Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, has unveiled what he described as a “Gombe State Transformation Plan,” promising to tackle insecurity, poverty, and unemployment through social justice and technology-driven governance.
Pantami disclosed this during an interview on Trust TV’s Daily Politics programme, where he defended his record in public service and outlined his vision for Gombe State.
According to him, his leadership record across institutions remains verifiable and successful.
“My records are verifiable. Each and every institution I led has been very successful. So you cannot compare somebody who has done that with somebody maybe who has led institutions and left them bankrupt,” he said.
Pantami challenged Nigerians to judge leaders based on measurable achievements and institutional impact.
“If you want to present yourself to lead people, let us see in which situation did you find the institution and in which situation did you leave it. The institutions I led, I led them much, much better than how I found them,” he stated.
Speaking on his plans for Gombe, Pantami revealed that he had already prepared a comprehensive development blueprint covering major sectors including education, security, agriculture, industrialisation, commerce, literacy, employment, and poverty reduction.
“I have already developed the Gombe State Transformation Plan. The plan is available. Firstly, I established the baseline in the state in education, in poverty, in literacy, in security, including our unity in diversity, in employment, in unemployment, in industrialization, in marketing, in commerce, in agriculture, in each and every component,” he explained.
He added that the plan also outlines the state’s projected development trajectory over the next four years.
Addressing growing security concerns in parts of the state, particularly in Balanga Local Government Area, including Pindiga and Kashere communities, Pantami stressed that insecurity can only be addressed through social justice and inclusiveness.
“If you want to address the challenge of insecurity, you begin by social justice and inclusivity. When there is social justice, you will discover that many security challenges disappear,” he said.
The former minister argued that the widening gap between the rich and the poor contributes significantly to insecurity across Nigeria.
He further called for equal treatment of all citizens regardless of tribe, religion, or location, insisting that residents across the 11 local government areas of Gombe State must enjoy fairness and equal opportunities.
Pantami also highlighted the role of technology in modern security management, saying advanced digital tools could help monitor the state’s entire landmass and improve intelligence gathering.
“Today, with my area of expertise as a student of ICT, I know the technology you need to deploy in Gombe State that will allow you to monitor the entire land mass of the state,” he stated.
He revealed that during his time in office, technologies were deployed through Galaxy Backbone to support security institutions in Gombe State.
According to him, technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotic systems, virtual reality, augmented reality, and the Internet of Things can significantly strengthen security operations.
Pantami also explained that governors possess greater powers to directly tackle insecurity compared to ministers, noting that governors serve as chief security officers of their states.
He pledged to equip security agencies with modern operational tools, advanced surveillance systems, and improved welfare packages to enhance their effectiveness.
The former minister linked his vision to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, stressing that the primary responsibility of government remains the security and welfare of citizens.
