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Tag: Aminu Tambuwal

  • Tambuwal approves appointment of Waziri of Sokoto

    Tambuwal approves appointment of Waziri of Sokoto

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state has approved the recommendation of the Sultanate council for the appointment of Prof Sambo Junaidu, as the new Waziri of Sokoto.

    A statement issued by the Secretary to the Sultanate Council, of the state, Alhaji Umar Ladan, in Sokoto on Wednesday announced the governor’s approval for the appointment.

    Ladan sid the governor had also approved the appointment of the new District Heads.

    According to him, the new district heads including: Alhaji Kabiru Alhassan, District Head of Wurno and Alhaji Bello Usman, District Head of Dange.

    Others appointees are; Alhaji Nasiru Umar, District Head of Dogondaji and Alhaji Sada Dikko, District Head of Gande.

    Ladan also said the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, had approved Dec. 9 as the date for the turning of the new Waziri of Sokoto and the four new District Heads.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the new Wazirin Sokoto succeeds his brother, late Dr Usman Junaidu, (85) who died on Oct.10.

    Read Also: Maulud: Imbibe tenets of peace, Tambuwal urges Nigerians

  • Stop discussions on 2019, focus on governance – Tambuwal

    Stop discussions on 2019, focus on governance – Tambuwal

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has described discussions on the 2019 elections as a `distraction and unhelpful’ to elective office holders.

    Tambuwal made the remark in Sokoto on Thursday and said  what should be paramount now were discussions about governance and how the mandates given in 2015 should be executed.

    “I do not know why you are asking to comment about 2019 elections when we only just crossed the half way mark of the mandate entrusted to us in 2015.

    “Elective office holders need us to discuss more about governance. By the time you raise issues about 2019 in 2017, you are distracting the entire polity.

    “We can discuss 2019 election when the time comes but for now, let us discuss governance issues,” he maintained.

    The governor said his administration would continue to promote agricultural and other economic ventures to boost revenue and employment opportunities.

    He said through close collaboration with the private sector, agricultural activities in Sokoto State had increased.

    “With the Anchor Borrowers’ scheme and other interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria, we have made positive impact on the lives of our farmers.

    “Our partnership with Dangote to develop rice through the out-grower scheme at the Goronyo and Middle Rima Valley has been a huge success so far.

    “From 500 hectares in the first year, we have now set aside 2,000 hectares of land for cultivation.

    “In addition to that, Dangote Rice Ltd will establish a rice processing mill here in the state.

    “All these are geared towards harnessing our potential in the sector for the benefit of our citizens,” he said.

    Tambuwal said Sokoto State had positively felt the impact of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, and urged all Nigerians to support the president for continued success of the administration.

    NAN

  • Sokoto to promote public-private partnerships Agriculture – Tambuwal

    Sokoto to promote public-private partnerships Agriculture – Tambuwal

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has pledged his administration’s commitment to promoting agricultural and economic ventures in the state via public-private partnerships.

    Tambuwal, who gave the assurance at a parley with newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday, said that the ventures were geared toward enhancing revenue generation and employment opportunities in the state.

    He listed such ventures as the Anchor Borrowers Scheme and other agricultural projects of the Central Bank of Nigeria, in addition to the schemes of commercial banks which were targeted at boosting agricultural production in the state.

    He said that other ventures were those relating to solid minerals exploitation, tomato farming and processing as well as textiles and agro-allied industries.

    Tambuwal said that a mechanised cattle breeding and dairy farm was established by his administration through such initiatives.

    In the area of education, the governor said that students’ enrolment in schools had increased appreciably, while efforts were underway to upgrade the infrastructural facilities of the schools.

    Tambuwal said that a committee set up by the government had estimated that N47 billion was required to cater for about 2,011 schools.

    He acknowledged the dearth of teachers in the state and the low quality of many teachers, adding, however, that the government would not sack any teachers but it would rather retrain them.

    He stressed that his administration was committed to the judicious management of resources, adding that for instance, funds accruing from the Paris Club loan refunds were used to settle workers’ salary, pensions and other entitlement.

    On sports, Tambuwal said that the Sokoto United Football Club would be repositioned for better performances with enhanced welfare packages, adding that a new stadium would be constructed since the current one was situated in the residential area.

    He said that the state’s laws would be strengthened to address criminal acts like cattle rustling, kidnapping and other social vices.

