From Muhammad Gazali Garba
The Sokoto State Government has approved the sum of N1,592,250,000 for the procurement of 30 Toyota Hilux operational vehicles to enhance the operations of security agencies in the fight against banditry and other criminal activities in the state.
This was disclosed by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Abubakar Bawa, at the end of the 8th Regular Meeting of the State Executive Council, presided over by Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.
Bawa explained that the new vehicles are in addition to more than 200 Hilux vans and 62 Armoured Personnel Carriers earlier procured and distributed to security agencies by the present administration to strengthen their operations across the state.
He further disclosed that the Council approved a bill for a law to enact the Sokoto State Banditry Special Prohibition Law, 2026, as part of deliberate measures to penalise and checkmate the activities of armed bandits in the state.
Similarly, the Council approved the procurement of 10 Mitsubishi Canter vans at the cost of N776,340,000 and two Toyota Hilux vans at the cost of N122 million. It also approved N118,137,119 for the completion of 30 lock-up shops at the Sokoto State Transport Authority terminal.
In the education sector, the Council approved N844,654,296 for the renovation and rehabilitation of dilapidated structures at Government Science Secondary School, Gwadabawa. It also approved N182,258,695 for the renovation of Kebbi and Gwandu hostels at Idris Koko Technical College, Farfaru, and N123,910,686 for the renovation of a block of classrooms, construction of a perimeter wall, access roads and other facilities at Ahmadu Bello Academy, Farfaru.
Furthermore, the Council approved N168,670,000 for the renovation of eight housing units at Shehu Shagari College of Education and N132,460,000 for the purchase of library equipment for Shehu Shagari University of Education. Approval was also given for the construction of a storey administrative block at Aliyu Magatakarda College of Technology and Advanced Studies at the cost of N550,424,000.
The Council equally approved a bill to repeal the Shehu Shagari College of Education Law, 2026, to provide for a dual mandate that will enable the institution to concurrently award NCE and degree certificates.
In the agricultural sector, the Council approved N234,674,481 for the construction of a perimeter fence at the Veterinary Specialist Hospital.
