The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kebbi State

  • Argungu Polo: Bauchi Dokaji Farms wins Governor’s Cup

    Bauchi Dokaji Farms on Sunday emerged winners of the Governor’s Cup at the just concluded Argungu Polo Tournament.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 10 polo teams took part in the maiden edition of the NSK Polo Tournament which galloped off on Friday and ended on Sunday in Argungu, Kebbi State.

    The participating teams competed for various cups donated and sponsored by government bodies, corporate organisations and individuals.

    They were the Governor’s Cup in honour of the Governor of Kebbi State and Shehu Kangiwa Cup, which was in memory of the late former Governor of old Sokoto state.

    Others include, the Sultan Cup (for vetrans), Emir’s Cup, Umaru Shinkafi Cup, Muhammadu Mera Cup, J.B Yakubu Cup and the Mutawalen Sokoto Cup (for beginners).

    Bauchi Dokaji Farms emerged winners of the Governor’s Cup after beating Titan/H. Hago 7-5 in the final.

    The match was a pulsating and nail-biting winner-takes-all encounter as both sides had won all their matches coming into the final game.

    Bauchi Dokaji whipped Argungu NSK Farms seven to three and half on Saturday, while Titan/H.Hago had beaten Keffi Iyatu Farms four to three and half to set up a mouthwatering final.

    Khalifa Ibrahim was however the man-of-the-match as he scored a hat-trick for his side and also the final goal that tilted the result of the game to his side’s favour.

    In other games played today, Argungu NSK Farms thrashed the Sokoto Governor’s team 4-0 to lift the Shehu Kangiwa Cup, Argungu Mera Farms humiliated Maiduguri El-Kanemi 12-0 to clinch the Emir of Argungu Cup.

    Also, 1212/Dogonyaro Farms were winners of the Umaru Shinkafi Cup, while IGP Strikers finished as runners up.

    The Yakubu Dogaro Award for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the high goal category which was sponsored by Massarah Air Services went to Khalifa Ibrahim of Bauchi Dokaji.

    While the award for the MVP of the low goal category went to Abdulkareem Jibril of Zaria West Stream.

    The MVP of the high goal was also presented with a free return ticket to the United Kingdom by the sponsor, while the MVP of the low goal was presented with a return ticket to anywhere in the country.

    NAN reports that other activities to mark the closing ceremony were cultural dances and displays, camel racing (sponsored by Sokoto Cement), among others.

    Guests at the event included the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar and the Emir of Katsina, Dr Abdulmumuni Kabir.

    Others were the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Isma’il Mera, Col. Umar Dangiwa, a former governor of old Kaduna State and Mr Yakubu Dogora, the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    Also in attendance were, Francis Ogboro, the President of Nigeria Polo Federation (NPF), Mohammed Sanusi, Secretary General of Nigeria Football Federation, lawmakers, security chiefs and members of the diplomatic corps, among others

  • Emir joins campaign against meningitis

    Emir joins campaign against meningitis

    The Emir of Argungu, Kebbi State, Alhaji Samaila Mera, has Nigerians to keep their environments clean and sleep in well ventilated rooms.

    Mera, who is also the Deputy Chairman, Northern Traditional Leaders Council (NTLC), gave the advice in a statement he issued on Monday in Argungu.

    “Owing to the dynamic nature of the outbreak, we are calling on all parents and caregivers to ensure that their wards sleep in clean, well ventilated abodes”

    “’Households must avoid overcrowding, and self-medication by reporting all suspected cases immediately to the nearest health facility,” he urged.

    Mera called on traditional rulers and religious leaders to support all measures taken by government and health officials in the state.

    “The leaders should enhance surveillance for cases in their areas and report any suspected case to the relevant health outpost, and also support government officials working in any capacity to bring an end to the outbreak,” he added.

    The emir, however, enjoined the general public to pray to God for divine intervention and eradication of the disease from the country.

    He commended the efforts of governments at all levels as well as international partners to stop the epidemic.

