-Former Military Administrator applauds governor’s regional leadership, inspects mega projects, recalls Gombe’s formative years
By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
Thirty years after he presided over the formative administration of Gombe State following its creation on October 1, 1996, the Pioneer Military Administrator, Group Captain Joseph I. Orji (rtd.), has returned to a state whose expanding urban landscape, monumental infrastructure and emerging economic profile have left him visibly impressed.
Orji, who spent five days in Gombe as part of activities marking the state’s 30th anniversary, expressed overwhelming admiration for the infrastructural transformation under Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, describing the scale of urban renewal and development projects as remarkable.
For the former military administrator, who supervised the affairs of the newly created state between October 1, 1996, and August 6, 1998, the visit offered a rare opportunity to reconnect with the foundations he helped establish and assess how successive administrations have shaped Gombe’s development trajectory.
His assessment was particularly significant against the backdrop of the state’s journey from its modest beginnings three decades ago to its present status as an emerging administrative, commercial and investment destination in the North-East.
Speaking after commissioning six completed executive residential buildings at the Government House, Gombe, on October 27, 2026, Orji said he was overwhelmed by the scale of development initiatives undertaken by the Inuwa Yahaya administration.
“I’m overwhelmed by the spirit of urban renewal and what I have seen. I should say that I have been positively confused. I’m so proud, and I’m so happy to be here with you,” he declared.
The former administrator’s remarks reflected not only his admiration for the physical transformation of the state capital but also his appreciation of the governor’s deliberate efforts to strengthen Gombe’s institutional capacity, economic competitiveness and regional relevance.
Six executive residences reinforce regional hospitality:
One of the major highlights of Orji’s visit was the commissioning of six executive residential buildings at the Government House, named after the six states of the North-East geopolitical zone.
The facilities were conceived to provide befitting accommodation for visiting governors, senior government officials and other high-profile personalities attending official engagements in Gombe.
Constructed and furnished with modern facilities, including elevators and other essential amenities, the buildings represent an investment in the state’s hospitality infrastructure and its ambition to strengthen intergovernmental relations.
The Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Muhammad Sa’idu Fawu, disclosed that construction commenced in November 2023 and was completed in February 2025.
He said the buildings had been fully furnished and equipped to guarantee comfort, convenience and security for their occupants.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya explained that the project was designed to provide appropriate accommodation for visiting dignitaries while reinforcing Gombe’s traditional hospitality and its strategic position as a meeting point for the six North-Eastern states.
The governor also said the initiative reflected his administration’s determination to preserve the vision of the state’s founding fathers while consolidating the institutional and developmental foundations established by successive administrations.
Describing Gombe as the “Jewel in the Savannah”, Orji commended the governor for recognising that the state’s development must extend beyond its geographical boundaries.
“Gombe is a Jewel in the Savannah, and you are providing that leadership and shelter to others,” he said.
He particularly applauded the governor’s efforts at promoting regional unity, cooperation and stronger relationships among the six North-Eastern states, noting that Gombe’s strategic location and hospitality could serve as catalysts for regional integration.
From Government House to emerging economic corridors:
Beyond the commissioning ceremony, Orji’s five-day inspection tour provided an opportunity to assess the breadth of infrastructural development taking place across Gombe State.
Accompanied by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Shehu Yerima Abdullahi, the former administrator inspected several completed and ongoing projects in the state capital and other strategic locations.
Members of the inspection team included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Danladi Adamu; Director of Civil Engineering, Engr. Abubakar Musa; and Director of Building, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Yahaya.
Among the projects inspected were the new Deputy Governor’s Office, Emirs and Chiefs Secretariat, New High Court Complex, the underpass linking the Three Arms Zone with Shehu Abubakar District and several road networks within the mega city centre.
He also visited the new House of Assembly Complex and the Ultra-modern State Secretariat Complex, facilities designed to strengthen legislative and administrative operations while providing a more conducive working environment for public servants.
Other projects included the 550 Family Homes Estate and its connecting road network to Tumfure, the ongoing Agro-Livestock Development Zone and the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park.
The inspection further took him to the multi-billion-naira Machanic Village and Dankwambo Mega Motor Park, two strategic projects expected to strengthen commercial activities, transportation and the state’s economic base.
Inuwa Yahaya Builds, Equips NYSC Orientation Camp in Boltongo
In another significant milestone in the infrastructure development drive of the Gombe State Government as part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of the state’s creation, the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has constructed and furnished a modern National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Boltongo, Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area.
The purpose-built facility represents a major investment in youth development and institutional infrastructure, designed to provide a conducive environment for the orientation, training and welfare of corps members posted to Gombe State for their mandatory one-year national service.
