Sahel Online News

Gombe State Government Inaugurate committee on Women for health Foundation Programme.

Gombe State Government has inaugurated a 7 man committee to advance and encourage the course of women participation in medical training and delivery so as to breach manpower gap inherent in the health sector.

The Secretary to the Gombe State Government Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi while inaugurating the committee said the present administration of Governor Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya is desirous of repositioning the health sector for better service Delivery.

He said it was the policy thrust of the Inuwa Yahaya’s led government to construct at least one unit of Primary health care centre in each ward of the State to compliment existing general hospitals at the Local Government levels and the State specialist hospital which was recently revamped.

“It is one thing to build structures in the name of health facility but is another to equip them with men and materials and i can tell you that is what the Governor is doing at the moment” the SSG stressed.

He said the manpower gap inherent in the health sector is worrisome expressing the hope that the Inauguration of the committee on women for health Foundation Year Programme will go a long to fill in the gaps in both urban and rural communities of the State.

“I am highly delighted with the formation of this committee i therefore challenge your to expand your horizon as work to deliver on your mandate”

Earlier speaking the Provost Gombe State School of Nursing and Midwifery Dr. Pauline Doka said the Women for Health’s Foundation Year Programme is an innovative approach Dr. Ahmed at addressing the shortage of frontline health workers that will service Primary health care centres in Northern Nigeria.

She said for the programme to take off Successful in the State, the Gombe State school of Nursing and Midwifery which will serve as the lead trainer will need additional hostels accommodation, classrooms, staff offices and equipment for demonstration among others.

To this end Dr Doka express confidence in the ability of the current administration of Governor Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya to deliver on the needs so presented.

The chairman of the committee on women for health Foundation Year Programme Yaya Hamari said the committee will deploy its time and intellectual resources to encourage women participation in medical training and services.

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Covid-19: Gombe Governor commissions molecular diagnostic laboratory.

Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has commissioned the molecular and diagnostic laboratory located at the state specialist hospital, Gombe.

Funded by the Gombe state Government, the laboratory gulped over 120 million and has since begun testing for covid-19.

During the commissioning ceremony, the Gombe State Governor said the importance of the facility to the improvement of the health sector in the State cannot be quantified, noting that the State is now better prepared to confront any disease that may afflict the people.

He said with the establishment of the laboratory, the State can now manage the covid-19 pandemic more effectively.

The Governor explained that despite the initial hiccups in establishing the laboratory, the state still ranks high in sample testing as indicated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.

He commended the State task force on convid-19 and the entire health workers in the state for their commitment and sacrifice.

“Our administration will not relent until we have everything it takes to manage the health system effectively and efficiently”.

The Governor said his administration has gone a long way in setting up two more laboratories with the support of federal agencies, such as TETfund which will establish a molecular lab at the College of Medical Sciences of the Gombe State University and Federal Teaching Hospital to be put up by the North East Development Commission.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya said when the three laboratories become functional, the testing capacity of the state will be enhanced and the people will get the best of medical services.

He thanked the management of the NCDC for their technical support, accreditation of the laboratory and for managing the covid-19 pandemic.

The Governor however called on the NCDC to do more in supporting the state, disclosing that Gombe only received a hilux van and one hundred million naira as support from the NCDC.

He said the State has so far expended over one billion naira in the management of covid-19 in the State.

The chairman of the State Task force on convid-19, Professor Idris Mohammed said the commissioning of the molecular laboratory marks one of the landmark achievements of the Task force and by extension the present administration of Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

He said the establishment of the laboratory for the diagnosis of covid-19 has been a long way coming, recalling that the State Governor was about the first Chief Executive to have requested for the establishment of the testing centre.

Professor Mohammed said the laboratory which cost the Gombe State Government over one hundred and twenty million naira was single handedly executed by the administration of Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

The Chairman, Gombe State Task force on Health Sector, Professor Aliyu Usman Elnafaty said the laboratory has been equipped with necessary facilities and accredited by the NCDC for covid-19 testing.

