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Tag: Kano

  • Kano commissioner vows to unseat Kwankwaso in Senate

    The Kano State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, has signified  his intention to contest the Kano Central Senatorial District seat presently occupied by a former Governor of the State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
    He disclosed that,he is from Gawuna Ward, Nasarawa Local Government Area of Kano state, and was not scared of any bigwig currently occupying the seat due to his political record and grass roots support.
    According to him,”my decision to declare my intention to contest the senatorial position at the ward level, stemmed from my conviction that any result-oriented politician must respect the ward leadership of the party if he determined to make a significant impact in politics.
    Gawuna said he has been a grassroot politician for decades, stressing that this had opened the way for him to win the local government chairmanship position for five consecutive times.
    He said: “My people know who is Gawuna and the kind of politics I play.
    “They are also aware that the fear of any contest is not part of my political life, which entails that we are going out in full force to clinch the seat.”
    Gawuna, thanked Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State for the confidence reposed in him for allowing him to steer the affairs of one of the biggest ministries, which is the focus of the state government in taking agriculture to another level of growth and development.
    “I am still a member of the Kano State Executive Council and I believe Governor Ganduje, knowing his political dispositions, would not interfere with the primary of the party when it comes to our contest.
    “ I know that he has full confidence in me and what I can do just like what I did in the agriculture ministry.”
    Gawuna also explained that he would be in the Senate to be part of the new political dawn ushered in by the All Progressives Congress under the new National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.
    He said: “I’m heading to the Senate so as to change its dwindling fortunes, as they (senators) are perceived by many Nigerians as the enemies of democracy.
    “In fact, that has been taken up by the able national chairman of our great party and we shall all join hands to salvage the Senate.”

  • Kano anti-corruption boss apologises to Judiciary

    Chairman of Kano State Public Complain and Anti-corruption Commission, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado has apologized to the state judiciary for threatening to arrest a High Court Judge.

    Crisis broke out between Rimingado and the Judiciary when he accused the High Court Judge of Gezawa Judicial Division, Mohammed Yahaya of sabotaging the commission’s probe against alleged money laundery of N100 million, involving the erstwhile Accountant General of the state, Aisha Bello.

    The Nation reports that, the relationship between the two bodies had since soured, situation that prompted Rimingado to deem it wise to douse the tension for the interest of peace in the state.

    Speaking at a Press Conference at his office on Wednesday, Rimingado said he believed that the judiciary does not need anti-corruption commission for its survival, but the commission needs the judiciary to operate and above all, the society needs both for development.

    He said, “Three (3) years ago the Commission was re-invigorated to serve the purpose for which it was created and for all these years that the Commission was re-structured it has enjoyed cordial working relationship with all the stake holders in the criminal justice administration.

    “On this note, and in the interest of peace and stability, I wish to without to prejudice to the power and function of this commission to apologize to the judiciary and any other person that may have been offended by my statements.

    Read Also: Kano /Jigawa Customs generates N8b in six months

    “Though not excusable all that was credited to me was not out of disrespect to the judiciary but due to the honest and ardent need to ensure that justice is mated out. All that has happened is highly regretted and I take full responsibility of the action,”

    The anti-graft Boss continued also commended the state House of Assembly for enacting the anti-corruption law, praising the state executive arm of government for creating enabling environment for Commission to operate.

    He however urged the judicial arm of government in the interest of the state to preserve and support the Commission to serve the purpose of its mandate, noting that fighting corruption is not a “one-man business”.

    “Fighting corruption is not a one-man business. I therefore enjoin all to join hands with the Commission in fighting the menace of corruption.

    “Finally, our determination to fight corruption in the state remain resolute and undaunted. We appreciate the support of the public towards our operation and we will do our best to deliver our mandate within the confine of the law,” he said

  • NLC pickets MTN office in Kano

    The Nigerian Labour Congress ( NLC ) on Monday picket MTN office in Kano , following the hostile working environment for the workers.

    The picketing that started at about 6.30am which led to the total grounding of activities at the office.

