Gombe awards N3 billion erosion control contracts

Gombe State Government has awarded five erosion control contracts worth N3 billion to Triacta Nigeria Limited and Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

This is even as Governor Inuwa Yahaya and top officials observed a minute silence for the slain Borno rice farmers during the signing rituals.

The World Bank had, earlier this year, approved five of the 40 erosion sites submitted by the state, requesting Gombe to commit N500 million.

The N3 billion contract sum is to be underwritten by the global lender.

Represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Ibrahim Njodi, the governor said he would stop at nothing in transforming the state, charging the contractors to speed up work.

The projects are sited at the state university and Malam Inna quarters within the metropolis.

NEWMAP’s Project Coordinator, Mohammed Garba, signed on behalf of the state, while Imran Khan did for the contracting firm.

Yahaya noted: “The gully that has afflicted the state capital is unacceptable. Our administration will do everything necessary to arrest the situation.”

In his remarks, the SSG said: “The governor has always lamented that this is a state that has been in existence for over 20 years. And every rainy season, we are being inundated by cases of flooding.

“To this end, he has assured the people that he would go to any length to make sure we get support from the Federal Government, individuals and international agencies, especially development partners.”