…Hails Media’s reportage for Yobe to win $500,000 in PHCs leadership challenge

By Ndahi Marama, Damaturu

The Yobe State Government (YOSG) under the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni has from January to December, 2024 spent about N15.3 billion in providing farm implements and inputs to 5,340 farmers across the 178 wards of the state.

Government also expended the sum of over N3 billion as part of its Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) empowerment programme where a total of 52,997 households and 201, 300 individuals were reached, while 456,205 other households with a total of 974, 220 vulnerable individuals received food and non-food items support.

This was disclosed by Governor Buni while addressing Journalists at the End -Of- Year 2024 Media briefing which took place on Thursday at Cedars Recreation Damaturu, the state capital.

The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Hon. Idi Barde Guyana also said, apart from the achievements recorded in the Education Sector such as building of many Model schools, Award of Scholarships to students undergoing various courses within and outside the country, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) legacies which are not captured in the speech, the health sector, had a significant progress with support from the Media in it’s reportage that led Yobe State Government to win 500,000 US dollars in the primary healthcare leadership challenge for states in the North-East sub-region.

Gubana who read the speech of the Governor who was attending another very important Northern Governors’ Forum in Kaduna said: ” In the year under review, through robust and prudent management of scarce resources, we were able to turn around the fortunes of our people by making significant investments in healthcare, education, agriculture, wealth and job creation, and road construction, amongst others.

” In the recent Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) empowerment programme we unveiled, a total of 52,997 households and 201, 300 individuals were reached with a total sum of N3, 907, 387, 056 while 456,205 other households with a total of 974, 220 individuals were reached with food and non-food items support.

“In the area of agriculture and food security, through our agricultural revitalization programme, the sum of N15.3 billion was spent to provide farm implements and inputs to 5,340 farmers across the 178 wards of the state. The state government is also spending N1.7 billion in the procurement of assorted grains for our strategic grains reserve.

“Similarly, this is a significant year for our health and human services sector. As many of you have reported, our effort in the healthcare sector led Yobe State to win 500,000 US dollars in the primary healthcare leadership challenge for states in the North-East sub-region. We have achieved 100% payment of hazard allowances and adjustment of CONMESS and CONHESS salary scales to healthcare workers, recruited 311 new members of staff, including doctors, nurses and other cadres, and ensured the continuation of our free dialysis programme for kidney patients.

” Renovation and reconstruction work at the State Specialist Hospital, Damaturu is on-going. This is addition to provision of high-quality hospital mattresses and procurement of anti-bacterial curtain system at the Maternal and Child Health Complex, Damaturu.

“In the area of contributory healthcare, we have continued to provide support to 222 primary healthcare providers through capitation and 24 secondary healthcare facilities through fee-for-service arrangement under the State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (YSCHMA).

“The State Government has also constructed a modern ICT Center to enhance social protection initiatives for the benefit of the people of the state. As of October 2024, YSCHMA has enrolled a total of 275,358 people into the contributory healthcare scheme in the state, reflecting the agency’s commitment to expanding healthcare coverage across the state.

” Additionally, we have also built an ante-natal and VIP ward at Women and Children Hospital, Damaturu, constructed an Accident and Emergency complex and a one-storey building doctors’ quarters at State Specialist Hospital, Buni-Yadi, procured and distributed various state-of- the-art medical equipment across different healthcare facilities in the state and kept the momentum on the ongoing research on chronic kidney disease affecting some local government areas of the state. We have also procured an important software for our MRI Machine at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH), Damaturu the PV VAR ASSAT Software.

” In the area of wealth creation, a lot was also achieved. These include the procurement of 475 modern sewing and embroidery machines, procurement and distribution of 350 disability tricycles, procurement of 712 nos of cows and bulls to livestock farmers, provision of cash grant of N50, 000 to 3,560 micro and small entrepreneurs across 178 wards of the state, provision of cash support of N20,000 to 4800 unemployed youths, training of 85 youths on shoe making and provision of start-up kits, distribution of 500 units of deep freezers to women in ice-making business, procurement of 1,780 smoking stoves, 1,780 frying pans; 1,780 frying spoons, 1,780 sieving basins and 1,780 bowls, procurement of 100 units of motorcycles and 80 units of pick-up tricycles for distribution to beneficiaries, and the procurement and distribution of 340 work bulls, 170 ox-drawn carts and 170 ox-drawn ploughs, amongst others.

