Today, it may seem surprising to some to see that the Yobe state government has recorded a wide range of accomplishments, ranging from the health sector to education and infrastructure. It is noteworthy, however, to commend Governor Mai Mala Buni’s leadership for these accomplishments.
Although, there were legitimate concerns as to how the governor would combine running a state and a political party as the National Caretaker Extraordinary Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the achievements recorded so far have dismissed those concerns.
Despite daunting leadership challenges, especially at the time when Boko Haram insurgents have reduced Yobe state to near tatters, Governor Buni has recorded key achievements in the state. In August 28, 2019, Governor Buni flagged off the construction of the Buni-Yadi Township Road and ordered the immediate renovation of the General Hospital during his visit to the town in Gujba local government area.
In a bid to boost the economic growth of Yobe state, the state government partnered with a private investment company, Family Homes Fund Ltd, for the construction of 3600 housing units in each of the senatorial districts in the state.
This initiative will subsequently provide over 200,000 jobs and will also give the indigenes of Yobe State the opportunity to be landlords.
In October 18, 2019, in another bid to accelerate economic growth in the state, the governor laid the ground foundation of an ultra-modern market in Damaturu, the state capital. The N2.8 billion market, once completed, will create jobs and encourage investments from the private sector.
In order to decongest schools in urban areas due to the increase of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, In April 202, the state government spent over N2.1billion in the construction of 7 model primary schools in different locations in the state.
While bettering the lives of Yobe retirees, on July 4, 2020, Buni approved the sum of N228, 914,250.19 for the payment of benefits of 198 local government retirees.
Under his leadership, the Yobe government inaugurated the construction of houses for internally displaced persons, IDPs, affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in September 2020.
This project was sponsored by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, Joint Venture, JV, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, SNEPCO, and Total Nigeria Plc.
Yobe state government, in conjunction with African Development Bank under the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement, and Livelihood Improvement Support, APPEALS, Project has distributed livelihood support packages to over 5,000 IDPs.
In a bid to promote basic health care in the state, the state government has partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates and the Dangote Foundation to provide free medical service to the citizens of Yobe State.
On October 22, 2020, governor Buni inaugurated a N300 million primary healthcare Centre in Fika Local Government Area which was constructed by Relume Charitable Foundation in conjunction with the NNPC and SDPC.
The state government also constructed 53 out of the 178 proposed functional Primary Health Care Centers provided with laboratories, pharmacies, male and female wards, and housing quarters for health workers.
Hussaini writes from Abuja
