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Tag: Ganduje

  • Kano governor presents N233bn 2018 budget

    Kano governor presents N233bn 2018 budget

    Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, on Thursday presented the 2018 budget proposal of N233, 828,850,598 to the state House of Assembly.

    The governor said the sum of N151, 902,238, 95 is earmarked for capital expenditure, while N81, 926,412,503 has been allocated for recurrent expenditure.

    Tagged the “Budget of Reality,” Ganduje said the proposed 2018 Appropriation Bill would be financed through a total recurrent revenue estimated at N147, 657,319,982.

    This consists of N53, 777,623,108 as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), including revenue from the federation account put at N93, 879,696,874.

    He said the total recurrent expenditure of 2018 is higher than that of 2017 by N732, 263, 56.

    The projected IGR for 2018 is also higher than that of 2017 by N4, 542,671.77, representing 9.2 percent.

    He said: “The proposed capital expenditure which stood at N151,902,438.95, which is higher than that of 2017 by N13,427,218,519 will be financed by N65,730,907,479 expected recurrent revenue surplus and total capital receipt of N86,171,503,616 while capital receipt is made up of N28,947,500,000 as expected international and external loan.”

    He said N27, 535,583,958 is an estimated grant, while N27, 334,328,440 is expected as miscellaneous and treasury balance of N353, 119.

    Ganduje said all the inherited projects from the previous administration had already been captured for completion in the appropriation while the newly initiated ones are on course.

     

     

  • Between Ganduje’s “Mai Shayi” and Masari’s Goat Project

    Sir: Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje recently undertook  a “Mai Shayi Empowerment” project in Kano State. In what took everybody who believes we should have moved beyond business of petty politicization by surprise, the governor, in an elaborate ceremony held at the open theatre of Government House said his government empowered 5, 200 tea sellers called ‘Mai Shayi” with packages that include noodles, cocoa beverage, liquid and powdered milk, tea, crates of eggs, nylon and cups, baskets, brown and white sugar, spaghetti and bread, all gulping a total amount of N208m.

    Of myriad varieties of  SMEs empowerment projects that he could have opted for in Kano –a state where 80 per cent of youths face monumental challenges of drug abuse, prostitution, smoking, gambling, abject poverty and moral decadence –setting up a tea venture for 5,200 beneficiaries who may not even have a proper orientation  on how a business can be sustained displays a poor understanding of his people’s plight and priorities.

    Before him was Samuel Ortom, Benue State governor who allegedly distributed wheel-barrows – although this has since been denied by his aides.  So also is Governor  Masari of Katsina who also reportedly dashed-out goats to some secondary school female students as part of the empowerment process in a state whose ember of reading culture and literacy is at the brink of death.

    Without any iota of doubt, the problem of north is the problem of the country. If they are sincerely passionate about the debacle of unemployment and poverty amelioration, there must be a paradigm shift from such poorly concieved human development projects to ones that focus on vocational training and development..

    This will allow the teeming youths of Kano and Katsina to attain an expertise in certain trades. Vocational training in such skills as tile-setting, auto-mobile engineering, fashion design, tailoring and aluminum fabrication will not only tackle the menace of unemployment which has put the future of an average Kano and Katsina youths into jeopardy, it will make them self-reliant. It will facilitate realistic, long-term entrepreneurial goals far beyond ‘mai shayi’ and bogus ‘goat empowerment programme’ could. Both governors can form a partnership with institutions like Jaiz Bank, and seek the assistance of NGOs in making sustainable loan service programme available for those with suitable business plans in that direction.

     

    • Rahaman Abiola Toheeb,

    Kano.

  • In Kano, Ganduje tackles many abandoned projects

    In Kano, Ganduje tackles many abandoned projects

    WHEN on May 29, 2015, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, mounted the mantle of leadership as the Governor of Kano State, one of his cardinal objectives was to abide by the principles of continuity in governance and dispensation of dividends of democracy.

    He also promised to fine-tune some of the major policies of past administrations which have direct bearing on the well-being of the people of the staste, and in the same vein initiate new projects.

    Unlike other state governors who apparently abandoned projects initiated by their predecessors for political reasons, Ganduje decided to take stock of all abandoned projects, reviewed, redesigned and commenced work on the major ones which he believed are of benefit to the state and the people.

    Among the major projects reviewed, redesigned and rehabilitated are the multi-billion Naira Gingiyu Specialist Hospital and the Paediatric Hospital located on Zoo Road. These two ultra-modern hospitals were started by the administration of former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, but were abandoned and neglected when the immediate-past governor of the state, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso came in 2011.

