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Tag: AbdulFatah Ahmed

  • Offa Robbery: KWSG procures Armoured Personnel Carriers

    Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has vowed to procure additional Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) to beef up security in Offa and strategic locations across the state.

    The governor, who urged well-meaning citizens of the state to resist any attempt by anyone to use the unfortunate Offa robbery attack for political purposes, said this during swearing-in of a new Khadi of the state Shariah Court of Appeal, Hon. Mas’ud Adebayo Oniye.

    The governor frowned at utterances made to score political gain, pointing out that “those utterances do not reflect our values as Kwarans and should stop, out of respect for the dead and the injured”.

    Gov Ahmed assured Kwarans that government will    do everything within its power to ensure that the good people of Offa and Kwara State never experience such a tragedy again.

    According to him,”For the avoidance of doubt, let me reassure Kwarans and indeed all Nigerians that the culprits will be apprehended and brought to justice swiftly.

    “Presently, the police and other security agencies in the country have begun a vigorous manhunt for the perpetrators of the dastardly and horrid attack on the peaceful and industrious people of Offa”.

    Governor Ahmed advised that “our people must be vigilant and security conscious as part of community involvement in effective policing”.

  • Ahmed advocates greater media freedom

    Kwara Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has described media as strong instrument of change in attitude, perception and governance, saying they had moved beyond just information dissemination.

    He, therefore, called for strengthening of freedom of the press in the country to enable it to continue to play the reform role at all times and unhindered.

    Ahmed made the call on Tuesday in Ilorin, when he received members of the International Press Institute ( IPI ) led by a former Director-General of Nigeria Television Authority ( NTA ), Dr Tony Iredia, visited him.

    He said that the media were very critical to development and should be factored into processes of governance in the country.

    He advised that any government that wanted to impact on the people must allow for freedom of press.

    According to the governor, the moment information was not allowed to flow freely the populace will be cut-off from government.

    He pointed out that it would be difficult for positive changes to take place without free-flow of information.

    “I feel that the role Nigeria press is playing, it requires to be strengthened as it is more needed now than ever.

    Read Also: Ahmed to support IPI congress 2018

    “Information dissemination is critical to stability and that is why anything that has to do with information dissemination must be taken seriously,” Ahmed added.

    He urged the IPI members to use the instrumentality of information dissemination to ensure good governance and stability in the country.

    The governor also charged the media to showcase achievements in Nigeria and its people to the international community.

    Earlier, Iredia had said that the delegation was in Kwara to sensitise government and the people to the forthcoming conference of the Institute.

    He announced that the conference would hold in June in Abuja and expressed hope that it would change the perception of foreigners about Nigeria.

    Iredia emphasised the importance of free press in the country and called for an attitudinal change towards the media by allowing them access to information.

    He also called for good remuneration for journalists, saying that would enable them to perform their duties effectively.

    Iredia commended the governor for the infrastructure development in the state, especially the ongoing Diamond under-pass project at Geri-Alimi area.

    NAN

  • Gov Ahmed advocates greater freedom of the press

    Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed has advocated for freedom of the press in the country in view of their role as an instrument of change in any given society.

    Speaking during a courtesy visit by members of the International Press Institute (IPI) led by a one-time Director-General of Nigeria Television Authority (D-G NTA), Dr. Tony Iredia, he said the press is very critical to development and should be factored into governance processes in the country.

    The Governor said any government that wants to impact on the people must allow for freedom of press saying the moment information is not allowed to flow freely then the populace will be cut-off from the root of government.

    He noted that the press has moved beyond dissemination of information to becoming a strong instrument of change in attitude and perception stating that it is difficult to see change taking place without free-flow of information.

    According to him, “I feel the role Nigeria press is playing required to be strengthened as it is more required now than ever. Information dissemination is critical to stability. That is why anything that has to do with information dissemination must be taken seriously”.

    Read Also: Ahmed to support IPI congress 2018

    He urged the IPI to use their instrumentality of information dissemination in stabilizing the status of Nigeria to ensure good governance and showcase a lot of achievements about Nigeria and its people to the outside world.

    Earlier, the leader of the IPI team, Dr. Tony Iredia said they are on a nationwide tour to sensitize governments and people of the country about the forthcoming conference of the Institute coming up in June in the country as it is capable of changing the perception of foreigners about Nigeria.