    NAN

  • NADDC to establish Automobile training school in Nigeria, says DG

    NADDC to establish Automobile training school in Nigeria, says DG

    The Nigerian Automotive Design and Development Council ( NADDC ) said it would  establish automobile training school in the country to train youths in vehicle production.

    Mr Jelani Aliyu, Director General of the agency, said this at the launch of the maiden magazine by the Federated Organisation of Sokoto State Student’s Association ( FOSOSSA ) on Saturday in Sokoto.

    Aliyu, who is the famous Nigerian Chevrolet Car designer, said that the agency aimed to successfully harness the talents of Nigerian youths to support the country’s automobile industry.

    He said: “Our focus now is to introduce a learning ground where the teeming youths will be supported in developing their own ideas into reality.

    “Moreover, we will continue as an agency to ensure more support and collaboration with schools of higher learning in Nigeria, especially in science and technology initiatives.

    “This is to fish out the required talented youths among the students to make necessary arrangements on how to achieve the desired goal. We are planning to aid in boosting the country’s economy.”

    The Director General also said that the agency had invited foreign investors to come and invest in Nigeria to enhance  in the creation of more jobs for the youths.

    “As Nigerians, we have the opportunity to adopt advanced solutions and use them to propel the society, as such the agency plans more innovative support to the country’s automobile industries.

    “We have invited more foreign investors with the aim of creating more job opportunities and ensure the country’s economic growth to successfully build a new Nigeria of our dreams,” he said.

    Aliyu further said that the solution to Nigeria’s problems and challenges was  with each and every citizen of the country.

    “As such, every Nigerian citizen has a responsibility in moving the country forward and we have to embrace our advantages of being the giant of Africa to achieve the set objectives,” he said.

    He said that all the vehicles in the world could be produced in Nigeria through collective engagement of talented youths which Nigeria was blessed with.

    He urged Nigerians to individually and collectively focus on ensuring the dreams and aspiration of the country are achieved for a better society.

    In his remark, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, commended the Director General for giving Nigerian youths the hope of moving the country forward.

    Tambuwal, represented by the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Alhaji Jabbi Kilgore, said that Sokoto state would continue to empower youths to achieve their desired objectives.

    Mr Sirajo Abdullahi,  president of the association,  thanked the Sokoto State Government for enabling youth participation in government policies and programmes.

    NAN

  • Sokoto trains 79 local miners to takeover FG mining sites – official

    Sokoto trains 79 local miners to takeover FG mining sites – official

    Sokoto state government has sponsored the training of no fewer than 79 local miners to acquire modern skills to takeover several Federal Government mining sites in the state.

    Malam Imam Imam, the Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal on Media and Public Relations, made the disclosure in an interview on Tuesday in Sokoto.

    Imam said the gesture was to boost solid mineral potential of the state, adding it was one area that had received the state government’s attention and focus for development.

    Imam said beneficiaries were expected to also train others in the mining communities, stressing that the idea was to key into Federal Government’s agenda on diversification of the economy and to boost employment opportunity among youths.

    The governor’s aide said the initiative had started having positive impacts on the lives of people of the state.

    He said that the state government was partnering with Raw Material Research and Development Council, Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals and Federal Ministry of Environment as well as other stakeholders to drive the project.

    He explained that the state government, in addition had designed series of empowerment programmes for women and youths as part of its efforts to making them become self reliant and productive in the society.

    Imam said such training was either organised directly by government’s ministries and agencies in collaboration with Industrial Training Funds ( ITF ), National Directorate of Employment ( NDE ) and other stakeholders with similar mandates.

    According to him, Sokoto State Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency ( SOSEDAN ) is vigorously facilitating the growth of various entrepreneurs through coordination of its activities, access to funds, markets and management at different levels in the state.

    On agriculture, Imam said the state government was partnering with the Dangote group to boost rice cultivation through anchor borrower scheme.

    The governor’s aide said that 500 hectares of land were cultivated this year.

    He expressed optimism that the farmland would be expanded to about 2,000 hectares next year flowing from this year’s farming season huge success.

    He noted that the dry season rice farming was successful in the state as government provided nets against quela birds among other incentives.

    He said the Rabah farm named: “Sokoto Cattle Breeding, Dairy and Beef Processing Project’’ was established by the state government and equipped with modern tools and machines while foreign professionals were invited to train indigenous managers.

