The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Governorship Candidate in Sokoto State, Hon. Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, has expressed deep concern over a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report placing Sokoto State third among Nigerian states most affected by multidimensional poverty.
According to the report highlighted by BBC Hausa, the major deprivations affecting residents include inadequate education, limited access to clean drinking water, insecurity, poor housing, electricity shortages and weak sanitation services.
Dan’iya described the ranking as alarming and said it should compel the Sokoto State Government to urgently reassess its development priorities and demonstrate measurable improvements in the lives of citizens.
In a statement signed by his Media Aide, Aminu Abdullahi, Dan’iya said the UNDP ranking raises serious questions about the effectiveness of government policies in a state that continues to receive substantial public revenue from the Federation Account and other sources. He argued that public funds must translate into better living conditions, economic opportunities and reliable essential services.
He challenged the APC-led administration to explain how the resources received by the state and its 23 local government areas have improved household incomes, expanded access to education and healthcare, provided clean water, strengthened security and created sustainable employment.
Dan’iya said the latest ranking must be considered alongside the Multidimensional Poverty Index released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which placed Sokoto first among Nigerian states in multidimensional poverty, with approximately 90.5 per cent of its population affected.
Even though the state government debunked that,but the NBS report identified serious deprivations across education, health and living standards. Although the two reports use their respective assessments and should not be treated as identical measurements, Dan’iya said both highlight the urgent need to confront poverty and its underlying causes in Sokoto.
The ADC candidate questioned the government’s development priorities, arguing that beautifying roundabouts, erecting barriers and undertaking projects whose economic benefits are unclear cannot replace investments that directly improve people’s lives.
He said the real test of governance is whether families can afford basic necessities, children can attend school and receive quality education, patients can access healthcare, farmers can reach their markets, and communities can obtain safe drinking water and live without fear.
He said Sokoto needs a practical, measurable poverty-reduction programme built around job creation, support for small businesses, modern agriculture, vocational and digital skills, improved schools and healthcare facilities, clean water, rural infrastructure and opportunities for young people and women to become economically productive.
Dan’iya pledged that, if elected governor, his administration would make poverty reduction a central measure of performance, with clear targets, transparent reporting and programmes designed to address the specific deprivations affecting communities across the state. He said his government would prioritise investments that generate employment, support entrepreneurship, improve essential public services and expand economic opportunities for vulnerable households. He urged the present administration to treat the UNDP ranking and the earlier NBS findings as serious warnings requiring action, accountability and evidence of progress, adding that the people of Sokoto deserve a future defined by dignity, opportunity and improved living standards.
