Upon assuming office in 2011, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo pledged that his administration would not relent in the daunting effort of propelling Gombe State to an enviable level by transforming it into a modern city. This was with a view to creating a pedestal for making the state one of the fastest growing economies in the country by the year 2020.
Roads, in the governor’s belief, were central to the accomplishment of this uphill task which successive administrations before him, both military and civilian, could not carry out.
This explains why Governor Dankwambo’s administration has committed enormous resources into the expansion, upgrading and construction of roads in the state capital, local government headquarters, rural communities across the state.
Within the first two years in office, the governor completed about 60 different roads, representing 638.57 kilometres of asphalt-laid roads finished with crash stone base to ensure good quality and durability. And due to the topography of the state, bridges ranging from three to eight spans were constructed on some spots along the roads.
Worthy of celebration about these roads is the fact that they were painstakingly selected in order to ensure they yield the targeted dividends. For instance, population density, economic viability, necessity and obvious needs were well thought-out before all the roads were chosen.
This is much unlike the recent past when relationship, political affinity, friendship and the like guided the choice of roads considered for construction with state resources.
While the euphoria of the unprecedented construction of over 60 roads in the state is still in the air, Governor Dankwambo deemed it fit to commit about N19 billion to the construction of another 221.53 kilometres of roads representing about 20 roads in the state.
Among the recently awarded roads, some, like Kaltungo township roads, are a complete makeover of the entire network of roads construction executed by the immediate past administration and the rehabilitation of washed out portions of the Dukku – Malala Road.
The rehabilitation and upgrading of the 69- kilometre Dukku – Wawa – Biri – Wuro Bapparu Road which cuts across three local government areas. This road was constructed in the early 1980s and since been abandoned. When completed, the road would serve as a by-pass to articulated vehicles from Kano to the northern part of Gombe State, thereby reducing the destructive crashes of such vehicles in the metropolis.
Also awarded for construction, as highlighted by Engineer Shehu Hadi Ahmed, the sate Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, is the 42 kilometre Ngalda (in Yobe State) – Maina Mahdi – Mada – Jolle – Takai – Jigawa Road. This project was received amidst tears by the people having been fed with empty promises for so long, even until recent past.
There is equally a 36-kilometre road from Dukku – Dokoro – Jamari road and the 12-kilometre Kumo – Fauro Tikur – Jauro Bose – Fandaya – Kalshingi Road in Akko and Yamaltu-Deba local government areas. Others are Talasse township roads in the Balanga Local Government Area, Filiya – Gwandum and Lapan township roads in the Shongom Local Government Area, Malam Sidi township roads in the Kwami Local Government Area and additional township roads in Dukku and Kaltungo.
The commissioner also made a special mention of the dualization of a four-kilometre section of the Gombe Mile 3 – Yola and Gombe Mile 3 – Bauchi federal highways as additional work on Gombe Township Roads Phase V. This work and the attendant landscaping would further beautify the soon-to-be-put-into-use four star Gombe International Hotel.
”It is worthy to note that provision of socio-economic infrastructure is prerequisite for the development of any society. It is in this regard that this administration embarked on the construction of numerous urban and rural road networks throughout the state to facilitate linkages and enhance economic activities of our various communities.
“This will promote the peaceful co-existence of our people and boost socioeconomic relationships,” stated Governor Dankwambo during the official signing of contracts for the recently awarded urban and rural roads across the state.
The Chairman of the Nafada Local Government Area, Alhaji Umar Ladan, while commenting on road projects in the state, said they all represented what people had been looking for over the years. He buttressed this with a recall that most of the recently awarded roads were those requested for by the people during Governor Dankwambo’s constituency tour embarked upon from the last quarter of the previous year to early this year.
Alhaji Babangida Jigawa, who hails from Jigawa village in the Nafada Local Government Area, appreciated the administration for wiping the people’s tears through the construction of the roads that they had hoped and looked forward to or many years, especially the people of Jigawa community. He assured the governor of his people’s support to his leadership and in his future electoral endeavours. Chief Executive of Tinka Point Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Bala Bello Tinka, who spoke on behalf of road construction firms working in the state, thanked the Gombe State government for reposing confidence in them, promising to always reciprocate the government’s gesture by providing quality services. He added that contractors, on their part, are happy to work for the state because of the government’s transparent disposition and prompt payment for work done.
He said this had been their driving force behind delivering the projects on time. Tinka, while commending governments’ effort towards improving the people’s standard of living, observed that the road projects would go a long way in establishing a good relationship between the government and its people.
The indefatigable Governor Dankwambo, on his part, considers it all as his administration’s commitment towards developing the economic base of the state through the construction and rehabilitation of urban and rural roads that will create linkages among communities for smooth transportation of goods and services as well as improve social interaction among the people.
“On our part, we shall continue in our modest effort to construct as many roads as possible to meet the yearnings of our people and create conducive atmosphere for investors,” he further said.
Besides Governor Dankwambo’s usual routine checks on the roads to ensure strict compliance to contractual agreements on quality and other specifications, the beauty of project execution in Gombe State is that the state government has also established an independent project inspection body for handling and taking over of projects.
This team comprises, among others, representatives of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Office of the Due Process of Gombe State Government, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.
All these put together form the basis of this statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Reverend Habu: “The Governor is not just doing the talk, it is working the talk.”
•Ishmail wrote from Gombe
