From Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto
Former Minister of Water Resources and ex-Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, has commended Governor Ahmed Aliyu for what he described as significant transformation across the state.
Shagari, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Sokoto by his media aide, Musa Ubandawaki, said the governor’s administration had implemented various programmes and projects in education, agriculture, healthcare, religious affairs, social welfare, environmental sanitation and infrastructure.
He said the interventions demonstrated the administration’s determination to improve the living conditions of residents and lay a stronger foundation for sustainable development in the state.
According to him, the impact of the government’s interventions is increasingly visible across different sectors, particularly education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, social intervention and environmental management.
Investment in education
Shagari commended the administration’s investment in education, including the rehabilitation and upgrading of schools, provision of learning facilities and other measures aimed at improving access to quality education.
He described the initiatives as an investment in the future of Sokoto State, stressing that a well-educated population was essential to the state’s long-term development.
Free agricultural inputs
The former minister also praised the government’s agricultural interventions, particularly the distribution of fertilisers and pesticides to farmers at no cost.
He said strengthening agriculture was crucial to food security, poverty reduction and economic empowerment in Sokoto, where a significant proportion of the population depends on farming.
Shagari said government support through agricultural inputs and other interventions could help increase production, improve rural livelihoods and contribute to Nigeria’s broader food security efforts.
Healthcare and social welfare
On healthcare, Shagari acknowledged efforts to improve medical infrastructure and access to essential healthcare services.
He said a healthy population was fundamental to achieving meaningful economic and social development.
He also commended the administration’s programmes in religious affairs and social welfare, particularly those targeting vulnerable citizens, orphans, disadvantaged families and other groups.
According to him, such interventions demonstrate concern for the welfare and dignity of residents.
Infrastructure development
Shagari further praised the government’s investments in roads, water supply, housing, markets, power and other critical infrastructure.
He said sustained investment in infrastructure would facilitate the movement of people and goods, stimulate economic activities, attract investment and create opportunities for young people.
Commends environmental sanitation
The former deputy governor also applauded Governor Aliyu for what he described as increased attention to environmental hygiene and sanitation.
He observed that Sokoto metropolis had witnessed improvements in cleanliness and its general environmental outlook.
Shagari urged residents to complement government efforts by taking responsibility for environmental cleanliness, proper waste disposal and the protection of public infrastructure.
Shagari urges unity, support for government
Shagari called on residents of Sokoto State to support government programmes irrespective of political, ethnic or other differences.
He stressed that sustainable development could not be achieved by government alone without the active participation and cooperation of citizens.
> “The development of Sokoto State is a collective responsibility. Government can initiate projects and programmes, but their sustainability depends largely on the cooperation and support of the people.”
He urged residents to support initiatives aimed at promoting peace, security, education, economic growth, social development and improved living standards.
Shagari also encouraged citizens to protect public facilities and remain united in the pursuit of a more prosperous Sokoto State.
“Sokoto belongs to all of us. Its progress must therefore be a shared mission. Let us put aside unnecessary divisions and work together to build a state that future generations will be proud to inherit,” he said.
He expressed confidence that sustained commitment by the government, coupled with citizens’ cooperation, could enable Sokoto State to achieve greater development and strengthen its position as a centre of economic, educational, social and infrastructural progress in Nigeria.
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