By Taofeeq Imam

Claim: Sokoto state government announces 1.25bn to renovate 25 boreholes in the state

What you need to know

On the 3rd September, 2024. It was evident enough that a circulating video of Sokoto state Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, announces the renovation of 25 but boreholes in the state. According to Claims “ Sokoto State Government Announces 1.2bn contract to repair 25 boreholes

However, the project was not awarded by the Sokoto State government. It was a project jointly funded by the World Bank, the federal and state governments, and the ACREsAL project, with the aim of making water accessible to Munki, Lugu, Wurno, Dinawa, and Marnona areas.

On 5th September, 2024 . “The state government claimed they never participated in the process of awarding the contract for the drilling of new boreholes. The issue of renovation of boreholes in Wurno does not even arise because you cannot repair what does not exist. There were no boreholes drilled in those places before our coming to power, which is why we insisted on drilling new boreholes for those communities.” the govt concluded.

Verification

The fact of the matter is that the state government, in collaboration with the World Bank, under the ACReSAL programme drilled 25 boreholes domiciled in Munki, Marnona, Dinawa, Lugu and Wurno, perimeter fencing as well as a 40-kilometer shelter belt, all at the cost of N 1.2 billion.

As against the insinuation that it was the renovation of the 25 boreholes that gulped N 1.2 billion, the fact is that, it is actually the drilling of 25 nos solar-powered boreholes and other projects that gulped the said amount and not the renovation.

According to the State Secretary. Abubakar Bawa “You can’t renovate a project that does not exist, so there was no single borehole drilled in those areas before the advent of the present administration in Sokoto state. These communities never experienced what is called a borehole, until now that Sokoto State has a listening and hardworking Governor.”

The state government did not repair neither renovate boreholes in Wurno Local Government. What the government did was drilling of the brand new 25 solar-powered boreholes spread in Wurno, Lugu, Munki, Marnona and Dinawa, perimeter fencing,40 kilometer shelter belt aa well as 500-hectare forest enrichment.

Verdict : 25 boreholes drilled not renovated!