    Imam said state government facilitated the establishment of the state commodity board in which harvested farm produce were being purchased from farmers at appreciable prices to prevent loss due to market fluctuations.

    According to him, such commodities are being released to markets for public consumption as the need arises, to prevent hoarding, which usually results in price manipulation and artificial scarcity.

    “Government also facilitates the establishment of textile and fertiliser companies through public partnership initiative where government invested percentage to argument farmers efforts, increased internal generated revenues and employment opportunities in the state.

    “The government had facilitated the establishment of smaller rice mills and other agro-allied processing company at various locations to complement productions and markets,” Imam said.

    He said that a working committee was inaugurated to facilitate and coordinate all the agricultural projects in the state.

    NAN

  • Gov. Tambuwal advises FG to handover roads to states

    Gov. Tambuwal advises FG to handover roads to states

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Tuesday advised the Federal Government to handover Federal roads to states governments for effective management of the roads.

    Tambuwal gave the advice when he received the Senate Committee on Works led by its Chairman, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, in Sokoto.

    He said: “There is the need for the federal government handover the roads to states, because states governments are closer to the people and we have more efficient methods of supervision.

    “If this is done, it will go a long way in ensuring that the vast majority of major roads and highways in the country are well maintained.’’

    The governor pledged to work with all stakeholders to ensure proper management and development of infrastructure in the state.

    He solicited the support of the National Assembly to facilitate the reimbursement of fund spent by the state government spent on the repairs of some federal roads.

    Earlier, Gaya said they were in the state as part of the committee’s oversight functions and lauded Tambuwal’s administration for providing basic infrastructure that would enhance the wellbeing of people in the state.

    Gaya assured that his committee would facilitate the reimbursement of the funds used by the state government in developing federal roads.

    He thanked the governor for his commitment towards the completion of the Sokoto-Jega-Yauri -Kontagora road, which is currently under construction.

    The roads to be inspected by the committee included Sokoto-Illela and Sokoto-Tambuwal-Jega-Yauri-Kontagora roads.

    NAN

  • Eight division, Nigerian Army takes off in Sokoto

    Eight division, Nigerian Army takes off in Sokoto

    The newly-established 8 Division of Nigerian Army, Sokoto, has taken off with the assumption of duty of its pioneer General Officer Commanding (GOC), Brig.-Gen. Olabanji Samuel,

    Gen. Samuel disclosed this when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal at the Government House in Sokoto  on Wednesday.

    He said necessary arrangements had been put in place to ensure the smooth take off of the new division.

    He said the bulk of the men and officers of the division  had  now been mobilised to ensure its proper take off .

    “As you may recall, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Yusuf Burutai, announced the establishment of this division when he visited Sokoto earlier this year.

    “I am to inform you that we have taken off and we solicit the support and cooperation of the people and State Governments under our jurisdiction,” the new GOC said.

    Gov.Tambuwal assured the Army authorities of  his government’s total support so as to enable the new division to achieve its set  objectives.

    “We welcome you with open hearts; to us, the military are our friends and we will give you all the necessary support to achieve success.

    “We owe you that much having given everything you have to protect us at all times and we will do everything we can to make your stay comfortable.

    “As for the new GOC, we assure you that Sokoto is your home, as we cherish our position of being the most peaceful state in the federation, and your arrival will make us strengthen that position,” the governor said.

    NAN

  • Sokoto: Tambuwal updates Buhari on peace mission, oil exploration

    Sokoto: Tambuwal updates Buhari on peace mission, oil exploration

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state has briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the peace mission by five Northern governors to South-east and South-south regions, and the efforts toward oil exploration in Sokoto Basin.

    The mission, embarked upon by Governors Kashim Shettima of Borno, Aminu Masari of Katsina, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi and Simon Lalong of Plateau states, in September, was meant to douse tension and promote peace and dialogue among all sections of Nigeria.

    Tambuwal, who spoke to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Buhari, disclosed that the delegation met and interacted with their counterparts in Rivers, Abia and the Imo States as well as northerners residing in the South East and South – South areas.

    “I am sure you are aware that recently we were in the south-east, as governors from the north went to interact with our brothers in the South East and South – South and particularly people of the North residing there so there was a need for a feedback.

