Governor Umar Namadi has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparent and transformative governance during an interactive session with the Forum of Jigawa Academics held at the Government House Banquet Hall.
The event, which marked nearly two years of his tenure, provided a platform to highlight key achievements under the 12-point development agenda.
Governor Namadi described the engagement as historic, noting that his administration is driven by a sacred mandate to deliver responsive governance to the people of Jigawa.
He emphasized the importance of accountability, stating that government is a trust that must be executed with transparency and integrity.
A major focus of the governor’s presentation was agriculture. He revealed that Jigawa is fast becoming a national food hub, with major investments in the Rice Millionaires Programme, an agricultural support scheme for civil servants, and the J-AGRO initiative which has seen the recruitment of over 1,500 extension workers.
The administration targets the cultivation of 500,000 hectares by 2030 to meet half of Nigeria’s rice demand.
He also announced the establishment of the State Agricultural Transformation Agency and the Jigawa Farm Mechanization Company, in addition to sending 30 youths to China for technical training.
In infrastructure, Governor Namadi reported the award of 46 road projects covering nearly 978 kilometers at a cost exceeding ₦304 billion, an unprecedented milestone in the state’s history.
Of the 26 inherited road projects, 23 have been completed and are ready for commissioning.
On energy, he cited the establishment of the Ministry of Power and Energy, a new Electricity Law, and Jigawa’s acquisition of a 10% stake in KEDCO.
The administration is also partnering with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) on a program to expand rural power access through renewable energy.
Education and health have also seen significant investments, with over a third of the state’s budgets dedicated to both sectors.
The governor highlighted improvements in school infrastructure, teacher recruitment, and learning outcomes, as well as policies aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children.
In the health sector, he noted major infrastructure upgrades and completion of inherited projects at secondary and tertiary levels.
These, he said, are part of efforts to ensure access to affordable and quality healthcare services across the state.
Governor Namadi reiterated his administration’s vision of building a “Greater Jigawa” through sustained investment, transparency, and inclusive governance that meets the real needs of the people.
Usman Mohammed Zaria
