Governor Namadi of Jigawa
As Deputy Governor in 2023 and APC’s 2023 Gubernatorial Candidate, Mallam Umar Namadi, FCA alias Danmodi had told every Jigawa indigene who cares to listen that “the task before us is to build a stronger, smarter Jigawa that works for everyone,” as his Strategic campaign oath.
Titled “My agenda for greater Jigawa, Governor Danmodi had since swung into action to implement his agenda to develop the state beyond imagination.
Though it’s no longer news that global development challenges are growing and evolving rapidly in response to the financial difficulties created by the global pandemic, aka Covid 19 and climate change, the Jigawa Government is determined to use home grown approaches to deal with the challenges posed by the situation.
With a population that has grown from barely 4 million in 2001 to 7
million in 2022 according to the Nigeria Bureau of statistics, NBS in 2021, poverty and food insecurity have remained high despite the concerted efforts of the current Jigawa State government’s
administration to address them through strategic investments in agriculture, health, and essential
infrastructure.
The dynamics of all microeconomic variables; the youth unemployment rate of 33%, the State’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP based on the ongoing reforms, the state’s
GDP grew from N900 billion in 2015 to N2.3trillion in 2022 and 3.8 percent rate economic growth.
Even as the state’s second in command and governorship candidate, Danmodi had stated that these figures have strengthened his confidence on efficacy of the economic growth policies
being pursued by the state Government.
Climate change continues to disrupt livelihoods and degrade the state’s environment along downstream communities. It is crystal clear that Agriculture predominantly drived the state economy which is dominated by smallholder farmers. The state internally generated revenue is still 15% of its expenditure.
It is Governor Danmodi that reaffirmed, faced with these macroeconomic realities, that Jigawa State must innovate and consolidate on the existing reforms started by former Governor Muhammad
Badaru Abubakar, to make the state work for everyone and integrate the gains for building a more robust, smarter Jigawa that is self-sufficient and secured.
It is on record that the Governor has since taking oath of office as Governor on May 29 last year, pledged a comprehensive plan that lays out his vision for sustainable economic growth; modern, efficient
and profitable agriculture; youth empowerment, employment and productivity.
The plan also provides for an improved quality education system; an innovative, accessible, and affordable health care system,; a
comprehensive social security arrangement as well as an enhanced security system.
In the words of Governor Danmodi, Securing Jigawa is a key priority of his administration by building an inclusive community-led response to security, adopting new technologies, and strengthening local government councils, traditional institutions, and
other relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety of lives and properties of the good people of jigawa State.
He intends to review the existing social security arrangement to cover
the poor, elderly and vulnerable in the society.
All being equal, Governor Danmodi’s ultimate goal is to make Jigawa a particular state that works for everyone by creating an enabling environment for opportunities so that all its residents can thrive in peace and tranquility.
Whether or not Governor Danmodi’s agenda for greater Jigawa State is workable is left to time. But what is important is that the Governor has strategically put policies and measures in place towards achieving his plans efficiently and effectively. The greatest asset the Governor has in this regard is that the people are behind him in giving their utmost support and cooperation.
