The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Muhammad Badaru

  • Oil will soon become history – Governor Badaru

    Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru has said that, with the development of renewable energy, oil will soon become history.

    He however said that, the only alternative that can lead to the sustainable prosperity of Nigeria is agriculture.

    Speaking on Wednesday in Kaduna on the occasion of, “Validation Workshop on Capacity Gaps for Implementing Holistic Empowerment for Livelihood Programme (HELP), Governor Badaru said, his administration has created a lot of jobs on rice value chains and doing same in Tomatoes and groundnut value chains.

    He said, “Jigawa State can’t be industrialized because all the industries are in Kano, we cannot be centre of commerce because Kano is already a centre of commerce.

    “But we are not relying on oil revenue because oil Well will soon be history if it runs dry, and for us to survive as a State, we have to work on competiveness.

    “We have to develop our people, our business, develop our agriculture, and this will enable us to keep the state abreast if the oil well dries up. So agriculture is our life line.

    “Oil will soon become history with the development of renewable energy. So, we have no alternative to agriculture. Prosperity of our state and country depends on agriculture.

    “In Jigawa we have been able to produce large number of goats after distributing 3 goats each to over 600 women. Now we have large number of goats which in the next few months or years we will be able to export the necessary requirements to Kuwait.

    “For you to know how serious we take agriculture in Jigawa, we discuss it every Monday at council meeting.

    “We have trained over 145,000 youths across the State on rice planting implement, to plant and transplant. We also trained women on rice parboiling. So we have developed a lot of jobs on rice value chains. We are doing same in Tomatoes, groundnut sectors, etc.

    “Our being here is to discuss agriculture because it is a duty we must do for our people.”

    Read Also: Badaru approves N7.8m for remedial studies

    The Governor said, in order not to be industrially backward, his state has empowered women with breeding of goats in the rural areas.

    He said over 600 male and female goats were distributed, believing that within few years, goat production would have been sizeable enough for export to Kuwait and other Arab countries

    Recalled that in 2016 Jigawa State government provided goats to women in its goats multiplication farming programme.

    The governor noted that about 85 per cent of the women have so far abided by returning three goats each to the government as interest on the goats earlier distributed to them.

    “As soon as we have enough of these goats we will export them to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, just to mention a few.

    He also said Dangote rice farming has a robust out-grower scheme covering a piloted area of 8’000 hectares, which he said involved 5,000 farmers, launched in Hago village of Kafin-Hausa local government area of the State.

    Earlier in his opening remarks, convener of Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP), Dr. Usman Bugaje lamented, that Nigeria has the most fertile land in Africa but still inports food.

    He said the country’s population is estimated to be 300 million in the next 12 years, saying that, if practical steps are not taken to address issues of food security, the country will not be able to feed its population.

    The ARDP boss however said that, the workshop must identify the gaps that are making it difficult for Nigeria to be self-sufficient in food.

    In his remarks, the Executive Director of Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo said the workshop must come out with roadmap for the development of agricultural value-chain in Africa.

  • Sallah Durbar: 10 riders fall off horse in Dutse

    No fewer than 10 riders fell off their horses during Sallah Durbar at Dutse Emir’s Palace on Friday, News Agency of Nigeria  reports.

    The incident happened during the mini durbar traditionally organised every year where the governor receives cheers and greetings from members of the emirate council from top of the Emir’s palace.

    The riders fell while racing to greet Gov. Muhammad Badaru of the state, after observing the Eid-el-Fitr prayer at the central prayer ground at about 8.30 a.m.

    Read Also: Buhari, Danbazzau others observe Sallah prayers in Abuja

    However, none of the riders sustain injury.

    At the emir’s palace, district heads take turns to greet the governor as they raced on their decorated horses, while the emir came last and exchanged greetings with his council members.

  • Community begs Jigawa governor for road.

    The Sambalisa community in Birninkudu Local Government Area of Jigawa has appealed to Gov. Muhammad Badaru to build the community road to ease transportation in the area.

    Mr Abdu Sabo, the Chairman of the Sambalisa Community Development Association made the appeal in an interview with the News men in Dutse on Tuesday.

    Sabo said that the people of the area were predominantly farmers but had difficulty transporting their produce from the community to the cities.

    “Our main concern is road. Every year, after harvesting our farm produce, we usually have difficulty moving our harvest to markets in the cities,” he said.

