The Yobe State governor Hon Mai Mala Buni said his administration was able to achieve 76% budget implementation for both capital and recurrent expenditure as at 30th September 2024 with a projection of more success before the end of the year.
Buni stated this while presenting the 2025 budget to the state assembly for scrutiny and passage.
The governor who stated this while reviewing the performance of his administration in the 2024 budget stated that despite the hostile nature of exchange rate on the economy among other factors, the government was able to inject a huge sum of money into infrastructure among other educational and social projects during the year under review.
He said, “The overall performance of the 2024 budget for both recurrent and capital expenditure was One-Hundred and Sixty-four Billion, Nine-Hundred and Forty-Nine Million, Three-Hundred and Sixty-four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Thirty-four Naira (N164, 949, 364, 934) indicating 76% success as of 30th September 2024.
“The volume of both the revenue and expenditure is expected to rise before the end of the year.
“The unfavourable exchange rate of Naira to the Dollar, and the unabated inflation rate has continued to negatively impact on execution levels of our projects and programmes. We are optimistic of an increase in the rate of our fulfillments before the fiscal year runs out.
“I wish to therefore, present to this Honourable House our major achievements in 2024 that are not limited to the following; i) A total sum of N17, 487, 672, 874.20 was released to fund the construction of Nguru-Bulanguwa, Bulanguwa-Kumagannam, Kukuri-Chikuriwa-Dawasa, Jaji Maji-Karasuwa, Garin Guna, Gashua-Masaba, Chumbusko-Tagali and Chumbusko-Karasuwa Galu roads, and the dualization of the Damaturu to Kalallawa road.
“Government would next year award a contract for the remaining part of the Trans-Sahara road to complete the linkage of the entire northern part of the state from Nguru-Kanamma. Similarly, the Government would construct access roads to link all the political wards in the respective local government areas.
“Others are the construction of Garin Bingel-Danchuwa road which has been completed, the ongoing Bukarti-Toshiya, Fika-Maluri, and Danchuwa-Jajere, Kanamma Junction-Yusufari, Gujba-Ngalda, as well as the rehabilitation of Geidam-Bukarti, and Damaturu-Gujba roads.
“The amount also covers expenditure for the construction of the four Damaturu City Gates, township roads and drainages in ten Local Government Council Headquarters across the state, as well as erosion control along Gadaka road, among others.
“We expended a total sum of N9, 244, 124, 164 for the construction of Damaturu Mega Shopping Mall, Potiskum Trailer Park, Potiskum, Geidam, Yunusari and Ngalda Modern Markets.
“Funds were also released for the construction of Sesame Seeds Processing factories in Damaturu, Machina, Nguru and Potiskum. Heavy duty equipment, tools and essential raw materials were also supplied to some of the Government-owned companies for their operations.
“We undertook the renovation of ADP headquarters and Zonal Offices in Potiskum, Nguru, Buni Yadi, Gashua and Geidam.
“We also procured 100 units of Zoom lion tractors with complete accessories and 10 units of brand New Double Cabin 4-Wheel Drive vehicles for effective monitoring and evaluation.
“Similarly, 700 Hand Push Planters, 300 Plough Machines, 300 Mini Tiller Machines, 490 Multi-purpose Threshers, 310 fertilizer sprayers and other agricultural inputs for the State Agricultural Empowerment Programme at a total sum of N15, 713, 740,363.