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Tag: Kebbi State Governor

  • Kebbi: Bagudu signs 2019 N151bn budget

    kebbi state governor, Atiku Bagudu has signed the 2019 N151 billion appropriation bill into law.

    The governor said N104 billion is for capital projects, and N47billion for personnel and recurrent expenditure represented 70% and 30% of the budget.

    Speaking during the signing of the budget tagged “budget of consolidation”,  disclosed that his administration would be dwelling more on road construction, 40 new nomadic schools,225 primary health care centres across the state.

    “The total budget is N151 billion which is about 400 million dollars. We have N104 billion going for capital projects and N47 billion for personnel and recurrent expenditure “.

    Bagudu also commended the lawmakers for their prompt scrutiny of the budget despite their full engagement in political campaigns, adding that the budget would be properly utilized for infrastructure development in the state.

    He further thanked all stakeholders, especially the secretary to the state government (SSG), Commissioners and all members of his cabinet for supporting his government in achieving success in the Area of Agriculture revolution.

    Earlier, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Development, Alhaji Muhammed Jelani Yauri disclosed that the budget was designed to brighten the future of the state as well tap underdeveloped natural resources in the state.

    The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Alhaji Abudulmumeen Samaila Kamba in his remarks described the budget as the best in the history of the state with a large percentage that goes into the capital projects.

  • Bagudu presents N151bn budget proposal to State Assembly

    Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, has presented a budget proposal of N151billion for the 2019 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.
    Presenting the budget, Bagudu said out of the total amount, N104 billion was for capital expenditure while N46 billion was for recurrent expenditure, representing 69 and 30 per cent respectively.
    In  2018, the state government budgeted similar amount for the year.
    The governor, who did not give a sectoral breakdown of the budget, said priority would be accorded to internal revenue generation, education, industrial development, agriculture, health and provision of infrastructure.
    “In the infrastructure, we will give emphasis on the construction of rural roads across the state,” he said.
    He said the 2019 budget would consolidate the gains achieved by the last years budget, especially improvement of infrastructure, power supply and exploitation of mineral resources.
    In his remarks, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kamba, assured that the lawmakers would ensure thorough scrutiny and speedy passage of the budget.
    Kamba, also assured that the assembly would ensure sustained cordial working relationship with the other arms of government in the state.

  • Buhari’s record will give him second term, Says Bagudu

    Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu on Tuesday said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s achievements and what the government have in its Next Level are enough to give him a second term in office.
    According to him, there is no comparison between Buhari and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
    He spoke with State House correspondents after private meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
    Speaking on the chances of Buhari in the 2019 election following the crowd that attended the PDP rally in Sokoto State, he said “I don’t know what you mean when you said you saw crowd there because many people have different interpretations and like I said, President Buhari is running on his own record.
    “Within the last ten days, the next level agenda was disclosed showing what has been achieved and what the second term will usher in and that I believe has resonated with Nigerians and there is no comparison.” he said
    On the possibility of delivering Kebbi State for Buhari In 2019, he said “We believe that President Muhammadu Buhari is running on his record and Kebbi state is one of those states that is very proud of the policies that had been put in place.
    “It has helped the state to achieve gross output, gross income, better security and more transparency in the management of our revenue.
    “So all the three elements that President Muhammadu Buhari promised in his campaign, we have seen the benefits in Kebbi State.
    “So as a result, we are a welfare and transparent State. The generality of the people of Kebbi State are united under one party and we are determined to lead all other other states to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are re-elected.” he said
    He said that the President has a plan to make Nigerians very happy this festive period.
    He said “Few days ago the President was quoted at a farmers day by the oil company, Agip. I think I read the press statement by Femi Adesina, where President said he is working on with the National Food Security Council on ensuring that that farmers, Fishermen and all those that are in the livestock sector are supported particularly on the devastation caused by the flood so that the festive season will be a better one and they can replant and compensate.
    “Secondly, last year, Mr. President graciously approved an intervention where rice was sold in many markets, Onitsha, Lagos, Abeokuta, Kano for N12,000 and I am confident that the President is looking forward to making Nigerians happy.” he stated

  • FG okays N60 billion for rice subsidy 

    ….National Food Security Council faults USDA report on import

    The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh on Friday disclosed that the Federal Government has approved N60 billion subsidy to support rice industry in the country.

