The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kebbi

  • PDP governors shun pro-Jonathan rally in Kano

    PDP governors shun pro-Jonathan rally in Kano

    The final edition of the zonal rallies held in Kano yesterday by the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) to drum up support for President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of next year’s election almost ended in a fiasco.

    Only Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State was at the Northwest leg of the rally held at the Kano Polo Ground.

    Apart from Katsina, the president’s party –PDP – controls Kaduna, Kebbi, and Jigawa in the geopolitical zone.

    Governor Muktar Yero of Kaduna was represented by his deputy.

    Speaking at the rally, Governor Shema of Katsina pledged the support of the people of the state for President Goodluck Jonathan in next year’s elections.

    “We, the Katsina people, are here because Katsina State is always in the forefront of Nigeria’s unity,” he said.

    “We believe in Nigeria and I have no doubt in my mind that this nation will stand tall among the comity of nations if equity and justice is upheld.”

    Shema charged Northern politicians to come together and stand as one for the love of Nigeria, pointing out that without peace and unity, nothing meaningful can be achieved in the country.

    Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, Minister of State for Health spoke on behalf of Sokoto people, noting that, “President Jonathan is the latest gift for the North-West and he should be supported due to his tremendous achievements so far in the North-West and in the country in general.”

    Alhasan said President Jonathan’s success at the 2015 polls “will solidify the unity of Nigeria.”

    Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, Minister of State for Finance speaking for  Zamfara State said the Jonathan administration “has created an economy that is all inclusive enough to benefit all Nigerians irrespective of religious and ethnic background.”

    Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Government Affairs said that for Kebbi State, President Jonathan remains the man to beat in the 2015 presidential election.

    According to him, President Jonathan deserves another chance to occupy Aso Rock, adding : “In the North-West zone, particularly, in Kebbi, we are pleading with President Jonathan, we are calling upon President Jonathan to answer this clarion call upon him to continue beyond 2015.”

    Mohammed Garba Danladi Auyo, a PDP governorship aspirant from Jigawa State and a loyalist of Senator Saminu Turaki, said the Jigawa people are solidly behind President Jonathan, pointing out that age and performance have given him an edge over whoever will come out to challenge him in 2015.

    Speaking on behalf of PDP stakeholders from Kano, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali who was flanked by Mohammed Abacha and Alhaji Akilu Sani Ndabawa, both PDP governorship aspirants in Kano, described President Jonathan as a detribalized leader.

    According to him, President Jonathan, though a Christian was the only Nigerian president who has attended the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Cairo, Egypt, pointing out that Jonathan’s relationship with Muslims is a clear indication that he is a pro-Muslim president.

    He said:”Those fanning the embers of religion should also remember that it was as a result of President Jonathan’s intervention that the Saudi-Arabia authorities decided to welcome Nigerian pilgrims despite the Ebola hype.

    “In 2015, PDP will wrest power from APC in Kano. We are confident of this fact because President Jonathan has done a lot not only in Kano but in Nigeria as a country. He has exhibited patriotism and nationalism.”

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim who conveyed President Jonathan’s condolence message to victims of the recent Boko Haram attack at Federal College of Education (FCE), Kano, said 2, 393, 331 Nigerians from the  North-West Zone have endorsed Jonathan for a second term in office.

    Anyim, who also handed over TAN’s relief materials for bomb blast victims in the North-West Zone to Governor Shema, said in no distant time, President Jonathan will personally be in Kano to commiserate with victims of the FCE bomb-blast.

  • Photo: Flooded government house

    Photo: Flooded government house

    Kebbi state government house
    Kebbi state government house

  • 274, 000 get input in Kebbi

    The Federal Government  has supported 274,000 farmers in Kebbi State with fertiliser, improved seedlings and chemicals to boost food production.

    Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Kelvin Tekpat said in Birnin Kebbi that the farmers were among the  340,00 registered under the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) in the state.

    He said 58 redemption centres for the distribution, adding that each  farmer would receive two bags of subsidised fertiliser, two packs of chemicals and 50 kgs of improved seedlings.

    According to him, the improved seedlings would enable each farmer to produce at least seven tons of crops per hectare.

    Tekpat urged the state government to assist the ministry with vehicles to monitor farmers for the success of the programme.

    The Secretary, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the state,Alhaji Muhammad Idris, said the implementation of the GES was a huge success.

    He commended the Federal Government for the initiative, saying it had reduced hardship faced by rural farmers in accessing critical farming input.

    Meanwhile, about 250,000 Borno farmers are expected to receive fertiliser under the Federal Government electronic wallet system of the Growth Enhancements Scheme (GES) this year, according to an official.

    The Acting Federal Director of Agriculture in Borno, Alhaji Bukar Musa, made this known in Maiduguri.

    He said each farmer would receive a bag of NPK and Urea brand of fertiliser at N2,750 which translates to 50 per cent subsidy.

