The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kaduna state

  • Southern Kaduna: Indigenous security agents aiding crises – El-Rufai

    Southern Kaduna: Indigenous security agents aiding crises – El-Rufai

    The Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has said that, his government is planning to have all security agents indigenous to the troubled southern part of the state, posted out of the zone.

    The Governor said, rather than help, as expected of them to resolve the crises, the security agents who are indigenously from the zone had added to the problem.‎

    He said the state government is working on ensuring that all security agents in the zone‎ who are indigenous are posted out while those from other states are brought to serve in the area.

    El-Rufai while speaking at a peace meeting with religious leaders in the state house, Kaduna on Thursday said, Southern Kaduna zone has been in crisis for over three decades, but unfortunately without anyone being prosecuted for involvement in the crises.

    El-Rufa’i, however, said that, his government has hired 50 lawyers to build the capacity of the state’s ministry of justice and to enable it prosecute those suspected to be behind the crises both now and in the past.

    The Governor reminded the clerics that the state has been experiencing crises in the past 38 years saying, even during Makarfi which people said was peaceful, the state went through not less than eight crises and that, during Yakowa, there were 16 different skirmishes.

    He said, this indicates that the crises have nothing to do with the faith or the ethnic group of the political leader in the state, but that his government has been able to identify impunity as one of the factors fuelling the crisis in the state.

    El-Rufa’i, however, said his government has taken note of the major causes of the crises and has started implementing ways of dealing with them by ensuring the prosecution of culprits, the presence of security agencies and the re-orientation of the citizenry.

    He said suspects have been arrested and that it is only when people see that those behind the crises are being punished that they will desist from further participation in acts that will lead to conflict.

    The governor explained the reason for the suspension of work on drainages in the state capital as well as major towns in the state, saying some contractors were using the project to commit the government into extra expenditure.

    ‎He said the contractors through these acts, had got the state indebted to the tune of N1 billion as against the N450 million it initially voted for the project. 
    The governor said the drainages were being constructed to maintain roads and while the project lasted, many youths were able to secure employment and many businesses were boosted through the patronage of workers at the sites.

    He said some of the contractors given the jobs, however, went berserk and started building drainages where they were not assigned and  even where there are no roads.

    The governor said some of the contractors even went beyond their agreement and started doing drainages even on roads that belong to the federal government thereby  incurring further costs to the state government. “We have made some mistakes, but we will correct them,” he stated.

    He, however, expressed happiness with how the religious leaders in the state have spoken about peace ‎and urged them to put into action the suggestions they have made at the forum and harped on the need for them to remain sincere while dealing with the members as he reminded them that, they will stand before God one day.

    “If you deceive the government or the governor, you cannot deceive God,” he said.

    El-Rufai said his government is trying to repair within four years what has been wasted in the last 16 years and that the task has not been easy.

    “What would take 20 years is what we are trying to do in 4 years. Most of us don’t sleep as we are working round the clock”, he stated.

    He described the religious leaders as shock absorbers saying they cannot afford to fail the nation due to the sensitive roles they are playing to ensure the unity and progress of the country.

  • Security reasons prompted closure of institutions in southern Kaduna – El Rufai

    Security reasons prompted closure of institutions in southern Kaduna – El Rufai

    Kaduna state governor,  Nasiru El-Rufa’I, said on Wednesday that the closure of some institutions in southern part of the state, was for purely for security reasons.

    El-rufai stated this while receiving the paramount ruler of Jaba Chiefdom, Danladi Maude.

    He said his administration would not risk the lives of innocent students, stressing his commitment to ensure the safety of lives and property.

    The governor accused some political, traditional, and religious leaders of dividing people of the state to satisfy selfish interests.

    He warned that his administration would not tolerate any act of lawlessness.

    In his remarks earlier,  Maude had expressed concern over incessant killings in Southern Kaduna and called on the state government to take extra  measures to end the menace.

    He pleaded with the state government to reopen institutions that were shut, and also complete some abandoned projects in the area.

    The traditional ruler further called on the people of the area to be law-abiding and support the state government.

  • Southern Kaduna: Rep condemns campaign of calumny

    Member House of Representatives from Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency, Hon. Shehu Garba has said, linking him to the killings of Monday 20th March in Dalle and Kariyo in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State was the handiwork of his political opponent rejected by the people of the area.

    Garba who stated this Wednesday when he addressed a press conference in Kaduna ‎averred that some persons are seeking to politicise what he described as purely security issue by dragging his name into the sad event in order to score cheap political goals.

