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Tag: Nasiru El-Rufa’i

  • Hate speech, fake news threat to national security, says El-Rufai

    Hate speech, fake news threat to national security, says El-Rufai

    Governor Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Wednesday said hate speech and fake news were the biggest threat to national security and called for collective action to tackle them.

    The governor made the observation when he received Maj._Gen. Anthony Alolagbe, the new Commander, Operation Safe Haven, a special task force established in 2010 in Plateau, who paid him a courtesy visit in Kaduna.

    “There is need to curtail the emerging trend of using social media to create crisis in the country.

    “I think collectively we have to fight it and discourage those behind it by arresting and prosecuting them,’’ he said.

    El-Rufai disclosed that the social media had been used to incite people to violence in the state, but warned that the government would not condone that anymore.

    “In this state, we will not allow anyone engage in propagation of hate speech and fake news; there is provision in the penal code in Kaduna state that deals with that.’’

    He however expressed satisfaction that Nigerians were “becoming more aware of the dangers hate speech, fake news and the abuses on social media pose to the peace, unity and stability of this country.’’

    El-Rufai told the commander that his administration was putting in place measures to promote social justice, and was working closely with all security agencies to sustain peace in the state.

    “There are still challenges, but with the intervention of army and police it has been curtailed to some extent,” he said, adding that security agencies were doing their best to address them.

    Earlier, Alolagbe explained that the operation’s major duty was to protect all civilians in  Southern Kaduna and Plateau, especially those living along the boundaries of the two states.

    “We have deployed our security and patrol teams to ensure free movement of people carrying out lawful activities, and we have been able to curtail cross boarder banditry,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the mandate of Operation Safe Haven was extended to cover southern Kaduna in July 2017 after clashes there.(NAN)

  • Kaduna partners firm to improve telecom services in 15 LGAs

    Kaduna partners firm to improve telecom services in 15 LGAs

    The Kaduna State Government is working with a telecom company to mount 40 masts across the state to improve telecom services in 15 local government areas of the state, an official said on Wednesday.

    Mr Sheyin Olufade, Technical Assistant to Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai on Inter Agency Support, told newsmen in Gyuibi village, Kudan Local Government, after the flag off of the project.

    He said that the project, being implemented in partnership with TYDACOM Telecommunication Company, would also enhance security and the state’s economy.

    According to him, the aim is to promote businesses and prompt response to security concerns in any part of the state.

    “Primarily they should expect three things: One is improved service on the GSM phone, improvement on their social economy, because they would be able to communicate better – their business, farming gets improved- and also better security.” Olufade said.

    He said that work on the installation would be completed within four months, adding that it would create jobs for local people.

    In a separate interview with newsmen, Managing Director of the company, Prof. Akin Akiniyi said the project would cover 15 local government areas in the state that have poor telecom access.

    “Traditionally over the years, they have been trying to provide coverage for these local government areas, but the investment involved is so much and the return so small, but we can do it.” Akiniyi said.

    The Village Head of Gyuibi, Malam Lawal Aliyu, commended government for the project and urged people in the area to support it.

  • El-Rufa’i denies muzzling media, warns against divisive reports

    El-Rufa’i denies muzzling media, warns against divisive reports

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, on Tuesday denies that his government is muzzling the media and impinging on the rights of people to free speech.

    The governor made the denial in Kaduna in a message to the opening of a workshop on conflict prevention and peace building for civil society organisations.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 3-day workshop was organized by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution and the United Nation Development Programme.

    El-Rufai who was represented by his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, however said the administration would not accept any report that incites violence and ignites crisis in the state.

    “Contrary to the false assertions from some quarters, the government of Kaduna state does not seek to muzzle the free press or journalists in the performance of their duty.

    “As a government, it is our constitutional mandate to protect against actions that disrupt the society such as irresponsible journalism that spread falsehood, publishes inciting stories and turn our people against one another.

    “I am convinced that the active participation of Civil Society Organizations in conflict prevention, resolution and peace building will help the government in fostering harmonious living and peaceful co-existence in our country.

    “We must all rise against voices that promote division and those who promote hate speeches which incites people to violence against those they differ from.

    “People must learn to tolerate one another and respect others even when they differ on political ideology, religion or tribe,’’ he said.

    El-Rufa’i disclosed that the state government would set up a peace commission to manage conflicts in the state.

    He said it was one of the steps taken by government to address the recurring conflicts, adding that the peace commission would also handle prevention and non violent interventions as wells as render support to security agencies.

    The governor said the administration had partnered religious and traditional leaders in ongoing peace building efforts across communities.

    El-Rufa’i stressed that “peace is everybody’s business’’, as such there was need to leverage on the roles of the CSOs to collectively build peace in Nigeria.

    He appealed for reason and moderation from all persons in the country to reinforce peace, tolerance and cooperation for the unity and progress of the country.

    The governor urged the CSOs to cooperate with government to denounce hate speeches, radicalization and violent extremism as well as ensure effective enforcement of laws to punish offenders.

    Earlier, the Director General of the institute, Prof. Oshita Oshita, urged Nigerians to embrace peace and help to build a strong and united country.

    He said that the workshop was to build the capacity of CSOs for continuous dialogue, collaboration and peace building across the country.

