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Tag: Sokoto State Government

  • Insecurity: SOSG procures additional 10 patrol vehicles, 150 motorcycles

    Insecurity: SOSG procures additional 10 patrol vehicles, 150 motorcycles

    In a bid to support security agencies in their fight against banditry, the Sokoto State Government has procured 10 new Hilux patrol vans and 150 motorcycles to enhance patrol in the areas affected by banditry in the state. 

    According to the statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Director General, Media and Publicity, the distribution of 10 vehicles and 39 of the 150 motorcycles procured by the government was for security agencies in the state.

    Presenting the keys to representatives of the Police, Army, Air Force, and DSS, the Secretary to the State Government, Muhammad Bello Sifawa, said the donation followed a request for logistical support by the security agencies to enhance their operations against insecurity in Sokoto State.

    According to Sifawa, the 10 vehicles are in addition to the 170 vehicles earlier procured and distributed by the Ahmed Aliyu-led administration since inception, aimed at equipping security operatives to effectively combat banditry.

    He reassured the public of the administration’s determination to work hand in hand with security agencies to safeguard lives and property, stressing that security remains a top priority on Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s 9-point agenda.

    The SSG urged security agencies to use the vehicles judiciously to make the state safer, while also appealing to residents to support government efforts with prayers and provide useful information that could aid security operations.

    Speaking on behalf of the benefiting agencies, the Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Musa, assured that the vehicles and motorcycles would be deployed strictly for the purpose they were provided. He reiterated the readiness of security agencies to secure every part of the state and called on citizens to support them, particularly through intelligence sharing and timely tip-offs.

    Musa commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for his swift response to their request for additional logistical support, which he said would significantly strengthen ongoing operations.

    Breakdown of the Allocation indicates that police and Army were given 4 Hilux vans each,while DSS and Airforce received 1 vehicle each.And for the motorcycles, Army got 20,police 15 and Airforce received 4.

  • Sokoto Boat Mishap: SOSG confirms 4 dead, 5 missing, 41 survivors

    Sokoto Boat Mishap: SOSG confirms 4 dead, 5 missing, 41 survivors

    The Sokoto State Government has confirmed the death of four passengers in a boat mishap that occurred at Kojiyo village, Goronyo Local Government Area.

    According to Director-General, Media & Publicity, Abubakar Bawa in a press statement seen by TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) the unfortunate incident occurred along the Sokoto Rima River when the boat conveying the passengers capsized at about 1:00 pm on Sunday.

    Similarly, five passengers have been declared missing, while forty one others were successfully rescued.

    This confirmation followed a thorough search and fact-finding exercise jointly carried out by the officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and the Goronyo Local Government Council.

    It would be recalled that soon after the news of the incident broke, the Sokoto State Government’s delegation, led by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Idris Muhammed Gobir, visited the area to condole with the people of Goronyo LGA and the bereaved families.

    During the visit, the Deputy Governor announced a donation of ₦20 million, 100 bags of food items for the affected families, as well as 20 motorized boats and life jackets to be distributed by the State Government for use by the riverine communities across the State,  Out of which two were given to Goronyo local government area.

    According to him, the gesture is aimed at safe-guarding the lives of passengers who rely on  waterways in Goronyo Local Government and its adjoining surrounding.

    He assured the people of the area and indeed all the riverine communities across the state of the government’s determination to continue protecting their  lives and property.

    The Deputy Governor further urged the bereaved families to accept the incident as an act of the Almighty Allah and prayed for divine protection against future occurrences.

    The delegation also included the Secretary to the State Government, Muhammad Bello Sifawa; the Chief of Staff, Government House, Sokoto, Aminu Haliru Dikko (mni),State APC Chairman Isa Saddiq Achida, Commissioners; Special Advisers; Senior Special Assistants to the Governor and other top government officials.

  • Sokoto State to replace 100-year-old hospital with world class facility – Health commissioner

    Sokoto State to replace 100-year-old hospital with world class facility – Health commissioner

    The Sokoto State Government has concluded plans to build a new world-class hospital to replace the over 100-year-old Specialist Hospital in Sokoto as part of its overall plan to modernize its healthcare delivery. This flagship project is in addition to the ongoing rehabilitation of primary healthcare facilities and general hospitals across the state.

    Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Umar Abubakar, who disclosed this in a media interview, said the decision to replace the aging facility reflects Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto’s commitment to ensuring that Sokoto residents access modern, quality care and the restoration of public confidence in government-run health institutions.

    “This hospital has served us for over a century. It’s outdated and no longer meets modern healthcare standards,” Dr. Abubakar stated. “The governor has approved the development of a new world-class hospital that will provide comprehensive and specialist care.”

    The new hospital plan is part of a massive infrastructure revamp currently being executed across Sokoto State. According to the Commissioner, the government has already procured 240 new hospital beds and mattresses, nine ultrasound machines, and three X-ray machines, which have all been strategically distributed across the three senatorial districts.

    “This is a clear departure from the inaction of past administrations. We are now equipping hospitals at the local government level so that patients don’t have to travel all the way to Sokoto metropolis just for a scan or X-ray,” he said.

    Dr. Abubakar painted a grim picture of the situation he met on assumption of office—maternity wards were without electricity, the operating theatres were looted, and there was widespread open defecation due to lack of toilet facilities. “It was a scandal, but we are tackling the problems head-on,” he said.

    He further disclosed that the government has initiated the installation of solar power systems in all healthcare facilities to guarantee 24-hour electricity, especially in the maternity and emergency units. Boreholes are also being drilled to ensure constant water supply, and inmates have been engaged to help keep hospital premises clean.

    He also disclosed that the previously abandoned amenity ward and surgical theatre at the old Specialist Hospital have been rehabilitated as interim measures pending the construction of the new hospital.

    “We are not just rehabilitating buildings—we are restoring public trust in government healthcare,” the Commissioner declared.

    According to the Commissioner, significant gains are already being recorded due to renewed emphasis on preventive healthcare and effective community engagement. He said that immunization coverage in the state has improved, while rejection rates have dropped drastically. Dr. Abubakar revealed that vaccine rejection cases reduced from 4,000 to 1,000 in the last immunization cycle—thanks to partnerships with traditional rulers and religious leaders.

    “Our outreach campaigns, coupled with strong advocacy by community and religious leaders, are changing perceptions and saving lives,” he said.

    In line with this transformation, over 125 primary healthcare centres are being rehabilitated across the state. A 10% salary bonus has also been approved for medical professionals serving in rural areas.

    Additionally, four hospitals have been accredited to offer free obstetric care, including Cesarean Sections, under the National Health Insurance Scheme—further solidifying the government’s commitment to maternal and child health.

    “Our approach is holistic—curative and preventive. We’ve strengthened disease surveillance, improved training for epidemiologists, and are working closely with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria to curb quackery,” the Commissioner added.

    Dr. Abubakar emphasized that Governor Ahmad Aliyu’s administration is not waiting for health crises to occur. “We are building systems and facilities that prepare us ahead of time. The era of reactive governance in the health sector is over,” he concluded.

  • Sokoto implements consolidated salary structure for lecturers

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has implemented the new consolidated salary structure for lecturers of tertiary institutions in state.

    The lecturers commended the governor for making true his words to implement the consolidated salary structure last month.

    Already, academic staff at the state-owned Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic and Shehu Shagari College of Education said they are organizing a special prayer sessions to thank God for seeing to the end of their struggles to have the new salary structure implemented.

    Agitations for implementation started in 2008 following the introduction of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS), and despite repeatedly engaging past administrations for implementation, only this year did their demands materialized.

    Speaking on the issue, chairman of the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), SSCOE chapter, Abubakar Arzika, said Governor Tambuwal has set the bar in education sector and all lecturers will repay the faith.

    He said over the years, they have organised prayer sessions seeking God’s intervention, “now that we have achieved our aim, we will organise another prayers to thank God and pray for the government as it seeks to better the lots of the citizenry.”

    On his part, Chairman of Sokoto state chapter of the Joint National Public Service Negotiation Council, Abubakar S. Malami, said by proving that he is a labour-friendly Governor, Tambuwal deserves the applause of all workers.

    “We are confident that going forward, all our demands will be met,” he added.

