Zamfara State government has procured instructional materials for the State College of Nursing Gusau.
This was revealed by the Registrar of the school, Hamza Shehu Masu, in an interview with journalists
He said the materials would be installed at the demonstration room to enhance practical training for students.
The instructional materials include Mama Natalia (Uretic), Child Birth Simulator, Breast Feeding Model, Cervical Dictator Model, intubation model Adult, Child Manikin, Dual sex Anatomical Torso, Dual Anatomical, and Autoclave.
He said the instructional materials would improve practical training for students and boost the quality of teaching and learning.
He commended the state Commissioner for Health, Nafisa Muhammad Maradun, for the renovation and equipping of the nursing and midwifery departments, upgrading of demonstration rooms, construction of a perimeter fence, and the installation of solar equipment for the provision of a 24-hour power supply to the institution.
He said the interventions not only created a conducive learning environment but demonstrated the state government’s determination to enhance the quality of health education and manpower development in Zamfara State.
Zamfara State Government has offered to renovate the dilapidated Vice Chancellor’s Lodge and Sickbay at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Shamsuddeen Ibrahim, Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs to Governor Dauda Lawal, disclosed this when he visited the university to inspect the lodge and medical facility for assessment.
Ibrahim was taken round the two places on 25 December, 2025 by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Adamu Ahmed.
The Vice Chancellor was accompanied by the Director, Physical Planning and Municipal Services, Arc. Mukhtar H Mohammed; and the Provost, Postgraduate College, Prof Olayinka Okubanjo.
The visit to the university by the governor’s aide was in preparation for the taking over of the sites for the rehabilitation.
The aide was first at the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge at Site I, Area ‘A’, Main Campus, Samaru, Zaria, where he was taken round all parts of the lodge.
The VC and members of his team later took the government official to the University Sickbay, where they were received by the Deputy Director, University Health Services (UHS), Dr Alex Otu.
Dr Otu conducted them round all sections of the sickbay, explaining in details the state of the dilapidated university medical facility.
Some of the sections inspected include the administrative block, theatre room, OPD, antenatal unit, family planning unit, emergency room, ultrasound room, and dental section.
Dr Alex Otu, who expressed excitement for the plan to rehabilitate the sickbay, said the medical facility needed to be given all the attention it deserved.
Otu also explained that outsiders kept on coming to the hospital because of the “good services we have continued to offer”.
He described the dental section of the hospital as one of the busiest units because of high volume of dental patients which necessitated a strong collaboration with Ahmadu University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH).
Otu also said the NHIS unit of the facility was too small as the ABU sickbay had the highest number of clients in Nigeria.
Speaking after going round the lodge and the medical facility, Mr Ibrahim, expressed concern over the total dilapidation of the places visited.
Ibrahim also said a technical team would be deployed to the sites early in January, 2026 to further assess and take over the places for the rehabilitation works.
It would be recalled that Governor Lawal pledged his government’s willingness to intervene in rehabilitating some of the institution’s infrastructure facilities.
Zamfara First Lady Hajiya Hurriya Dauda Lawal has supported 250 elderly people with N200,000 each.
The gesture was part of the third edition of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme (RHIESS) in the state.
The programme held at the state government House, Gusau, the state capital.
The First Lady said the Renewed Hope Initiative celebrates senior citizens every December in recognition of their invaluable contributions to nation-building.
She said the tradition has been done every year since 2023 when the current administration came on board.
The First Lady said the initiative was to show gratitude and care for the senior citizens who have laboured to build an enduring nation that the present generation is proud of.
Representing First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Mrs Lawal said the scheme supported 250 vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in each of the 36 states of the federation.
The Zamfara State Government has charged the newly appointed Commandant for the Community Protection Guards (CPG) to uphold professionalism, ensure discipline and operate within clearly defined rules of engagement and operational protocols.
The Secretary to the Zamfara State Government, Malam Abubakar Mohammad Nakwada stated this on Monday, during the presentation of an appointment letter and policy guidelines for the overhaul of CPG to the newly appointed Commandant of the agency, AIG Muhammad Shehu Dalijan (rtd).
The SSG also warned that the State Government under Governor Dauda Lawal will not tolerate deviations from approved standards, noting that adherence to standard operation procedures is fundamental to professionalism, accountability and lawful conduct.
“The immediate and overriding priority before you is the restoration of clear and effective command and control across all formations of the CPG.
“This requires the re-establishment of an unambiguous chain of command, strict enforcement of discipline, and the proper alignment of authority and responsibility strictly in accordance with approved structures.
“A unified command architecture is essential to eliminating operational drift, internal contradictions, and unauthorized actions.