    “Also we have discussed with the President, if you remember very well recently, I was personally at the NNPC towers where we engaged the GMD (Group Managing Director) of the NNPC on possible oil exploration in the Sokoto basin.

    “I have had cause to brief the president on that particular interaction, there is a need for the Federal government to continue to support that endeavour which I believe will help in more provision of oil and gas which we believe is very much in abundance in this basin but also in bringing about agricultural revolution in that area.

    “If you have gas it will support the power supply which will, in turn, enhance and influence agro-allied industries that are likely to come on board and also have a positive impact economically on the lives and well- being of the people that are along the basin,’’ he said.

    The governor said that the first attempt to search for oil and gas in the Sokoto Basin was in 1957 before attention was shifted to the Niger Delta region.

    He said: “It has always been there since 1957, when the first attempt was made but with the discovery of oil in the Delta, which we believe from the information we have is easier to exploit, there was a shift in focus to that of Niger Delta.

    “We believe particularly the issue of gas, we need it for our local consumption, we have the conviction that what we have in that area is more than sufficient for an upward of 20 to 30 years of use by the people of the area.

    “If explored, we don’t have to make pipelines from the Delta region up north to North West states of Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina, if you do that you will ease the problem of evacuation and transportation or piping as it were of gas and Petroleum products. So it’s a way of providing cheaper services to the people.’’

    Tambuwal described President Buhari’s response to his presentation as “very positive”.

  • Boko Haram: Yobe Governor seeks N13 billion refund

    Boko Haram: Yobe Governor seeks N13 billion refund

    …Tambuwal briefs Buhari on security, oil exploration in Sokoto basin

     

    Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State on Monday said that his state spent N13 billion to fight the insurgents Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

    According to him, he would be glad if the Federal Government could refund at least 30% of the N13 billion.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said that his state has already submitted a request for refund to the Federal Government.

    If refunded, he said that the money would enable the state government carry out some developmental projects including the construction of new hospitals as well as provision of other infrastructural facilities.

    He said “We have not received a single kobo in terms of cash but in terms of materials, food and non-food items, we have been receiving a lot which I cannot tell you precisely in a quantify form.

    “But, doing the last administration in Yobe, we took care of the Joint Task Force, a combination of the military, the SSS, the mobile Police, who were carrying out the war against the insurgency.

    “We even paid their allowances, all their logistical needs including patrol vehicles. We spent huge amount of money in that direction up to about N13 billion during the time of the insurgency.

    “We have submitted to the federal government if they could refund even 30 per cent of that amount so that we can use the money on some developmental projects like construction of hospitals.” he said

    On his meeting with the President, Geidam said that he briefed him on the return of all Yobe Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their respective domains following the relative peace achieved in the state.

    According to him, the state has not encountered any attack by the insurgents in the past two years.

    He said: “I told him that we have gotten relative peace in Yobe state in terms of insurgency. For the past two years or so we have not encountered any attack by the insurgents in Yobe state.

    “I accordingly briefed him that and told him that all our IDPs have returned to their basis and resumed their normal businesses.

    “Our problems now border on resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the destroyed areas by the Boko Haram and I told him that as government we have been doing our best to ensure we restore all those facilities which were destroyed by the Boko Haram.

    “But we need some kind of assistance from the federal government which he promised to assist.’’ he said

    The governor acknowledged that the Presidential Committee on North East Initiative had offered some assistance to the IDPs in the state.

    He, however, called on the committee to do more, adding that “some of our people lost their means of livelihood and they need to be given some amount of money either by the federal government or through the presidential committee to assist them to rebuild their houses so that they could start their normal life.’’ he said

    Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal said that he discussed with President Buhari on security situation in the country and the possibility of oil exploration in the Sokoto basin.

    He said; “I came to see our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari and we had discussion  on quite a number of issues, of specific mention is the issue is the general well- being of the country, security situation of  the country. I am sure you are aware that recently we were in the south east, as governors from the north went to interact with our brothers in the south east and south south and  particularly  people of the North   residing there so there was a need for a feedback.

    “Also we have discussed with the President, if you remember very well recently, I was personally at the NNPC towers where we engaged the GMD of the NNPC on possible oil exploration in the Sokoto basin and I have had cause to brief the president on that particular interaction.