He said the lab is equally equipped to carry out other emerging infectious diseases to serve the state in clinical diagnosis for a long time to come, adding that health personnel have already been trained to manage the facility.

The representative of the NCDC, Mr. Tony Ahumibe commended the state government for single handedly establishing the molecular laboratory in the State.

He said the lab has met all NCDC requirements and has been accredited to carry out covid-19 testing in the State.

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Governor Yahaya inspects abandoned Gombe ultra modern mega motor park.

…laments waste of resources on project by previous administration

..as he expresses resolve to complete project

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has inspected the abandoned multimillion naira Mega Motor Park along Dukku road to assess the status of the project.

The project, awarded by the immediate past administration since 2012 at the initial contract sum of 3.2 billion naira, was said to have gulped almost 2.8 billion billion naira and attained only 43 percent completion status before being abandoned.

“By estimation this project is going to cost 6.2 billion and it was started in 2012, it would have lasted for 28 months but because of the lackadaisical attitude of the last administration, they abandoned the project and as it is today, over 3 billion Naira is wasted, unutilised and has caused havoc to the environment. So, you hold whoever has decided to put up this structure responsible for whatever happens to us. Until something is done and urgently, it means there will be a double jeopardy for Gombe. We will not have this place and we may not have college of education,” Governor Yahaya said.

He lamented that no environmental impact assessment was carried out before the commencement of the project and the sad development was responsible for the flood ravaging some parts of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Gombe situated in the opposite direction of the project site.

” If quick action is not taken in fixing the wrongs done on the project by this administration, the project may have negative effect on Gombe community- first a waste of huge resources on the abandoned project and second the flood may eventually destroy more structures in the neighbouring College of Education and adjourning areas”.

Governor Yahaya further lamented that the huge resources claimed to have been spent so far on the project by the previous administration lacked justification considering the physical structures erected and the incomplete aspects of the abandoned work.

He said a huge debt collected by the previous administration to execute the project is still being deducted yet the facility is not put to use let alone benefit the people of the state through employment opportunities and revenue generation.

Governor Yahaya added that experts’ assessment has shown that the project requires almost additional 4 billion naira before completion.

He directed that the contractor and the consultants of the Gombe Mega Park be summoned, while being guided by all professional development and control; update the government for the correct thing to be done for the structure to be completed.

The Governor said it would not take more than one year for the project to be completed once the government starts work, to exhibit his administration’s seriousness and commitment.

Accompanied by the Secretary to the state Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, Chief of Staff, Alhaji Abubakar Inuwa Kari and other members of the state executive council, the Governor was conducted round by the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Adamu Kupto.

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Gombe State Agency for Community and Social and Development hold Evaluation Workshop.

Gombe State Agency for community and Social Development has been lauded for positively impacting the lives of rural communities in the State.

The Special Adviser to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya on Budget, Planning and Development Partners Coordination Dr. Ishiyaku Mohammed gave the commendation at the State intermediate outcome Evaluation workshop for Stakeholders held at the conference hall of the international hotel Gombe.

Dr Mohammed attributed the successes so far recorded by the Agency to the support of the present administration in the state.

He also said CSDP intervention translated into progressive improvement in the lives and general well being of the benefiting communities.

Dr. Mohammed further restated Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya led administration’s commitment to promoting human capital Development for the overall progress of the State.

Earlier in a welcome address, the General Manager of the community and Social Development Project, Alhaji Abubakar Ardo Kumo, appreciate the support of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to the operations of the Agency.

He disclosed that the impact of the of the Agency’s Development activities covered all the eleven (11) Local Government areas of the state.

Giving the overview of the Evaluation Study of the Agency’s activities from January to December 2019, the monitoring and evaluation manager of the Agency Mohammed Damina Adamu described projects undertaken within the period under review as successful.

Speaking on behalf of Local Government Secretaries/Overseas, Mr Mohammed Dantata Ndus appreciated the Agency for Developing communities across the State through their programs.

Dr. Adamu Abba of the Gombe State University presented the outcome of the intermediate evaluation of the Agency’s Projects from January 2019- December 2019 on behalf of the Consultants.