    Kano NLC Chairman Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir said the picketing was a directive from the union headquarters and is a nationwide exercise

    “ The picketing became inevitable as the company has refused to heed advice to stop its inhuman treatment of workers. About 80% of the staff are casuals and they are not allowed to unionized which is against the International Labour Organisation treaty,” said Kabir Minjibir.

    The NLC Chairman said the union has being in discussion with the company for over a year to correct there ways of addressing workers issues which are mostly slavery like.He insisted that they would not leave the frontage of the MTN office until they are directed from the NLC headquarters.The labour union was supported by civil society organizations that included Centre for Awareness and Justice (CAJA) .

    Speaking to Reperters at the MTN office, CAJA Executive Director Comrade Kabir Saidu Dakata said the picketing is supported by the CSOs considering that NLC is the only mouth piece of the masses in Nigeria as the government has failed to protect the common man.

    All efforts to speak with the company representative was not successful as a staff said they are not authorized to talk to the media.

  • Kano gets $75m to improve water supply as part of numerous projects by FG

    Governor Abdullahi umar Ganduje yesterday expressed delight over President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts in developing Kano State with the commencement of the   reconstruction of Kano-Kaduna-Abuja express way and its intervention to tackle the perennial water problem in the state.

    Ganduje revealed this,during  the state executive council meeting said , “We are delighted with the recent award of reconstruction of Kano-Kaduna-Abuja federal high way to the tune of over N160b to Julius Berger by the federal government.”

    He recalled that,”During President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Kano, one of the requests we put forward was the reconstruction of this road. And to Allah be the glory, federal government has awarded the contract just in the last two weeks. And the process kickstarts.”

    This, according to the Ganduje, “shows how responsive our dear President is. We requested and our request gets the needed attention appropriately.”

    Ganduje discloses further that, “This appropriate attention tells how committed is our President in developing all sections of the country. We keep on telling people to see to the continuation of APC in power for sustainable development.”

    Ganduje commended President Buhari for securing the sum of $475m from France, out of which Kano gets $75m for improving water supply in the state, insisting that, “This is a welcome development and another way of trickling development down to the mass populace.”

    While briefing the Council about his recent trip to Georgia, Atlanta, United States of America, Ganduje said “We were in Georgia, Atlanta in order to improve relationship between Kano and Atlanta.”

    “We were there also to see how mega cities are developing, for us to borrow a leaf. We are interested in knowing ways to control mass movement in our streets, how to curb crimes in the society among other things,” he discloses.

    To also boost cultural development across the globe he said “…I visited Mayors of City Union and South Fulton, who agreed that they would come to Kano and witness Durbar, that could be a window through which our culture could go further to other parts of the world.”

    At the same time, as he observed, that could also bring other economic benefits to the state, by way of creating more windows for investment opportunities to the outside world.

     

     

  • Kano gets TB mobile detection facility

    The Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, the Emir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi II, and Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje have inaugurated a TB mobile detection facility in Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital Kano.

    They also launched Access to Care for Enrollees of Kano State Contributory Health Scheme (KSCHS), Free Breast Cancer Screening Programme for 1,000 women as well as distribution of laptops and internet moderms to Roll Back Malaria (RBM) Officers.

    Speaking on the projects, the minister said: “People like you make my work easy, while some call on me to help them but the message from your Excellency  is come and see what we are doing”

    He added that the “Wellness on Wheels (WoW) programme on TB was aimed at providing diagnostic facility and treatment to tuberculosis patients at their door step,” adding that, “Nigeria was one of the countries with large number of undetected TB patients in the world, Nigeria detected only 25 percent the remaining 75 percent Patients were not known and they also do not know that they were TB Patients.”

    Ganduje said the rationale behind establishing Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital was to provide services not only to Kano State populace, but to the entire country.

    He said: “Our intension is not only to serve the people of Kano state but to make Kano center of medical tourism in order to reduce foreign medical tourism.”

    Emir Sanusi called on Nigerians, especially the wealthy, to support government at all levels with health facilities and equipment as the government alone could not cater for the need of all Nigerians in the health sector.

