Ibrahim Suleiman
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has flagged off and commissioned several development projects in Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State to boost agriculture, education, healthcare and youth development.
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The projects include the reconstruction of the Soba–Pambeguwa Road, construction of the Kinkiba township road, a Youth Development Centre, a National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) study centre, blocks of classrooms and a Primary Healthcare Centre.
Speaking at the ceremony, Abbas said the projects were designed to create a productive development corridor that would support economic growth, improve social services and enhance the livelihoods of residents.
He described Soba as a major agricultural hub known for the production of maize, millet, sorghum and livestock, noting that agriculture remains a key source of household income and food security in the area.
The Speaker disclosed that Soba would also benefit from an Agricultural Transformation Centre under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, which is aimed at strengthening agricultural value chains and promoting agro-industrial development.
According to him, the Soba–Pambeguwa Road would ease the transportation of farm produce to markets, reduce transport costs and improve access to schools and healthcare facilities, while the Maigana Road would strengthen connectivity among surrounding communities.
On youth empowerment, Abbas said the Youth Development Centre would provide practical training, digital skills, enterprise support and career guidance to prepare young people for emerging economic opportunities.
He added that the NOUN study centre would enable residents to pursue higher education without leaving their communities, while promoting research into post-harvest losses, livestock management and agribusiness.
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The Speaker said the newly provided classrooms and Primary Healthcare Centre would improve learning conditions and access to essential medical services, particularly maternal healthcare, immunisation and disease prevention.
He urged contractors to comply with engineering standards and safety requirements, while calling on health authorities to ensure adequate staffing and the availability of essential medical supplies.
Abbas also appealed to residents to take ownership of the projects and protect the public facilities to ensure their sustainability and continued benefits to the community.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting infrastructure development, education, healthcare and agricultural transformation across the country.
In his remarks, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, said the projects would improve connectivity, stimulate economic activities and enhance the quality of life of residents.
The governor thanked President Tinubu for extending federal infrastructure interventions to Kaduna State and commended Abbas for facilitating the projects.
He said collaboration among the Federal Government, the National Assembly and the Kaduna State Government was yielding meaningful development outcomes for the state.
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The event was attended by former Kaduna State Governor, Dr. Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, APC stakeholders, youths, traditional leaders and other dignitaries.
FRCN