The Nation Newspaper

Tag: kano state

  • FG anti corruption fight, good omen for Nigeria – Shekarau

    FG anti corruption fight, good omen for Nigeria – Shekarau

    Former Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, has lauded the anti corruption fight by President Muhammadu Buhari, describing it as a good omen.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)reports that the former Kano State governor, made this disclosure to newsmen in Sokoto on Monday.

    Shekarau said: ” The efforts by the president to fight corruption in all its ramifications is good for Nigeria.

    “Anybody, who gets any money fraudulently should be arrested, thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.

    “I am a strong advocate of anti corruption fight, as I set up an anti corruption and public complaints commission in Kano State in 2005”.

    The chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), however, cautioned against selective justice in the anti corruption war.

    Shekarau further urged that ”nobody should be above the law in this direction; there should also be respect, adherence and respect for the rule of law.

    “You are innocent until you are proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt,” the former minister added.

    On security, Shekarau called for improved funding of the nation’s security agencies.

    This, he noted, would ensure the provision of ultramodern weapons, logistics, training, retraining, as well as the need to improve their welfare.

    On agriculture, the former governor called for the reintroduction of commodity boards in the country.

    He said: “This will add value to farming, boost food security and encourage farmers.

    “Food security is next to nothing and any nation that fails to provide it remains weak and vulnerable”.

    On politics, Shekarau said,” PDP will bounce back and reclaim its lost glory in 2019″.

  • Three million Almajiris roam Kano streets – Ganduje

    Three million Almajiris roam Kano streets – Ganduje

    The Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Thursday observed that there are about three million Almajiri children roaming the streets in the state.

    The Governor stressed the need for the seven states of the North West to identify the economic advantages they can use to move the region forward and tackle their common social problems.

    He said: “These seven states, should try, identify the economic advantages that we can lay our hands on as to move this region forward. And what are the social problems that we are having? In Kano, we undertook a survey and we found out that we have more than three million Almajiris and Almajiri syndrome is one of the serious problems that we have in the north-west geopolitical zone.

    “What we discovered from our survey is that many of these Almajiris come from the Niger Republic, some from Chad, Northern Cameroon and some from other states of the north-west.

    “So, if we can come together and have a common synergy to introduce a common legislation, preventing the movement of school age children from one place to another, I think the states will find it very easy to address the problem of Almajiri syndrome.

    “I thank the governor of Kaduna state for creating this kind of environment for us to come together, as especially for us to discuss the economic integration of the north-west zone.

    “This is the first time, since the inception of this democracy in 1999, where the seven governors (of the north-west zone) decided to come together to form a forum. We even went to the extent of employing a consultant who is giving us the green light on various issues on economic development.

    “First of all, let me start with the position of the North-west in Nigeria. We are the most populous geopolitical zone, constituting 25 percent of the population of Nigeria. With regards to land mass, we have 23 percent of the land mass in Nigeria. What we require now is the political will to come together and be fully integrated – socio-economic integration beyond paper integration, an integration that will bring development in terms of institutions and in terms of programmes that will improve the quality of lives of our people.

    “It will be very important to have an integration commission which looks into the development capacity of our institutions, because whatever we want to do, if our institutions are not developed, then whatever we do may not be actualised. Also, it is very important to have data so that we know our point of strength so that we know the comparative advantages we have. So if we can get a data bank, it will assist us to quicken the process of the integration.

    “Another issue is that we are individually conducting our educational programmes, if we come together to see how we can have different programmes in our university curriculum, it will help us specialised and we can even build universities that will specialise in the various programmes, thereby saving energy and resources for the development of our region.

    “The potentials of the north-west are very obvious. The north-west has the highest water density in the whole of west Africa. The amount of water is such that they can feed the whole of West Africa and this is something that needs to be tapped”, Governor Ganduje said.

  • Kano intensifies surveillance after recording cases of lassa fever, CSM

    The Kano state government has strengthened surveillance after recording cases of cerebral spinal meningitis (CSM) and Lassa fever in some local government areas (LGAs), an official said Thursday in Kano.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabiru Getso, told newsmen that this has also led to government taking urgent measures to ensure proper control.

    He said 20 suspected cases of meningitis were reported in eight LGAs, with only four of the cases being confirmed.

    The commissioner listed the LGAs as Dala, Tarauni, Municipal, Tudun Wada, Gwale, Bebeji, Ungogo and Kumbotso.

    Getso further revealed that the state has also recorded two confirmed cases of Lassa fever in Tudun Wada LGA.

    “The state government has therefore intensified efforts to control the situation.

    “In line with this, the state government has approved the sum of N19 million to mount an aggressive response to combat these diseases.”

    He further revealed that the state has reactivated its Rapid Response Team to respond to such cases, adding that drugs and other items were procured for the team.