    He stressed that he has no. Control over the deployment of or the operational conduct of security personnel, “hence ‎any attempt to link me with the incident is an attempt to malign my unassailable standing with a Constituency that mirrors our rich diversity.

    “The Architect of this campaign of calumny ‎who has been rejected by the people, should realise that the people of Jema’a and Sanga are now much enlightened and can discern between true representative and those who wasted over a decade of their representation with no known or visible monument to their credit”.

    While sympathising with‎ the innocent victims of the killings and their families, he called on the Security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to establish the identity of the casualties and the circumstances surrounding the operation and burning of settlements such action will quickly settle the accusations and counter-accusations going on at the moment.

    “I want to use this medium ‎once again to call on the Kaduna State Government to set aside all prejudice and convene an all-inclusive stakeholder’s platform to deliberate and come up with resolutions on how to address the increasing conflicts between Farmers and Herdsmen in our communities.

    “The situation on the ground ‎suggests that both the Herdsmen and Farmers are desirous of an enduring peace which guarantees peaceful co-existence, the State government is urged to put an end to the current blame-game by taking the bull by the horn by tackling this problem especially as we are approaching rainy season when farmers will have to return to their farms”, he said.

     

  • Polio: Kaduna govt to immunise 3m children

    The Kaduna State Government says it will immunise three million children under the age of five years against Polio within five days.

    The government said it would achieve this goal through the state Primary Health Care Development Agency (KDPHCDA) with the support of stakeholders.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Malam Hamza Ikara, the Deputy Director, KDPHCDA; and the State Coordinator, Journalists Initiative on immunisation Against Polio (JAP), Mr Lawal Dagara, made available to NAN on Thursday in Kaduna.

    It said the exercise, which would be conducted on the streets, house to house and markets, would last between March 23 and March 28.

    The statement explained that adequate arrangements have been made by the state government and development partners to achieve the desired result on total eradication of polio in the state.

    It said that other interventions would be provided at health camps especially at the high risk areas.

    Also in the statement, the Executive Secretary of the KDPHCDA, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, called on parents and caregivers to ensure they avail their children for polio vaccination during the March 2017 IPDs.

    Balarabe commended traditional rulers, religious leaders, journalists and other stakeholders for their support and urged them to redouble the support in order to achieve results.

  • Kaduna: Rural women demand family planning services from govt.

    Some rural women in Kaduna State on Wednesday urged the State Government to improve access to family planning services in remote areas.

    The women made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kugu, Zaria Local Government Area of the state.

    Madam Binta Ya’u, a rural dweller, said that many women wanted family planning services, but faced challenges of either non-availability of such facility in remote areas or were disallowed by their husbands.

    According to her, many pregnant women are either dying before delivery or lose the babies because they got pregnant almost immediately after delivery, when their bodies are not ready for such burden.

    “The government should help in ensuring that all health facilities in rural communities have the services.

    “But also of importance is the need for the government to enlighten our husbands to understand the health risk of not allowing the body to rest well, before getting pregnant again,” she said.

    Another rural woman, Mrs Mairo Abubakar, said that their husbands were only interested in satisfying their sexual desire at the expense of their wives’ health.

    She said that even where such services were provided, the health official would insist that their husbands must be around, and that the services must be provided with their consent.

    “But our husbands will take advantage of this and refuse to go to the facility with us.

    “We really need government to come to our aid, provide the services and talk to our men to support us in accessing the services,” Abubakar said.

    Dr Elizabeth Omoluabi, Principal Investigator, said that Anambra ranked fourth in Performance Monitoring and Accountability (PMA) 2020 Survey conducted in 2016 in seven states on the use of modern contraceptives for family planning and prevention of pregnancy.

    Omoluabi said that the PMA 2020 Round One showed that only 17.5 per cent of women in the state had access to modern family planning methods. She said the state placed fourth behind Lagos, Rivers and Nasarawa states, while Kaduna was sixth with 16.1 per cent.

    Taraba scored 9.6 per cent, while Kano State had 6.0 per cent of the seven states, where the Round One of the project was carried out.

    According to her, the Federal Government has promised that the country would make family planning available to 36 per cent of its women in 2018.

     

  • Kaduna: Police arrest three suspected killers of fulani herdsmen

    The Police in Kaduna State, on Monday said they have arrested three suspects that allegedly killed two Fulani herdsmen on Saturday.

