Sokoto State Government has handed over the site for the construction of a new mosque, renovation and reconstruction of additional blocks of classrooms, toilets, tower, borehole and other facilities at Old Bado Quarters, Sokoto, after over thirty years of struggle by the community.
The handing-over ceremony was performed on Thursday by Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, which is supervising the all-important and epochal project.
The exercise was conducted in the presence of community leaders and officials of the client ministry, the Ministry for Religious Affairs, under the leadership of Prof. Jabir Sani Maihula, whose directors were also present.
Speaking at the event, Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad said it is within the mandate of the Ministry of Works to assign a site to the contractor, a procedure normally done in the presence of community leaders and the client ministry.
He said the large turnout of community leaders at Old Bado was a show of appreciation and love for the purposeful leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, whose administration has been adjudged as one of the best in recent times.
According to him, the mosque at Old Bado has been in existence for a long time and had suffered several setbacks over the past three decades.
“Allah in His infinite mercy made it possible for His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Aliyu to see to the light of day to provide this particular project for it to start. We are hopeful and grateful to the Almighty and we are grateful to His Excellency for this honour as has rightly been adjudged by members of the community,” Muhammad said.
He disclosed that the scope of work, as earlier outlined by his technical officer, includes the construction of a new mosque, renovation and reconstruction of additional blocks of classrooms, toilets, tower, borehole and other items of work that will in due course become clearer.
“Alhamdulillah, we have done what we have to do in line with the mandate. All this will be recorded, and from today, 15th, is the start date. In six months’ time, we hope and believe that the contractor will be able to deliver the project on time and according to specification,” he stated.
Speaking on quality assurance, the Permanent Secretary charged site engineers and the contractor to ensure the project is executed strictly according to specifications.
“These are thoroughbred professionals that have been doing that. Every person in Sokoto State and even beyond who comes to Sokoto knows that Sokoto is working.
“His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Aliyu is working. And this is as a result of the strenuous efforts of the site engineers and professionals within the Ministry of Works and the relevant client ministries and communities, because we work in unison,” he said.
He further charged the contractor to meet all contractual obligations without compromise.
“Our mandates are so clear. You have to meet all the obligations. You have to meet the timeline. You have to deliver on time. You have to deliver high-quality standards as we have always been doing. No cutting of corners. We don’t even have it in our dictionary,” Muhammad added.
An array of community leaders who witnessed the ceremony expressed profound gratitude to Governor Ahmed Aliyu for approving the long-awaited project and pledged their full support and cooperation towards its successful completion within the stipulated time.
Also speaking, the representative of the client, Ministry for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad Jabbi, Director, Shari’ah, promised to ensure routine supervision of the project to ensure that it is executed according to the specifications.
He further applauded Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto and the community for their invaluable support in actualising the project.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Old Bado Quarters Elders Forum, Alhaji Malami Dogon Daji, commended the Governor for approving the execution of the project after over three decades of struggle.
He also extolled the guidance and mentorship of the APC leader in the state and former Governor of Sokoto State, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, for his invaluable mentorship and guidance to the administration of Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.
Also speaking, another high-profile resident of the community, Alhaji Almustapha Alkali, Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Agriculture, commended Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto and Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko for their relentless efforts to take the state to greater heights.
Alhaji Almustapha Alkali also said, “after over thirty years of struggle, we have no option than to be too elated and this project has commenced as expressly approved by Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto.”
The Permanent Secretary appealed to the contractor to keep to the contractual specifications and ensure its timely completion within the specified six-month completion period.
He also prayed for the success of the re-election bid of Gov. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto and other APC candidates at all levels during the forthcoming 2027 general elections.
The representative of the contractor, Alhaji Mukhtar Mainasara, promised to live above board in the execution of the project so as to justify the confidence reposed in their firm by the state government.
Those who witnessed the event included Prof. Umar Dogon Daji, Secretary, Old Bado Quarters Elders Forum; Alhaji Shehu Garba Goronyo, Secretary, Sokoto North Local Government Area; and Alhaji Halliru Muhammad, Manager, NICON Insurance, Sokoto Area Office, among others.
