Gombe State Government has approved a solar street light contract of 71 kilometers for Gombe metropolis to the tune of 3 billion, 240 million, 300 thousand Naira.

This was disclosed by the state’s commissioner of information and culture Alhassan Ibrahim Kwami during a press briefing on the outcome of this week’s executive council meeting chaired by Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya at the Government House.

The commissioner said the measure has become imperative considering the huge amount the state government has been spending in maintaining the current street lights powers by generators.

He said “In every two years, the state government spends over 1 billion, 145 million Naira in maintaining the street lights, but still most of our streets are in darkness. The amount may even go higher, as the price of diesel skyrocketed.”

Alhassan Kwami said the completion period for the contract is three months and maintenance for five years, within which Gombe State indigenes will be trained on solar maintenance by the construction company.

He called on the public to guard and remain vigilant against hoodlums who vandalize street and traffic lights as well as other public properties, stressing that the masses are the government, hence the need for everyone to contribute his quota to the development of the state.

The state executive council has equally approved the augmentation of Bambam to Tula Yiri Road for additional features and upgrade, amounting to addition of over 637 million, on the earlier approved contract of over 2.5 billion Naira awarded by the previous administration, and the augmentation of Bambam to Mona to Kutare Road with the addition of over 716 million 420 thousand Naira on the earlier amount awarded.

The state’s Commissioner for works and transport Engineer Abubakar Bappa, said the augmentation is to strengthen the roads’ quality and make them easily accessible.

On her part, the State Commissioner Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources Hajiya Husaina Muhammad Goje, said the council equally approved over 97 million, 413 thousand Naira for the payment of compensation to the 120 affected persons on the Gombe State University-Malam Inna to Kagarawal gully erosion control site.

On the Gombe State Ten Year Development Plan, the state’s Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development Malam Muhammad Gambo Magaji, said the council has approved over 27 million Naira for the unveiling the plan coming up next week.