The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State has raised concerns over the state government’s expenditure of ₦1.2 billion for the drilling of 25 boreholes, describing the spending as questionable and excessive.
In a press release signed by its Publicity Secretary, Hassan Sanyinawal, the PDP criticized the Sokoto State government’s attempts to justify the expenditure. The party noted that public outrage has grown since Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s announcement of the ₦1.2 billion contract for the boreholes, sparking debate both within and beyond the state.
Sanyinawal highlighted the confusion surrounding the project, citing conflicting statements from state officials. He pointed out that the Sokoto State Commissioner for Information, Sambo Danchadi, tried to mitigate the controversy during an interview in Abuja by suggesting that the governor’s description of the project was a “slip of the tongue.” According to Danchadi, the project was a collaborative effort involving the Federal Government and the World Bank. However, the PDP argues that the commissioner failed to provide evidence to back this claim.
“The lingering question remains: even if this was a joint initiative, would the Federal Government and the World Bank pay ₦48 million for a single borehole? Or was the governor’s stated cost also a mistake?” Sanyinawal asked.
The PDP further criticized the government for spending large sums on wire mesh fencing in Sokoto’s streets. The state government claims the fencing is necessary to protect lives and property, but the PDP argued that resources should instead be focused on addressing insecurity, particularly in areas like Eastern Sokoto where banditry is rampant.
“This misplaced priority reflects the Sokoto State Government’s lack of commitment to addressing the real security issues facing the state. It shows an alarming disregard for the communities living in constant fear of bandit attacks,” the PDP stated.
The party also raised concerns about the legality of the contract awards, suggesting that the street fencing project may have been approved before the official contract was signed. They called on anti-graft agencies to investigate this potential breach of due process.
“The Sokoto State House of Assembly has a constitutional duty to investigate this possible violation of public procurement rules, which could amount to an impeachable offense,” Sanyinawal added.
The PDP concluded by accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of fostering an image of poor governance, urging relevant authorities to take action.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Sokoto State government were unsuccessful, with Commissioner Danchadi stating that the government would address the matter at an appropriate time.
