By Sueliman Adamu, Sokoto
IN its bid to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal by the federal government, the Sokoto state government has earmarked and approved N20.3bn for the purchase of food items and other projects.
Accordingly, it declared a state of emergency on the food sector as a demonstration of its readiness to tackle the situation for the benefit of people of the state.
The state Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Jabir Mai-Hula disclosed Friday evening at a news briefing after the state executive council maiden meeting in Sokoto.
He said the meeting approved the purchase and distribution of 57,000 bags of 50kg of rice and 26,000 bags of 100kg of millet at N3.9bn.
Mai- Hula said the responsive initiative was aimed at getting the items distributed to ease the current economic hardship among it’s people and the society” the items are to be distributed across the state.”
He also disclosed that the state government in collaboration with the federal government approved the purchase and distribution of 44,000 bags of maize for same purpose.
Similarly, the Commissioner said the sum of N3.4 billion has been approved for the purchase of 50 units of 18 seater Toyota buses and 30 units of Toyota Camry vehicles for commercial purposes respectively.
He explained that the buses would be used for inter-state and local transport services while the Toyota Camry will serve the transportation needs of females only within the state.
Also, the Commissioner for Innovation and Digital Economy, Alhaji Bashir Umarun Kwabo confirmed the council’s approval of N2.6bn for the purchase of 66 Toyota Hilux for the purpose of supporting security agencies in
tackling security challenges in the state.
He explained that each police Division across the 23 LGs will be allocated a brand new Hilux and the remaining would go round other security outfits in the state.
While on his part, the Commissioner for Lands and Housing , Alhaji Nasiru Dantsoho said approval has been given by the council for the construction of 500 Housi g units estate at the cost of N7.4bn.
He said the Housing estate will comprise of 300 units of 3-bedroom flats and 200 units of 2-bedroo flats at Kalambaina in Wamakko local government.
The Commissioner also said the sum of N1.8 bn had been approved for the repairs, construction and rehabilitation of roads in the state.
His Energy and Petroleum Resources counterpart, Alhaji Sanusi Danfulani said at the briefing that N1.2bn for the phase I Solar light installation across streets and roads in the metropolis has been approved.
” The installation will further beautiful the streets and assist in the area of security in the metropolis”, he pointed
