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Tag: Ahmed

  • Why we established Aviation College, by Ahmed

    Why we established Aviation College, by Ahmed

    •Kwara spends N2.2 on SMEs

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has said the government established the International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin, to help the country save foreign exchange, and to empower and improve capacity of stakeholders in the aviation industry.

    He spoke when Coordinator of the Nigerian Army Aviation Maj.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi visited him at the Government House in Ilorin.

    Ahmed said the need to make Kwara a state of preference by investors, and improve training time of pilots, are among reasons for establishing the college.

    “The last six years has witnessed an improved capacity building at the college, as well as strengthening of assets to benchmark it against best practices in the aviation industry,” he said.

    Governor Ahmed was happy facilities at the college met the Armed Forces training standards.

    Gen. Olawumi said the facility and environment at the college were satisfactory, adding that the five pilots sponsored by the Army to the college expressed preference to return to Ilorin for further training.

    According to him, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, directed him to visit the state to ascertain the state of the college for training of its officers and “partner IAC as a way of strengthening local institutions and saving foreign exchange”.

    Governor Ahmed said his administration spent about N2.25 billion to strengthen capacity of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

    He added that in commitment to this, he earmarks N500 million yearly towards the scheme.

    Ahmed spoke at the second annual general meeting (AGM) of the Kwara State Coalition of Business and Professional Associations (KWACOBPA).

    Represented by the Commissioner for Commerce and Cooperatives, Ahmed Rifun, the governor said: “The spate of growth in the number of micro credit loan seekers, which includes viable cooperative groups, paved the way for the creation of Kwara State Bureau of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This development is also complementing the Federal Government’s effort in assisting entrepreneurial development in the state…”

    “I must say many activities have been going on since its establishment. These include youth empowerment schemes; agricultural loan and seedlings scheme; motor vehicle and motorcycle loan.

  • Ahmed promises more funds for councils

    Ahmed promises more funds for councils

    Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed has promised to give additional funds to the local government councils to offset outstanding salary arrears.

    The councils got N1 billion as part payment from the Paris club refund which accrued to the state.

    The governor, who addressed stakeholders yesterday at the monthly All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum, promised that additional funds will be released as soon as other outstanding commitments, including pensions and gratuities of state retirees, are settled as encapsulated in the 2017 budget.

    He explained that the N5.1 billion received is 12.5 lower than the amount the state was expecting.

    According to him, state-owned tertiary institutions are also expected to benefit from the refund.

    “I’m pained that the country’s economic challenges have taken their toll on every segment of the country, particularly the local government workers,” he lamented.

    Ahmed promised that his government will work towards ending the salary crisis at the local government level.”

    He, however, assured Kwarans that another tranche of the refund would be released in September, and promised to continue to improve on the people’s welfare.

  • Ahmed urges MFBs to be customer-friendly

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has urged microfinance banks in the state to render suitable and customer friendly services. He said this becomes expedient as current banking activities now demand more flexible services. He noted that his administration has ensured inclusive financial system to grow and expand businesses in the state. He said the financial help is providing existing businesses with access to capital at single digit interest rates.

    Governor Ahmed said this in Ilorin, the state capital at the commissioning of the first cooperative financial institution, KWACOFOCUS Micro Finance Bank. He said his government holds agricultural sector in high esteem owing to the potential of the sector to create employment and generate revenue through investment opportunities in the agricultural value chain.

    The governor said that the institution was set up as a source of financial services to low-income earners and micro and small enterprises operators, who find it difficult to access needed funding in certain financial institutions.

    He said the floating of the financial organisation would complement the government’s efforts in financial inclusion for rural farmers and traders.

    The governor urged members of the public, especially the youths to take advantage of the services of the bank and access funding for their businesses.

    He pledged the commitment of his administration to provide a conducive and enabling environment for banks and businesses in the state.

    Earlier, the Chairman, Board of Directors of the bank, Hajia Zururat Zubair, said the financial institution was set up to complement the effort of the government in the areas of agric development and sustainable empowerment for rural farmers, financial inclusion for rural women and youths, support for the growth and development of small scale businesses and easy accessibility to finance.

    She said that the bank would work to bridge the funding gap perceived to be an impediment in meeting the target of placing agricultural value addition into a greater level.

