Isiyaku Ahmed
The Jigawa State Executive Council (EXCO), chaired by Governor Malam Umar A. Namadi, has approved a wide range of projects valued at several billion Naira, covering infrastructure, security, education, agriculture, tourism, energy, and economic development.
The Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports, and Culture, Sagir Musa Ahmed, in a statement, said that at the EXCO meeting held on Wednesday, the Council approved N1.48 billion for the renovation and reconstruction of the Emir of Hadejia Palace to preserve its cultural and historical significance.
According to the statement, to strengthen security operations across the state, the EXCO also approved N870.1 million for the procurement of 10 additional Toyota Hilux vehicles for security agencies.
In the hospitality and tourism sector, the Council approved N1.22 billion for the general renovation of Jigawa Hotels Limited in Dutse, aimed at upgrading the facility to modern standards and boosting tourism and internally generated revenue.
“The EXCO further approved the renaming of Khadijah University, Majia, to Jigawa State University of Medical and Applied Health Sciences, subject to National Universities Commission (NUC) approval, to expand access to medical and health-related education.
“Major agricultural and water infrastructure interventions were also endorsed, including N10.88 billion for the rehabilitation of Dembo, Kuda, and Hayin Warde dams to enhance irrigation and year-round farming, as well as N224.9 million for the supply of organic fertilizer to promote climate-smart agriculture.
“In road infrastructure, EXCO approved N9.43 billion for the rehabilitation of six strategic roads and the procurement of maintenance equipment for the Jigawa Road Maintenance Agency (JIRMA).
“It also approved N360.2 million as compensation for over 250 persons affected by the expansion of Hadejia Market, alongside N2.41 billion for the remodeling of Kafin Hausa Market.
“Other approvals include N14.12 billion for projects in tertiary institutions, N8.74 billion for an additional office block at the New State Secretariat, N3.97 billion for Jigawa State’s equity investment in a 100MW Solar PV Panel Assembly Plant, and N941.6 million for heavy-duty trucks for the Maigatari Export Processing Zone.
“In the education sector, the Council approved over N1.79 billion for basic education materials, infrastructure, and logistics, as well as N693.6 million for the construction of Local Government Education Authority secretariat offices in Dutse, Ringim, and Kafin Hausa,” the statement added.
The EXCO also approved N1.24 billion for 2025 constituency projects and N279.5 million for the procurement of vehicles to support NG-CARES 2.0 monitoring across the state.
The statement observed that the approvals underscore the Namadi administration’s commitment to infrastructure development, security, human capital development, economic diversification, and improved service delivery across the State.