“These measures are necessary to reposition the CPG to work more effectively with sister security agencies, regain public confidence, and deliver on its core mandate of protecting lives, property, and communities across Zamfara,” the SSG stated.
Malam Nakwada further expressed the government’s appreciation for the selfless service and dedication of the immediate past CPG Commandant, Brig.Gen. ML Bature (rtd), reassuring him of the government’s continued support.
In a gesture of appreciation, the SSG announced that Governor Lawal has graciously approved the indefinite payment of monthly salary to the immediate past CPG Commandant, to support his health management.
In his remarks, the new CPG Commandant, AIG MD Shehu (rtd) said as one of the pioneer trainers of the Guards when he was the Commissioner of Police in Zamfara State, he is aware of their strengths and limitations, vowing to work towards repositioning the agency.
He further expressed optimism that with the state-of-the-art equipment provided by the State Government including the Armoured Career vehicles, he has no excuse than to perform.
The new Commandant also promised to strengthen interagency cooperation and synergize with other conventional security agencies to take the fight to the terrorists’ enclaves.
Governor Dauda Lawal has approved a 13-month salary for Zamfara state workers, political appointees and pensioners.
This was revealed in a statement signed by the state Head of Civil Service, Yakubu Sani Haidara, yesterday.
The statement said the governor approved N800 million to cover the bonus.
The statement titled, “End of year 2025 bonus,” will cover 30 percent of basic salary of workers and political appointees, as well as 30 percent of basic pension.
“The general public in particular the State Civil Servants are hereby informed that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has graciously approved the payment of Thirty Percent (30%) of Basic Salary/Pension as 13th Month / End-of-Year Bonus to civil servants,
pensioners, and political appointees in the State,” Mr Haidara said.
He said, “The approved payment is broken down as follows: 30% of Basic Salary for civil servants and political appointees; ii. 30% of Basic Pension for pensioners.
“The total amount released by the Zamfara State Government for this purpose is Eight Hundred Million, One Hundred and Twenty Six Thousand, Eight Hundred and Thirty Five Naira, Seventy Four Kobo (N800,126,835.74).”
He said the gesture was aimed at boosting the morale and welfare of public servants and pensioners, and it is in line with the Rescue Mission and people-centred policies that have been consistently observed by the present administration since its inception.
The statement said, “Public Servants are therefore enjoined to reciprocate this kind gesture with renewed hard work, dedication, and commitment to duty.”
The HoS urged all civil servants to remain good ambassadors of the Service and Government wherever they find themselves, and to continue to uphold the core values of discipline, transparency, and accountability in the discharge of their official
responsibilities.
On behalf of the entire civil servants of Zamfara State, Mr Haidara expressed profound gratitude and appreciation to Governor Lawal “for his unwavering commitment to the welfare of civil servants and for the far-reaching reform initiatives aimed at ensuring the sustainable development of the Service in particular and our dear State at large.”
• ATT holds special prayer for governor on 55th birthday
A former Kaduna State governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, has said over 90 per cent of Kaduna State is now safe.
The ex-governor attributed the cheery news to Governor Uba Sani’s security measures since assuming office.
Yero spoke at a special prayer session organised by the Arewa Think Tank (ATT) in honour of Governor Sani’s 55th birthday at Arewa House in Kaduna.
The former governor said Sani inherited a state that was gasping for breath under widespread insecurity, with several communities cut off and many markets shut due to fear of attacks.
He noted that most areas that were previously inaccessible have now been reopened, allowing the residents to move freely and conduct their businesses without fear.
“At the time he took over, there were many places you could not go and markets that were closed. Today, over 90 per cent of those places are open. You can go to Birnin Gwari, Giwa and their markets and transact business freely,” Yero said.
The ex-governor attributed the improved security to effective collaboration between the Kaduna State government, the Federal Government, and security agencies, thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support.
He said the gains in security have translated into economic revival, stressing that small businesses are thriving as residents go about their daily activities without harassment.
Yero said the expansion of infrastructure projects into rural areas has further stimulated economic growth, unlike in the past when development was largely restricted to urban centres.
ATT Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, said the prayer session was part of the group’s tradition of marking the birthdays of leaders with prayers and goodwill.
He said the impressive turnout at the event reflected public confidence in Governor Sani’s performance and leadership.
The ATT leader dismissed claims of a looming one-party state, describing such a narrative as propaganda by politicians unwilling to compete.
He said praying for leaders is a civic responsibility, stressing that good leadership ultimately translates into collective progress for the people.
Also, an activist, Yerima Shettima, said Governor Sani has demonstrated purposeful leadership as the return of peace has begun to attract investors to the state.
