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Tag: Kebbi State

  • Kebbi, FG partners to revive Argungun fishing festival

    Kebbi, FG partners to revive Argungun fishing festival

    Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu, yesterday said plans have reached advanced stage with the Federal Government to revive the popular Argungun fishing festival.

    The governor said, the fishing festival was earlier suspended in the state due to Boko Haram insurgency.

    Bagudu, who spoke during media briefing in Kebbi, revealed on going moves to seek supports from both private and public sector to boost the tourism sector and make the festival an international affair.

    “We always avoid the raining season and there are lots of infrastructure decay and  accommodation problem because of the suspension, so we want to upgrade them all. That’s what we are doing with the federal ministry of Information,” he said.

    The governor called for greater funding for the sector, especially through the Anchor Borrowers Programme ( ABP ) to increase rice production in the 36 states.

    According to him, the N54 billion disbursed for the ABP across the federation was insufficient, thus need for the federal government to consider upward review of the loan.

    Bagudu insisted that the N54 billion was very little compared to what’s alloted to develop other sectors such as banking as well as oil and gas sectors.

    “Let me use this medium to call for more greater lending to agriculture and better public support. For instance, NNPC indicated that fuel subsidy alone is about N180 billion. Yet, lending to agriculture to farmers across 36 states is just N54 billion,” he added.

    While calling for massive investments in Agriculture, he said, “countries that achieved food sufficiency spent decades supporting agriculture, subsidizing among other producer supports.”

    The Governor, who acknowledged water as major challenge, said rice farmers cultivated on 400, 000 hectares of land.

    He said cost of purchasing fuel increased to as high as N300 per litre, which according to him led the state government to partner with major fuel stations and the Kebbi State Assembly to subsidise the product.

  • Kebbi constructs roads linking Benin, Niger Republic

    Kebbi constructs roads linking Benin, Niger Republic

    The Kebbi State Government says it is constructing roads linking Benin and Niger Republics to boost international trade and enhance relations with border communities.

    A statement issued on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi by Abubakar Dakingari, Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Atiku Bagudu, said the governor made the disclosure when he visited Yeldu, Gandu Wala and Mai Kali communities in the state.

    He said that work on one of the roads is being undertaken by Shinco Nigeria Limited.

    ”We are going to link places like Niamey, Bachaka, Madanfara, Kare, Dadin Kowa, all border villages between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

    “We are in the area to inspect the project, which when completed would link Nigeria with Benin, Niger and other West African countries, creating immense economic benefits to the people,” the governor said.

    The governor also interacted with dry season farmers in Makera on how to assist them maximize their output.

    Bagudu who also spoke with Fulani women in the area, assured that the state government would enter into franchise on dairy production, so as to bring immense benefit to those engaged in livestock farming.

  • Kebbi spent N2bn on water supply in 2017

    Kebbi spent N2bn on water supply in 2017

    The Kebbi State Government said it had spent over N2 billion on the provision of potable and safe drinking water in 2017 to safeguard the health of the people against water borne diseases.

    The Commissioner of Water Resources and Rural Development, Alhaji Bala Kangiwa, stated this while defending the ministry’s budget for 2018 before the Kebbi House of Assembly in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

    “The performance of the last year’s budget was very impressive as we expended N2 billion out of the proposed capital expenditure.

    “We also spent N98 million out of the N100 million proposed recurrent expenditure in 2017,” he said.

    Read Also: Kebbi bans night travel by boats, canoe along River Niger

    Kangiwa said that over N6 billion was proposed for 2018 by the ministry as part of the government’s commitment to improve the standard of living and social services to the people in all the 21 local government areas.

    The commissioner commended the support and cooperation the ministry received from the state of assembly.

    The Chairman of the Joint Committees on Finance, Appropriation and Budget Monitoring and Economic Planning, Alhaji Umaru Sarkin-Shanu, commended the commissioner for his performance.

    He also assured that the legislative would continue to support and assist the executive to ensure the improvement of standards of living of the people in the state.

    NAN

     

  • Argungu … A tourism ‘hub’ waiting to be tapped

    Argungu … A tourism ‘hub’ waiting to be tapped

    The place of the Argungu Fishing Festival (AFF) is yet to be fully established, analysts agree. This is a tourism hub capable of boosting Kebbi State and Nigeria economically.