    “The state government therefore directs all citizens to be vigilant and report cases of intense headache, fever, nausea, vomiting and neck stiffness to the nearest clinics.”

    Getso also stated that help lines have also been opened to control the situation, just as sensitisation to the diseases’ early signs has also commenced in the media.

    He then urged residents to avoid contact with rats by ensuring the safety of their foods as well as observation of the general hygiene of their bodies and environment.

  • ‘Seized vehicles in Kano not linked to any Senator’

    Mr. Joseph Attah, Acting Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), says the ongoing investigation on the seized vehicles in Kano state has not been linked to any Senator.

    Attah announced this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Attah said the allegation was false and capable of misleading the general public.

    “Since this is capable of misleading the public into wrong insinuations, it is imperative to state the fact that the operatives of NCS Compliance Team, based on credible intelligence, trailed the movement of some smuggled vehicles from Maigatari, Jigawa State, to a house at Magaji Rumfa, GRA Kano.

    “On Feb.7, 2017,  some 11 vehicles, 10 Hilux and one Land cruiser jeep were retrieved from the house at Magaji Rumfa GRA, Kano and taken for detention at the Headquarter of Customs Area Command Kano.

    “The Customs officers discovered there were no occupants in the house, hence the gate was forced opened to retrieve the smuggled vehicles.

    “The investigation into the smuggling of the vehicles is still on to establish the true owner.

    “It is clear that whoever introduced the Senator angle to the story is out for pure mischief and does not represent the position of the service on this issue,” Attah said.

    He called on Nigerians to discountenance the false and misleading report.

     

  • Wheat farmers in Kano secure N50m loan

    The Wheat Farmers Association of Nigeria (WFAN) in Kano State, has secured a N50 million loan from the State Government, its Chairman, Alhaji Faruk Rabi’u, said on Wednesday.

    Rabi’u said that the loan would be used to assist the farmers warehouse their produce after harvest.

    The chairman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Kano that the association had introduced the ‘ Warehousing Finance Receipt Programme’, to ensure safety of produce at the end of the season.

    Rabi’u said farmers who need money during the period would be given interest-free loan from the N50 million.

    “The idea is to discourage farmers from selling their produce at a give away prices after harvest.

    “When there is bumper harvest, middlemen buy and hoard the product and later sell it at exorbitant prices which is to the detriment of farmers.”

    He believed that the introduction of the warehousing receipt programme, farmers would keep their products safely until when the commodity appreciated.

    According to him, if any member requires money during the period his product is warehoused, the association would offer them the interest-free loan, to repay after selling the produce.

    Rabi’u said under the programme, farmers would get 30 per cent value of their products as loan and would be made to pay a token for warehousing their commodity.

    The chairman disclosed that the association had set up a committee to recover the loan disbursed to its members under the CBN anchor borrower programme.

    “Harvesting has commenced and we have set up a committee for loan recovery which will soon commence its assignment.”

    He called on farmers to ensure prompt payment of the loan, to avoid any embarrassment.

  • Kano promises more support, medication to people living with HIV/AIDS

    The Deputy Governor of Kano State, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, on Tuesday said the state government would continue to support and provide medication to people living with HIV/AIDS.

    Abubakar gave the assurance on Tuesday while presenting materials and drugs worth millions of naira to the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA).

    He said that the Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje-led administration would also provide quality healthcare services to the citizens of the state.

    The deputy governor urged health facilities in the state to ensure proper utilisation of the materials and drugs.

    The items distributed include 52 laptop computers to monitoring and evaluation officers and three new vehicles.

    Other items are anti-retroviral drugs and consumables, 16 blood bank refrigerators, solar powered reagents and systems, safeguard equipment and 75,000 rapid test kits.

    Also, Dr Bashir Usman, the Director-General of the agency, commended the state government and the World Bank for their efforts toward improving the living standard of people living with HIV/AIDS.

    Usman said that the centre would ensure effective utilisation of the items.

     

  • Sanitation: 5, 000 violators prosecuted from January to date, – Commissioner

    No fewer than 5,000 people, who contravened the Kano State Environmental Sanitation Law, have so far been prosecuted, according to Dr Ali Makoda, the State Commissioner for Environment.

    The alleged violators were arrested and tried by the state’s mobile courts between January to March.

    Makoda, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Sagir Wali,  told newsmen on Saturday shortly after monitoring the monthly sanitation exercise in eight local governments areas.

    According to him, the violators were arrested along the major roads in the city during sanitation.

    “We were able to arrest 5, 000 defaulters and they were charged to our mobile courts which imposed some fines on them, he said.

    He noted that Saturday’s sanitation exercise was a huge success compared to previous ones with regard to level of compliance.

    Makoda also commended some self-help groups which participated fully during the exercise.

    He, therefore, called on the general public to continue to give the government the necessary support in order to keep the state clean.