  • UNICEF votes N220m for water sanitation projects in Kebbi

    The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF)   has donated N220m for water sanitation projects in Kebbi state.
    The donation was announced by UNICEF during the celebration of the 2017 World Water Day with  Kebbi State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development  in Birnin  Kebbi, the state capital.
    UNICEF supported by European Union according to a press statement by its Sokoto Zonal officer,  Mohammad Mohiuddin  will contribute N 220 million for a  two year water and sanitation project in kebbi state this year.
    The intervention is aimed at  addressing   the poor coverage of water and  sanitation in some of the primary Health centres by   ensuring that there is sustained access to water and sanitation facilities.
    The UNICEF officer said  the project will be done  through rehabilitation of defunct WASH facilities where they exist and construct new ones where there are no facilities.
    He added that investment in water and sanitation provision in health facilities will also be complemented with sensitization of health facility staff on the importance  of  promoting  hand washing at critical times so as so incorporate this in their routine heath talks.
    UNICEF however reaffirms its commitment to deliver the result for children and make sure children ‘s access to safe water for drinking is a priority above other needs.
    In  a press release,  he stated that  to be in line with Northern Nigerian context, the focus in Kebbi state is on ‘’Sustaining access to safe drinking water and Cultivating a Water Saving Culture’ ’ in  urban, peri-uban and Rural communities while working toward increasing access to safe drinking water for more communities ,schools, health institutions, markets and other public places.
    “It is important  that all water users and all water service providerS  in the state  should work towards ensuring that every drop of safe water is kept safe and never wasted,” Mohuddin stated.
  • Niger state produces more rice than Kebbi – FADAMA

    Niger state produces more rice than Kebbi – FADAMA

    The Niger state Fadama Coordinator, Engineer Aliyu Usman Kutigi has said that the state produces more rice than Kebbi state.

    According to him, the state produced over 25,000 tonnes of rice during the 2016 wet season farming which is twice as much rice than what Kebbi state produces.

    Speaking to newsmen Thursday at his office, Kutigi said that 15 local government areas in the state are into rice production in the Fadama 111 Additional Financing project.

    “I can say authoritatively that Niger state produces more rice than Kebbi state. We work on both quality and quantity. The yield have increased due to the intervention of Fadama in rice farming in the state. Even the World Bank refers to Niger state as the pacesetter in rice farming in the state.”

    The Fadama Coordinator said that Fadama have intervened in giving improved seeds, fertilizers, agro-chemicals and technology to farmers in the state.

    He said that currently, the state Fadama Office have expended N329 million for the construction of road network at Badeggi, Egbanti in Katcha local government to ease the movement of goods for farmers.

  • Kebbi Speaker collapses at project site

    The Speaker Kebbi State House of Assembly, Hon Samaila Abdulmumin, on Wednesday evening collapsed during the inspection of road projects in Ribah, Zuru local government area of the state.

    Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who was in Ribah to kick off rehabilitation of roads from Ribah-Wasagu-Bena and Zuru township,  had invited the speaker and other members of the Assembly for their support, but before the governor ended his speech, the speaker had collapsed to the floor.

    The security officers attached to the governor rescued the speaker and he was whisked away from the scene to Birnin Kebbi in an unmarked ambulance.

    All efforts to find out what ailment the speaker is suffering from at the time of filing this report proved abortive as no member of the Assembly was willing to speak on the speaker’s whereabouts.

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  • Varsity to establish 4 agric training centres in Kebbi

    Varsity to establish 4 agric training centres in Kebbi

    Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aleiro, says it will establish four centres to train farmers on modern agricultural techniques to boost food production.

    The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Bello Shehu, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Aleiro, Kebbi State.

    He said that the university had already trained relevant staff to carry out the programme which was targeted at supporting efforts of the Federal Government to diversify the economy through agriculture.

    “We will establish four centres within the local communities around the university; we will locate them in Aleiro, Sabiyo, Danwari and Jega.

