New Year message: We are set to achieve self sufficient economy for Bauchi State, says Gov. Abubakar

Citizens and friends of our dear Bauchi State,

Permit me to use this opportunity to welcome you to 2018. The past year was great, and I am confident this year will be even greater.

As a government, we have implemented bold ideas to improve the socio-economic conditions of our people, even in the face of scarce resources. We have continually funded education and health aggressively, as part of our long term strategy to improve the quality of lives of our people. We have continually developed our infrastructure, a key component to implement our urban renewal masterplan to transform our towns into cities.

We have repositioned the agriculture, solid minerals and tourism sectors. The results for our efforts are also coming in; our school enrolment rates are steadily climbing, our children are doing better at WASSCE, our festivals are attracting tourists from all over, our harvests have been bountiful. Yankari Games Reserve and Sumu Wildlife Park have remained cash flow positive, generating income consistently for the first time in many years.

To build on these milestones and birth a self-sufficient economic Bauchi state, we cannot rest on our oars. This year, we shall be more audacious and implement bolder ideas in education, health, commerce and of course tourism. We shall contribute our best to ensure Nigeria’s food security problems are minimised. We shall position our state as the headquarters of tourism in Sub-Saharan Africa. We shall be known for excellence.

In addition, we shall continue to key into the Federal government initiatives, so that macro-economic benefits will trickle down to our grassroots. As shown in our 2018 budget, we remain unwavering this year in investing heavily in health and education. The best legacy we can give is to ensure our children are physically and mentally sound to aspire to be the best they can be.

Finally, I enjoin you to continue to support us in this march for an emerging Bauchi, as you’ve always done. Where you can, enrol a kid to school. Patronise a small business. Visit a tourist site in the state and publicise it. More than ever, we need to, as a people, take our economic destiny in our hands and fashion out a collective future.

On behalf of my family, the great people of Bauchi state and my humble self; I say have a superlative 2018.

Happy New Year.