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Tag: Abdulaziz Yari

  • Aisha Buhari provides free medical services for 3,000 patients in Zamfara

    Aisha Buhari provides free medical services for 3,000 patients in Zamfara

    The wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, through her NGO “Future Assured Initiative”, on Thursday flagged off her free medical services for 3,000 women, children and the aged in Zamfara.

    Aisha Buhari, who was represented by the Coordinator of the project, Mrs Zuwaira Gambo, said in Gusau that the project was aimed at providing free and improved health services for the vulnerable groups.

    She said that is was also aimed at assisting the Federal Government in addressing the health problems affecting women and children.

    The 3,000 beneficiaries of the prgramme were from the 14 local government areas of the state.

    She commended the efforts of the wife of the state Governor, Hajiya Asma’u Abdul’aziz-Yari and the state Ministry of Health for their support to the programme.

    She urged the beneficiaries to cooperate with health personnel in the state to ensure the success of the programme.

    The wife of the president said the NGO had launched similar programme in other states across the country.

    Hajiya Abdul’aziz-Yari thanked the wife of the president for initiating the project, saying that it would assist the people of the state.

    In his remarks, the state Commissioner of Health, Alhaji Sulaiman Gummi, also thanked Buhari for her intervention, describing it as timely and a welcome development.

    Gummi said the state government in collaboration with some development partners had been making efforts to improve health care delivery in the state.

    The free medical outreach would provide assistance to patients with high blood pressure, eye problems, diabetes and children in need of de-worming.

    NAN

  • APC caucus passes vote of confidence on party leadership

    APC caucus passes vote of confidence on party leadership

    The leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Monday night, passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the party.

    This was disclosed to State House reporters by Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari at the end of a caucus meeting of the party presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to him, the meeting also reinforced the unity, commitment and strength of all members of the party.

    “This meeting shows our unity in the party, shows our strength and our commitment to the party and to Nigerians,’’.

    Also Sen. Bukar Abba-Ibrahim said that the outcome of the meeting dismissed the speculation that it was convened to remove the leadership of the APC.

    He said: “You remember, you saw it in some of the newspapers. That our crises had deepened, APC is going to break, there is a plan to kick out our national chairman – none of these things happened.

    “It is a big family reunion and we are all happy and this party is going to dominate the Nigerian political space for a very long time to come. I don’t want to predict any number of years.’’

    Mr John Odigie-Oyegun, the party’s National Chairman, described the caucus as `very fantastic’, adding that the party would be stronger after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Those who attended the meeting included Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, cabinet ministers and presidential aides.

    Governors of Plateau, Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Jigawa, Benue, Ondo, Oyo, Ogun, Kebbi, Nasarawa as well as deputy governors of Kwara and Yobe states also attended the meeting.

    Members of the National Assembly including Senators Rabiu Kwankwaso and Adamu Alieru as well as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha also attended the caucus which lasted for over three hours.

  • Buhari meets Tinubu, Saraki, Dogara, Yari, Oyegun in Aso Rock 

    Buhari meets Tinubu, Saraki, Dogara, Yari, Oyegun in Aso Rock 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with some top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, Abuja.

    Those he met briefly with included the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

    Also at the meeting are the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari and the National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun.

    At the end of the meeting, they declined to speak on the purpose of the meeting.

    As soon as the meeting ended, the President and the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu also started another meeting around 3:28p.m

    The second meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Restructuring needs constitutional amendment- Dogara

    Restructuring needs constitutional amendment- Dogara

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara on Wednesday night said that any meaningful restructuring in the country will still require amendment of the 1999 constitution.

    He made the remark while speaking to State House correspondences after briefing the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) led by Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari.

    On what he discussed with the Governors, he said “I was asked to see them so that we can talk about some of these constitutional alterations in the National Assembly so l came to meet them so that we can talk on most of the Bills we are considering.

    “Even though l am the Speaker, l can tell you that l can only speak where majority of our members have agreed upon. So it is a bit early for me to conclude. But this is a democracy and in a democracy, the majority matters.

    “We are aware of the ongoing agitations in the country. Some are calling for restructuring while some call it true Federalism. This is an an issue on the manifestos of the APC. It is our feeling as a very responsive and responsible representatives of the people to ensure that this debate is done.

    “And I agree like l said before that the position of the President that most of this matters and issues should be canvassed at the levels of the National Assembly.

    “This is because some of the structural imbalances that we are talking about that need what they call restructuring cannot be corrected just by a stroke of the pen. Some of them are actually embedded in the provisions of the constitution.

    “Even by pedestrians description of the function of government, the Executive cannot make laws, they cannot amend the constitution. They can only initiate the process in an Executive bill, but it ultimately revolves within the powers of the legislature.