    He said most of the farmers had already received phone alert on the allocation, thereby enhancing access to the input.

    “Most farmers have already received alert on their phones of the fertiliser allocation.

    “However, there are some areas with poor GSM networks due mainly to the security challenges in the state.

    “We have introduced radio jingles and announcement to alert this category of farmers.

    “ We have also made contact with farmers associations and cooperatives towards reaching out to farmers at the grassroots level.”

    He said 12 agro dealers were shortlisted for the sale of the fertiliser to genuine farmers this year.

    Musa said farmers in Borno North and Central zones would get their supply in Maiduguri because of the insecurity in the area.

    He said farmers in Southern Borno would get their supply in their local government while those in Damboa and Gwoza councils, would get their supply in Askira Uba Local Government Area.

    Musa expressed optimism on a bumper harvest depite the security challenge in the state.

  • Kebbi farmers to get fertilisers

    Farmers in Kebbi State are in for an enhanced farming season this year as the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, has scheduled 2784,408 growers for fertiliser distribution in the wet season. The input comes under the Growth Enhancement Support (GES).

    The GES programme which is an important component of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda started in 2012 across the country and Kebbi has fully participated in it. The state Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Keven Tekpat said this at the flag-off of the 2014 wet season GES programme in Ambursa, Kebbi State.

    He said in 2012, a total of 46,488 farmers benefitted from wet season GES, while 46,680 farmers benefited from dry season paddy production, 173,499, 19,080 for generic wing and special GES in 4 crop Value chain commodities ie cassava, soya, cotton and sorghum farmers benefited during the 2013 wet season. The director called on state government to revive the extension apparatus of the ministry so that it will function effectively.

    The Kebbi State Commissioner of Agriculture, Alhaji Isah Mohammed Mera said, “The state has never relented in embracing Federal Government policies on agriculture as the stronghold of the state’s majority; the state has today a total of 226,056 captured small-scale farmers that will benefit from the programme this year,” he said.

    In his remarks, the Kebbi State Deputy Governor Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu expressed the determination of the state government to continue to give the agric sector greater priority and hope that the Federal Government would cover more farmers in the state in the GES programme.

  • ITF trains 1,000 Kebbi youths

    ITF trains 1,000 Kebbi youths

    The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has flagged off the training of 1,000 Kebbi youths in skill acquisition. The skills include carpentry, fish farming and domestic electrification. The programme aims at reducing unemployment among the youth.

    Speaking at the flag-off ceremony at the Haliru Abdul Stadium in Birnin Kebbi, Alhaji Usman Mohammad Sani, the Area Manager of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in charge of Sokoto and Kebbi states who represented the Director-General, said the programme has been successfully carried out in 23 states  including Abuja, adding that  23,000 youths have so far been trained.

    He added that the programme will cover 13 states and each of the participating youths will receive a monthly allowance of N5,000.

    The trainees would be spread across the three designated training centres in the state.

    ‘’The aim is to eliminate youth restiveness and empower them by building their capacity in order to be self-reliant and serve as avenue for manpower generation,” he said.

    Also speaking, the Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim K. Aliyu expressed the state government’s willingness to partner with ITF to adress the current youth unemployment in the state.

    The Deputy Governor expressed his optimism that the programme will help in tackling unemployment, particularly among the youth and will also take away youths off the street by engaging them in technical vocation skills necessary for self-reliance.

  • Kebbi airport upgraded

    The Kebbi State Airport  Ambrusa at the outskirts of Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, has been upgraded to an international standard by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) in preparation to full flight operation.

    A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abubakar Muazu Dakingari and made available to our correspondent  said the airport has undergone calibration in preparatory to full flight operation.

    The statement added that test flight of ATR 42 calibrating Aircraft from ASECNA Dakar, Senegal through the NAMA began penultimate Saturday.

    The test flight followed the inauguration of the Doppler, very high frequency Omni Directional Rage (DVCR).

    The exercise, according to him, scored the airport 99.8 percent pass mark which makes it one of the best equipped airports in the country.

     

     

  • Strange water: Residents of Kebbi community throng muddy stream they claim has curative powers

    Strange water: Residents of Kebbi community throng muddy stream they claim has curative powers

    A MUDDY water at the outskirt of Yari village in Jega Local Government Area of Kebbi State has become a ‘Mecca’ of sorts. All sorts of people now throng the muddy stream owing to the claims by the people of the village that it has healing or curative powers.

    According to sources, the muddy water, which flows from a rock in the sleepy village, located about 30 kilometres away from the state capital, Birnin-Kebbi, was not accorded any significance until an elderly resident of the village gave the water to her sick pregnant daughter in-law and she allegedly received instant healing.

    If that was regarded as a fable by some people, a further confirmation of the powers of the water soon came when a blind woman allegedly regained her sight after bathing with the strange water.

