₦22bn Housing Estate Sparks Accountability Questions in Sokoto as Governor Launches 500-Unit Project
SOKOTO Amid fanfare and political endorsements, Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Tuesday inaugurated a ₦22 billion housing project aimed at addressing the state’s urban housing deficit. However, the fanfare is now drawing scrutiny, as observers question the transparency, cost-efficiency, and accountability behind the mega housing initiative.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place in Wajake Village, Wamakko Local Government Area, where Governor Aliyu unveiled plans for a 500-unit residential estate comprising 300 three-bedroom and 200 four-bedroom flats. Branded as a solution for civil servants and low-income earners, the estate is set to be constructed by Teamwork Construction Company Nigeria Limited, with a proposed delivery window of 12 months.
“When we assumed office, Sokoto State did not have a single government-owned house,” the governor declared, adding that the new estate, located near Sokoto New City, will be sold on an owner-occupier basis.
While the project appears ambitious on paper, critics are raising alarm over the inflated contract value ₦22 billion for 500 housing units translating to an average of ₦44 million per unit, an amount significantly higher than comparable state-led housing projects across Nigeria.
Cost Discrepancy and Contract Questions
Analysts are questioning how a state struggling with unpaid gratuities, poor health infrastructure, and an underfunded education system can afford a housing project of such magnitude without raising concerns of misallocation or potential misuse of funds.
An urban planner in Sokoto who requested anonymity said:
“This figure does not add up. Even with top-grade materials, the average cost per unit is bloated. The government must explain how this budget was calculated and why this particular contractor was selected.”
There are also concerns over the selection of Teamwork Construction Company Nigeria Limited, a firm with limited public infrastructure track records, raising red flags over procurement transparency and possible political patronage.
A Pattern of Questionable Priorities
Governor Aliyu also announced the completion of 500 housing units at Gidan Salanke initiated by former Governor Aliyu Wamakko and the acquisition of 130 units from the Federal Ministry of Housing in Kwannawa. While this may paint a picture of progress, critics argue that successive administrations in Sokoto have often used housing as a political smokescreen while core developmental challenges remain unaddressed.
Sokoto’s urban areas face severe infrastructure decay, poor sanitation, and rising insecurity. Many question whether a costly housing estate primarily targeted at civil servants addresses the broader, more urgent needs of ordinary citizens.
“While our hospitals lack basic equipment and rural schools are collapsing, ₦22 billion is being funneled into a project shrouded in political applause,” noted a civil society advocate based in the state.
Political Pageantry or People-Centered Progress?
Present at the foundation-laying ceremony was Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, who called the initiative “historic,” praising Governor Aliyu for his leadership and vision. Yet the event, attended by political elites and traditional leaders, seemed more like a political spectacle than a development-focused forum.
Critics argue that the governor is using high-profile projects to bolster political capital ahead of anticipated national ambitions, rather than addressing the immediate realities of Sokoto’s poor and underserved populations.
Where is the Oversight?
There is growing demand for the Sokoto State government to publish the full project breakdown, including the bill of quantities, contractor bidding documents, and construction milestones. Transparency and anti-corruption watchdogs say the administration must demonstrate value for money and open the project to third-party audits.
“Without independent oversight, this project could become yet another white elephant that enriches contractors and politicians while delivering little to the public,” warned a statement by the Sokoto Citizens Accountability Network (SCAN).
Call for Action
As Sokoto’s civil servants anticipate the promise of home ownership, many remain skeptical. Residents point to abandoned state projects across the region, where funds were disbursed but structures remain incomplete or substandard.
With Nigeria’s housing crisis worsening and the country’s corruption index still high, projects like this should be subjected to the highest level of scrutiny not just celebrated with fanfare.
Governor Aliyu, who vowed to deliver the estate within 12 months, now faces the real test: Will this housing estate stand as a symbol of integrity and progress, or will it join the growing list of politically-motivated projects that never truly serve the people?
Until transparency prevails, skepticism will remain the estate’s first foundation stone.
Reference
₦22bn Housing Estate Sparks Accountability Questions in Sokoto as Governor Launches 500-Unit Project