The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kaduna State Government.

  • Killings: Kaduna govt. deploys more security to Sanga LGA

    Kaduna State Government said more security personnel have been deployed to Sanga Local Government where gunmen killed nine people in Nandu village on Saturday.

    This is contained in a statement by the Government Spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, on Saturday in Kaduna

    “Security agencies have been deployed in the area, and the State Emergency Management Agency has been directed to immediately provide relief materials to the affected community,” the statement said.

    It said, the state government condemned the killings, and vowed not to allow criminal elements “triumph over our common humanity.”

    “The security agencies have so far recovered nine corpses, including children. The attackers also burnt several houses in the village.

    “The government condemns this attack on the lives and security of citizens and appeals to our communities to resist those who do not want peace.

    “The governor, on behalf of the government and people of Kaduna State, commiserates with the families of the victims and prays for the repose of their souls.

    “Government, security agencies, traditional and religious institutions will continue to work towards sustainable peace.

    “In this moment of grief, we must come together to defeat the machinations of those who have no notion of respect for the lives of others.

    “Violence has left an unacceptable toll of death and injury, loss of livelihoods, pain and fear.

    “We must overcome this by respecting our common humanity, settling differences peacefully and promptly reporting threats and suspicions to the appropriate authorities. Evil will never triumph over our common humanity.” (NAN)

  • El-Rufai dissolves Board of Water Corporation

    The Kaduna State Government has dissolved the Board of the State Water Corporation and appointed, in its place, an Interim Management Committee, headed by Mr Sanusi Maikudi.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Samuel Aruwan, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Kaduna, in a statement.

    He said  Maikudi would serve as the Acting Managing Director of the Water Corporation.

    “Maikudi, who has vast experience as an entrepreneur, business development service provider and public servant, is expected to ensure that the Water Corporation abides by its reform programme and attains expected results,” said Aruwan.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government also approved the appointment of Fatima Ladi Abdullahi as Company Secretary of the Water Corporation.

    Prior to this appointment, Maikudi was the Managing Director of the Kaduna State Investment and Finance Company,

    Born in Kafanchan in 1964, Sanusi Maikudi graduated with a degree in Architecture from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1987.

    Read also: 2019 Election: Ganduje urges Nigerians to vote for Buhari‎

    Maikudi has more than 30 years of experience across many sectors.

    He also holds a 2005 MBA from ABU and has worked as the Katsina Centre Manager for the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), where he served as a Senior Special Assistant on Project Monitoring to the Governor of Kaduna State, from 2003 to 2007.

    Meanwhile, Mrs Abdullahi was a principal state counsel in the Kaduna State Ministry of Justice.

    The new company secretary studied law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and was called to the bar in 2003.

    Aruwa, however, stated that Gov. Nasir El-Rufai has expressed the gratitude of the State Government to Dr Ishaku Shekarau and other members of the former board of the Water Corporation for their service to the state.(NAN)

  • Senate rejects Kaduna $350m World Bank loan request

    The Senate on Thursday declined the approval of $350 million World Bank loan requested by Kaduna State Government.

    The rejection of the loan request followed the presentation and consideration of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts which asked the upper legislative chamber to turn down the request.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduan Central), who presented the report said “the Committee recommended that the Senate do reject the request of $350 million for Kaduna State as contained in the 2015 2018 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan of Mr. President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.”

    Apart from Sani who heavily criticized the loan request, two other senators from Kaduna State – Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduan North) and Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South) – also opposed the loan.

    The Committee in its conclusion noted that “with the high total debt stock of Kaduna State at the moment, the new borrowing sought, will make the debt service to revenue ratio high, thereby worsening the state government’s ability to meet its other basic obligations to the people and further erode the economic viability of the state.”

    The Committee noted that based on the submissions and interactions with invited government officials, the following observations were made:

    • That the Development Policy Operation, DPO (Budget Support) of $350 million for Kaduna State was approved by World Bank in 2016 and captured in 2016 – 2018 borrowing plan as approved by the National Assembly.

     

    • That the credit facility has an attractive low financing data of 1.25 per cent interest; moratorium of five years and a 25 year maturity tenor.

     

    • That the facility is already captured in the 2016-2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

     

    • That according to the latest Debt Management Office figures, Kaduna State has a total debt stock of $232.1 million.