    She added that 80 percent of the bank’s credit facility would be set aside for agricultural cooperative societies.

    Hajia Zubair urged farmers and small scale business owners to partner with the new financial institution, saying it belongs to all Kwarans who determine to grow their businesses.

  • Ahmed seeks regulation of religious teaching

    Ahmed seeks regulation of religious teaching

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has advocated proper regulation of religious teachings to avoid inculcating religious extremism and intolerance in youths.

    He made the call at the weekend when he received the National Executives of the Jama’atul Izalatul Bidiah Wal Iqamatil Sunnah (JIBWIS), led by National Chairman Sheikh Abdullahi Bala-Lau, at the Government House in Ilorin.

    Ahmed said there is a need for religious groups to devise an acceptable and workable means of curtailing indoctrination of youths by religious extremists.

    According to him, there are misrepresentations and misconceptions on various Islamic teachings which must be addressed by relevant Islamic bodies to ensure the right information is disseminated to the public.

    He advised JIBWIS to partner similar religious bodies in ensuring that correct information and teachings, which will show the beauty and sweetness of Islam, is disseminated in Nigeria.

    His words: “As leaders of religious organisations, you have critical roles to play in redirecting the society to live a better God-guided life.”

    Ahmed advocated for acquisition of both western and Islamic education, by Muslim youths, to maximise opportunities and properly understand the dynamics of the modern world.

    Sheikh Bala-Lau called on Nigerian leaders to always give a sense of direction to the youths, particularly through skill acquisition programmes.

    He advised Muslims to follow the real teachings of Islam and laws of the land to ensure peace and harmony in the country.

    The cleric said the organisation, with over 40 years of propagating Islam, had rendered humanitarian services to Nigerians across religious divide.

  • 2019: Who succeeds Ahmed?

    2019: Who succeeds Ahmed?

    Ahead of the 2019 governorship election in Kwara State, chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) have returned to the drawing board. Correspondent ADEKUNLE JIMOH examines the succession battle in the Confluence State.

    The race for governor in Kwara State has begun. Ahead of the 2019 general elections, some politicians interested in taking a shot at the seat have started oiling their political machinery.

    Kwara State politics is dominated by the late Dr Olusola Saraki’s political dynasty. So, whoever would emerge as the next governor is likely to enjoy the blessing of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, a scion of the Saraki dynasty. As at the last count, no fewer than 15 persons under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have indicated interest in the seat.

    Some of followers and loyalists of the Senate President who are eyeing the governorship are holding political offices both at the state and national levels. Apparently, to prevent the ambition of the gladiators from heating up the polity, the APC has issued a stern warning to members to abide by the rules of the Saraki dynasty.

    As a result, some of those nursing the ambition are going about it surreptitiously. Indications are that some of the aspirants considered to be serious contenders have floated what an impeccable source called “subtle pressure groups”.

    Those interested in the number one seat include: the spokesperson of the APC at the national level, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad; former acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and now an APC stalwart, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje; the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Special Duties, Alhaji Mashood Mustapha; the senator representing Kwara North Senatorial District, Alhaji Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi; and the member representing Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Razak Atunwa.

    Others are a member representing Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Abubakar Amuda-Kannike; his counterparts for Edu/Moro/Patigi Constituency and Baruten/ Kaiama Constituency respectively, Alhaji Bahago Ahman Patigi and Zakari Mohammed; the Chief of Staff, Government House, Ilorin, Alhaji Yusuf Abdulwahab; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Alhaji Usman Bibire Ajape.

    Some of the aspirants have started recruiting of youth groups and others to work clandestinely towards their goals. The youth have taken to social media platforms to market the candidacy of their principals. It was learnt that some of the aspirants, who may likely join the race immediately the whistle is blown, are afraid of impending backlash in the event that they unveil their plans ahead of time.

    Social media platforms are already awash with names of Abdullahi, Ahmad and Mustapha as likely successors of Governor Ahmed when his second term of four years ends May 29, 2019. It was gathered that Mustapha is not making his ambition secret, as he has already started strategic moves to curry the favour of the powers that be in securing the governorship ticket of the APC.

    His 2019 branded vehicles are already out in some parts of Ilorin metropolis. He was a member of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015 and served as Commissioner during the tenure of Dr. Bukola Saraki as governor of Kwara State.