    Giving a rationale for the implementation of the new salary structure, Tambuwal’s spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, said it was introduced to enhance productivity and bring the pay structure of Sokoto’s tertiary institutions at par with what is obtainable across the federation.

    “The overall objective of the state of emergency declared in the education sector in Sokoto is to make positive impact at all levels—basic, secondary and tertiary. Not only does the government engage in building new structures and rehabilitating old ones, we are fulfilling our promise to teachers and other non academic staff.

    “I recall during one of his meetings with lecturers ahead of the 2015 elections, the Governor promised to implement the new salary structure and today, that promise has been fulfilled. The government will not relent in its efforts, we are also urging the lecturers to reciprocate government gesture by putting in their best for the development of the education sector of Sokoto State,” he added.

    Apart from staff of State Polytechnic and the College of Education, those from College of Legal and Islamic Studies and College of Agriculture have also benefited.

    Similarly, staff of College of Nursing and Midwifery and College of Health Technology, Gwadabawa have been paid the consolidated salary structure for health workers.

  • Mass wedding: Sokoto Govt. to spend N32m for 100 couples in 2017

    The Sokoto State Government says it has received approval from the state government to spend N32 million on mass wedding for 100 couples this year.

    The Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Mani Maishinku, disclosed this in Sokoto on Friday while defending the ministry’s budget proposals for 2017 before the state House of Assembly’s Committee on Religious Affairs.

    “The state government had since approved N32 million and inaugurated a committee to screen the beneficiaries across the 23 local government areas of the state.

    “The allocation would be properly managed to ensure the success of the marriages and based on that, the ministry is awaiting the committee’s reports to commence the wedding,” he said.

    The commissioner also assured the committee that all outstanding projects of the ministry would be completed within the stipulated time this year before embarking on new ones.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Abdulwahab Yahaya (APC- Goronyo), pledged the assembly’s support to the ministry’s activities this year.

    Also, the state Commissioner for Rural Development, Alhaji Abdullahi Maigwandu, said the ministry would complete three outstanding road projects in 2017 while defending his ministry’s budget proposal.

    Maigwandu who appeared before the Assembly’s Committee on Rural Development expressed the ministry’s commitment to complete all outstanding projects in the fiscal year.

    “We are so much committed to ensuring all uncompleted projects under our ministry are completed this year including Dange Shuni, Fela and Bodinga roads,” he said.

    The committee’s Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Achida (APC- Wurno), said that the assembly would ensure that all the needs of the rural areas were given priority attention.

    Similarly, officials of the state Ministry of Information also appeared before the assembly’s Committee on Information to defend its budget proposal.

    The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abubakar III, said that the ministry would train more of its staffers as well as provide modern facilities for the state-owned media outfits in the state.

    The committee’s Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Randa (APC- Tureta), said that the Assembly would ensure more support for information dissemination in the state.

  • Sokoto Govt commences work on N250M gas plant

    Sokoto Govt commences work on N250M gas plant

    The Sokoto State Government has commenced construction works on the state’s new N250m organic fertiliser plant.

    When completed, the factory will produce 15,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser annually while also providing jobs to over 20,000 persons.

    Inspecting the progress of work done so far at the site, Governor Tambuwal said 100 percent of the raw materials to be used in the production of the fertiliser will be sourced locally in Sokoto.

    “Apart from opportunity for wealth creation, this factory serves as part of our wider vision to partner with willing investors at home and abroad to explore abundant natural resources for the development of our people.

    “The most important natural material required in the production of fertiliser is phosphate, and I am glad to say that we have it in abundance in at least 17 of the 23 LGAs of Sokoto State.

    “Importantly, there’s a huge market for the product in Sokoto and surrounding areas including Niger Repubic. This administration will provide the needed incentives, and necessary legal framework for the successful take off of this new plant, Tambuwal added.
    The Governor said the state government will be the number one buyer of all the fertiliser to be produced by the plant, and will hold an equity share of 40% in trust for the people of Sokoto.

    Proprietor of IML Ltd, the company constructing the plant, Alhaji Bilya Sanda, commended the state government for its keen interest in the project, and assured that majority of the staff of the new company will be sourced from the host state.