     

    • That approving the current loan request of $350 million for Kaduna State will bring its total debt stock to $582.1 million.

     

    • That if this loan request is approved, the new total debt stock of $582.1 million for Kaduna State will be unsustainable and necessarily attract huge financial burden on the meager federal allocation to the state.

     

     

  • Teachers’ strike will not stop education reform – Kaduna Govt.

    Teachers’ strike will not stop education reform – Kaduna Govt.

    Kaduna State Government on Tuesday said the ongoing strike by the Nigerian Union of Teachers ( NUT ) in the state would not stop its education reform.

    In a statement issued in Kaduna by Samuel Aruwan, Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity to Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai, the state government said it would not allow unqualified teachers in its schools.

    He said the state government was determined to protect the future of the students as more than two million pupils were enrolled in public primary schools.

    Aruwan commended teachers who reported to work in spite of efforts by the NUT to unlawfully prevent them from working.

    He said the government had begun collation of reports from education administrators on teachers and reiterated that teachers who absented themselves from work would be sanctioned according to the law.

    “Appropriate reminder of the potency of these rules (laws) has been issued in previous government statements.

    “Across the state, the illegality of the NUT’s strike action is being compounded by physical attempts to frustrate those teachers who wish to work.

    “No law permits any worker to tamper with another’s right to work. The attention of the security agencies has been drawn to this dangerous pattern of conduct,” Aruwan said.

    Read also: Court stops El-Rufai from sacking Kaduna teachers

    He said the state government had concluded marking of scripts of 43,000 applicants who applied for teaching positions, disclosing that 25,000 qualified teachers would be employed.

    NAN

  • Kaduna places septuagenarians on life medical insurance

    Kaduna places septuagenarians on life medical insurance

    Kaduna State Government has placed it indegenes of 70 years and above, sufferring from diabetes and hypetension on life medical insurance.

    The state government unveiled the initiative at the official launching/commissioning of the Hospital Cash Cover programme in partnership with Servier Pharmaceutical industry and Micro-ensure, maintaining that the state will offer free medications and pay the bills of  those who could no longer foot the medical bills as a result of retirement or otherwise.

    The commissioner for Education, science and technology, Professor Andrew NoK who represented the governor at the event said the governor has earmarked at least 200 thousand Naira per annum for each and every beneficiaries of the initiative, just to ensure that  medical expenses never becomes a problem to them.

    He said, “the government is keeping it promise to assist those above 70 years on medical ground in the state, and has carefully selected 2 diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, which are most common silent killer diseases of people.”

    Meanwhile, the Middle-East Manager of Servier Pharmaceutical Industry based in France, Mr. Ayo Dominic said that in addition to partnering with Kaduna state in ensuring that the septuagenarians get quality and free medication, his organization will commence the training over 200 medical doctors on modern ways of managing diabetes and hypertension, before the end of this month.

    Dominic observed that despite the coming of Servier International into Nigeria, at the time of recession when other foreign industries were folding up, “Nigeria is an emerging market, and the government is trying, but private investors need to come in to bridge the gap in ensuring that high quality medications are available and accessible to low income earners.”

    He then called on the state government to sustain the Hospital Cash Cover Progamme , adding that apart from the expensive drugs made available at cheaper rate to Kaduna state government such as Diamicron 30mg and 60mg MR for diabetes, Natrilix 1.5 mg, Coveram 10 mg and among others for hypertension, “our organization will device a means for patients to be receiving digital information  on their phones regularly, to remind them of their medication time.’

  • Southern Kaduna: Govt. to disarm natives, Fulani soon

    Southern Kaduna: Govt. to disarm natives, Fulani soon

    The Kaduna state government is to initiate a disarmament programme to mop up weapons in the hands of people, including Fulani and the natives in the Southern part of the state soon.

    The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Jafaru Sani disclosed this on Thursday at workshop on peace and reconciliation for stakeholders from the area.

    He however said before the programme commences, every step would be taken to restore the confidence of the people about their security and safety.

    “We must first restore people’s confidence. Why should you ask somebody to surrender his weapon when you don’t show sufficient resolve to protect him and his community? That is why the programme has been delayed.

    “We want to restore the confidence of the people so that they now willingly come out to surrender their weapons, believing that they will go back and sleep with their eyes closed” the commissioner said.

    According to him, anyone who surrenders a weapon during the disarmament programme, expected to last for three months, would be paid compensation based on the type of weapon being surrendered.

