Sokoto Farmers Get Relief as Rural Road Projects Cut Transport Costs

 

Farmers in Gada Local Government Area of Sokoto State are beginning to experience relief following the ongoing rehabilitation of major rural roads by the state government, a development that has significantly reduced the cost of transporting agricultural produce to markets.

For years, onion and garlic farmers in the area have struggled with poor road conditions, especially during the rainy season when many farming communities become difficult to access.

The situation often forced farmers to pay high transportation costs or sell their produce at reduced prices due to limited access to buyers.

However, the state government said the cost of transporting a sack of onions or garlic from farming communities to Gada Market has dropped from about N10,000 to N1,000 following progress on two major rural road projects.

Governor Ahmed Aliyu, who inspected the projects, said the infrastructure development was aimed at unlocking the economic potential of agrarian communities and improving farmers’ access to markets.

The governor inspected the 9.5-kilometre Gada-Bakin Kasuwa-Tsitse-Tabanni-Ila Gari Road, valued at N2.8 billion, which is currently about 75 per cent completed.

He also visited the 21.8-kilometre Kaffe-Tsitse-Gidan Hashimu-Karangiya-Kaddi-Arawa Road, awarded at N5.15 billion and now about 65 per cent completed.

Aliyu further inspected the ongoing construction of the new Gada Market, a N2.49 billion project designed to improve agricultural trading activities in the area.

While commending the quality of work, the governor expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of construction, warning contractors to accelerate efforts to ensure the projects are completed within the agreed timelines.

“I am dissatisfied with the slow pace of work. Unless the contractor speeds up execution, the projects may not be completed within the stipulated timeframe,” he said.

The governor described Gada as one of Nigeria’s major production centres for onions and garlic, noting that improved rural infrastructure would help reduce transportation costs, minimise post-harvest losses, attract more buyers and boost economic activities.

He assured residents that his administration would continue to prioritise rural development through investments in roads, agriculture, healthcare, education and water supply.

The Special Adviser on Rural Roads, Malami Galadanci, said drainage structures and culverts had already been completed on the road projects, adding that farmers had started benefiting from reduced transportation expenses even before completion.

Galadanci disclosed that the state government had met its financial obligations to contractors, adding that the new Gada Market would serve as a modern agricultural trading hub with dedicated sections for onions, garlic, grains and an abattoir.

He added that the market would also feature solar-powered electricity, water facilities and firefighting equipment to support commercial activities and improve safety.

The inspection was attended by former Governor Aliyu Wamakko, Minister of State for Works Bello Goronyo, Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly Tukur Bodinga, former Deputy Governor Mukhtar Shagari and other government officials.