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Gombe Governor receives NCPC delegation.

…pledges support for better pilgrimages

Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has assured of his administration’s commitment to provide support for successful and hitch-free Christian pilgrimage exercises.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya was speaking when he granted audience to the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, NCPC, Revered Yakubu Pam who paid him a courtesy visit in Gombe.

He said inspite of the over 250 million naira unsettled claims left by the previous government for the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, his government is committed to providing Christians in the State the opportunity and needed support to undetake their spiritual journey.

“This Government inherited a liability of about 120 billion in a state that is just about 3.2 million, so spread it per capita on the citizens and you can imagine what it is. And that is just for the liabilities that were booked and recorded. Issues to do with unsettled liabilities of pilgrimage of close to 250 million Naira were not part of our assessment. But despite this we will make sure we continue to fulfill our own obligations to provide support to those who wish to perform their pilgrimage”.

He appreciated the leadership of the NCPC for their choice of Gombe to host the North East Zonal meeting and to also flag-off the next pilgrimage to Jerusalem, noting that this would not have been possible without the peace and tranquility the State enjoys, as well as its centrality and neutrality.

The Governor said inspite of the cosmopolitan nature of Gombe, the state remains peaceful, attributing the feat to Government’s proactiveness and the understanding of the people.

“I can beat my chest to say that peace doesn’t bring itself, we worked for it and God answered our prayers and gave us peace, so we shall continue to work assiduously to guard and protect the peace and the human resources of the State for the benefit of our people”.

The Governor who decried the setback caused by covid-19 pandemic to the global economy, said the novel Coronavirus is a wake up call for Nigeria and Nigerians to do the right thing.

He said it may take some years for Nigeria and the world to fully recover from the economic effects of the pandemic and as a result, he said his administration has made budgetary provisions to stimulate the economy and mitigate the impact especially on women and the youths in the post covid-19 era.

Governor Yahaya said the security challenges confronting the North can be attributed to years of neglect of the ways and means human beings have been managed over time.

“Neglecting an endeavor that can take a people to the doorsteps of economic prosperity can be detrimental to the present and future generations. Before now, the economy of the north used to hinge on agriculture but the discovery of oil relegated the agric and the mining sectors to the background.

“But I am confident with wise counsel from people like you, the North can once again regain its pride of place in the country”.

Earlier speaking, the NCPC Executive Secretary, Reverend Yakubu Pam said they were in Gombe for a zonal meeting aimed at building synergy between the NCPC and the state pilgrims welfare boards for successful and hitch-free Christian pilgrimages.

He commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for his giant strides in road construction, youths empowerment and the ambitious Gombe Goes Green (3G )project which seeks to regenerate the environment.

He equally thanked the Governor for the cordial relationship that exists between his administration and the State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN as well as the christian community in general.

Reverend Pam, who doubles as the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Northern region, described Governor Yahaya as a God-sent leader who is working tirelessly for the betterment of the masses and the entire citizenry.

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Gombe Government distributes relief materials to flood victims in Yamaltu-Deba.

The Gombe state Government, through the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA has presented relief materials worth millions of Naira to victims of flood disaster in some communities in Yamaltu Deba local government of the State.

Presenting the items at the Palaces of the District Heads of Kwadon and Pata of Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area, the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Barrister Mela Audu Nunghe said the state Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya directed his Ministry to make available relief materials to the victims with a view to cushioning the effect of the flood on them.

The Commissioner told the flood victims that the palliative was not a compensation but a relief in the form of food items as well as building materials for reconstruction of their destroyed structures.

The commissioner who sympathized with the victims, prayed God to prevent future occurance, adding that the present administration will continue to come to the aid of the people of the State who are in distress.

Barrister Nunghe advised them to properly utilize the items provided while thanking the state Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for the support and encouragement which he said will go a long way in bringing succour to the victims.

In a remark, the member representing Yamaltu East in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Adamu Saleh Pata, thanked the state Governor for his show of love and compassion.

The member who was represented by his aide, Malam Haruna Garba, assured that the items will be distributed judiciously to the affected persons, calling on those responsible for the distribution to be fair and just.