    He said before the commencement of the programme, the state government would  hold Town Hall meetings to consult widely  with stakeholders, especially traditional rulers and cultural associations like the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) to ensure its success.

    Sani said “The state government has an elaborate programme, one of which is the recognition of the fact that these weapons have been purchased with sweat from our people, to surrender them just like that will be a loss to the people.

    “So there is a form of compensation that will be paid for each weapon that is surrendered based on the category of the weapon.

    “After the three month period of mopping the arms, whoever that is found with arms and ammunition either in his private residence or farm would be termed as a criminal and would be dealt with accordingly, regardless of his standing in the society.”

    The workshop which was organised by Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP) was attended by stakeholders in the Southern Kaduna crisis, including representatives of SOKAPU and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria (MACBAN).

    In the past five years, hundreds of people have been killed, while property worth millions of naira were destroyed in the area following incessant attacks by gunmen believed to be herdsmen.

    It is believed that in the quest for self defence, a lot of arms found their ways into the hands of many people in the area.

     

  • CAN urges Kaduna govt. to reopen tertiary institutions

    Rev. Samson Ayokunle, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has urged the Kaduna State Government to re-open tertiary institutions closed down because of the violence in southern Kaduna.

    Ayokunle made the call on Thursday in Kafanchan, when he visited Southern Kaduna to donate relief materials, worth N8 million, to victims of the lingering violence.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the three tertiary institutions in the area – the Kafanchan campus of the Kaduna State University, the College of Education, Gidan-Way, and College of Nursing, Kafanchan were shut down last year.

    The institutions had since remained closed, while the 2016/2017 session is already coming to an end in institutions located in other parts of the states.

    But Ayokunle, who expressed surprise that the schools were still closed down, advised government to open them and ensure adequate protection for the students.

    The CAN President called for urgent measures to end the violence, saying that Nigeria would not have peace until people of southern Kaduna and other crisis-ridden parts in the country had peace and justice.

    “I appeal to the Kaduna State Government to re-open the institutions. What the government can do is to ensure more security so that students are protected.

    “Nigeria will not have peace until people of southern Kaduna, and other areas invaded by herdsmen in the country, had their peace,” he said.

    He said that the visit was to share in the grief of the victims of the violence.

    “We came here to show our deep concern over your predicament; we know what you people are passing through. We may not have much to give you physically, but you are not alone in this situation.

    “I appeal to the government to ensure an end to the attacks by herdsmen on Southern Kaduna and other parts of the country. Government must act swiftly,” he said.

    Ayokunle also urged government to repair Churches and houses that were burnt down during the crisis, while also ensuring that the culprits were brought to book.

    He also urged government to disarm the herdsmen accused of killing natives, and prosecute those found to be involved in the killings.

    The CAN President praised the security agencies for the efforts to end the violence, but challenged them to understand that they would be held responsible if the violence persisted.

    He also advised the security men against restricting their activities to roadblocks along the highways, while the hinterlands were being attacked.

    Ayokunle said that security men must be sincerely committed to ending the violence, and cautioned them against  looking the other way when evil was going on.

    Earlier, the CAN Secretary, Kaduna State, Rev. Sunday Ibrahim, had described the visit as a morale booster, and described it as “very great significance to the Southern Kaduna people”.

    Ibrahim urged government to ensure security to farmers to enable return to the farms so as to feed the people.

    He urged the victims to remain hopeful, and cautioned against reprisal attacks.

    “The Bible is clear here. Vengeance is the Lord’s. He is all knowing and shall intervene at the right time,” Ibrahim said.

  • We’ve committed N2bn to projects on flight diversion to Kaduna – El-Rufai

    We’ve committed N2bn to projects on flight diversion to Kaduna – El-Rufai

    Kaduna state government said it has committed N2 billion to the preparation for the diversion of flights to Kaduna International Airport due to the proposed closure of Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja to repair its runway.

    The amount according to Governor El-Rufai is being spent on the building of the new road linking Kaduna Airport with the light rail train station in Rigasa, resurfacing of the, Nnamdi Azikwe Express Way and installing of solar powered streets lights among others.

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai who disclosed this when he received the Corps Marshall of Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi in his office in Kaduna Wednesday, said that the projects when completed will serve four states in the North west region.