The camp is equipped with separate and adequate hostel accommodation for male and female corps members, a functional water reticulation system, an internal road network, administrative blocks, a dining hall, a lecture theatre and residential quarters for staff. The entire facility is also secured with perimeter fencing to ensure safety and order within the camp.
Beyond its impressive physical structures, the project reflects the state government’s commitment to improving the welfare and living conditions of young Nigerians who are deployed to Gombe to serve their fatherland.
For corps members, the availability of decent accommodation, reliable water supply, accessible internal roads and purpose-built training facilities will significantly enhance their orientation experience and provide a more comfortable atmosphere throughout their stay in the state.
The completion of the camp is therefore not merely an addition to Gombe infrastructure portfolio but also a strategic investment in youth development, national integration and the success of the NYSC scheme.
As Gombe marks three decades of statehood, the NYSC Orientation Camp in Boltongo stands out as one of the administration’s enduring contributions to institutional development, while reinforcing the state’s readiness to welcome and provide a hospitable environment for young Nigerians from different parts of the country.
These projects collectively reflects the administration’s approach to development, which places emphasis on urban renewal, institutional infrastructure, industrialisation, commercial expansion and the creation of an enabling environment for private-sector investment.
Dadinkowa Superhighway: Gombe’s strategic regional connection.
A particularly significant aspect of the inspection tour was Orji’s visit to the Dadinkowa corridor, where the proposed superhighway alignment is expected to connect Gombe and the six North-Eastern states to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
The project has strategic implications for regional transportation, trade, investment and economic integration, particularly for a North-Eastern region whose vast agricultural and commercial potentials require efficient transportation infrastructure.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s engagements and lobbying efforts with President Bola Tinubu were instrumental in securing approval for the Gombe alignment, including the proposed adjustment of the Sokoto highway corridor to accommodate the connection.
The development represents an important intervention in positioning Gombe as a strategic transportation link between the North-East and the broader national highway network.
For a state that has consistently sought to leverage its geographical advantage, the proposed connection could open new opportunities for agricultural marketing, movement of goods, industrial development and private investment.
Dadinkowa hydropower and industrialisation drive:
Orji’s inspection also covered the Dadinkowa Hydroelectric Power project, whose contribution to electricity generation and industrial development forms part of Gombe’s broader economic development strategy.
Of particular interest is the utilisation of power from the facility to support electricity supply to the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, where the state government is pursuing an industrialisation agenda aimed at attracting manufacturing and agro-processing enterprises.
The industrial park is expected to serve as a major platform for transforming the state’s agricultural and mineral resources into finished products, generating employment and expanding economic activities.
According to information made available during the inspection, 14 industrial concerns have taken positions at the park, signalling growing private-sector interest in the state’s investment drive.
Among the companies is Agro Seedlings, backed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which has commenced production.
The development is significant because the success of industrial parks depends not merely on the provision of land and infrastructure but also on the ability to attract functional businesses capable of creating jobs, stimulating local supply chains and contributing to economic growth.
The emergence of these industrial concerns therefore represents an important step in Gombe’s effort to move beyond a predominantly public-sector-driven economy towards a more diversified productive base.
Education and institutional development across the state.
Another important dimension of Orji’s inspection tour was his visit to major educational institutions, reflecting the importance of education in the state’s development over the past three decades.
The institutions visited included Gombe State University (with campuses in Dukku (Faculty of Environmental sciences) and Malam Sidi (Faculty of Agriculture), Gombe State Polytechnic, Bajoga,
State College of Education, Billiri,
College for Legal Studies, Nafada,
College of Nursing Sciences, Gombe and
College of Health Sciences and Technology, Kaltungo.
The institutions represent important pillars of human capital development, professional training and manpower production for Gombe and the wider North-Eastern region.
Their growth and expansion also demonstrate how the state has progressively invested in educational infrastructure to widen access to tertiary education and develop the skilled workforce required to support its administrative, commercial and industrial aspirations.
For Orji, whose administration operated during the challenging formative years of the state, the expansion of educational institutions and other public facilities offered an opportunity to appreciate the distance Gombe has travelled since its creation.
APC inaugurates campaign councils:
Orji’s anniversary visit also coincided with significant political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On October 29, 2026, the former military administrator joined other dignitaries at the International Conference Centre, Gombe, to witness the inauguration of the Gombe State All Progressives Congress (APC) Advisory Council, Campaign Council and Women’s Campaign Council.
The event attracted party leaders, stakeholders, council members and supporters from across the state, marking the formal commencement of the councils’ activities towards coordinating the party’s political engagement, reconciliation and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
The inauguration formed part of the political engagements surrounding the 30th anniversary celebrations, with party leaders reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the party’s structures and promoting unity among its members.
Igbo Community Honours piyoneer Administrator:
Beyond official ceremonies, project inspections and political engagements, one of the most emotionally significant moments of Orji’s visit was the special reception organised in his honour by the Igbo Community Welfare Association (ICWA), Gombe.
