By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya has revealed that thefirst phase of the proposed Gombe State Industrial Park will cost about N17 billion.
He also disclosed that the peace which the state has enjoyed in the face of the security challenges in many neighbouring states is as a result of the government’s interactions with the people of Gombe to live in peace and harmony despite their differences.
Governor Yahaya who spoke to State House Correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday said despite the religious and ethnic differences as well as other social differences that normally cause frictions among the people, Gombe people have been peaceful.
The first-time Governor of Gombe state said that the relative peace in his state has made the state very attractive to businessmen, pointing out that Gombe Industrial Park will soon come on stream.
Said he: “Procurement processes to actualize the Gombe Industrial Park have been completed, we are going to award the project by the end of this month, and inshallah, when we start, there will be no end to it because we are doing it in phases.
“The first phase (of the project) is going to cost about 17 billion Naira and is going to cover about 347 hectares of land, and because of its location, close to the Dadin Kowa dam and hydropower plant, which already has 40 megawatts of power.
“I think it will be a big attraction for investors and industrialists to come and set up. So I think we’re on board and we’re on course. Insha Allah”.
Asked what he is doing differently to record the relative peace in his state and what he is doing to ensure the security of lives and property, the Governor said: “We thank God as far as the issue of security is concerned, you rightly mentioned, we’re amid the Northeast, and we’re aware of the challenges the frontline states, Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa are facing.
“So we tried as much as possible to guide our people, you know, to live in peace and harmony, despite our differences, religious differences, ethnic differences, and, other social differences that normally cause rifts amongst the people. And we’ve got the understanding of our people.
“And with the support of the security agencies, we’ve been able to relate and manage security and in Gombe State and we’re happy. And Insha Allah we shall try to sustain that going forward”.