    “So, even the committee that is set up by the APC leadership on true federalism, by the time they conclude their work, most of the issues they come out with will require a kind of tinkering of the constitution.

    “So, our feeling is that we should not just close the windows to the yearnings of majority of our people. We should listen again to all the stakeholders, listen more to Nigerians and at the end of the day, we will come up with an exercise that meets the expectations and yearnings of our peoples.

    “We will not just amend the constitution for the sake of amending. We will want the exercise to be very impactful. The only way we can get that done is to listen and listen and listen more.” he said

    Yari, at the end of the meeting, said that the forum met with Dogara, towards facilitating amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

    The forum had few weeks back received briefings from the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu over the proposed amendment.

    Yari said: “As a follow up to the briefing by Mr. Deputy Senate President, Mr. Speaker briefed us on the version of the House of Representatives on the constitutional amendment which very soon they will soon harmonise.

    “As critical stakeholders, they visited us and gave us their input on the other critical areas that are not touched like the area of restructuring, devolution of power etc. all those are going to be looked into and considered for the betterment of our country.”

    Read: Obasanjo, Yar’ Adua , Jonathan , Buhari are accidental leaders , says Na’Abba

    The governor also disclosed that the forum received briefing on how to tackle cash crunch in their states through issuance of bonds.

    “We also received briefing from the Stock Exchange on how to address the issue of cash crunch on the nation. They spoke to us on the need to raise bond. Globally is the borrowing from outside that you use to for infrastructure not the borrowing from within.

    “So the stock exchange has given us opportunity for some states that are ready to go into the stock exchange to raise bond to finance some projects.

    “Because what is tied to the bonds is our income and our income is shrinking. Through the bonds we can finance projects that will impact on the water supply and sanitation etc.

    “We are putting a committee in place made up of the members of the stock exchange as well as from the NGF secretariat to work together on that.” he said

    He also debunked the media reports claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari was not happy with governors over salaries arrears.

    He said “We briefed the members about our meeting with Mr president yesterday, which I’m surprised some of you turned it upside down. You got the full briefing from me and then some of your people went and said they got from inside, I don’t know which inside that the president is not happy with the governors. It is very unfortunate.

    “We had a very fruitful meeting with Mr. President and Mr. President accepted all our requests. The only thing Mr. President said that he was not a technical person, and that we should wait for the minister of finance to return, and the chairman of the economic council to be around so that they can give him update and support on what he is going to say to us.

    “So he said we should reschedule this meeting until when he returns from Turkey. I think this is what I told the press yesterday but I wonder how they turn it around. Please we have to be serious with our job, this is Nigeria we are working for, we are working for our country, working for our people so we shouldn’t misinform the public and should be guided with the things discussed.”

    Read Also: Saraki, Dogara, Ekweremadu preach unity

     

  • Governors demand payment of Paris club refund balance

    Governors demand payment of Paris club refund balance

    Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), led by its Chairman and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz  Yari, on Tuesday  urged President Muhammadu Buhari to release the balance of their Paris exit refund balance in order to  capture it in their respective 2018 appropriation bills.

    A delegation of the 36 state governors were represented by one governor each from the geo-political zones.

    In the delegation are governors of Akwa-Ibom state Emmanuel Udom (S/south); Kwara, Abdulfatah Ahmed (N/Central); Rotimi Akeredolu (S/West); Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu (N/West); Bauchi, Mohammed Abubakar (N/East) and Ebonyi Deputy governor, Kelechi Igwe, who stood in for the S/East.

    On their mission to the President, Yari said “We are here on behalf of the 36 states governors and this is a result of the  collective decision to see the President after the National Economic Council meeting last month.

    Read: Enugu Govt. to explore new ways of encouraging investors

    “We are here to thank Mr President for his concerns about the state economy and situation by giving us several support ranging from bail out,restructuring our debt, London- paris club exit payment. We also told  him that we think that  it was because of his  decision he has  taken, in which many Nigerians are accusing him, this is the reason why we got out of recession. You know that the 200 million citizens residing in Nigeria are residing in respective  states.

    “These support is going down to them, when you are taking the indices from the grassroots. We thanked the president for that and at the same time,as a father,  we said to him ‘Mr President you remember that in 2016, we presented to   you the numbers of London and Paris exit funds which we agreed, and you directed we be paid 50% and 50% open reconciliation.

    “Reconciliation is on since 2016, we are hoping that both DMO, ministry of finance, AGF and our consultants are concluding this reconciliation by November.

