Gombe — Compelled by the desire to keep its people effectively informed and educated on government activities, the Gombe State government has concluded plans to float its own newspaper, the Special Assistant to the state governor on printing and publishing, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Yidikawu, has disclosed.

Speaking when members of the state's Correspondents' Chapel of the NUJ paid him a visit yesterday, Alhaji Yidikawu, who was governor Muhammad Danjuma Goje's Press Secretary in the last dispensation, said consultations have reached advanced stage to ensure the setting up of a befitting newspaper that would effectively report the efforts of the administration at transforming the state to a model.

Describing his appointment as a challenge in view of the poor condition in which he met the state Printing and Publishing Company, Alhaji Yidikawu said he was prepared for the challenges ahead and would do anything to ensure that a befitting paper was produced by the company that would reflect government in good light.

He said the floating of such a newspaper became necessary in view of the many developmental projects embarked upon by the administration in the last five years as people needed to be objectively informed on such efforts and for record purposes as well.

He called on members of the Chapel to continue giving him their usual cooperation as according to him, "to successfully float and run a newspaper I will need your professional advice and contributions. I want you to see this project as your baby because it must have your input to survive."

In his speech the chairman of the correspondents' chapel, Abubakar Abba assured the Personal Assistant of the continued support and cooperation of members in anyway possible saying it was a thing of joy for any journalist to contribute to informing and educating the public.