    And before you could say Jack Robison, news of the healing powers in the water travelled far and beyond, leading to serious scramble by hundreds of people to get a little drop of the water.

    Ironically, before the strange discovery, Unguwar Yari, despite its short distance from the state capital, was just another little dot on the map of Kebbi State. But all that has become history now, as the village has become a serious topic of discussion among the people of the state, with more and more people eager to confirm the efficacy or otherwise of the strange water.

    When our correspondent visited Unguwar Yari, the residents confirmed the story and all agreed that the water was a blessing from God. The village head, who said the state Director of Health drank from the water when he visited the village, confessed that he was happy to witness the ‘blessing’ during his own reign.

    19-year-old Fatimah Muhamadu, who said she had been sick for about 12 years, claimed she was healed after she drank the water from the stream.

    The Chairman of Jega Local Government Area, Haruna A. Haruna Mai Jega 111, said he had visited the site with a team of medical practitioners to ascertain whether the water was germ-free or not.

    He said the team discovered that the water contained no germ, and that the government had put in place measures to ensure that unscrupulous people do not turn the water to a business venture.

    How we accidentally discovered the strange stream —Village head

    THERE is a story of a miracle water with healing powers in the village. How true is this?

    Yes the story is true. But the real story of its discovery was accidental. A girl who had been ill for a long time, even after visiting several hospitals, was healed after drinking the water. The mother of the girl went to the bush to get herbs. But after she saw the water gushing out of the rock, she had an instinct that she should take home the water and give to her daughter. But we believe that it was God that made the healing possible through the water. The woman said she decided to keep the miraculous healing to herself until she became uneasy and started having a feeling of guilt. But since she came out to tell her story, people have been rushing to the stream to get the water. Another man who was suffering from asthma also drank the water and got healed. The man has stopped his daily use of inhaler since then.

    Aside from these ones, a woman who was blind received her sight after she washed her eyes with the water. Also, a mad man was brought to the stream. He became normal after her was washed with the water.

    Like how many people do you think visit this place every day since the discovery?

    Since the discovery, we have at least 2000 people who come here every day to get the water. Some use it here, while others bring containers to take the water to their homes. People come from as far as the Niger Republic to get the water.

    What is the village doing to control the number of people who rush to get the water?

    A committee has been set up to ensure a proper maintenance of the vicinity of the water.

  • Police discover arms in Kebbi

    Police discover arms in Kebbi

    The police in Kebbi State have impounded arms and ammunition in Rafin Kuka, Yauri Local Government Area.

    Commissioner of Police Sylvester Umeh, displaying the weapons at the Force Headquarters, said three AK-47 rifles; seven AK-7 magazines, 198 live ammunition, 131 other extra ammunition, one paramour pistol and eight rounds of live ammunition were buried in the sand on the outskirts of Rafin Kuka village.

    He said a concerned resident reported that he saw an unidentified person burying the arms.

    “He alerted the Yauri Divisional Police Officer and this led to the discovery of the weapons. No arrest has been made. But we are investigating the matter.”

  • Kebbi to disburse N1b to wheat farmers

    THE Kebbi State government has earmarked the sum of N1billion to be disbursed to wheat farmers, with a view to boost cereal farming in the state. Addressing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, the Programme Manager, Kebbi State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KARDA), Alhaji Yahaya Haruna Jega, said the exercise would soon commence. According to him, the state wants to take the lead in wheat production in the country. “That is why we want to empower our teeming upland farmers to cultivate the cereal crop. We will assist them with technique and all the necessary inputs needed,” he said. Jega further said that farmers were already mobilized by the government to ensure improvement in their living standard through agriculture, adding that many programmes and initiatives aimed at boosting agricultural production were under way.

  • NYG: Kebbi female volleyball team blame loss on lack of exposure

    NYG: Kebbi female volleyball team blame loss on lack of exposure

    Kebbi female volleyball team on Wednesday said their 0-3 loss to Osun in the competition’s third-place match at the ongoing National Youth Games (NYG) was due to lack of exposure.

    Coach Halimah Yusuf told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja after the match that their opponents were better exposed than they were, going by their standard of play.

    Yusuf said his team, which had earlier lost 0-3 to Benue in the semi-finals, was overwhelmed by the highly-experienced Osun players during the third-place match.

    “I commend my players for their performance because they are not all that exposed, unlike our opponents who are more exposed going by the way they played. So, it was a good game for us and we are glad we ended up as the fourth best team out of the six teams which registered for the competition,’’ she said.

    On her part, coach Bose Ogunola of Team Osun said she was excited the game ended in their favour, admitting however that the match was their toughest in the competition.

    “We thank God that we won this match, because it is the toughest of all our matches. But the advantage we had over our opponents was our good coverage and attack. So, it was a good one for us to win the third-place match after losing out in the qualification for the final,’’ she said.

    NAN reports that, in the male category, Cross River beat Abia 3-0 to win the third-place match.