    “There is a need for the Federal government to continue to support that endeavour which I believe will help in more provision of oil and gas which we believe is very much in abundance in this basin  but also in bringing about agricultural revolution in that area.

    “If you have gas it will support the power supply which will in turn enhance and influence agro- allied industries that are likely to come on board and also have a positive impact economically on the lives and well- being of the people that are along the basin. These are some of the issues we discussed with Mr President.

    “It has always been there since 1957, when the first attempt was made but with the discovery of oil in the Delta which we believe from the information we have is easier to exploit, there was a shift in focus to that of Niger Delta.

    “We believe particularly the issue of gas, we need it for our local consumption, we have the conviction that what we have in that area is more than sufficient for an upward of 20 to 30 days of use by the people of the area. If   explored, we don’t have to make pipelines from the Delta region up north to North West states of Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina, if you do that you will ease the problem of evacuation and transportation or piping as it were of gas and Petroleum products. So it’s a way of providing cheaper services to the people,” he said.

    On what the president’s response was, he simply said “It was very positive.”

    Also speaking with State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Buhari, Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru, dismissed the social media report claiming that the Jigawa House of Assembly was plotting to impeach him.

    According to him, the relationship between the executive and legislature in the State has remained cordial.

    On his meeting with the President, the governor, who is the chairman of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, said he updated him on issues bordering on agricultural development in the country.

    He said “We believe agriculture and solid minerals are key to our development and we discussed a lot on how to improve our international competitiveness in agricultural production.

    “As you are aware also that I’m the chairman of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, we have been discussing on fertilizer on agriculture for quite a long time with Mr President and I’m sure he is happy with the suggestions and encouraged us to work hard and to be sure we safeguard the country,’’ he said.

    The governor disclosed that the government was looking into possibility of reducing the cost of inputs as well as to increase farmers’ yields so as to make them competitive.

  • Abdulsalami, Tambuwal, Mark others canvass unity, love for country

    Abdulsalami, Tambuwal, Mark others canvass unity, love for country

    Eminent Nigerians including former Head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal and the immediate past Senate President, Senator David Mark, took stock of the emerging challenges of nation hood and submitted that the peace, unity and security of the country must not be compromised.

    The former Head of State,  Tambuwal , Mark, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS),  General Gabriel  Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) , General Tukur Bruratai and  former COAS , General Alwali Kazir  said at the weekend  in Kaduna that every strategic step must be taken to protect and preserve the corporate entity of Nigeria.

    A statement by the Media Assistant to Senator Mark, Paul Mumeh, said that the leaders spoke separately against the back drop of incessant agitations by some sections of the country at the 50th anniversary of Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) 3rd Regular Course of 1967.

    It said that General Abubakar who was the special guest of honour at the golden jubilee dinner, told the Military officers that in or out of office, they must make the security, unity and peace of Nigeria the corner stone of all their endeavours.

    The former head of state was quoted to have said that the country has made enough sacrifice in the past to keep the nation one saying “Whatever needs to be done to ensure peace, good neighborliness, unity, equity and justice to all must be done”.

    On his part, Senator Mark wassaid to have recalled their conviction on entering into the  foremost Nigeria military institution  in  September 1967 to include  but not limited to patriotism to defend and protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria .

    That conviction, Senator Mark stated, still binds them even after their retirement, insisting  “We promised to be patriotic and continue to put the love of country above self at all times”.

    Governor Tambuwal, the statement said, expressed appreciation to members of the Armed forces for their tireless war against insurgents especially in the North East “where they are daily giving their lives to secure freedom for our people “.

    He urged them to remain steadfast and a shining example of patriotism and unity in diversity.

    It said that General Olonisakin thanked the retired officers for making their professional experiences available to the younger generation in its noble task of safeguarding the territorial integrity of our country and in responding to contemporary  threats to national security .

    General Kazir maintained that leaders must be fair and firm to ensure that no group or individual would feel a sense of neglect in the scheme of things.

    In the anniversary lecture titled: “the role of the military in a democracy,” Col.  Paul Ogbebor , a former commanding officer 3 ,  Signal Regiment of the Nigerian Army  advocated for continuos training of the Armed forces in line with modern trend in order to be able to protect  the nation.

    Highlight of the anniversary was the unanimous reelection of Senator Mark as the Chairman of the NDA 3rd Regular Course Alumni Association for the next two years.