By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
Kogi state Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo on Tuesday performed the ground breaking and foundation laying for the construction of N22 bn investment worth 500 units luxury housing estate near the Sokoto new city.
Similarly, the visiting governor inaugurated the 7.7km Gande- Gwahitto- Fako rural road project executed in collaboration with the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project( RAAMP).
While laying the foundation , Governor Ododo lauded his Sokoto state counterpart for providing a purposeful leadership that guarantees the year I gs and aspirations of his people.
He noted that governor Aliyu Sokoto was a symbol of hope to Sokoto people for demo starting competence and capacity in his abilities and resilience to repositioned the historic seat of the caliphate.
He said leadership in democracy was nothing but a transition built on public trust and driven by the confidence and expectations of electorates through their mandate.
” Addressing the housing needs of Sokoto people is a testimony of governor Aliyu’s drive to reshape the future of the state to a modern city and restoring hope for its citizens”, he stressed as he commended the governor for deliberately expanding the frontiers of development to the nook and crannies of the caliphate.
Earlier , the host governor said the initiative was in tune with his administration’s collective resolve to address the acute housing deficit the public and private sectors across our nation.
” It is the most pressing challenge of our time which we deemed fit to focus on for the benefit of our citizens”, he pointed out.
He explained that the foundation would stand as a symbol of his administration. ‘s enduring commitment to development, equity, and the upliftment of people of the state through sustainable housing solutions.
The governor said if completed, the houses would be sold on owner occupier to average civil servants and other low-income earners to enable them own their houses.
” Our time specification for completing the housing project is 12 months”, Aliyu Sokoto said while urging the contractor to ensure quality job and timely completion in line with contractual agreement.
Hitherto, at the formal inauguration of the N2,201,795,208.10 7.7km road project by his visitor , Governor Aliyu Sokoto described as a strategic drive to enable the opening of the state rural communities and strengthen agricultural productivity, as well improve the quality of life of Sokoto people.
He explained that RAAMP project initiative was aimed at improving rural access and agricultural marketing across participating states , building a strong institutional and financial framework for the sustainable development and management of rural roads.
” Is designed not only to reduce the cost of transporting farm inputs and produce, but also to minimize post-harvest losses through the provision of improved market access and supporting storage infrastructure”, he explained further while revealing the scope of the project which included full road works and hydraulic structures, a 30mm asphaltic wearing surface and surface-dressed shoulders accordingly.
The governor also pointed out that the Gande–Male–Gwahitto–Fako further demonstrated his administration’s commitment to rural transformation agenda as it traversed communities in Silame and Binji Local Government Area and benefiting thousands of residents and farmers who relied on such corridor for daily transport, trade, and connection to vital services.
The governor acknowledged with appreciation his Kogi state counterpart, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for been part of the epoch making transformation drive for a new Sokoto state.
