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Tag: Kaduna state

  • Kaduna to partner CSO to mobilise women against malnutrition

    Kaduna to partner CSO to mobilise women against malnutrition

    The Kaduna State Government said on Wednesday that it would partner the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) to mobilise women against malnutrition in the state.

    The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba, said this when Mr Silas Ideva, CS-SUNN Coordinator and other members of the organisation visited her in her office in Kaduna.

    Baba said that the ministry was very strategic in mobilising women and children, particularly as its affects their welfare and survival.

    She described the current malnutrition indices in the state as very unfortunate, considering the available agricultural resources in the state.

    According to her, the development requires the participation of all relevant stakeholders to effectively address the scourge.

    “We will, therefore, need your support and expertise in designing sensitive interventions that will help turn the tide around, particularly in our 2018 budget.

    “Please recommend to us some of the interventions and activities that you think we should adopt as a ministry.

    “I want us to work as partners to mobilise women, educate and empower them to properly take care of their children.”

    The commissioner added that the contract for the construction and equipping of three women skill acquisition centres, one in each of the three senatorial districts of the state, would soon be awarded.

    She said that more than N90 million had been earmarked for the project in the 2017 budget.

    “When completed, the centres would equip our women with the needed skills that will enable them to generate money and put quality food on their tables.’’ Baba said.

    Earlier, Ideva explained that the group was in her office to seek areas of collaboration, particularly on issues relating to maternal and child nutrition in the state.

    According to him, malnutrition has remained a serious threat to the optimal development of children in the state.

    He said that although the state government had initiated various projects to address the challenge, it would still require active collaboration of relevant stakeholders to turn around the malnutrition indices in the state.

    “To achieve the desired impact, the state government must involve community members, Civil Society Organisations, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders if it hopes to eliminate malnutrition in the state.

    “There is equally the need for multifaceted strategic interventions with a clear implementation roadmap and a monitoring and evaluation framework.’’

    Ideva equally called for the implementation of the National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition in the state, adding that it contained strategies, roles and responsibilities for respective stakeholders.

    According to him, the plan, if well implemented, would reduce stunting by 20 per cent and underweight by 15 per cent among children under-five years by 2018.

    “The plan focuses on six priority areas — maternal nutrition, infants and young child feeding, management of severe acute malnutrition, micronutrient deficiency control, diet-related non communicable disease and nutrition information system.

    “We will continue to reach out to all relevant ministries, departments and agencies in the state to see how as partners we can all work together to ensure the survival and uninterrupted development of children in the state, ”Ideva said.

    The National Demographic Health Survey 2013 showed that 57 per cent of children under five years in the state are stunted, while 42 per cent are suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

  • How we’re addressing conflicts in Kaduna – El-Rufai

    How we’re addressing conflicts in Kaduna – El-Rufai

    Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai said that the state government is employing peaceful means to resolve conflicts in the state, and it will continue to do so.

    Governor El-Rufai said, his government’s approach to conflicts resolution has given room for steady progress and development in Kaduna State despite the pocket of conflicts.

    The Governor stated this on Kaduna at the opening ceremony of a summit on promoting peace, democracy and stability in Nigeria organized by Journalists for Democratic Rights.

    El-Rufai who was represented by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, however used the occasion to caution journalists to be guided by the ethics of journalism in their reportage.

    He urged journalists to see themselves as agents of peace and development, adding that, “promotion of peace is the responsibility of the media, traditional rulers, religious and community leaders.”

    Speaking, earlier, the Executive Director of the Journalists for Democratic Rights, Mr. Adewale Adeoye expressed worry that Nigeria was faced with unnecessary violence and bloodletting.

    He said it is worrisome that many Nigerians today have no access to food, stressing that, “many of our people go hungry from morning to night without any hope of what to eat.”

    “We are also facing challenges of bitter ethnic contest, our country remains deeply divided. There is lack of an inspiring national spirit.

    There are killings on-going in Southern Kaduna, youth have taken up arms against the state in North-East,” he added.

    He however said that, time has come for the people to wake up and champion the peace-building mechanism for the sake of the country children and its generations yet to come.

    Adeoye commended the prompt response of the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to the last week’s quit notice issued to the Igbos by Northern youths, by ordering the arrest of the youths.

    He said, Kaduna as the melting pot of the country must always be protected against any form crisis, as it can easily spread to every part of Nigeria.

     

  • Kaduna procures N600m books for secondary schools – Commissioner

    Kaduna procures N600m books for secondary schools – Commissioner

    The Kaduna State Government, on Tuesday said it has spent N600 million on textbooks it procured for secondary schools in the state.

    The state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Andrew Nok made this known at the flag-off of the distribution of the books for the Northern Zone in Zaria.

    Nok explained that the books, which cover all the core subjects, would enhance teaching and learning.

    According to him, the government will procure more books until all public schools in the state are fully stocked with the relevant books to boost students performance.

    “Knowledge is power and until we invest appropriately in the education sector, we will not face the challenges of today and our future would be doomed.

    “I want to assure you that the state government is taking the issue of education with all seriousness.

    “The 35 per cent of the 2017 budget allocated to education meant that for every N100 spent in the state, N35 goes to education.”

    He also said that 5000 computer tablets, produced and uploaded with 300 books would soon be distributed, starting with 15 boarding schools.

    Nok added that additional 55000 computer tablets would be procured for distribution to more schools.

    The commissioner advised the students to make the best use of the books and other facilities provided to aid their learning.

    He commended teachers for their efforts in improving students performance, particularly as the state lead the 19 Northern states in the 2015 NECO examination and was third in the country.

    Earlier, the state Director of Schools, Dahuru Anchau urged teachers and students to reciprocate the government gesture by ensuring success in examinations.

    “That way, we will continue to get full support of government to enable us excel in our academic pursuit,” he said.

    Responding, Zaria Zonal Director of Education, Sani Aminu thanked the state government for it untiring efforts at transforming the education sector.

    “The government is doing its part, it is left for us management and teachers to ensure that such huge investment is not wasted, “Aminu said.

  • Quit Notice: Al-Mustapha, MASSOB leader storm Kaduna to broker peace

    Quit Notice: Al-Mustapha, MASSOB leader storm Kaduna to broker peace

    Former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-Mustapha and the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) Chief Ralph Nwazuruike ‎ on Monday stormed Kaduna state to broker peace over the quit notice issued the Igbos to leave the northern region tagged ‘Kaduna Declaration’.

    The meeting which was organized at the instance of Major Al-Mustapha was apparently to intervene into the trending impasse threatening the unity and oneness of the country particularly with the recent quit notice on Igbos resident in the north by coalition of northern youths organizations.

    According to Major Al-Mustapha‎, the youths need to wear their thinking caps and use their brains and refused being used to ferment any form of crisis that could affect the unity of the country.

    He said that the development in Nigeria that is causing tension is not surprising, because same may have been sponsored by countries that envy Nigeria.

    He explained that in achieving their aims, they could even go as far as sponsoring stooges to leadership positions in the country, or backing rebels to stop countries with huge potentials from reaching their peak.

    Al-Mustapha while cautioning the youth from the North, from making statements that would further cause tension in the country, said that they youths actions may be borne out of frustration as a result of unpleasant comments coming from the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

    “We are appealing that our younger ones whom have been declared wanted should be set free, and the order of arrest should be rescinted ‎because it is not the solution.

    ‎Speaking also, MASSOB leader, Chief Nwazurike averred that the crisis in Nigeria is being manipulated and caused by politicians, stressing that “the youth must not allow that, the country must continue to exist as one nation but issues of marginalization can be disscussed.

    Nwazurike explained that when he founded MASSOB in 1999, it was purely meant to be a peaceful platform through which issues of perceived marginalisation of the Igbo’s in Nigeria could be discussed and tackled.

    He explained that even though it was right for any part of the country to seek self-determination, it was wrong to pursue same through violent means.

    “I handed over Radio Biafra which I created to Nnamdi KANU in London as the managing director and was hoping it would serve the purpose for which it was created, but was disappointed that politicians hijacked it and it became something else,” he said.

