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Tag: Ibrahim Gaidam

  • FAO expresses satisfaction with food security in North East

    FAO expresses satisfaction with food security in North East

    The Food and Agricultural Organisation ( FAO ), on Tuesday, said the threat to food insecurity in North Eastern Nigeria, had reduced due to improved security and increased agricultural activities in returnee communities.

    Mr Suffyan Koroma, the FAO Country Representative in Nigeria, made this disclosure on in Katarko, Yobe, at the official distribution of agricultural inputs to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    According to him, the gesture is to support no fewer than 26,000 households engaged in irrigation farming.

    Suffyan, who was represented by the FAO Deputy Country Representative, Mr Nourou Makital, said “there is positive news about food security in the North east”.

    He said the number of people estimated to be facing food insecurity had reduced from 5.2 million in July to 2.6 million in December”.

    FAO in collaboration with Maigoje Foundation, began the distribution of assorted seeds, fertilizer, water pumps, small ruminants and bulls to vulnerable persons for irrigation farming.

    Read also: Food and water poisoning: How to tame the widespread killers

    The country representative said the irrigation farming and livestock support programme was to provide the beneficiaries with durable means of livelihood.

    Gov. Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe, said the irrigation support programme was in line with his government’s policy on irrigation farming.

    Gaidam who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Mustapha Gajerima, said his administration had developed four irrigation sites to promote dry season farming.

    “The significance of dry season farming was in tandem with our administration’s drive to harness the irrigation potential at Mugura, Boloram, Nguru and Jumbam.

    “Our overall target is to develop about 1,000 hectares of land for irrigation farming before the end of 2018,’’ Gaidam said.

    Dr Usman Abba, the Executive Director, Maigoje Foundation, FAO implementation partners in Yobe, said a thorough assessment was conducted to ensure that only eligible persons benefited from the programme.

    He said the foundation had fashioned out effective monitoring strategy for the materials to be used for the intended purpose of providing sustainable means of livelihood to the beneficiaries.

    NAN

  • Buhari meets three Northern governors in Aso Rock

    Buhari meets three Northern governors in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met separately with three Northern governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The governors are – Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe),  Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa).

    The last meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Healthcare delivery: NUJ to honour Gov. Gaidam

    Healthcare delivery: NUJ to honour Gov. Gaidam

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ) says it will honour Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe for developing primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities to provide affordable and accessible healthcare in the state.

    Malam Yusuf Isa, the state Chairman of the union, disclosed this on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu.

    Isa said: “The establishment of ultra-modern Teaching Hospital provided with state-of-the-art equipment is checking medical tourism by patients in need of advanced medical treatments.

    “The hospital is equipped with latest machines at the  dialysis centre, RMI machines and radiology equipment, among others, some of which were manufactured this year 2017.

    “Patients in need of complex treatment like dialysis or hip replacements no longer have to travel to teaching hospitals in Maiduguri, Kano or Abuja,” he said.

    The chairman said the engagement of consultants and other competent health personnel by the state government “to run the hospital has made healthcare in Yobe state accessible and affordable”.

    “The state has 428 functional primary institutions and 50 others providing free medical services to pregnant women, children below the age of five and accident victims.

    “Government also established a medical college at the state owned university and is currently reconstructing and expanding the General Hospitals in Damaturu, Potiskum, Geidam, Gashua, Buni-Yadi, Kanamma and Damagum.

    “The award is in recognition of this unprecedented development in the state health sector and to spur good governance in the state” Isa said.

    He said the testimonies of national officers who visited the state recently had justified the award to the governor and to encourage him do more.

    “The Deputy National President of the union, Alhaji Mukhtari Gidado; Zonal Vice President Aisha Ibrahim; the Zonal Secretary Suleman Ibrahim, and the state council officials described the hospital as a rare feat to have been achieved by a state governor in Nigeria,” said the union leader.

    The chairman said the council will also honor other personalities who have impacted positively on the lives of the people and development of the state.

  • High profile PDP leaders in Yobe defect to APC

    High profile PDP leaders in Yobe defect to APC

    Key Yobe PDP leaders including a former  minister of state Foreign Affairs, Jibril Maigeti and numerous former legislators and commissioners have decamped to the APC  and are presently being received into the party in a ceremony in at the Governmeny House Damaturu.

    According to them, their decision to rejoin the APC which many of them left after the 2011 and 2015 elections is as a result of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam’s openness and commitment to moving the state on the path of progress and development.