    He regretted that the community lacked basic infrastructure and social amenities, adding that the people had yet to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    Read Also: NDLEA arrests suspects, seizes 136.6kgs drugs in four months in Jigawa

    Sabo said, “We are therefore appealing to the state government to construct our roads for us.”

    “We made a lot of entreaties to previous administrations in the state but all failed on deaf ears.”  We are also indigenes of Jigawa but we are being neglected by successive administrations in the state.

    “If our road is constructed, we shall remain very grateful because we want to enjoy the dividend of democracy like other communities around us,” he said.

    He further said that beyond the ease of transportation, they needed good roads to link up the community with its neighbours.

    NAN

  • Jigawa engages 1,000 farmers for rice cultivation

    The Jigawa Government will support 1,000 farmers to cultivate 1,000 hectares of rice farms across the state in 2018, an official said on Thursday.

    Alhaji Jamilu Dan-Malam, a Special Assistant to Gov. Muhammad Badaru, told the newsmen in Dutse that the farmers were drawn from the 23 rice producing local government areas in the state.

    He said, ‘‘Preparations for rice production in the 2018 cropping season is ongoing.

    ‘‘As you know, His Excellency has given much attention to agriculture with a view to improving the economic wellbeing of the downtrodden.

    ‘‘And last week we held a meeting with him where he approved that 1,000 hectares of rice be cultivated during the 2018 wet farming season.

    ‘‘So, 1,000 farmers will be engaged where each farmer will be supported to cultivate one hectare.

    ‘‘The beneficiaries are currently being screened to participate in the exercise in 23 rice producing local government areas of the state.’’

    Dan-Malam stated that preparations for the programme had reached 60 per cent, adding that the screening for the beneficiaries had commenced.

    According to him, one tube well would be sunk for each hectare to ensure adequate water supply for the programme.

    Dan-Malam further told the newsmen that improved and certified seeds, fertiliser, water pumps, insecticides, pesticides and sprayers were among the inputs to be given to the farmers.

    Read Also: Landslide kills one in Jigawa

    ‘‘Hadejia senatorial district will have 40 per cent of the total hectares because they have the largest Fadama land in the state, while the remaining 60 per cent would be shared between the other two senatorial districts.’’

    He pointed out that the beneficiaries would pay back the soft loan after cultivation.

    ‘‘After cultivation, the farmers will pay for the total cost of the inputs provided to them for the exercise.

    ‘‘They will just pay the exact amount; no interest is attached to it.

    ‘‘And after the exercise, the off-takers will come and buy from the youths, then we will take our money for the provided farm inputs and they will get their share too.

    ‘‘The farmers have nothing to worry about, as you know already, we have our local off-takers like Danmod rice mills in Kafin Hausa, Three Brothers in Hadejia, Majestic in Birnin Kudu and Closjas rice millers, among others,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Gov. Badaru facilitates release of 82 inmates – NBA

    Gov. Muhammad Badaru of Jigawa has facilitated the release of 82 inmates from various prisons in the state, Mr Baffa Alhassan, the state Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA ) said.

    Alhassan told our reporter in Dutse on Friday that the governor paid a total fine of over N2 million to facilitate the release of the inmates with minor cases.

    He said “this is commendable and an act of charity.

    “I believe this is as a result of efforts by the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Aminu Ringim, after we toured prisons across the state and found that some of the facilities are congested.

    “Part of recommendations of the committee raised to work on decongestion of prisons is that inmates with minor offences should be released and be reformed so that they will become useful to the society.

    “So, I believe this is what prompted the governor to graciously pay N2 million to free the inmates.”

    Alhassan urged the governor to maintain the tempo to further trim down prisons’ population.

    The Jigawa Government recently constituted a committee under the leadership of the state Chief Judge to ascertain the number of inmates serving various jail terms with a view to ensuring justice.

    The governor had in July 2015 facilitated the release of 40 inmates from various prisons in the state.

    NAN

  • Jigawa spends N5bn on water provision in two years

    Jigawa spends N5bn on water provision in two years

    The Jigawa Government has spent over N5 billion on provision of potable water to citizens across the state in the last two years.

    Gov. Muhammad Badaru made this known while presenting his score-card to stakeholders at a town hall meeting to mark Democracy Day in Dutse on Monday.