     

  • $322m Abacha loot: Cash transfers to poor homes begin in July

    The Federal Government says it will commence disbursement of the recovered 322 million dollars Abacha loot through Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT) to 302,000 poor households in 19 states in July.

    Mr Tukur Rumar, of the National Cash Transfer Office (NTCO), said this at a roundtable on assets recovery organised by the Swiss Embassy on Thursday, in Abuja.

    The event was organised to intimate citizens and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on the efforts both nations were making on asset recovery after the Post-Global Forum on Assets Recovery (GFAR) held in Washington D.C. in Dec. 2017.

    At the forum, Nigeria made commendable commitments on beneficial ownership, tax transparency, asset recovery, transparency management of recovered funds and payments to victims of corruption.

    The states are: Niger, Kogi, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Kwara, Cross River, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarrawa, Anambra and Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) in Borno.

    According to Rumar, the benefiting households will receive N5,000 monthly and are derived from the National Social Register (NSR) that the 19 states are already on.

    He said the programme was designed to also train beneficiaries on livelihood skills, social skills and other programmes that would change their lives completely.

    Rumar, however, said that NCTO had been making payments to the 46,000 poor and vulnerable households across the 19 states since Dec. 2016, adding that the number had increased to 290,000.

    Mr Iorwa Apera, the National Coordinator, National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office (NASSCO), said 503,055 households were already on the NSR register from the 19 states, adding that by July, there would be a social register for all the states of the federation.

    He said that of the Abacha loot, about 302,000 poor homes across the 19 states would be mined by the NCTO to begin to receive the Abacha loot.

    Apera told the participants that the Federal Government would begin with those states, because they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NASSCO to put in place certain infrastructure to empower the national register.

    “Some of the states delayed, but the other ones were quick enough to set up infrastructure that allowed us to start work there, but all the states are now on board as they have set up their state operating offices and donated office equipment to us.

    “As states come on board, we enroll and so they extend to the beneficiary register, and presently we are generating data in all the states now,’’ he said.

    Read Also: EFCC launches probe as $500m Abacha loot goes missing

    Mrs Linda Ekeator of the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investment said the Abacha loot was invested in the social investment programme, because it was a programme that was already supported by the World Bank.

    She said that before the money was returned to Nigeria, there was an agreement with the Swiss government that it should be used for alleviating poverty and this was to be done with the supervision of the World Bank.

    The Swiss Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Eric Mayoraz said the 722 million dollars of the Abacha family money that was hidden in Switzerland was fully repatriated in 2005.

    He also said that the 322 million dollars that was repatriated in Dec. 2017, was money that was frozen by the Swiss Attorney-General, but was not domiciled in Switzerland, but in other countries, mainly Luxembourg.

    He, however, said measures had been put in place to ensure that Swiss banks were not used to hide stolen funds from other countries.

    “For possible new cases, the Swiss legislation has fundamentally changed.

    “The law in Switzerland does not allow bank secrecy anymore, and all banks and financial institutions have a due diligence duty to ask everyone coming with money where it is coming from.

    “That does not mean that there are no illegal or stolen assets now in Switzerland, but then there is another instrument I signed myself with the Nigerian Ministry of Justice and Switzerland two years ago on mutual legal assistance and this is for new cases.

    “Now, this agreement with our own Ministry of Justice and Nigeria is that there will be direct communication and exchange on mutual legal request and we are really collaborating with EFCC and other agencies in Nigeria,’’ Mayoraz.

    The Executive Director, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, said for Nigerian citizens to not keep spreading rumours about the whereabouts of recovered loots, the government must be transparent in all the processes.

    He also said that CSOs should be given access to the social register to enable it monitor properly whether or not the beneficiaries received what was due to them.

  • Kano Varsity dissolves Students Union over N500m property damage

    The authorities  of Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil has dissolved the Students Union Government over its failure to avert the colossal damage done to the university property,during students’ riot worth Norm.

