Minister for International Trade and Investment & Yangoru-Saussia Hon. Richard Maru, announced that 2025 will be the most exciting and a defining year for Yangoru-Saussia District in its history since Independence on September 16, 1975. Minister Maru made this announcement during the first Yangoru-Saussia District Development Authority (DDA) Board Meeting when they passed down a whopping budget of K13 million in the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DSIP) and K41 million in the Development Budget, a total of K54 million budget for 2025. Maru emphasized the development of road, school and health infrastructures in the province as well as the significance of the nation in celebrating 50 years of Independence. “We will be joining the nation in celebrating 50 years of Independence right throughout the year. Our major celebrations include the grand celebration on September 16, 2025, at Yangoru, our District Headquarters, the opening of our new Mobile Barracks, new Tuonumbo Primary School, new Boim Primary School, new Wingei Secondary School, new Yangoru Police Station, new Yangoru Station generator and power station, and more openings.” “In health, we are investing in building new health facilities in Bima, Pomalmal, Jawia, and Waningu, and with the National Government support we want to commence our new Level 4 District Hospital this year.” “In education, our key focus will be on completing the Nagum project, opening two new Junior High Schools, and starting two new Primary Schools. We will also start our two new TVET Colleges in West Yangoru and Numbo LLG, commence Stage 2 of Yangoru-Saussia School of Excellence, and fencing of all our high schools. Our school fee subsidy will continue this year, and our India scholarships will commence this year. We have invested a lot in education, and we will continue to invest in this area as we are now starting to see the fruit of our investment with four of our students from the district now in the universities in China and in the USA under the National Government’s STEM Scholarships.” “In roads, we will be maintaining all the roads in the district this year including the road from Kwahuie to Yangoru District Headquarters to prepare for the independence celebrations. We will complete the roads in the Mobile Barracks, complete the Boinahitim to Boinam Road, connect Haripmo to Bima, and build new roads to connect Munji to Afawia, and Yaliwan Camp to Neimu," said Maru. We will also open the new Bararat Bridge and build two more new bridges at Yangoru and Negrie.” Maru further explained more on the development that will be taking place in the province regarding law and order and economic growth and wealth creation. “On Law and Order, apart from the opening of the Mobile Barracks, we will build and get operational new police stations at Nagum, Haripmo, Womayen and Tangori this year.” “On economic growth and wealth creation, we will continue to invest in cocoa seedling supplies, expand our chicken outgrower program, and commence lending with Mama Bank. We will also work with the National Government to develop the Sepik Plains Special Economic Zone (SEZ) with palm oil and cattle as our major focus. Land mobilization will be driven by the Sepik Plains SEZ office in Wewak, which will be opened in February.” All members of the Yangoru-Saussia DDA Board described the budget as a ‘very fair, balanced, and transformational budget’. Minister Maru further added that they would be looking ahead for the year and the support of the board to celebrate the country 50th anniversary in the province. “We have a very exciting and a defining year ahead of us and I look forward to the support of the DDA Board and our Administration led by the CEO to deliver our exciting 2025 program as we join the country to celebrate the 50th Anniversary.” “We will host a Spiritual Revival Program in August to renew our covenant with God before our Independence celebrations as we cross over from building our foundation over the last 50 years into transforming our district into a better and more prosperous future,” concluded Maru.