Sokoto State govt inherits N33bn road projects ―Deputy gov

SOKOTO State Government said it inherited twenty eight road projects worth N33 billion, from its predecessor, the State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu said on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aliyu, who also oversees the Ministry of Works, disclosed this in Sokoto, at a news briefing to mark Gov Aminu Tambuwal two years in office.

He said that the administration had inherited twenty eight road projects worth about N33 billion, from its predecessor.

Aliyu enumerated them to include the 445-kilometres Balle-Kurdulla-Niger republic road, awarded at N 4.5 billion and has reached 69 per cent completion.

Others include the 52-kilometres Gidan Sale-Tidibale-Maillalle road, awarded at N2.9 billion, which has reached 81 per cent completion, among others.

”This administration will not abandon any inherited project, in fact, some of them had since been completed, while others are at various stages of completion,” the deputy governor promised.

The deputy governor further disclosed that the present administration had awarded eight new contracts, worth about N1.4 billion for the construction and rehabilitation of some roads.

They include the construction of roundabout at Gidan Dare junction at N47million, rehabilitation of 390-metres Mangoro road at N78 million and the rehabilitation of Sabon-Birni bridge at N210.5million, among others.

According to Aliyu, three of these roads had been completed, while others at various stages of completion.

”Furthermore, the Ministry supervises the execution of other road projects under the Ministry of Lands and Housing.

”All the projects are being meticulously and steadily funded to ensure their completion in line with the promise of the state governor to complete them.

”However, as you are all aware, the present economic situation in the country had significantly retarded the progress of works.

”However, we are optimistic that we shall weather the storm by the grace of Allah, to meet the yearnings and aspirations of our people.”

Aliyu further restated the resolve of the state government to reposition the state transport company to make it more efficient.

He added that the state government planned to purchase more buses for the company, to augment its existing fleet of seventeen vehicles.

”We are also planning to introduce a city-wide, all-women transport scheme, to further enhance the welfare of women and children,” the deputy governor said.