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Tag: Aminu Masari

  • APC commends Masari for drilling 250 boreholes in Mai’adua

    APC commends Masari for drilling 250 boreholes in Mai’adua

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) has commended Gov. Aminu Masari for drilling 250 boreholes to improve potable water supply in Mai’adua Local Government, Katsina State.

    Alhaji Nura Koza, the APC chairman of the local government made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Mai’adua on Monday.

    Koza said that the intervention had bailed out communities in the area who had suffered “endless water scarcity for years.”

    According to him, Katsina State Government is also repairing many motorized solar water pumps in the area to boost water supply.

    Koza noted that the supply of potable water to communities would boost public health and insulate rural dwellers from water borne diseases.

    The chairman also lauded the governor for the construction of six rural health centers in Jirdede, Galadimawa, Kwadage, Maidaniya, Danyashe  and Mai’adua.

    He said that it was a major project which would enhance access to health services especially for pregnant women and children.

    Koza expressed the hope that the health centres would be fully stocked and provided with qualified personnel for effective services.

    The local APC chairman disclosed that the administration had also constructed two additional primary schools in Kongolam, and at Dumurkol village, the ancestral home of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He added that 37 other primary schools in the area had been renovated by the governor in the last two years.

    The chairman called on the State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct local council polls, so as give local people the opportunity to elect their leaders across the 34 local government areas of the state.

    Koza described local councils election as the bedrock of democracy which help to solidify and consolidate democracy at the grassroots as well as bring people nearer to government.

  • Commission of Inquiry: Katsina vows to recover N58.5bn diverted funds

    Commission of Inquiry: Katsina vows to recover N58.5bn diverted funds

    The Katsina State Government on Sunday said it would use all legal means to recover N58.5 billion allegedly diverted by former governor Ibrahim Shema and some of his lieutenants.

    Gov. Aminu Masari said this in Katsina while receiving the main report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry on missing funds and properties from the commission’s Chairman, Mr Ado Ma’aji.

    He said the state government had established the commission to investigate the loss of funds and properties during the last days of his predecessor’s tenure.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shema was the governor of Katsina State from 2007 to 2015.

    Masari said the state government was not investigating monies spent on executing projects but direct withdrawals from bank accounts belonging to ministries and parastatals.

    The governor said that a White Paper on the issue would soon be forwarded to the state Ministry of Justice for legal consideration.

    Masari said that the funds that were allegedly diverted by the people in question were so huge that the government would not contemplate on not retrieving them.

    He said administrative actions would be taken on those involved that are still serving the state government, while those who are no longer on the state payroll would face legal action.

    “The amount in question is so huge that it cannot be a mistake.

    “If we have such money, we would have transformed the state and made it much better than what it is now.

    “Government will take immediate action on officials found to be involved.

    “We’ll look at the system and those wrongs not connected to individuals would be checked to forestall future occurrence,” he said.

    The governor assured the people of the state that he would pursue the recovery of the money no matter how long it would take.

    Ma’aji had earlier said the commission discovered that a whooping sum of N58.5 billion was unaccounted for after analysing 13 Memoranda presented to it and evaluation of the testimonies of witnesses.

    He said the amount was more than the N55.5 billion the commission came up with during its submission of the interim report.

    The chairman said that the difference was the outcome of a painstaking and critical verification of the figures in producing the main report.

    He said more than N17.9 billion was found to have been diverted under the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) and that over N14.9 billion went unaccounted for under the state’s Roads Maintenance Agency (KASROMA).

    He added that more than N10.1 billion was also unaccounted for on the activities of the Ministry of Environment, Department of Community Development, Special Duties, Girl Child Education and Almajiri affairs.

    He said over N15.4 billion was lost or unaccounted for on the activities of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

    Ma’aji said bulk of the amount was withdrawn from the state’s Joint Local Account into ALGON’s account, and that there was an instance of 87 cheques of between N9 million and N10 million withdrawn in cash on the same day.

    He said the 89 withdrawals were made on May 28, 2015, which was the twilight of Shema’s administration in the state.

    Reacting to the development, Shema said that he was being witch-hunted by Masari’s administration.

    Shema, who spoke through one of his aides, Mr Oluwabusola Olawale, said that he did not commit any fraud during his tenure.

    The ex-governor said that he executed meaningful projects for the development of the state, adding that he has no regrets serving the people of the state.

  • One million pupils to enjoy FG’s schools’ feeding in Katsina State – Official

    One million pupils to enjoy FG’s schools’ feeding in Katsina State – Official

    Over 1 million primary school pupils in Katsina State would benefit from the Federal Government’s Schools’ Feeding programme, an official has said.