    The Chairman, Kano State Central Committee on Self-help Groups, Alhaji Ibrahim Garba, commended the state government for its support and urged a sustenance of the assistance.

    He called on chairmen of local governments in the state to emulate the state government’s gesture towards ensuring a clean environment

  • Alleged land scam: Court adjourns Bibi-Farouk’s case to April 7

    Alleged land scam: Court adjourns Bibi-Farouk’s case to April 7

    A Kano High Court on Friday adjourned till April 7, the case of the former Kano State Commissioner of Land, Farouk Bibi-Farouk and two others standing trial for land racketeering and breach of trust.

    Bibi-Farouk, along side Mahmud Bello-Bari, a former permanent Secretary and Ahmad Ibrahim, a former Director in the ministry, were accused of illegal sale of two plots of land and issuance of fake certificate of occupancy.

    When the case came up for hearing on Friday , the state counsel, Rabi Ibrahim-Waya sought for a leave to call a fifth witness which she did, but there were objections to some of the document she wanted to tender before the Court.

    One of the documents was the statement of Ibrahim, the third accused person, which his counsel objected to, saying it was obtained under duress.

    The Judge, Justice Nasiru Saminu after hearing the argument of both parties, adjourned the case to April 7, for trial within trial in respect of the said statement of the third accused.

    Speaking to newsmen after the Court proceedings, the lead counsel for Bibi-Farouk, Mr Akerelu Kehinde explained why the court had to adjourn.

    “Court had to adjourn the case because there were objections to some of the document the prosecution wanted to tender before it.

    “One of them in particular is the statement of the third accused person which the counsel to the third accused person complained that it was made under duress.

    “Consequently, the court had to adjourn the proceeding to enable it conduct trial within trial to check the  whether the statement was made voluntarily,” he said.

    However, the state counsel, Ibrahim-Waya declined comment on the matter.

     

  • SON issues certificates of quality to 5 companies in Kano

    SON issues certificates of quality to 5 companies in Kano

    The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), says it has issued certificates of quality to five companies operating in Kano, Kano State.

    They are Alhassan Table Water Ltd., Alhassan Table Water Ltd.., Rasa Industries Ltd., Solina Food and Beverages Nigeria Ltd., and Yerima Laboratories.

    Engr. Yahaya Bukar, the State Coordinator of the Kano and Jigawa office of SON, made this known at the Federal Secretariat in Kano metropolis on Tuesday.

    He said the certificates were for quality and an indication that the companies had met the required standard.

    Bukar said that attaining quality was not a destination but a moving target to attain the set standard for companies to enjoy SON’s approval.

    According to him, “if you have our logo, you are free to export your products to other countries of your choice”.

    He advised owners of products that are still in the market without SON’s approval to come forward to be certified.

    The SON coordinator said the move would improve the image of the products, encourage healthy competition, and give customer confidence on the fitness of the products.

    He urged the companies to conform to quality of the products, “so that SON may not have any cause to withdraw its certificates.”

  • Dangote Tomato signs MoU with farmers in Gombe, Sokoto

    Dangote Tomato signs MoU with farmers in Gombe, Sokoto

    The Dangote Tomato Processing Company, Kadawa, Kano state has concluded arrangement to purchase fresh tomatoes from farmers in Gombe and Sokoto States.

    The company had already signed an agreement with Tomato Growers Association for the procurement of the commodity from the two states.

    The Managing Director of the company, Alhaji Abdulkarim Kaita disclosed this in Kano on Tuesday.

    He said that the company found it necessary to go into the agreement following the non-availability of the commodity in Kano and other neighbouring states that produced it in large commercial quantities.

    He noted that the CBN anchor borrower programme had adversely affected tomato the production this irrigation season, especially in Kano State where many farmers shifted to wheat and rice production.

    “The wheat and rice loans given to farmers this year have affected tomato production in the state.

    “This is the reason why the product is still costly as a big basket which was between N400 and N500 last year, is now N3, 000 in the market. “So we cannot buy it at the present price.

    “When the price was between N400 and N500, we used to buy from farmers at N1, 200 per basket,” Kaita said.

    He said that the company would continue to monitor the situation until it was satisfied that the commodity was available to enable the factory resume production.

    “If we resume production now, the commodity will be scarce and once it is scarce, the price will go up. This is what we don’t want for now,’’ he said.

    On why the company did not give farmers loan to produce the commodity as it did in the past, Kaita said that out of the 100 farmers that benefited from the loan, only 20 of them were able to repay the facility.

    “So we cannot give them another loan now since most of them have yet to repay the earlier loan they enjoyed, “Kaita said.

    He said that as soon as the commodity was available for processing, the factory would resume normal production.

    “We are ready to resume production because all our machines are in good condition and ready for operation,” he added.