From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
As part of effort to improve the welfare of citizens, the Jigawa State Executive Council during it’s last sitting on Thursday, approved the execution of various development projects worth over ₦91.04 billion across 27 local government in the state.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, Mr. Sagiru Musa Ahmed, issued to news men on the outcomes of the meeting chaired by the governor.
According to the commissioner, approval has been given for electrification and solarisation of some institutions, ministries, departments and agencies.
He said ₦689,383,257.83. would be spent on the procurement of transformers and substations for Jigawa State Polytechnic, Dutse, GDSTC Gumel, Babura and Kafin Hausa, as well as Jigawa Television, NYSC Orientation Camp, and Dutse Township Stadium.
Others are the Specialist Hospitals in Hadejia and Kazaure, General Hospitals in Ringim, Birnin Kudu and Bulangu, Khadija University, Bamaina Academy, Sara, Gujungu and Maigatari Markets, and 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 the cost of ₦563,003,475.71 for Dutse and ₦348,857,889.00 for Hadejia.
In another major decision, solar-powered mini-grids would be installed at the Government House, Deputy Governor’s Office, official residences of the Secretary to the State Government and the Head of Service, the State Secretariat, House of Assembly and the Judiciary complexes, as wwll as 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 billion from the Stabilisation Fund to the Ministry of Works.
The funds will cover mobilisation fees for contractors handling township roads in Dutse, Kafin Hausa Gumel Bypass, Dangyatim, and Doko. The total length of the roads is 58.56 kilometres, awarded at the cost of ₦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 some health facilities.
These are the General Hospitals in Hadejia, Gumel, Kazaure and Birniwa; the Psychiatric Hospital in Kazaure, and the General Hospitals in Gwiwa, Garki, Guri, Gantsa, Gagarawa and Kirikasamma.
The money include the 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, Garun Gabas, Kila, Farin Dutse, Gwaram General Hospital, Maigatari, Kafin Hausa, 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 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 at the cost of ₦576,880,184.54.
The Jigawa State Executive Council 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.