    Hajiya Binta Abba, the Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Masari on Girl-child Education and Child Development, disclosed this on Sunday in Katsina at the opening ceremony of a one-day workshop on the feeding programme.

    She said that the training was organised for local governments Unit Heads of Nutrition, Environmental Sanitation, Health Educators, and Education Secretaries of the 34 Local Education Authorities in the state.

    The governor’s aide explained that the programme was designed to provide free meals for pupils of public schools from Class One to Class Three in the state.

    She explained that the gesture was capable of assisting in increasing pupils’ enrolment in schools in the state.

    Abba, therefore, urged participants to understand what the programme entails and work diligently for the attainment of the desired goal.

    In his remarks, Alhaji Mouktar Lugga, a programme consultant, commended the state government for supporting the Federal Government’s programmes designed to improve the living condition of the citizens.

  • Katsina to establish dry meat market for export

    Katsina to establish dry meat market for export

    The Katsina State Government, on Wednesday, said it would soon establish a dry meat modern market in Batagarawa Local Government Area for domestic and export purposes.

    Gov. Aminu Masari made this disclosure in Katsina when the Batagarawa Development Association, paid him a courtesy visit.

    The governor said that the market would be sited at Kayoki village.

    Masari said the state’s Directorate of Economic Empowerment and NAFDAC, would work on how to package the dry meat in hygienic condition.

    The governor said that the aim of the initiative was to boost economic activities and revenue base of the state.

    He urged all dry meat sellers’ associations to liaise with the relevant government agencies to fast track the plan.

    The chairman of the association, Alhaji Muhammad Mujitaba, said the association, which was established more than 10 years ago, had empowered 116 women in Batagarawa council area.

    Mujitaba said the group had also distributed textbooks to various secondary schools in the area to enhance teaching and learning.

  • Masari wants 60 per cent empowerment schemes for women

    Masari wants 60 per cent empowerment schemes for women

    June 11, 2017 (NAN) Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State has called on elected officials, agencies and other initiators of empowerment support schemes to allocate not less than 60 per cent to women.

    Masari made the call in Bakori on Sunday while launching  distribution of 30 cars, 100 motorcycles, 70 sewing machines and 20 generating sets as empowerment items donated by the representative of Bakori/Danja Federal Constituency, Rep. Amiru Tukur.

    The governor explained that women faced enormous challenges, especially in the rural areas, where they were mostly bread winners, sponsoring children’s  education and other burdens.

    He said women always ensured that their earnings went to family upkeep more than men.

    Masari commended Tukur for the gesture and urged other lawmakers to emulate him to empower the people in accordance with the All Progressives Party (APC) manifesto and election promises.

    He advised party officials to ensure fairness and level playing ground for both old and new party members  in the spirit  of democracy.

    “People are willing to defect to APC from various platforms  at national and local levels,  such movements should be welcomed.

    “There is no basis for sideling members on account of period stay in the party as individual members have  different contribution to make to the party’s progress,’’ Masari said.

    Earlier, Tukur said the beneficiaries were from the 22 political wards in the constituency and added that the empowerment scheme was a continuous exercise through which others had benefitted in the past.

    The Katsina State APC Chairman, Alhaji Shitu Shitu, commended Tukur for the gesture and urged other lawmakers to emulate him.

    He said that empowerment schemes were desirable in the  communities.

    Some of the beneficiaries, Sahabu Bade, Haruna Garba, Garba Tandama and Hauwa Iro, expressed gratitude for the gesture and added that Tukur had lived up to the expectations of his constituents.

  • Katsina to renovate dilapidated schools

    Katsina to renovate dilapidated schools

    Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina state has restated the state’s government resolve to renovate dilapidated public schools in the state.

    Masari made the pledge on Monday when he inspected renovation work of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara.

    He said that his administration inherited so many dilapidated boarding secondary schools from the immediate past administration of Gov. Ibrahim Shema.

    “The schools have been neglected and are unfit for students to be sleeping and learning in them.

    “The schools before the beginning of the rehabilitation work were in bad shape and the students were forced to learn under bad situation,“he said.

    Masari said that the state government would not fold its arms and allow students to continue to study under deplorable conditions.

    “It is our duty to provide conducive atmosphere for learning in both boarding and day secondary schools in the state,” he said.

    The governor appealed to parents to be patient as the government was working hard to complete all schools’ renovation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that education was given a lion share in the 2017 state budget in line with the administration’s resolve to repostion the sector.

  • Katsina awards N1.5 bn contract for rehabilitation of Malumfashi water works

    Katsina awards N1.5 bn contract for rehabilitation of Malumfashi water works

    The Katsina State Government says it has awarded contract for the expansion of Malumfashi dam and waterworks at cost of N1.5 billion to improve water supply in the area.

