The Jigawa State Executive Council has approved the release of over ₦377 million for the training of 2,600 Hisbah personnel and the implementation of preparatory activities for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Programme, in a move aimed at strengthening public institutions and accelerating economic development in the state.
Briefing journalists after the council’s meeting on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, Alhaji Sagir Musa Ahmed, said the council approved ₦97.71 million for the training of personnel of the Hisbah Board across the state.
Ahmed explained that the training programme is designed to improve the operational capacity of the board by equipping officers with modern skills, enhancing professionalism, and strengthening coordination among personnel at all levels.
According to him, the beneficiaries are expected to deploy the knowledge acquired during the exercise to improve efficiency and service delivery in line with contemporary standards and best practices.
The commissioner also announced the constitution of a review committee for the Dutse Master Plan 2050 following submissions by Ahmadu Bello University Consultancy Services Limited (ABUCOS).
He said the committee would be chaired by the Commissioner for Lands, Alhaji Ahmed Kaugama, and would include former commissioners who previously served in the ministry, namely Alhaji Sagir Musa Ahmed, Ahmed Garba, Ahmed Kanta, Dr. Nura Ibrahim Kazaure and Muhammad Alhassan.
Ahmed stated that the committee had been mandated to harmonise the report and ensure that the final master plan adequately reflects the aspirations of the government and the people of Jigawa State.
The committee is expected to submit its report within four weeks.
In a further boost to the state’s economic development agenda, the council approved the release of ₦279.7 million for Phase II preparatory activities of the SAPZ Programme.
The initiative, being implemented in collaboration with the Federal Government and the African Development Bank (AfDB), is expected to drive agricultural industrialisation, attract private sector investments and enhance value addition across key agricultural value chains.
Ahmed noted that the preparatory activities are critical to positioning Jigawa as a major agro-industrial hub, while creating sustainable employment opportunities, particularly for youths and women.
He added that the approvals were consistent with the development vision of Governor Umar Namadi’s administration and underscored the government’s commitment to sustainable growth, inclusive development, transparency and stakeholder engagement.
Ibrahim Shuaibu
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