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Tag: Atiku Bagudu

  • Bagudu urges NBA to lead in freeing Nigeria from corruption

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi on Monday urged the Nigeria Bar Association ( NBA ) to ensure speedy dispensation of justice and equity to free the country from pervasive corruption.

    Bagudu said at the 2018 Law Week organised by the state branch of NBA in Birnin Kebbi on Monday that in spite of efforts to stem corruption, it is still being regarded as part of the norm.

    The theme of the Law Week is `Promoting a Corrupt-Free Society.’

    “I task you to find ways of ensuring speedy dispensation of justice and equity to free our society from all forms of corruption.

    “The society still takes corruption as part of life especially in the public sector, as such our legal institution must do something to address the trend,” he said.

    He commended the association for organising the event, describing it as historic and timely.

    Read Also: NBA fixes July 27, 28 for election

    In his remarks, the state NBA Chairman, Mr Ebenezer Oguelina urged the state government to adopt the Administration of Criminal Justice Act ( ACJA ) to enhance quick access to justice.

    “The act was introduced for the benefit of victims, the court and society in the administration of criminal justice.

    “Many states have already adopted same and we cannot afford to be the odd one out,” he said.

    He also called for proper remuneration for workers including lawyers, adding that “If a worker is poorly paid, you cannot justly expect optimal performance from him.

    “Our members are poorly paid and there is no better forum than this to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”

    NAN

  • Herdsmen/farmers clashes may worsen without ranches – Food Council

    The National Food Security Council warned on Monday that the deadly clashes between farmers and herdsmen could get worse next year if efforts are not intensified to create cattle ranches or provide better security against rustling in the country.

    The Council chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari and inaugurated on March 26, gave the warning in Abuja.

    At a meeting which took place at the Presidential Villa and chaired by Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, the Council also charged the President to quickly approve the establishment and training of agro-rangers as special unit to assist security agencies check the fatal clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

    Others at the meeting were Governors Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), and Simon Lalong (Plateau).

    Six ministers – Audu Ogbe (Agriculture), Kemi Adeosun (Finance), Okechukwu Enelamah (Trade and Investment), Abdulrahman Dambazzau (Interior), Ibrahim Jibril (Environment), Suleiman Adamu (Water Resources) and the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, also attended the meeting.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Ogbeh, said: “We have to move the cattle to the good old grazing reserves and we just have to create environment for them; clusters of ranches where they have water, grass and security against rustlers.

    “For nearly 40 years we didn’t do much about cattle, we also forgot that cattle contribute six percent to GDP. The cheapest way of rearing cattle is by roaming around with them as you see now. If you go into a ranch it is not cheap and government cannot subsidize cattle rearing like they do in Europe, where they subsidize every cow with €6 which is about N2,400. We cannot afford that.

    “So, the thing is to create those ranches and the herdsmen are prepared to pay tax to support the programme. If we don’t do it, next year will be worse than this year I assure you.”

     

     

  • Bagudu approves N412 m compensation for township roads construction

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi has approved the release of N412 million as compensation to property owners affected by ongoing township roads construction in four major towns in the state.

    The governor disclosed this in a statement by his Press Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Muazu, made available to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday.

    Giving a breakdown of the amount, he said N153 million would be paid to land owners in Bena and Wasagu towns, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.

    Read Also: We will deliver local rice below N10,000 per bag – Bagudu

    Bagudu said N57 million would go to property owners in Kimba, Jega Local Government, and N115 million for the development of Ambursa town in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area.

    He said that N38 million would be disbursed to affected residents in Sabiyel, and N49 million to those affected in Kashin-Zama, Aliero Local Government.

    The governor said that payment of the compensation would start immediately to pave way for the commencement of work.

    “The construction of township roads is part of the effort of the present administration to accelerate urban development,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • President Buhari arrives Zamfara, addresses traditional rulers

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Gusau, Zamfara, presided over a town hall meeting in continuation of his tour of troubled areas across the country.

    The News men reports that the President in company of his aides landed at the Gusau helipad at about 10.40a.m after taking off from Umaru Musa Yar’Adua international airport Katsina.

    The governors of Sokoto and Kebbi states, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and Atiku Bagudu respectively, some cabinet ministers, traditional and religious leaders, top government officials were among those that received the president.

    President Buhari reviewed a parade mounted by the Army and Air Force.

    Read Also: Former Delta commissioner hails Buhari’s anti-graft war

    He is scheduled to address traditional rulers and other stakeholders during the visit, and condole with families and communities that suffered from various forms of violent crimes in the state.

