By Danjuma Àttah, Gombe
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has inspected landmark projects including the official flag-off construction of the N68.5b State Secretariat Complex.
The event was part of activities marking the 6th year anniversary of his administration which comes up on 29th May, 2025. The two-day inspection tour took the Governor to a secondary school and the mechanic village, all in Gombe on the first day.
In his speech at the Foundation Laying Ceremony for the State Secretariat Complex, expected to gulp Sixty-Eight Billion, Five Hundred and Eighty-Four Million, Nine Hundred and Two Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty-Four Naira, Nine Kobo (N68,584,902,944.09), Governor Inuwa pledged his administration’s commitment towards delivering good governance up to the end of his tenure.
He described the commencement of the ‘vital project’ as the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the State, nearly three decades after it’s creation.
He stated that, “for too long, our Ministries, Departments and Agencies have operated from scattered, mostly rented and outdated facilities that hindered efficiency, increased operational costs, and forced the Government to spend huge amounts yearly on rented offices that do not serve their purpose.
“This new State Secretariat Complex represents far more than just physical structures – it is the manifestation of our belief that the civil service, as the backbone of governance, deserves nothing but the best”, he averred.
Governor Inuwa pointed out that his administration embarked on the construction of the new secretariat with a clear vision to develop a modern, state-of-the-art edifice that meets the needs of 21st century governance.
He said the complex will include the Head of Service block, four additional blocks that can house four ministries each, adding that the existing (State Secretariat) structure will be remodelled with the provision of all necessary external works and ancillary facilities.
“This project takes its rightful place closed alongside our ongoing State House of Assembly and State High Court complexes, thus completing our envisioned Three-Arms Zone.
“When completed, the Three Arms Zone will ensure that Government has the infrastructure required to deliver quality services to the people”, Governor Inuwa assured.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Engr Usman Maijama’a Kallamu, praised Governor Inuwa’s commitment towards entrenching people oriented projects not just for the present but for future generations.
He assured that the project, which has a completion period of 102 weeks, will no doubt address the need to accommodate most of Governments critical ministries in a particular location.
The project was awarded to Messrs Datum Construction Nigeria Limited at the total cost of N68,584,902,944.09
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