The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kwara State

  • Muslims celebrate new Islamic calendar in llorin

    Hundreds of Muslims faithful including the Emir of llorin, Alhaji lbrahim Sulu-Gambari on Sunday converged at the llorin stadium to celebrate the commencement of the new lslamic calendar known as Hijrah 1441

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the annual event featured recitations of seven portions from the Glorious Quran and match past by school children.

    Sulu-Gambari advised Muslims to stay away from acts that can disintegrate the existing peace of the nation.

    The monarch, who is the Chairman Kwara traditions rulers council, prayed for the peaceful co-existence of Ilorin Emirates and its environs, Kwara and the nation at large.

    In his lecture, the National Missioner Ansarul-Islam, Sheikh Abdulmumeen Ayara, implorded Muslims to follow the will of Allah and let the practice of Prophet Muhammed reflect in their daily lives.

    Ayara said the celebration of Hijrah is the migration by Prophet Muhammed from Mecca to Medina and advised those facing various challenges to accept it as will of Allah.

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    Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq of Kwara, called on Muslims to imbibe the spirit of Hijrah celebration as the people face the arduous task of rebuilding the state.

    The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Works and Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Garuba-Manjo, said the celebration of Hijrah was a tough time for Prophet Muhammed, his immediate household and early Muslims.

    According to him, discipline, sacrifice and commitment to the truth helped to establish not just the Islamic monotheism but to also transform their society.

    He urged Muslims to embrace prudence and selflessness for the greater good of Kwara, adding that his administration would be prudent with public resources.

    The chairman, Kwara National Hijrah Ummatul Islamiyyah, Retired Justice Abdulkadir Orire, charged Muslims to continue to exhibit characters worthy of emulation and shun negative tendencies that can retard the growth and development of the country.

    Orire also advised government at all levels to chart ways of creating employment for the increasing number of unemployed youth.

    NAN

  • Suspected internet fraudster on FBI’s watch-list paraded

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday paraded one of the suspected internet fraudsters most wanted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    The EFCC said the 36-years-old suspect, Oyediran Joseph, was arrested in Ilorin, Ilorin Zonal Head of the commission, Sharu Isyaku told reporters, adding that “the 36 years old suspect had benefited about N60 million from the loot via Western Union transfer.”

    The Ilorin zonal office of EFCC covers Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states.

    The FBI had reportedly arrested no fewer than 78 Nigerians in the USA involved in internet fraud and cybercrime related offences amounting to millions of US dollars.

    Mr Isyaku said “just in the last three weeks, the US authority had written to us for assistance in tracking and possible arrest and prosecution of two most wanted FBI suspects in Nigeria. The commission acceded to their request.

    Read Also: Lawyer, client sue EFCC over N20m ‘property fraud’

    “The commission has been supportive of the activities of the FBI and every other foreign counterpart whose responsibility is similar or analogous to ours.”

    EFCC zonal head revealed that the zone had traced four properties linked to some cybercrime suspects in choice areas to Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

    He said the properties include supermarket and plaza put in the region of between N800 million and one billion naira.

    Said he: “Within seven months of our operation, the Ilorin zonal office has independently arrested over 58 suspected internet fraudsters, secured conviction of 25 and got forfeiture of their exotic cars and money running into millions of Naira to the Federal Government.

    “We all know it is image that sells a product and nothing else. Our strength as a nation is dependent on the vibrancy of our economy, which is a common denominator binding us together. Businesses worldwide are being conducted through the medium of cyber. This underscores the need for all of us to come together in fighting the scourge of internet fraud and cybercrime with a view to making the cyberspace well-fortified so that foreign investors can come in and invest to further boost our economy.”

     

  • AbdulRazaq launches Malaria-Free-Kwara campaign

    KWARA State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Friday flagged a statewide campaign to curtail malaria, calling it one of the first fruits of his early interventions in the health sector where he recently paid N232m counterpart funds.

    The campaign, named Malaria-Free-Kwara, qualifies Kwarans to access free malaria treatments in the health centres near them in the state.

    “One of the interventions we have made in the health sector was to pay N82m (out of the total N232million) counterpart funds to show commitment to be involved in the global anti-malaria campaign led by the Roll-Back-Malaria Partnership, a donors-driven initiative to stamp out the menace of malaria in the world, especially in our country Nigeria,” he said at the official launch of the Malaria-Free-Kwara in Ilorin, the state capital.

