Buni boosts livelihoods in Yobe with factories, others

Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State expressed confidence that many of the ongoing legacy projects of the administration will be completed and commissioned this year.

Buni affirmed this during the State Executive Council meeting held in Damaturu yesterday, the governor reflected on the preceding year, noting it as one in which the state government was able to execute many projects and programmes that have had positive impacts on the lives of the people of the state.

These projects and programmes cut across many sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, education, road construction, empowerment, etc.

These include the Potiskum Modern Market and the Ngalda and Yunusari markets all of which are currently at 90% stages of completion, and the Geidam Modern Market which is now at 75% completion stage.

Despite initial delays in its execution, work is also ongoing at the Potiskum Truck Transit Park and is now at the 90 per cent completion stage.

“And, as you are aware, Gov Buni has also built four modern SESAME SEEDS processing factories in Machina, Nguru, Potiskum and Damaturu. All of them have been completed 100% completed and will be commissioned soon, “he said.

In the area of road construction, many road projects have been completed but all other major ongoing road projects will be completed and commissioned this year. These include Fika-Maluri road (first phase completed; second phase ongoing); Kukuri-Chukuriwa-Dawasa (95% completion stage); Karasuwa-Galu- to Gashu’a main road (completed); Gashu’a-Masaba road (48% completion stage); Chumbusko-Tagali road (100% completed); Nguru-Balanguwa (75% completion stage); Balanguwa-Kumaganam (a part of the Trans-Saharan road network at 60% completion stage); Danchuwa-Garin Bingel (100% completed); and the Danchuwa-Jajere road (97% completion stage); amongst others.

Buni’s administration has also completed several township roads in the first phase in Nguru, Jajimaji, Gashu’a, Potiskum, Damagum, Damaturu, Buni-Yadi, Babban Gida, and Geidam.

“In the second phase, Nguru township roads were completed 100%; Potiskum and Damaturu are at 80% while Geidam and Gashu’a township roads are now at 40% stages of completion. We also have ongoing township road projects in Fika, Buni-Yadi and Yunusari towns,” he said.

All local government areas cut off by last year’s rains, especially in the northern part of the state, have been repaired and vehicular traffic restored.

These include Damaturu-Buni Yadi at Gujba; Damaturu-Bayamari at Kariyari and Jumbam; Potiskum-Gashu’a road at Tarajim and Gada towns; Bayamari-Yunusari near the main bridge; and Geidam-Bukarti at Mazagum. There is also ongoing rehabilitation of the Yunusari-Yusufari road; Jajimaji-Karasuwa road; Yunusari-Kafiya-Kanamma road junction.

The state government is also currently constructing a road from Potiskum to Ngojin and from Fadawa to Daya in the Fika Local Government area.

In healthcare, the state executive council noted the delivery of healthcare equipment to the state donated by World Medical Relief in the United States. These equipment include hospital beds, infusion pumps, patient monitors, surgical instruments and tools, defibrillators, fetal monitors and ventilators, amongst others.

The governor also spoke about his administration’s human capital development effort, noting that in 2024, many people across the state were reached with various forms of support.

“We remained steadfast. We remained committed to providing them education. Bringing them back home due to the forex situation would have been a disaster. As you know, some of them were orphans. All of them behaved well during their stay and never engaged in any untoward or shameful activity as attested to by the Nigerian embassy in India.”, he said.

The administration of Governor Buni will also very soon embark on a major modernization initiative for the state capital, Damaturu in 2025.

He thanked members of the council for the success that Yobe recorded with regards to the implementation of the 2024 budget where it emerged as one of the best-performing states in the country.

The governor urged members of the council to remain steadfast during the current year and continue to do more for the people of the state.