Responding on behalf of their respective communities, the District Heads of Kwadon, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Abubakar and that of Pata, Alhaji Muhammad Magaji expressed appreciation to the state Government for the gesture which they said will assist the victims especially in this rainy season.

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DOMA OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION DONATES FOOD ITEMS, CLOTHINGS TO NAFADA FLOOD VICTIMS.

in a complimentary gesture to the efforts of the government of Gombe state, the set 78 of the Doma Old Students Association has donated clothings and food items to Nafada flood victims.

A three man delegation, led by Mr Inuwa Garba Gasi, a retired Assistant Controller of Prisons, delivered the relief materials on behalf of the entire members.

Other members of the delegation were Alhaji Babagana Abubakar, a retired Permanent Secretary and Gomberu Shabewa, a retired Matron.

The team’s first point of call was the palace of the Emir of Nafada where they told the royal father that they were in his emirate to empathise with the flood victims and to offer their widow’s mite to them.

The Mr. Gasi said the set 78 of the Doma Old Students were saddened by the plight of the flood victims whom he described as fellow brothers and sisters who need the support and encouragement of all and sundry.

The Emir of Nafada, Alhaji Muhammad Dadum Hamza expressed appreciation to the Association for coming to the aid of the flood victims.

He said a committee has been set up to coordinate all donations to the flood victims and therefore advised the donors to channel the items to the committee for onward distribution.

The monarch assured that the relief materials will be delivered to the affected as members of the committee are men of proven character.

Members of the Association thereafter proceeded to a central store where they handed over the donation to the flood committee for onward distribution to the affected persons.

Items donated by the Association include cartons of pasta, bags of maize and millet as well as used clothing materials, including shoes for both adults and children among others.

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Gombe Governor pays unscheduled visit to state Ministry of Education.

…restates commitment to provision of sound education

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe state has reiterated that one of the cardinal programmes of his administration is to ensure that sound education is adequately and properly provided for the young people of the state right from the basic level.

The Governor restated this when he paid an unscheduled visit to the ministry of education where he inspected some instructional materials procured by the State Education Programme Investment Project SEPIP, which is a world bank project designed to address some of the challenges in schools as a result of insurgency in the North East region of the country.

The Governor also said his administration will continue to address challenges that were hither to abandoned by the past administration, particularly in the education sector which is now under the state of emergency.

He noted that what characterized the education sector before the coming of the APC-led administration was an abysmal state of decay.

The Governor however said in order to breathe a new lease of life into educational system, his government took some bold steps and measures, including declaring a state of emergency on the sector and strengthening partnership between the state and relevant organizations and government agencies in order to reverse the ugly trend.

Describing education as the cradle upon which development indices are measured, the Governor said the steps taken are already yielding positive results as the state is now witnessing improvements, not only in the area of provision of conducive environment and learning materials, but also in the general quality of education.

Governor Yahaya urged the beneficiaries of the soon to be distributed teaching and learning materials to ensure maximum utilisation and to also take ownership of the project.

Earlier conducting the Governor round, the state Commissioner for Education, Dr Habu Dahiru highlighted on the activities carried out by the project in Gombe state and commended the Governor for all the his political will as well as efforts being put in place to reposition the Education sector since his assumption of office.

He assured that his Ministry will continue to work assiduously with all the seriousness required to achieve the strategic goals of the Governor in the education sector.

The instructional materials include e- tablets, maps, charts, basic science text books among others for distribution to all public schools across the state.

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Gombe Governor receives national leadership of COREN.

…says his administration will continue to patronize indigenous engineers, contractors to grow local economy

Gombe State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya says his administration will continue to patronage indigenous engineers and contractors in order to grow local economy and enhance human capital development in the State.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya stated this when he granted audience to the national leadership of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, led by its President and Chairman in Council Engr. Ali Almasuya Rabiu.

The Governor said the ambition of his administration is to catapult the State into the lead which is only possible through the involvement of engineers who design, monitor and control structures for the overall benefit of the people.