    Read Also: Kwara’s health system is on intensive care, says AbdulRazaq

    “The Malaria-Free-Kwara we are launching this morning is a product of that timely intervention, which is to complement the humanitarian efforts of the Roll-Back-Malaria Partnership. No serious government, especially in Nigeria, should trivialise the global campaign against malaria. In 2018 alone, Nigeria recorded 100million malaria cases with at least 300,000 deaths resulting from such cases. Such shameful data contributed to our recurring low rating in global development indices,” he said.

    AbdulRazaq, who is currently on the entourage of President Muhammadu Buhari to Japan, was represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Saba Jibril.

    “As I flag off the Malaria Free Kwara campaign for 2019, I request all Kwarans and caregivers in the state to visit the nearest health facility to them to access this service in the interest of everyone and overall well-being of our state,” he said.

  • Scores protest against Customs seizure of 700 bags of rice in Ilorin

    Scores disrupted activities at the popular Oja-Tuntun Market in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital on Thursday to protest against seizure of 700 bags of rice from a warehouse.

    The warehouse belongs to a rice merchant Mount Olive Nigeria limited.

    The protesters accused men of the Customs Service of carrying out unlawful arrest, detention and seizure of rice believed to be Nigerian produce from a warehouse in Ilorin.

    The protest was led by Chairman of Mount Olive Nigeria Ltd and his staff at the Oja-Tuntun office of the company.

    Speaking reporters during the protest the company’s chairman, Ademola Julius said he has in the last four years has been supporting the cause of Nigeria rice to grow the economy but unfortunately men of the Nigerian Customs have been threatening his business.

    According to him: “Men of the Nigerian Customs Services came to my warehouse around 2am in the night broke my door, tied my security man down and carted away my rice. 704 bags of Nigerian rice.

    “I have over ten trailers of the rice inside my warehouse that are purely Nigerian rice.

    “Ask any producer of rice in Nigeria, Mount Olive Nigeria Ltd have been supporting them because I am the distributor of Nigerian rice in the whole South West and Nigeria customs just came to frustrate me.

    “I have 480 staff under me. I don’t know what they want from me. I pay my tax regularly. If they are saying I’m not doing my business in the orderly way, what is the orderly way they want me to follow?

    “I have reported to the police. Customs men attacked my company unlawfully and that is why I’m protesting with all my staff for Nigeria government to come to my aid.

    “They said I should come and see the AGC today and when I got to their office they said he was not around. Three of my staff were locked up and they collected N50,000 from me before they were released.

    READ ALSO: Customs impound N501.6m worth of contraband

    “One of my friends who also came was locked up.”

    While calling on the federal government to intervene, he demanded for the unconditional release of his 704 bags of rice.

    “Nigerian Customs service, Kwara state command should release all my bags of rice unconditionally. Presidency should look into the matter.

    “I have branches all over the country, my company is in 23 locations across the country they should come and investigate. We are ready to cooperate with whoever wants to come and investigate us.

    “When I got to Olam farm in Nasarawa state in 2014, I was surprised with what I saw there and I resolved in my mind to support Nigerian rice because it will assist in tackling the issue of unemployment in the country.

    “But here I am being frustrated by the men of Nigerian Customs. They should stop frustrating legitimate business owner like me,” he said

    Another protester, Akeem Ayedun, said the “men of the Nigerian Customs did not carry out their investigation to ascertain the rice Mount Olive had in his warehouse.

    “If they are claiming to act on intelligent information, I want to say that they had wrong information about the rice.

    Spokesperson of the service in Kwara state, S.S Okpo, confirmed that some bags of rice were seized.

    She added that the matter was still being investigated.

    She promised that the service would soon make public its investigation and the amount of seizures made.

  • Kwara’s health system is on intensive care, says AbdulRazaq

    KWARA State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday said the state’s healthcare system is on intensive care.

    He added that the sector requires surgical operation and urgent attention.

    AbdulRazaq said this in Ilorin, the state capital, at the opening of two days health symposium.

    He added that “this is why we have called this symposium to develop practical and innovative solutions that can be deployed in the short, medium, and long-term to improve the current state of healthcare in the state”.

    Accordingly, he added that “this administration has paid N232 million in counterpart funds to address maternal and child health, nutrition and malaria. Part of this fund will enable the state to access the Basic Healthcare Provision Funds, which would provide subsidized healthcare, especially for the poor and the vulnerable.”

