The rapid development taking place in Sokoto state under the astute leadership of Governor Ahmed Aliyu is one that has captured the attention of every citizen of the state and indeed the country as a whole. Within one and half years of the Aliyu administration, Sokoto state is beginning to take its rightful place in virtually every sector.
This did not just happen. It is because the state is lucky to have a focused, committed and determined leadership in a hurry to deliver on its campaign promises to the people of the state.
When people vote for the right man who fits the job, they need not doubt whether he will deliver. And this is exactly what is happening in Sokoto state. The people did not make a mistake in casting their vote for the man the fondly call “Sarkin Aiki” (the working governor).
In the year under review (2024) the Aliyu administration has touched every nook and cranny of the state with positive projects that would stand the test of time. As at December 2024 the administration had completed 180 projects. During the presentation of the 2025 budget before the State House of Assembly, the governor took time to review the 2024 budget performance in key sectors and the success recorded.
Sokoto, like most states in the North-west, is faced with insecurity ranging from banditry, kidnapping, etc, and the need to tackle insecurity with the seriousness it deserves becomes necessary and urgent. It is based on this urgency that the state deemed fit to purchase some equipment that would assist the security agencies in fighting this menace.
About 130 fully-equipped patrol vehicles were procured and donated to the security agencies to ease their task in fighting enemies of the state. Additionally, the state established Community Guard to assist the conventional security agencies with intelligence. Without credible intelligence support the war won’t be won easily. As it is said, “every crime is local”, therefore, the Community Guard is not out of place as they know the locality more than the conventional security personnel.
2024 witnessed other tremendous achievements in the construction of roads. 30 roads were constructed and 1000 housing units were constructed while 137 federal housing units were purchased to ease accommodation in the state.
Governor Aliyu believes that retirement benefit is a right, and should not be denied to any retiree. Thus, his administration has begun the payment of the N15 billion gratuity owed the retirees with the monthly release of N300 billion to be paid to retiring staff of the state civil service.
Interestingly, Governor Aliyu, to cushion the hardship people are going through from the fuel subsidy removal by the federal government procured 110 mass transit buses to ease inter/intra-states travel, which were distributed at subsidised rates to the people. Additionally, 1000 motorcycles and 500 tricycles and other palliatives worth N14.4 billion were purchased and distributed to the citizens of the state.
Poverty reduction measures especially youth empowerment were pursued with vigiour because they are the essence of government. This explains why over 500 youths were trained in various skills that would make them self-reliant. Clearly the governor wants them to create jobs rather than depend on the so-called “white collar job” that is not available.
Agriculture, a major employer of labour, was given a boost by the Aliyu administration through the provision of very affordable fertiliser, farming equipment, improved seedlings, chemicals such as herbicide pesticide and other items for irrigation. The governor is also working on the rehabilitation of dams for dry season farming. Water supply has also improved, with the completion of several water projects. The governor’s determination is regular delivery of water projects.
Developing a state without qualitative education is a charade, hence the education sector got and continues to get special attention with the construction of more classrooms, renovation of many schools and provision of teaching and instructional materials. Scholarships were also awarded to students of tertiary institutions.
Health, they say is wealth. In other words, a healthy person is a wealthy person. No good leader neglects the health of his people, and Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, is fully aware of this. That is why immunization/vaccination against diseases and other health outreach were given adequate priority, by the administration.
A government that has achieved these lofty feats within this short period is expected to do more. And the governor has stressed that resolve to do more. 2025 is indeed a year of high hopes and expectations for the infrastructural transformation of Sokoto state. With the 2025 budget for 2025 of N526,882,142,484.39 with recurrent expenditure of N176,295,602,130.14 and capital expenditures of N349,386,540,354.25 Sokoto state under Governor Aliyu will witness more transformation.
Strikingly, capital expenditure is given priority with 66% as against recurrent expenditure of 44% which shows that Governor Aliyu means business. The governor understands that there is the need to pay attention to the economic development of the state. Sokoto state in 2024 received N216,502,103,077.49 as federal allocation, compared to her counterparts that received higher. Yet those states cannot match Sokoto state’s development due to the prudent utilisation of the funds.
In 2025 budget, education received the highest allocation due to a deliberate effort to give the sector the deserved attention. The governor is determined to change the narrative of the state from a backward one to excellence in science and technology. 2025 budget will surpass 2024 budget in terms of performance. No wonder, it is tagged, budget of “Infrastructural Transformation”.
One sticking statement about the 2024 budget is the governor’s revelation that he didn’t borrow a kobo. “I would like to inform you that all the projects we have executed, we did not borrow a single kobo from any financial institutions and to date we are not owing any contractor in the state”, he said. This is a testament that truly the good people of Sokoto state have a caring leader in Governor Ahmed Aliyu who is not only prudent but also committed to delivering more infrastructural projects.
Mohammed Bwago writes from Sokoto, Sokoto state.
