A City on the Map: How GOGIS Plans to Modernize Gombe Through Street Naming

By Umar Auwal

In every modern city, street names and house numbers are more than signposts mounted on poles; they are the invisible architecture of governance.

They determine how quickly an ambulance finds a patient, how efficiently businesses deliver goods, how security agencies track locations, and how governments plan, tax and provide services. Without a functional address system, urban growth can easily descend into confusion.

It is against this backdrop that the Gombe State Government, through the Gombe Geographic Information Systems (GOGIS), opened tenders for the implementation of a comprehensive Street Naming and House Numbering Project in Gombe Metropolis.

The bid opening ceremony, held at the GOGIS Conference Hall, drew representatives of the Bureau of Public Procurement, various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), members of the Tender Opening Committee, prospective bidders, and journalists, a gathering that underscored the significance of the initiative.

Addressing participants, the Director-General of GOGIS, Dr. Kabiru Usman Hassan described the project as a strategic pillar of the state’s ongoing land administration and urban governance reforms.

“The Street Naming and House Numbering Project is a critical pillar of our land administration and urban governance reforms, aimed at improving service delivery, security coordination, and economic efficiency in Gombe Metropolis,” he said.

He explained that beyond aesthetics, the initiative would provide a structured framework for identifying every street and property within the metropolis, thereby strengthening governance and public administration.

According to him, “Every street and property in Gombe will be easily identified, making emergency response faster and more effective for security agencies, health workers, and fire services.”

Urban planners argue that functional addressing systems are central to inclusive development. Clear property identification supports revenue generation, infrastructure management, logistics, and access to utilities. It also enables residents to secure verifiable addresses for official documentation and digital services.

Echoing this, the GOGIS chief noted that the project would “strengthen revenue administration, support businesses and logistics operations, and provide residents with verifiable addresses required for documentation, utilities, and digital services.”

He added that the initiative aligns with the broader vision of transforming Gombe into a digitally enabled and investment-friendly city, capable of meeting the demands of rapid urbanisation.

The tender opening, he stressed, represents a crucial stage in translating policy into action. “The tender opening is being conducted transparently and competitively, in full compliance with Gombe State’s procurement laws and due process requirements,” he assured stakeholders.

He commended Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for championing the project, describing it as a legacy intervention designed to modernise land administration and urban management in the state.

“This project reflects the vision and commitment of His Excellency to building a modern, well-organised, and digitally enabled Gombe State,” he said.

He also acknowledged the oversight role of the Bureau of Public Procurement and other stakeholders, noting that their presence signalled a shared commitment to accountability and the value of public funds.

With the bid process underway, the Street Naming and House Numbering Project now moves from concept to competitive selection — a step that could redefine how Gombe’s metropolis is mapped, managed and experienced.

If successfully implemented, officials say, the initiative will not only bring order to the city’s layout but also embed a foundational system upon which security, commerce, planning and digital governance can firmly stand.

NEDC Rolls Out Multi-Billion Naira Health, Education Projects in Gombe

By Auwal Ahmad, Gombe 

Gombe State witnessed a major boost in social infrastructure on Saturday as the Minister of State for Regional Development, Hon. Uba Ahmadu Maigari, commissioned a series of multi-billion naira projects designed to strengthen healthcare delivery and advance educational development across the state.

In a related development, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya also commissioned the newly constructed office of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in Gombe, a move considered further entrenching the Commission’s operational presence and development footprint in the state.

The Minister, accompanied by the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Dr Manassah Daniel Jatau, led an inspection and commissioning tour that cut across Bogo in Akko Local Government Area, Gombe State University, the Central Medical Stores at Jekadafari in Gombe metropolis, and Mallam Sidi in Kwami Local Government Area.

The NEDC executed the projects as part of its intervention mandate in the Northeast.

Among the facilities commissioned was a fully equipped Primary Health Care Centre in Bogo; four modern lecture theatres at Gombe State University; upgraded facilities at Ahmadu Gombe Secondary School, Jekadafari; ten units of senior staff quarters at Government Science Secondary School; two blocks of cold storage facilities at the Gombe Central Medical Store; and the renovated Government Secondary School, Mallam Sidi.

The Mallam Sidi facility has recently been converted to a School of Agriculture under Gombe State University and is expected to operate in collaboration with the University of Michigan.

Speaking at the events, Hon. Maigari explained that the projects were delivered under the statutory mandate of the NEDC, which was established to close infrastructure gaps and fast-track development in the conflict-affected North-East region.

He stated that the interventions specifically focused on healthcare and education, describing them as the cornerstones of human capital development and sustainable economic growth.

According to him, the newly completed health facilities will expand access to quality medical services, reduce maternal and child mortality, and improve overall health outcomes for both rural and urban populations.

On the education front, the minister noted that the new and upgraded facilities would enhance teaching, learning and research, while also producing the skilled manpower required for national development.

