By Muhammad Gazali Garba
The Sokoto State Government has approved ₦6.120 billion for the construction of nine Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) prototype schools across the state’s three senatorial districts, alongside a series of projects aimed at improving religious infrastructure.
The approvals were among the major decisions taken at Wednesday’s State Executive Council meeting, presided over by Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto at the Government House, Sokoto.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Bashir Achida, said the nine prototype schools would be distributed equally across the three senatorial districts to expand access to quality education and provide a more conducive learning environment for pupils.
He said the initiative reflected Governor Aliyu’s commitment to strengthening the education sector in line with his administration’s Nine-Point SMART Agenda.
On religious infrastructure, Achida said the council approved several projects covering the rehabilitation of Juma’at mosques, construction of daily prayer mosques and improvement of Islamic schools across the state.
The approvals include the rehabilitation of Achida Central Juma’at Mosque at a cost of ₦221,548,705.25 and Sabon Birni Central Juma’at mosque in Sabon Birni Local government at the cost of ₦154,941,290.
Others are the construction of five daily prayer mosques in the Kwamberu area at ₦98,242,007.50 and the rehabilitation of Tureta Central Juma’at Mosque in Tureta Local Government Area at ₦285,125,650.92.The council also approved ₦230,660,473.19 for the rehabilitation of Kuppa Juma’at Mosque in the Gidan Sauro area.
Similarly, ₦166,982,489 was approved for the construction of classrooms and sanitation facilities at Raddul Azzam Quranic School Achida.
Another ₦297,655,995.50 was approved for the construction of an Islamic school at the Sabon Garin Tudun Wada area of Sokoto South Local Government Area.
The commissioner further disclosed that the council approved ₦53,937,500 for the provision of carpets at Gada Central Juma’at Mosque.
Achida said the interventions underscored the state government’s determination to improve educational standards, provide essential infrastructure and strengthen religious institutions across Sokoto State.
