Former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, has praised Governor Ahmed Aliyu for what he described as the administration’s significant transformation of the state.
Shagari, in a statement issued by his media aide, Musa Ubandawaki, appealed to residents to back the government’s development initiatives, stressing that Sokoto’s progress required the collective support of all citizens.
He applauded the administration’s interventions in education, agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, religious affairs, social welfare and environmental sanitation.
According to him, the renovation and expansion of schools, together with the provision of educational facilities, amounted to an investment in the future of the state.
He also commended the government’s agricultural programmes, especially the distribution of free fertiliser and pesticides to farmers, noting that the measures would increase food production, reduce poverty and enhance the living conditions of rural communities.
Shagari said the administration’s efforts in the health sector, including investments in medical infrastructure and access to essential healthcare services, were vital to improving the wellbeing of residents.
He further praised the government for its social welfare and religious initiatives, which he said reflected concern for orphans, vulnerable citizens and disadvantaged families.
On infrastructure, the former deputy governor said investments in roads, water supply, housing, markets, electricity and other essential facilities were gradually reshaping the state’s physical and economic environment.
He said continuous investment in infrastructure would stimulate economic activities, ease the movement of people and goods, attract investors and create opportunities for young people.
Shagari also applauded the administration’s environmental sanitation campaign, noting that Sokoto metropolis had recorded visible improvements in cleanliness and overall appearance.
He, however, urged residents to support government efforts by disposing of waste properly, maintaining environmental hygiene and safeguarding public infrastructure.
The former deputy governor called on the people of the state to put aside political, ethnic and other differences and support initiatives aimed at advancing Sokoto.
“The development of Sokoto State is a collective responsibility. Government can initiate projects and programmes, but their sustainability depends largely on the cooperation and support of the people,” he said.
Shagari added, “Sokoto belongs to all of us. Its progress must therefore be a shared mission. Let us put aside unnecessary divisions and work together to build a state that future generations will be proud to inherit.”
He expressed confidence that sustained commitment by the government, together with active citizen participation, would help the state attain greater development and reinforce its position as a centre of economic, educational, social and infrastructural advancement in Nigeria.
