• Tambuwal to sell govt quarters to workers
To ease transportation challenges encountered by commuters plying the Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi and Katsina to Kaduna routes, the Sokoto and Zamfara State Governments have completed the repair work on the 214-kilometre highway.
A statement issued by the spokesman to Governor of Sokoto State, Malam Imam Imam said the roads was repaired at the cost of N100million.He said: “The two states combined resources to fix the road as it is the main link between their capitals and other parts of the country. It is one of the most important roads in the North West because it connects to other routes leading to neighbouring Niger Republic”.
According to the statement, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara shouldered the responsibility for fixing the Gusau -Tureta portion of the road while Tambuwal’s government provided funds for the fixing of the route between Tureta and Sokoto town.
The statement said the States will submit bill to the federal government for refund.“The important thing is to achieve zero porthole on the crucial route and this has been achieved. The effort has enhanced safety of vehicles and commuters. It has also improved movement of goods especially agricultural products because it is a major agric zone in the federation,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, a committee set up by the Sokoto State Government on the sale of government quarters to deserving public servants has recommended the sale of about 1,500 houses located in various parts of the state.
Chairman of the committee and state Commissioner of Lands and Housing, Alhaji Bello Abubakar Guiwa, stated this when he presented the committee’s report to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
“According to our verification, a total number of 1,497 houses have been identified as belonging to the state government located within and around the metropolitan city. The houses are mostly located around Guiwa, Bado, Arkilla, Nasarawa, Runjin Sambo, Eastern and Western GRA areas,” the chairman said.
He said in order to ease the burden faced by many of occupants some of who are retired civil servants, the committee advised the government to sell 90 percent of the houses at a minimum of N1 million to N6.2 million.Governor Tambuwal said government plans to reinvest proceeds of the sales in completion of the new estates under construction in the state capital.