…As GOSUPDA Generate Revenue Through Fines
By Saeed Ahmad Bappah, Gombe
Gombe State Government has issued a strong warning to individuals involved in sabotaging urban development efforts by illegally excavating sand in designated development areas or vandalizing newly constructed roads and culverts.
Speaking at a press conference, the Executive Chairman of the Gombe State Urban Planning and Development Authority (GOSUPDA), Bappayo Samanja Mauɗo, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to taking decisive actions against anyone found wanting in such activities.
He disclosed that GOSUPDA, in collaboration with security agencies, has arrested several individuals for damaging newly constructed roads under the pretense of creating access routes into their hotels, shops, or houses, maintaining that those apprehended were fined over three million Naira each.
Describing the perpetrators as saboteurs undermining the developmental strides of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, Samanja emphasized that the government would not tolerate any actions that hinder progress as the Governor is known in transforming Gombe to a best city in the North.
He noted that due to Governor Yahaya’s massive development initiatives, GOSUPDA was recently recognized as the best-performing urban development institution in the North East geopolitical zone, he Said we won’t achieved that without the support of our Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
The Chairman further cautioned residents against erecting structures on waterways or damaging government property for their personal benefit, he also called on every individual to visit GOSUPDA for any kind of development they are planning and pay the due charges into government account as computed by the agency.
He specifically warned against individuals engaging in illegal sand excavation in Shehu Abubakar District, formally BAP 4, where heavy trucks are used daily to extract and sell sand at cheap rates, jeopardizing government efforts to develop the area as part of the Gombe Capital Development Zone.
He revealed that three individuals have already been arrested in connection with the illegal sand excavation and all of the were fined and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.
Additionally, Samanja cautioned against reckless destruction of public infrastructure, such as streetlights and culverts, whether by negligence or intentional. He assured that anyone caught vandalizing public property would face full wrath of the law.
He called on Gombe residents to support the government’s ongoing development projects and refrain from activities that could derail progress in the state.