    Argungu, a historic setting in Kebbi state with rich natural endowment and cultural heritage, is predominantly a traditional fishing attraction.ýý Its uniqueness has continued to place it on favourable pedestal of history at all times.ý

    The events, which draw participation of locals and neighbouring places as well from Niger Republic, include traditional wrestling, shooting and cultural displays. ýThe festival later got a little boost with the introduction of car racing to give it an international outlook.

    The grand fishing event is competed among thousands of fishermen lined up by the edge of the river and at the sound of a gunshot, jump into the river and have an hour to catch the largest fish.

    The winners take home gifts and money as reward.

    They use only traditional fishing tools. However, many prefer to catch fish by hand to demonstrate their prowess as inherited from their ancestors.

    Unfortunately, the festival has for years been put on hold. The development has adversely affected the facilities and the fishing village.

    It was last held in 2009 with the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua in attendance, with a 75kg winning catch which took the fitness of four men to hoist onto the scale.

    The town accommodates the famous but ancient Kanta museum, a historical, research and excursion centre in Argungu. There are also historic sites of Sokoto Islamic Jihadists, Zuru (Uhola and Gwalmu annual cultural and farming festivities) and Yauri (land and river borders).

    The state government and the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in collaboration with the United Nations are said to be working out modalities ýof capturing the event on international platform.

    Doing so will further encourage efforts ýat re-activating all the necessary components and facilities at the fishing village, such as the Grand Fishing Hotel, among others.

     

  • FG sets aside N5bn for local miners

    FG sets aside N5bn for local miners

    The Federal Government has set aside N5 billion to empower artisan miners across the country as part of measures to ensure participation of all Nigerians in economic development.

    The Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, disclosed this on Saturday when he inspected the gold mining site at Garin Awal at Fakai Local Government Area in Kebbi State.

    “We have N5 Billion in Bank of Industry for the use of small scale artisan miners, not only for self-equipping but to contribute to the economic development of Kebbi state and Nigeria, so that our economy will grow,” he said.

    Fayemi explained that ISS-Hass Ltd, a Chinese mining company, has been in the community exploiting gold for more than three years, but had failed to develop the area by establishing schools, building roads, as well as providing portable water and employment for the youth, as part of an agreement entered into with the company.

    He promised to investigate the allegations against the licensed operator in Garin Awal Village, Fakai Local Government of Kebbi State for alleged breach of agreement reached with the host community.

    “We have seen what our artisan miners can do, which professionals in this business failed to achieve. That is from the very little efforts they are putting in place with their own efforts, digging and organising themselves.

    “What we need is to enter into partnership with the state, to assist these miners, so that they could have land to operate, technical support as a way of improving their productivity and ensuring that they utilise the equipment beyond exploring mercury and finally support them through the Bank of Industry,” he said.

    The minister, who expressed disappointment over the lack of commitment of licensed operators, said “ the provision of the law stipulates that licensed operators must provide community support and this must be captured in an agreement, which we call Community Development Agreement.

    “The  village head has told us that all the things they promised, none of them were done. No school, they have not seen anything. They just did rudimentary road that provides access for the operators,” he said.

    In his remarks, the state governor,  Abubakar Bagudu, expressed appreciation to the President Muhammadu Buhari administration for its good policies, saying they had made the state to excel in agriculture.

    Bagudu said the people  o the state were ready to replicate the same achievement in the mining sector.

  • PDP: Electing Credible leaders, key to party’s future- Said

    PDP: Electing Credible leaders, key to party’s future- Said

    Delegates to the Dec. 9 national convention of the People Democratic Party (PDP) have been urged to use the opportunity to “vote for the party’s and nation’s future”.

    Chairman of the party in Kebbi State, Mallam Haruna Said, made the call on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi when he received Chief Raymond Dokpesi, an aspirant for national chairmanship of the party, who was on a campaign tour to the state.

    He said that electing credible leaders at the convention was key to the future of the party.

    “We have a responsibility that rests squarely on our shoulders, to say that we can’t be carried away by monetary inducement.

    “We should not be quickly carried away to believe that someone is coming to impose consensus candidate on us.

    “We here will do justice to the future of PDP. We must have serious thought over the future of the PDP and Nigeria,” he said.

