By Aminu Dalhatu
Senator representing Zamfara Central Senatorial District, Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, says he has facilitated between 167 and 168 constituency projects across the district’s four local government areas since his election to the National Assembly in 2023.
The projects cover key sectors, including education, healthcare, water supply, agriculture, irrigation and community infrastructure, with the aim of addressing the developmental needs of constituents and improving their living conditions.
Senator Bilbis disclosed this during a media briefing in Gusau, shortly after inaugurating several projects aimed at improving the welfare of residents, particularly children, youths and other vulnerable groups.
He explained that the projects were distributed across Gusau, Bungudu, Maru and Tsafe Local Government Areas, with education and healthcare receiving the greatest attention.
According to the senator, approximately 60 per cent of his constituency project interventions have been directed towards education and healthcare, reflecting his commitment to improving access to essential social services.
Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis identified education as his major priority, noting that, his interventions included the construction and renovation of classrooms, with some schools receiving blocks of three classrooms and others benefiting from two blocks comprising six classrooms.
He also disclosed that about 34 Islamic schools had benefited from various interventions, particularly the renovation and improvement of facilities in Qur’anic and Islamic schools to provide children with a more conducive learning environment.
The senator said the initiative was designed to address some of the challenges facing Almajiri children, particularly inadequate learning facilities and the practice of street begging.
He explained that providing suitable classrooms would enable the children to acquire religious education in a more dignified environment while improving their learning conditions.
Among the projects recently inaugurated in Gusau Local Government Area were the Yan Haya Mosque at the Old Market; Malam Nata’ala School at Kofar Jange; Malam Umar Hassan Hisbah School at Sha’iskawa; Malam Aliyu School at Bulunku Sinami; and Malam Muhammad School at Chediya Uku.
Others included Malam Isah Shurehu School at Tudun Wada, Markazul Abu Hurairah at Damba Quarters, and the installation of a solar power system at Malam Aminu School, Lungun Malamai.
During visits to the Islamic schools, Senator Bilbis formally inaugurated the renovated facilities and provided financial assistance, copies of the Holy Qur’an and prayer mats to support teaching, learning and religious activities.
Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis also pledged to rehabilitate some boreholes following requests from school managements.
Proprietors and head teachers of the beneficiary schools commended the senator for the interventions, describing them as significant contributions towards strengthening Islamic education and improving learning conditions in their communities.
In another intervention, Senator Bilbis inaugurated a newly constructed mosque at Yan Haya in the Tsohuwar Kasuwa area of Gusau.
He explained that the mosque was constructed following requests from traders in the area who needed a convenient place of worship.
The facility was also equipped with a solar power system to improve electricity supply and provide a more comfortable environment for worshippers.
Beyond education and religious infrastructure, Senator Bilbis said he had also facilitated several interventions in healthcare, water supply and agricultural development across the senatorial district.
He disclosed that these included the rehabilitation of existing healthcare facilities, construction and improvement of boreholes, as well as the rehabilitation of dams and irrigation infrastructure to support farming activities.
On agricultural development, the senator highlighted the rehabilitation of Bilbis Dam and its irrigation scheme, which is expected to benefit approximately 600 farmers.
He expressed optimism that, Governor Dauda Lawal would soon commission the project, allowing farmers to benefit from the improved irrigation facilities and expand their agricultural activities.
On economic empowerment, Senator Bilbis said various programmes had been implemented to support women, youths and other vulnerable groups through the distribution of equipment and financial assistance for small-scale businesses.
He recalled that some of the interventions included the distribution of grinding machines and other business-support equipment, alongside cash assistance to enable beneficiaries to establish or expand their businesses.
He maintained that the empowerment programmes covered all four local government areas, adding that records of beneficiaries and the interventions were available for verification.
On the establishment of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Tsafe, Zamfara State, Senator Bilbis expressed satisfaction with the development, described it as a major opportunity for the state and the country.
The senator further disclosed that a Federal Government delegation was expected to visit Zamfara State on Friday, November 13, 2026, to inspect a proposed permanent site for the establishment of a teaching hospital for the university.
He said the proposed teaching hospital would strengthen the institution’s capacity to provide specialised medical training and improve access to advanced healthcare services in the state.
Senator Bilbis expressed satisfaction with the positive response from beneficiaries and community members, noting that their appreciation and requests for additional interventions had encouraged him to sustain his development efforts.
He observed that some of the facilities recently rehabilitated had remained neglected for between four and five years without significant attention.
According to him, the appreciation shown by residents underscores the importance of identifying neglected community needs and addressing them through effective constituency representation.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the senator said he would continue to prioritise the needs and demands of his constituents, particularly projects capable of delivering lasting benefits to their communities.
He identified education, healthcare and water supply as key areas that would continue to receive attention, alongside the rehabilitation of dams and other essential infrastructure.
Senator Bilbis reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining development interventions within his capacity, stressing that his approach to representation was based on regular consultations, listening to the people and prioritising projects that directly address their challenges.
He assured constituents that their requests for additional projects would continue to receive consideration and urged residents across the four local government areas to support initiatives aimed at improving education, healthcare, agriculture and other critical sectors.