    Speaking to The Nation on reasons why Ganduje decided to rebuild the two hospitals, the Commissioner for Information, Mallam Muhammad Garba, said it was to keep faith with the promises he made to the people.

    “You are aware that health is wealth. When you have good health, every other thing falls into place. One of the ambitions of the Ganduje administration is to make Kano a health tourism state. You know how much Nigerians spend on foreign medical trips. So, we believe that when we have good hospitals with adequate facilities, our people will no longer face health challenges; and also, the hospitals will serve as a source of income to the state government as people from neighbouring states will tremendously benefit from the services.”

    According to him, Ganduje spent over N5 billion for the total rehabilitation and redesigning of the two abandoned hospitals, while N3 billion was used to purchase state of the art facilities.

    “The two hospitals have been completed and all the facilities have been fully installed, awaiting commissioning by President Muhammadu Buhari. You are aware that some people who could not do what we have done went to the press alleging that the two hospitals have been slated for sale to Chinese business men; this is laughable and it will tell you how desperate some people could be. How can any responsible government which used public money to rebuild such magnificent health facilities now turn round to sell the same asset to foreign firms! This is not true. Those hospitals were built for the benefit of the public.”

    Garba also listed a number of road projects and flyovers which were started by Kwankwaso and subsequently inherited by Ganduje’s administration to include 1.6 kilometre Sabon Gari flyover which will cost the government over N10 billion to complete.

    “Already, we have mobilised the contractors and work has reached about 70 to 75 per cent completion. After the redesigning and review of the flyover, nine clovers were included for easy links so as to avoid traffic congestion.”

    He also spoke of the Independent Power Project (IPP) at Tiga Dam in Bebeji Local Government Area, which was initiated but uncompleted by the administration of Kwankwaso. He added that considering the importance of the IPP project, Ganduje’s administration has redesigned and rebuilt the electricity project.

  • Mai Shayis: In defence of Ganduje

    SIR: Up north, in our hills and valleys, rich planes and fertile lands, we have a certain problem with what constitutes a job. Yes, what exactly is a job?  It is either we set the bar so pathetically low, when for example you find our uneducated and unskilled brethrens going all the way from Kano to Port Harcourt just to sell garden eggs; or we set it unrealistically high when our educated folks would take either a blue collar job or none!

    While in plain sight in between these dysfunctional extremes are entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs and money. Lots of it. This explains our poverty in abundance and how the southerners effectively control the economy and all entrepreneurial commands.

    “Mai Shayi” is a food entrepreneur.  He is our uneducated folk desperately looking up rather than settle as a maiguard or a truck pusher. That is the spirit.  However, our ‘educated’ white collar job-seeking mob fail to see it that way. To them a job means a certificate, salary and perhaps a suit to match them all with. In the process, conveniently missing the fact  that all the Mc Donald’s and Starbucks  they so love to patronize in Europe and Asia are just other “Mai Shayis” organized, supported and regulated by their societies.

    While government is planning capital intensive projects that will benefit the elites in the society it must also not forget to do so for its masses that form the bulk of the population.  People should note that while  millions of Naira might seem insignificant to a certain class of people,  couples of thousands of Naira is a life changing sum to other millions in other classes of people in our society.

    Stupefied  by the clangor a move by the Governor of Kano State elicited, as an indigene, I chose to instead pull back and assess things pragmatically. Understandably, tea business may not fall into a typical category of craftsmanship; however it is every bit as good  as it would primarily help in keeping people off the streets while remarkably increasing the economic growth of our communities, just as other acquired skills are perceived to do.

    Unemployment has been identified as the biggest challenge of Kano State, hence the recent “Mai Shayi” empowerment may not be unconnected with Governor Ganduje’s resolve  to invest in the development of skills, talents and entrepreneurship of women and youths to appropriately address it.

    Therefore, any programme that seeks to boost people’s capital base should receive all the accolades it deserves. A few interaction with these beneficiaries would convince any skeptics of the huge impact these empowerment programmes have had on both their trades and families. A well to do might dismiss such gestures easily perhaps due to lack of being in constant touch with the grassroots but certainly anyone in touch with the masses at the grassroots will marvel at the initiative and its potential impact on the economic activities of the common man.

    I theefore maintain that “Mai Shayi” empowerment is a laudable and realistic move by His Excellency to address the unemployment issues bedeviling the great center of commerce. Unless these issues are continually managed, the future for the Kano youth is bleak and would remain ominous for a long time to come.

    It is quite puzzling and unacceptably hypocritical how the same people who once cheered the mass Kano weddings during the previous administration suddenly felt slighted by  Ganduje’s Mai Shayis empowerment.

    A government that chooses amongst other things to encourage the economic growth of thousands of its downtrodden masses should be applauded and appreciated than the one that chooses to do nothing or engage in wasteful spendings and white elephant projects that end up as abandoned projects with massive capital waste. I am with Ganduje on this one.

     

    • Maryam Shettima,

    Abuja.

  • Ganduje swears in five new commissioners

    Ganduje swears in five new commissioners

    Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State on Saturday inaugurated five new commissioners to the State Executive Council.

    The commissioners, who had been screened by the State House of Assembly, took their oath of office before thousands of supporters at the Coronation Hall, Government House.

    Ganduje congratulated all the new commissioners on their appointment and tasked them not to betray the trust of the people.

    He advised them to always reflect on their oath of office and treat all citizens of the state equally.

    Ganduje advised them to come up with innovative ideas that would help develop the state.

    The appointment of the newly sworn-in members of the state executive followed the cabinet re-shuffle of which five out of the 14 commissioners were dropped.

    The newly sworn-in commissioners are: Malam Ahmad Rabiu, (Commerce and Tourism), Aisha Jafar, (Budget and planning),  Musa  Kwankwaso, (Special duties), Mr Aminu Aliyu, (Works and Housing), and Mr  Muktar Ibrahim, (Justice).

    The commissioners were sworn in by the state Solicitor-General, Malam Sani .

    READ ALSO: Breaking: Kano governor drops four commissioners

  • Ganduje boosts agric development with N344.33m

    Ganduje boosts agric development with N344.33m

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has awarded N344. 33million contract for the supply of 100 units of tractors, to revamp agriculture.

    The tractors will be delivered in two consignments, within 30 days, as contained in a Memorandum of Understanding between the government and an indigenous contractor, Messrs. Hello Nigeria Ltd.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Binta Rabi’u, signed on behalf of the government.

    She said: “The move is a demonstration of Governor Ganduje’s commitment to revamp food production and make our economy thriving, in line with the vision of the Federal government.

    “The government’s determination is manifested in key interventions, including revitalisation of our agricultural input company, KASCO, resulting in bumper food production in Kano, in the last two years.”

    A director of Hello Nigeria Ltd., Dr. Bashir Muhammad, promised to abide by the construal obligation, which he noted, would contribute towards attaining the government’s vision and mission.

    The government would procure agricultural implements, such as combined harvesters, threshers and other simple modern farming equipment for farmers, from China, Ganduje said.

    The governor, who is on an official trip to Hunan Province, China, spoke after a meeting with officials of Hunan Sunfeild Machinery Ltd, a leading manufacturer of mechanised faming equipment and components, in China.

    He said: “Apart from this, we have asked the company to consider establishing an assembly plant for its products, in Kano, to serve as an outlet for Nigeria and West Africa, and their response was positive.”

    Ganduje said if established, the investment would not only enhance agricultural mechanisation and improve yields, but would also facilitate job creation and technology transfer.

  • Buhari, Shettima, Ganduje, Tambuwal meet over security

    •Northern governors urge army to be at alert

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met behind closed doors with Governors Kashim Shettima (Borno), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, before departing for New York, United States

    Malam Imam Liman, the Special Adviser to the Sokoto State Governor on Media, confirmed the meeting of the governors with the President on his Facebook page yesterday.

    The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, confirmed Buhari’s departure to New York, through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja

    Adesina posted on his Facebook page: “President Buhari departs Abuja to New York for 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 17, 2017.”

    It was gathered that the President might have been briefed by the governors on some national issues, including the security situations in their respective states.

    Shettima, who is also the Northern State Governors’ Forum chairman, in a statement issued in Maiduguri, lauded the residents of the region for keeping the peace in the face of the recent clashes between members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and soldiers in some parts of the Southeast region.

    IPOB, which has been proscribed by the Southeast governors, was declared as a terrorist group by the military.

    Sokoto metropolis, on Saturday, however, witnessed minor social unrest as some armed youths in their hundreds, set ablaze a building along Bello Way where Igbo traders have shops in what appeared to be a response to reported attacks on some northern traders in some parts of the Southeast region.

    But the 19 Northern state governors, through the statement issued by Shettima, called on the army to remain on the alert in the region with a view to tackling any possible break down of law and order in the states.

    Buhari, after the meeting with the governors, left Abuja for New York to join other world leaders at the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 72).

    During the visit, he will participate in the General Debate where he was expected to deliver the country’s National Statement.

  • Buhari didn’t snub Ganduje in Daura – Presidency

    Buhari didn’t snub Ganduje in Daura – Presidency

    The Presidency on Monday denied reports claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari refused to grant audience to Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, during the recent Eid-el-Kabir holidays, which the President observed in his hometown in Daura, Katsina State.

    The reports, according to a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, is perhaps the antics of mischief makers seeking cheap political points against the Kano State governor.

    He said the President had received Ganduje along with other governors few weeks ago in London, adding that the Kano State governor was among several people that received the President on his return to the country on August 19.

    “Why would such a person then be snubbed, as being reported, particularly on social media?”

    “Governor Ganduje had visited Daura during the Sallah holidays to commiserate with the Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness Faruk Umar Faruk, who had recently lost his younger brother, Barde n’Daura. The governor then used the opportunity to be part of theEid-el-Kabir celebration.

    “There is absolutely no reason for President Buhari to have snubbed Governor Ganduje, or anybody else for that matter. It is not in the character of our President,” the statement said.

  • Insurgents arrested in Kano as Ganduje calls for vigilance

    Insurgents arrested in Kano as Ganduje calls for vigilance

    SOME suspected insurgents were yesterday arrested in Kano by security operatives. They were immediately moved to Abuja for interrogation, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has announced.

    Urging people in the state to be more security conscious and vigilant, the governor said: “The security agents also confiscated arms and communication gadgets from the alleged terrorists, even as they divulged very useful information.”

    In his remarks when the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II paid him the traditional Hawan Nassarawa homage at the Government House in Kano, Ganduje explained that the arrest was made possible by special network that facilitated local community intelligence gathering.

    He assured that the government would sustain its commitment towards protecting lives and property of the people in the state.

    The governor explained that as part of effort by his government to assist security agencies to do their work efficiently, vehicles worth millions of Naira have been purchased and distributed to the Army, Civil Defense, Federal Road Safety Corps as well as Hisbah Guards.

    “We have also built ten security dormitories, each capable of housing 60 security officials to help the police in surveillance along the major highways coming onto the state capital”, he added.

    He further stated that his administration, in conjunction with security agencies, have taken concrete steps to end criminal activities within Falgore forest, pouting out that so far, the Nigerian Army has established a training facility for soldiers in the forest.

    The governor told the Emir his administration has committed huge resources to the provision of public infrastructure like metropolitan roads, rural access infrastructure, hospitals and classrooms among others, requesting for the sustained support of the Emirate Council to forge ahead.

  • Akeredolu, Ganduje: state police will end insecurity

    Akeredolu, Ganduje: state police will end insecurity

    KANO State Governor Abdulahi Ganduje and his Ondo State counterpart Oluwarotimi Akeredolu yesterday restated calls for state police.

    According to them, it is the only way to guarantee security and create peaceful atmosphere for growth.

    The governors said states were already funding and equipping the Police, which they said lack enough men and capacity to provide effective security.

    Ganduje and Akeredolu spoke during the Governors’ Forum session at the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos.

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, who was represented by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), said the Niger Delta would be better off without oil.

    Akeredolu said the time has come for states to have their police since the Federal Government cannot fund the police well.

    “If we must provide everything for the police, the time has come to have state police. Let’s have our own police. There is nothing wrong with it.

    “The Nigeria Police is short-staffed. They are stretched. Sometimes even the commissioner of police is helpless. The men are not there.”

    Akeredolu said devolving more power to states would mean that Ondo would have the sea port it deserves.

    “If there should be a hub for maritime in Nigeria, it has to be Ondo State. Ondo has the potential. We have the longest coastline, yet we cannot boast of a seaport,” he said.

    Ganduje said most states pay policemen allowances, besides providing them with other equipment.

    He said devolution of powers would mean increasing states’ capacity to fund their police.

    “We are still equipping the police, even paying their allowances in some cases. The budget that is supposed to be given to the police should be given to the states,” he said.

    According to him, institutions such as the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be strong for democracy to thrive.

    Wike said Rivers was focusing on strengthening institutions, without which he said there would be no growth.

    For instance, he said the state ensured that the judiciary, which was closed for several months, was re-opened, while due process was followed in the appointment of the Chief Judge, a non-indigene.

    On consequences of drop in global oil prices, the governor said the Niger Delta would be better-off without oil.

    “It does appear that the raison d’etat for Nigeria is oil,” he said, adding that maybe without oil, Nigeria would finally decide on whether to remain together.

    Besides, he said a Nigeria Delta without oil would mean “fresher fish, cleaner water, cleaner air.”