Sokoto govt prioritises social protection amid insecurity

By Gbolahan Salman Sokoto

The Sokoto State Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthening social protection programmes to reduce poverty and support vulnerable citizens despite growing security challenges.

The State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Muhammad Zayyana, stated this at a two-day validation workshop on the review of the Sokoto State Social Protection Policy held in Birnin Kebbi.

The workshop was organised by the Ministry in collaboration with the European Union, International Labour Organization, and UNICEF.

Zayyana said social protection remains central to the state’s development agenda, noting that ongoing insecurity has worsened socio-economic conditions for many residents.

“Social protection remains a priority of the Sokoto State Government as it is one of the most critical sectors for the development of the state,” he said.

He added, “Despite our commitment, we are grappling with insecurity arising from banditry, cattle rustling, and kidnapping, which has led to displacement, food insecurity, and other socio-economic challenges.”

The commissioner expressed hope that the validation exercise would produce a policy document capable of addressing current realities.

“We expect that this validation meeting will produce a revised policy draft that will stand the test of time and help us achieve our desired goals,” he said.

According to him, the policy is designed to harmonise various interventions aimed at reducing poverty and vulnerability in line with the agenda of Ahmad Aliyu.

Represented by the Director of Economic Planning, Sani Abdullahi, Zayyana also commended development partners for their sustained support.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Sokoto Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, Ahmad Rufa’i Abubakar, stressed the need for collaboration among stakeholders.

“There is a strong need for stakeholders to continue working together to ensure effective delivery of social protection programmes in the state,” he said.

In his remarks, the Chief of UNICEF Sokoto Field Office, Michael Juma, represented by Isah Ibrahim, highlighted progress made by the state in strengthening social protection systems.

“We have seen significant improvements in Sokoto State, including increased budget allocations to health, education, and programmes for women and children,” he said.

Juma added that institutional frameworks had been established to support implementation of the policy.

“Since the approval of the Social Protection Policy, many social instruments and institutions have been put in place to drive its implementation,” he noted.

He reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the state, urging participants to enrich the document.

“We encourage stakeholders to provide useful recommendations that will improve the quality of the policy document before it is presented to the State Executive Council,” he said.

He added that the reviewed policy would enhance service delivery to vulnerable households unable to access basic services.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Ibrahim Muhammad, and the Chairman of the State Zakkat and Endowment Agency, Lawal Maidoki, emphasised the importance of credible data.

“Authentic data from the state social register is critical to addressing social protection challenges effectively,” they said.

The workshop crew participants from various ministries, departments and agencies, including special advisers and senior government officials.