…Talasse Lights Up After Years of Darkness as Hybrid Power Project Kicks Off
…We’re Replicating Gov Inuwa’s Success in Key Sectors — Balanga LG Chair
By Adamu Abubakar Kumo and Saeed Ahmad Bappah, Gombe
Local government councils across Gombe State are intensifying efforts to support Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to enroll over 400,000 out-of-school children and return them to the classroom.
This assurance was given by the Chairman of Balanga Local Government Area, Hon. Ibrahim Salihu, during an interactive session with journalists at his office in Talasse, Balanga LGA.
Hon. Salihu described Governor Inuwa Yahaya as a leader with genuine compassion for grassroots development and the welfare of ordinary citizens. He noted that the governor’s inclusive leadership style has strengthened local government administration across the state.
“His Excellency is a leader who truly has his people at heart. He ensures that even those at the grassroots enjoy the dividends of democracy. That’s why he gives local governments the support they need to function effectively,” he said.
Consolidating Governor Inuwa’s development drive in education, the Chairman highlighted that under his leadership, the Balanga Local Government Council has renovated 57 primary schools, including the one in Balanga Gari, where pupils had been learning under trees for years.
“When local government chairmen were directed to fast-track the enrollment of out-of-school children within four months, we in Balanga pledged to deliver even earlier – and that’s exactly what we are doing,” he added confidently.
On security, Hon. Salihu expressed gratitude that Gombe remains one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria, attributing this to Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s proactive approach to community policing.
“To consolidate this peace, we have engaged local vigilantes to complement national security agencies in safeguarding lives and property. We’ve stationed security personnel at identified flashpoints, especially along the Gombe–Adamawa border, and promoted community dialogue to prevent farmer–herder conflicts,” he explained.
He added that through the involvement of traditional rulers, the council has strengthened local intelligence, ensuring that strangers and suspicious persons are properly identified and reported.
Speaking on infrastructure and power development, the Balanga Council Chairman commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for initiating the Balanga Hybrid Electrification Project, designed to harness both hydro and solar potentials of the Balanga Dam to provide reliable power to rural communities and local enterprises.
“The project has already been flagged off, and the contractor is on site. After over a decade of darkness, Balanga will soon have stable electricity supply,” he announced.
Hon. Salihu called on investors to seize the opportunity and partner with the state and local governments to harness the full economic potential of the second-largest dam in Gombe State.
“These achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya,” he emphasized.
He further noted that Balanga has greatly benefited from Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s road infrastructure projects.
“In the past, Balanga was one of the most inaccessible LGAs, but today, with newly constructed roads linking our villages and towns, one can travel from Gombe city to Talasse in less than an hour,” he said.
According to him, Governor Inuwa’s footprints are visible across all political wards in Balanga and throughout Gombe State.
“In every ward, the government has rehabilitated at least two primary healthcare facilities. For instance, the facility in Swa is even comparable to a cottage or general hospital, considering its facilities and standard,” he added.
He also commended the Governor’s Contributory Healthcare Scheme (Go-Health), describing it as a major step toward ensuring accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare services for the people of Balanga and beyond, especially for the poor and vulnerable.
Hon. Salihu further listed several local projects executed under his leadership with the support of Governor Inuwa Yahaya, including the construction of slaughter slabs, a new Accident and Emergency Unit at the General Hospital, solar installations at the council secretariat, offices for the NSCDC, a renovated NYSC lodge, and multiple boreholes for clean water supply.
“Our support for Governor Inuwa Yahaya is only natural. No one has done this much for Balanga. We have a moral obligation to stand by his administration and sustain his policies for the progress of our people”, Hon. Salihu concluded.