    AbdulRazaq, who was represented by his deputy, Kayode Alabi, said: “I have also recently approved the sums of N26.9 million for a medical outreach in partnership with the Kwara State Association of Nigeria

    North America Inc. and Sakinah Medical, which I’m sure, are ably represented at this event. That upcoming outreach involves nine surgical procedures with beneficiaries drawn from the state. The procedures shall include Spina Bifida and hydrocephalus shunting, among others.

    “We have also taken immediate steps to tackle the menace of vaccine-derived polio, which broke out in January this year, by mobilising resources for the agencies in charge for the benefit of our children.

    “Yes, we have some structures scattered across the state. But what makes a good hospital is not the structure. It is the presence of qualified and adequate health workers, basic facilities and drugs. Our hospitals are short-staffed. The facilities are mostly obsolete. I have also learnt how medical doctors and other medical personnel don’t want to stay with the state government. I must at this point commend the few ones who have stayed back to serve our people.

    “They are our heroes. I thank all of them on behalf of our people. I recently visited the Sobi Specialist Hospital, where I was shown a moribund oxygen plant, among other problems facing the hospital. The

    Ilorin General Hospital, the flagship hospital in the state, is one giant structure without basic amenities befitting of its status as our premier hospital.

    “We inherited some preliminary works towards bringing back the health insurance scheme but our position is that we must fix the facilities on the ground first so that the scheme will achieve its aims.”

    Read Also: 17 die in Kwara auto accident

    In their separate goodwill messages at the event attended by dozens of top healthcare experts and government officials, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Primary Health, Senators Dr. Ibrahim Oloriegbe and Sadiq Umar, said the symposium was an eye-opener for the state government and commended AbdulRazaq for what they described as a right step in the right direction towards making health system work for all in the state.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters Prof. Wale Suleiman, emphasised the need for a collective effort to evolve a health system that would work for all and expressed hope that the outcome of the symposium would bring out workable recommendations to help the government improve the health sector.

    Prof. Sulaiman, until his appointment the chairman of a global healthcare development company RNZ Global Ltd., is an expert in transformational changes in the design, delivery, access, safety and quality of healthcare utilising modern technology.

     

  • Stakeholders brainstorm food sufficiency in Kwara

    Stakeholders in agriculture have brainstormed ways of ensuring agricultural development and food sufficiency in Kwara State.

    The stakeholders forum was facilitated by the Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication (CCEPE) and funded by Actionaid Nigeria.

    The purpose of the gathering was to holistically brainstorm on ways to ensure food sufficiency.

    The forum had in attendance members of the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON), Agricultural Budget Committee of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Public Financing of Agriculture (PFA) and officials of the relevant government agencies.

    In his opening remark, Mr Abdulkareem Sulaiman, the Chief Executive Officer of CCEPE chastised the state for failing in the provision of a budget line for women farmers in the state.

    This, he said is not good for agricultural development as smallholder women farmers constitute the chunk of labour in the sector.

    Sulaiman also wondered why the state was yet to key into the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) of the World Bank.

    Read Also: NGO laments high rate of illiteracy, out-of-school children in Kwara

    According to him, many states in the country have benefited from the scheme and Kwara, which has lacked protracted infrastructure challenge in the rural areas shouldn’t be left out.

    In his contribution, PFA project coordinator Mr Abdulrahman Ayuba said that the forum became necessary particularly at this time that the state was having a new government so as to set a new agenda.

    Ayuba said that the state had not really done well in meeting the required budgetary provision for the agriculture sector as contained in the Maputo declaration.

    He identified series of loopholes in the budget preparation of the state, saying the document was not often explicit like the federal budget and that of some other states.

    He said that women farmers are not being provided for in the budget and where they are provided for, it is not always cash-backed.

    SWOFON Coordinator in the state, Hajia Bosede Anifowose lamented that lip service was paid to farming in the state, particularly the plight of women farmers.

    Anifowose advocated for inclusive budgeting where women farmers would be involved in budget processing.

    In their responses, the government representatives pledged to submit the report of the forum to the appropriate quarters.

    Representative of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development Matthew Ajayi blamed the inability of the state government to pay counterpart fund for failure of the RAAMP to commence in the state.

    He, however, noted that in recent time, women in agriculture had begun to have budget line, noting that paucity of fund might be responsible for the inability to access the budget.

    His Works and Transport counterpart, Garuba Halidu said that arrangement had been concluded on survey of rural roads to be captured under the RAAMP.

