William Attah, Gombe
Gombe State Government has earmarked over N3b for the provision of street lights and compensation to persons affected by ongoing erosion control work in Gombe metropolis.
The State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Kwami told newsmen shortly after the State’s executive council meeting Wednesday afternoon that N3.240 billion has been contracted to a firm for the provision of solar powered streetlights.
Shedding more light on the project, the State Commissioner of Works Engineer Abubakar Bappah said the contract which is expected to cover 71 kilometres within Gombe metropolis in its first lot, has a duration of three months for the work.
He explained further that the contracting firm will maintain the street lights for five years during which they will train Gombe youths who will also be employed to continue after the five years.
According to him, before now, maintaining the streetlights using diesel cost the State Government N1.14b as at the end of February for the previous contract which he decried was highly expensive.
He said the second lot of the solar powered streetlights will commence much later and will involve 42 kilometres of roads in all the other ten Local Government headquarters of the State.
“The current poles will be re-kitted, our streets have been in darkness and there is urgent need to commence work immediately”, Engineer Bappah said.
Also shedding more light on the compensation to persons affected by ongoing erosion control work in Gombe State University, Malam Inna and Kagarawal quarters, the State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Hussaina Muhammad Goje said the council approved N97m for compensation to 120 persons.
According to her, the State Government will ensure it observes the World Bank’s guidelines on resettlement and compensation.
