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Tag: Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

  • Herdsmen/farmers killings purely political – Bafarawa

    Herdsmen/farmers killings purely political – Bafarawa

    Former Governor Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa has described as purely political the spade of alleged killings of farmers by herdsmen  in parts of the country.

    He blamed the federal government for not heeding to advise ‎that would give people the opportunity to evolve measures that would address the menace.

    ‎In an interview with reporters in Sokoto Sunday evening, Bafarawa described as unfortunate what the country was going through at a time lots of challenges were before its domain.

    According to him” politicians have succeeded in penetrating the two sides involved in the crisis.

    ”What has conventional herdsmen have to do with guns and why now?”, he rhetorically asked.

    ”If the FG had listened to the views of the people right from time the killings we are witnessing would not have continued”, he said.

    While commenting on the administration of Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the former governor noted that Tambuwal’s government owe Sokoto people lot of explanations especially his refusal to declare what he inherited from his predecessor.

    ”He has problems but maybe for fear of exposing him that is why he refuses to talk.

    ”For me, I did not leave Wamakko with problems because I made everything clear to him even to the extend of making public every detail concerning the N13bn I left behind. I still have the prove which both Wamakko and Mukhtari his deputy later admitted.‎

    ”He should have toe my path to declare what he inherited.”

    However, on the sidelines, the state PDP  chairman, ‎Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma said the party has the capacity to win elections in 2019.

    According to him” we will capitalise on the weaknesses of the ruling APC to have a smooth sail.

    ”Our party is not a small party. He said the seeming lack of opposition in the state does not make PDP weak or non existent rather we are studying happenings.

    ”Secondly, the governor respects us. And if there is need to raise or take him on over issues on state affairs, we will do that for him to take correction”, he concluded.

  • FG approves tertiary military hospital for Sokoto

    FG approves tertiary military hospital for Sokoto

    ‎Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Tuesday commended the Nigerian Army for the  establishment of a tertiary military hospital in Sokoto.

    Accordingly, the hospital facility will serve as centre of excellence for diseases of military importance.

    A statement issued to reporters in Sokoto by Malam Imam Imam, spokesman to the Governor said the hospital, the first of its kind in the country, will also serve as a research institution with a United Nations’-grade international public health laboratory.

    The government according to the statement had provided space at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital for temporary use by the hospital pending completion of its permanent site.    

    The statement quoted Tambuwal as saying that some states have applied to be given the right to host the facility, but Sokoto emerged the preferred destination. 

    His words: “First of all, I want to inform the people of Sokoto state that our efforts in attracting important projects from within and outside the country has continued to yield positive results.

    “This hospital is of great importance not just to the military but to our people as a whole. Diseases of military importance are areas of concern globally because of the large population of people that can be infected after outbreaks.

    “Such diseases are subject of importance in efforts to counter bioterrorism and bio-weapons by aggressor nations. These infectious diseases include among others dengue fever, ebola, lassa fever, anthrax among others.

    “Having a centre in Sokoto dedicated to countering these likely outbreaks is a welcome development. We will support the hospital with facilities and logistics to properly take off until it is fully on its feet,” he added.

    The statement also dispelled the notion that the government has permanently handed over the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital to the military.

    “We just sent a bill to the state House of Assembly to establish the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital as property of the state government. Its position has not changed. The military will use the facility pending when all facilities for the newly-established Nigerian Army’s 8  Division, Sokoto, are fully ready,” the Governor added.

  • FG approves tertiary military hospital for Sokoto

    FG approves tertiary military hospital for Sokoto

    Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Tuesday commended the Nigerian Army for the establishment of a tertiary military hospital in Sokoto.

    Accordingly, the hospital facility will serve as centre of excellence for diseases of military importance.

    A statement issued to reporters in Sokoto by Malam Imam Imam, spokesman to the Governor said the hospital, the first of its kind in the country, will also serve as a research institution with a United Nations’-grade international public health laboratory.

    The government according to the statement had provided space at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital for temporary use by the hospital pending completion of its permanent site.

    The statement quoted Tambuwal as saying that some states have applied to be given the right to host the facility, but Sokoto emerged the preferred destination.

