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Tag: Kaduna

  • Jekada emerges APC chairman in Kaduna

    •As party elects exco through voice vote

    RETIRED Airforce General, Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada, from Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State has emerged as the newly elected chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    Mohammad Bello Shuaibu emerged Secretary, while former Acting Chairman, Shuaibu Idris, is now the Deputy Chairman. Yahaya Baba Pate who was Acting Secretary is now Assistant Secretary of the party, while Engr. Salisu Tanko emerged Treasurer.

    This was also as Governor Nasir El-Rufai said his party will challenge the victory of the People’s Democratic Party which won four local governments in the last week’s Saturday local government elections.

  • Ex- NAF officer emerges APC chairman in Kaduna

    RETIRED Airforce General, Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada from Zango Kataf local government area of Kaduna state has emerged as the newly elected chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
    Mohammad Bello Shuaibu emerged Secretary while former Acting Chairman, Shuaibu Idris is now Deputy Chairman.
    Yahaya Baba Pate who was Acting Secretary is now Assistant Secretary of the party, while Engr. Salisu Tanko emerged Treasurer.
    The election which was through consensus saw the delegates unanimously affirming all the 36 names presented at the congress.
    In his address, Governor El-rufai remarked that with the successful conduct of the wards and local government congresses as well as the party’s performance in the just concluded local government election, APC still remains the party to beat.
    He expressed confidence that, under Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada and his team, the party will grow from strength to strength.
    “Want to thank the party leaders for the smooth congress that we have had, at the ward and the local government and now the state without any problem. This is because of your maturity and commitment to the party.
    “I also want to commend the party members for their performance during the local government elections. When we started planning for this local government elections we made it clear that we are a party of Justice.
    “That we are not going to cheat in the elections. And we believe that people should be given the opportunity to choose which party they want to govern them at the local government level.
    “We went the extra ordinary length to purchase the EVM so that the elections will be free and fair. We did what the PDP has never done to any other party. We gave them what they don’t know, we gave them justice. Unfortunately, even with that justice they tried to cheat.
    “We are going to challenge the chairmanship they said they won at the tribunal. We already have fourteen, for the remaining 5 we want to have 14 plus 5.
    “We can do that if we stay together, unite and work hard. We must be firm. Remember we are dealing with PDP people who are not honest. They don’t know the meaning of honesty, integrity, fairness, it has been taken from their vocabulary for the last 16 years.
    “So, we must be prepared. We want to play fair, but they don’t know the meaning of fairness. We must not sleep, but be prepared, mobilize to the remaining local government and make sure we are not cheated, but we will not cheat anybody, we want the votes of the people to count.” El-Rufai said.

  • NDE empowers 100 women in Kaduna

    The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) on Wednesday, commenced a training program for 100 women on cosmetology in Kaduna.

    Acting state Coordinator of the Directorate Sani Maiwada made this known during the flag-off ceremony of the training.

    He said that the training was the second and would last for two weeks, adding that an additional 43 men would be trained on other skills.

    “We are training 100 women on cosmetology and 43 men on other skills like carpentry, welding and others.

    “The cosmetology training would last for two weeks while other training programs would last for three months “, he said.

    Maiwada who urged the participants to maximize the opportunity, stated that skill acquisition was the solution to unemployment.

    Read Also: Yobe Empowers Para-Soccer Players

    “You are lucky to be among the beneficiaries of this training, I therefore urge you not to look down on cosmetology business.

    “Open your mind and learn the skill, practice with the little you have after this training and by God’s grace, success will be yours”.

    He added that apart from the certificate that would be issued to participants, materials needed for the business would be given to them to enable them practice what they have learnt.

    Meanwhile, Malama Maryam Ibrahim, the trainer, said that she would do her best to teach the women different skills on cosmetology.

    ” I will teach them how to make liquid soap, shampoo, Air freshener and others, we shall finish all trainings successfully”, she said.

    The participants expressed enthusiasm over the training, saying they were prepared to learn and put into practice what they learn.

    Halima Sani who spoke on behalf of the participants said: “We thank God for this program and we will do our best to make sure we excel in the skill”, she said.

    NAN

     

  • Murder: Zakzaky taken to court in Kaduna amid tight security

    LEADER of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shi’ites, Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky was yesterday taken before a Kaduna High Court amid tight security.

    El Zakzaky, who was in the court with his wife as early as 8:30a.m, was allegedly  smuggled into Kaduna the previous night from where he was being kept.

    He was being charged for unlawful gathering, criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide punishable with death.

    Speaking to reporters, El Zakzaky’s counsel, Maxwell Kyom, said the case could not continue because two of the defendants were not in court.

    He said an oral application was moved for bail for the cleric and his wife, but the judge, Justice Gideon Kurada, asked him to put his application in writing.