    He briefed State House correspondents after a meeting of the National Food Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Read Also:Senate panel seeks subsidy removal, price deregulation

    Ogbe who was flanked by the Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu explained that the purpose of the subsidy was to help bring down price of the commodity in the country.

    He said “There is a subsidy programme coming up. Government has approved some money N60 billion to support the rice industry to bring down prices. But we are going to handle it differently.

    “We don’t want to get into petroleum subsidy problem. So, a committee is looking at it with the Ministry of Finance.

    “We think that it is better for us to loan money to the millers, farmers and distributors at a very low interest rate, so that the capital doesn’t disappear, so they have cheaper credit to do their business that should impact on the price of rice in the market.

    “When we are ready we will let you know,” he added.

    On the plan to ban fertilizer NPK 151515 which has been in use in the country for many years, he said that the ban became imperative because it adds no value to crops.

    He said “We call for the ban of fertilizer NPK 151515 which has been used in the country for many years but recent research revealed it’s not useful for any crop or any soil.

    “Soils differ and so do crop, to believe there is one uniform fertilizer you can spread for every crop is a fallacy.   And it’s because we have done soil test and change the formulations of fertilizers, local blenders that some of the yields we are getting now are rising from two tonnes per hectares to five and six.

    “So the president is looking into that and to how we can deal with it.” he said

    On his part, Governor Bagudu said the council’s attention was drawn to the report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) which suggested that Nigeria remains a heavy importer of rice despite government’s claim to the contrary.

    He said: “We drew the attention of the council to a report by the US department for agriculture which suggested that Nigeria has been importing rice or about to the tune of about three million tonnes.

    “We informed the council that contact has been made with the US agency to tell us the basis for the report because it’s not consistent with the report available to us.

    “The only official importation in Nigeria is about 4,000 metric tonnes of rice. Secondly, the biggest exporter of rice, Thailand exported 1.1 million metric tonnes of rice to West Africa between January to October this year and India exported 402 million metric tonnes of rice to West Africa between January to end of July this year. That is a total of 1.5 million metric tonnes.

    “Even if all was smuggled into Nigeria, that was the total amount of importation one could attribute to Nigeria.

    “So, the US authorities responding by saying that their assessment  was based on satellite imaging of flooded areas and consideration that we are about to enter electioneering period and that demand for rice by politicians or for political purposes will increase.

    “Thirdly, that most West African countries depend on Nigeria. So, because of the flooding, they concluded based on those assumptions that Nigeria will import more.

    “Certainly, that is an erroneous report. Even in spite of the flooding, the upland rice production has been quite strong this year. Even though prices have increase in response to flooding, we still have adequate paddy rice in Nigeria,” he said.

  • Minimum wage: Bagudu appeal to NLC to shelve strike

    The kebbi state Governor, Atiku Bagudu has called on Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliate unions to shelve its scheduled strike in the interest of the citizenry

    The governor made this call in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Dakingari, and made available to journalist in Birnin, the state capital today.

    He urged the workers to await the report of the tripartite committee on minimum wage and President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision on the wage increase.

    “I want to assure the Nigerian workers at all levels of the government’s readiness to promote their welfare. The government is willing and ready to do everything possible to uplift workers’ welfare,’’ he said.

    The statement said that Bagudu left Birnin Kebbi for Abuja this morning to partake in the 12th meeting of the tripartite committee on the National Minimum Wage.

    The committee is expected to finalise deliberations and submit its report to Mr President, he added.

    It could  be recalled  that Kebbi state governor was among  the  tripartite committee on minimum  wage.

  • Osinbajo, Kebbi gov meet in Aso Rock 

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday met with Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu.

    The closed doors meeting started around 4.23pm when Bagudu arrived the acting president office.

    Read Also:Osinbajo, Tinubu, others welcome Akpabio to APC

    He was still in the Acting President office at the time of filing this report.

     

    Details Later…

  • Buhari, Yari, Badaru, Bagudu meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met with some governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    Read Also:My successors dare not return stolen assets to looters – Buhari

    They are Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru and Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.

    The closed door meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

     

    Details later…

  • FG targets $30 billion from non-oil revenue yearly 

    FG targets $30 billion from non-oil revenue yearly 

    • Sets up panel to boost export promotion

    Towards restructuring the Nigerian economy, the Federal Government is targeting to get at least $30 billion revenue from the current $5 billion from non-oil sources.

    This was disclosed by the Director – General of Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Segun Awolowo while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice – President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa.