    Out Correspondent however gathered that many of them decided to come back to the party to revive their political ambitions as the 2019 general elections get nearer.
    Details later…
  • Yobe Gov condemns military, police clashes

    Yobe Gov condemns military, police clashes

    • Gaidam calls for better synergy among security agencies against Boko Haram

    Yobe state Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has called for better synergy and collaboration between security agencies in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

    The governor who was speaking at a two-day National Sensitization Workshop on the implementation of National Counter Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) for Adamawa, Taraba and Yobe states at Government House, Damaturu felt sad over the recent clashes between troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and men of Mobile Police Force (MPF) that claimed the lives of several policemen and a soldier in Damaturu, the state capital on April 12, 2017.

    According to the governor, both military troops and the police are a key component in the security architecture in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency and therefore should not be at each other’s throat but work in harmony to defeat Boko Haram.

    “At this point, I would like to appreciate the important role played and sacrifices being made by the security agencies and the Vigilante groups who subject their persons to risk in order to protect the honour of other law abiding citizens of the wider community.However, I should also stress that in order to carry out their duties with commitment, all the security agencies cannot succeed without working very closely and in harmony with each other. In this respect, I wish to once again condemn the recent unfortunate clash between some men of the Nigeria Army and the Police Mobile force which occurred on Wednesday, 12th April 2017. Let me express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the officers who lost their loved ones,

    However, I should also stress that in order to carry out their duties with commitment, all the security agencies cannot succeed without working very closely and in harmony with each other. In this respect, I wish to once again condemn the recent unfortunate clash between some men of the Nigeria Army and the Police Mobile force which occurred on Wednesday, 12th April 2017.

    Let me express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the officers who lost their loved ones, sympathise with those who sustained injuries and express the hope that proactive steps will be taken by the Command Headquarters of the Army and the Police to forestall a recurrence,” Gov. Gaidam said.

    As a way of nipping any security challenge from the bud, Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam called on the Commissioner of Police, Sumonu Abdulmaliki to set machinery for the re-introduction of orientation programme for members of Vigilante group on the rudiments of arrest and treatment of
    suspected criminals.

    “The commissioner of police could direct Divisional Police Officers and other officials to give full recognition and encouragement to all registered Vigilante groups to complement the efforts of the security agencies in the state,” urged Gaidam.

    He called on the general public to be waery of stangers in their midst and continue to give information on the movement of suspicious individuals and groups to the security agencies for necessary action; while assuring the confidentiality of the sources of such information.

    he equally charged traditional rulers to also reactivate the old tradition of monitoring the presence of strangers and suspicious faces in their communities, while directing the council chairmen to give maximum support to vigilante groups in their respective council areas.

    Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam also made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government through the Office of National Security Adviser to intensify efforts in mopping up of Boko Haram remnants in the nooks and crannies of Northeast.

    “The mopping up exercises is to be carried out in conjunction with the Vigilante groups, and with the aid of organized community policing and surveillance training,” he said.

  • Gaidam swears-in new Head of Service

    Yobe Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, has challenged the newly appointed Head of Service, Sale Abubakar, to reposition the state civil service to be more proactive and value driven for efficient service delivery.

    Gaidam gave the challenge on Wednesday in Damaturu while swearing into office the new Head of Service.

    “The civil service should be proactive and value driven organ that is always expected to deliver timely and quality service to the people of the state in line with the vision of our administration” he said.

    The governor said Abubakar was appointed based on his impressive record of service since joining the civil service in 1983.

    “Considering the track records of Sale Abubakar while serving as Chief of Staff Government House, specifically his innovativeness which culminated in changing the face of Government House, I am optimistic that l have made the right choice.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that others sworn-in at the event  include Saboli Gwio-Kura as Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, Baba Gashiwari as member Judicial Service Commission and Alhaji Ali Garga, member state Fiscal Responsibility Board.

     

     

  • Yobe govt donates N30m to ABU

    Yobe govt donates N30m to ABU

    Yobe Government on Tuesday, donated N30 million to the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria to improve the institution’s facilities and promote academic excellence.

    Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam said this in Damaturu when the National President of ABU Alumni Association, Dr Ahmad Mora, paid him a courtesy visit.

    Gaidam said the quality of research and teaching programmes at the university had placed it as a centre of academic excellence.

    He said: “Its pre-eminence in teaching and research has stood the institution out among its peers, not just in the country but also around the world.

    “As an alumnus of ABU, I can attest to its high standards of teaching and research;

    ‘’It is something ABU has continued with consistency and excellence,” he said.

    “We believe in the importance of education and this is why we are doing a lot in Yobe to rebuild our schools and help our students.

    “This is a commitment we will continue to make and it is in this spirit that we make this donation, to assist the ABU Alumni Association,” he said.

    Earlier, Mora said the association was building a post-graduate hostel estimated at over N200 million and, an intra-city bus shuttle service for the students of the university.