    His words: “First of all, I want to inform the people of Sokoto state that our efforts in attracting important projects from within and outside the country has continued to yield positive results.

    “This hospital is of great importance not just to the military but to our people as a whole. Diseases of military importance are areas of concern globally because of the large population of people that can be infected after outbreaks.

    “Such diseases are subject of importance in efforts to counter bioterrorism and bio-weapons by aggressor nations. These infectious diseases include among others dengue fever, ebola, lassa fever, anthrax among others.

    “Having a centre in Sokoto dedicated to countering these likely outbreaks is a welcome development. We will support the hospital with facilities and logistics to properly take off until it is fully on its feet,” he added.

    The statement also dispelled the notion that the government has permanently handed over the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital to the military.

    “We just sent a bill to the state House of Assembly to establish the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital as property of the state government. Its position has not changed. The military will use the facility pending when all facilities for the newly-established Nigerian Army’s 8  Division, Sokoto, are fully ready,” the Governor added.

  • World Bank, Sokoto Govt to expand areas of partnership

    World Bank, Sokoto Govt to expand areas of partnership

    The World Bank office in Nigeria and Sokoto state government have agreed to expand their areas of mutual cooperation so as to engender development, inclusiveness and tackle poverty among the populace.

    This development followed a meeting between Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Rachid Ben Messaoud, at the Bank’s office in Abuja.

    Already, ‎the World Bank and Sokoto government are partnering in critical sectors like irrigation and drainage, education, rural and inter-urban roads, water supply, sanitation, waste management and health.

    A statement issued Tuesday in Sokoto by the Governor’s spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, quoted Tambuwal as saying that his administration has paid all its counterpart funding for various projects to be executed jointly by the bank and the state government, and is awaiting further action to ensure rapid implementation.

    “We have a number of projects we are implementing jointly in critical sectors like irrigation, water management, repairs of dam, health, education and others.

    “We have discussed on ways we can hasten up implementation and I am happy with the response we got from the World Bank team.
    “Importantly, we have agreed to expand the areas of our cooperation into sectors like livestock development, administration and fiscal reform among others,” he added.

    The statement further revealed that the global bank’s officials have commended Sokoto government for its commitment to full implementation of the various agreements entered into by the two entities.

    “The commitment shown by Sokoto government is commendable and reassuring. We are delighted by what has been achieved so far and we hope to create a better future together for the people of Sokoto and Nigeria,” the Country Director stated.

     

  • Tambuwal appeals to NNPC to explore oil in Sokoto Basin

    Tambuwal appeals to NNPC to explore oil in Sokoto Basin

    Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on Wednesday appealed to the Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to activate oil and gas exploration campaign in the Sokoto Inland Sedimentary Basin with a view to establishing the volume and value of hydrocarbon deposits there.

    Leading a high-powered Sokoto State delegation to the NNPC Towers in Abuja, he enthused that based on existing exploration records, it is likely that renewed search for oil in the basin would yield some positive results in the nearest future.

    While commending the current administration for re-invigorating the quest for oil in the new frontiers, Hon. Tambuwal noted that the successful search for hydrocarbon deposit in the basin would go a long way in increasing the nation’s oil reserve with the attendant value addition.

    The NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu that disclosed this in a statement yesterday quoted Baru as saying that: “We are here more on an advocacy visit to your office, Mr. GMD, to kindly request for your intervention and attention for the office in charge of frontier exploration to pay attention to Sokoto basin just the way attention is being paid to other basins in the country.”

    The governor invited the NNPC GMD and top Management to a conference in Sokoto sometimes in October 2017 which is being facilitated by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF in collaboration with the Usman Dan Fodio University.

    He said the conference would thoroughly x-ray the search for oil in the Sokoto basin.

    Governor Tambuwal also commended the GMD for recent successes in the Corporation especially the stability in the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.

    Responding, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru explained that the Corporation, without any prompting has since embarked on properly and professional exploration of all inland basins in the country including the Sokoto basin.

    He noted that the NNPC had already procured aeromagnetic data on the Sokoto basin from the Nigerian Geophysical Survey as well as awarded contract for the mapping and procurement of apt samples to further the understanding of the area.