    Zamfara has witnessed cases of attacks by armed bandits with hundreds of innocent people killed and property worth billions of naira carted away or destroyed.

    The recent attack by bandits at Birane village in Zurmi Local Government area of the state left over 50 people dead.One of the most notorious bandits, Tsoho Buhari, popularly referred to as Buhari Daji, was recently killed by a repentant cattle rustler in the state.

    NAN

  • Kebbi to introduce contributory healthcare scheme for citizens

    Kebbi State Government says it has finalised plans to introduce Contributory Healthcare Scheme for citizens to have access to quality healthcare service delivery in the state.

    The Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, made this known at a one-day workshop in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday organised by Technical Working Group (TWG) on the State health insurance.

    “As a strategy to defray out of pocket healthcare payment and ensure Universal Health Coverage ( UHC ), the Kebbi State Government has finalised plans to introduce contributory health care scheme in the state,” he said.

    According to him, it is expected that majority of residents will heave a sigh of relief as access to quality healthcare service will become better through the planned scheme.

    Bagudu urged people to present health issues at hospitals early enough for intervention to reduce government’s spending greatly on management of chronic diseases, when the scheme is operational.

    “The vulnerable group will also be cared for from the pool of funds generated from others. ‘’Without doubt, this will improve on our health indices and outcome.

    “It will also ensure that every resident of the state, irrespective of tribal or social affiliation, enjoys unfettered access to qualitative healthcare.”

    He called on the stakeholders to be committed toward the realisation of noble cause of the scheme to ensure accessible, affordable and quality healthcare delivery in the state.

    The governor expressed optimism that recommendations from the workshop would be useful to the technical workshop group in repositioning and refocusing healthcare through the scheme to meet its core mandate.

    Also speaking, Prof. Chika Aliyu, advised the state government to partner with reputable insurance companies operating with the maxims of the Shari’ah to manage the funds to be raised by the contributors.

    Aliyu is of the Department of Economics, Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto.

    “Accountability and transparency should all be exercised in the entire process, for sustainability and efficiency,” he said.

    NAN

  • FG to train 100 rice farmers in Kebbi – Ogbeh

    FG to train 100 rice farmers in Kebbi – Ogbeh

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, says the Federal Government will train 100 rice farmers in Kebbi, as part of efforts to boost rice production in the country.

    The minister said this in Birnin Kebbi when he declared open the two-day Farmers Forum and Exhibition, jointly organised by the Kebbi Ministry of Agriculture and Daily Trust Newspapers.

    Ogbeh, who was represented by a director in the ministry, Mr Abdullahi Shehu, said that Gov. Atiku Bagudu had elevated the status of Kebbi in commercial rice production.

    He said that the training of the 100 farmers from Kebbi in commercial rice production was in recognition of the success which the state government had recorded in rice production under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Read Also: Why Fed Govt is promoting cattle colonies, by Ogbeh

    In his remarks, Bagudu said that additional investments were required to significantly improve rice production in the country.

    He reiterated his determination to sustain and improve rice production in the state for local consumption and exports.

    The governor, who said that investments in agriculture had more benefits than investments in fuel subsidy, however, noted that the government was spending more money on fuel subsidy than on the Anchor Borrowers Programme for instance.

    The Kebbi Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Dandiga, said that the organisation of farmers’ forum and exhibition was part of the agricultural initiative of the Bagudu-administration.

    He said that the ministry decided to partner with the media in organising the programme because of the achievements which the state recorded under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme.

    Speaking, Dr Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, described the exhibition as a good development, saying that it had the potential of creating employment opportunities for the youth in the state and country at large.

    Baru, who was represented by Mr Abdulganiyu Sani, said that the NNPC would collaborate with relevant stakeholders who were willing to invest in agriculture in the state.

    Also speaking, Malam Manir Dan Ali, the Chief Executive Officer/Editor-in-Chief of Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust Newspapers, said that the forum and agricultural exhibition presented a platform for showcasing the food production potential of Kebbi and the country in general.

    NAN

  • Herdsmen: Kebbi provide amenities at settlements

    Herdsmen: Kebbi provide amenities at settlements

    Gov Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, has pledged to expand the scope of development at the designated settlements for herdsmen to forestall clashes between farmers and herdsmen.

    Bagudu, made the statement during a visit to Bele Sega Fango Fulani settlement in Teldu district of Argungu local government area.

    A statement by, Alhaji Abubakar Muazu, press secretary to the governor said that Bagudu promised to provide drinking water, schools, roads and health care facilities as well as other amenities.

