No Road, No Life’: Sokoto Executes 1,365km, Awards 530km More — Hon. Bajare
‘No Road, No Life’: Sokoto Executes 1,365km, Awards 530km More — Hon. Bajare By Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto
For decades, farmers in remote villages across Sokoto State watched their produce rot before it reached the market. Women in labor trekked for hours to find a health center. Children missed school during the rainy season because bridges were washed away.
That era, according to the state government, is coming to an end.
The Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto on Rural Roads, Hon. Malami Muhammad Galadanchi aka Bajare, said on Sunday that the administration has awarded contracts for the construction of 1,365 kilometers of rural roads across all 23 Local Government Areas since 2023. An additional 530 kilometers have been identified and are currently undergoing design.
With that, the total number of rural roads being executed under the present administration now stands at 1,895 kilometers.
Galadanchi disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Sokoto on the achievements of the Aliyu administration in the rural roads sector from 2023 to date.
He explained that the projects are being delivered in three categories to match the needs of each community: asphalt roads for high traffic routes, surface dressing for intermediate roads, and feeder roads to open up farmlands.
According to him, some of the 1,365 kilometers had already been completed and commissioned, some had been completed and are awaiting commissioning, while others are at various stages of construction.
He listed some of the ongoing projects to include the Tureta-Katuru-Damba road under surface dressing, the Gada-Illah-Gari-Dutse-Tabanni road of about 9.5 kilometers, and a cluster of roads in Tambuwal Local Government Area totaling over 100 kilometers.
The Tambuwal projects include the Dogondaji-Nabaguda-Yagawal-Tambuwal road* of about 23 kilometers and the Faga-Alasan-Romon Liman road of 21.18 kilometers, among others.
The Special Adviser further revealed that about two months ago, Gov. Aliyu directed the Department of Rural Roads to identify an additional 530 kilometers of critical rural routes. Consultants have already been engaged for the design.
“When the 530 kilometers are added to the ongoing 1,365 kilometers, the total will reach 1,895 kilometers of rural roads under the present administration,” he said.
Beyond roads, Galadanchi said government is also investing in market infrastructure to support agriculture and trade. Three modern markets are being constructed in Ileila, Gada, and Bodinga Local Government Areas. Each will have a grain market and an abattoir.
“One of the markets will be ready for commissioning in the next one to two months,” he added.
The Special Adviser specifically commended Gov. Ahmed Aliyu for making rural infrastructure a centerpiece of his 9-Point Smart Agenda.
He said the decision to prioritize roads was deliberate because no meaningful development can take place without access.
“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,” Galadanchi stated.
He noted that the people of the state have never had it so good as far as rural roads are concerned like from 2023 to date.
He however frowned at some acts of vandalism such as unauthorized digging of holes, drains and speed breakers on all roads and urged the people of the state to take full ownership of the massive road infrastructure put in place by the people-oriented administration.
Galadanchi also bemoaned how the immediate past administration neglected the rural roads sector after taking over from the memorable and people-friendly administration of the former Governor of the state and indefatigable APC leader, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Sarkin Yamman Sokoto.
“Before the election, there was no growth in this sector. Records will show where we are coming from and where we are today. If you talk about infrastructure, it is the one thing that people see and feel. That is why we gave it priority,” he said.
On funding, Galadanchi said contractors are being paid as certificates are submitted, and that he would need to consult records to provide exact expenditure figures.
Looking toward 2027, the Special Adviser expressed confidence that rural dwellers would support the administration for a second term.
“The people have seen what government is doing. It is a matter of seeing is believing. The communities know that this government listens,” he said.
He also urged the people of the state to vote APC candidates at all levels during the forthcoming 2027 general elections, insisting, “votes for APC are votes for continuity and the consolidation of the myriad of giant strides so far achieved by the APC-led administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto and all APC flag bearers both at the Sokoto State and national levels.”
He appealed to the people of Sokoto State to continue to support Gov. Ahmed Aliyu to enable the government to deliver more dividends of democracy.