    Reporters and sympathisers of the Shiites leader trooped to the court premises but were barred from entering as the major roads leading to the court were condoned off.

    From the Yakubu Gowon Way by Bida road, two Hilux belonging to Kaduna State security outfit, ‘Operation Yaki’, blocked the road and pedestrians who are not court’s workers were turned away.

    A leader of the Shiites sect in Kaduna, Mallam Abdulhameed Bello, said El Zakzaky was forcefully brought to Kaduna a night before the hearing.

    According to him, members of the movement were disappointed for his re-arraignment because in a substantive suit before an Abuja High Court, the court ruled that he should be released unconditionally.

    Bello added that the cleric was losing his sight as well as suffering from diabetes and mild stroke.

    “We call on the Federal and Kaduna State governments to as a matter of urgency obey the judgment of the Abuja court and release the Sheikh for peace to reign.

    “We as a movement will continue to use all peaceful means to put pressure on the government to see reason and allow Sheikh El Zakzaky to go home and attend to his deteriorating health,” he said.

    The case was adjourned to June 21, by Justice Kurada based on application by the prosecutor for them to properly file their statement of claim.

     

     

     

  • UNICEF, CIFF to support treatment of 279,542 malnourished children

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Children Investment Foundation Fund (CIFF) on Monday pledged to support the Kaduna State Government to treat no fewer than 279,542  malnourished children in the state.

    UNICEF’s Chief of Nutrition, Simeon Nanama, made the pledge during an assessment visit to a Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) site at the Primary Health Care Centre at  Jaji, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    Nanama noted that SAM children are 12 times likely to die than healthy children if not treated.

    He stressed the need for increased intervention with focus on treatment of affected children to save them from avoidable deaths.

    The UNICEF official  said CIIF, a UK-based philanthropic organisation, collaborates with other organisations around the world to improve the survival of children.

    He said that UNICEF, in collaboration with CIFF, was  working in Nigeria to increase SAM health facilities for the treatment of affected children.

    “Our goal is to ensure that treatment is available for majority of children affected by the disease, maintain high quality of treatment and ensure ownership and investment by local government areas in the programme, “Nanama said.

    Read Also: UNICEF lauds improved girl- child enrollment in Katsina schools

    UNICEF Nutrition Specialist in  Kaduna, Chinwe Ezeife, said that the number of children affected by SAM had increased from 271,400 in 2017 to 279,542 as at the end of April.

    The Chief of Field Office, UNICEF Kaduna, Dr Zakari Adam, commended the state’s commitment over the years in implementing nutrition policies and interventions.

    “I particularly commend Kaduna State for mobilising domestic resources for financing nutrition interventions,  especially procurement of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) used for the treatment of SAM.

    “CIFF has  been working in collaboration with UNICEF to scale up access to SAM treatment in Nigeria since 2014, and had so far spent about 60 million U.S dollars,” Adam said.

    He  urged the government to increase funding level to make RUTF available to sustain Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) service, adding that partners funding alone cannot sustain the programme.

    Hajiya Ummi El-Rufa’I, the wife of the Kaduna State Governor and Chairperson, Kaduna State Emergency Nutrition Action Plan (KADENAP), thanked UNICEF and CIFF for the support.

    She said that 28 SAM treatment facilities are available in five LGAs, while 18 LGAs, representing 78 per cent of 23 the LGAs in the state are still without treatment facilities.

    According to her, about 17,981 malnourished children were admitted in the facilities with 80 per cent of them successfully cured using RUTF.

    She added that N750 million was spent between 2016 and 2017 to treat affected children.

    After the assessment visit, the team paid a courtesy call on Gov. Nasir El-Rufa’I at Government House where it solicited for the release of more funds to fight the dreaded disease.

    The leader of CIFF team, Mr Jonathan Oates, said his team was impressed with what was going on at the treatment centres and the turnout to access services.

    Oates pledged to support the state government’s efforts with 100 percent of the sum government releases for nutrition intervention.

    Responding, El-Rufa’I acknowledged that the crisis of malnutrition still persisted in the state in spite of efforts and progress recorded so far recorded.

    He assured UNICEF and CIFF of his determination to do the needful in addressing the menace, particularly in the area of funding.