    “So therefore we want to crave your indulgence so that we can  factor the numbers in our 2018 budget so that we can use it for projects and other recurrent spending according to the specification given by our respective House of Assemblies and that’s why we are here.

    “Mr President was prompt being that he has a representative in the National Economic Council that is the Vice President and Minister of Finance is away. We are going to work with the numbers  when he returns from his trip. We are going to follow up this meeting with him so that we can conclude  on what is going to be done next,” he stressed.” he said

    Read Also: Buhari, state governors meet in Aso Rock

  • Buhari arrives in New York for UN Summit

    Buhari arrives in New York for UN Summit

    President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in New York, United States, to join other world leaders for the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) high-level events starting on Tuesday.

    The President was accompanied by governors Abdul’aziz Yari (Zamfara), David Umahi (Ebonyi) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo).

    He was received at the JF Kennedy Airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, and Nigeria’s Permanent Representative  to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande.

    The President was thereafter, received at 8:30 p.m. at his lodge by three ministers – Kayode Fayemi (Solid Minerals), Adamu Adamu (Education), and Okechukwu Enelamah (Industry, Trade and Investment).

    The others were the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril; his Budget and National Planning counterpart, Zainab Ahmed, presidential aides as well as members of staff of the Nigerian Missions in the U.S.

    Buhari will deliver Nigeria’s National Statement on Tuesday, the first day of the general debate.

    He has been listed as the eighth speaker of the 193 Head of States expected to address the General Debate of the General Assembly.

    The theme for this year’s debate is ‘Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet’.

    The President will also join other world leaders at the welcoming reception to be hosted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and hold a bilateral meeting with the UN chief.

    Aside other high-level engagement, he will have a lunch meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, along with other world leaders.

    Nigeria will also participate in high-level meetings on “Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: Building Momentum for Change,” the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, a High Level Event organised by African Union under its theme of the Year: “Roadmap on the Demographic Dividend:From Commitment to Action,” among others.

    It is expected that the President and members of his delegation will project Nigeria as a strong moral force and responsible member of the international community.

     

  • Zamfara urges road contractors to meet deadline

    Zamfara urges road contractors to meet deadline

    The Zamfara Government has urged contractors handling  ongoing road projects in the state to improve their capacity in order to meet  the December  deadline given to them.

    Alhaji Lawal M-Liman, the Chairman of the  State Government Project Monitoring Committee, made the call on Thursday while inspecting the  road project linking Dauran-Birnin/Magaji and Kaura/Namoda towns.

    M-Liman,  who is also the state Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, said that the state government would no longer tolerate delay or shoddy  jobs.

    He said the state government had already mobilised the companies with all necessary financial support and it had given December  as deadline to complete the projects.

    “You should re-double your efforts in order to meet the deadline given to you by the state government.

    “We gave priority to road construction considering  that it is one of the major problems affecting our people especially those in  rural communities.

    “When this administration came into power in 2011,  we met almost 80 per cent of our roads –both state and federal high way–  dilapidated.

    “Therefore,  we come up with the policy to provide good road  network for our people in order to  enhance socioeconomic activities in the state.

    “From 2011 till  date,  the state government had spent  billions of naira in executing various roads projects across the state.

    “We have seen the impact of these road projects in  our communities, even though some of these projects have been completed  while some are still ongoing.

    “We are giving emphasis to  monitoring of these projects to ensure effective quality job is delivred  by the contractors.

    “That is why the zamfara state governor, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Yari,  set up this seven-man committee headed by myself to ensure regular monitoring of these projects in order to avoid delay and poor job,’’ he said.

    The commissioner expressed satisfaction with the level and quality of   work done  by the contractors and urged them to redouble their efforts.

    He added that the state government had mobilised the contractors with all necessary support, adding, “you must comply with the government directives to ensure that the contract agreement is achieved.’’

    NAN recalls that the 61-kilometre  road was awarded to Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company in December  2016 at the cost of N4.3 billion.

    NAN further reports that the committee also inspected  the 128-kilometre  road project linking Magami-Bindin-Dangulbi-Dankurmi-Bagega and Anka towns.

    In his response, Mr Nafeey Bin-Shaukan of  Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, said the company  would ensure quality and speedy completion of the job.

    “Even though we witnessed some delay when we started this work, but despite that,  we will continue to do our best to ensure that we meet the target given to us by the Zamfara state government,’’ he said

  • Gov. Yari denies presidential ambition

    Gov. Yari denies presidential ambition

    Gov. Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara, on Thursday said he has no presidential ambition and dismissed as fake, trending online media campaign for him to run in 2019.

    The governor said in a statement issued on Thursday in Gusau by his media aide, Ibrahim Dosara that his main preoccupation now was to deliver on the mandate given to him by the people of the state.

