In recent years, Gombe State has witnessed a commendable transformation under the purposeful leadership of His Excellency, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya. The governor’s commitment to infrastructural renewal and urban modernization is both visible and deliberate. As a son of the soil and an academic who values development rooted in equity and sustainability, I write not in opposition but in constructive partnership. My plea is simple but strategic: Akko, Lawanti, and the surrounding communities urgently require deliberate inclusion in the state’s development blueprint.
The road linking Gombe metropolis to the Gombe International Airport in Lawanti has evolved into one of the state’s busiest roads. This road, which traverses Akko, Lawanti also leads to Ɗolli, Zongomari, and Ɓula holds an immense economic and strategic value. Yet, these communities remain strikingly under-served. An expressway from the city gate to the airport—approximately 20 kilometers—is both necessary and feasible. His Excellency Inuwa Yahaya as I know him will definitely consider our plea. And I am sure the infrastructural investment will be extend beyond road construction.
An advocate of inclusive development approach, the Goveror’s priority on social and human infrastructure is both commendable and impressive. For instance, we hope the coming of the road will be accompanied by the establishment of a general hospital in Lawanti. This hospital is not only a moral imperative but a strategic necessity. Located in close proximity to both the airport and the Nigerian Air Force base, Lawanti sits at the intersection of population growth, strategic access, and future potential. A well-equipped hospital would serve not just the surrounding communities, but also emergency needs arising from air travel and military operations. In a time of increasing internal migration and population displacement, healthcare infrastructure in these areas is long overdue.
Equally critical is access to clean and safe drinking water. Development that does not address basic human needs is a contradiction in terms. As the expressway opens up new opportunities for mobility, commerce, and migration, it must be matched by investments in sustainable water solutions—whether through boreholes, modular purification systems, or small-scale dams. These are not luxuries; they are preconditions for dignified living.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s rural development record is well-established, but there is room—and indeed a need—for amplification. The airport road offers a unique opportunity to demonstrate what inclusive development looks like in practice. With targeted investments in transportation, healthcare, and water infrastructure, this axis can become a living model of how strategic planning translates into real and lasting impact.
Gombe State has a proud tradition of visionary leadership. This moment presents yet another opportunity to stretch that legacy. By integrating the airport road into the state’s broader development agenda, the governor can etch his name into the annals of history—not merely as a builder of roads, but as a leader who uplifted communities often left at the margins.
Your Excellency, the people along the airport road wait—not with entitlement, but with hope. Hope that development will not bypass them once again. Hope that your administration, renowned for action, will deliver yet another chapter of purposeful governance.
Thank you, Sir.
Lawanti, Ph.D. writes from Department of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