    NAN

  • Kaduna LG polls: APC wins 15 of 19 LGs results announced

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has won 15 out of the 19 local government councils results so far released in the Saturday local government elections announced at the various local government headquarters in Kaduna State.
    There are 23 local government areas in the state, but election did not hold in Kaura and Jaba local government areas, as the polls in the two councils were postponed till later date.
    According to the results announced by the returning officers, APC won in Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Kubau, Sabon Gari, Soba, Zaria, Lere, Ikara, Makarfi, Birnin Gwari, Giwa, Kagarko, Kudan, Igabi and Kajuru local government areas, while the leading opposition party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won in Zango Kataf with 55,643 while APC polled 31,514.
    The opposition party also won in Kachia, Sanga and Kauru local government areas.
    Meanwhile, the Chairman of of PDP in the state and one time Minister of State for Aviation, Hon. Felix Hassan Hyet said, his party has been shortchanged, and the party will contest the results in court.
    According to the returning officers, in Zaria local government chairmanship election, APC polled 42,859, while PDP scored 16,033; in Soba chairmanship election, APC had 40,903, while PDP polled 13,835; in Makarfi, Returning Officer Dr. Musa Abdullahi Mohammed said APC polled 22,190, while PDP polled 13,088. APC also won in Giwa local government area polling 57, 005 to beat PDP who had 2,636.
    APC won in Kudan local government, the council of serving Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, who is at loggerheads with Governor el-Rufai. The party polled 76,131 to win the chairmanship against PDP who had 3,394.
     
    The returning officer Kaduna North local government area, Umar Hayatu while announcing the results of polls, said that APC chairmanship candidate, Alhaji Saleh Shuaibu polled 168,572 votes to win in Kaduna North, beating the PDP candidate, Alhaji Mohammed Sabo Babayaro, who polled 12,467 votes. The Peoples Redemption Party candidate polled 4,956 votes.
    Apart from being one of the four councils within Kaduna metropolis, Kaduna North is also the local government of Governor Nasir el-Rufai.
    Despite being given a scare in his polling unit in Ungwar Sarki ward, Governor el-Rufai’s APC still won the Unguwar Sarki ward convincingly, polling 14,863, while PDP scored 706.
    In the Governor’s polling unit, APC polled 65 votes, while PDP had 50 votes for chairman in his ward, APC polled 68 votes for councillor, while PDP won 45 votes.
    APC also won in Makarfi local government, the council of former PDP chairman and Kaduna state governor, Senator Ahmad Mohammed Makarfi.
    Results in the five other councils are still being awaited. 
    Meanwhile, Kaduna PDP Chairman while addressing newsmen at the party secretariat in Kaduna on Sunday said, the party will soon release its field results of the elections.
    He alleged that his party has been shortchanged in the results announced so far in the 13 local government areas of the state. He said their party agents have submitted reports and they will follow legal means to address the injustices he claimed meted on them.
     
    Hyet, further claimed that most of the results announced so far were through radio stations rather than the returning officers whom he alleged disappeared.
     
    The PDP state chairman, while calling on supporters to remain calm,said the manufacturers of the electronic voting machines supposed to have stayed in Kaduna to monitor the machines to avoid malfunction in some polling units.
     
    Hyet, however, alleged that some electronic voting machines were snatched to unknown destinations: “We call on you to brief you on the update of the local election results of 13  local government so far released . Some local government results was not announced by the returning officers but radio stations. At the moment we have some local government areas like, Kaduna South, Chikun, Kajuru, Jema, Kagarko, Sanga, still awaiting to be announced as the returning officers are no where to be found. The returning officers have disappeared completely. Even,some  wards returning officers also disappeared” the PDP alleged.
     
    “We are waiting for the returning officers to come out and announce the results in local government areas yet to be announced.Our agents have submitted the results to us and we will take necessary legal steps to address the injustices.The manufactured of the machines would have been on ground to monitor the machines. Humans are that ones operating the machines”
     
    We will soon make our reports collected from our field agents publicly. We believe as a party,we will take over power in 2019 because Nigerians have said good bye to APC” Hyet said.

  • LG Poll: KDSG announces restriction of movement

    Kaduna State Government has announced restriction of movement during the state local councils’ election holding on May 12.

    A statement by Mr Samuel Aruwan, media aide to Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i issued on Friday in Kaduna, said all vehicular movements have been restricted from 5:30 am to 6:00 pm on Saturday.

    He said that the restriction was at the instance of the State Independent Electoral Commission, to guarantee peaceful election.

    “Accordingly, the Kaduna State Government hereby notifies the general public that vehicular movement on all state roads will be restricted between 6am and 5pm on Saturday, 12th May 2018.

    Read Also:  IGP urges Nigerians to fight corruption

    “Security has been beefed up across the state to guarantee the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections. The security agencies will enforce the restriction of movement.

    “The Kaduna State Government appeals to all residents to conduct themselves in accordance with the law, and to report any suspicious or illegal conduct to the appropriate security agencies.’’

  • Guard your utterances, Sultan cautions politicians

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III has cautioned politicians to guard their utterances in the interest of peace saying, politicians should stop abusing each other especially the incident report in Kaduna.

