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Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmad Aliyu
The Sokoto State Government and the Peoples Democratic Party are locked in a heated exchange over the controversial street fencing contracts in the state.
The PDP in Sokoto recently called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to urgently investigate what it described as the government’s “outrageous” expenditure on street fencing projects, accusing the administration of squandering N30 billion on the contracts.
In a statement on Saturday signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Abubakar Bawa, the state government dismissed the PDP’s claims as “malicious, unsubstantiated, and a blatant lie” designed to derail the administration’s efforts.
Bawa said, “We are aware of the PDP’s orchestrated campaign, aimed at distracting Governor Aliyu’s administration from delivering good governance. Ordinarily, we wouldn’t have responded, but for the sake of the people of Sokoto, who deserve the truth, we offer this clarification.”
He stressed that the government had not awarded any contract worth N30 billion for street fencing, labeling the PDP’s allegations as mere fabrications.
“The alleged N30 billion street fence contract exists only in the imagination of the PDP. Their call for an EFCC probe is baseless and purely academic,” Bawa stated.
According to him, the state government only awarded a contract valued at N800 million for the installation of wire fencing along selected major roads in the Sokoto metropolis as part of an ongoing urban redevelopment initiative.
Bawa explained that the wire fencing project was implemented to prevent pedestrians, particularly school children, from running across highways and being hit by speeding vehicles. He added that the initiative had significantly reduced accidents involving pedestrians and animals.
“The wire fencing has not only improved road safety but is also part of Governor Aliyu’s broader plan to beautify the city, which was previously plagued by heaps of refuse and poor infrastructure,” Bawa said.
He accused the PDP of failing to prioritize such life-saving projects during its eight-year tenure, alleging that the opposition party governed Sokoto from Abuja, detached from the realities of the people.
“This explains why the people of Sokoto rejected the PDP in the 2023 governorship election and overwhelmingly voted for Governor Aliyu, who remains committed to their trust,” he added.
Bawa urged the people of Sokoto to disregard the PDP’s “lies” and continue supporting the governor as he works towards delivering a better Sokoto.
However, in a swift response on Saturday, the PDP through its spokesperson, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinawal, expressed skepticism over the document released by the state government, suggesting that it might not represent the true details of the contract.
Sanyinawal accused the government of breaching public procurement processes, citing the lack of specific details regarding the project, such as the exact streets being fenced and their lengths.
“The vagueness of the document raises concerns about the government’s adherence to due process,” Sanyinawal said, calling for evidence of a transparent tendering process before the contract was awarded.
The PDP further alleged that contracts were being awarded based on “patronage” and questioned whether the company handling the fencing project, ABARMA INTRA NIG LTD, had been given exclusive rights to all government contracts in the state.
The opposition party reiterated its call for the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission to investigate the state’s finances, ensuring that public resources are protected from mismanagement.
“The PDP’s main concern is the prudent, transparent, and accountable management of Sokoto’s resources,” Sanyinawal stated, urging the anti-graft agencies to intervene to prevent wasteful spending.
As the back-and-forth continues, Sokoto residents are left watching, waiting for clarity on how their state’s resources are being managed in the face of these allegations.
