Gov. Inuwa Yahaya’s Seven Years in Office: A Symphony of Growth and Greatness

Gov. Inuwa Yahaya’s Seven Years in Office: A Symphony of Growth and Greatness

By Ismaila Uba Misilli

Today marks the seventh anniversary of the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, as governor of Gombe State: seven years of leadership that have steadily reshaped the political, economic, and developmental ecosystem of the state.

Anniversaries such as these offer an opportunity for reflection, assessment, and honest evaluation. In the case of Governor Inuwa Yahaya, the past seven years tell a compelling story of vision, discipline, reforms, and transformational governance.

When he assumed office in 2019, Gombe State faced enormous challenges. Public infrastructure had deteriorated, internally generated revenue was weak, and institutions were fragile, while critical sectors such as education and healthcare required urgent intervention. The state grappled with mounting developmental pressures amid limited resources and rising public expectations.

Seven years later, the narrative has changed significantly.

Across Gombe State today, the evidence of purposeful governance is visible. Roads now connect communities once neglected. Modern solar-powered streetlights illuminate major roads and urban centres. Public institutions are being revitalised, while schools and hospitals receive adequate attention. Agriculture is being modernised, and environmental restoration projects are redefining the state’s response to climate challenges.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya once remarked, “History will judge us by the impact we make, not by the resolutions we passed.” Seven years on, those words increasingly reflect a governing philosophy rather than political rhetoric.

Gombe Before 2019: A State in Need of Renewal

Before 2019, Gombe State struggled with a huge debt burden, weak fiscal capacity, and decaying infrastructure. Roads were in poor condition, while several sectors suffered years of neglect.

The education sector faced significant challenges. Schools were dilapidated, teachers poorly motivated, and students’ performance in national examinations ranked among the worst in the country.

The healthcare system was equally underdeveloped, while insecurity across the North-East added further pressure. Some institutions existed only in name. In many respects, Gombe was a state yearning for direction and renewal.

Seven Years of Transformation
Governor Inuwa Yahya’s administration has since redefined governance in Gombe State through deliberate planning, prudent resource management, and people-orientated policies.

The transformation is visible not only in physical infrastructure but also in institutional reforms and human development indicators.

Infrastructure Revolution and Urban Renewal

One of the administration’s most visible achievements is its massive infrastructural renewal drive.
The “Network 11-100” initiative has constructed over 1,000 kilometres of roads across the 11 local government areas, significantly improving transportation, trade, and connectivity.

Modern road networks complemented by solar-powered streetlights have transformed the landscape of the Gombe metropolis and other major towns.

Former APC National Chairman Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje once remarked during a visit to the state that “Anyone passing through the streets of Gombe at night would think they are in Dubai.”

Today, Gombe boasts a modern three-arms zone comparable to development models in the Federal Capital Territory, while urban renewal projects continue to reshape the state into a cleaner, greener, and more organised environment.

Education: From Crisis to Recovery

Upon assumption of office, Governor Inuwa Yahaya declared a state of emergency in education, a bold decision that laid the foundation for one of the most ambitious education reforms in Northern Nigeria.

The administration has constructed or renovated hundreds of classrooms, established mega schools, and created special schools. The administration also integrated the Almajiri and Tsangaya education systems into formal learning structures.

More than 1,000 qualified teachers were recruited, alongside the establishment of a teacher training centre to support continuous capacity building.

The government has successfully returned over 350,000 out-of-school children to classrooms, resulting in a significant improvement in students’ performance in national examinations, rising from approximately 28 per cent to nearly 80 per cent.

Gombe is increasingly emerging as a model for education reform and access, moving from being ranked among the poorest-performing states educationally.

Healthcare Revolution
Healthcare has equally witnessed significant transformation under the administration.

The introduction of the Gombe State Health Insurance Scheme (Go-Health) expanded access to affordable healthcare, particularly for vulnerable and low-income residents.
Expansion of Primary Healthcare

The administration revitalised healthcare delivery by upgrading primary healthcare centres across the state’s 114 wards and expanding them to two functional facilities per ward, bringing the total to 228 revitalised PHCs equipped with improved infrastructure and solar-powered boreholes.

Upgrading of General Hospitals
General hospitals in Kumo, Kaltungo, and Bajoga underwent major upgrades.

General Hospital Kumo has since been elevated to a Federal Medical Center, while the Snakebite Hospital in Kaltungo is being strengthened as a national Snakebite Treatment and Research Center in collaboration with the federal government.

100-Bed Mother and Child Hospital
The Senator Oluremi Tinubu Mother and Child Hospital was established in partnership with OSSAP-SDGs to enhance maternal and child healthcare services.

Welfare of Health Workers

In October 2025, Governor Inuwa Yahaya approved the implementation of CONMESS and CONHESS salary structures for health workers in line with federal standards, a move aimed at boosting morale and retaining medical personnel.