    Speaking at the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) Pre-Ramadan meeting in Kaduna on Tuesday, the Sultan called on leaders and the led to respect each other saying, “We are the only once that can bring an end to the challenges confronting us as a nation.”

    He said instances where political leaders go about abusing themselves publicly and is being heard and seen on different media platforms nationally and internationally is not good for the country

    While expressing dismay over the rising cases of drug abuse and the intake of Codeine by people especially women and young girls in the Northern part of the country, the Sultan called on parents to monitor their wards to stop the scourge saying, “It has no positive impact on their lives.”

    He said, “We should access what the government has done for the Muslim Ummah since their election in last general elections and use it as a yard stick to determine who we will vote for in the fourth coming elections because if we do not make the assessment, we might just end up voting for the wrong people and we would have to wait for another four or even eight years to elect new leaders.”

    He called on Islamic scholars to educate and enlighten Muslims during their sermons in their various mosques to using their votes to elect credible leaders that will prioritize issues challenging Muslims in the country.

    He frowned at the wanton killings of innocent lives going on in the country and called on security agencies to take proactive steps in tackling the menace.

    As the month of Ramadan approaches, the sultan called on Muslims to start fasting as soon as the announcement on the moon sighting is made saying, “We have a Moon Sighting Committee which reports to me when the moon is sighted before the announcement is made.”

    He however called on Muslims to use the month of Ramadan to pray for the Ummah and the entire country in order for peace and tranquility to return.

  • Bagudu promises commitment to online entrepreneurship

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi has reiterated the commitment of his administration to encourage online entrepreneurship among youth in the state.

    Bagudu made this known at a workshop on five business opportunities organised by a Kaduna based online organisation in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

    He acknowledged that online business had not only enhanced the economic prosperity of entrepreneurs but also boost wealth creation.

    The governor said the state government would encourage such entrepreneurship in line with modernity.

    Earlier, Mohammed Jega, the Managing Director of Start-up Arewa, an online company, explained that the workshop was aimed at opening the business opportunities for youths.

    Read Also: Elumelu: Entrepreneurs need govt to grow

    Jega said the programme targets at encouraging youths to be self-employed by engaging in online businesses.

    He commended the state government for its pragmatic approach to exploit all areas of economic empowerment for its people.

    The Nation reports that professionals at the event highlighted ways in which online users would grow businesses in agriculture, fashion design, entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, commerce and educational matters.

    NAN

  • Bandits kill 45 in Kaduna

    El-Rufai: Army battalion for Birnin-Gwari

    Barely three days after Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris visited Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State over the spate of killngs, bandits at the weekend killed 45 people, including women and children.

    Condemning the attack, Governor Nasir El-Rufai said the Federal Government’s plan to establish an Army battalion in Birnin-Gwari would soon be implemented.

    During his visit, the IG ordered immediate deployment of additional 200 policemen in the area.

    The bandits stormed Gwaska village around 2:30pm on Saturday, killing 45 people and setting many houses ablaze.

    Kaduna State Police Commissioner Austin Iwar, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, confirmed the 45 casualty figure.

    The CP also confirmed that the incident occurred in Gwaska, a Birnin Gwari village close to Zamfara State.

    Members of the Birnin-Gwari Vanguard for Security and Good Governance, who pleaded for anonymity, said the gunmen came in from Zamfara State.

    “The armed bandits came from neighbouring Zamfara State and encircled Gwaska up to neighbouring Kuiga village, shooting sporadically,

    “Most of those killed are even women and children,” a source said.

    “We will continue to appeal to the authorities to take urgent steps to forestall further attacks and extinction of communities in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area.”

    The source said many people were still missing and that the injured would be evacuated.

    In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, El-Rufai commiserated with Birnin Gwari Emirate over the “fatal” attack.

    He said “to contain the situation, the military will be stationing a permanent Army battalion in Birnin-Gwari”.

    El-Rufai said he was concerned by the incessant banditry  and had been engaging the Federal Government on the matter.

    Said the governor: “The Kaduna State Government has received with sadness reports of the murder of our citizens by armed bandits in Birnin Gwari. The government has sent a message of condolence to the people of Birnin Gwari Emirate.

    “Kaduna State Government is deeply committed to overcoming the unfortunate criminality and banditry being carried out against innocent citizens in Birnin Gwari Local Government.

    “The engagements between the state and federal governments have yielded results. President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of a permanent battalion of the Nigerian Army in the Birnin Gwari general area.

    “The new security arrangements also involve policing. The Inspector General of Police has already announced the creation of the Birnin Gwari Police Area Command and two new Divisional Police Headquarters.

    “The State Emergency Management Agency has also been directed to provide relief materials with immediate effect to the affected communities.”