” Another critical area we have focused attention on, is in the area of water supply. The state government has awarded contract for the conversion of 170 motorized boreholes at the ratio of 10 per Local Government to solar system in order to ensure steady water supply to our teeming populace in the State. Others are the drilling of a complete package borehole at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH) Damaturu, Shagari Low-Cost, Yobe State Women and Children Hospital and the GRA area in Damaturu, rehabilitated the Dumar-Gumsi Water Project, broken down boreholes, continued with the construction of the Buni-Gari Water Treatment Plant, continued with the servicing and maintenance of 351 boreholes across major towns in the state, and drilled replacement boreholes in many estates across Damaturu metropolis.

” Through the Ministry of Works, our administration has continued with the construction of hundreds of kilometers of roads across the state, These include the ongoing construction of 25.5km Gashu’a-Masaba road, 30km Balanguwa-Kumaganam road, 22.5km Fika-Maluri road, 18km Bukarti-Toshia Road, 13km Jajimaji-Karasuwa road, 16.5km Kukuri- Chukuriwa road, 16km Nguru-Balanguwa road, 16km Damaturu-Gambir road, ongoing completion work of the Damaturu-Kalallawa dual carriage road, and the construction of 16.5km Kukuri-Chukuriwa-Dawasa road.

” Our administration has also completed the 18km Danchuwa-Garin Bingel road, 32km Danchuwa-Jajere road, 15km Damagum-Gubana road, and the 10km Chumbusko-Tagali road. The Damaturu City-Gates project has also been completed.

“There is also the ongoing construction of 7km road and 14km concrete line drain within Damaturu metropolis and the construction of the 76km Gujba-Ngalda road. Many township roads and drainages were completed in Nguru, Gashu’a, Geidam and Potiskum towns.

“In the same vein, through the combined operation of Ministry of Works and the State Road Maintenance Agency, many roads across the state have also been rehabilitated. These include the ongoing rehabilitation of 45km Yunusari-Kanamma road, 52km Katarko-Goniri road, 18km Bukarti-Toshia Road, 45km Bayamari-Yunusari road, and 45km Yunusari-Kalgi-Yusufari Road. Also rehabilitated are the Bayamari-Balle, Kelluri-Geidam, Yunusari-Dilala, Ngiburwa-Goniri, Gujba-Buni-Yadi and Kotoko-Meleti roads.

” In addition to above, the extension of 33KV Line, Town Distribution Network (IDN) and installation of transformer at Lantaiwa town, rehabilitation of 33KV Line and upgrading of town distribution network at Garin Gamji in Fika LGA, restoration of power to Yusufari town through rehabilitation of 2.5MVA, 3nos 300KVA sub-station and 33KV Line, reactivation and strengthening of 33KV line from Geidam to Bukarti town, extension of electricity to Rigar Fulani in Potiskum LGA, Pompomari Bayan Kwalta communities in Damaturu LGA, Ligdir, Kwalkwala, Bulabulin Fulori and Goningomari towns in Gujba LGA, Ngabrawa Ward in Machina LGA, Bujahun, Kukuwa Tasha (Phase 2) in Gulani LGA, Fulatari Dapchi in Bursari LGA, and Fadawa town in Fika LGA were all undertaken during the year. We have also provided replacement of 500KVA sub-stations and extension of TDN at Tandari Ward, Potiskum LGA and Bindigari Ward in Damaturu LGA, amongst others.

” Desirous of boosting the State’s economy through trade and commerce, our administration is also building new markets in Yunusari and Ngalda towns, the construction of the Potiskum and Geidam Modern Markets have both reached 75% and 70% respectively. The Potiskum Truck and Transit Park is at 85% completion stage while the Damaturu Mega Shopping Mall is at 45% state of completion. We have also built modern sesame seeds processing factories in Machina and Nguru towns. Additional ones being built in Potiskum and Damaturu are both currently at 80% stage of completion.

” In addition to all the areas I have enumerated, our administration continues to make every measure necessary to strengthen and improve the security of life and property of people across the state by supporting and partnering with the security agencies. I want to use this opportunity to commend the services of the Nigerian army, police, civil defense and all other security agencies and our own local vigilante groups for the work they do to keep us safe. I want to urge them to continue the effort every step of the way”. He stated.

Earlier in his welcome address, Commissioner of Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Hon. Abdullahi Bego applauded Governor Buni for his open -door policy, which has made every working Journalists in the state have access to information from the government and the governed.

He stressed that the cordial working relationship that exists between government and the media has brought about the unity, progress and confidence, adding that “throughout history, information is vital in enhancing economic, security and sustainable development”, noting that his ministry will continue to strengthen the media for positive development in the state.

In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Yobe State Council, Comrade Rajab Mohammed commended Governor Buni for his good policies and programmes which have repositioned the state for better.

He pledged that all working Journalists in the state would continue to partner with the State Government in discharging their duties based on the ethics of the profession in order to move Yobe forward.