Shettima urged Nigerians to continue supporting the governor and President Tinubu, saying sustained support was necessary to consolidate the gains recorded so far.
The Partnership Against Violent Extremism (PAVE) Network has called on security agencies to intensify community engagement while strictly upholding human rights and the rule of law in efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism.
The call was made by the Chairman of the Jigawa State chapter of PAVE, Comrade Muhammad Musbahu Basirka, while briefing journalists on the organisation’s activities in the state.
He said respect for human rights by security personnel would help strengthen trust, synergy and cordial relations between communities and security agencies.
Basirka disclosed that PAVE recently concluded a 15-day Community Resilience Campaign across selected local government areas of Jigawa State.
According to him, the campaign focused on peace education, tolerance, conflict awareness and the strengthening of community networks aimed at countering extremist narratives.
He explained that the engagements revealed a growing level of awareness among community members, as well as an increased willingness to take collective responsibility for peacebuilding and social cohesion.
Basirka added that the combined efforts of stakeholders have produced notable gains in Jigawa State, including stronger multi-sector collaboration among ministries, departments and agencies, security agencies, civil society organisations and host communities.
He added that there has been progress towards the development of State and Local Action Plans (SAPs and LAPs) aligned with the National Policy Framework and National Action Plan on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE).
Other achievements, he said, include the establishment and operationalisation of Technical Working Groups on PCVE, improved community-level early warning and response awareness, increased inclusion of PCVE considerations in state development discourse and budget proposals, as well as growing engagement of non-traditional stakeholders, including the private sector.
According to him, these gains present opportunities for deeper youth engagement, targeted livelihood interventions and the institutionalisation of PCVE within government systems.
Despite the progress recorded, Basirka acknowledged that significant challenges remain. These include the continued regional presence of armed and criminal groups, socio-economic vulnerabilities, particularly among young people, uneven early warning and intelligence linkages at the local government level, and gaps in fully mainstreaming PCVE priorities across sectoral budgets.
He stressed that the challenges underscore the fact that preventing and countering violent extremism is not the responsibility of a single institution, but a shared task requiring coordinated governance and broad societal participation.
The Companion, a Muslim group, has condemned Channels Television over what it described as unprofessional and insensitive coverage of the bombing of a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State, which reportedly claimed several Muslim worshippers on Christmas Eve.
In a statement on Thursday by Professor Tunde Akanni, National Publicity Secretary of The Companion, and Imam Nojimdeen Jimoh, National Amir, the group said it was shocked by what it termed the television station’s failure to accurately and comprehensively report the incident, noting that such lapses could worsen public perception of Nigeria’s fragile security situation.
According to The Companion, reporting incidents of religious violence requires the highest level of accuracy and sensitivity, especially during periods of heightened religious and emotional tension.
“The reporting of such a sensitive event requires the highest level of accuracy, yet the narrative presented by Channels Television failed to capture the true essence and scale of the carnage at the house of worship,” the group said.
It argued that by glossing over the specifics of the mosque bombing, the broadcaster created an information gap that could fuel misinformation and deepen societal divisions.
The group said the approach taken by Channels TV ran contrary to the principles of Conflict Sensitive Journalism as promoted by UNESCO, stressing that journalists operating in volatile environments have a responsibility to report in ways that help de-escalate tensions rather than inflame them.
“It becomes viciously self-serving when a broadcaster fails to accurately report the bombing of a mosque and the killing of worshippers. This creates a vacuum of information that can easily be filled by misinformation, further polarising society,” the statement added.
The Companion also warned that what it described as reckless reporting could further aggravate Nigeria’s already tense national atmosphere, adding that ignoring or under-reporting the targeted killing of Muslims undermines inclusivity and social responsibility.
“To under-report the killing of Muslims in Maiduguri on the eve of Christmas is to fail the test of inclusivity. It suggests a hierarchy of victimhood that has no place in a professional newsroom or a democratic society,” the group said.
It called on the management of Channels Television to issue a public apology to Nigerian Muslims, accusing the station of a lack of precision and disregard for professional standards.
The group further urged the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) to support Channels TV through training sessions on Conflict Sensitive Journalism.
The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria–D7G (DICON-D7G) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s defence and security architecture, pledging deeper collaboration with government institutions, private sector partners, and global allies in 2026.
The pledge was contained in an end-of-year felicitation message issued on Monday by the Chief Executive Officer of DICON-D7G, Mr. Osman Chennar, as the organisation reviewed its operations in 2025 and outlined strategic priorities for the year ahead.