    Speaking further, the MASSOB leader assured the Northerners in all the Eastern part of the country of their safety, while thanking Major Hamza Almustapha (rtd) for assuring same for the Igbo’s in the North.

    “I want to assure northerners that your people in the South east are safe and nobody will harass them and am ‎happy that my friend Al-Mustapha has also given same assurance of the safety of our people in the north.

    “Self-determination without violence is a fundamental right, we must strive against sowing the seed of discord ‎but do all that will promoted peace and justice.

    “There is a gap of communication from our leaders which needs to be bridged hence we are meeting with notable leaders in the north to persuade them that there is no cause for alarm” he reiterated.

     

  • Kaduna extends Payment of Hajj fares to June 16

    Kaduna extends Payment of Hajj fares to June 16

    The Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has extended deadline for payment of Hajj fares by intending pilgrims to June 16.

    The extension is contained in a statement by Yunusa Abdullahi,the Public Relations Officer of the board, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Monday.

    It indicated that the extension followed appeals by intending pilgrims unable to meet the initial deadline.

    The board had earlier announced that those who had failed to register before last Friday’s deadline, would forfeit their chances of going on the pilgrimage.

    The statement said that the Overseer of the board, Imam Hussaini Tsoho urged the intending pilgrims to complete the payments as there would be no more extension.

    It explained that completing the payment on schedule would allow the board process visas and pay off its balance of the fare to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

    The statement stressed that pilgrims from the state would pay N1.53 million as Hajj fare this year.

    “Registered pilgrims in the state have already made deposits of between N800,000 and N1.2m with the Board.

    “About 6,327 intending pilgrims are expected to perform the 2017 Hajj from the state,” the statement added.

  • Quit order: Christian leaders declare 30-Day fasting, prayers

    Quit order: Christian leaders declare 30-Day fasting, prayers

    A religious group under the auspices of Non-Indigenous  Christian Leaders Network (NICLN), Kaduna State has called on all Nigerians to embark on a 30-day fasting and prayers against the quit notice issued to Igbos by the Arewa Coalition groups to leave the North.

    In a statement signed by NICLN Chairman, Rev. Joseph Ajayi and Secretary, Pastor Vitalis. S. Yahemba, while condemning the threat explained that it becomes necessary for clerics to declare prayers for God intervention in the land.

    The statement described the quit notice by the self-style ‘Northern Youths’ as evil, disgraceful and a serious threat to national security and unity, stressing that the Arewa youths action is also capable of inflaming chaos and disunity in the country.

    According to the Christian leaders, Nigerians should celebrate the nation’s diversity and live together in peace and harmony as brothers and sisters.

    The statement reads:” while the security agencies and the government are handling their aspect, we call on all Nigerians of different religious background to embark on a 30- day fasting and prayers for God intervention in our land. The leadership of the non-Indigenous Christian Leaders Network (NICLN) Kaduna State views with great concern and disappointment, the ultimatum issued by a coalition of Northern Youths groups to Igbos to vacate the Northern part of Nigeria within three months.”

    “It is the constitutional right of every law abiding Nigerian to stay anywhere, live in peace, move freely and carry out legitimate duties in any part of Nigeria. What we are saying is that urgent steps should be taken to nip this satanic outburst in the bud”

    We appreciate the timely statement issued by the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai on this volatile issue”

    We are also calling on the Igbos in the North and northerners living in the South East region of the country to ignore the so called “Kaduna declaration” and remain where they are currently living”

    “We are in democracy and freedom of association and speech are allowed. However, any association or speech by anyone capable of throwing the nation into serious problem must not be allowed. In view of this, the network is calling on Corporate Affairs Commission to cancel certificates of incorporation or registration of any registered group that promotes disunity in their utterances and hate speeches. Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand,” the statement said.

     

  • Corruption: Nigerians need ethical reorientation – Sen. Sani

    Corruption: Nigerians need ethical reorientation – Sen. Sani

    Sen. Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna Central), on Friday advocated for the introduction of ethical reorientation campaign, to psyche Nigerians on the need to shun corruption.