    Dr. Baru informed that the NNPC has contracted its subsidiary, Integrated Data Services Limited, IDSL to carry out various geochemistry investigation to boost the gathering and integration of all relevant data ahead of the planned procurement of seismic 2D data position which would, in turn, determine various prospects.

    The GMD also pledged to attend the forthcoming seminar on the Sokoto basin, noting that the Corporation would use the platform to update and also share its knowledge of the basin with relevant stakeholders. 

    On the noticeably limited disruptions in the supply of petroleum products due to the recently aborted labour strike, the GMD informed that the issues raised by labour have since been settled. He said normal loading activities have resumed in those areas affected by the industrial action.

  • Hajj 2017: Sokoto first batch of pilgrims depart to Saudi Arabia today

    Hajj 2017: Sokoto first batch of pilgrims depart to Saudi Arabia today

    FIRST batch of intending pilgrims from Sokoto state for this year’s hajj exercise‎ will be airlifted to Saudi Arabia today, Monday.
    The disclosure was made by the Director General of the state Pilgrims Welfare Agency (PWA), Alhaji Ibrahim Umar.

    In a statement made available to reporters in Sokoto by the agency’s Media Assistant, Farouk Umar, the Director General said all arrangement had been perfected to ensure a successful hajj.

    Umar  assured the pilgrims that decent accommodation and other logistics have been put in place in Makkah and Madinah for their comfort.

    He also warned the intending pilgrims against carrying hard and other prohibited items, adding that machines had been put in place for screening.

    According to him, anyone caught with drugs would be handed over to the appropriate authorities for prosecution.

    The Director General  expressed gratitude to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for creating a conducive atmosphere for a successful Hajj operation in the state.

  • Sokoto uncovers 706 ghost, unqualified students for scheme

    Sokoto uncovers 706 ghost, unqualified students for scheme

    The committee set up by the Sokoto State Government to verify the actual number of students entitled for scholarship has uncovered 706 fake students and those not qualified for the scheme, thereby saving almost N30 million of tax payer’s money.

    Making this known while presenting the report to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal in Sokoto, chairman of the committee, Ambassador Shehu Wurno, said the committee visited 40 tertiary institutions within and outside the country and verified 14, 532 state indigenes qualified for scholarship.

    “We have confirmed that the sum of N544, 613,724.00 was the total cost of students registration for the year 2016/2017 academic session while the sum of N143,560,855.00 was calculated as allowances to the number of verified students totalling the sum of N688,174,579.00 amount owed as students registration and allowances for the current  2016/2017 session,” the chairman said.

    In his remarks, Governor Tambuwal said his administration will continue to give priority to the education sector. He said as part of government’s commitment to boost funding, education levy was introduced by the government where civil servants and political office holders are taxed to compliment other sources of funding.

    “We have so far saved the sum of N260 million through the education levy. We hope to liaise with the state consultative committee on revitilization of education, headed by Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad, to continue our work in the education sector,” Tambuwal added.

    The Governor assured that all the recommendation of the committee will be implemented by the government. While commending the members of the committee for a diligent job, Tambuwal said no investment in the education sector is too much to make.

    He equally tasked commentators to always cross check fact before going public, adding that proper checks and balances have been put in place to ensure transparent handling of all public funds in the state.

  • Children of beggars to get free education, says Tambuwal

    Children of beggars to get free education, says Tambuwal

    Sokoto State Government says it will take care of the education of children of beggars,vulnerable and other less-privileged members of the society.

    Announcing the gesture at a special iftar session organised for them by the state government, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said a pilot scheme started in 2016 in three local government areas was successful, and a decision has now been reached to expand the scheme to all parts of the state.

    “During the campaigns, I made a promise to introduce special welfare packages to improve your well-being. The last administration introduced the payment of monthly stipends to you, I am happy to note that we have not only continued with it, we have also enhanced it.

    “Our aim is to empower you all to ensure you have something you can do to permanently support yourselves and your families. I am happy many of you have positively responded to these initiatives.

    “Today I want to announce to you that we are introducing another special scheme which will ensure that all your children get quality education, free of charge.

    “The relevant ministries are to laise with you and come up with the required number of school-age children for the immediate implementation of the policy.