Chennar expressed appreciation to stakeholders, partners, and the general public for their sustained trust and cooperation, describing the outgoing year as a defining period in the pursuit of national security and sustainable development.
“As we draw the curtain on another defining year, we extend our profound gratitude to our esteemed stakeholders, partners, and the general public for their unwavering trust, collaboration, and shared belief in our collective mission,” he said.
Reaffirming support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the DICON-D7G chief said the policy framework continues to provide purposeful leadership, inspire national resilience, and drive strategic transformation across critical sectors.
“We proudly reaffirm our resolute support for the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places security, stability, and sustainable development at the heart of nation-building. At DICON-D7G, we remain deeply committed to national service and fully aligned with this vision,” Chennar stated.
Looking ahead to 2026, he said the organisation would enter the New Year with renewed confidence and determination, noting that fresh opportunities would be explored to deepen innovation, strengthen partnerships, and deliver robust defence solutions.
According to him, DICON-D7G will continue to work closely with relevant government agencies, private sector players, and international partners to safeguard national interests and contribute meaningfully to a safer and stronger Nigeria.
He assured the Federal Government, stakeholders, and the general public that 2026 would be marked by impactful growth, strategic expansion, and purposeful engagement within the defence and security ecosystem.
“Together, we will continue to build trust, enhance capacity and champion initiatives that promote peace, security and sustainable national development,” he added.
DICON-D7G is a strategic defence manufacturing and services partnership operating under the framework of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, with a mandate to promote local defence production, technology transfer, and capacity building.
The partnership plays a key role in ongoing efforts to deepen Nigeria’s defence industrial base and reduce reliance on foreign military procurement.
In Nigeria’s national development discourse, attention often fixates on scale, visibility, and rapid execution. Yet some of the most sustainable advances in the federation are occurring in quieter settings driven by strategic planning, fiscal discipline, institutional strengthening, and a steadfast commitment to long-term outcomes. Gombe State, under the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya since 2019, stands as a compelling example of this approach.
As a development practitioner with extensive private-sector experience, I assess governance not through partisan perspectives but through verifiable indicators: measurable outcomes, robust systems, and growing investor confidence. What sets Governor Yahaya apart is not only the breadth of achievements but the methodical, evidence-based manner in which they have been delivered, an approach centred on human capital enhancement, productivity gains, and environmental and economic sustainability.
Healthcare is frequently framed as a purely social service, yet it functions as critical economic infrastructure by improving workforce productivity and household resilience. Governor Yahaya’s administration has constructed and fully equipped 228 Primary Healthcare Centres (one in each of the state’s 114 wards), recruited more than 440 primary healthcare workers and 145 midwives, and expanded the Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Scheme (GoHealth) to cover nearly 370,000 beneficiaries, with deliberate targeting of vulnerable populations.
A landmark initiative has been the elevation of the formerly dilapidated Kumo General Hospital to a Federal Medical Centre. This upgrade reduces medical tourism outflows, enhances tertiary care access for residents, and positions Gombe as an emerging regional healthcare hub for the North-East. These reforms directly support Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and align with global human capital indices that multinational investors and development finance institutions increasingly prioritise when evaluating labour market quality.
The declaration of a state of emergency in education in 2019 signalled decisive intent. It has been matched by sustained investment: construction or renovation of over 1,600 classrooms, recruitment of more than 1,000 qualified teachers, and successful reintegration of over 350,000 out-of-school children into formal schooling.
The results are quantifiable and impressive. Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) pass rates in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) rose from 22% in 2019 to 76% in 2024. Beyond statistics, this improvement translates into a larger pool of skilled, trainable youth—a vital asset for investors. Gombe’s education trajectory supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) and strengthens the state’s standing on the World Bank’s Human Capital Index.
The flagship Network 11-100 Project has delivered over 900 kilometres of rural and urban roads, linking agricultural producers to markets, communities to essential services, and enterprises to broader supply chains. By reducing logistics costs—one of Nigeria’s most significant barriers to sub-national competitiveness—these roads enhance economic efficiency.
Gombe’s expanding urban road network further establishes the state as a strategic transit and logistics node connecting North-East and North-West markets. Such infrastructure aligns with global competitiveness benchmarks employed by the World Bank, African Development Bank, and private investors.
External validation of Gombe’s reforms is unambiguous: the state ranked first in Nigeria on the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Ease of Doing Business index in both 2021 and 2022.
This achievement stems from deliberate institutional reforms, including the creation of the Gombe State Investment Promotion Agency (GoInvest), enactment of the State Electricity Law, and digitisation of land administration through the Gombe Geographic Information System (GOGIS). These measures have introduced transparency, speed, and predictability—core elements of modern investment environments that mirror World Bank Doing Business frameworks.