    “We have received equipment worth one million dollars from Gate and Melinda Foundation which are geared towards making research in order to support farmers and government.

    “The foundation also established a Molecular research laboratory and equipped it for the university.

    “In the whole of Africa, no university has such equipment to carry out research on viral diseases,” the vice chancellor said.

    He said that the institution had sponsored some of its lecturers for higher degrees, and had instituted three research projects, one of which was sponsored by a university in Togo.

    Shehu assured graduates of the institution that the university would conduct its first convocation this year.

  • Ambode, Bagudu launch Lake Rice

    Ambode, Bagudu launch Lake Rice

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and his Kebbi State counterpart, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, on Wednesday, officially launched the long awaited Lake Rice to be sold to the public at N12,000 per 50kg bag.

    Ambode told a news conference in Alausa, Lagos, that the public would from Thursday, Dec. 22, have access to the rice in 10 designated areas in Lagos State as would be advertised by the government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 50kg rice will sell for N12,000, while the 25kg and 10kg will sell for N6,000 and N2,500 respectively.

    The Lagos State governor described the launch of the rice as historic, saying the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Lagos and Kebbi in March 2016 had started yielding fruitful results.

    He added that “we signed an MoU in March 2016 with an understanding that being proudly Nigerians, we want to come out with what will be made in Nigeria and what is good for Nigerians.

    “We took all that President Muhammadu Buhari said on the need for us
    to grow our food and we decided that we would prove a point and that is what today is all about.”

    He explained that Lake Rice was grown and milled in Nigeria, with extremely high quality.

    He noted that “we also have Ofada rice and imported rice in the country and we want to show our people that Lake Rice is the way to go.

    “The major difference between Lake Rice and imported rice is that imported rice has a minimum storage capacity of five and six years but Lake Rice is fresh.”

    The governor said that the state would expand its rice mill as it had the largest consumption market in Nigeria.

    Ambode said interested buyers would need to get a ticket to pay for a bag of rice in the bank before going to any of the locations for collection, adding that this was done to allow the rice to go round and for everyone to have access to it.

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    “We want to ensure that this rice goes to everybody. You cannot buy twice,” he said.

    Earlier, Bagudu said 16 months ago during the National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, he entered into a discussion with Ambode for a joint partnership for the production of rice in view of what was happening in the country.

    “Since then, we have been working assiduously on this after we signed the MoU.”

    Bagudu said the product could stand any integrity test in Nigeria as it was of high quality.

    He added that “Lake Rice is of high quality. I am proud of this joint venture but we can do more, we are glad that we are launching this commodity today.”

  • Lagos, Kebbi Agric partnership key to food security – Ambode

    Lagos, Kebbi Agric partnership key to food security – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed with Kebbi State on agricultural commodity value chain was in line with the agenda of the Federal Government to diversify the economy, just as he said the pact would go a long way in ensuring food security and job opportunities for the people.

    Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State during his official visit to the State as part of further steps to cement the agricultural partnership, said he was totally committed to the success of the relationship as it would not only boost the economy of the two states but would increase Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    He said the two states, with the agreement, which is the first state-to-state relations in the country, have shown leadership, and expressed optimism that other states would soon take a cue from the relationship.

    The Governor, who was given a heroic reception from Birnin Kebbi International Airport down to the Government House, said the partnership was in continuation of the relationship which had always existed between the two states in term of politics, population and strength.

    He said: “This relationship is visionary and it is also a pointer to the fact that the two states have decided to openly support the vision of Mr. President, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The change mantra which President Buhari has been preaching is what this whole relationship is all about that we must look inward. We must start to reintegrate our economy in such a manner that we must not continue to import what we can produce and we must create a value chain where we have comparative advantage to do so.

    “Kebbi is one of the major producers of most agricultural products in Nigeria, whereas Lagos State is the major consumer of most of these products and we have the market and the population to take on everything that is being produced and that is why the value chain in which we have tried to embellish is very important to the two states. And so we are committed to doing this for Mr. President.