    He was with the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, Governor of Kwara State, Ahmed Abdulfattah, and Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu.

    According to him, Nigeria is going through the sharpest falls of export revenues in her history, losing over $100 billion (N30 trillion) of national export revenue between 2015 to 2017 due to the crashing oil prices, which resulted in recession.

    He said “The NEPC made a presentation to the NEC on a plan to restructure the Nigerian economy to survive without crude oil. The plan is called “the zero oil plan.”

    “Council was informed that there was urgent need to rapidly ramp up non-oil exports as our future earnings from crude oil faces significant headwinds.

    “The zero oil plan aims at earning at least $30 billion from non-oil sources in the near to medium term as against the current earnings of about $5 billion.

    He said the objectives of zero oil plan is to add $150 billion to Nigeria foreign reserves in the next 10 years, create 500,000 jobs, lift 10 million Nigerians out of poverty and integrate each state of the federation into the export value chain.

    Awolowo said that the focus of the plan is on the export of the following crops: rice, wheat, corn, palm oil, rubber, hides and skin, sugar, soya beans and automotive parts among others.

    He listed the destination countries for Nigeria’s exports to include Netherlands, China, Iran, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Sapin, Italy, India, Saudi Arabia, among others.

    He said NEXIM briefed Council on the “States Export Development Initiative” which is being pursued as a medium to long term strategic plan aimed at stimulating and increasing deliberate funding intervention to SMEs in the non-oil sector for attainment of its objectives.

    He further said that council was informed that one of the major objectives of the initiative is contributing to the implementation of economic policies of the country, like the ERGP and Agricultural Promotion Policy, among others.

    He added that the initiative is built on schematic transaction dynamics with key features like provision of a dedicated funding of a minimum of N5 billion as a pilot phase with window for other facilities and partnership for transactional support.

    “Council was further informed that the initiative will also help re-awaken the business consciousness of the states towards export and value added production especially in the areas of manufacturing, agro-processing and solid minerals,” he stated. 

    He said the Managing Director of NEPZA briefed council on the need to have more special economic zones in addition to the Calabar Free Trade Zone.

    “He told the council that the major defect in Calabar Free Trade Zone is that the zones have not been linked to the Calabar Port and that there is urgent need to do so in order to make the zone a lot more effective.

    “Partnership between the federal and state governments as well as the private sector is needed. He urged council to ensure that the location of free trade zones should be done strictly on business consideration and not political considerations.

    “He also asked council to provide incentives for free trade zones to include linkage to rail line, express ways, close proximity to utilities, airports among others,” he stated.

    The Council on Thursday also constituted a committee towards improving Nigeria’s non-oil exports.

    The National Committee on Export Promotion is to review several ideas and suggestions tabled at the NEC meeting.

    The committee consisted of three State Governors: Jigawa, Lagos and Ebonyi and the federal ministers from Industry, Trade & Investment, Agriculture & Rural Development, Power, Works & Housing, Transportation and Finance.

    Other members of the Export Promotion Committee of NEC are  the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, NEPC, Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority, NEPZA, NEXIM Bank, and the CBN. Jigawa State Governor Alhaji Mohammed B. Abubakar is the Chairman, and Industry, Trade & Investment Minister, Dr. Okey Enelamah is Co-Chair.

    The Committee which is expected to submit an initial report by November is expected to come up with a concise action plan on how to drive non-oil exports based on the presentations and discussions of Council at today’s meeting.

  • 2017: Kebbi presents N139.3billion budget

    2017: Kebbi presents N139.3billion budget

    Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has presented N139,334,317,97 billion as 2017 budget before the state’s House of Assembly.
    Governor Bagudu, who presented the budget said the last year’s budget was full of challenges but the 2017 budget focuses on agriculture, empowerment, education, health and infrastructural facilities.
    The Governor also said that his administration would settle all the outstanding pensions and gratuities inherited by his government before the end of the year.
    He promised that the 2017 budget would ensure that into Kebbi people’s hand and ensure that they were independent citizens.
    While analysing the 2016 budget, the governor said, the state has recorded great achievement in agriculture, provision of electricity, water supply to the people of the state and rehabilitation of selected Primary and Secondary schools in the state.
    In his remarks, the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Abdulmuminu Samaila Kamba, assured the governor that the lawmakers would deliberate on the budget and ensure it speeding passage.