The Gombe State Executive Council, presided over by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, has approved the construction of over 74 kilometers of rural roads, alongside several capital projects and compensation packages aimed at accelerating infrastructure development across the state.
This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Ethical Orientation, Mijinyawa Tilde, during a press briefing after the 46th State Executive Council Meeting, at the EXCO Chamber, Government House, Gombe.
According to Tilde, the Council also ratified the handover of Kumo General Hospital to the Federal Government for its conversion into a Federal Medical Centre.
Providing further insight, the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Engr. Usman Maijama’a Kallamu, explained that the 74.69 kilometers rural roads approved are going to be executed in collaboration with the World Bank-supported Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, across four Local Government Areas.
Kallamu noted that the approved roads are: Kembu–Kidda–Panda–Garin Alhaji Road (25km) in Akko LGA, Kwanan Daniya–Daban Fulani–Bajoga Magaba Road (18km) in Funakaye LGA, Dukku–Zaune Road (31km) in Dukku LGA.
“The counterpart funding approved for these projects and others previously executed under RAAMP amounts to N3 billion,” Engr. Kallamu stated.
In a related development, the Council approved N545 million as augmentation for the Kumo–Luggerewo–Papa Road to ensure its timely completion, giving the contractor a one-month deadline to finalize the work.
For the long-delayed Ture–Gelengu Road, originally awarded by a previous administration, the Council approved an augmentation of N7.6 billion, reflecting the rising cost of materials due to inflation and exchange rate fluctuations.
In Balanga LGA, the government approved N2.4 billion for the construction of a 4.5 km road linking Talasse Road to Balanga Gari, with a completion timeline of eight months.
