Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya has stressed that the provision of social amenities depends heavily upon the availability and efficiency of Infrastructure because Infrastructural development will be the key driver in the dream for sustainable growth.
The Governor added that poverty continues unabated just as unemployment rises among young people as regrettably, electricity power supply, which is the key to stimulating microeconomic activity has been erratic in some places and totally absent in some parts of the State.
Inuwa Yahaya who was speaking on the occasion of the inauguration of the Taskforce on the improvement of Power Supply in Gombe State declared that this unfortunate situation has continued to hamper the growth of small and medium-sized businesses and enterprises in spite of the obvious entrepreneurial ability and capabilities of our people.
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He added that “You will agree with me that we cannot continue to watch helplessly and tolerate the deliberate neglect and destruction of our collective assets. Power remains the main key in our efforts to reposition our state on the path of sustainable industrialisation. It is our firm belief that restructuring and energising the Power sector in the State would contribute immensely to the overall development of Gombe State”.
The Governor further said that “I strongly believe that if Gombe State must develop and catch up with the rest of the country, we must work on our power sub-sector. It is against this compelling background that our Government deems it imperative to constitute this important Taskforce in order to fully address the problems that have continued to hamper steady power supply in Gombe State”.
According to him,the terms of Reference of the Taskforce on the Improvement of Power Supply in Gombe State are: ascertain the current level and capacity of power transmission ; determine the adequacy or otherwise of electric feeder pillars, substations and electric transformers at strategic locations in the State and find outperformance of all transformers with reference to imposed loads and current power ratings;
The Committee is also to ascertain causes of frequent transformers failures and proffer solutions for onward referral to relevant authorities; determine the causes of inadequate electricity supply to rural areas and suggest ways of ameliorating /remedying the situation ; suggest ways of strengthening trilateral relations between Gombe State Government and Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDCO),Plc and Transmission Company of Nigeria(TCN); and make such other recommendations as the Taskforce may deem fit under the circumstances.
He then disclosed that members of the Taskforce comprise:- Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullah as Chairman, Engr.Felix Gambo Mukollo, Engr. Kayinu Saraki Ambore, Engr. Saeed Maigari, Engr. Modi Babuje, Engr. Bello Babayo Bello, Engr. Adamu Usman, Engr. Ahmed Ibrahim Pindiga all Members, and Barr. Ismail Muhammad Hinna to serve as a Member/Secretary.
He expressed confidence that “from the above list of members, you will agree with me that their choice was based on the antecedents of their proven record of meritorious service, sterling quality and vast experience garnered in both the public and private sectors. I have no doubt in my mind that you will discharge the responsibility bestowed on you creditably and with zeal in the best interests of the State”.
In his response, Chairman of the Task Force, Engr Bello Gwarzo assured that the members will work untiringly to ensure that the objective of setting it up was achieved.
He, therefore, appealed for support and cooperation of people of the state in the performance of the task ahead calling for useful information and advice that will help the task force.
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