    For Abdullahi, some youth organisations were said to have started convening stakeholders’ fora both in Ilorin and Abuja, as a platform to commence subtle campaigns. Abdullahi served as Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission in the cabinet of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    But, Ahmad is still keeping his ambition close to his chest. He was a member of the Seventh National Assembly, where he served as Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Justice. His four years in the Green Chamber gave birth to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, a bill he sponsored, with main objective of speedy trial of criminal cases.

    The Speaker’s media aide,Shuaib Abdulkadir, has, however, dismissed the rumour that his principal is nursing governorship ambition in 2019. He said it is only the party hierarchy that would determine who takes what in the forthcoming general elections. He added that no decision had been taking on that yet.

    Abdulkadir said: “As far as everybody is concerned in Kwara State, and as you rightly know, he (Ahmad) is the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, representing Ilorin South Constituency in the State House of Assembly. Yes, you might have been told some things about his ambition. I am not aware of that. But, I can tell you reliably that he is not nursing that ambition (governorship seat) yet, except probably what the party hierarchy in the state would decide, which everybody is not aware of. That is all I can tell you.”

    The Speaker himself neither picked our correspondent’s telephone call, nor responded to text messages sent to him, inquiring about his 2019 governorship ambition.

    A member representing Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency, Dr. Abubakar Amuda-Kannike, could not be reached for his comment on the matter.

    But Baraje advised those nursing governorship ambitions in Kwara on the APC platform to tarry awhile. He urged such aspirants to exercise patience and allow the incumbent governor to concentrate on his job.  He also said it was too early for anyone to  campaign for governorship or any elective office, two years down the line.

    Baraje pointed out that there is a rare political system in Kwara State, where the party’s hierarchy decides who takes what. He advised those reported to be nursing governorship ambition to allow the system work.

    He said: “In Kwara State, Dr Bukola Saraki, the Senate President is still our leader. I respect him and still queue behind him and when the time comes, all of us shall sit down together and the system will bring out the best candidates for governorship and other elective offices that will be beneficial to the people of our state.

    “For now, I think we should allow the sitting governor to continue the good work he is doing.  The governor is doing his best to serve the people in accordance with the principles and policies of our great party, the APC.

    “It is public knowledge that the governor has been going round the state inaugurating various projects as well as empowering the vulnerable members of the society. To those nursing governorship ambitions, I advise them to be patient and cooperate with the political leader of the state.”

    Baraje said if the so-called governorship aspirants “have been part of the APC family in the state, then, they are not doing justice to the system and if they have not been part of us, then they should know that we have a system.”

    The flag bearer of the Labour Party in the last general elections, Dr Mike Omotoso, is believed to be one of those aspiring for Governor Ahmed’s seat. But, he is eyeing to contest on the platform of another party this time around.

    Omotoso, it was gathered, may contest on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He recently gave conditions for his participation the 2019 contest. Though he did not disclose the platform which he would use as a vehicle to contest, Omotoso said the readiness of the electorate would spur him to join the race.

    Indications emerged that the pharmacist-turned-politician is tinkering with the idea defecting to the PDP to realise his ambition. Omotoso, popularly known as Omotosure, stated that the masses remain the determinant factor of the electoral processes.

    The former LP flagbearer, who lost to the Governor Ahmed in the 2015 polls, said his decision to vie for the governorship was to improve the welfare of the electorate.

    He said: “I would love to run, but the people must be ready. It is not about me wanting to be governor. I am not a career politician; it is about better life for the masses. At the right time, details will be unveiled by the people, if they actually want me to run.”

    The PDP under which he is reportedly seeking to contest, has been polarised into two factions with Senators Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi each laying claim to the soul of the party. Although the recent Appeal Court verdict recognised Modu Ali as the authentic National Chairman of the party, the National Caretaker Committee, chaired by Makarfi, has headed for Supreme Court to upturn the appellate court judgment.

  • Ahmed advocates community policing

    Ahmed advocates community policing

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has identified community policing as an effective and efficient way of tackling security challenges in the country.

    The governor spoke when he received the new Commissioner of Police, Lawan Ado, at the Government House in Ilorin, the state capital. He proffered community policing as a feasible option in the battle against insurgency, kidnapping and other security threats to the country’s existence.

