By Abdallah el-Kurebe

Sokoto State Executive Council, during its third meeting since its inauguration a year ago, on Wednesday approved the expenditure of N1,660,000,000 to procure 9,000 metric tones of assorted fertilizers for this year’s rainy season.

Commissioners of Agriculture, Umaru Nagwari; Information, Abdulkadir Jeli Abubakar; Environment, Muhammadu Sifawa and that of Health, Dr. Balarabe Kakale jointly briefed news men shortly after the meeting.

The Council also approved the purchase of rice faro variety for rice farmers as well as procurement of 16,000 water pumps for distribution to dry season farmers to the tune of N392 million and approved a collaborative establishment of Tomato processing and tractors assembling companies with Erisco Foods limited.

In order to get rid of the challenge of water supply, four 150 and 2000KVA generators were approved to be purchased at cost of N394,390,420.00 while N65,123,600 was approved for two 500 KVA generators for Usman Faruk and Shehu Kangiwa Secretariats. The renovation of Waziri Junaidu Histrory and Culture Bureau is to cost N60,6000,772.25.

In the area of drugs, the Council approved the N279 million for the purchase of cold chain equipment on immunization to fight polio, meningitis, measles, yellow fever among other diseases.

Two rural roads – a 13 kilometre Dabagin Ardo- Illelar Gajera- Dutsin Andi-heta was approved for construction at N136 million and Arkilla- Gidan Bawan Allah – Paila junction at N49 million.