The Gombe State Government has issued a stern warning against acts of infrastructure sabotage, including illegal sand excavation and vandalism of newly constructed roads and culverts.
At a press conference, the Executive Chairman of the Gombe State Urban Planning and Development Authority (GOSUPDA), Bappayo Samanja Mauɗo, emphasized the government’s commitment to holding offenders accountable.
He revealed that several individuals had been arrested for damaging roads under the pretense of creating access routes to their properties, including hotels and shops. Each offender, he noted, was fined over N3 million.
Describing the acts as a direct attack on Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s urban transformation agenda, Samanja reaffirmed that the administration would not tolerate any hindrance to the state’s progress.
He highlighted that GOSUPDA’s recent recognition as the best performing urban development institution in the North-East was a testament to Governor Yahaya’s developmental initiatives.
Samanja further warned residents against constructing buildings on waterways or defacing government property for personal gain. He urged those planning any form of development to seek approval from GOSUPDA and ensure payments are made into government accounts as computed by the agency.
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Particular attention was drawn to the illegal sand excavation taking place in Shehu Abubakar district where heavy trucks are being used daily to extract and sell sand at low prices.
According to Samanja, this activity undermines the government’s vision for the Gombe Capital Development Zone. He disclosed that three individuals had already been arrested and prosecuted in connection with the offense.
Additionally, the GOSUPDA chairman condemned the reckless destruction of public infrastructure, such as streetlights and culverts, whether through negligence or deliberate action. He warned that anyone caught vandalizing public property would face strict legal consequences.
Samanja called on all Gombe residents to support the government’s developmental projects and refrain from activities that could jeopardize the state’s progress.
