Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has donated 20 motorised boats and 1,000 life jackets to riverine communities across 10 local government areas to enhance water safety and reduce boat mishaps.
The benefiting councils include Goronyo, Wurno, Shagari, Sabon Birni, Wamakko, Kebbe, Rabah, Isa, Tambuwal, and Silame. The governor cautioned boat operators against overloading and directed local government chairmen to ensure proper use and management of the boats.
“Today marks another milestone in our resolve to protect our people. These boats and life jackets will go a long way in reducing cases of canoe mishaps and ensuring safer transportation across our waterways,” Aliyu said.
He added that the state had invested significant public resources in the facilities and stressed they must be safeguarded for the benefit of rural dwellers. He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Federal Inland Waterways Authority for their continued support.
The gesture comes amid flooding in parts of Sokoto, with several communities submerged following heavy rains and water releases from the Goronyo Dam.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary Hassan Sanyinnawal, described the flooding as “devastating” and urged both the Federal and State Governments to provide urgent relief for displaced families.
An assessment by NEMA revealed that the floods destroyed farmlands and displaced thousands of residents across Goronyo and Wurno Local Government Areas. Crops such as onions, rice, millet, sorghum, and pepper were lost, though no casualties were recorded.
Communities affected in Goronyo include Kojiyo, Tsohon Garin Doli, Balla, Tuluske, Birjingo, Kwakwazo, Shinaka, and Mallawa. In Wurno, Marafa, Tunga, Lahodi Gidan Bango, Dimbiso, Chacho, and Magarya were among the hardest hit.
The PDP called for the rapid deployment of health teams, food supplies, and temporary shelters. It also recommended desilting of dams, early warning systems, and long-term evacuation plans to mitigate future disasters.
Governor Aliyu pledged to sustain policies aimed at safeguarding lives and improving resilience in flood-prone areas across the state.