    It described the online accounts as fake and urged Nigerians to ignore them.

    “I hereby inform the general public that the creators and managers of such fraudulent twitter and indeed all other related online platforms accounts are doing such campaigns on their own,” the statement added.

    It stressed that the governor has not indicated interest to contest for any political position in the country or asked anybody to campaign for him.

    “The attention of the general public is therefore drawn to such campaigners of calumny who are bent on tarnishing his image.

    “The general public is also advised to ignore any information from such fake online platforms accounts and campaigners, as all are fake and baseless,” the statement said.

    It said that the governor has congratulated Nigerians for the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from medical trip in London.

  • Buhari lands in Abuja

    Buhari lands in Abuja

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday afternoon arrived the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

    Buhari, who has been in the United Kingdom since May 7th on medical ground, landed at the airport around 4:35 p.m in Nigeria Air Force Plane 001

    He wore a  black coloured caftan and trousers with multicolored cap to match.

    Buhari arrived Abuja with his Aide-de-Camp (ADC), Lawal Abubakar, Chief Security Officer (CSO), Bashir Bindawa, Chief Police Security Officer (CPSO), Abdulkareem Dauda, and Personal Assistant one, Mohammed Sabihu (Tunde) among others.

    He alighted from the plane and shook hands with the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo before rendition of the National anthem.

    Buhari, after rendition of the National anthem, went round to shake hands with governors and top government officials who had formed a single file.

    He then departed for Presidential Villa by road.

    The governors at the airport to welcome him  included governors of Kano state, Abdullahi Ganduje, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, Muhammed Abubakar of Bauchi, Abubakar Bello of Niger,  Nesom Wike of Rivers,  Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Deputy governor of Kaduna state, Mr Barnabas Bala.

    Among those at the airport to welcome the president included members of the National Assembly, service chiefs, Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris, Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari as well as other presidential aides.

    Others at the airports are the National Security Adviser to the President (NSA) retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno; the Director-General, Department of State Security (DSS), Alhaji Lawal Daura and other dignitaries from and within Abuja.

    The President took a national salute from the Presidential Guards Brigade while cultural groups were also singing and dancing to welcome him back home.

  • Onoghen reaffirms commitment of judiciary to ensure justice, peace

    Onoghen reaffirms commitment of judiciary to ensure justice, peace

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Walter Onoghen, has reaffirmed the commitment of the judiciary to ensure that peace and justice reigned in the country.

    He gave the commitment in his goodwill message to the National Economic Council (NEC) sponsored Security Summit in Abuja.

    “I bring you good will of the judiciary of this country.

    “Our commitment to ensuring that things are done differently and fair manner and our commitment to having a better Nigerian society where peace and justice reign.

    “I want to tell you also that although we always way that there are two sides to a coin, in reality there are three sides to a coin.

    “And in our situation in terms of where we found ourselves today, it is my personal view that insecurity, corruption and impunity are the three sides of the same coin which ought to be taken holistically if we have to move the country forward,’’ he stated.

    According to him, there is the need for the commitment of all Nigerian, especially the hungry and those who feel deprived, whether rightly or wrongly, to be able to carry the message through.

    Onoghen stated that those who cry out might not really be having problems where they were pointing out but there was the need to attend to such cries in case the cry was right.

    He noted that it would ensure justice and security and would quell the many agitations in the country.

    The Zamfara Governor and Chairman of the governors forum, Abdulaziz Yari, stated that about 99.9 per cent of insecurity emanated from the states with a little coming from the federal side.

    He observed that security was a primary responsibility of government to secure the lives and property of the citizens.

    Yari stated that the governors had been shouldering so many responsibilities on provision of logistics to the security operatives to stem insecurity at the grassroots.

    According to him the governors are doing extremely well in collaborating with security agents and would continue to do so.

    He also highlighted the mission of the federal government to achieve security and fight corruption and hailed the administration for its focus.

    The governor noted that in spite of the progresses made in fighting insecurity in the North East there was a resurgence of attacks on the people which he described as unfortunate.

    The governor said that security could not be achieved without tackling the economy adding that the unemployed youth were the agents used to foment trouble.

    He therefore suggested that efforts should be made to engage the youth to keep their minds off crimes.

    Yari mentioned the diversification into agriculture but noted that in the past 10 years only N400 billion was invested by all stakeholders into agriculture but in 2010 alone AMCON bailed indebted banks with N4 trillion.

    He said only N23 billion was invested in agriculture in the past two years which was not enough to engage the youths.

    He said it would be important to tackle the youth problems while also investing in security personnel and apparatus to have a totally secure country.