    “The malumfashi dam has not been supplying enough water to the people of the area for the past 10 years as its needs repairs,” Alhaji Sani Umar, the Permanent Secretary, state Ministry for Water Resources said.

    Umar who conducted Gov. Aminu Masari round the dam site on Monday, said that the rehabilitation of the dam would be completed by the end of July.

    According to him, the dam was built in 1983 to provide six million cubic litres of water to Malumfashi and Kankara local government areas.

    He revealed that the project when completed, would provide 12 million cubic litres of water daily to the two council areas and surrounding villages.

    The permanent secretary explained that the project also include the construction of a 10 kilometre access road to the dam and rehabilitation of the dam spillway.

    It also include the repair of water pipeline, fencing of the treatment plant, rehabilitation of overhead tanks and fifteen staff houses.

    Masari expressed satisfaction with the quality of work executed so far and said the expansion work on the dam was to address water scarcity in the area.

    The governor urged the contractor to ensure standard and complete the job on time.

  • LG administrator commends Katsina state govt for promoting security

     

    Alhaji Abdu Soro, interim administrator, Mai’adua local government council in Katsina state, has commended the administration of Gov. Aminu Masari for promoting security in the area.

    Soro made the commendation on Tuesday in Mai’adua in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He said that since its inception in 2015, the administration had made ‘commendable efforts’ to enhance security.

    He said: “our towns and villages enjoy peace and stability even during the night.

    “Thousands of traders patronise Mai’adua international market weekly to conduct their businesses without hitch.

    “I cannot remember when any incidence of breach of security was recorded here.’’

    Soro attributed the relative peace and stability being enjoyed in the area to the determination of the government to combat crime as well as the synergy between it and the security agencies.

    “Every part of this state is secured and free from cattle rustling and other related crimes,” he said.

    He also lauded the efforts of the police, the military, the customs and immigration services as well as civil defence and community policing outfits for their vigilance.

    The chairman also lauded traditional and religious leaders for their efforts in promoting security.

    He said that the council had intensified its efforts to enhance community policing by embarking on enlightenment and sensitisation campaigns on the importance of peaceful co-existence.

    NAN reports that Mai’adua local council, located in the northern part of Katsina, shares border with Niger republic.

     

  • Katsina to re-introduce inter-schools, inter-house sports competitions

    The Katsina State Government says it will re-introduce inter-school and inter-house sports competitions to discover talents that would represent the state in national and international championships.

    Gov. Aminu Masari made the assertion while presenting a giant Trophy to the state’s Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) to organise inter-media sports competition in Katsina.

    “The state government is determined to support all sports in both secondary and primary schools in the state.

    “We shall start introducing inter-house sports competitions in all our boarding schools so as to develop the minds of our students.

    “We shall also introduce the inter-house in our day secondary schools across the state this academic session.

    “The government will in the 2017/2018 academic session introduce inter-school games across the state and use its teachers that have qualification in Physical and Health Education to organise the events,” he said.

    Masari said that sports also had the capacity to provide employment and prevent youths from drug addiction and other vices.

    “We are ready to provide financial and moral assistance to sports development, we are aware that football is being played even in villages and towns in the state,” he said.

    Earlier, the state’s SWAN Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Tanko, commended the governor for the donation of the trophy and his support to Katsina United FC.

    Tanko said that all arrangements had been concluded for inter-media sports competition which would begin in May.

    NAN reports that inter-house and inter-schools sports had been moribund in the state.

     

  • Masari urges politicians to shun violence

    Masari urges politicians to shun violence

    Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State, has urged politicians to eschew politics of bitterness and embrace dialogue in settling their differences.

    Masari made the appeal on Wednesday in Katsina, when he received a delegation of APC leaders from Funtua Local Government Area, who visited him over the fracas that occurred at an APC rally in the town on Sunday.

    Masari assured that the government would expose the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

    “The state government and APC are working towards fishing out the perpetrators and their sponsors.

    “They will be prosecuted and dismissed from the party to serve as deterrent to others,’’ he said.

    He solicited for cooperation and support of the people of Funtua local government in the course of the investigation.

    The governor assured the delegation that the incident would not stop the government from executing ongoing projects in the area.

    “The renovation and upgrading of Funtua General Hospital will continue.

    “I assure you that Funtua as the headquarters of the senatorial zone will continue to receive government attention,’’ he said.

    Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Alhaji Muntari Dandutse, said the visit was to sympathize with the governor over the incident which occurred while  receiving some defectors to APC.

    Dandutse, who represents Funtua/Dandume Federal Constituency, assured that they would cooperate with government to fish out those behind the act.

    Also in an address, the member representing Funtua constituency in the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abubakar Total, claimed that the perpetrators were not from Funtua