The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kebbi

  • Police arrest human parts dealer in Kebbi

    Police arrest human parts dealer in Kebbi

    The Police Command in Kebbi has arrested a 37-year-old man, Danbaba Umar, in Kaoje, Bagudo Local Government Area, who specialises in exhuming corpses from graves for ritual purposes.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Ibrahim Kabiru, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday that the arrest of the suspect followed a tip-off.

    He said Umar was arrested at about 3:30 a.m. at the Kaoje graveyard while attempting to exhume a male corpse for ritual purposes.

    He said the suspect confessed to the crime and revealed that he was sent to commit the act by one, Malam Muhammadu from Sokoto State.

    A father of ten, the suspect told newsmen that he was a professional driver who was transporting wood planks from Zaria to Sokoto for sale prior to his recruitment for the criminal act.

    Umar said inadequate money to cater for his family compelled him to engage in the crime.(NAN)

  • Kebbi governor seeks prayer for Buhari

    Kebbi governor seeks prayer for Buhari

    Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State has urged clerics to offer special prayers for good health for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He made the call at the launch of an appeal fund ahead of the Muslim Ramadan fast by the Jama’atul Izalatul Bid’ah Wa’ikamatu Sunnah (JIBWIS) in Birnin Kebbi.

    The governor also urged clerics to sustain prayers for peace, unity and economic advancement of the country.

    A statement by the Press Secretary to the governor, Alhaji Mu’azu Dakingari, on Saturday in Birnin Kebbi said the governor donated N5 million, a Coaster Bus and Hilux Van to the group.

    The governor, who also attended the foundation of the Tijjaniya Islamiyya Mosque and school in Jega Local Government Area of the state, reaffirmed his resolve to uplift religious education and pledged financial support to religious groups.

    The leader of the Tijjaniya movement, Khalifah Ahmadu Tijjani, performed the foundation laying for the Mosque and school. (NAN)

  • Border agency constructs rice milling machine for Kebbi community

    Border Community Development Agency (BCDA) said it has constructed a rice milling machine for Kwokwoba community in Kebbi state to boost rice production in the country.

    Mr Numoipre Wills, Executive Secretary, BCDA, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Wills, who described the machine as a medium sized engine, explained that the construction was essential as rice farming was the major business of Kebbi indigenes.

    “We have built a rice milling machine for the people in Kebbi state to help them mill their rice after harvesting.

    “In Kebbi there is so much rice production, Kebbi is a rice belt and we are just trying to make production easier for them.”

    He said that the agency performs need assessment before executing a project in a particular community.

    The executive secretary also said that the agency was building a primary health care centre in Kebbi state to meet the health needs of the people.

    According to him, a staff quarter was also being built for the health centre to accommodate and attract staff to the centre.

    He emphasised on the need to boost the welfare of staff, adding that workers are usually attracted to a place if they are provided with basic amenities.

    Wills described the basic amenities as added incentives, calling on government at all levels to enhance welfare of workers to boost productivity.

     

  • Iyaloja honoured in Kebbi

    The Uhola festival means everything to the Zuru in Kebbi State. In sacrifices and prayers they show their gratitude to the Almighty. In wrestling and dance they proclaim their communal core. In exchanging gifts and pleasantries, to say nothing of the elaborate merriment that follows, the Zuru demonstrate that they are jolly good fellows.

    Little wonder that they choose the Uloha feast to bestow some of their most cherished honours on their illustrious kin and others who have equally made a mark in their professions and the society.

    That was why they honoured Yeye Oba, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, daughter of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola with the Innan Zuru title.

    It was a day the President General of the Market Women/Men Association of Nigeria shared with several other honorees including Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha. While the Owelle was turbaned the Madubin Zuru, Mr Benjamin E. Dikki became the Sarkin Yakin Zuru, and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal the Danmajen Zuru. There were several others. It may well have been the day of the turban in the Zuru emirate.

    Traders across the country, and many others were on the Innan Zuru’s entourage.

    Zuru people believe that every person is a product of their own culture. They easily cope with any situation they find themselves in. They are also very accommodating.

    And what is the response from others? Those who set foot in Zuru land usually find it a place to call home.

    The Emir of Zuru, His Royal Highness Sani Sami Gomo II has assured that the emirate will continue to work towards improving the Uhola festival to make it more competitive and standardized, adding that his target is to make a menu tourists will find hard to resist.

     

  • NLC in Kebbi calls for improved working conditions

    The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Kebbi, on Monday, presented a ten-point demand to the State Government, as part of the workers’ efforts to improve service delivery.

    NAN reports that the theme of the 2017 workers’ day celebration is, “Labour relations in economic recession: an appraisal’’.

    The chairman of the congress, Umar Haladu, who addressed workers at the event in Birnin Kebbi, said the fulfillment of the demands would rejuvenate the civil service and improve standard of living.

    He demanded for the provision of modern equipment to the state owned media house to enhance wider and effective coverage and dissemination of information on government policies and programmes.

    The NLC called for the training and retraining of workers to improve performance, upward review of pension to reflect current salary structure and disbursement of agricultural loan to workers to facilitate farming.

