Sokoto Completes Rural Roads To Boost Farm-to-Market Transportation

The Sokoto State Government has completed and commissioned several rural road projects aimed at improving connectivity between farming communities and easing the movement of agricultural produce to markets across the state.

The Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Rural Roads Development, Hon. Malami Muhammad Galandachi, disclosed this while outlining the administration’s achievements in rural infrastructure development.

Galandachi said the government had identified, designed and awarded contracts for about 1,365 kilometres of rural roads, with the projects currently at various stages of completion.

According to him, while some of the roads have been completed and commissioned, others are awaiting commissioning, with construction ongoing on several additional projects.

“We have identified, discovered, designed and awarded contracts for about 1,365 kilometres, which are all at various levels of completion,” he said.

He explained that the completed projects, located across different parts of the state, include feeder roads, surface-dressed roads and asphalt roads.

Among them is the 23-kilometre road connecting communities around Tambuwal, stretching from Dogondaji through Napa Guda and Yagawal to Tambuwal.

He also cited the 21.18-kilometre road from Afag Alasan to Optimal Liman in Tambuwal, as well as a 14.7-kilometre asphalt road linking Nizawiya, Ngongoriyaya, Ngoromedaji and Ngongonduko communities.

The special adviser said the improved road network had started reducing transportation difficulties for rural residents, particularly farmers who previously faced high costs and poor access while transporting their produce to markets.

He specifically cited onion-producing communities, noting that transportation costs had fallen considerably following the rehabilitation and construction of access roads.

“Before we started this road, a bag of onions from Sete to Gada was N10,000. Now, trailers can go there and load directly,” he said.

Galandachi further disclosed that the state government had identified an additional 530 kilometres of rural roads for development, bringing the total network covered under the programme to approximately 1,895 kilometres.

He said the projects were designed to improve access to farms, markets, schools and healthcare facilities, while strengthening economic activities in rural communities.

“The importance of roads cannot be overemphasised. Without roads, you cannot go to school; without roads, you cannot go to hospital; and without roads, you cannot carry your food from the farm to the market,” he said.

The adviser also disclosed that construction work was ongoing on three markets in Illela, Gada and Bodinga.

He said the markets, which were at different stages of completion, would include grain markets, abattoirs and other facilities intended to support commercial activities and boost the local economy.

Galandachi, however, urged residents to protect the completed roads and other public infrastructure, warning against vandalism, unauthorised excavation and the construction of illegal speed bumps.

“This is public money. If it is yours or mine, nobody will allow that to happen,” he said.

He warned that the government would take action against anyone found deliberately damaging or misusing the roads.

The special adviser assured residents that the administration would continue investing in rural infrastructure, stressing that improved road connectivity was critical to expanding economic opportunities and improving the livelihoods of communities that had waited for years for government intervention.