The reception, held at Mar-Cornel Resort Hotel, Gombe, brought together prominent Igbo sons and daughters residing in the state to celebrate a man they described as one of the architects of Gombe’s formative history.
Organised in collaboration with the Special Adviser on Inter-Community Relations, Hon. Cornelius Ewuzie, the gathering attracted members of the Igbo community, the Council of Chiefs and other distinguished personalities.
The delegation of the Igbo Delegates Assembly (IDA), representing 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was led by its President-General, Chief Kenneth Okeugo.
Also present were the Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, Chief Michael Ogbonna; President-General of ICWA, Barrister Herbert N. Nwoye; and other community leaders.
Speakers at the event described Orji as a legend, father figure and builder whose contributions to Gombe’s establishment and early development remain indelible.
They recalled that his administration laid important foundations for governance and infrastructural development at a time when the newly created state faced considerable financial and administrative challenges.
Among the projects attributed to his administration were 25 three-bedroom residential units at Buhari Estate, 80 housing units along Bauchi Road, low-cost housing accommodation for junior workers and the High Court Complex, alongside other foundational administrative and infrastructural initiatives.
The speakers particularly recalled that these projects were undertaken despite the reported absence of a dedicated take-off grant for the newly created state.
For the Igbo community, the reception was more than a ceremonial celebration. It was an opportunity to acknowledge a pioneer administrator whose early leadership, they said, helped establish an environment in which non-indigenes could participate meaningfully in the social, economic and political development of Gombe.
They noted that the foundations laid during his tenure contributed to a sense of belonging, dignity and participation among residents from different ethnic backgrounds.
In their separate remarks, community leaders reaffirmed the commitment of Ndigbo in Gombe to peaceful coexistence, inter-communal harmony and the continued development of the state.
The gathering was marked by nostalgia, solidarity and renewed appreciation of the historical relationship between Orji and the people of Gombe.
Orji Urges Ndi Igbo to Promote Peaceful Coexistence, Support APC Government.
As part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of the creation of Gombe State, the Pioneer Military Administrator, Group Captain Joseph Orji (rtd.), has called on members of the Igbo community resident in the state to sustain peaceful coexistence with their host communities and support the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
Orji, who made the appeal while responding to speeches at an event commemorating the state’s 30th anniversary, emphasised the importance of mutual respect, understanding and adherence to the cultural values, traditions and customs of host communities.
He urged the Ndi Igbo to avoid actions capable of generating misunderstandings, friction or strained relationships with their host communities, stressing that peaceful coexistence remained fundamental to unity, stability and sustainable development.
The former Military Administrator also encouraged the Igbo community to identify with and support the APC-led administration in Gombe State, noting that such cooperation would further strengthen the existing cordial relationship between the government and the people, as well as consolidate the bonds of friendship and mutual understanding among residents.
He maintained that the continued development of Gombe State depended largely on the collective commitment of its diverse ethnic groups to peaceful coexistence, cooperation and support for government policies and programmes.
Thirty years of statehood: From foundation to transformation.
Orji’s return to Gombe, three decades after he played a defining role in its establishment, provided a unique historical perspective on the state’s development journey.
The contrast between the Gombe of 1996 and the expanding state capital of 2026 is evident in its growing network of roads, modern government facilities, educational institutions, residential estates, industrial infrastructure and emerging investment corridors.
His visit also highlighted the contributions of successive administrations in consolidating the foundations laid by the pioneer leadership and responding to the changing needs of a growing population.
Under Governor Inuwa Yahaya, the development agenda has increasingly focused on urban renewal, regional connectivity, institutional expansion, industrialisation and the mobilisation of private-sector investment.
Yet, as Gombe celebrates 30 years of statehood, the significance of the anniversary goes beyond the commissioning of projects and the presentation of infrastructural achievements.
It also presents an opportunity to examine how effectively these investments translate into improved living standards, sustainable employment, stronger institutions, economic productivity and better public services for ordinary residents.
For Orji, however, the opportunity to return to the state he helped establish and witness its transformation was evidently a moment of pride and fulfilment.
His assessment of the Inuwa Yahaya administration, particularly its commitment to urban renewal, regional cooperation and strategic infrastructure, underscored the importance of continuity in governance and the preservation of development visions across successive administrations.
As Gombe moves beyond its third decade, the challenge before its leadership and people is to sustain the momentum, deepen economic diversification, strengthen public institutions and ensure that the benefits of development reach communities across the state.
For the Pioneer Administrator, the Gombe he helped nurture in 1996 has clearly travelled a remarkable distance. His five-day return was, in many respects, a reunion with history and a firsthand encounter with a state steadily redefining its place in the North-East.
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