    Read Also: Herdsmen, open minds and Osinbajo

    He said that the governor who inspected some rural access roads in the area also pledged to improve road construction that would showcase the social and economic activities in the area.

    He said the herdsmen that travel to distant locations searching for pasture would soon return stressing that with basic amenities, the tension and violent clashes would be eliminated and peace would prevail.

    Earlier, Alhaji Lawali Yakubu, Yeldu‘s traditional leader said that the population of herdsmen in the area was large stressing that provision of amenities would enhance settlement of the herdsmen.

    NAN

  • Kebbi bans night travel by boats, canoe along River Niger

    Kebbi bans night travel by boats, canoe along River Niger

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state has issued a standing order to the Police, traditional leaders and officials of marine inland water ways, banning night travel by boat and canoe.

    A statement by Alhaji Abubakar Muazu, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor in Birnin Kebbi on Friday indicated the ban was announced at Giron Misa village in Shanga Local Government Area.

    He said the Governor was in the village to condole families of victims of a Canoe accident last Monday that claimed six lives with 12 missing while 50 passengers were rescued.

    The governor directed security agencies to enforce the ban on night travel by boats and canoe operators along River Niger.

    Read Also: Kebbi  distributes drugs worth N5m to 838 epileptic

    In an interview the Chairman of Shanga Local Government Area, Alhaji Aminu  Arzika, said the ban would be enforced, stressing that traders that travel by boat to neighboring markets would be advised to travel during the day time.

    The news men reports that last Monday, Feb. 5, two Canoes carrying 68 passengers collided and capsized on River Niger.

    NAN

     

  • Joint venture cash call not remitted by NNPC for five years, says Yari

    Joint venture cash call not remitted by NNPC for five years, says Yari

    Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Abdulaziz Yari, on Thursday reported the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) to President Muhammadu Buhari for failure of the corporation to remit to the Federation Account the Joint Venture Cash Call for five years.

    Yari, briefed State House correspondents after closed-door meeting with President Buhari, involving six other governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He stressed that the country was shortchanged by NNPC for five years when the oil price was about $110 per barrel and as high as the Cash Call Joint Venture.

    On the purpose of the visit, Yari who was flanked by Governors Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State and Simon Lalong of Plateau State said: “The meeting is on the decision of NEC (National Economic Council) that the 7-man Committee was established to engage the NNPC and discuss a way forward so that we can be able to resolve the issue that is outstanding most especially on the remittances to the Federation Account.

    “Yesterday (Wednesday) the 7-Man Committee sat with the NNPC group and today (yesterday) we have come to brief the President. One of the things is about how they are paying the Joint Venture batch four and we have seen that what is being remitted to the Federation Account to the entire people of Nigeria is lower and what is being paid for the Cash Call Joint Venture is higher than what is going to the Federation Account.

    “So, we are concerned about that and NEC is concerned about that.  So they told the committee under my leadership to engage with the NNPC to discuss a way forward.” he added 

    On what was the response of the President, he said, “The entire federation is being shortchanged by those activities. The NNPC since 2010, there were no payments of Joint Venture Cash Call when the oil was $110 per barrel up to when the President took over in 2015. 

    “So why the Federation Account is always low is because they are paying dual, paying the existing and at the same time paying the arrears. 

    “So we sat down with them to fine-tune how best we are going to get our partners to understand where we are more especially now the oil has started picking and the price is becoming moderately good and then we are slightly out of recession and we want to sustain that tempo.”

    Others that attended the meeting with the President included governors Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State (PDP), Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State (PDP), Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State (APC) and Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State (APC).

  • Governors’ delegation meeting with Buhari

    Governors’ delegation meeting with Buhari

    Governors delegation meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    GOVERNOR’S DELEGATION. R-L Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of Governor's Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, Akwa Ibom State Governor. Udom Emmanuel, Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, Kaduna State. Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Kastina State Governor, Rt Hon Aminu Masari, Kebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu and Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lanlong during a meeting with a delegation of Governor's Forum at the State House in Abuja during the Governor’s delegation Meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN
    GOVERNOR’S DELEGATION. R-L Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of Governor’s Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, Akwa Ibom State Governor. Udom Emmanuel, Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Dave Umahi, Kaduna State. Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Kastina State Governor, Rt Hon Aminu Masari, Kebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu and Plateau State Governor, Mr. Simon Lanlong during a meeting with a delegation of Governor’s Forum at the State House in Abuja during the Governor’s delegation Meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN