The Gombe State Government is to procure 2,500 metric tonnes of assorted fertiliser to be distributed to farmers in the state at a 50% subsidised rate ahead of the coming farming season.
The approval for procurement was given by the State Executive Council (SEC) during its extraordinary meeting held on Monday.
The SEC also approved the expansion and dualization of a key road in the state capital, starting from the Federal Teaching Hospital Junction along Bauchi Road, passing through the Police Headquarters, extending to the Federal College of Education (Technical), and continuing along Ashaka Road, among other roads.
This was disclosed by the Secretary to the Gombe State Government, Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, after the 39th State Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya at the council chamber of the Government House.
Ibrahim Njodi said that the contract for the township roads and dualization was awarded to Triacta Nig Ltd. at a sum of N20.4 billion with a completion period of 12 calendar months.
He further explained that the fertiliser is highly subsidised, the price is pegged at 22,000 Naira per bag as against the 45,000 Naira market price, and distribution will be flagged off later in the month to ensure timely delivery to farmers.”
Shedding more light on the infrastructural projects, the Commissioner for Works, Housing, and Transport, Engr. Usman Maijama’a Kallamu explained that the approval covered the construction of road networks in BAP 4 and the dualization works along Ashaka Road, which total 18.5 kilometres.
He added that approval was also granted for the emergency repairs of road washouts and culverts along Dukku-Dokoro Road in Dukku LGA.
“There was a washout and collapse of the existing six-cell box culvert along the road, and the council approved the construction of a two-span bridge in its place at the cost of 1.593 billion Naira, which will be completed in four months,” he highlighted.
The SEC also approved the sum of N587.6 million for the construction and provision of some essential facilities at Lincoln University, Kumo Campus, as part of the MoU signed between the Gombe State Government and the Malaysian University.
The Commissioner of Higher Education, Hon. Muhammad Shattima Gadam, said that the approval is in furtherance of the state government’s commitment to fulfilling its own part of the bargain as signed in the MoU to fast-track accreditation and commencement of academic activities at the university.
Also commenting on the outcome of the meeting, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Habu Dahiru, said all the approvals made by the Council are important projects that have a direct impact on the common man and are a testament to Governor Inuwa’s disposition to better the lives of Gombe citizens.
The Health Commissioner noted that “the approval for the procurement of highly subsidised fertiliser will facilitate food security and a bumper harvest this season that will ultimately reduce the skyrocketing prices of foodstuffs in the state, thereby bringing succour to the common man.”
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