In the heart of Gombe, five landmark projects are steadily taking shape within a two-mile radius, in a development that many residents describe as Governor Inuwa Yahya's enduring gift to future generations. At the centre of the plan is a new central business district, where a Three Arms Zone is emerging.
The Three Arms Zone is intended to bring the principal institutions of the state government together in one location. Officials say the aim is to allow the main arms of government to operate more efficiently and to improve coordination between them within a single, shared environment.
At the proposed central business district, a sprawling secretariat is being built to accommodate 24 ministries. Officials say the state-of-the-art complex will be equipped with modern technology to enhance efficiency and improve coordination across government institutions.
Alongside the secretariat, the development includes a new House of Assembly complex for the state's lawmakers and a high court complex. The court building is planned with 12 courtrooms, a ceremonial court, and offices for the judges and the chief judge.
At present, the state's ministries operate from scattered rented offices across Gombe. The head of the civil service described the ultra-modern secretariat as a strategic and cost-effective investment that would improve service delivery while reducing government expenditure.
He said building a single structure to house all ministries and many government departments and agencies would help solve the problem of revenue being drained into the payment of millions of dollars in rent each year, as well as the difficulty of reaching offices spread across different locations.
For the Ministry of Works, the projects represent more than just infrastructure. Officials there cast them as investments aimed at boosting productivity, improving governance and delivering better outcomes for the citizens of Gombe state.