    Sani made the remark at the opening of the 10th National Conference organised by School of General Education, Federal College of Education (FCE), Zaria, Kaduna State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference had as its theme: “Education, Corruption, Resource Utilisation and Issues of Security Challenges in Contemporary Nigeria.”

    Sani said: “There is need for ethical revolution in this country. Fighting corruption doesn’t only end in arresting and prosecuting people but changing the mindset of Nigerians.

    “There is so much expectations from a public servant or a politician from his immediate family, his community and the society in general.

    “We must change this materialistic tendencies of our society, we need a society that is based and founded on mutual respect, patriotism and unity of this country.”

    He stressed the need for value re-orientation within the civil service to holistically tackle the menace of corruption.

    “What I am saying is that if we don’t move fast, educating our people, developing our country, we will risk a revolution.”

    Sani, who described the civil service as “the fountain of corruption”, said current anti-corruption crusade must target civil servants.

    The Senator advised the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to sheath their sword, insisting that Nigeria would never break-up.

    “Young people should be inspired by people who succeed and they should learn from those that failed.

    “In every point about situation, there is something to take home as a lesson,” he said.

    Sani said Nigeria would remain an indivisible nation and leader in Africa.

    “Much is expected of Nigeria, you cannot afford to break this country at this very time,” h said.

    In his speech, the Provost of the college, Dr Ango Ladan said Nigeria’s greatness lies in its ability to fashion out a robust education system.

    He said teachers ought to get the highest pay in the country in order to attract the best brains and ensure that products of the education system serve the country well.

    Ladan stressed that Nigeria’s desire for change would only manifest if citizens commit themselves to investing in national growth and development.

    The provost lauded the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari for addressing security challenges bedevilling the nation.

    Earlier, the Dean, School of Education, Dr Ibrahim Tanimu said the conference was organised to proffer solutions to the corruption menace in Nigeria.

    He said that part of the responsibility of a good education system was to help mould patriotic citizens, who would shun any attempt to defraud the nation.

  • Ecological Fund: Learn to take responsibility, El-Rufai replies Jonathan

    Ecological Fund: Learn to take responsibility, El-Rufai replies Jonathan

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Tuesday blasted former President Goodluck Jonathan on his recent comment on the N2 billion Ecological Fund granted PDP states during his tenure.

    El-Rufai said in Kaduna through his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, that the former President had failed to justify why he released the fund only to his cronies instead of all the states.

    The governor lamented that instead of addressing the moral issues raised in the interim report of the investigation instituted by the National Economic Council, Jonathan chose to resort to personal attacks.

    “He is not a man that can take responsibility for anything.

    “In March 2015, not long after making concession call to President Buhari, he summoned his pecks and ask them to reject the result of an election whose winner he had congratulated in private.

    “That effort and publicity failed spectacularly and the will of people prevailed.

    “So no one should be surprised that he is denying presiding over the discrete distribution of the ecological funds.

    “His denial begs the question, what special circumstance ensured that only states that were controlled by the PDP and its allied parties qualified for the N2 billion each.”

    El-Rufa’i accused Jonathan of running Nigeria while in power for his party and family.

    “Jonathan cannot argue with fact that the payment are in the record of ecological fund.

    “He knowingly engaged in discriminatory disbursement of federal fund; the legality of that is open to question.”

    He dismissed as disingenuous, the former president’s argument that money was also disbursed for the Green Wall Project in some northern states.

    El-Rufa’i also noted that Jonathan had failed in his response, to show where he lied regarding the disbursement of N2 billion to each of the affected states as contained in the NEC interim report on the utilisation of the Ecological Fund.

    The governor reminded the former president that the investigation being carried out was at the instance of NEC and not a personal initiative

  • Kaduna generates N6.7bn IGR from Jan to April – Official

    Kaduna generates N6.7bn IGR from Jan to April – Official

    The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KDIRS) said  it generated N6.7 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) between January and April.

    The Executive Chairman of KDIRS, Muktar Ahmed, announced this in Kaduna on Thursday at a news conference to mark the second anniversary of Gov. Nasir El-Rufai led-administration.

