By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Jigawa State Executive Council has approved a raft of development projects valued at ₦91,043,575,816.69, cutting across road infrastructure, power supply, healthcare facilities and the provision of medical equipment.
The approvals were disclosed in a press statement issued and signed by the Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, Mr. Sagiru Musa Ahmed, and made available to the TRUTHS FINDER in Dutse.
According to the commissioner, the council meeting, presided over by Governor Malam Umar Namadi, approved the award of contracts for electrification and solarisation of selected government institutions and ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) at a total cost of ₦689,383,257.83.
He said the projects include the procurement of transformers and substations for Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse, GDSTC Gumel, Babura and Kafin Hausa; Jigawa Television (JTV), NYSC Orientation Camp, Dutse Township Stadium, Specialist Hospitals in Hadejia and Kazaure, General Hospitals in Ringim, Birnin Kudu and Bulangu, Khadija University, Bamaina Academy, Sara, Gujungu and Maigatari Markets, as well as the Jigawa State Polytechnic of Communication and Information Technology, Kazaure.
The council also approved the construction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion workshop training centres and gas conversion facilities in Dutse and Hadejia at a combined cost of ₦563,003,475.71 ₦214,145,586.71 for Dutse and ₦348,857,889.00 for Hadejia.
In another major decision, the EXCO approved the construction of solar-powered mini-grids at the Government House, Deputy Governor’s Office, official residences of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Head of Service (HOS), State Secretariat Complex, House of Assembly, Judiciary Complex, and Shuwarin/Gidan Ihu Water Plant, at a total cost of ₦15,242,401,992.00.
Musa further revealed that the council approved a budget adjustment, involving the reallocation of ₦4.5 billion from the Market Development Fund and ₦1.0 billion from the Stabilisation Fund to the Ministry of Works. The funds will cover mobilisation and contract awards for township road construction in Dutse Phase II (20.36km), Kafin Hausa (19km), Gumel Bypass (12km), Dangyatim Township Road (4.2km) and Doko in Garki LGA (4km) a total of 58.56 kilometres, valued at ₦57,798,380,827.20.
The council also approved contracts for the construction of mosques at GDTQ Yusuf Dantanoma, Yalleman in Kaugama, Fadawa, Sarawa in Kafin Hausa, and Rigar Liman in Maigatari, through the Islamic Education Bureau, at a cost of ₦204,027,847.50.
Additionally, approval was granted for the construction of a Centre for Wetland Research at Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa, costing ₦557,081,291.25.
Other approvals include the construction of hostels and staff quarters at the Skill Acquisition Centre, Limawa, Dutse, at ₦1,070,345,133.90, and the renovation and remodelling of the Skill Acquisition Centre, Ringim, at ₦506,577,401.40.
In the health sector, the EXCO approved ₦8,051,282,260.58 for the renovation, remodelling, upgrading and equipping of health facilities which include General Hospitals in Hadejia, Gumel, Kazaure and Birniwa; the Psychiatric Hospital in Kazaure; upgrades of General Hospitals in Gwiwa, Garki, Guri, Gantsa, Gagarawa and Kirikasamma; supply of medical equipment to the Orthopaedic Hospital, Gumel; and provision of dialysis equipment to General Hospitals in Dutse, Ringim and Kazaure.
To tackle flooding, the council approved the construction of drainage systems in Tumballe and Garun Gabas (Malam Madori LGA), Kila Town, Farin Dutse and Gwaram General Hospital (Gwaram LGA), Maigatari Town, Kafin Hausa Town, and the College of Education, Gumel, at a total cost of ₦4,885,603,497.79.
In a bid to sustain Jigawa’s status as an Open Defecation-Free (ODF) state, approval was granted for the construction of two blocks of public conveniences at Kubsa, Sara and Babura Markets, costing ₦359,250,552.00.
The council also approved the procurement of tools for the Jigawa Tech Talent Acquisition Programme at ₦210,246,845.00, in line with the state’s drive to become an ICT hub and nurture youth-led start-ups.
Other approvals include the procurement of vehicles Toyota Corolla cars, one 18-seater bus and one Hilux vehicle for the Jigawa State Senior Secondary School Education Board, at a cost of ₦329,111,250.00, and the construction of stormwater drainage infrastructure in Kiyawa Town, valued at ₦576,880,184.54.
The EXCO also approved the revised Food Safety Policy and Guidelines, submitted by the committee earlier constituted by the council following a memorandum from the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change.
