Governor Ahmad is in a hurry to change the story of Sokoto State – Dan Tsoho

Nasiru Aliyu Dan Tsoho is an accomplished legal professional, a teacher and a seasoned politician. He is the Sokoto State Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey and Town Planning. His political journey began with his appointment as Commissioner for Science and Technology (2007-2011) by Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko. He later served as Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, and Tourism (2011-2012) and Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Survey (2012-2015). In this interview with select journalists, he speaks on the challenges and achievements of the Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto administration. The Guardian’s GBENGA AKINFENWA was there.

How has the last one year and five months been as the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Survey?
It has been extremely exciting and challenging because Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto is more than determined to deliver on his campaign promises to the good people of Sokoto State who have shown him deep affection. Working with a goal-getter like Governor Ahmad Sokoto, who demands results because he can’t afford to fail the people or himself, is exhilarating. Thankfully, the governor provides the much-needed support, which is critical in the execution of my assignment. For instance, he was determined to deliver some projects by his first 100 days in office and he kept everyone on their feet. We were able to construct the entire road network in the Sahara Commercial axis, which he had promised the traders, and the project was commissioned within the first 100 days.  

What other projects was the governor able to deliver in his first 100 days? 
Within the first 100 days, the governor was equally able to award the contract for the construction of 500 housing units comprising two bedrooms and three bedrooms at Wajekke town, KalambainaWamakko road. The estate is at various stages of completion. We inherited the uncompleted Lydia flyover. In fact, it was abandoned by the Aminu Tambuwal administration. We have completed it and Vice President KashimShettima commissioned it.
 
Unlike the Tambuwal administration, we are not going to abandon any project that would positively impact on the people of Sokoto State. We have equally gotten the contractor to return to site because we are determined to complete the construction of the 500 housing units that was initiated by the Senator Aliyu MagatakardaWamakko administration but which the Aminu Tambuwal administration, for inexplicable reasons, abandoned. I was the Commissioner for Land and Housing and I handed over this project at almost 80 per cent completion; so, I know what I am saying. When Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto took over, he revived the abandoned project because our people need accommodation and the project had become an eyesore especially as it is located within the city centre and had become a hiding spot for criminals. We hope to complete it soonest.  

How about roads?
It’s another area where the governor has done fantastically well. We have awarded contracts for a good number of roads because the provision of critical infrastructure is one of the key promises made by the governor. His ambition is that before he leaves office, he would have delivered a new Sokoto State town; and we have already started making the difference in different areas of the capital city.

For example, in Tudu Wada A and in parts of Tudun Wada B, all in Sokoto South Local Council, about 50 roads are currently under construction and work has reached an appreciable stage of completion. As you are aware, construction of roads comes with displacement of people especially their properties having to give way for expansion. So, as a responsible government we have paid compensation. The roads would stand the test of time.

Work has commenced on the South Eastern Bypass (Kasarawa to Shuni), which was initiated by the Aminu Tambuwal administration and was as usual abandoned halfway. It’s the governor’s hope that the project will be delivered within the next three to four months.

The project is part of the governor’s efforts to decongest the city, especially the articulated vehicles such as trailers, tankers and other vehicles bringing in goods to the metropolis. He is not unmindful of the risk to the public. So, it’s a project of importance.

How about parks?
You beat me to it. The state government has also decided to construct a number of garages at the outskirts of the city to ease congestion. They will have specific time for movement and once they deliver their consignment they are expected to move out of town. The parks are currently under construction and the work is more than 50 per cent. We hope to complete them by the end of the year. So, we have mapped out our strategies to ensure they come in and go without causing gridlock and nuisance to the general public, including pedestrians who have rights to use the roads without hindrance. These are some of the projects that the governor has initiated under the Ministry of Land and Housing.  

Are there plans to further open the capital because clearly the population is growing?
Yes. There is New City with well-planned layouts and roads. Again, it was abandoned like several other projects that the former governor never saw to completion. So far, over 1,960 plots have been demarcated for allocation to applicants who desire to build their own houses.

Because the governor considers housing as a right, he purchased 136 units from the Federal Government in Kuwnawa because it was constructed for our people and for years it wasn’t allocated. So, the Sokoto State government approached the Federal Ministry of Land and Housing. We fixed the estate and invited former president Olusegun Obasanjo to commission it. The estate was named after Hassan Dan Baba (MagajinGarin Sokoto), an illustrious son of Sokoto State. Deserving public servants are the governor’s priority in the allocation of the houses.

