By Ado Hassan, Sokoto
As watch dogs and voice of the voiceless, Journalists in Sokoto state under the leadership of the State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists(NUJ) have applauded the responsive infrastructural development going on across the state capital after embarking on an assessment tour of projects being executed by the Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal PDP government.
The union commended the Aminu Tambuwal led administration for its unprecedented commitment to service delivery through embarking on people oriented legacy projects.
Chairman of the Union, Comrade Isah Abuakar Shuni led the team of reporters to the projects sites of the over N6.8 bn 16 wards Ultrar- Modern Sokoto state University Teaching Hospital facility and the over N2.4 bn Special Government Girls Science Academy, all at Kasarawa Area of the state capital respectively.
Shuni noted that the resilience of the Tambuwal administration towards remodelling the state as well placing it on the map of infrastructural development was a positive drive to lift the status of Sokoto state.
According to the union chairman ” the essence of the tour is to further build public confidence for the journalism profession through updating their knowledge of development in terms of meeting their yearnings and aspirations as well making the government responsive to its responsibilities , mandate as well ensuring standards and quality services are rendered to the people.
” Ours is primarily to fast track professional monitoring approach , make elected leaders accountable as well update the people on findings that concerns their basic yearnings and aspirations on developmental activities.”
He however, said working journalists in Sokoto state were impressed by the progress of work on the sites , adding ” it is a demonstration of commitment to service as well stimulating the indices of development for the benefit of the state and humanity.”
Earlier, while taking the team of journalists round the various aspects of the hospital which construction was embarked on barely three months ago,
Engr. Kabiru Yabo said the project with a completion period of 30 months, had reached 30 completion level.
The essence of the project is to avail the state the opportunity of having a state of the art health facility as well curb the passion for medical tourism among its citizens and other Nigerians especially those in the neighbouring states of Zamfara and Kebbi.
According to Yabo who is the site Engineer said it is designed to have 7 wards with 950 bed spaces capacity categorised into 6 general wards and a Trauma ward, Cardiovascular centre , laboratories, 6 specialists clinic facilities and a well equipped College of Medicine.
He added” provision for Amenity section across three blocks comprising 40 rooms each. The special clinic facility is across three blocks also with 14 rooms each.
” It has a Theatres, administrative building , mortuary, labour rooms,GOPD and four laboratories”, he explained.
Yabo who assured of quality and standards , disclosed that ” there is no room to compromise specification and will ensure that the project is completed within time period.”
Other adjourning facilities designed to standards according to Yabo , include 360 capacity auditorium, modern radiology unit, staff quarters, doctors consulting rooms as well NYSC lodge respectively.
” We have adequately taken note of those with disability by making provision of Rams and long corridors to serve there movements”, he
Similarly, the Special Girls Science Academy project at Kasarawa which was awarded simultaneously at the cost of over N2.4 bn has considerably recorded 40 per cent success with almost all the basic aspects being put in place.
With no fewer than 2 hostels , the Academy is expected to accommodate 40 students each according to the Managing Director of CALDER Construction, Mr Kabiru Muhammad Sarki who disclosed to the team of reporters.
He said the school is designed to have 18 classes, an Admin block , library, sports arena , Masjid, Dining Hall, Kitchen, toilets, 5 boreholes with over head tanks with safety exits among others to serve no less than 600 boarding students.
Though, Sarki said ” we started the project some time in September at a contract time period of 18 months completion but I can tell you that with the rate at which we are moving, we are capable of completing the project for commissioning in May 2021with compromising standards and desired quality”, he said.
