The Gombe State Executive Council, presided over by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, on Wednesday approved over N50 billion for a 21-kilometre gully erosion control project under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) initiative.
The contract, awarded to TRIACTA Limited, will traverse erosion-prone areas from behind the Police Commissioner’s residence through Pantami to Kwarin-Hayin Kwarin Misau and GGSS Doma.
Commissioner for Environment, Water and Forest Resources, Mohammed Saidu Fawu, said the Council also approved N2.1 billion as compensation for individuals whose properties or livelihoods may be affected by the project.
He noted that the initiative aims to address land degradation and protect vulnerable communities and public infrastructure.
In education, the Council approved the conversion of Government Secondary School (GSS) Malam Sidi to the Faculty of Agriculture under Gombe State University (GSU), with a take-off fund of N1.1 billion.
Commissioner for Higher Education, Muhammad Shettima Gadam, said the faculty would comprise four departments offering 10 courses, including BSc Agriculture, BSc Agribusiness, BSc Horticulture, and BSc Fisheries and Wildlife Management.
Also, the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Engr. Usman Maijama Kallamu, disclosed that the Council approved N891 million for road rehabilitation in Akko, Bula-Gari, Abuja-Bula, and Kwami-Gari areas.
On financial matters, Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Muhammad Gambo Magaji, revealed that the state secured a 70% waiver on a legacy loan from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), reducing the state’s liability from N2.7 billion to N1.4 billion.
The loan was originally acquired for housing estates at Tumfure and Dukku Road during the previous administration.
Magaji described the waiver—amounting to N1.3 billion—as a result of Governor Yahaya’s strategic engagement with FMBN, reflecting sound financial management.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Zubair Umar, announced that the state reached an out-of-court settlement with Zenith Bank over a contract dispute dating back to 2011.
The case involved a failed contract for dictionary supplies, where the state had demanded a refund of N872 million. The matter, previously at the Supreme Court, was resolved following the Governor’s directive for amicable settlement, thereby saving the state further legal costs.