    The Commissioner of Police, Agyole Abeh, told Journalists in Kaduna that the two Fulani herdsmen were grazing their livestock when they were killed on March 11 at Unguwan Luka in Jema’a Local Government Area.

    Abeh said the three suspects were arrested after a tip-off by Good Samaritans.

    The police commissioner, claimed that the suspects had made confessional statements and would  soon be charged to court.

    He declared that peace was gradually returning to southern Kaduna, and urged the general public  to go about their normal businesses.

    Abeh assured of the command’s readiness and commitment in providing secure environment to all citizens and solicited for more support from the public to enable police personnel discharge their duties more effectively.

    “I want to assure the people of the state of my resolve to flush out all forms of crime and criminality in the area,” he said.

  • AFAN wants governors to invest more in rice production

    The All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kaduna State Chapter, on Wednesday urged governors to invest much in rice production to enable Nigeria to achieve self-sufficiency in rice.

    The Chairman of the chapter, Alhaji Nuhu Aminu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria that the investment became imperative in view of Nigeria’s need for food security.

    Aminu urged governors of other states to emulate Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos who invested in rice in Kebbi.

    “The Lagos State Government invested so much in rice production in Kebbi. That gave the state an opportunity to produce enough rice.

    “The rice was processed, packaged and milled just like Thailand’s imported rice, but it is more nutritious and healthy.

    “If our governors, especially northern governors, can take a cue from Lagos State, it will not only boost their revenue bases but also enhance national food security,’’ he said.

    According to the AFAN leader, locally-produced rice is more nutritious than imported rice.

    Aminu pleaded with well-meaning Nigerians to encourage the Federal Government in its diversification efforts by investing more in agriculture.

    He said that investing in agriculture would actualize the diversification and create jobs.

     

  • Labour kicks, as El-Rufai throws up 1,990 quarters for sale

    Labour kicks, as El-Rufai throws up 1,990 quarters for sale

    The umbrella bodies of workers, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Kaduna State, have kicked against the plan by the state government to sell 1,990 government quarters public auction, based on their open-market value.

    The labour unions said, the Civil Servants working for the state government and occupying these quarters were never given option of first refusal before the extension of offer to the general public, a situation they described as unfortunate and unacceptable.

    A statement jointly signed by the Chairmen of NLC, Comrade Adamu Ango and TUC, Comrade Shehu Mohammed said, “the entire workers of Kaduna State Government were taken aback by a paid advert in the Daily Trust Newspaper, Vol.42 No. 1 of Monday 27th February, 2017, relating to the sales of government quarters in the state to the political office holders disguised in the name of highest bidders”.

    The government had said that, in order to cut the cost of maintaining the government quarters, it has decided to sell about 1,990 of its non-essential residential quarters.

    The full list of available properties is placed on the state website, indicating that, about 1,990 houses are to be sold by means of a public auction based on their open-market value.

    The government said, the decision to sell the houses was endorsed by the State Executive Council.

    Meanwhile, the labour movement in its reaction stated further that, “The decision of the Kaduna State Executive Council was without recourse to all relevant stakeholders in the state especially the workers of Kaduna State who are the creators of wealth and the legal occupants of these properties.

    “It is rather, very unfortunate that the Civil Servants working for the state government and that are currently occupying these quarters were never given option of first refusal before the extension of offer to the general public.

    “Another area of concern to the public servants of the state, who receives peanut as salaries and wages when compared with those of the political office holders of the state, was the mode of payments for these quarters after being sold to the individual buyers. That is, payment of 25% of purchase price (including 10% non-refundable deposit), must be made to the Kaduna State Government within 90 days of being declared winner. Balance of 75% must be paid by all purchasers within an additional 90 days, thus, all purchasers must effect full payment within 180 days of contract.

    “From the above condition, tell me which Civil Servant of the State can afford this payment? This condition in the first instance is contrary to the provision of the Federal Government Mortgage Bank arrangement of issuing loans to the Civil Servants from all over the federation.

    “We make haste to advice that the Kaduna State Government should borrow a leaf from the Federal Government which in its monetization progromme gave workers who are the legal occupants of government houses an unconditional right/option of first refusal, this is more so that the Federal Government policy was midwife by the selfsame Mallam Nasiru El-Rufa’i”, the statement read.