    Speaking to reporters on the situation, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Shehu Alhaji Musa lamented that the actions of the students had cost the university a  monumental loss.
    According to him, it is disheartening to know that the protesting students, during the riot, which took place on May 2 2018, over the issue of a drowned student , went on rampage and destroyed state-of-the-art equipment worth over N500 million.
    The VC also revealed that about 21 areas were damaged and more than 100 valuable items destroyed, adding that the items include a sophisticated ambulance worth over N40 million.
    Other affected areas, according to the VC, include the university’s ICT Centre equipment, valued at N250 million, vehicles, the new and old clinics, Security Unit,  female and male hostels.
    Also destroyed were Research Laboratory, Science Lecture Hall and classrooms,Directorate of General Studies, All signposts and billboards, two Zenith Bank ATM machines,among others.
    “After the consultations, the Senate of the universityat its 84th meeting approved the reopening of the universityon Monday, 9th July, 2018, while students are mandated to pay a penalty of N13,000 against the reported N17, 000 including, a medical screening charges of N4, 000 for all students.
    “Sequeal to the apparent failure of the students union government executives to discharge their functions as provided in the 2013/14 SUG constitution, the Vice Chancellor professor Shehu Musa Alhaji, in the performance of his statutory responsibilities,as enshrined Im the university law, hereby dissolves the student u ion government executives with immediate effect.
    “Henceforth, the students executives ceased to be representatives of the students on any matter affecting the running of the university, as well as handover to the Dean of affairs, property and documents in their custody,” he said
     In the interim ,  Prof. Musa said that a Student Representative Committee (SRC)  would soon be constituted and inaugurated to address matters of interest of all students of the university.
    He said the university management resolved that, in order to ensure positive progress, stability, transformation and consolidation, remain unwavering, and therefore urged all law abiding students of the university to remain calm and obedient during their resumption period.

  • 2019 election: Ganduje dismisses Kwankwaso’s influence

    Kano state Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Tuesday dismissed the former governor’s, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso’s, acclaimed influence on the forthcoming general election, in which Ganduje would be contesting for the second term, come 2019.

    Ganduje said, “Power belongs to Allah, Who gives to whoever He Wishes and Takes Away from whomever He so Wishes. As such nobody, whatever positioned he may think he is, can stop us from winning our election. We place everything in Allah’s Hand.”

    He made the disclosure at the residence of party elder Malam Musa Gwadabe, when the governor paid him a visit for the celebration of Sallah festivity, adding that, “Whoever says he is ready to face us, we are also ready for him or for them. We are assuring you that there is no fracas in our party All Progressives Congress (APC), anymore.”

    “Our elder we are assuring you that crisis in not in our dictionary at all. When we had our local government elections there wasn’t a single fight for the purpose of the election,” he said.

    Ganduje who lamented that, “There was a time the state had bad experiences immediately after local government elections. About seven local government secretariats were razed down. But we didn’t experience that during our last local government polls.”

    He added that the party had recently conducted congresses from ward to local governments up to state level, “…and there was no crisis. Not a single person was injured. Everything was successful and peaceful. This shows how our party is strong and peaceful”.

    Governor Ganduje says “We have 444 delegates from Kano going to national convention coming up in the next few days. This shows how strong and powerful the party is.”

    To further encourage party members governor said “All parties that merged to become APC are solidly with us. As such we are not waiting for anybody any longer. If you are ready to follow suit is up to you. It is Allah Who will give us and see us through.”

    In his remarks elder Gwadabe assured that, all parties that merged to become APC prior to the 2015 general election are solidly behind the governor in all his political activities.

    He said “Since from the beginning we told Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje that he should always be patient with what will come his way as a governor. We thank Almighty Allah that our dear governor is still on it.

    At the residence of the Chairman Elders of APC in Kano, Salisu Buhari, governor Ganduje reveals that, “Many at times some people tried their best to reconcile between myself and the former governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, but he always rejects such good move.”

    “There was a time when we were assembled in a room with some elders all in an effort to reconcile us. But he threw away the good move, to the dismay of all of us gathered there, he bang the door on us,” Ganduje lamented.