He commended the Gombe State Government for its consistent commitment to improving citizens’ welfare and transforming key sectors of the state’s economy.

The minister further stressed that meaningful and sustainable development can only be achieved through strong collaboration between the federal government and the states, anchored on shared vision and effective coordination of resources.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor, Dr Jatau, commissioned the NEDC office in Gombe on behalf of Governor Inuwa Yahaya.

He praised the Commission for the speedy and effective use of the land provided by the state government, describing the office as a strategic asset for regional development.

Dr Jatau assured that the people of Gombe State would protect the NEDC office as a critical institution domiciled in the state.

He directed the Ministry of Housing to provide the necessary support for the maintenance of the facility and to ensure adequate tree planting around the premises as part of efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change.

The Deputy Governor expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustaining the NEDC, describing the Commission as a major intervention that is making visible impacts on infrastructure and socio-economic development in Gombe State and the wider North-East.

He assured that the state government would make judicious use of all NEDC projects, and he urged ministries, departments, and agencies to embrace a strong maintenance culture to guarantee their longevity.

Reaffirming the administration’s people-centred approach, Dr. Jatau said the Gombe State government would continue to align with federal government policies and programs aimed at improving living standards.

He also noted that the government remains open to constructive criticism, stressing that citizens’ feedback is vital to strengthening good governance and delivering democratic dividends.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the NEDC Board, Major General Paul Tarfa (Rtd), said the Commission is operating strictly within its mandate.

He expressed satisfaction with the quality of the projects inspected and called on benefiting communities and institutions to ensure proper maintenance of the facilities.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEDC, Mohammed Goni Alkali, explained that the Commission was established to drive rehabilitation, reconstruction and sustainable development across the North-East.

He thanked the Gombe State Government for donating the land for the NEDC office and urged the state coordinator to ensure strict maintenance of the facility for durability and effective service delivery.

Alkali noted that the commissioned projects in the health and education sectors are part of the Commission’s broader strategy to rebuild social infrastructure, strengthen human capital development and improve the quality of life in the region.

He emphasised the need for sustained collaboration between the Commission and the state government to ensure the effective implementation and monitoring of projects.

He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustaining the NEDC, describing the agency as a vital platform for restoring hope, rebuilding communities and promoting inclusive development across the North-East.

Gombe Government Leads Drive for Data-Backed Policies as MICS Survey Gains Momentum

By Auwal Ahmad Umar, Gombe

The Gombe State Government has reaffirmed its leadership role in steering the ongoing Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), describing the exercise as a cornerstone for evidence-based planning aimed at improving the lives of women and children across the state.

The Acting Statistician-General of Gombe State, Ibrahim Dule Abubakar, made this known during a stakeholder engagement in Gombe, where he highlighted the state’s strategic coordination of the survey through the Gombe State Bureau of Statistics (GBS) in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

According to him, MICS remains one of the most reliable tools available to governments and development partners for tracking progress and shaping interventions in critical sectors such as education, health, maternal care, nutrition, water and sanitation, and child protection.

“MICS provides credible, comprehensive data on households, women and children. These indicators help the government take informed decisions that directly affect policy direction and resource allocation,” Abubakar said.

He explained that although the Bureau is not directly conducting household interviews, it has been actively involved in every phase of the process, from the planning and recruitment of field agents to training, supervision, monitoring, and quality assurance, ensuring that global data collection standards are strictly followed.

The Acting Statistician-General noted that the survey is conducted every five years and covers data collection, analysis, validation and dissemination.

He recalled that the previous round took place between 2021 and 2022, while the current exercise is already underway and will provide updated benchmarks to measure progress achieved since the last cycle.

Abubakar revealed that findings from earlier MICS reports had already shaped major government actions in Gombe, particularly increased investments in education and healthcare infrastructure.

He cited the construction of maternity centers across the state’s 11 local government areas as one of the outcomes of data-driven policy decisions.

On the composition of the field teams, he said women form the bulk of enumerators to address cultural sensitivities and ensure better access to female respondents in households.

The teams were drawn from key institutions, including the Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Education, State Universal Basic Education Board, Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the Ministry of Women or Social Affairs.

While acknowledging challenges such as community mistrust, survey fatigue, and some respondents’ expectations of material benefits, Abubakar said sustained sensitisation efforts had improved public cooperation.

These efforts, he added, involved traditional leaders as well as radio and television campaigns and other media engagements.

Also speaking at the event, the North-East Zonal Controller of MICS, Abdullahi Adamu Ningi, described the survey as one of Africa’s most extensive data-gathering exercises.

He noted significant improvements over time, including the use of digital data collection tools and expanded survey modules that now capture information on men and adolescents.

Despite logistical and terrain challenges, Ningi assured stakeholders that the exercise is progressing smoothly and remains on track for timely completion.

With the state government firmly at the center of coordination, officials say the outcome of the current MICS will further strengthen Gombe’s ability to design targeted, sustainable policies that improve the well-being of its people especially women and children.