Lagos — If the creation of Yobe State on August 27, 1991 was seen as political, then the citing of its capital in Damaturu was more than meet the eyes. One would have expected such towns as Potiskum, Nguru and Gashua to be chosen as the capital but alas, Damaturu, which was then anything but a town or city, was given the prized attention, Michael Olugbode writes

About two decades after its creation, successive governments have to grapple with the need to elevate Damaturu from otherwise a 'village' to a modern town that could house all the needed infrastructure required for an administrative capital of a state. It has been a hard and tortuous road to trek and each administration that has ruled the state has tried in this regard and left with little impact as the capital which is supposed to be the selling point of the state, is regarded as one of the least developed in the country.

The immediate past administration of Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim is no exception as it tried to put in place the infrastructures that would earn the respect of other states. In this regard, the former governor knowing that there is not enough office and housing facilities to accommodate a fast developing state, constructed an owner-occupier housing scheme (four housing estates in Damaturu), which has greatly helped civil servants in the state to own houses within a short period of time, Yobe mosque and Islamic centre, a modern abattoir, Yobe State University of Science and Technology. He started but could not complete the three-star hotel, the cultural centre and nearly completed the governor's office.

Even with the efforts of past administrations, Damaturu was without the needed edifices that is needed for the growing activities that a state capital attracts and that perhaps, informed the present administration of Senator Mamman Ali to devote so much resources to giving the state capital a face-lift. Knowing fully well that for political expediency, it would be disastrous to develop only Damaturu without other parts, he rolled out not only a master-plan for the state capital, but the other two senatorial district headquarters, Potiskum and Gashua.

In Damaturu where each rainy season is a moment of tears for residents as a result of perennial flooding, a drainage project was awarded for the entire town, and the target is to make the state capital a new town by the end of this year. Definitely, a new town is achieved not only as a result of a drainage system but by a combination of projects and as a result, the government has awarded contracts for the buildings of 200-bed hospital, River Yobe Trust Fund Centre headquarters, F.M Radio station, fertilizer warehouse, 300 numbers 2-bed housing units, state audit headquarters building, state secretariat extension, beautification of government/governor's office, Ministry of Religious Affairs headquarters, boarding primary school and HIV/AIDS clinics.

The projects inherited from immediate past administration but still ongoing such as the state owned three-star hotel, State Cultural Centre, School of Nursing, Quarters for 200-bed hospital were given a lease of life with improved financing, and slated for construction are Deputy Governor's lodge, Speaker and Grand Khadi's accommodation.

As the state capital is wearing a new look with the series of projects, both towns of Gashua and Potiskum being the other headquarters of the two senatorial zones, were carefully selected to be developed as projects including 150 bed hospital each is slated for both Gashua and Potiskum, housing projects also in both towns and projects are being developed in other towns including 14 fertilizer stores in Geidam, Nguru, Fika and Damagum, Yobe College, Mamudo, 170 units of housing at all the local government areas.

The Commissioner for Housing, Arc. Shettima Mohammed Saleh disclosed that by the end of this year, the state capital would wear a new look and have a resemblance of what a modern city should be and that the government was committed to seeing this through.

According to him: "the governor immediately after he was sworn in decided that no project should be awarded without definite financial plan. The entire project that is to be executed has the fund already in place."

The commissioner disclosed that it was one of the reasons behind the staggering of the hospital projects, "we have to stagger the take-off of the three hospital projects, the one in Damaturu has to take off and the one in Gashua is about to take off and after some times, that of Potiskum will take off, this is because they have to fit into the new financial plan that a project should not be stopped half way because of lack of fund."

Saleh disclosed that the housing projects which would be ready in three months will be built at N2.8 billion and 300 would be in Damaturu, 15 each for Potiskum and Gashua and ten each for the 17 local government area of the state and on completion would be given out at owner/occupier basis.

The commissioner said the fund for the projects is ready and all the contractors will do is to present a 100% performance bond and that difficult terrain such as Machina, Yusufari and Gulani would be allowed between 5 and 10 per cent contract variation.

He also disclosed that the modern hospitals would cost the government a total of N4.6 billion with the one in Damaturu taking N1.6 billion and the one to be built in Gashua and Potiskum cost N1.3 billion each, even as HIV/AIDS clinics will also be built in the three towns.

Saleh said government was ready to renovate all existing schools and come out with the design and documentation of 17 boarding primary schools in all the 17 local government areas, and evolve Damaturu topographical survey map (channelization) which will be completed before the end of the year. The Housing Commissioner said the government will establish a 20 kilowatt FM station and build the headquarters for the Hadejia, Umadugu and Yobe River Basin and have the dual role of completing all abandoned projects including:

The cultural centre at N55 million; three-star hotel at N400 million; executive governor's office at N39 million; designing and rebuilding of the new Government House premises in two years and in two phases and The state secretariat extension at N600 million.

Saleh revealed that all the projects are going to be supervised and strictly monitored by the officials of the Ministry of Education to ensure that they conform to set high standards. If you have been to Damaturu recently and have seen that the capital of the desert state is wearing a new look and shedding the toga of the most underdeveloped state capital in the country, you may need to come back in December this year to celebrate the entrance of the city into one of the modern state capital in Nigeria. You may need to tour the other towns in the state to see that the state is fast assuming the Mecca of the North East.

Promises Nigerians know is a job that politicians do with pains but fulfilling them is always is always painfully done if done at all, it is hope the Yobe case is not just a mirage but as it seems now things are looking up as all the ingredients is on board, it is only left to get the meal prepared and served.