  • Kaduna PDP vows never to support Sheriff

    Kaduna PDP vows never to support Sheriff

    …Says it’s loyal, answerable to Makarfi

    The Kaduna State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday declared that the party will never support Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff’s led National working committee describing his reinstatement by the appeal court as an act of impunity which is against the constitution of the party.

    The party said its state executives and members are loyal and answerable to Sen. Ahmed Makarfi’s national caretaker committee leadership despite the appeal court judgement as they await Supreme Court verdict.

    State PDP in its communique signed by  Dr. John Ayuba, chairman drafting committee after the part’s meeting in Kaduna, said they stand by the judgement of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt which endorsed the decision of the 21st May, 2016 national convention.

    The communique said Kaduna PDP viewed the split decision of the two justices of the court of appeal that sat in Port Harcourt last month which nullified the decision of the national convention of 21st May,2016 and reinstated the Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff led National working committee as a miscarriage of justice and complete negation of the PDP constitution.

    The communique reads in parts: “The Kaduna State chapter of the PDP views the reinstatement of the former Sen. Sheriff led National working committee of the party by the appellate court as an act of impunity which is against the principles of the PDP constitution hence, an attempt to derail the democratic governance of our country”

    “Members of the PDP in Kaduna State should not loose focus of where we are going as we know where we are coming from. We must face the current challenges headlong to ensure that we change the change come 2019″

    While the PDP in Kaduna State remains united, strong, resolute, steadfast and solidly loyal and answerable to the national caretaker committee under the leadership of Sen. Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi”

    “The stakeholders and leaders of the party are enjoined to go back to their senatorial districts, local government areas and wards to convene meetings of the party and disseminate the foregoing to members. However, members are to remain calm, law abiding as they await the verdict of the Supreme Court on the matter,” the communique read.”

     

  • Why foreign airlines are rejecting Kaduna Airport – APC chieftain

    Why foreign airlines are rejecting Kaduna Airport – APC chieftain

    A chieftain of the APC in Kaduna State Yusuf Ali, has attributed the decision by foreign airlines to use the Kaduna airport as alternative airport when the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport is closed to bad publicity as a result of politicization of the decision.

    Ali who said it was no longer in doubt whether the runway at the Abuja airport was in need of repair said the Kaduna state government has demonstrated enough commitment to accepting the challenge by scaling up infrastructure and security to compliment efforts of the government.

    “Since the idea of the diversion of air traffic from Abuja to Kaduna was mooted, the Governor has faced the challenge squarely through the provision of complementary infrastructure and security to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers.

    “I watched with keen interest the debate that ensued in the wake of the decision to use the Kaduna airport for the duration of the repairs of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Some people deliberately attempted to politicised the patriotic intentions of the Buhari Administration. 

    “But the truth of the matter is that Abuja Airport runway is due for repairs and the only viable alternative is Kaduna. It therefore becomes imperative for lovers of development to embrace and support this decision instead of casting aspersions.

    “One of the major attractions to Kaduna is the availability of standard gauge rail-line between Kaduna and Abuja. For any passenger who desires alternative and convenient means of transportation to Abuja, he can simply use the services of the speed train that takes him to Abuja in matter of minutes. 

    “Of course there is need for the Minister of Transportation to consider increasing the frequency of the trips between Kaduna to Abuja as against the two trips per day being operated the Nigerian Railway Corporation in order to meet up with the volume of passengers. The road is also convenient courtesy of the intervention of the Kaduna State Government in some areas.

    “Kaduna also has a genial environment that is a natural attraction for visitors as well as comfortable hotels and guesthouses for those who may wish sleep over. The security in the state is also tight to guarantee the safety to passengers,” he said.

    Ali condemned the negative publicity being given the use of the Kaduna International Airport in spite of the upgrading of infrastructure at the airport by the government, adding that it was such negative publicity that informed the decisions of some international airlines to boycott Kaduna even though they fly into Port Harcourt with far inferior infrastructure.

    He said: “Some international airlines go to Port Harcourt but because of what they read in the newspapers being promoted by some sentimental analysts, they are now dragging their foot on coming to Kaduna, which has all it takes to accommodate their airlines. To be candid, which contiguous state to Abuja has airport and navigational facilities that can accommodate commercial airlines save for Kaduna.

    “I am appealing to such international airlines to rescind this very unpopular decision which is not grounded in any fair analysis or fact but purely based on media sentiment. This is in consideration of the fact that Nigeria is their biggest market in Africa and the least they can do is to reconsider their decision and fly into Kaduna”.