Highlighting Yobe’s dividends of democracy
SIR: Despite political scepticism from opposition politicians, Governor Mai Mala Buni has proven his commitment to serving Yobe State people, prioritising their needs over personal interests since taking office. His political vision aligns with the masses, focusing on their welfare and well-being.
Since assuming office, the Governor Buni administration has made significant strides in various sectors, including infrastructure development, healthcare, education, road construction, agriculture, and women and youth empowerment. Notably, the administration has offered local and foreign scholarships, boosting citizens’ confidence in the state.
Governor Buni has made concerted efforts to combat insecurity. He has engaged with service chiefs and heads of security agencies to find lasting solutions. Over the past six years, the Yobe State government has provided over 400 vehicles to support the Nigerian Army, Air Force, Police, and other security agencies, enhancing their operational capabilities.
The Buni administration has made significant strides in transforming education. To address the pressing issue of out-of-school children, he convened the state’s inaugural education summit, seeking solutions. With approximately 4.4 million out-of-school children in Yobe (about a third of Nigeria’s 13.2 million), the summit marked a crucial milestone in the administration’s efforts to revamp the education sector.
To expand access to education, the administration established model primary and junior secondary schools in each of the state’s three senatorial districts, with plans for further expansion to all 17 local government areas. This initiative has yielded significant results, including increased school enrollment and the rehabilitation of structures damaged by Boko Haram insurgents.
The administration has established six new Model Schools, seven Mega Schools, nine Government Girls’ Day Senior Secondary Schools, eight co-educational Government Day Senior Secondary Schools, one additional boys’ school, and an IDP School in Buni-Yadi.
These new schools are strategically located in affected areas, aligning with the administration’s State of Emergency Declaration on Education. The administration has also awarded scholarships to hundreds of high-achieving students, both male and female, to pursue various fields, including Petro-Engineering, Medicine, Anesthesia, and Pharmacy, locally and internationally.
These initiatives were complemented by the construction of new classrooms, laboratories, ICT centres, hostels, and other essential facilities, as well as the provision of teaching and learning materials to primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions, fostering a conducive learning environment for students and pupils.
Yobe State’s health sector has seen significant achievements. The state government has constructed, refurbished, and equipped over 138 Primary Health Care centres, increasing access to essential services. Free Dialysis Programme: hundreds of patients receive free dialysis treatment every month at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital.
Yobe State was recognised as a leader in primary healthcare, winning $500,000 in the North-East zone leadership challenge. The state allocated 15% of its 2025 budget to the health sector, to promote healthcare delivery services. The state has upgraded four general hospitals to specialist facilities and eight Primary Health Care centres to general hospitals, enhancing healthcare infrastructure.
The Buni Expanded Free Healthcare Scheme provides free basic healthcare to vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, children under five, and people living with disabilities. Under the scheme, there are 222 primary healthcare providers and 24 secondary healthcare facilities supported through capitation and fee-for-service arrangements. Yobe State University Teaching Hospital has secured full accreditation to train 25 resident doctors, a monumental achievement for the state’s healthcare sector.
Since 2019, the state has witnessed unprecedented infrastructural development under the current administration. Construction and rehabilitation of over 500 kilometres of roads, connecting communities and fostering economic growth. Township roads and drainages in five local government areas. Damaturu flyover construction.
Commissioning of new electricity infrastructure for the Nguru Mass Housing Estate, Expansion of the National Grid to more communities. Installation of solar street lights in 11 local government areas. Mass Housing Policy delivering 2,350 housing units with basic amenities at a 50% discount on an owner-occupier basis. Improved water supply with new solar-powered boreholes and reticulations in Damaturu, Buni-Yadi, Nguru, Geidam, and Potiskum.
Read Also: When Praise Becomes Propaganda: A Refutal of “The Fintiri Aura”
Construction of modern markets in Potiskum, Geidam, Yunusari, and Ngalda, Damaturu Mega Shopping Mall construction and Potiskum Truck Transit Park development. These infrastructure developments aim to drive economic growth, enhance the quality of life for residents, and support the state’s overall progress
Despite financial constraints, Governor Buni’s administration has successfully implemented developmental projects that enhance human capital development. To achieve its socioeconomic objectives, the administration is proactively seeking local and international investments to leverage the state’s natural mineral resources. Notably, Governor Buni has engaged with Qatari investors to explore opportunities for establishing a cement company and meat processing factory in Yobe State.
The administration has revitalised and upgraded government-owned industries, including the Gujba Fertiliser Blending Plant, Polythene, Woven Sacks Factory, Yobe Flour and Feed Mills, and Sahel Aluminium Companies, to enhance production capacity. This initiative seeks to boost internal revenue generation and create jobs.
To realise its vision for Yobe State, the administration has introduced transformative policies and programmes designed to unlock the state’s vast potential and propel it towards greatness.
Abba Dukawa Abuja
