed roads, 53km walkways and working on additional 280km roads.
He said over N10 billion was expended in replacement of water pipelines and extended reticulation to serve the needs of Greater Gombe and extension of water scheme to Kwami, gadam, Bojude, Tappi, Komfulata and Tufure area.
He said government established four skills acquisition centres at Lubo, Toungo, Kashere and Kaltungo, while 3,000 youths had been trained under the Talba Youth Re-orientation programme.
He said the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the Gombe State Government had disbursed one billion naira to cooperative societies under the Micro, Small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs).
“The government and Jaiz Bank disbursed N750 million to 2,065 traders, among other interventions.”
The governor said the people should prepare to pay for the services and contribute to the maintenance of schools, hospitals and other infrastructure as the era of relying on was over.
NAN reports that the new Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Charles Iliya, also took oath of office.
He succeeded Mr Tha’anda Rubainu, who was appointed Deputy Governor by Dankwambo, following the death of the first Deputy Governor to Dankwambo, Mr David Albashi about four months after taking oath in 2011.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion included former Rubainu, Emirs and Chiefs, National and State Assembly members, amd former commissioners, among others.