By Ibrahim Hassan
Before the coming of Governor Ahmed Aliyu, Sokoto State faced some of the most serious public health challenges in Northern Nigeria, particularly in the areas of child malnutrition, maternal mortality, and access to basic healthcare services, largely due to the neglect of the Aminu Tambuwal administration. The failure of that administration to make meaningful investments in critical sectors contributed significantly to the worsening conditions faced by many women and children across the state. These problems were further aggravated by insecurity, widespread poverty, food insecurity, and weak healthcare infrastructure in several communities.
In many rural areas, access to quality medical care was almost nonexistent. Acute shortages of skilled health workers, poor maternal healthcare services, inadequate nutrition, and poorly equipped health facilities contributed to preventable deaths and poor health outcomes. For thousands of families in remote communities, basic healthcare services remained difficult to access throughout the eight years of the Tambuwal administration.
Many residents believe that Tambuwal devoted greater attention to his presidential ambitions during the 2019 and 2023 election cycles than to the healthcare and social challenges confronting Sokoto people. While communities struggled with worsening healthcare access, rising malnutrition, and collapsing rural medical infrastructure, governance didn’t receive the urgency required to substantially improve living conditions across the state.
However, amid these difficulties, the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu has demonstrated increasing determination to confront the crisis through investments in healthcare infrastructure, maternal and child health services, nutrition programmes, and strategic partnerships with development organisations. Although major challenges remain, the government’s growing collaboration with organisations such as UNICEF, UNFPA, and Nutrition International reflects a serious effort to strengthen healthcare delivery and improve nutrition outcomes for vulnerable women and children.
The 2025 Nutrition SMART Survey released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) revealed that 11 per cent of children under five in Sokoto are wasted, while severe acute malnutrition is projected to affect more than 500,000 children across Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states. The survey also reported alarming levels of stunting among children in the region.
These statistics represent children whose physical and mental development may never fully recover, mothers struggling to survive childbirth, and communities trapped in cycles of poverty and poor health outcomes. Beyond the humanitarian consequences, the crisis also carries serious economic implications. Malnutrition weakens educational outcomes, reduces productivity, and places additional pressure on an already fragile healthcare system.
Against this backdrop, the Sokoto State Government has taken deliberate steps to address longstanding challenges through investments in healthcare delivery, maternal services, nutrition interventions, and institutional reforms. Rather than downplaying the scale of the crisis, the administration has continued to engage development partners while committing substantial resources toward practical interventions.
One of the most notable initiatives introduced by the government is the effort to localise the production of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), widely used in treating severely malnourished children. Local production using groundnut paste could reduce dependence on imported supplies, lower treatment costs, and improve availability for vulnerable children across affected communities.
The initiative could also generate broader economic benefits by supporting local agriculture, encouraging small-scale production, and creating employment opportunities within the value chain. The Ahmed Aliyu administration clearly understands that poverty and food insecurity are deeply connected to malnutrition, particularly among women and children. Sustainable interventions therefore require not only healthcare delivery, but also policies that encourage local economic participation and community empowerment.
The administration’s efforts have attracted recognition from development partners. Recently, the Country Director of Nutrition International, Dr. Osita Okonkwo, commended Sokoto State for its commitment to improving nutrition outcomes for children, adolescents, and pregnant women. According to him, sustained collaboration between Nutrition International and the Sokoto State Government could help build a future where children are less vulnerable to the devastating effects of malnutrition.
The state government has also distributed reproductive health equipment and essential medicines across all 23 local government areas to improve access to maternal and child healthcare services. In many rural communities where health facilities had deteriorated over the years, such interventions are expected to strengthen basic healthcare delivery for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children.
So far, the Ahmed Aliyu administration has rehabilitated, equipped, and staffed about 160 primary healthcare centres out of the 244 across the state, while work continues on additional facilities. The administration is also constructing three new general hospitals and rehabilitating existing ones, including the state specialist hospital, to expand access to quality healthcare services.
Healthcare remains a central component of Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s 9-Point Smart Agenda. Beyond policy declarations, the administration has recruited about 2,000 nurses and midwives to improve manpower within the sector.