    Ahmed urged the police to strengthen existing police/public relationship to resolve issues militating against peaceful coexistence between various groups.

    The governor, who praised the former police boss, Olusola Amore, for introducing community policing, advised Ado to adopt the style to strengthen the existing peace and harmony in the state. He promised to support the new commissioner to make the state safer.

    Ado promised to do his best to maintain peace, law and order in the state. “Kwara State is a state of harmony. I intend to work hard towards sustaining the harmonious environment,” Ado promised.

  • Ahmed imposes dusk -to- dawn curfew on Kwara communities

    Ahmed imposes dusk -to- dawn curfew on Kwara communities

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Iloffa and Odo Owa communities in Oke-Ero local government area of Kwara State following outbreak of hostilities.

    The communal clash, which occurred last Thursday, allegedly claimed four lives.

    The bloody fracas was said to have been caused by a disagreement over who has the right to first sell yams harvested from the farm of the traditional rulers of the two communities.

    The clash was the second in two years between the two communities.

    The two communities, it was gathered, have a common market located to serve as border between them.

    One of those reportedly killed was a young graduate who escorted his wife to the market.

    “Several houses were also razed during the clash while many residents fled the area into neighbouring communities.

    Ahmed imposed the curfew on both communities between 6pm and 6am immediately.

    Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, in a statement barred all human and vehicular traffics in Iloffa and Odo-Owa during the curfew.

    The government also ordered suspension of any activities related to the yam festival in Oke Ero Local Government Area.

     

  • Ahmed, Ooni call for national unity

    Ahmed, Ooni call for national unity

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, and the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyey Enitan Ogunwusi, have called on Nigerians to work for the unity, peace and corporate existence of the country.

    The duo made the call at the weekend when the monarch visited Ahmed at the Government House in Ilorin.

    Ahmed said: “Our diversity should be a source of strength rather than of disunity. God has a reason for creating us in this geographical entity called Nigeria; we should allow that reason for greatness to manifest.

    “We should to live together in peace, irrespective of our political, social, ethnic or religious differences. Everyone must be an advocate of peace.”

    The governor described Oba Adeyeye as an epitome of peace, considering his antecedents since he assumed the throne. According to him, the monarch has redefined the role of traditional rulers as participatory in the act of governance.

    Oba Adeyeye noted that Nigerians have sacrificed for the cooperate existence of the country than the unfortunate song of disunity in some quarters.

    He urged the people to show more patriotism and muster resources for the growth and development of the country.

    “We have more to benefit as a united entity. We must, therefore, sacrifice for the generations yet unborn,” he said.

    The monarch described Ahmed as a focused governor and an embodiment of simplicity and humility. He congratulated him on the state’s golden jubilee.

  • Ahmed canvasses reform of local councils for economic viability

    Ahmed canvasses reform of local councils for economic viability

    •Governor: influx of people into Ilorin putting pressure on water facility

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has canvassed the need to reform the country’s local government areas.

    He emphasised that economic viability and not autonomy should be the focus of such reform, if the councils must meet up with their responsibilities.

    Ahmed called for adequate funding of local governments.

    The governor spoke in Ilorin, the state capital, at the weekend while interacting with reporters as part of activities marking the state’s Golden Jubilee anniversary.

    He said adequate fiscal allocation to the third tier of government remains the only viable solution to the myriad of problems plaguing the councils, especially payment of salaries and pensions.

    Ahmed, who clarified that the state government is not owning its workers, said the feat was made possible by windows of opportunities that were open to the state in revenue generation drive.

    Lamenting the plight of local government workers and pensioners in the state over varied degree of salary arrears they were being owed, Ahmed blamed the situation on the persisting dwindling allocation from the federation account to both the states and local government areas across the country.

    “At the state level, we are able to pay workers’ salaries as and when due because of other sources of revenue generation that are opened to us. But unfortunately the local government do not have such privileges because of the way and manner of their establishment,” he added.

    On the problem of water supply in Ilorin, the governorsaid provision of potable water in parts of the state had remained a problem because of increasing population.

    He noted that the influx of people from different part of the country to Ilorin because of its peaceful environment had put pressure on water facility.

    The governor, who described the state as a gateway between the Southwest and the North, said the prevailing peaceful and harmonious atmosphere in the state had made it conducive for people to settle away from trouble prone areas of the country.

