Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has announced plans by his administration to construct a new female hostel at Gombe State University, GSU), following the recent fire disaster that destroyed one of the institution’s female hostels.
The Governor made the pledge during a visit to the university to commiserate with students and staff affected by the incident. He described the fire outbreak as unfortunate and deeply distressing, noting that although no life was lost, many students were rendered helpless due to the destruction of their belongings.
Governor Yahaya, who donated ₦20 million to support the affected students, said the gesture was to provide immediate relief and complement earlier assistance from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). He added that part of the funds should be distributed among students who lost property, while the remaining amount should be handed over to the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) for fair and transparent disbursement to other students, particularly those traumatized by the experience.
He further directed the Commissioners for Higher Education and Works and Housing to collaborate closely with the university management to fast-track the design and commencement of the new hostel project. The Governor stressed that the planned structure would be modern, safe, and equipped with fire-prevention systems to avert similar tragedies in the future.
“The incident at Gombe State University is a wake-up call for all institutions to improve their emergency response measures,” Yahaya said. “Our government remains fully committed to the safety and welfare of students, and we will not allow this unfortunate event to repeat itself.”
He also ordered the Gombe State Fire Service to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the fire and to submit a detailed report to his office. The findings, he said, would guide the state in implementing safety improvements in public institutions, especially tertiary campuses.
While addressing the gathering, the Governor emphasized his administration’s consistent investment in the education sector, highlighting the government’s commitment to ensuring that learning environments across the state remain secure, conducive, and adequately equipped with modern facilities. He reiterated that the state’s long-term development agenda depends heavily on sustained investment in education and human capital.
Governor Yahaya noted that beyond rebuilding infrastructure, his administration is determined to promote a strong safety culture across campuses, ensuring that students and staff are trained on fire prevention and emergency response. He disclosed plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and tertiary institutions to roll out a campus-wide safety campaign.
In his remarks, the Registrar of Gombe State University, Dr. Abubakar Aliyu Bafeto, expressed gratitude to the Governor for his swift response, generosity, and leadership in the face of the crisis. He confirmed that no life was lost in the fire and assured that the university management had already initiated internal safety audits to strengthen preventive measures.
“We appreciate Your Excellency’s compassion and commitment to the welfare of our students. This visit and your pledge mean a lot to the entire university community. We will take all necessary measures to ensure that such an incident does not occur again,” Dr. Bafeto said.
The Governor was accompanied on the visit by Deputy Governor Manassah Daniel Jatau, Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly Abubakar Mohammed Luggerewo, the Secretary to the State Government Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, the Chief of Staff Alhaji Abubakar Inuwa Kari, several Commissioners, Heads of Agencies and Parastatals, as well as senior officials from various security agencies in the state.
