By Auwal Ahmad Umar

Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has renewed his call for the Federal Government to accelerate construction of the Gombe-Biu section of the Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe-Biu-Maiduguri Super Highway.

The governor made the call on Monday in Abuja during a meeting with the Minister of Works, David Umahi, where he also sought federal intervention on additional road projects considered critical to Gombe State’s economic development.

In a statement issued by Ismaila Uba Misilli, Director-General, Press Affairs, Government House, Gombe, the governor said the projects would strengthen connectivity and help unlock the agricultural, commercial, industrial and tourism potential of the state and the wider North-East.

Governor Yahaya has consistently advocated the early commencement of the Gombe-Biu section of the super highway, describing the corridor as strategically important to Gombe and other parts of the region.

The project was recently approved and flagged off by the Federal Government, with Mr Umahi joining the governor and members of the National Assembly in Gombe for its groundbreaking ceremony.

Following the groundbreaking, Mr Yahaya is now seeking sustained federal commitment towards the commencement of full-scale construction and timely completion of the road.

Bypasses for Gombe metropolis

The governor also proposed the development of northern and southern bypasses around Gombe metropolis.

According to him, the proposed bypasses would provide alternative routes into and out of the state capital, reduce pressure on existing roads and improve connections to the Gombe-Biu corridor.

He said the infrastructure would also facilitate the movement of people, agricultural produce and goods while creating opportunities for economic expansion around the metropolis.

Responding, Mr Umahi described the Gombe-Biu section of the super highway as a priority of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

The minister said the governor’s request to commence construction from the proposed point of interest would be considered as work begins.

Mr Umahi also expressed confidence in Hitech Construction Company, the contractor handling the project, describing the firm as one of the country’s capable companies for major infrastructure projects.

The minister commended Mr Yahaya for his persistence in seeking federal projects for Gombe and said his recent visit to the state had strengthened his understanding of the development taking place there.

“Since my visit to Gombe, I have become like your ambassador. Anywhere I go, I talk about your state and the developmental strides I have witnessed,” Mr Umahi said.

He added that Gombe had demonstrated what could be achieved through what he described as genuine development and visionary leadership.

Mr Umahi assured the governor that the Federal Government would deliver the super highway, expressing optimism that its completion would have a significant impact on residents and businesses across the region.

Other strategic roads

The minister also acknowledged the governor’s continued advocacy for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of other major roads linking Gombe with neighbouring states.

They include the Gombe-Bajoga-Potiskum, Gombe-Dukku-Darazo and Gombe-Bauchi corridors.

The roads are important to Gombe’s economy, particularly for farmers and traders who depend on them to transport agricultural produce to markets and connect communities with major commercial centres.

The governor’s renewed push comes as Gombe seeks stronger integration into the Federal Government’s infrastructure programme, with road connectivity seen as a key driver of economic growth across the North-East.

Dr Dikwa Hails Dr Mai Adamu’s  Appointment to National Salaries Commission

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

The Founder and President of Al-Ansar Foundation, Dr. Mohammed Kyari Dikwa, has congratulated Dr. Mai Adamu Yau following his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a member of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), describing the development as a fitting recognition of years of exemplary public service.

In a congratulatory message  Dr. Dikwa said the appointment reflected the Federal Government’s confidence in Dr. Yau’s integrity, competence and commitment to national development.

He expressed confidence that the new appointee would bring his vast professional experience to bear in advancing the commission’s mandate of promoting fairness, equity and sustainable wage administration across the country.

“Your appointment is a well-deserved recognition of your unwavering integrity, exceptional competence and decades of dedicated service to our nation. It is a testament to the confidence reposed in your professional ability and outstanding record in public service,” Dr. Dikwa said.

The Al-Ansar Foundation president recalled that he first worked with Dr. Yau more than 27 years ago at the Office of the Accountant-General of Borno State, where the latter served under his leadership.

According to him, Dr. Yau distinguished himself through diligence, humility, professionalism, trustworthiness and an unwavering commitment to excellence—qualities that laid the foundation for his rise to become the Accountant-General of Borno State before his latest national appointment.

“I witnessed first-hand your dedication to duty, honesty and professionalism. Those qualities have continued to define your career and have now culminated in this important national responsibility,” he added.

Dr. Dikwa said Dr. Yau’s career progression should serve as an inspiration to young professionals, stressing that integrity, perseverance, sincerity and the fear of God remain enduring values that attract greater responsibilities and recognition.

Although he is currently outside Nigeria on official engagements, Dr. Dikwa said he could not allow the occasion to pass without personally congratulating his “distinguished brother and former colleague” on the milestone.

He prayed for divine wisdom, sound health and strength for Dr. Yau as he takes up his new role, expressing hope that his tenure would be marked by justice, fairness and impactful service to the country.

“May Almighty Allah grant you wisdom, sound health and divine guidance as you assume this important national assignment. May your service be characterised by justice, fairness and lasting impact for the benefit of Nigeria and humanity,” he prayed.

The Al-Ansar Foundation also joined family members, friends, associates and well-wishers in celebrating the appointment, wishing Dr. Yau a successful tenure at the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.

 Prof. PLO Lumumba Expected as Guest Speaker at Presentation of Book on Transformational Leadership

By Auwal Ahmad Umar

Renowned Kenyan lawyer, academic and governance advocate, Prof. Patrick Loch Otieno (PLO) Lumumba, is expected to serve as the guest speaker at the public presentation of Military Transformational Leadership in Action: The Buratai Era, a new book that examines the leadership of former Chief of Army Staff, retired Lt Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai.

Widely regarded as one of Africa’s foremost public intellectuals, Prof. Lumumba has earned international recognition through his lectures and public engagements on leadership, ethics, governance and nation-building, making him a prominent figure for the academic discourse planned around the book’s launch.

Ahead of the official presentation, the book’s author, Dr. M.S. Abubakar, presented a copy of the publication to Prof. Lumumba in Nairobi, Kenya, formally inviting him to participate in the event scheduled for September 16, 2026, in Abuja.

Published by Sprezzatura Publishing Ltd, Military Transformational Leadership in Action: The Buratai Era offers a scholarly examination of the reforms and leadership strategies implemented during Buratai’s tenure as Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff between 2015 and 2021, a period marked by insurgency, banditry and other evolving security threats.

Rather than serving as a biography, the book analyses how transformational leadership principles were applied within the Nigerian Army through reforms in military doctrine, institutional development, operational readiness, troop welfare and civil-military relations during one of the country’s most challenging security periods.

Drawing on military records, policy documents, interviews and detailed research, Dr. Abubakar explores how the Nigerian Army adapted its operational doctrine to confront the Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgency while responding to emerging security challenges in the North-West and Middle Belt.

The publication also evaluates reforms in training, logistics, equipment acquisition and command structures, alongside leadership decisions aimed at strengthening troop morale, discipline and public confidence in the armed forces.

According to the author, the book presents the Buratai era as a case study in transformational and crisis leadership, highlighting strategic decisions, institutional reforms and practical lessons that could benefit military professionals, policymakers, scholars and students of leadership, governance and security studies.