    “This visitation is a continuation of where we started from. We want to take the next steps and we know that the next steps are steps in the right direction,” the Governor said.

    He added that beyond collaboration on rice production, the Lagos State Government has also decided to create value chain on every other agricultural products from Kebbi State first to the people, which would in turn create jobs for the people and make the economy of Nigeria to become more vibrant thereby increasing the GDP.

    On his part, Kebbi State Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu described the MoU as an innovative partnership that would lead the way positively for Nigeria.

    He said years of policy distortion had demoralize local producers of rice and other agricultural products from competing with their foreign counterparts, which had in turn affected the economy of Nigeria negatively, but expressed optimism that the partnership between Lagos and Kebbi States will right the wrongs of the past.

    He said: “I am glad that we are on track to address such issues and empower our producers to compete globally. Apart from the fact that the collaboration will bring about significant economic growth and create opportunities, it will also bring our people much closer.

    “We are particularly happy that the partnership enjoys massive public support. The President, at different occasions, has publicly commended what we are doing and that is enough motivation for us to push forward with the agreement” Governor Bagudu said.

    The MoU principally centres on boosting the production of rice, wheat, ground nut, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, cows, among others.

    There is also arrangement with a Mexican firm, San Carlos Group to expand the Rice Mill at Imota in Lagos from production capacity of 2.5 metric tonnes per hour to 22.5 metric tonnes per hour with the active participation of the private sector.

    Governor Ambode, as part of the official visit, also paid courtesy visits to the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Mohammed Iliya Bashar and the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Meira.

    He also inspected the Labana Rice Mill in Kebbi which has the production capacity of 16 metric tonnes per hour and the FADAMA Project Site I Argungu.

  • Kebbi appoints eight commissioners, three special advisers

    Kebbi appoints eight commissioners, three special advisers

    The Kebbi state government has appointed eight new members of the state executive council.

    Justice Asabe Karatu, who represented the state Chief Justice, Justice Bala Mairiga performed the swearing- in of eight of the new commissioners in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

    Then new commissioner  who are  yet to be  assigned their portfolio includes; Abubakarn Bunu, Abubakar Ladan, Bala Kangiwa, Ibrahim Kamba, Ibrahim Augie, Adamu Ngaski while the only female commissioner  Rakiya Ayuba, was absent at the ceremony.

    Justice Karatu, also performed the swearing-in of three special advisers to the governor- They are the former speaker of the state  House of Assembly, Alhaji Aminu Jega, Navy Capt. Abubakar MuazuRtd and Dr. Fatima Bunza.

    Governor Atiku Bagudu who supervised the ceremony said the new members into the executive council were the first batch and tasked them to support his administration in moving the state forward.

    He lamented that his administration had been weighed down by a debt of N83 billion from his predecessor stressing that the fall in Oil prices in the international, market had further reduced the revenue earnings by the state from the federal government.

    “I urge the new commissioners to think creatively in restoring the lost glory in the civil service.  My administration would accord priority to agriculture, education and health care delivery,” he added.

     

  • NLC hails release of N1bn pension arears in Kebbi

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Kebbi has commended the state government for releasing one billion naira for payment of outstanding pension of retired civil servants.

    NLC Chairman Murtala Usman made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi.

    Usman said the efforts of the state government deserved commrndation for taking the bold step of settling part of the outstanding pension of the workers.

    He said the backlog of pension was more than one billion naira though the pension liability was part of the debt inherited from the administration of Gov. Saidu Dakingari.

    He said a committee that would conduct and monitor the payment had since been inaugurated, and they were expected to swing into action by next week.

    The NLC chairman said the congress would ensure that the exercise was orderly.

    Usman called on affected retirees to continue to exercise patience because Gov. Atiku Bagudu was committed to addressing the welfare of both retired and serving civil servants.

    He also applauded the state government for settling the N500 million backlogs of tuition and registration fees of indigent students studying in tertiary institutions.

    He said NLC would continue to suport good policies and programmes of the state government, stressing that the congress would not relent on welfare of workers.