By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has declared that his administration has not borrowed from any financial institution to fund its numerous developmental projects and is not indebted to any contractor.
The Governor made this assertion while presenting the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the Sokoto State Legislature.
“Since we came on board, we have executed several projects in line with our nine-point agenda without taking loans from any financial institution. Likewise, my administration is not owing any contractor working on projects in the state,” he stated.
Governor Aliyu explained that his administration provides contractors with an upfront payment of 30–50% to enable them to mobilize to project sites. Payments are then made incrementally based on project progress, and contractors receive their final balances promptly after certification by engineers.
“We have established an effective, prudent, and transparent financial system that has allowed us to achieve these tangible successes without resorting to borrowing,” he emphasized.
The Governor highlighted that his administration inherited a backlog of N15 billion in unpaid gratuities, which is being systematically reduced.
“We allocate N500 million monthly to settle these unpaid gratuities and an additional N300 million monthly for retirees under my tenure. By the end of our administration, all retirees will have received their gratuities,” he assured.
Governor Aliyu noted significant strides in urban renewal, stating that Sokoto city now boasts a modern and clean look, with solar-powered streetlights installed across the state’s 23 local government areas.
Other key accomplishments include:
– Distribution of palliatives and financial support to alleviate the impact of fuel subsidy removal.
– Procurement of 110 mass transit buses and taxis for intra- and intercity transport.
– Purchase of 46 buses for inter-local government transportation.
– Subsidized sale of 1,000 motorcycles and 500 tricycles to ease movement across the state.
Governor Aliyu urged Sokoto residents to continue supporting his administration to ensure the continuation of its development agenda.
“Together, we can sustain the progress and achieve even greater success for the benefit of our state,” he concluded.