    Dr. Iredia who emphasized the importance of free press in the country called for an attitudinal change towards the press by allowing them access to information as well as providing journalists with good remuneration to enable them to perform their duties effectively.

    He commended the governor for the infrastructure development witnessed in the state especially the Diamond under-pass going on at Geri-Alimi saying other leaders in the country should emulate the good work of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

     

  • Kwara: Gov. Ahmed signs bill stopping payment of pension to Gov, Deputy

    Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has signed into law an amendment bill stopping payment of pension to former governors and deputy governors in the state.

    The State House of Assembly recently passed by the bill stopping payment of pension to former governors and deputy governors in the state.

    The passage of the bill followed consideration of a report presented by the Chairman, House Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Emmanuel Abodunrin.

    With the signing of the amended law by the governor, former governors and their deputies shall no longer be entitled to pension and other benefits whenever they hold a political or public office.

    Similarly, the governor gave his assent to the Ilorin Township (Prohibition Against the Production, Sale and Consumption of Liquor in Certain Areas) Law, 2018, as passed by the Kwara State House of Assembly.

    Under the law, no person will be allowed to produce, sell, store or openly consume alcohol within specified areas in the metropolis.

    The bill stipulates that any person who contravenes the provision of this law shall be guilty of an offense and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N100, 000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six month or both.

    NAN

  • Ahmed flags off Measles Vaccination

    Ahmed flags off Measles Vaccination

    Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, on Tuesday in Ilorin, flagged off Measles Vaccination Campaign, calling on parents and caregivers in the State to make their children available for the immunisation.

    According to the governor, on no account should parents deprive their children a secure future and a healthy life on the basis of cultural and religious beliefs.

    Dr Ahmed explained that the state government had put in place strategies to reduce the burden of measles and placed a high premium on Primary Health Care and Routine Immunisation.

    “The government has supported Primary Health Care activities by paying the counterpart fund for this Measles Vaccination Campaign and the biannual Maternal, New-born Child Health (MNCH) Week which is aimed at delivering high impact interventions to mothers and children”, the governor said.

    Governor Ahmed assured Kwarans that the forthcoming State Health Insurance Scheme would also ensure that quality and affordable health care services, including immunization, are accessible to all citizens of the State regardless of their economic status.

    Meanwhile, the World Health Organization, WHO, coordinator in the state, Pharmacist Mustapha Katibi has commended the state government for retaining its polio free status since 2009.

    In his goodwill message at the Measles Vaccination Campaign, Pharmacist Katibi said the WHO is pleased with Kwara State Government in its activities to ensure that the people of Kwara State attain highest standard of health.

    Katibi explained that his office had collaborated with the state in a number of campaigns, including the just concluded Yellow Fever Preventive Vaccination in which Kwara scored over 90% in Post Coverage Survey Report released last week.

    The WHO Coordinator also disclosed that Measles remains a burden in Nigeria as a result of high level of unvaccinated children.

    “Nigeria, being a signatory to the Measles elimination by the year 2020 is organising Measles campaigns from October, last year to March this year”.

     

  • Kwara Assembly passes bill stopping pension to ex-govs

    Kwara Assembly passes bill stopping pension to ex-govs

    The Kwara State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed an amendment bill halting payment of pension to former governors, deputy governors and other officers holding political offices after their tenure in office.

    The passage of the bill followed the consideration of the report of the House Committee on Establishment and Public Service at the Committee of the Whole House sitting in Ilorin.

    The motion for the passage of the bill was moved by the Deputy House Leader, Segilola Abdulkadir and was unanimously adopted by members.

    Read Also: Kwara communities settle differences

    The Deputy Speaker, Matthew Okedare, who presided over the plenary, directed the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Mohammed Katsina, to prepare clean copy of the bill for governor’s assent.

    The bill, which was forwarded to the House by Gov. AbdulFatah Ahmed, sought to review the existing law where payment of pension for former governors and deputy governors after their tenures would be suspended.

    NAN

  • Ahmed approves appointment of Local Government Monitoring Committees

    Ahmed approves appointment of Local Government Monitoring Committees

    The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the appointment of local government monitoring committees for the sixteen local government councils in the state.