He assured COREN of his administration’s support especially towards the formation of the State Chapter of the Engineering Management Committee, EMC.

Governor Yahaya said with the covid-19 pandemic ripping through the economies of the world, nothing can be done to catapult change and bring development without the involvement of engineers.

“If you don’t create business by stimulating activities in engineering design and construction, hardly can you improve on the economy”, the Governor stressed.

He said world powers such as the Unuted States of America with the biggest economy depend on the provision of infrastructures to keep their economic growth afloat.

He warned that if Nigeria and Nigerians do not embrace and patronize indigenous engineers and contractors, the country will find it difficult to change its fortunes.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya assured the leadership of COREN that his administration will continue to patronize local engineers and contractors so that the economy can be stimulated for the benefit of the livelihood and prosperity of the people.

“I always say that our inability to put to practice what we learn in schools and in offices or at seminars has hindered the level of development of the Nigerian economy”.

He said keeping knowledge without putting it into practice can be detrimental to the nation’s quest for greatness, adding that Gombe State will encourage the practice of engineering in the state.

The Governor revealed that his administration is in talks with the National University Commission, NUC and TETfund so that State owned University can begin to offer engineering courses.

He challenged the leadership of COREN to interface with the federal government on the need for a policy that can make it mandatory for all and sundry to patronize local content.

Earlier speaking the President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria COREN, Engr. Ali Almasuya Rabiu said they were in the State to intimate the Governor on the need for his nomination into the Gombe State Technical Committee of the Engineering Regulation Monitoring, ERM.

He said COREN is an agency of Government, created by decree 55 of 1970 and amended by decree 27 of 1992 to regulate the practice of Engineering in all aspects and ramifications.

The COREN National President commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for the infrastructural development by his administration.

“When I came into town, I drove round the State capital and it was glaring that the Governor is leaving nothing to chance in terms of transforming the state”.

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Come up with desicive steps to improve Local Government service, Governor Inuwa Yahaya tasks Commission.

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has charged members of Gombe state Local Government Service Commission to ensure effective monitoring, supervision and decisive steps that will improve the fortunes of the local government system.

He also stressed the need for close working relationship between the state and local governments with a view to achieving the common objective of bringing development and improving the lives of the citizenry.

The Governor was speaking when he received the chaiman and members of the Commission who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House.

He charged the members to bring to bear the enormous wealth of experience in discharging their constitutional mandate even as he expressed optimism that the task is not beyond their ability and capacity considering their pedigree in the local government service.

The Governor noted that most of the appointees started their career in the local government service up to retirement while few of them began with local government and later moved to MDAs or private sector as such each of them merits the appointment.

He believes that local government system is critical to the state economy, and therefore urged the board to ensure close working relationship with the state ministry for local government and chieftaincy affairs to ensure the two bodies align in moving the system forward.

While congratulating the new appointees, the Governor charged them to work hard by putting in their best to ensure local government system gets the long awaited desired status.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Adamu Ahmed Malala said his team has already developed work plan for the period of August-October 2020 that can be used as a road map to executing their constitutional mandate.

Alhaji Malala said the commission is guided by local government council amendment law no 1 of 2011 to carry out duties that include, appointment of officers of GL 07 and above in the unified local government service, confirmation, promotion, posting and training of all local government staff among others.

He further told the Governor that the commission found some experienced and trained staff posted from other MDAs to support its operational activities.

Additionally, the Chairman said, the commission found a software on human resources management information system currently in use for data capturing and will be used for planning and monitoring of all local government employees.

He disclosed plans to embark on a familiarization tour across the LGAs to interface with the staff for a more robust and harmonious working relationship.

While thanking the governor for the confidence he reposed in him and his team members, Alhaji Malala applauded the Inuwa-led administration for managing covid-19 pandemic as well as overhauling both primary and secondary healthcare institutions in the state among other giant strides.

It may be recalled that Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya had on 28th May, 2020 inaugurated the Gombe state Local Government Service Commission with Alhaji Adamu Ahmed Malala as Chairman.

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