Urban Renewal Initiative Of Tambuwal’s Administration

By Muhammad Goronyo, Sokoto
As Nigeria celebrates 60 years of Independence, governor Tambuwal has presently indulge in massive Infrastructure development, as a key driver for progress. Thus, the Tambuwal’s administration’s craving to institutionalize development in every facet of human endeavour can be said to be tailored towards such a course. It’s an  envisaged dream.
‘There would be a quantum leap in the quality of lives of the citizenry at the end’. 
Construction work of a modern sports arena and an indoor sports hall ongoing, in Madorawa of Bodinga LGA. Contracts awarded to Qualitrends Global Solution Construction Firm.
Construction of an ultra modern Government Girls Science Academy, Kasarawa, forms part of the education infrastructure development of the Tambuwal led government. It’s expected, when completed, the Academy, will serve as a crucial learning hub in areas of science  and technology.
15 secondary schools are billed as feeder to the Academy. This is in addition to functioning as a special science and technology nerve centre for girls. With the  conceptualization of the institution, Sokoto state’s quest for advancement particularly in this era of digital technology and ICT, is further underpinned. 
The Science Academy, is a ‘supplement’ to the state of emergency on education declared in 2015 by the administration. The construction work of the Academy which is progressing steadily, is being done by the Calder Construction Company at N2. 4 billion scheduled to be completed in 20 months time.
Society’s development is largely hinged on its able -bodied men and women. This is the more reason why societies, advanced in civilization and even culture, expend hugely in their health sectors to propel their productive capacities.
This pushes the Tambuwal led administration to, in a ‘health is wealth’ drive, ideated a far reaching ‘step’ that would impact positively on all aspects of developments in Sokoto state. 
This is where the place of the Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital, SOSUTH comes into focus. The administration’s tilt towards this mega project, is predicated on the need for medical education to medical students. This, it’s hoped, when completed, will also provide the required manpower to address the thorny problem of dearth of health personnel in various hospitals across the state.
‘Health and wellbeing’ form part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. And so, governor Tambuwal goes! 
The contract for the Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital, whose work moves at an appreciable pace, was awarded to Calder Construction Company.
Consequently, the history in the making, getting the Waziri Abbas Road (aka Tashar ‘Kura road) approved for dualization by the Sokoto State Executive Council led by governor Tambuwal on the 13th /07/2020.  It’s historical in the sense, preceding administrations’ several attempts in the state to make the road a dual carriageway, had not seen the light of the day.
Good road network opens up a window of opportunities as movement, especially of goods and services is scaled up; thereby guaranteeing commercial inflow, inter communal interactions enhanced while the rate of accidents mitigated. 
Waziri Abbas Road, which starts from Unguwar Rogo roundabout in the capital to College of Nursing Sciences/Gagi roundabout is so strategic; as it links the city with some communities within Sokoto South, Kware and Rabah local government areas. Thus, it remains one of the busiest routes in the capital as it struggles with hold up/gridlock especially during the morning hours when people flock out and the evening times when they are falling back to their respective homes after close of the day’s routine activities.
For communities of Unguwar Rogo, Minanata, Nakasari, Mabera, Mana, Tamaje, Gagi and Gidan Dilo, in Sokoto South LG as well as Marud’a, Tsaki, Lambo, Gajara, Toranka and Durbawa in Kware LG including Maikujera and Gandi amongst others in Ra’bah LG, it can be inferred with an air of confidence, dividends of democratic governance bang on their doorsteps as some of the direct beneficiaries of the project. The ease off of traffic is a certain case, when the work is completed. 
Compensation for the demolished properties that fall within the dualization zone,  as gathered authoritatively had been effected satisfactorily. Machines of the contracting firm are already on the site busy on various aspects of the work.Tambuwal’s transformation agenda, at crescendo!! 
Contract for the project was awarded to Solid Stone Construction Company at N709 million.
‘From rustic environment to modernity’. These seem to be the words of the Tambuwal led administration when it conceived the dualization project of Maituta road in the Sokoto metropolis.
How significant is this project? While on one hand, it serves the purpose of restructuring and reshaping of an almost a ‘blighted area’ it on the other, engenders good link to the Sokoto Central Market by oncoming traffic from Ahmadu Bello way as well as the Ubandoma road. The administration is broadening  narrow paths to entrenching a safety culture among the motoring public/other road users.
When Sokoto state is referenced in history, we check the ‘architect’ of mega projects;2015—2023 by the special grace of the Almighty God. 
*Contract for the dualization work of Maituta road, was awarded to K&E Contracting Firm at N277 million, on 13th/07/2020.
‘Tashar Illela road’s dualization’ is one of the series of projects presently being undertaken by the Tambuwal’s administration in Sokoto state. Its strategic importance to the socio economic development of the state cannot be simply quantified.
 Although, there  exists as an alternative route in the northern part of the state but the ‘Tashar Illela road’, is the most utilized/patronized into the capital city by local governments in the eastern and central parts, that include Illela, Gwadaawa, Gada, Sabon Birni, Isa, Binji, Tangaza, Kware, Rabah and Goronyo including nationals of Niger Republic, for it appears more secure and convenient to ply.
Again, it serves as a route for general haulage to and fro the aforesaid LGAs and the Niger republic, as articulated vehicles are daily seen commuting on it.  
All hailed the foresight to dualize the road as it facilitates economic prosperity of the state.
One feature that distinguishes the dualization work from other road contracts is; it crosses on a river (Sokoto Rima river) with a standard bridge to be put in place.
Contract for the project, was awarded to AFDIN Nigeria Construction Company at N2.856 billion, on 13th/07/2020.