Agriculture remains the economic backbone for most of Gombe’s population, particularly in rural areas historically marginalised from development gains. The administration has provided timely inputs, established farmer-herder conflict mitigation mechanisms, and optimised irrigation around the Dadin-Kowa and Balanga dams, shifting subsistence farming toward structured commercial activity.
Gombe’s selection as a site for the federal Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme integrates it into national food-security and value-addition strategies. These efforts advance SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and promote inclusive growth models recognised globally.
Through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) programme—supported by nearly ₦900 million in state counterpart funding—Gombe has implemented erosion control projects that safeguard lives and infrastructure valued at tens of billions of naira while fostering green enterprises and community-based financing.
In an era when climate risk increasingly influences capital allocation, these investments align with SDG 13 (Climate Action) and signal readiness to sustainability-focused investors and multilateral partners.
At the heart of Gombe’s industrial strategy lies the 1,000-hectare Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area. Designed as a comprehensive ecosystem rather than mere land allocation, the park benefits from proximity to irrigation schemes, planned agro-industrial facilities (including a modern grains market, livestock market, and abattoir), improving power supply, and excellent road connectivity.
For manufacturers, agro-processors, logistics operators, and renewable-energy firms, the park offers scale, policy certainty, and efficient access to regional and national markets.
Governor Yahaya’s leadership emphasises systems over rhetoric. Key actions include clearing over ₦21 billion in inherited gratuity arrears, modernising the civil service, bolstering security architecture, and strengthening public institutions. These measures reflect a long-term governance philosophy rooted in fiscal prudence, inclusion, and sustainability—qualities increasingly demanded by investors, citizens, and development partners.
Gombe presents a diversified, de-risked investment landscape underpinned by policy stability, expanding infrastructure, and sector-specific opportunities. Five priority corridors offer immediate bankability and attractive medium-term returns:
Solid Minerals & Mining: Reserves exceeding 100 million tonnes of limestone, substantial gypsum and coal deposits, and emerging rare-earth minerals support cement production, fertiliser manufacturing, and mineral processing.
Business Process Outsourcing (BPO): Positioned as the North-East’s BPO hub, Gombe offers 30–40% wage cost advantages over Lagos, anchored by a 2,000-seat facility (with potential scaling to 8,000 seats by 2030) backed by the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (OTNI).
Agribusiness – Tomato Value Chain: High-yield production coupled with up to 50% post-harvest losses creates compelling cases for cold storage, aggregation centres, and processing plants.
Warehouse & Logistics Hub: As a gateway serving North-East markets and AfCFTA trade corridors, the state has strong demand for modern warehousing, cold-chain facilities, and bonded logistics.
Livestock & Ranching Economy: Extensive grazing reserves, reliable water from Dadin-Kowa Dam, and rising national protein demand enable profitable ventures in modern ranching, meat processing, dairy production, and cold-chain infrastructure.
These opportunities are bolstered by Gombe’s top-ranked ease of doing business, competitive land access, tailored incentives, relative security stability, and the flagship industrial park.
Gombe’s transformation under Governor Inuwa Yahaya demonstrates that disciplined, vision-driven governance can yield durable progress. As a native of the state and an advocate for public-private partnerships, I invite domestic and international investors to engage closely with Gombe’s opportunities—particularly the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park. Quiet, methodical transformations, when grounded in evidence and execution, often prove the most enduring. Gombe’s story is well underway, and its next chapter promises even greater impact.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s leadership has exemplified visionary governance, marked by unwavering discipline, strategic foresight, and an unyielding commitment to the sustainable progress of Gombe State. His transformative achievements—rooted in systems-building, inclusivity, and long-term planning—have positioned Gombe as a beacon of quiet yet profound development within Nigeria’s federation. I commend him wholeheartedly for this exemplary stewardship, which has not only elevated the state’s standing but also restored hope and pride among its people.
As a proud son of Gombe, I earnestly call upon all well-meaning Gombe indigenes—regardless of political affiliation, ethnic background, or social standing—to rally behind Governor Yahaya in steadfast support. Let us unite in safeguarding and advancing these hard-won gains, recognising that true progress thrives on collective resolve.
Moreover, the momentum we witness today must transcend individual tenures. Whosoever assumes the mantle of leadership after him bears the sacred responsibility to uphold and build upon this foundation of excellence. Continuity in policy, vision, and execution is imperative for Gombe’s continued growth, prosperity, and emergence as a model sub-national entity. Together, let us commit to this enduring legacy—for our children, our communities, and the brighter future Gombe deserves.