    The governor said he still urged those people to continue pursuing the former governor for the continuation of the reconciliation process, emphasising that, “He did not allow them to see him. When he was going out he said to us he was not a kid. But he should know that I am not also a kid.”

    Ganduje appreciated those followers of the former governor, Kwankwaso, otherwise called Kwankwasiyya followers, who cross carpeted and accepted the newly inaugurated party leadership in the state.

    Calling those that are still on the fence to understand reality, disclosing that, “…we are extending our hands of friendship to them.”

    On his part the chairman of the party elders said “All party elders are with the governor, there is no doubt about this. We are proud of you Your Excellency Sir. You have a proven track record, you are accountable and transparent.”

  • ‘Dutse Airport not a wasteful venture’

    Jigawa State Government said on Tuesday that the construction of the Dutse International Airport in the state capital is not a wasteful venture.

    In particular, the State Government said the airport has not only brought development ; but has assisted in decongesting passenger traffic into Mallam Aminu

    Kano International Airport as well serving alternative airport for pilgrims of the annual Hajj from Borno and Yobe States during the period of insurgency.

    Speaking on behalf of the State Government, General Manager of the Airport, Alhaji Yunusa Abubakar Umar said besides Overland Airways; which operated domestic scheduled flights into the airport, the facility has opened up the state to other parts of the world through seamless air link.

    He said though, the airline has stopped operating flights into the airport, the facility still parades the best air navigation equipment and airport facilities.

    This is just as it called for the administration’s policy of diversification for improved farming activities and promotion of agro allied produce for export by air

    However, he admitted that the airport built by Lamido administration , has not only opened up the state to other parts of the world ; but has facilitated trade and other businesses including movement of farm produce.

    He said though chartered flights operate into the airport, but the facility is grappling with challenges not limited to scheduld operations for movement of farm produce.

    Recall that the Sule Lamido led government had in 2014 signed a memorandum of understanding with Overland Airways to operate commercial flights into the airport thus making it the only airline that had ventured into the airport for two years.

    Speaking on why Overland Airways stopped operations to the airport, the General Manager declared: “lack of passengers and poor patronage made the airline abandoned the airport.

    After the expiration of the MoU between Jigawa State government and Overland Airways, the company recorded a loss forcing it to cancel operations to Dutse airport.

    “Presently, there is no commercial flight operating to our airport. It is only charter flights that have been coming to the airport since the Overland contract with the state government expired.”

    Umar while advising the government to ensure the initial purpose of making the airport a cargo airport was achieved, added: “It could be a very good opportunity for the state and farmers of the region in line with the present administration’s policy of diversification and desire for improved farming activities and promotion of export”.

  • Police deny shooting four persons in Kano

    The Kano Police Command has denied a media report alleging that its officers shot four persons at Shoporite located in Ado Bayero Shopping Mall Kano on June 17.

    The denial is contained in a statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Magaji Majiya and issued to newsmen in Kano on Tuesday.

    “The attention of Kano police command is drawn to a media publication by Solacebase media that police on guard duty allegedly shot four persons at Shoprite Kano on June 17.

    “The reporter did not verify nor balanced his story but went on to publish.”

    According to him, ongoing construction works from Dangi round about to Zoological Garden along Zoo Road in Kano had created heavy traffic flow forcing the closure of recreation centres in the area.

    He however said that some youths protested over the closure, throwing stones and vandalising public and private properties, a situation that necessitated police intervention to restore order.

    “Police would not fold it’s arms and watch while law and order is broken,” he stressed, insisting that when the stampede occurred the police acted professionally and never shot at anyone.

    The command’s spokesman further insisted that that the police neither used firearm nor even teargas.

    “Minimum force was used to disperse the protestants, while children and properties were professionally safeguarded by the police and sister security agencies working at the place and peace was brought under control within shortest time.”

    Majiya stressed that the people of Kano enjoyed peaceful Sallah celebration with many trooping to other recreation centres to celebrate Eid-El-Fitr.