The Sokoto State government has awarded contracts for the construction of 1365 kilometres of rural roads across the 23 local government areas of the state.

The special adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State on rural roads, Malami Galadanchi, disclosed this on Monday in Sokoto.

He said that the awarded road contracts were a part of the 1,965 kilometres of road earmarked for construction in rural areas in the state.

Mr Galadanchi said that 1,365 kilometres of roads have already been awarded, with some completed and others ongoing and at various stages of completion.

The special adviser said that an additional 530 kilometres had also been earmarked for execution, adding that the projects were started in 2023.

He listed the roads to include the Gada-Illah-Gari-Dutse-Tabanni road of about 9.5 kilometres and multiple projects in the Tambuwal Local Government Area totalling over 100 kilometres.

Mr Galadanchi listed the other roads to include the Dogondaji-Nabaguda-Yagawal-Tambuwal road of about 23 kilometres and the Faga-Alasan-Romon Liman road of 21.18 kilometres, among others.

He further disclosed that about two months ago, the state government directed the department to identify another 530 kilometres of rural roads and that consultants have already been engaged for the design.

“When the 530 kilometres are added to the ongoing 1,365 kilometres, the total will reach 1,895 kilometres of rural roads under the present administration,” the governor’s aide said.

He also said that the government was constructing three modern markets in Ilella, Gada, and Bodinga local government areas, with each having a grain market and an abattoir.

Mr Galadanchi said that one of the markets would be completed in the next one to two months.

The special adviser specifically commended Mr Aliyu for according top priority to his 9-Point Smart Agenda, including the provision of quality rural roads across the state.

On why the administration is prioritising rural roads, he said, “Without roads, people cannot go to school, access hospitals, or move farm produce to the market.”

“Nothing can be done without a road. You cannot go to hospital. You cannot even take hospital equipment.

“We want to have access. Access to the towns, access to the market, access to the farms. That means we are creating access to the world,” Mr Galandachi said.

He reassured the populace that more roads would be constructed in recognition of their impact on the people and enjoined the people to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections for continuity.

“The communities have been demanding some of the roads for between 40 and 70 years and are now getting them,” Mr Galadanchi said.

He appealed to the people of Sokoto State to continue to support Mr Aliyu to enable the government to deliver more dividends of democracy. 

(NAN)