    Badaru said out of the amount, N3.5 billion was spent on capital expenditure, while N236 million was spent to convert motorised water schemes to solar-powered ones, during the period under review.

    He added that government was planning to actualise the Dutse Greater Water Project, pointing out that a new design was also being developed, for the successful actualisation of the project.

    The governor said that his administration has planted over five million assorted seedlings in the past two years, to controlled desertification in the state.

    According to him, the 2016 desertification programme was hosted by the state, where eleven kilometres shelter belt was established in Malammadori, Babura and Garki Local Government Areas of the state in an effort to check desert encroachment.

    Badaru added that forty nine temporary forest guards were recruited to guard the forest reserves in the state.

    Also speaking, Dr Abba Zakar, the state’s Commissioner for Health, said the state government would build three General Hospitals in Guri, Garki and Buji Local Areas of the state in 2017.

    Zakar said that medical equipment worth h N800 million were procured and and distributed to health facilities across the state in 2017.

    He explained that through the ongoing screening of health personnel across the state, the ministry was able to save more than N54 million.

    The commissioner added that the money saved  would be used for the newly recruited 540 health workers.

    According to him, the state government had also evolved effective modalities that would ensure the completion of the School of Nursing project in Hadejia.

    Zakar added that the school would commence operation in October.

  • Farming: Jigawa youths to cultivate five hundred hectares of rice

    The Jigawa Government says it has clustered 1,000 youth to cultivate 500 hectares of land for the cultivation of rice in Miga and Kaugama Local Government Areas of the state.

    Alhaji Jamilu Usaman-Danmalam, the Special Assistant to Gov. Muhammad Badaru on Rice Production and Value Change, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Tuesday.

    Usman-Danmalam also said that the youth would be engaged to grow rice on the state government-owned Fadama sites in Tsagewa, Yalo, Damomuwa, Jamaga and Kurgel villages of the two LGAs.

    He further said the sites were cleared and demarcated, adding that two youths were engaged to cultivate two hectares.

    The governor’s aide also told NAN that the exercise would be conducted under the state government’s Cluster Farming Scheme, initiated to empower youths become self reliant.

    According to him, government has concluded all arrangements for the exercise, adding that all the inputs are on ground.

    Usman-Danmalam further said 1,700 tube wells had been sunk by the state government at the FADAMA sites to ensure availability of water for the rice cultivation.

    “We have gone far in compiling the names of the beneficiaries and as soon as we are through, we will distribute the items for them to commence.

    ‘‘This is part of plans by this administration, under Gov. Muhammed Badaru, to empower and encourage youths, to go into farming.

    “The scheme will enable the beneficiaries become self-reliant; it will also make agriculture attractive and acceptable to youths in the state.

    “It is also to encourage dry season rice production under the state’s government cluster/group farming initiative.

    The governor’s aide promised that the state government would provide the youth with seeds, fertiliser, insecticide, water pumps and fuel at subsidised prices.

    NAN reports that Jigawa government is also executing similar programme in Birninkudu LocalGgovernment Area, where it empowered 400 youths to cultivate 200 hectares of rice.

    The programme is being done on the state-owned Farara-Zuma Fadama site in the area.

    According to the special assistant, the youth would pay back the soft loan after they must have cultivated and sold the rice.

    ‘‘After the exercise, the off-takers will come and buy from the youth, then, we will take our money for the provision of farm inputs.

    ‘’The youth will get their share too,’’ he said.

     

  • Prison comptroller lauds Jigawa govt for building juvenile centre

    Alhaji Magaji Ahmad, the Comptroller, Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Jigawa Command, has commended the state government for renovating a satellite prison in Babura Local Government Area of the state.

    Ahmad made the commendation on Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir.

    A statement issued by Alhaji Isma’il Ibrahim, media aide to the SSG, quoted Ahmad as also lauding Gov. Muhammad Badaru for the construction of a juvenile centre for rehabilitation of minors involved in criminal offences.

    The statement said the comptroller had during the visit also acknowledged the allocation of a piece of land for the relocation of Birnin Kudu Satellite Prison in Birnin Kudu local Government Area of the state.

    It said that the controller also thanked the government for the arrangements made to relocate the Dutse Satellite Prison to a more spacious and secure environment.

    Abdulkadir thanked the prisons boss for the visit and assured him of continued support and cooperation of the state government.