Gombe seeks FG’s intervention in transportation, unemployment

Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwanbo

Gombe seeks FG’s intervention in transportation, unemployment
Hauwa Noroh-Ali, Gombe

The Gombe State Government is seeking the intervention of the Federal Government to enable it tackle transportation and unemployment challenges.

The Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwanbo, made this known during a meeting with the Minister of Trade and Investment, in Abuja, on Thursday.

Specifically, he stated that the State Government would want to key into the Federal Government’s industrialization policy as well as the recently inaugurated mass transit scheme to create jobs and generate wealth.

Dankwanbo said the state government was ready to partner with the Ministry of Trade and Investment in the development of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, especially in the area of skills acquisition.

He noted that the state government had embarked on the construction and rehabilitation of urban and rural roads to facilitate the smooth operations of Federal Assisted Mass Transit Buses.

He said: “This is the first time we are having a coordinated mass transit programme that will address the transport challenges across the country, create jobs and generate employment for our people.  We want to key into this scheme through the Gombe State Transport Corporation. Already, we have embarked on massive construction and rehabilitation of 43 roads across the state to facilitate smooth operation of the mass transit scheme in the state.

“We are ready to contribute in any way the Federal Government wants us to contribute to ensure that the mass transit programme succeeds. The Federal Government’s assisted mass transit programme has a multiplier effect in terms of reducing the transportation cost and also creating jobs for our people.”

Provision of employment

He explained that the state government, if given 100 buses, would give each bus to three youths who would work in the morning, afternoon and night shifts creating direct employment for about 300 people.

He expressed enthusiasm that the scheme would take a lot of unemployed people off the streets.

“As part of our job creation scheme, we will key into the industrial policy of the Ministry of Trade and Investment, especially the programmes geared towards the development of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. We are also ready to partner with the ministry in this regard, especially in the areas that we have competitive advantage.”

Speaking during the meeting, the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga, said the ministry was ready to partner with Gombe State Government on attracting Foreign Direct Investment into the state.

He also noted that the Ministry had developed sector specific programmes that would fast-track the growth and development of cottage industries in line with its mandate of creating jobs and generating wealth across Nigeria.

Williams