    According to him, “We have committed close to N2 billion of our resources to the new airport work. We are building a link road from the train station to the airport. We are financing police outpost and resurfacing western bypass with solar street lights, we are rehabilitating airport link road from Mando with street lights from our inadequate resources. If the experiment succeeds Kaduna stand to get some gains. 

    “We are confident that Kaduna would be ready very soon, we are working hard on security and infrastructure, 40 percent of passengers that fly out of Abuja airport are from Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi states.”

    Speaking on the state-owned Doka General Hospital, Governor el-Rufai said the state government has awarded contracts for construction of emergency reception facility in the hospital. “Kaduna state government has awarded contract for the construction of emergency reception facility at Doka to be ready in months. World class trauma centre with helipad for emergency evacuation, MRI, RT scan facilities will be ready before the end of the year or early next year.”

    Governor El-Rufai said the decision to ask FRSC men to concentrate on federal highways was made by the state security council borne of complaints of checkpoints that end up causing accident instead of stopping it. “It was the decision of the Security Council to ask men of the road safety corps to focus on the highway and allow state traffic regulation agency to man the urban roads. 

    “We did not ban road safety staffs or activities in Kaduna state, we have no such powers. The relationship between FRSC and our traffic agency should be complementary and not duplicated efforts. FRSC should concentrate on highway and state agency should focus on urban roads. IIf the road safety corps has been embarrassed it is my duty to apologize.

    “We look forward to training of our state traffic agency to highest international standard. We look forward to hiring a further 1,000 staff for the agency. Overloading is a big issue, a danger to those within and outside the vehicle. Tankers carrying firewood and other goods have become danger to our roads and citizens as well.”

    The Corps Marshall, Boboye Oyeyemi commended the state government for supporting FRSC in the state and for setting up Kaduna State Traffic and Environmental Law Enforcement Agency (Kastelea), saying that there is need to train the members for effective application of traffic laws. He said 16 states have set up state traffic agencies, noting that there is need to share responsibility with the state traffic agencies. 

    “The Federal Road Safety Corps had policy shift to focus on federal highway and allow states set up traffic management agencies. The Corps will then transfer responsibility of traffic control of the state and urban roads to the state agencies, while focusing on the federal highways. 16 states have since set up their traffic management agencies and we are sharing responsibility by regulating their activities.

    “I learnt that your state traffic agency started operation in January (2017), they would need proper training so that we can be on same page and work to remove recalcitrant drivers from the road and save more lives. We would do more regulatory work while concentrating on federal highways. I learnt what some of our boys did, you don’t need to worry, I would carry out major reorganization in FRSC in the state. 

    “We are setting up eight additional outposts along Kaduna-Abuja highway with four on Kaduna side, two will be sited along bypass, one at the train station and one at the airport. We are also setting up four more ambulance points along the road. I’m worried about overload which I have witnessed along Abuja Kaduna road up to Kano, putting people in the boot with rams. I’m working on it but can’t leave Abuja always, you need to help us about it. 

    “The Doka Hospital is not equipped, we move crash victims to St Gerard Hospital and some of them die along the way. The hospital needs to be equipped to serve as a traumatic center, Kaduna state government need to do something about it. Most of the crashes take place about 300 meters either side of the hospital because it is a long stretch of road which force drivers to over speed”, he said.

  • Kaduna releases White Paper on Zaria clashes

    Kaduna releases White Paper on Zaria clashes

    …Says Zakzaky’s group responsible for clashes, consequences

     

    The Kaduna State Government on Monday released the White Paper on the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Zaria clashes of December 2015.

    The white paper however blamed the clashes and their consequences on the Sheik Ibraheem Zakzaky led Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), saying, “all IMN members and its leadership are jointly and severally liable for all violations of the law in the last 30 years, and are therefore responsible for the clashes and its consequences”.

    The Judicial Commission of Inquiry which examined, among other issues, the immediate and remote causes of the clashes between the Nigerian Army and the outlawed IMN, submitted its report in July 2016.

    Presenting the white paper before newsmen at the government house, Kaduna, Special Assistant to Governor El-Rufai on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan said, following the receipt of the report, the government made the report public within 10 days, and set up a committee of senior public servants to prepare a draft White Paper.

