By Ife Osemedua
Sokoto State Executive Council has revoked five contracts in the state, while approving N4 billion for the construction of two health and one education projects.
The State Executive Council chaired by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal made this known on Wednesday, February 11, 2021.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to the governor, Muhammad Bello, said four of the five revoked contracts were for abandoned works at the Murtala Muhammad Hospital, Sokoto, including the construction of two additional blocks of wards, landscaping of the hospital, construction of 47 staff quarters and the completion of a theatre, mortuary, laundry and others.
The fifth one was a contract for the construction of a General Hospital at Wamakko town which was awarded in 2013.
It also disclosed that the N4billion projects approved by the state council was for execution of contracts for the construction of Premier Hospital Binji, a 608-bed capacity students hostels at Sultan Abdur-Rahman School of Health Technology, Gwadabawa and the construction of a similar two-storey hostel complex at Shehu Shagari College of Education (SSCOE).
Briefing newsmen after the meeting, the state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ali Inname and that of Higher Education, Professor Bashir Garba, said the sum of over N2.7 billion was approved for the construction of the Premier Hospital at Binji Local Government Area, scheduled to be completed within 17 months.
Similar projects are already underway in Tambuwal and Sabon Birni local government areas, the statement added.
It continued: ”The hostel project at SSCOE will gulp over N524 million, while that of Sultan Abdul Rahman School of Health Technology, Gwadabawa will cost over N523 million. Both construction works are expected to be completed in nine months.
”Each floor of the hostels in SSCOE and Gwadabawa will have 24 toilet facilities, kitchens and laundry. There will also be solar lighting systems and boreholes with overhead tanks among other facilities.”
It also added that Dr Inname explained that the Murtala Muhammad Hospital contracts were revoked because the works were abandoned by the contractors, but would be re-awarded to more dedicated contractors after due process has been followed.
On the reversal of the contract for Wamakko General Hospital, the Commissioner for Health said it has since been reawarded to another company.