    According to him, the World hired a consultant, who identified the viable communities that need motorable for economic development.

    He urged any community that has infrastructural challenges to always write the ministry for proper attention.

    He advised them never to assume that government was aware of everything, explaining that writing government would ensure budgetary provision was subsequently made for it.

    In her remark, Mrs Habeebat Hussein of Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources said that most of the proposals to assist farmers were always approved at the ministry, but suffered cash-backing after budget passage.

  • EFCC traces cash to Kwara ex-governor’s wife’s account

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has traced some of the looted N2 billion for Small and Medium Enterprise Development (SMED) in Kwara State to the account of a former First Lady in the state.

    The First Lady, who has so far refunded N3 million, has refused to report to the anti-graft agency for interrogation.

    She told EFCC that she was indisposed but silent on the nature of her illness. She also has not presented any medical report.

    The commission might stop her from traveling abroad under any guise.

    Also, a royal father, who was given N78 million out of the N2 billion, might be arrested for refusing to refund the slush funds.

    It was learnt that one of the market women used a share of her illicit allocation to organise the disruption of Tradermoni outing in Ilorin by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    The ex-First Lady had illegally collected cash from the N2 billion which she diverted to her foundation.

    But detectives discovered that instead of using the cash for SMED, she converted it to promote herself.

    The objective of the foundation is to “initiate and implement strategies to deal with Cultural, Socio-economic, Health and Wellbeing issues militating against the development of Children, Youth and Women.”

    A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Our detectives are on the trace of the ex-First Lady. We accorded her much respect but she has been avoiding interrogation.

    “Without honouring our invitation, she later sent the director of her foundation to refund N3 million to EFCC. But we need her to come for interaction on the looted funds traced to her. She is claiming to be sick but no evidence of any medical report.

    “If she does not appear before EFCC detectives, we are going to watch-list her and prevent her from traveling abroad.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Some of the suspects already quizzed have implicated the ex-First Lady. There is also evidence of allocation of funds from the N2 billion for SMED to her account.

    “Selected and influential market men and women across the 16 local government areas of the state received N5 million each as loans, but did not payback.

    “One of the market women used a share of her illicit allocation to organise the disruption ofTradermoni outing by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Read Also: EFCC charges Atiku’s lawyer with $2m laundering

    “About 50 percent of the controversial loans were shared by highly placed individuals and selected businessmen and women at the expense of other beneficiaries.”

    As at press time, there were indications that a First Class royal father, who collected N78 million out of the SME bazaar, might be arrested for refusing to refund the cash.

    The source said: “There were no justifiable reasons for the allocation of the N78 million to the ruler. The money was also not used for farming which he got it for.

    “The traditional ruler has been running around for soft landing. But the issue at stake is about public funds. We may arrest him any moment from now.”

    The EFCC has so far arrested the Director-General, Kwara State Bureau of SMED, Segun Soewu, over alleged N2billion fraud.

    Some of those arrested were: Ogudu Samuel of Brightway Micro-finance; A.K. Imam of Magajin Garin MFB;   Adeleke M.S. of Sincere Micro-Finnace Bank(MFB); Yusuf Muideen of Balogun Fulani MFB; Issa Abdulrasheed of KCMB Mfb, and Oyebode Asimiyu of Apels MFB.

    Others include Lawal Ayo of Omu-Aran MFB; Tope Eniola of Iludun MFB;  Lawal Folashade of Stockcarp MFB; Yusuf Tajudeen of First Heritage MFB;  and Olawoye E.O. of Offa MFB.

    The EFCC began the probe of the N2 billion following intelligence reports alleging fraudulent misappropriation and mismanagement of the cash to assist market men and women across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.

    All the MFBs failed to follow due process and the SME cash was also distributed to highly-placed politicians, and prominent people in the 16 local government areas in the state.

  • AbdulRazaq urges support for reforms, paradigm shift in Kwara

    Kwara state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Monday solicited the people’s support for his reforms agenda and paradigm shift in governance.

    He described the 2019 election as a referendum that saw people choosing development and prudence over waste and underdevelopment.

    AbdulRazaq said this at the 2nd Annual Grand Durbar ceremony organised by the Ilorin Emirate Council, saying the people’s resolve for a new dawn meant a need to eschew actions or inactions that had made development and growth difficult in the past.

    The governor hailed the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and the Ilorin Emirate Council for the historical cultural event.