    The union also stressed the need to improve financial allocation to ministries, departments and agencies.

    It called for the payment of the 2017 leave bonus as well as the settlement of outstanding leave bonuses to primary school teachers and the introduction of the housing scheme to workers, similar to the Federal government’s scheme.

    Haladu, however, lauded the government for its prompt payment of salaries, training of personnel and the settlement of 10 years promotion arrears.

    The Deputy Governor, Alhaji Samaila Yombe, who represented Gov. Atiku Bagudu, said the present administration would improve the living condition of the people and implement policies for rapid development.

    He called on the NLC to always adopt dialogue as the best form of dispute resolution.

    A cross section of the workers, expressed the determination to support government’s implementation of policies and programmes and called for improved workers’ welfare.

  • Kebbi re-introduces sanitary inspectors

    Kebbi State  govrernment has reintroduced sanitary inspectors in  its health sector. Making this announcement, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said the re-introduction of the inspectors popularly called “Duba-gari’ is to awake a consciousness for a healthy and cleaner environment among the people.

    Bagudu stated this at the first State Council of Health meeting in Birnin-Kebbi. The theme was: “Revitalisation of Primary Health Care services towards achieving universal health coverage (UCH)

    Governor Bagudu said optimal health is a collective societal responsibility whilst assuring that government would continue to invest enough resources on preventive healthcare in preference to curative care.

    He said the government would implement the bill already signed into law, which brings together all primary healthcare institutions under single management.

    He praised the organisers, participants, stakeholders, resource persons and those who contributed to the success of the state council of health meeting, the first of its kind to be held since the creation of the state, aimed at exchanging ideas on how to improve healthcare delivery.

    The Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Umar Usman Kambaza, said the state council on health meeting, which he described, as the highest policy advisory body on health, would come up with resolutions to improve the healthcare and well being of the people of Kebbi State. He thanked collaborating partners: E.U and UNICEF.

    Dignitaries at the occasion were: the Emirs of Gwandu,  Alhaji  Muhammed Iiyasu Bashar, and HRHs Alhaji Sama’ila Mohammed  Mera Emir of Argungu. Also present were Sole Administrators of the 21 local governmment areas, Commissioners, Representatives of Development partners,

    Presentations were made on: Revitalisation of Primary Health Care Services towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by Dr. Faisal Shuaibu, Executive Director NPHCDA, Abuja.Primary Health under one roof (PHCUOR): The journey so far by Dr. Muhammad Abdullahi Kainuwa. Perm Sec. Ministry of Health Dutse Jigawa State. One PHC per ward; a strategy for reaching the 225 by Dr. John Agbor, Chief of Health, UNICEF, Abuja.

  • Meningitis: UNICEF donates cash, vaccines to Sokoto

    FOLLOWING the recent outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis(CSM) ‎in Sokoto state, the United Nations International Children’s Education Fund(UNICEF) is  delivering ‎850,000 doses of meningitis vaccines in addition  to a cash support of N17 million for logistics  and social mobilization activities to the state government.
    Accordingly, the Fund reaffirmed  it’s commitment to deliver results for children and makes sure children access to vaccination a priority above other needs.
    Mr Mohammed Mohiuddin, the Fund Chief in-charge of Sokoto Zonal Office,  made the disclosure Wednesday in Sokoto during a one-day stakeholders meeting as part of UNICEF’s support in response to CSM outbreak in Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
    The sensitization meeting coordinated by UNICEF Sokoto Field Office in Colaboration with Ministries of Health, Information, Basic and Secondary Education and partner agencies is organised for print and electronic media, Muslim and Christian religious leaders, traditional leaders and education stakeholders in Sokoto.
    Mohiuddin further said UNICEF will also use its field network through LGA consultants, voluntary community mobilizers and community volunteers in nine affected areas.
    The areas include: Bodinga, Rabah, Dange Shuni, Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Tureta, Goronyo, Isa and Gwadabawa.. ‎He also disclosed that community members were being sensitized and informed about the disease (CSM) campaign and particularly, date, place and time of vaccination.”
    The Zonal Chief‎ also said that community members in the 14 remaining local governments were being informed about prevention of the disease and how to seek help from health staff when the symptoms of meningitis were noticed.

  • Border Agency to construct schools, health centres in 21 states

    The Border Community Development Agency plans to construct schools and Primary Health Centres in 21 border states of the federation as part of its outlined projects for 2017, its Executive Secretary, Mr Numoipre Wills, has said.

    Wills told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that work on the projects would commence immediately the 2017 budget was passed by the National Assembly.

    “We have 21 Border States with 105 Local Government Areas and we have allocated projects to all these areas.

    “If funded accordingly, people will start feeling our impact in all these states by July this year, and the project includes schools and health care centres depending on the needs of the people in a particular area.’’

    He said that the agency would also focus on rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states, adding that houses would be built for the IDPs to make them feel comfortable and secure.

    On ongoing projects, Wills said that the agency was constructing border markets in Kebbi and Cross river states at Bagudu and Ikang, respectively.