     

     

     

     

  • Ahmed: Writing his name on sand of history

    Just recently, Kwara State governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed had occasion to lead a team of government officials to a meeting with the World Bank, in Abuja. The meeting was aimed at creating a productive partnership between Kwara State and the global financial institution. The partnership would result in easy financing of key components of the developmental programmes of the Ahmed administration as it marks the first half of its second term which coincides with 50th Anniversary of the state.

    Having seen the propositions by the state government to the bank, I have undertaken to debrief stakeholders on some of its contents as a way of linking the people with the state, to understand the mind-set of the current administration on some of the key projects that are either being undertaken or that are projected to be undertaken before the end of its tenure.

    Dr Ahmed, according to the document, seeks to pioneer a new approach to governance with his Quality of Life (QoL) governance system and promised the bank that his leadership of the state under the QoL platform has been influenced by three key factors: Clear Vision, Internal Realignment and Institution Building.  The Internal Reforms/Realignment led to the creation of Kwara Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) which was meant to build an independent revenue base outside of the federal allocation.

    The governor told the World Bank team that it was this move that helped the state survive the ‘recession scare’. Having established a sound footing with Internally Generated Revenue, the next phase is investment in infrastructure through the Kwara Infrastructure Investment Fund Strategies (KIIFS). The KIIFS, which gave birth to the Investment Fund Kwara (IF-K), targeted a portfolio of US$ 708 million when it was developed in 2014. The state had decided at an executive session early this year to fund new projects in-house to the tune of US$ 33.5 million under the IF-K platform.  The final phase would be investment in strategic commercial and capital intensive sectors of the economy which would need greater financial input, arguably beyond the capacity of the state.

    These are the kind of projects that dragged the state before the World Bank, in search of partnership. And I was proud of my state when the Team Leader reeled out the qualities and achievements of the administration that we believe make us qualified for such a partnership.  We scored high in availability of political will through which we allowed decision making processes to drive the desired progressive change.

    The governor had demonstrated this with the reform of the internal revenue generation system such that while the old system generated N8.05 billion averagely per annum between 2010-2011, the new system has raked in N8.3 billion for the first quarter of year 2017 alone! While our IGR was a mere 22% of our total revenue in 2010, today it stands at 56%! And we are doing well in the area of having a progressive tax-system administration and institutional mission of data gathering for development programme and accountability. The state’s financial income is published monthly for citizens’ engagement and transparency; very few states are doing this as at now.

    We are also positively involved in citizenship inclusion orientation and strategies, and are also not doing badly in the area of raising awareness for citizens’ protection. The governor is accessible via social media and holds regular Town Hall meetings with diverse stakeholders in the state to sell policies and agenda to them, deliberate and reach consensus on various issues. We are also very high in the area of having an enabling regulatory and policy environment, having our decisions data-driven instead of being based on intuition and political propaganda.

    The area we need help, and which the governor led the team to the World Bank, is having enough fund to spend on social amenities and the transformation of our economy. If the World Bank accedes to our request, we would expect $40 million to support the ongoing work at the International Vocational Training Centre (IVTEC), Ajase-Ipo, $38.9 million on school renovations with the aim of having schools with 30 students to one teacher, $21 million on state-wide health scheme and $21.1million for the ongoing Light-UP Kwara.

    Other areas the governor said the state needs support include $20.6 million on water accessibility,  $14.5 million on artisanal mining light processing hub, $2million on data-driven medium and large scale agriculture, $2million on MSME financial inclusion and $2million for a government efficiency unit.

    And I am aware the state has the track record when it comes to ring-fencing state entities from several projects to enhance transparency and successful outcomes. For instance, the state health care fund is not within the ambit of government intervention just as the IF-K which gives investors rest of mind that there would be no political interference or use of funds in such establishment.

    As we stand on the threshold of history, waiting for good news from the World Bank, let’s all continue to pray for the success of this administration. There is nothing to doubt that Dr Ahmed meant well for Kwara; he is eager to write his name in the book of history as one man who was opportune by the Almighty to be saddled with the responsibility of leading our state at a trying time and who had the privilege of devising successful means of dealing with the times for the continued prosperity of Kwara.

     

    • Oba is Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor.