The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gov. Aminu Tambuwal

  • Osinbajo to visit Sokoto Thursday

    Osinbajo to visit Sokoto Thursday

    Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will pay an official visit to Sokoto on Thursday.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Sokoto by Imam Imam, Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs to Gov. Aminu Tambuwal.

    It said, “while in the Seat of the Caliphate, the Acting President will take part in a two-day nationwide clinic organised for micro,small and medium enterprises (MSME), which is being hosted by the Sokoto State Government.

    “During the events, the Acting President will hold interactive sessions with government agencies, financial institutions, operators and stakeholders in the MSME’s sub-sector.”

    The statement added that Osinbajo would also inspect sample of works by small and medium scale enterpreneurs from across the federation.

    It added that the Acting President would pay homage to the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad-Abubakar III, at his palace in Kanwuri, Sokoto.

  • Rice importation costs Nigeria 2 bn dollars annually- Dangote

    Rice importation costs Nigeria 2 bn dollars annually- Dangote

    Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Groups of Companies, says Nigerians consume over 6.5 million tonnes of rice annually, less than half of which is produced locally.

    Dangote said that on Wednesday during the inauguration of the Dangote Rice Out growers Scheme in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto state.

    He expressed concern that the deficit arising from the importation of rice cost Nigeria over 2 billion dollars per annum.

    He said: “As agriculture remains an important sector in our economy, we plan to produce 1million tonnes of high-quality parboiled rice within the next three years.

    “This is by cultivating about 160,000 hectares of irrigable rice farmland in some selected states, thus making the commodity affordable to ordinary Nigerians.

    “Moreover, the out-growers scheme is committed to creating a significant number of jobs, increasing the incomes of small holder farmers and ensuring food security in the country.

    “This is by providing high-quality seeds, fertiliser and agrochemicals, as well as technical assistance on best agricultural practice to farmers.”

    The Project Director, Dangote Rice Ltd, Mr Robert Coleman said that the Sokoto operation was a demonstration phase meant to familiarise the farming community with the programme.

    “The phase is to familiarise the farming community through the training of extension workers and lead farmers as well as test modern technologies, ‘he said.

    ”In 2017, they will have 25,000 hectares to be cultivated by nearly 50,000 out growers, in addition to 260 jobs expected to be created by the end of the year.”

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal called on the farmers to respect the agreement signed between the state and Dangote group to ensure that,” all products are directed to the real sectors of need.’’

    ”The coming of Dangote to invest in the state was as a result of the government’s sustained efforts toward inviting prospective investors to the state,” he said.

    Earlier, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for diversifying the economy and urged Nigerians to pray for him.

  • Buhari’s wife flags off medical programme, targets 3,000 beneficiaries

    Buhari’s wife flags off medical programme, targets 3,000 beneficiaries

    The wife of the President, Mrs. A’isha Buhari, on Monday flagged off a special medical outreach programme in Sokoto, with a promise to reach “at least 3,000 women and children.”

    Mrs. Buhari, represented by the wife of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mrs. Gimbiya Dogara.

    NAN also reports that the outreach programme was organized under her pet project – Future-Assured Programme, in partnership with the pet programme of the Wife of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, the Maryam Tambuwal Legacy Initiative.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs. Buhari said that the gesture was part of activities to mark the tenth anniversary of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on the throne.

    She said that the gesture was also part of her unwavering commitment to the health of Nigerian women, children and other vulnerable groups.

    “The children are the future of Nigeria and we have to secure this future by taking good care of them.

    “If we do no provide them with efficient healthcare services and other needs now, the future of Nigeria will be in great jeopardy,” she said.

    Mrs. Buhari urged wives of State Governors to initiate steps toward caring for women, children and other vulnerable groups to give them a sense of belonging.

    In her speech, Mrs. Tambuwal described the wife of the President as a “dexterous mother of the nation,” and commended her sustained support to
    Nigerian women and children.

    The Sokoto State Health Commissioner, Dr. Balarabe Kakale, in her remarks, said that the outreach had a lot of medical packages that included de-worming of pupils, provision of vitamin A supplements and anti-malarial drugs.

    Other benefits included free medical tests, consultations and drugs, among others.

    The Chairman of Kware Local Government, Alhaji Abubakar Zamau, in a brief speech, commended Mrs. Buhari for the gesture which he said would complement efforts of the state government and the 23 Local Governments toward quality healthcare delivery.