Gombe Governor Inuwa Yahaya urges development continuity ahead of 2027, highlighting progress in education, healthcare, roads and investment as the state marks 30 years
Gombe State was created on 1 October 1996 by the military administration of General Sani Abacha, following longstanding demands for greater political representation and development in the area.
Three decades later, the anniversary has provided an opportunity to assess what statehood has delivered and what remains unfinished.
Yahaya, who took office in May 2019 and is approaching the end of his constitutionally limited second term, urged political leaders, traditional rulers, religious institutions, young people and residents to approach the 2027 transition with responsibility and a shared commitment to peace.
He said Gombe’s future should not depend on the ambitions of any single leader or political party, stressing that the achievements of successive administrations needed to be preserved and improved upon.
“The future of Gombe State must always be greater than the ambitions of any individual or political party,” Yahaya said.
The governor’s appeal came as the state marked its 30th anniversary under the theme, “Reflecting on our History, Consolidating Progress, and Charting the Future”.
The occasion brought renewed attention to the role of successive administrations in shaping Gombe’s institutions, infrastructure and public services.
Yahaya acknowledged the contributions of the state’s early military administrators, Group Captain Joseph Orji and Lieutenant Colonel Mohammed Inuwa Bawa, alongside former civilian governors Abubakar Habu Hashidu, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje and Senator Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo.
He argued that development should be understood as a shared, generational responsibility rather than the achievement of one administration.
“Thirty years ago, a dream that our people had carried for generations finally became a reality,” he said, reflecting on the struggle for state creation.
The governor also revisited his own record since 2019, saying his administration had pursued a 10-year development agenda known as DEVAGOM, with investments spanning education, healthcare, roads, agriculture, industry, electricity and public sector reform.
In education, Yahaya reported that more than 2,000 classrooms had been built or renovated across over 400 schools, while four large colleges had been constructed and 1,000 teachers recruited.
He also said the Better Education Service Delivery for All programme had helped bring 350,000 out-of-school children into education.
The figures, presented by the governor as evidence of progress, underline the scale of the administration’s stated ambitions.
Their long-term significance, however, will depend on whether improved infrastructure translates into better learning outcomes, consistent attendance and stronger educational opportunities for children across the state.
Healthcare was another major part of his anniversary address. Yahaya said 228 primary healthcare centres had been built or renovated, while the GoHealth contributory healthcare scheme had expanded to cover more than 400,000 people, including approximately 100,000 vulnerable residents.
He also cited the recruitment of 440 healthcare professionals and upgrades to hospitals and specialist facilities. These interventions are intended to improve access to care, particularly in rural communities, although continued funding, adequate staffing and the availability of medicines and equipment remain important to the effectiveness of healthcare services.
Infrastructure featured prominently in the governor’s account. Yahaya said the Network 11-100 programme had supported the construction and rehabilitation of more than 1,000 kilometres of roads.
He also highlighted the Gombe City Centre Underpass, the Northern Bypass and housing developments delivered in collaboration with federal institutions.
In agriculture and industrialisation, he pointed to the 1,000-hectare Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park and the ongoing Renewed Hope Agro-Industrial Hub, which is planned to accommodate livestock trading, grain markets, processing facilities and logistics infrastructure.
The projects reflect the state government’s ambition to strengthen Gombe’s position as a commercial and agricultural centre in the North-East.
Their wider impact will depend on attracting investment, supporting local enterprises and generating sustainable employment for residents.
Yahaya also highlighted electricity initiatives, including the completed one-megawatt Talasse solar mini-grid and additional projects intended to connect more communities.
He said work to expand water distribution and improve power supply to the Gombe water treatment plant was nearing completion.
On public service and workers’ welfare, the governor reported that more than N44 billion had been paid in pension and gratuity obligations, including N21 billion inherited from the previous administration.
He also cited the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage for state and local government employees.
Despite the achievements outlined, Yahaya acknowledged that significant development challenges remained.
He pointed to economic pressures, fiscal constraints and insecurity affecting parts of northern Nigeria, adding that the state had not resolved every problem or fulfilled every aspiration.
That acknowledgement provided an important qualification to the anniversary celebrations. Infrastructure projects and programme figures offer one measure of progress, but residents’ experiences of employment, living costs, access to public services and personal security will also shape how the state’s first 30 years are judged.
Yahaya said the next phase of development should prioritise stronger institutions, technological innovation, private sector partnerships and policies capable of surviving changes in leadership.
He also announced a commemorative publication, Gombe State: Thirty Years of Promise and Progress, 1996–2026, intended to document the state’s history and the contributions of successive administrations.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the governor urged political stakeholders to place peace and the collective interest of residents above partisan differences.
His appeal echoed similar calls made during the anniversary symposium for a calm transition and continuity in development planning.
For Gombe, the anniversary is both a celebration of statehood and an opportunity to consider what must come next. The challenge for future administrations will be to turn the foundations laid over three decades into more inclusive economic opportunities, dependable public services and lasting improvements in residents’ quality of life.