    “I urge you to support government to create a better future for these children,” the Governor added.

    While reiterating the determination of his administration to improved welfare of all citizens, Tambuwal urged them to ensure all their children are immunised against child killer diseases.

    “Don’t hide your children at home if they fell ill. Bring them the nearest health facility for assessment and treatment,” he added.

    Various speakers at the gathering commended the state government and Tambuwal for the gesture, and prayed for the safe return of President Muhammadu Buhari from his medical vacation. 

  • Tambuwal approves posting of 29 SAs

    Tambuwal approves posting of 29 SAs

    Sokoto state Governor Aminu Waziri‎ Tambuwal on Tuesday approved the posting of 29 newly sworn  Special Advisers in the state.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam made available to newsmen gave the list as; Ibrahim Magaji Gusau, Political; AIG Tambari Muhammad Yabo (rtd), Security; Hon. Zakari Muhammad Shinkafi, Legislative Matters; Hon. Shuaibu Gwanda Gobir, SDGs; Muhammad Harande Mahe, SORMA; Dr.n Amamatu Yusuf, Girl-Child Education; Hon. Abubakar Chika Umar, Malaria Control Agency and Farouk Mustapha Balle, SPORA.

    Others are: Alhaji Isah Harisu, Inter Party Relations; Alhaji Nasiru Ladan, Library Matters; Hon. Abdullahi Maigwandu Danjeka, Transport-SSTA; Hon. Bello Malami, Special Duties; Hajiya Binta Gwadabawa, Adult Education; Hon. Ya’u Muhaamad Danda, Skills Acquisition; Maiakwai Mu’azu Lamido, Special Investment Programme; Bashir Gidado Jegawa, (PPP); Sanusi Ibrahim Umar, Special Duties; Dr. Hafsat Galadima, NGOs; and Umar Abdullahi Illela, Special Duties.

    Also posted with immediate effect include: Kasimu Aliyu Gidan Kanawa, Urban and Regional Planning Board; Alhaji Farouk Sayudi, Cooperatives and Social Responsibilities; Dr. Ali Muhammad Inname, Contributory Health Scheme; Umar Babuga Oro, Parks and Gardens; Nasiru Babata, Youth Matters; Hon. Wadata Maikulki, Community Development; Hon. Bello Sarki Tureta, SOSMEDA; Aminu Alhaji Aya, Tourism Development;Zayyanu Bello Gandi, PHCD while Alhaji Umaru Walin Isa is for Special Projects.

    The statement also said all postings are with immediate effect.

  • Tambuwal urges APC controlled states to support FG policies, programmes

    Tambuwal urges APC controlled states to support FG policies, programmes

    Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto yesterday tasked states under the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to key in and deepen achievements recorded by the Federal Government in order to ensure rapid socio-economic development of the nation.

    Speaking in Sokoto at the opening of the Second Quarterly meeting of the Secretaries of State Governments (SSGs) under APC control, Tambuwal said almost two years after coming to power, the FG has recorded significant achievements especially in the areas of security, job creation, agriculture, education, youth empowerment among others.

    He said now that the nation is at a cross-road, it becomes imperative for all APC member-states to ensure a worthy turning-point is propelled.

    “Indeed, the journey so far has been very challenging, demands are increasing by day and the resources available keep shrinking. We have the individual and collective responsibility of moving our dear States forward, no matter what it takes,” the Governor stated.

    According to him, the Second Quarterly meeting will review the progress so far made on key policy issues with a view to identifying problems and challenges bedevilling their States for a lasting solution.

    “It is also aimed at developing basic framework for peer review mechanism, monitoring and evaluation as well as sharing key governance initiatives and actions in some selected APC States in the federation,” he added.

    In his remarks, Plateau State Governor and Co-Chairman of APC Governance and Policy Committee, Simon Lalong, represented by his SSG, Rufus Bature, said the meeting would share ideas on critical national issues and leadership strategies that will enrich national discuss and move the nation forward.

    He expressed hope that the meeting will mark a glorious turning point that would make Nigeria’s democratic institutions more vibrant for the overall development processes.

    The meeting has in attendance SSGs from all APC controlled states and their Permanent Secretaries.