Would it be right to say that the governor has delivered on his campaign promises to the good people of Sokoto State?
The governor is my very good friend; we attended the same secondary school. So, without boasting I can say that I know him fairly well because we have been together from the beginning. I can, to a large extent, predict him, but as a governor he has pleasantly surprised me and many others who initially thought he would perform averagely. The governor has superseded expectations and is still determined to surprise cynics who think his performance is a flash in the pan. He would continue to daze them because of the mentality that he has brought to the assignment. He wants to repay the people who have stood by him with performance. And for him, his promise is like an oath. He has a fantastic memory and this has helped him in recollecting the promises that he made. Once he remembers, expect an immediate action.

There is another critical road project that I forgot to mention – the Original Symbol Road Network. During the rainy season, the road is a nightmare for vehicles delivering fresh fruits like pineapple, cucumber, oranges etc. His Excellency made a promise that if elected he would fix the road within his first 100 days in office and being a man who keeps his word he delivered to the delight of the people.
 
All the seven roads within that axis have been reconstructed and motorists are enjoying the brand new road, which they thought was never going to materialise.  
  
I equally remember our campaign trip to Alkilla settlement. In return for their support, he promised to fix the road network in the settlement and that project, which involves about 10 roads, is ongoing. Governor Ahmad is a born leader that God has blessed with a wonderful memory, a conscience and the love of people. He has proven himself equal to the task of moving the state forward.

But is housing a problem in Sokoto, the capital city?
Housing is a worldwide problem that is not limited to Sokoto State. It’s a significant challenge. The argument as to which is first is as old as man – whether it’s food or shelter. But I know man can do without food for days while without shelter and exposed to the elements it would be difficult to survive.
 
As at 2023, the housing deficit in Nigeria stood at 28 million units. Before Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto took over, the Aminu Tambuwal administration had sold off more than 98 per cent of the total assets of the Sokoto State government. It is important to put on record the atrocities committed by the Aminu Tambuwal administration. He betrayed the people of Sokoto State and that’s because he didn’t win the 2019 elections. So, maybe that’s their punishment for returning him with mere 342 votes.  
  
This is why the provision of housing became urgent for the governor. Within the first 30 days, we initiated the construction of 500 housing units and we will continue building until we ensure that everyone has a roof over his/her head. But it hasn’t been easy because the former administration left debts and crises for the governor.
 
For instance, we had to negotiate with the contractor handling the housing project who had initially dragged the government to court. Thankfully, he is back on site. Our hope is that by the end of this year, 500 housing units will be delivered. That may solve certain problems for the civil servants that are without accommodation. 

Beyond crisis-ridden projects, are there other challenges? 
We inherited crises in virtually every sector. Take for instance the GidanSalanke Housing Estate Project, which was abandoned and the contractor had dragged the government to court because the previous administration didn’t keep to the terms of the contract agreement.

We negotiated with the contractor because it’s not good for a government to be dragged to court because government is a continuum and the governor believes in justice. The government can’t trample on your rights because it’s powerful. On a daily basis, we are engaging with contractors who were not paid for contracts executed.

I want to make something clear – this administration is not in any way hostile to the former governor, Aminu Tambuwal. But we have a responsibility to inform the people of Sokoto State of the state of things. For instance, the Sokoto Central Market that was burnt, the former administration initiated the reconstruction of the market but unknown to the good people of Sokoto State, the market had actually been mortgaged. Some weeks ago, the government received a notice from one of the commercial banks that it is entitled to more than 50 per cent of the stalls in the market. The former administration left no document on the transaction; there is no evidence of what they did with the facility. We are engaging the bank to see how we can retrieve our property from them.
 
The former governor ought to have left records, which would guide the new government. We lost valuable time trying to make sense of things.Thankfully, the governor came prepared. He has refused to be distracted by the challenges.

His capacity to absorb shock is amazing as well as his maturity in handling situations. He is not a storyteller so he would always find a way to resolve the situation. He knows where he is headed, which explains why he works 24 hours. He is equal to the task.

Given all the challenges or obstacles that you have listed and the number of projects that the governor has been able to execute in the last one year, we are just wondering where and how the government is getting the resources to execute all these projects, considering that the previous government borrowed a lot of money?
I have asked this question myself. The obvious answer is prudent management of the resources. The governor hasn’t borrowed one kobo; every project is being funded from the allocation we are getting from the Federal Government as well as the Internally Revenue Generated (IGR). And the governor ensures value for money; each kobo that comes in counts. The people are seeing their resources being put to use.

What does the governor intend to do as regards the indebtedness of the government on the market. And if we got you right, you said there is no evidence of the collections either in terms of the rebuilding of the market or in your coffers. We remember vividly that former governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State donated N500 million to the state government. Are you saying there are no records of it too?

I maintain my statement that absolutely no record was handed over to us until these financial institutions started coming with their claims. They are profit-making companies so they played their cards well. We are being ambushed daily.

