Like a resonance of fresh air, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed’s administration has broken the mould of political leadership in terms of socioeconomic, infrastructural, and political development of the state. Anyone who was in Bauchi state three years ago and has now returned may not navigate his way, because of the amazing transformation the state has undergone beyond recognition.
Since Governor Bala Mohammed (Kauran Bauchi) assumed office on 29 May 2019, the seasoned technocrat and astute political strategist has swung into action to justify the huge confidence reposed in him by the electorate. Indeed, Governor Bala Mohammed has made tremendous strides in all sectors of the state’s economy:
ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE
In the road infrastructural sphere, Governor Bala Mohammed significantly eased the movement of persons and goods within the Bauchi metropolis in his first 100 days in office by demolishing structures that blocked the free flow of traffic and constructing a brand new road, the Goodluck Jonathan from Sabon Kaura to Miri while also constructing another one around the abandoned CBN roundabout to railway roundabout road project thus bringing smiles and joy to road users and commuters within the previously congested areas.
Also, among the projects awarded within his first 100 days, were a 58-kilometer road linking Yalwan Duguri, Badaran Dutse, Birim, Bajama, Kumbala, Kundak, Wurno, and Burga communities of Tafawa Balewa and Alkaleri local governments; Sade to Akuyam in Misau local government as well as GRA Azare to old Kano Road in Katagum local government area of the state. Moreso, Raji quarters to NITEL road, and Gombe to Maiduri bye-pass were all completed.
A resolute Governor Bala Mohammed has demonstrated iron political will by demolishing structures and constructing a road from MudaLawal Market to Bakin Kura to Malam Goje to ameliorate the transportation woes of motorists. Beyond easing transportation, these roads mean a lot to the economic development of the people of the area by boosting their income-generating capabilities
The construction of the 3-kilometer Gwam-gwam-gwam to Bakaro to Kafar Dumi road, 1.7 Kilometer Tambari Housing Estate to Sabon Kaura road, 370 Meter road network at the newly constructed Hajj Camp is yet another game changer by the action governor meant to boost trade and commerce within the state capital.
Like the state capital, all other parts of Bauchi State have witnessed rapid development in road infrastructure as the dynamic Ƙauran Bauchi has completed 6.5 Kilometer Tafawa Balewa, Shira, Jama’are road; 11.6 Kilometer Boi-Tapshin Road; 11.2 Kilometer Bogoro-Lusar-Malar Road; 2.65 Bununu township roads; 2.5 Kilometer Sade township road; 25.5 Kilometer Udubo-Gamawa road and Warji-Gwaram road.
Other galvanized road projects include the 3 Kilometer Disina Road and Disina Township Road; Azare Township Road; the 5 Kilometer Alkaleri-Gwaram-Gokaru Road and Burga-Duguri Road. Amazingly these projects are just the tip of the iceberg as more have been recently awarded and are under appreciable stages of construction.
EDUCATION SECTOR
As a result of his passionate dedication to the pursuit of educational excellence in the state, Governor Bala Mohammed in his first year in office, flagged off the disbursement of five Hundred Thousand Naira to each of the 1,320 schools in five Local Government Areas of the state, who are the beneficiaries of the Schools Improvement Project grants, a World Bank project. He also provided 6.7 hectares of land for the construction of the Northeast UBEC Model School in Bauchi to fast-track the execution of the project. With the commitment of the governor towards overcoming the challenges facing the sector, Bauchi State Government secured the award of three million US Dollars for the implementation of Better Education Service Delivery for All, a federal government-supported project
To provide a healthy environment for teaching and learning, Senator Bala has embarked upon far-reaching renovation of Primary, Junior, and Senior Secondary Schools that were in dilapidated condition. Some of the renovated Schools within the Bauchi metropolis include Baba Sidi Primary School, Dutsen Tanshi Primary School, GDSS Zannuwa, Dawaki Primary School, GDSS Kofar Wambai, Government Comprehensive Day Secondary School, GJSS Model Fadamar Mada among others across the State.
In Dass Local Government Area, Kagadama (A); Bagel Primary School; Baden (B) Primary School; Bagel (B), Galadima; Darussalam (B), and Kagadama (B) Primary School are among the schools renovated. To also encourage female education, women’s education centers in Kirfi, Katagum, Jama’are, Ningi, Dass, and Misau local government areas, were renovated and given a befitting facelift.
Similarly, renovation and construction of blocks of classrooms have taken place in various Primary Schools in Tafawa Balewa, Bogoro, Darazo, Gamawa, Tatagum, Ganjuwa, Misau, Dambam, Alkaleri, Toro, Kirfi, Warji, Shira, Zaki, Giade, Ningi and other local government areas across the state.
To boost school attendance and encourage learning vocation, the Bauchi State Scholarship Board, disbursed scholarships to indigent students in secondary and tertiary institutions. Also, to check truancy and absenteeism among teachers, the state government introduced digital attendance whereby fingerprint devices replaced attendance registry booklets.