Over 440 qualified health workers have also been recruited to bridge manpower gaps, while the establishment of the Gombe State College of Nursing Sciences further strengthened healthcare manpower development.

Technology and Financial Accountability

Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s administration has leveraged technology to improve transparency and efficiency in governance.

The deployment of the Biometric Attendance Tracking Technology (BATT) eliminated ghost workers from the payroll, saving the state billions of naira and redirecting resources toward critical infrastructure and social services.

Agricultural Reforms and Livestock Development

Agriculture remains central to the administration’s economic agenda.
Through targeted interventions, Gombe State has recorded improved coexistence between farmers and herders.

The administration introduced measures such as seasonal restrictions on herders’ movements during harvest periods, remapping of grazing reserves, and regular stakeholder dialogue to reduce farmer-herder conflicts and strengthen food security.

The establishment of the 184-hectare Agro-Livestock Development Zone, featuring an ultramodern abattoir, an international cattle market, a tannery, and leather processing facilities, represents one of the administration’s boldest economic initiatives.

Similarly, the 144,000-hectare Wawa-Zange Grazing Reserve has been revitalised with solar-powered boreholes and veterinary infrastructure.

Thousands of metric tonnes of fertiliser are also distributed to farmers at subsidised rates, while mass livestock vaccination programmes continue to improve animal health and productivity.

Environmental Management and Climate Resilience

Gombe State has emerged as a leading example of environmental restoration and climate resilience in Northeast Nigeria through the Gombe Goes Green (3G) initiative and extensive gully erosion control projects.

Launched in 2019, the 3G program was designed to combat deforestation, desertification, and climate-related environmental degradation.

The state has since planted millions of trees through woodlots and roadside tree plantations, aiming to restore forest cover and promote ecological sustainability.

Beyond environmental restoration, the program has created thousands of jobs for youths through tree planting and maintenance activities.

The administration has also partnered with the World Bank under the NEWMAP and ACReSAL programs to tackle gully erosion through drainage construction, channelisation, and protective infrastructure across erosion-prone communities.

Together, these interventions have positioned Gombe as a model for climate adaptation and sustainable environmental management in Nigeria’s semi-arid region.
Economic Growth and Fiscal Discipline

Perhaps one of the administration’s most significant achievements lies in financial management.

From an internally generated revenue profile of about N6.8 billion in 2019, Gombe State’s IGR has risen to over N40 billion through fiscal reforms, improved revenue collection, and blockage of leakages.

DEVAGOM and Ease of Doing Business

The administration launched the 10-Year Development Plan (DEVAGOM) aimed at accelerating industrialisation and economic growth.

Today, Gombe ranks among the leading states in ease of doing business in Nigeria, attracting investors and development partners.

Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park
The 1,000-hectare Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park stands as a major industrialisation initiative expected to generate thousands of jobs and stimulate economic activities.

Strategic Partnerships and Global Collaboration

Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s administration has built strategic partnerships with organisations including the World Bank, the United Nations, Michigan State University, and Lincoln University College Malaysia, among others.

These collaborations are supporting investments in agriculture, education, healthcare, energy, and infrastructure development.

Workers Welfare and Social Protection

The administration has prioritised workers’ welfare through improved working conditions and payment of inherited gratuities.

More than N30 billion has been paid to state and local government retirees as part of inherited gratuity liabilities from previous administrations, while a modern state secretariat complex is under construction.

Youth and women’s empowerment also remain central to the administration’s social development agenda.

Over 1,000 tricycles have been distributed to youths to support transportation businesses, while thousands more have benefitted from skills acquisition programmes and startup support initiatives.

The GOSTEC program is engaging 2,000 youths across the 11 local government areas in security, traffic, and environmental services, while digital innovation programmes under GOSIDEC have trained youths in artificial intelligence and data analytics.

Women have equally benefited from entrepreneurship programmes, vocational training, and grants coordinated through the office of the First Lady, Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya.

The administration has also demonstrated commitment to gender inclusion through the appointment of women into strategic positions across government.

The state has prioritised security, stability, and renewable energy.

Despite being surrounded by states facing serious security challenges, Gombe has maintained its reputation as one of the safest and most peaceful states in Northern Nigeria.

The state is also steadily positioning itself as a renewable energy hub through projects such as the Talasse Solar Mini-Grid, the Balanga Hydropower-Solar Hybrid Project, and the Solar for Health initiative.
Gombe further became one of the first states in Nigeria to implement the State Electricity Distribution Law.

A Legacy Taking Shape

Seven years into the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Gombe State is witnessing one of the most defining periods in its history.

From infrastructure renewal to education reforms, healthcare expansion, agricultural modernisation, and economic revitalisation, the administration has demonstrated that visionary leadership, discipline, and commitment can indeed transform society.

The journey is still unfolding, but the evidence of progress is visible across the state.

As Governor Inuwa Yahaya often reiterates, “We started with work, and we will finish with work.”

Misilli is Director-General (Press Affairs).
Government House
Gombe.