    He further said the association was “promoting the welfare, standards, and good name of the university as well as seeking partnership and support from members.”

    Mora commended the giant strides recorded in the state aimed at improving the people’s living condition.

    “ABU is proud to have 12 state governors, including Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam, as alumnus of this great institution,” he said.

     

  • Gaidam threatens to sack sleeping commissioners

    Gaidam threatens to sack sleeping commissioners

    Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe on Thursday directed a sleeping commissioner  at the  presentation of the 2017 budget to the State House of Assembly to go home for more sleep.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor had barely commenced reading the budget speech when the cabinet member started snoring.

    Gaidam warned that any public officer henceforth caught sleeping stood sacked.

    “As from today, any commissioner or special adviser caught sleeping stands sacked and will immediately be replaced.

    “We will borrow a leaf from the North Korea experience to make government affairs a serious business,” he said.

    Gaidam while reviewing the budget performance of the outgoing year paused and directed the sleeping commissioner to go home.

    “I am referring to the commissioner who is sleeping, you can go back home to sleep since you cannot endure the session,” he said.

    Although the governor did not mention the name of the sleeping commissioner, he pointed to the row of the commissioners to issue the directive.

    NAN reports that the  bewildered commissioners looked at each other in embarrassment and sat up to avoid dozing and being victims of the governor’s sledge hammer.

    Alhaji Adamu Dala-Dogo, speaker of the assembly, however, advised public officers to take beverages that would keep them awake during public functions. (NAN)

  • Gaidam inspects Postiskum hospital under construction 

    Gaidam inspects Postiskum hospital under construction 

    …Pledges better health services for the state

     

    Yobe State governor, Ibrahim Gaidam has undertaken the inspection of the Postiskum General hospital currently undergoing massive expansion, rehabilitation and total renovations by the state government.

    The expansion of the hospital will gulp the sum of N742, 645.138.50 million according to the Commissioner of Health Dr. Bello Kawuwa who was briefing Gaidam during the inspection work.

    Gaidam said Potiskum because of its large population requires the hospital more than any other place in the state, stressing that government will make healthcare qualitative, and affordable and available to the people of Potiskum and the state in general.

    “In view of the fact that Potiskum is the most populated town in Yobe, and the hospital is overstretched, government deems it necessary to upgrade and equipped with state of the art facilities to provide the healthcare need of people in the town and Yobe in general,” he said.

    He said the renovation work was meant to cushion the suffering of patients and provide conducive environment for Doctors and hospital staff to operate.

    He revealed that the expansion and renovation work has been awarded in three hospitals, one in each of the senatorial zones of the state to meet the health care need of people in the state.

    “It is one of our administration’s top most priority to provide effective heathcare delivery, that is why we awarded the contract to renovate, expand and equipped the general Hospitals in the cosmopolitan towns of Potiskum, Gaidam and Gashua,” he said

    He commended the work of the contractor, while calling on him to deliver the hospital in good time.

    The commissioner of Health, Alhaji Bello Muhammad Kawuwa said renovation and expansion will accommodate 256 patients at a time.

    He noted that the hospital, which has not received any major renovation since 1969 will have state of the art Surgical Unit, Maternal and Child birth healthcare centre, Out-patient Department, Operation theatre and general overhaul of the existing structures.

  • Yobe lost N30b, 128 students to insurgency – Gaidam

    The Yobe Government on Monday said over N30 billion was lost to Boko Haram insurgency in the state in the last six years.

    The state Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, disclosed this while receiving the United Nations Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian affairs, Mr. Toby Lancer, in Damaturu.

    The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Abubakar Aliyu, also said “the number of people killed by Boko Haram in Yobe runs into thousands.”

    “The state suffered the largest school-based casualties with 128 students killed in Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, College of Agriculture Gujba, GSS Mamudo, GSS, Damaturu and GSSS, Potiskum,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the governor as saying at the forum.

    He said public buildings and facilities worth N7 billion were destroyed, while private property and assets worth over N7.4 billion were also destroyed during the mayhem.

    Gaidam said that 1,098 classrooms and health facilities, 43,209 rooms, 5,162 assorted vehicles and 109,267 livestock were all destroyed.

    “The total expenditure incurred by the state government through various forms of intervention and the projected expenditure for the reconstruction of both private and public structures is estimated to be over N30 billion.

    “Yobe has 309,609 registered Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) constituting 14 per cent of the estimated 2.1 million Boko Haram-induced IDPs in Nigeria,” he said.

    The governor also said the spontaneous return of IDPs to their communities had made the task of rehabilitating facilities such as water, health facilities and schools more challenging.