    The chairman assured that the calibre of people that Kebbi had produced as delegates to the convention would not in any way be influenced in taking decision that would determine the future of PDP and country.

    He described Dokpesi as active politician, who had carved a niche for himself in politics and had impacted greatly in changing the course of political history in Nigeria.

    He assured Dokpesi of the support of members of the party in the state, saying “you have taken significant percentage of what it required to get support.”

    Earlier, Dokpesi had told the party chairman and members that PDP would regain power in 2019 through its connection with citizens and electorate at the grassroots.

    He said that power “comes from God which He gives through the people and He has decided that PDP must come to power in 2019’’.

    He said that if members of the party agreed to work together, they would win back power in states, including Kebbi and the North-Central.

    “Just like in Kebbi State, the battle to rescue power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) is not going to be easy.

    “It is not going to be easy because as at today, they have the Police, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all organs required to rig elections.

    “In our opposition, we are going to win elections, not by the power of INEC, power of police or all the instruments they have in their hands.

    “We shall win the power because we shall relate to the ordinary citizens on the streets,” Dokpesi said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dokpesi also visited Sokoto and Kastina to solicit vote of delegates to the convention.

  • Superstitious belief instrumental to most boat mishaps in Kebbi

    Superstitious belief instrumental to most boat mishaps in Kebbi

    Chairman of Kebbi State Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Sani Dododo has attributed the increase in boat mishaps in the state, to a ‘superstitious l belief’ that had made people not to take precautionary measures.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that boat operators held the belief that they would never die in river because they inherited the business from their ancestors.

    “They believe strongly that the river will never kill them since the business was passed unto them from generation to generation.

    According to him, with such erroneous belief, all safety measures are never adhered to, with the result that lives are lost in rivers frequently.

    He said the state government had come up with several measures to check the recklessness of boat operators, warning that failure to comply would be viewed seriously.

    “We will not fold our arms and watch people die because of superstition.

    “As part of our efforts to curb the recurrences of boat mishap, we had a meeting with traditional rulers and boat operators, and we came up with the solutions.

    “We resolved that henceforth, there will be no transportation on rivers after six in the evening and passengers and loads must be transported separately.

    “The number of passengers to be taken in any boat must be specified and written on the boat to avoid overloading.

    “Life jackets must be worn by all the passengers, in addition to three extra jackets for emergency to be placed on each boat,”

    “We discovered that boats that are supposed to carry 40 passengers, are usually loaded with over 100 people at a time, together with their loads, including goats, sheep, cows and camel, all jam-packed in one boat ,” he said.

    Dododo said the agency would collaborate with local government councils and Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to ensure compliance with the new measures.

    The SEMA chairman said the agency would also embark on sensitisation campaigns targeting boat operators and local divers .

    Dododo assured that the agency had adequate staff and was well-funded to discharge its duties, adding that it would set up emergency response offices in the riverine areas of the state. (NAN)

  • 250,000 Nigerian women die of cancer annually says foundation

    250,000 Nigerian women die of cancer annually says foundation

    The wife of the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Dr Zainab Bagudu, on Saturday said  about 250, 000 Nigerian women die of cancer annually.

    She said this during a walk to create awareness on cancer in Abuja with the theme: “ Walk Away Cancer’’.

    According to her, the walk is to create awareness as well as to try and save 250 women who die from cancer annually.

    Bangudu noted that 95 per cent of women who developed cancer in the developed society had five years of survival, saying that Nigeria had only five per cent survival rate.

    She said that this year’s event was using football as a tool to mobilise and create awareness, adding that “cancer is a global epidemic but it is worse in Africa’’.

    She, however, stressed the need for every hand to be on deck to remedy the poor statistics.

    “Health care facilities in Nigeria are poor and weak and there is no effective screening system in place.

    “We at MedicAid Cancer Foundation are reaching out for the low and poor people, and to improve awareness and as well disabuse the minds of people about cultural and traditional beliefs that cancer is caused by witchcraft.

    “We also bring people together to raise funds so as to help the poor and the ignorant women of Nigeria who are dying from cancer yearly.

    “Early screening of the breast and cervical for cancer will help to effectively detect and treat it,” she said.

    Mr Abubakar Bagudu, the governor of Kebbi State, said  creating awareness on cancer would help beat the disease as well as save lives.