    Ahmed said the state’s monthly revenue generation had increased from an average of N1.4 billion in 2016 to N1.7 billion in 2017.

    He reiterated the commitment of the service to attain its monthly revenue target of N4 billion.

    The KDIRS chairman said that the target was achievable, considering the efficiency in tax collection, courtesy of the new tax law in the state.

    According to Ahmed, the tax law has designated KDIRS as the only revenue collection agency in the state.

    He said that discussions were ongoing with the 77 revenue generating agencies in the state to abide by the provision of the law, to improve efficiency of tax collection.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Kaduna State Tax (Codification and Consolidation) Law 2016 has automated all revenue collection and criminalised physical cash collection of tax.

    The chairman, however, acknowledged challenges being experienced in the process, particularly in rural areas where there were no banks.

    He said that the service had employed the services of money agents certified by the Central Bank of Nigeria and would soon deploye Point of Sales (POS) in all rural communities to ease tax collection.

    Ahmed said people’s negative attitude towards paying tax was the bane of collection in the country.

    “Tax is a word many Nigerians do not want to hear. Our attitude towards paying tax is not encouraging at all.

    “Maybe because tax payers hardly see what their money is used for. But this has changed with the coming of the APC administration.

    Ahmed said that Gov. Nasir El-Rufai had mandated the service to set aside N1 billion monthly for infrastructure across the state.

    “As you can see, hospitals are being renovated, roads are being repaired, drainage systems are being constructed and several other ongoing infrastructure across the state.

    “This is a conviction that tax payers’ money is being injected into infrastructure development in the state.

    “Therefore, people no longer have any reason not to pay their tax consistently and as at when due.”

    He disclosed that tax payers owed the state N5 billion in arears, stressing that KDIRS would utilise legal means to ensure that every tax payer met the tax obligations.

    The KDIRS chairman advised tax payers to, in their own interest, endeavour to pay taxes or face legal action.

  • ‎Polio: Kaduna has maintained zero status since 2012 – El-Rufai

    ‎Polio: Kaduna has maintained zero status since 2012 – El-Rufai

    Kaduna State has maintained ‎a zero polio status since November 2012, the state Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai has disclosed.

    The Governor who disclosed this during the on-going ministerial briefing at the Correspondent Chapel of Kaduna NUJ through his Commissioner for Health Dr. Paul Manya Dogo reiterated the committed of the state government to do all humanly possible to maintain such status.

    He noted that prior to the administration under his leadership‎, the health indices of the state were very disturbing despite investments in healthcare, hence the need that saw to the convening of a health summit very early into his administration that brought together important relevant stakeholders including local, national andinternational partners to discuss the Kaduna State healthcare.

    According to the governor, Kaduna State now has a robust immunisation program, purchase of cold chain equipment ‎(144SDDs refrigerators) to fill in the gaps and such equipment have been deployed to the 255 Primary Health Care (PHCs) centres with additional zonal cold stores built and fitted with walk-in-cold rooms for effective andefficient routinne vaccination.

    “Close to one thousand directly funded primary health centres now offer ‎routine immunization with outreach services to their host communities.

    “The polio eradication initiative has been sustained and th estate has maintained a zero polio status since November, 2012” he said.

    “For improved health outcomes, government is committed to building a resilient health commodities‎ supply chain management system. Our sustainable drug. Supply system and free maternal and child health program did not have a functional logistic management system or standard operating procedures.

    “The aim of the intervention is to institute an effective, efficient, visible and well coordinated health supply chain management system. We are currently in the implementation phase of the transformation,where the solutions and models have been launched for testing before scaling up”.

    The governor also disclosed that Kaduna State is the first state in the country to have a baseline costing of its public supply chain ‎management system, adding that a master data for all drugs and health commodities to give it visibility.

    “With the support of the centre for Disease control, Kaduna State has just completed the first ever Kadua AIDS indicator ‎survey that will hopefully give us the correct current prevalence rate of HIV and AIDS in the state,” he further disclosed.