Certainly, we have no option but to dialogue and discuss with them so we can find a solution. But rest assured that the governor would not abandon any property or properties belonging to the people of Sokoto State to be taken over by any financial institution. So, every month we are paying around N300 million to that particular bank over the Sokoto Central Market transaction.

So exactly how much do you think you owe the bank?
It’s around N1.8 billion. 

Do you have the number of the traders that were affected for reallocation purposes after the reconstruction of the market? And are there plans to increase the number of stores? 
The market belongs to the state government. The traders are tenants and depending on the agreement between them and the state government through the market management company, they pay rents. As to the number of shops, there are more than 1000 plus shops in the Sokoto Central Market and currently about 60 per cent of them are functioning; only about 40 per cent was burnt by fire. The Aminu Tambuwal administration commenced the reconstruction but the project was abandoned technically speaking. The state government is now paying both the principal and the interest. We have records of those occupying the stores. We will ensure that everyone gets his shop back. For now, there is no need to expand the market because there are still vacant shops.

 Would the government blacklist the banks involved in these transactions? 
It all depends on the nature of the breaches of the agreement by them. If the financial institution has not breached any of its obligations, there would be no need for the government to take further action. My governor, being a man of peace, would any day prefer dialogue until you push him to the wall; then you will see the other side of him. We can’t deny any proven liability of the government. We are operating from a position of weakness considering that we don’t have records. But this doesn’t mean that contractors can attempt to swindle the government. We are painstakingly going through records of payment at the Ministry of Finance. Any dubious contractor cannot succeed, rather he or she would have jeopardised his or her chances of doing business with the government.

Taken that government is a continuum and you can’t deny genuine liabilities left by the previous government, how can this kind of situation be averted in future?
Currently, there is a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the dealings of the past administration right from day one. It’s one big obstacle that is slowing us down. I don’t understand multiple allocations of plots. Every day we waste precious time resolving an issue that ought not to have risen. All these are being investigated and that has stopped us from allocating plots to successful applicants who applied for land because we want to make sure that we don’t make avoidable mistakes.
 
A few weeks ago, I had to settle a problem concerning the Calabari Housing Estate due to multiple allocation. The estate has only 500 houses, but allocation was done to more than 1,000 people. We are still dealing with the issue of double allocation and other problems. We are waiting for the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.
 
How are you handling the issue of contract variation due to inflation? 
 I will give you the example of the Tasha Illela down to More Achida road and that of Gusou road, down to Shuni town. The road was awarded three years back and abandoned because the former administration didn’t fund the project. So, the contractor abandoned it. We have no option but to review the cost of the project considering inflation. The project is critical and if we don’t complete the project, it would be a great waste of the resources of the people.
The impression of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Speaker House of Representatives, two-term governor of Sokoto State and a serving senator that you have painted is different from what Nigerians see and think about somebody who wanted to be president. How do you want to convince Nigerians that this is not a political fight?

Whoever wants to see the footprint of the real Aminu Waziri Tambuwal should come to Sokoto State. We will take him round, even to his own hometown of Tambuwal, where he failed to keep his promise to dualise the roads within the town. He demolished houses without paying compensation and started the roads like he truly was serious but as usual he abandoned the construction.

Federal Government projects meant for the state like the Federal College of Education, Gidan Madi, couldn’t take off because he failed to provide the land and pay compensation. It was Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto that recently paid the sum of N104 million to the affected landowners so that the project can proceed. Same for the land that the government acquired for irrigation farming; the owners were not paid compensation until the governor paid them N216 million last month. There was no light in ministries, the water works and the Government House for more than three months before the hand-over ceremony in May 2023 because the government owed the Kaduna Electricity Company. Those who want to see the true picture of the former governor should come to Sokoto State; we will take him or her around and also show them facts and figures.

In what ways will the current administration be different fromthe previous one?
Since Governor Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto took over, I can’t recall a single day to the best of my knowledge that he chartered a flight. He won’t do it unless it’s absolutely necessary because he is not an ostentatious person; he is a God-fearing person who has the best interest of the people at heart. He flies commercial airlines. He goes to Abuja for meetings and once he is done, he hurries back to the state. He takes his assignment very seriously and would never be an absentee governor.

The deputy governor represents him in most engagements outside the state. Most importantly, he listens to advice. He understands the responsibility of being a governor beyond the paraphernalia of the office. Most days, he closes around 5:00pm but by 8:00pm he is back to the office again. His family would have been suffering but for his wife who is a pillar of support. I don’t switch off my phone and this applies to his appointees because he can call at any time, even at 2:00am, to ask questions and give directives. He is a fair and just man who has come to restore hope to long-suffering people of Sokoto State. He is on track on his Nine Point Agenda. We can’t fail him or fail our people. So, he has our unflinching support.