    “We must embrace reforms which are often tough at the beginning. We must make tough choices in our decision to move our state forward,” according to the Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Kayode Alabi.

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    “I have made my personal decision along this line. I will not use public funds to enjoy or gratify myself at the expense of the people. Public resources will only be applied strictly to public projects and overheads approved and budgeted for. We will not entertain excesses of any sort. With people’s interest as the guiding principle, we will do things differently and purposefully to get more impactful results.

    “I appeal to this distinguished gathering of our people to unite behind this agenda for the progress of our community and generations yet unborn. Anything short of this will keep us moving in a circle and that would defeat the purpose of our people standing in the sun to vote the way they did.”

    AbdulRazaq reiterated his resolve to institutionalize the various cultural activities in the state to boost tourism and economic growth; including the Durbar which he called the heritage of Ilorin people and a testament to the bravery and valour of their forebears especially the royal lineage of Sheikh Alimi.

    The Governor said prudent management of resources is necessary to drive growth.

    He added: “Let me clarify this too. Kwara is immensely blessed with abundant natural and human resources, as the quality of attendance at this Durbar shows. Kwara is however not so rich in monetary terms.  But that was not the reason for the slow development. The problem was that the little resources Kwara had was not going into building sustainable future. This is what we need to change, this is what we are changing, and that requires the support of all of you.”

    The Emir thanked all the guests for their attendance and gave a chieftaincy title of Danmazani of Ilorin to the Durbar Committee Chairman, Engr Suleiman Yahaya Alapansanpa, FNSE.

  • Believe in us as we fix Kwara, says AbdulRazaq

    KWARA State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has urged residents of the state to have faith in his administration’s ability to fix the state.

    “We, therefore, call on all Kwarans to stay on course with us as we get down to the task of fixing our state. This definitely requires all of us to make sacrifice.

    “It might also require us to adopt a new paradigm and forgo momentary gains for the larger interest of our state, especially the generations yet unborn,” he said.

    AbdulRazaq felicitated with the Muslim community on the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, advising the faithful to reflect on the lessons of the season.

    Read Also: Kwara governor hits the ground running

    “The message of this season is that of sacrifice, selflessness and total submission to the will of God, as exemplified by not just Prophet Ibrahim, the father of all Abrahamaic faiths, but also Prophet Muhammad (SAW). As faithful, it is not enough to offer animals in sacrifice. We are in fact required to translate these qualities to our day-to-day living,” the governor said in a Sallah message by his spokesman Rafiu Ajakaye.

    The governor prayed to God to grant everyone a blessed eid.

     

  • Laffmatazz hits Ilorin this August

    Nigeria’s top-notch touring comedy and music show, Laffmatazz with Gbenga Adeyinka and Friends is set to storm Ilorin, Kwara State on August 13.

    The show which kicked-off in Ibadan in April, and recently rocked the city of Akure, will liven up Ilorin in its characteristic tradition of “Sharing Happiness” with Maltina, the lead sponsor of the event.

    This “Loud In Ilorin” themed show will attract some of the biggest stars in music and comedy namely Reminisce, Majek Fashek, 2Baba, Ruggedy Baba, Chinko Ekun, Omobaba, Alariya, Terry G, The Small Doctor, Chi Young, Marina of Comedy, Shete, Akpororo, Funny Bone, Helen Paul, Dr Smile and Peteru.

    Over six years, Laffmatazz has become a comedy platform that is widely accepted in Western Nigeria, breaking the jinx of Lagos being the comedy centre of the nation.

    “We’re always excited to be a part of Gbenga Adeyinka’s Laffmatazz as it is a show that aligns with the brand’s commitment towards sharing unending happy moments amongst family and friends across Nigeria. We look forward to being a part of the event in Ilorin once again,” the Senior Brand Manager, Maltina, Oluseun Lawal said.

    In addition, Lawal remarked that the geographical location of the show for this 7th edition is very important to the brand.

    “The West is very important to the brand and we cannot talk about the West without including the great people of Ilorin. True evidence of happiness is brought to life through laughter and the people of Ilorin are indeed happy.”

    Comedy fans will also have opportunities to win mouth-watering prizes  like goody bags, mobile phones, generator sets and flat-screen televisions in its exciting live game show.

    Laffmatazz has been witnessed by over 50,000 people since its inception. It is arguably one of the best networks of comedians and musicians and the biggest of its kind outside Lagos.