Yobe Cracks Down on Public Building Projects, Insists on Strict Due Process

By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu

The Yobe State Government has vowed to tighten oversight of public building projects, insisting that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) must strictly comply with due process to curb waste, prevent project failures, and guarantee quality infrastructure.

Acting Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Mohammed Goje, gave the assurance while receiving the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Buba, and the ministry’s management team during a courtesy visit in Damaturu.

In a statement issued by the Media Coordinator/Liaison Officer to the Acting SSG, Ibrahim Baba Saleh, Goje said the state government would strengthen enforcement of established procedures guiding the planning, approval, procurement, and execution of public building projects.

He stressed that strict adherence to due process would protect public funds, minimise unnecessary project variations, improve construction quality, and deliver greater value for taxpayers.

Goje commended the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development for its expanding role in government infrastructure delivery, noting that under Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administration, the ministry has evolved into the state’s technical hub for public building projects.

According to him, the ministry now provides architectural and engineering designs, project supervision, quality assurance, and professional advisory services that have enhanced the successful execution of government projects.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Buba, congratulated Goje on his appointment and expressed confidence in his ability to strengthen coordination among MDAs.

Buba said the ministry had undergone significant transformation over the past three years, recalling that it initially operated from rented offices after its separation from the Ministry of Lands.

He disclosed that construction of the ministry’s permanent office complex, approved by the state government, is now over 90 per cent completed, restoring its institutional identity and providing a more conducive work environment.

The commissioner also revealed that the ministry addressed manpower shortages through a succession plan that led to the recruitment of more than 120 professional and administrative personnel, significantly boosting its technical capacity.

He further announced that the proposed Yobe State Urban Planning and Development Authority Bill has passed the public hearing stage and is awaiting final legislative approval, describing the legislation as a critical step toward strengthening physical planning and development control across the state.

Buba maintained that no public building project should commence without the ministry’s technical input, stressing that it remains the government’s statutory adviser on public infrastructure.

He explained that the ministry is responsible for vetting architectural designs, engineering drawings, bills of quantities, and other technical documents before projects proceed to procurement and execution.

Warning against the consequences of bypassing due process, Buba said such actions often result in avoidable project variations, cost overruns, and structural deficiencies that expose government to financial and operational risks.

He urged the Acting SSG to ensure full compliance by all MDAs with the state’s technical and regulatory requirements for public building projects.

During an interactive session, Permanent Secretary Inuwa Yaroro and directors of the ministry underscored the importance of stronger inter-agency collaboration, saying closer cooperation would enhance accountability, improve project delivery, and ensure public infrastructure consistently meets professional standards.