The challenge of underdevelopment in Gombe State is getting a pragmatic attention with the launch of the state’s 10-year development plan, a long-term vision to reposition the state for growth and sustainable development.
Encapsulated in a document titled Gombe State Development Plan (GSDP) 2021-2030, unveiled by the state governor, Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya, at an event in Gombe, the document represents an ambitious plan in socio-economic aspirations in clear objectives.
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It is actually a fitting answer to the remodelling of the state’s pathway towards a realistic and consistent socio-economic development paradigm, properly articulated as a long-term visioning and planning that draws on the findings of the 2019 Needs Assessment Report commissioned by the governor immediately after his election.
Thus, the new document was built on the outcome of a state-wide consultation process that involved a broad section of the society including the private sector, civil society, community associations, local governments and the general public.
A major interest in the document is the fact that it mirrors the essentials of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the basic categories as index of development, which incidentally also has same year 2030 as expiration date for relevant assessment and reflections on the inherent aspirations and deliverables.
As stated in the foreword to the document by Governor Inuwa Yahaya, “The Gombe State Development Plan, with a vision of growth, development, peace and prosperity for all, maps out the way forward for the state and its people to realise their full potentials.
“Its implementation, strategies, with specific policies and targets are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the first by any state in Nigeria. This is also the first plan by any state in Nigeria that is modelled and costed by putting into consideration the Integrated Sustainable Development Goals (iSDGs)”.
Thus the scope of the GSDP is comprehensive and embraces all the main drivers of development in the state as it sets up a definitive paradigm for decision making and resource allocation as a basic reflection of the philosophy and policy of the Yahaya administration and in tandem with the collective aspirations of the people.
In specific terms, the document identifies five development pillars upon which the GSDP revolves, a strategic linkage of socio-economic and administrative anchorage that is also built on the model of the UN’s SDGs as a global trend.
The pillars are those of Economic Development, Infrastructure Development, Social Development, Sustainable Development and Governance, Administrative and Institutional Development.
Each of the pillars has a wide range of underlying activities that border on the greater good of the people as government performs its duties within some basic institutional framework detailing the policy thrust, policy target, policy objectives and overall betterment of the people.
In this regard, agriculture has topics like crop production and animal husbandry and fisheries. Then there’s manufacturing, oil and gas, solid minerals, commerce, trade and industry, micro, small and medium enterprises, tourism and cooperatives. Under the Social Development category are health, education, science and technology, entrepreneurial development, youths and sports, women and children, social protection/ safety nets as well as security and safety, law and order and justice.
The infrastructure pillar encompasses issues like water resources, transport, electricity and power, renewable energy and ICT.
Misilli is the Director-General ( Press Affairs) Government House, Gombe