    In a statement issued in Ilorin, the state capital on Tuesday, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Sola Gold, said the approval was sequel to the government’s desire to ensure development projects are properly implemented according to specifications.

    Read More: Kwara 2019: Who succeeds Ahmed?

    Alhaji Gold added that the committees are also to serve as additional platforms for assessing the development needs of the local governments in the state in line with the state government’s desire to ensure a meaningful spread of development projects across the state.

    The Secretary to the State Governor congratulated the new committee members and tasked them to work together in the overall interest of the state.

  • Gov Ahmed calls for enforcement of ban on importation of poultry products

    Gov Ahmed calls for enforcement of ban on importation of poultry products

    Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has called for stronger enforcement of current ban on importation of poultry products into the country to protect the health of citizens and boost the nation’s economy.

    Declaring open a seminar organised by the Poultry Association of Nigeria with the themed: “Impact of Smuggled Poultry Products on the Economy and Health of Nigerians” in Ilorin, Governor Ahmed emphasised that Nigeria has the local capacity to fill the supply gap that may be created by this ban on importation of frozen meat.

    The governor who explained that poultry industry is still faced with challenges including but not limited to unfair competition from imported frozen meat, chicken and turkey, said “imported frozen meat is said to account for over $2.5 in foreign exchange and a loss of more than one million jobs opportunities annually”.

    The net impact of this, according to Dr Ahmed, is the gradual emasculation of local businesses, resulting in unemployment and stunting growth.

    Gov Ahmed insisted that smuggling of contraband items drains the national income, retards local businesses and often results in the demise of local industries, and in the long term have devastating effects on the health of consumers.

    Earlier in his remarks, the President, Poultry Association Nigeria, Mr. Ezekiel Ibrahim, who attributed high cases of cancer and kidney diseases, particularly among the wealthy individuals, to the consumption of imported products,  disclosed that an average of 1.3 metric tonnes of poultry products were smuggled into the country on annual basis between 2004 and 2017.

    Mr. Ibrahim called on Kwara State Government to encourage whistleblowing policy among inhabitants of border communities to expose those smuggling poultry products.

    In his paper presentation titled: State of Emergency: Job losses due to smuggling of poultry products in Nigeria, the immediate past National President of the association, Dr Ayoola Oduntan described poultry business as low hanging fruits with potential to creating high paying jobs.

  • Kwara governor dissolves cabinet

    Kwara governor dissolves cabinet

    Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, on Thursday dissolved the state executive council.

    A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, said all special advisers, senior special assistants and special assistants are affected by the dissolution.

    According to the statement, Governor Ahmed directed the commissioners to hand over to the permanent secretaries of their various ministries and assured citizens that additional measures have been put in place to sustain government business pending the reconstitution of the state executive council.

    Read Also:  Herdsmen burn ex-naval chief’s farms in Kwara

    Alhaji Gold added that the governor thanked the former executive council members, special advisers and assistants for their valuable service and contributions and wished them the best of luck in their future engagements.

     

  • Saraki, Ahmed, Emir for Quranic competition

    Saraki, Ahmed, Emir for Quranic competition

    Senate President Bukola Saraki, Kwara state Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Emir of Ilorin are expected to grace the finals of this year’s quranic competition.

    The finals of the competition, organized by the state Quranic competition committee, holds between 28th and 29th of this month at the state’s stadium complex.

    The chief host is the chairman , Kwara state Arabic board, Dr. Abdulkadir Juma’ Al-Salman, the co-host is the Danmadami of Ilorin and chairman, state Quranic Committee, Alhaji Sheu Abdulgafar.

    Spokesperson of the committee, Alhaji Nuhu Isa said that the proprietor of Baraje Centre for Arabic and Islamic studies, Ilorin, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje would be the chairman of the occasion while Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Netherlands, Dr. Nimatallahi Akanbi would be the chairperson. A Sharia court Khadi, Justice AbdulLateef Kamaldeen is the guest lecturer.

    The finals would produce the state’s reciters for the national contest coming up in Katsina between 2nd February and 11, 2018.

    The statement added that the reciters had gone through the local government and senatorial level contests to qualify for the finals where the state’s representatives for the national contest would emerge.

    The statement said those who excelled in the competition would be presented with prizes on at the closing ceremony on 30th December at the state stadium complex, Ilorin.