These interventions are especially significant in rural communities where shortages of skilled birth attendants had historically contributed to preventable maternal deaths. While across many parts of Northern Nigeria, women in remote communities still face major obstacles in accessing antenatal care, emergency obstetric services, and skilled delivery support, the story is different in Sokoto State. Sokoto’s recent investments in primary healthcare and maternal services are therefore important steps toward addressing some of the underlying causes of high maternal mortality rates.
The Sokoto State Government has also continued to prioritise healthcare funding. In its 2026 budget, the state earmarked N122.73 billion for the sector, representing 16 per cent of the total N758.7 billion budget. The allocation exceeds the 15 per cent benchmark recommended under the 2001 Abuja Declaration and has supported upgrades of primary healthcare centres, maternity services, and general hospitals.
Ongoing projects include the completion of the Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital at Kasarawa, improvements at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, and the upgrading of general hospitals in Binji, Tambuwal, and Sabon Birni local government areas. In addition, 21 ambulances have been procured to strengthen emergency healthcare services across the state.
For a state confronting both health and security pressures, investments in emergency response systems are particularly important. Delays in accessing healthcare remain one of the leading contributors to maternal and infant mortality in many rural communities, making improved referral systems essential.
Equally important is the emphasis on community mobilisation and behavioural change. The appeal by the First Lady, Dr Fatima Ahmed Aliyu, encouraging husbands to allow their wives to attend antenatal clinics and deliver in healthcare facilities reflects the reality that public health challenges are often linked to cultural and social barriers.
Infrastructure alone cannot significantly reduce maternal mortality if women are unable or unwilling to access available services. Public awareness, trust-building, and community engagement therefore remain essential components of sustainable healthcare reform. Religious leaders, traditional rulers, and local health workers also play important roles in influencing attitudes toward maternal healthcare, child immunisation, and nutrition practices.
The government’s collaboration with international organisations has further strengthened interventions in nutrition, child healthcare, and emergency education support. Partnerships involving UNICEF and European Union humanitarian agencies reflect a growing understanding that health, nutrition, education, and social stability are closely connected.
A malnourished child is less likely to perform well in school, while conflict and displacement often worsen hunger, disease outbreaks, and healthcare disruptions. Addressing these challenges therefore requires coordinated and multi-sectoral interventions rather than isolated programmes.
Sokoto’s decision to convene its 8th State Council on Health Meeting in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) also suggests increasing institutional commitment toward achieving Universal Health Coverage. Federal health officials rightly described Sokoto as the first state to convene such a council meeting in the current cycle.
Without improvements in household food access and rural livelihoods, efforts to reduce malnutrition may face serious limitations.
The challenge confronting Sokoto therefore extends beyond hospitals and healthcare facilities alone. It requires strengthening social protection systems, improving agricultural productivity, supporting women’s economic participation, and expanding community-based nutrition programmes. Encouragingly, the Ahmed Aliyu administration appears committed to pursuing a more comprehensive response to these interconnected challenges.
The government has also demonstrated that, although the challenges are considerable, they are not insurmountable. The administration recognises that lasting progress cannot be achieved in isolation, making collaboration among federal authorities, donor agencies, civil society organisations, religious leaders, and local communities essential to strengthening ongoing interventions and restoring public confidence in healthcare systems.
In a state where malnutrition, maternal mortality, and weak healthcare systems have persisted for decades, meaningful progress will depend on sustained implementation. Sokoto State’s recent investments in nutrition programmes, healthcare infrastructure, and strategic partnerships suggest a growing recognition that public health challenges require long-term commitment and coordinated action.
The task ahead remains demanding. Insecurity continues to disrupt access to essential services, and many vulnerable families remain exposed to hunger and preventable diseases. Yet, if the current reforms are sustained and properly monitored, Sokoto State would have gradually built a more responsive healthcare system capable of improving outcomes for women and children.
Ultimately, the true success of these interventions will be measured by tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary people across Sokoto State. It will be reflected in a future where fewer children suffer severe malnutrition, more mothers survive pregnancy and childbirth, and quality primary healthcare services become more accessible and affordable for families in both urban and rural communities. Thankfully, Governor Ahmed Aliyu has shown a determination and commitment to making that difference through sustained action and people-oriented policies. That is the benchmark by which the long-term impact of these efforts will be judged in the years ahead.