    According to him, “this White Paper sets out the views and decisions of the Government on all the recommendations that have been made to it by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry. All recommendations that are within the purview of the Kaduna State Government can be accepted, noted or rejected. Those pertaining to institutions or tiers of government not under the direct control of the state government are noted and referred to the appropriate institution for consideration and decision.

    “Regarding the clashes in the Gyallesu area of Zaria where the Nigerian Army mounted a cordon and search operation, the White Paper observed that many civilians were evacuated from Gyallesu, but that IMN members rejected the opportunity to vacate the area.

    “The White Paper also acknowledged that the Nigerian Army abided by its Rules of Engagement and further observed that: the Judicial Commission of Inquiry failed to take into account the years during which the activities of the IMN in Gyallesu had threatened peace and security; for all intent and purpose, the IMN is an insurgent group and ought to be treated as such; the sheer numbers of IMN members congregating in Zaria from across the country that night, with many bearing arms, was such that the Nigerian Army was in no position to accurately determine how armed and organised they were and had to be concerned on what their intention for Zaria was.

    “With regards to the findings of the Commission on the conduct of the Nigerian Army, the State Government noted the recommendation that members of the Nigerian Army that may have been involved in the unlawful killing of 347 citizens should be brought to trial before a Court of competent jurisdiction.

    “The Kaduna State Government is assured that the Federal Government will not condone unlawful killing of any citizen and that this conduct will be further investigated and any culprits identified will first be subjected to court martial by the federal authorities, followed by civil prosecution by the state government.”

    “The Kaduna State Government accepted the following recommendations, among others: The IMN is an unregistered organisation that cannot be sued. Therefore, all IMN members and its leadership are jointly and severally liable for all violations of the law in the last 30 years, and are therefore responsible for the clashes and its consequences.

    “Members of the IMN owe absolute loyalty to Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky. He therefore bears responsibility for all the acts of lawlessness committed by the organisation and should therefore be held responsible, fully investigated and prosecuted;

    “The evidence before the Commission, from the testimonies and memoranda submitted to it by the various interest groups and stakeholders, clearly shows that IMN has become a law unto itself; disregarding the authority of the Nigerian State as vested in the police and other security agencies which many a times lead to several confrontations such as the one of 12th to 14th December, 2015 between it and the Nigerian Army;

    “All incidents of violence and aggression by the members of the IMN against individuals, groups or communities, which have resulted in grievous bodily harm, destruction of properties and deaths, should be fully investigated and culprits brought to book. Where appropriate, compensations should be paid”, the white paper read.

  • 22 suspects arrested for vandalism in Kaduna

    22 suspects arrested for vandalism in Kaduna

    Security agencies in Kaduna have arrested 22 suspects for allegedly vandalizing and stealing solar street lights installed by the Kaduna State Government.

    Special Assistant to Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan disclosed on Wednesday that 19 of the 22 suspects have already been charged to court.

    Aruwan, who reiterated the state government’s commitment to prosecuting anyone found vandalizing or stealing public properties, stated that, “security operatives have arrested 22 suspects for vandalizing and stealing of Solar Street Lights. Scrap Iron Scavengers fixed by the State government. Others in the net are buyers of the stolen properties within the metropolis.

    “After careful combing of the crime scene, Solar Batteries and their covers and one iron saw were recovered inside the Cemetery along Bashama Road, Tudun Wada area of the metropolis.

    “The operation which lasted for two days raided all Scrap Iron Vendors, Roadside Solar Battery Sellers mentioned in the deal. Items recovered during the raids include Solar Panels, Armored Cables, Vehicle spare parts and Textile materials suspected to have been stolen were recovered from the suspects.

    Those arrested are: Nazif Mohammed, Aminu Isa, Yusuf Tukur, Imrana Yusuf, Ibrahim Ahmed, Shamsudeen Jibrin, Sani Idris, Abdullahi Bashir and Ahmed Sani. Others are: Adamu Najib, Annas Mohammed, Abubakar Abba, Abubakar Umar, Suleiman Nasir, Uzaifa Saffiyanu, Abdulrasheed Abdullahi, UsmanAbubaka, Adamu Ahmadu, Abdullahi Musa and Abubakar Kule.

    He also revealed that, the suspects and the items recovered were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the State Police Command for further investigation to establish the criminal profiles of the suspects for possible for various offences for prosecution.

    He also warned vandals to desist from these dangerous acts, as the state government will prosecute anyone found vandalizing or stealing public property.