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…Says Infrastructure May Collapse Without Skilled Workforce
From Abdulrazaq Mungadi, Gombe
Civil society organisations in Gombe State have called on the government to shift focus from physical infrastructure to human capital development, warning that without skilled manpower, ongoing projects may not be sustainable in the long run.
The Chairman of the Gombe Network of Civil Society and Team Lead of the Advocacy Centre for Development, Ibrahim Yusuf, made the call in an interview with Daily Sun in Gombe. He stated that while the state has recorded significant progress in road construction, healthcare, and other infrastructure, little has been invested in building the capacity of citizens to manage such facilities.
“Without skilled people, Gombe’s infrastructure will decay in 10 years,” Ibrahim said. He explained that billions of naira are being spent on projects, but if the workforce is not trained, the state risks hiring outsiders to run critical sectors in the near future.
He said civil society does not oppose investment in infrastructure but believes that the government must adopt a balanced approach that equips citizens with the technical know-how to maintain and maximize such projects and developments.
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“Human capital development is the bedrock of sustainable growth. If we fail to build the people while building structures, one will collapse the other,” he cautioned.
Ibrahim also faulted recent poverty indices that ranked Gombe among Nigeria’s poorest states, describing the rating as unfair and politically motivated. According to him, while poverty exists, the state has created a relatively safe and business-friendly environment that belies such rankings.
He urged the state governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to dedicate the remaining months of its tenure to capacity building, skills training, and youth empowerment, stressing that development should be measured not only by physical structures but also by the quality of human resources available to manage them.
Speaking further, he assured that the civil society groups in the state are working to intensify advocacy and sensitisation campaigns in 2025 to mobilise citizens to demand accountability and ensure resources are directed toward impactful programs that reduce poverty and improve livelihoods.
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