    According to him, awareness is an important element to ensuring that everybody, both the rich and poor had the knowledge about cancer.

    “My wife, who is passionate about humanity took up the challenge and through Medicaid Foundation, has been organising cancer events annually.

    Read also: Cancer of Endometrium: Prevention and treatment

    “We are glad that people are responding and more awareness is being created and the significance of the walk is that something can be done about cancer.

    “ Exercise is very important in order to help prevent it,’’ he said.

    A cancer survivor, Folake Olabisi, said that early detection was important to saving lives and therefore stressed the need for women to have routine checks.

    She admonished women with family history of cancer to always have themselves checked as well as pass on the habit to their children and future generations.

    She, however, said that creating awareness and being courageous to talk about cancer would help in encouraging people to come out.

    Mr Kanu Nwankwo, a former Green Eagles player, in his words advised that the awareness be taken to the rural areas  to reach the unreached.

    He also appreciated the wife of the executive governor for the cause and pledged his support for the walk against cancer. (NAN)

  • Over 3,112 visual impaired patients get free surgery in Kebbi

    Over 3,112 visual impaired patients get free surgery in Kebbi

    “The Sight Savers”, an International Non-Governmental Organisation, has so far treated 3,112 patients diagnosed with trachoma in Kebbi state.

    Mr Ezra Yarima, a facilitator from the organisation, disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday in Birnin Kebbi, shortly after the inauguration of an advisory committee on neglected tropical diseases set up by the Kebbi Government.

    Trachoma is an eye infection that causes blindness.

    “The NGO, in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Health, had provided ‘trachomatous trichiasis’ surgery to 3,112 patients suffering from the disease from 2015 to date,’’ he said.

    He described the state as endemic to five tropical neglected diseases such as Onchocerciasis (river blindness), Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis), Trachoma (Blinding disease).

    Others include, Schistosomiasis (Bilharziasis) and soil transmitted helminths (Intestinal worms).

    According to him, river blindness, one of the neglected tropical diseases is found in 14 local government areas of the state.

    “The disease is caused by bacteria in places that are arid with poor hygiene; poor sanitation and poor access to water, which if not treated can cause blindness.

    “For those who live in endemic areas, we have provided mass administration of medicine free of charge to significant number of people,” he said.

    Yarima expressed confidence that composition of the newly inaugurated advisory committee, which comprised officials from different government ministries and agencies in the state, would make the NGO work effectively in line with its mandate.

    He commended the commitment of the state government in providing the right leadership and financial commitment to overcome the identified neglected tropical diseases in the state.

    NAN

  • More rice coming from Kebbi

    More rice coming from Kebbi

    Last year, there was some rice relief, thanks to Kebbi State growers. Now, there is hope that things will get better. More rice will be produced, according to the state’s smallholder farmers who are championing the production of the staple.

    Last year, through a partnership between Kebbi and Lagos State government, prices of the grain crashed  from N25,000 to N12,000, fulfilling the desires of many Nigerians to have rice in their homes. The Lake Rice was well received.

    The EU, in collaboration with Oxfam, is implementing a Pro Resilience Action (PROACT) Project to further increase the production capacity of farmers in the state.

    Because of the PROACT project, more farmers have embraced rice farming using modern techniques and improved inputs acquired under the project.

    Already, farmers in the state have received farm inputs under the project to drive dry season farming. No fewer than 6,000 bags of fertilisers have been distributed to 1,500 farmers in the state.

    A member of the village savings and loan scheme (VSLA) in Goriyo-Damana community, Birnin Kebbi, Abubakar Hakimi, told our reporter he had already received 30 bags of fertilisers from Oxfam for dry season farming.

    He said he could barely afford two bags of fertilisers before Oxfam began distributing the item to smallholder farmers in the state.

    Hakimi said he expects to harvest 50 bags of rice as against the 35 he harvested last year.

    “We never knew how to plant rice very well and apply fertiliser to give us high yield,” he said through an interpreter with a broad smile on his face,” he said.

    “The current year is more promising for rice farmers in the village’ –they have not witnessed farming with such huge produce and with less efforts too.

    “But their efforts have paid off because-they are learning new and modern farming techniques to cultivate rice and also have access to farm inputs, hitherto not available to them.