HEALTH SECTOR
When Senator Bala Mohammed assumed office, he immediately sought a sustained collaboration with the World Health Organization and over 20 other International Development Partners and Donor Agencies working in the state to boost the health sector as well as improve medical facilities in the state. This collaboration has yielded a positive result, which included the actualization of a robust infrastructure for polio eradication and immunization as well as the eradication of tuberculosis, guinea worm, leprosy, and other diseases.
Also, Governor Bala has renovated and completed the State’s College of Nursing and Midwifery equipped with sophisticated facilities and infrastructure for smooth and seamless medical operations.
The state government has also renovated over 126 primary health care centers in the state and constructed 12 new world-class hospitals and a primary health care center in Dorawar Dillalai, Bauchi metropolis. Additionally, several general hospitals across 6 local government areas are currently under renovation.
On the issue of incessant power failure in hospitals in Bauchi State, the state government has moved decisively towards ensuring 24-hour uninterrupted power supply in all Public Hospitals across the state to enhance effective health care delivery.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bauchi State government partnered with the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) to actualize a Molecular Laboratory in the State for testing of COVID-19, Lassa fever, yellow fever, and other hemorrhagic diseases. This development, henceforth, brought to an end the daunting tasks and the challenges of taking COVID-19 samples to Abuja and Jos.
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
To boost agrarian production and ensure adequate food in Bauchi State, Governor Bala launched an agricultural policy document covering key sub-sectors of agriculture such as irrigation development, quality supply, crop pest and disease control, commodity livestock, and fisheries development among others. The proactive governor has also allocated huge sums of money towards procuring pesticides and enhanced seedlings which will yield more produce to the farmers.
On an annual basis, the Bauchi State government procures over 18,000 metric tonnes of assorted fertilizer for farming season and has directed the state fertilizer blending company to sell the commodity at a subsidized rate directly to the farmers to save them, greedy middlemen.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
To revitalize economic activities in Bauchi State, Governor Bala Mohammed has created an enabling environment for private sector organizations to take advantage of the opportunities that exist on the global market for the export of both unprocessed and semi-processed agricultural products produced across the state. Thus, countless exporters are benefitting from the state government’s export-friendly policies and are moving a record number of goods and products outside the country.
Additionally, Senator Bala, through Kaura Economic Empowerment Project (KEEP), procured hundreds of vehicles and thousands of Keke Napep. This has greatly impacted positively on the economy and transportation industry in the state. Through KEEP, empowerment packages amounting to hundreds of millions of naira are distributed to business owners and many small-scale businesses have grown and blossomed.
HOUSING SECTOR
To address the acute shortage of low- and middle-income housing in Bauchi State, Governor Bala Mohammed commenced the construction of 2500 housing units across the 6 emirate councils of the state, among which included the construction of 30 units of 2-bedroom Bungalow, 20 units of 3-bedroom at Azare; construction of 600 units of 2-bedroom Bungalow and 400 units of 3-bedroom at Dungal, Bauchi.
Others are 120 units of 2-bedroom and 80 units of 3-bedroom Bungalow in Misau; construction of 21 units of 2-bedroom Bungalow and 14 units of 3-bedroom in Dass. Ningi and Jama’are were also not left out; in Ningi. Also constructed were 120 units of 2-bedroom and 80 units of 3-bedroom, while Jama’are secured 40 units of 2-bedroom and 28 units of 3-bedroom.
PROVISION OF PIPE BORNE WATER
To ensure the delivery of clean drinkable water, the Bauchi Government, in collaboration with the World Bank has executed a N20 billion water project to boost the water supply in the Bauchi metropolis. Key aspects of the projects included the distribution of a 150-kilometre pipeline within the Bauchi metropolitan, the laying of 1,000-millimetre diameter transmission mains from Gubi dam to Warinje reservoir, and the construction of seven million-litre reservoirs at Buzaye Hill.
The project was completed 100 percent and was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari during his tenure. The Managing Director of the State Water Corporation, Aminu Aliyu Gital put the number of beneficiaries at 707,000. This project meets domestic, industrial, commercial, and institutional requirements and standards.
POWER SECTOR
The track record Since assuming office, Governor Bala Mohammed has prioritized the electrification of all parts of Bauchi State and has thus extended power supply to Takanda, Magama, Gumau in Toro LGA; Sade in Darazo and Nasaru, Maje in Ningi LGA; Inkil, Mara Huta, Sabon Layi and Baraya Quarters in Bauchi LGA. This provision of constant power supply has transformed the living standard of the people for the better and further boosted economic activities throughout Bauchi State.
RELIGION AND INTER-FAITH AFFAIRS
To ensure the smooth and seamless movement of religious pilgrims in the state, Governor Bala Mohammed directed the construction of the Bauchi State Hajj Camp which is unarguably the biggest permanent hajj camp in Nigeria and the West African sub-region, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. The N725 Million project is part of the desire of Senator Bala Mohammed’s administration to improve the quality of life of the people of the state as both Muslim and Christian faithful will use the camp, given the fact that they have different timings for the transportation of their pilgrims. The camp is 100 percent completed and has commenced operations
Undoubtedly, the dynamic and proactive Senator Bala Mohammed has delivered tremendously on his campaign promises thus meeting the huge expectations of the Bauchi State people. To God be the glory.