    The executive secretary said that while the market in Kebbi was almost completed, the one in Ikang has been stalled by the community.

    “We are building border markets in Ikang but unfortunately owners of shops in the existing market there are refusing contractors to build.

    “So it’s a long standing problem because the project is time bound and our contractors are complaining.

    “We have made promises to them as beneficiaries to resolve the market issue but their problem is they don’t want their business to stop in the process of construction.

    “But that of Kebbi and Adamawa is going on fine and will soon be completed.’’

    Wills assured that the Agency was always mindful of the sensitivities of people in the course of executing their projects, as such they always consider the safety of their staff and those they engaged for any job.

    He expressed that hope that the security situation in the country would improve the more to enable the Agency execute  developmental projects in border communities.

    The executive secretary explained that the agency was set up to provide essential infrastructure to border communities across the country to promote economic growth and peaceful co-existence between Nigeria and its neighbours.

  • Kebbi spends 150 million to connect electricity

    A total sum of N150 million is said to have been spent by the Kebbi State Government to connect villages to the national grids and distribution of electricity across the state.

    The State Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Arch.

    Bala Sani Kangiwa, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the activities of his ministry at the NUJ secretariat, Birnin Kebbi.

    Kangiwa also disclosed that it cost the state government the sum of N264.8 million to procure transformers to connect villages that have been in darkness for years, adding that the state government has spent N31 million on extension of electricity to Tairi area in Gwandu Local Government, while N56 million was expended on electrification of Koko and Yauri villages.

    He disclosed further that the state government also spent N10 million in repairing 33kv line that supplies power to Koko area, stressing that the government is working hard with Kaduna Electricity Company to ensure more villages in the state enjoy electricity. He said this is in fulfilment of the  administration of  Governor  Atiku Bagudu to ensure uninterrupte   power supply to all towns and villages across  Kebbi State.

    Sani Kangiwa announced that apart from the 40 new transformers under installation, 30 have already been installed, bringing the total number of transformers to be installed to 70.

    On water supply in the state, he said the state government sunk 29 motorised boreholes, 12 solar power water scheme, 30 hand rig pipe water and rehabilitation of eight non- function water scheme.

    The Commissioner explained that the state government has successfully completed 7.5 kilometres water networks to some villages at radius of 200 metres distance.

     

  • Meningitis: Nigeria need divine intervention to halt outbreak – Expert

    Nigeria is in dire need of divine intervention to halt the outbreak of meningitis, which has claimed 745 lives since it’s outbreak in November, 2016.

    Reason, the country is facing scarcity of vaccine, Dr. Ben Anyene, Chairman, National Immunization Finance Task Team (NIFT) revealed Thursday. This he blamed on the lack of proper planning on the part of the country.

    This is coming barely a week after the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) National President; Alhaji Toyosi Raheem called to question the country’s level of preparedness to response to emergency.

    The outbreak currently affects five states— Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi and Niger. A total of 500,000 doses of Meningitis C vaccines have been distributed to some of the affected States for immediate outbreak response vaccination while additional 823,970 doses of Meningitis C vaccines are expected from the United Kingdom to support vaccination activities in other affected States.

    Anyene said the country effort to contain the outbreak is hampered by shortage of vaccine, and the implication is that Nigeria is facing vaccine scarcity.

    He said, “There is scarcity of vaccine or do Nigeria produce vaccine? Zamfara needs about 3million doses of vaccine and they gave them 300,000 doses, those that mean it’s available?

    He blamed the country’s lack of planning for emergency for the high death toll, saying “the constraint with immunization of meningitis is that there is no vaccine and that is the truth of the fact. The C strain of meningitis is not very common, but it do happen. The sign has been there in the country for the past 3 years but nobody wanted to take note.

    “For countries that plan, you don’t have to wait to have a situation, through their planning and preventive measures, they have these vaccines stocked. You heard them talking about vaccine coming from Britain, Britain doesn’t have meningitis but because of planning, they have some stocked but Nigeria don’t have such. We need to build up our system because vaccine is not a commodity on the shelf that you can just buy over the counter. Vaccine has to be pre ordered and paid for upfront and it takes about six month for it to be delivered to you.

    The outbreak of meningitis across the country has called to question the level of Nigeria’s preparedness to response to emergency, Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN) has said.

    AMLSN National President, Alhaji Toyosi Raheem said with the advanced warning that the country should expect adverse weather; those concern ought to have put up a strategy to contain the outbreak.

    He therefore called for the establishment of permanent emergency response team.

    Besides, he said the country needs to focus on research and development with emphasis on indigenous vaccine research and development, which will help resolve issue like meningitis vaccine shortage as witnessed recently.

    Addressing Journalists in Abuja on the occasion commemorating this year’s World Biomedical Day also called for the establishment of national emergency response team, which should be in place on a permanent basis with the responsibility of reacting to emergency issues.

    This he said will quicken response to emergency and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, which always lead to heavy casualties anytime there is an outbreak.

    He said, “We need to totally address our emergency response strategies even when they have not happened and when they happened we will be able to swing into action without any delay.