In a move to address the persistent water shortage in the Sokoto metropolis and the surrounding communities, the State governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has announced the award of a contract to renovate 25 boreholes in five villages.
The governor, addressing a mammoth crowd in the Hausa language, said the contract for the renovation of the boreholes was awarded at the cost of ₦1,200,000,000.
“We have given out a contract for the repair of 25 boreholes at the rate of one billion two hundred million (N1,200,000,00),” the governor said.
Making clarification in reaction to criticisms on the contract, the Commissioner for Environment, Nura Shehu Tanga, said the project also involves the drilling of new solar-powered boreholes.
According to him, the new boreholes would be drilled in Munki, Manuna, Lugu, Kinawa, and Dawuru communities.
He explained that before Governor Sokoto took office, there were existing boreholes in the area, but the current project is entirely new.
He noted that similar projects are being implemented across Northern Nigeria, including in Kebbi, Zamfara, and Katsina states, with costs being relatively consistent due to the involvement of the World Bank.
“My attention has been drawn to a video clip where Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto of Sokoto State is quoted to have said that 25 number of boreholes were renovated at the cost of N1.2 billion.
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“This project was done under my ministry a.d as the commissioner of the ministry I’m in the best position to clarify this issue.
“The fact of the matter is it was not a new one, it was brand new boreholes drilled by his excellency of Sokoto state and the World Bank project.
“Before he came on board as the Governor of Sokoto State there were many existing boreholes around the area. Nothing like boreholes, so we can’t talk about renovation that is not in existence.
“What happened is a new one drilled solar powered boreholes in whole local government areas scattered in different places like Munki, Manuna, Lugu, Kinawa and Dawuru. These are five places where these 25 boreholes were drilled.
“And this is a collaboration effort between the Sokoto State government and the World Bank.
“And if you go to any other states which are benefiting from Northern Nigeria you will see the cost is almost the same. This kind of project is everywhere. There are similar projects in Kebbi, Zamfara, Katsina and all the 19 states.
“There are similar projects of the same nature and they have been financed by the World Bank and the cost is almost the same. So it is not an issue of renovation, it is an issue of brand new boreholes drilled by the Sokoto State government in collaboration with the World Bank,” the Commissioner’s statement reads.
