SOKOTO— Sixty seven district heads and Imams of three Juma’at mosques in the Sokoto metropolis have been presented Mercedes Benz cars by the Sokoto State government.
The 250 and 300 Mercedes Benz series were distributed by Gov. Atahiru Bafarawa at a ceremony in the state capital.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the vehicles were purchased with funds provided by the 23 local governments of the state.
The Imams are those of the Sultan Bello, Sultan Abubakar III and Shehu Danfodiyo Juma‘at mosques all in the Sokoto metropolis.
Speaking at the ceremony, Bafarawa said the gesture was aimed at enhancing the welfare of traditional rulers.
He said traditional rulers deserved the best condition to be efficient and diligent in their responsibilities.
“As custodians of religious doctrines, traditional rulers require a conducive atmosphere to work,” he said, and commended them for ensuring the sustenance of peace and unity in the state.
Bafarawa urged the traditional rulers to reciprocate the gesture by being more hardworking, just, fair and honest.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Governments Affairs and Community Development, Alhaji Habibu Modachi, commended the governor for approving the expenditure.
He stated that the gesture would spur the recipients to continue to be dedicated.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Dr Muahammadu Maccido, in his speech hailed the government for the gesture, and urged the beneficiaries to ensure prompt maintenance of the vehicles. In another development in Sokoto,the Rabah local government of Sokoto State is to construct a N40 million permanent secretariat complex, its chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Rabah, has said.
Rabah told newsmen at the weekend in Rabah, headquarters of the council, that the move was to provide a permanent and befitting secretariat for the council.
“As you can see, we have been using this house which belongs to the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello,” he said.
The new secretariat complex, he said, would provide a conducive atmosphere for the staff of the council.
He said on completion of the secretariat complex, the home of the late Ahmadu Bello would be managed as a national monument.
In another development, Rabah said the council purchased 618 sets of three-seater classroom seats worth N3 million for distribution to all primary schools in the area.
He said that N885,000 was spent in the last nine months to sponsor some indigent students from the area at the Bafarawa Institute of Qu‘ranic and Islamic Studies.
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Rabah said that 70 motorcycles worth N12 million were purchased and distributed to some staff of the council, while millet valued at N920,000 was also bought and shared to the same employees.
