Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Thursday performed the flag-off and ground breaking for the construction of roads and stormwater drainages at the Gombe Special Capital Development Zone (BAP4 Layout) and the dualization of the Bauchi Road Junction through Federal Teaching Hospital to Potiskum Road.
According to a statement by Ismail Uba Misilli, Director press affairs Gombe state government house, the event is in furtherance of Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s efforts to ensure sustainable and inclusive urban development for the growth and progress of the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Governor highlighted the importance of the Gombe Capital Special Development Zone (GCSDZ) project, which was established in 2021 with the aim to address the challenges of urban neglect and inadequate public facilities.
He explained that the roads and drainage projects encompass the construction of 20.55 km of road networks in the layout, including the dualization of the Gombe-Potiskum road at the cost of 20.24 billion naira.
The project includes gully erosion control through the construction of reinforced concrete drains covering 7.5 km of gullies from the Gombe International Hotel up to Nayi-nawa at the cost 3.98 billion naira; making a total of 24.22 billion naira for the two projects.
According to Governor Inuwa Yahaya, the dualization of the Bauchi Road Junction through FTH to FCE (T ) Potiskum Road is another critical component of his administration’s urban development strategy. He stated that the project is aimed at easing traffic congestion, enhancing road safety, and improving connectivity between key institutions and residential areas along that axis especially with the commencement of operations at the Ibrahim Dankwambo Ultra-Modern Motor Park.
During the occasion, Governor Inuwa announced the naming of the redesigned layout after the late Emir of Gombe, HRH. Shehu Usman Abubakar, saying the contributions of the late revered father to the creation and development of Gombe State are immeasurable, and it is only fitting that we immortalize his legacies through this significant development.”
“The Gombe Capital Special Development Zone (GCSDZ) project was established in 2021. It was borne out of the need to ensure sustainable and inclusive urban planning and development. The zone, covering 1,478.17 hectares and comprising about 12 layouts, is designed to provide advanced infrastructure, public utilities, and essential services to our residents. The project is intended to address the challenges of urban neglect and inadequate public facilities by entrenching strict urban planning regulations and robust enforcement”, Governor Inuwa stated.
“At the heart of this project is the BAP4 Layout which has experienced significant underdevelopment due to inconsistent monitoring and enforcement by past administrations. For over four decades, many titleholders have failed to develop their plots, and all public-use components in the initial layout plan, such as schools, hospitals, religious centres, recreational centres, access roads, police and fire service stations, have been distorted. The layout is characterized by illegal conversions, subdivisions, encroachments, blockages of access roads, non-payment of ground rents, improper documentation, developmental stagnation and environmental degradation” the Governor added.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya further announced that the redesign exercise has been completed, leading to the issuance of Executive Order Number 007, which revokes all rights of occupancy titles over lands situated in the BAP4 layout, to pave the way for a complete infrastructural overhaul of the layout in line with modern standards.
He also assured original landowners at the BAP4 layout of the Right of First Refusal, allaying their fears of complete revocation, saying “In line with our policy of inclusivity, and in the spirit of equity and fairness, the original landowners will be given the right of first refusal in the reallocation process, after successfully meeting the required authentication and revalidation criteria. Any surplus plots resulting from the redesign will be allocated to the general public in accordance with established regulations. This approach serves to preserve the legacy of the community and ensure that no property owner is unjustly affected by the process.”
Earlier speaking, the Commissioner of Works, Housing and Transportation and his counterpart for Environment, Water and Forest Resources, appealed to the people of the state to give their maximum support and cooperation to throughout the course of executing the projects.
In his remarks, the Director General, Gombe State Geographical Information System (GOGIS), Dr. Kabiru Usman Hassan, explained that there was no intention to hijack any plot but the current state of the BAP4 layout has distorted the state master plan which the administration of Governor Inuwa Yahaya seeks to restore and eventually return same Right of Occupancy to valid owners.
On his part, the Managing Director Triacta Nigeria Limited, Engr. Elie Farhat, pledged quality job and timely completion.