    In her goodwill message, Mrs Hannatu Ibrahim, a peace ambassador, said civil societies must compliment government in its peace building efforts.

    According to her, individuals and communities must also learn to dialogue in addressing contentious issues among them.

  • Girls must be given equal opportunities as boys, says El-Rufa’i  

    Girls must be given equal opportunities as boys, says El-Rufa’i  

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State, on Thursday said girls must be given equal opportunities as boys to go to school and contribute more meaningfully to societal growth.

    The governor told newsmen in Kaduna after receiving 18-year-old Nkechinyero Chidi-Ogbolu, author of the book ‘Tales of an Uber Minor in College,’ that education was key to success.

    He described the author as a great source of inspiration, and urged young people not to waste their time on the street but aspire for greatness at all times.

    “I want every girl in Kaduna state to see and emulate or even exceed her; that is why for me her visit is very important.

    “It is an example of what we can achieve if we give our girls the same opportunity that we give our boys  in Africa, particularly in the Northern part of Nigeria, where girls do not get same opportunity to get educated as boys,’’ he said.

    El-Rufai noted that some of the kids have been left to hawk on the street instead of going to school, adding, “that is what we are trying to work on now in Kaduna and Northern Nigeria in general.’’

    He said that as part of the effort, his administration had invested heavily in reviving the education sector for better performance.

    The governor disclosed that a total of 78,000 units of classroom furniture had been distributed to public schools in the state since his assumption of office.

    “We find out that more than half of our children seat on the floor, and we have to accelerate the process of providing furniture in our primary and secondary schools.’’

    He stressed that the government still needed to do more to fully equip the schools.

    “We still have long way to go and we will continue within the limited resource we have, until we make public schools as good as private schools.

    “We are trying to get all our primary schools to have library, so that we put books in those primary schools and also encourage the formation of writing and literary clubs in our primary and secondary schools,’’ El-Rufai added.

    The governor urged Non Governmental Organisations to go into public schools and encourage creative writing, so as to expose the talents that abound locally.

  • Ecological Fund: Learn to take responsibility, El-Rufai replies Jonathan

    Ecological Fund: Learn to take responsibility, El-Rufai replies Jonathan

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Tuesday blasted former President Goodluck Jonathan on his recent comment on the N2 billion Ecological Fund granted PDP states during his tenure.

    El-Rufai said in Kaduna through his media aide, Samuel Aruwan, that the former President had failed to justify why he released the fund only to his cronies instead of all the states.

    The governor lamented that instead of addressing the moral issues raised in the interim report of the investigation instituted by the National Economic Council, Jonathan chose to resort to personal attacks.

    “He is not a man that can take responsibility for anything.

    “In March 2015, not long after making concession call to President Buhari, he summoned his pecks and ask them to reject the result of an election whose winner he had congratulated in private.

    “That effort and publicity failed spectacularly and the will of people prevailed.

    “So no one should be surprised that he is denying presiding over the discrete distribution of the ecological funds.

    “His denial begs the question, what special circumstance ensured that only states that were controlled by the PDP and its allied parties qualified for the N2 billion each.”

    El-Rufa’i accused Jonathan of running Nigeria while in power for his party and family.

    “Jonathan cannot argue with fact that the payment are in the record of ecological fund.

    “He knowingly engaged in discriminatory disbursement of federal fund; the legality of that is open to question.”

    He dismissed as disingenuous, the former president’s argument that money was also disbursed for the Green Wall Project in some northern states.

    El-Rufa’i also noted that Jonathan had failed in his response, to show where he lied regarding the disbursement of N2 billion to each of the affected states as contained in the NEC interim report on the utilisation of the Ecological Fund.

    The governor reminded the former president that the investigation being carried out was at the instance of NEC and not a personal initiative

  • Courts restrains Gov. El-Rufai from demolishing Kasuwar Barchi market

    Courts restrains Gov. El-Rufai from demolishing Kasuwar Barchi market

    A Kaduna High Court presided over by Justice Mohammed Bello, has issued a restraining order on Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i not to demolish the Kasuwar Barchi market in Kaduna until the determination of the case before the court.
    Bello ordered that all respondents to the case should stop “entering into and demolishing Kasuwar Barchi, pending the hearing and determination of the case.”
    The case was instituted by 16 persons, on behalf of stall owners and traders in Kasuwar Barchi, seeking to stop the governor from demolishing the market.
    Joined in the suit are the Attorney-General of Kaduna State and Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency as second and third respondents.
    The plaintiffs include Auwalu Hussain, Kabiru Usman, Aminu Ahmed, Bawa Ahmed, Josia Sunday, Ndubueze Egbo-Ogu, Augustine Sunday.
    Others are, Ali Abdulhamid, Maryam Abubakar, Rabiatu Musa, Latifah Yusuf, Amina Abdulrauf, Aishatu Ibrahim, Hafsat Uba, Sa’adiya Ahmed and Wasilat Ahmed.
    Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr Elisha Kurah, SAN, had prayed the court to restrain the defendants from going ahead with the demolishing of the market.
    He also prayed the court to determine whether the establishment, maintenance and regulations of markets is vested on the governor.
    The counsel hinged his prayer on Section 7(1) and (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, together with item 1(e) of the 4th Schedule to the Constitution.
    He also cited Section 20(a) and 21(2) of the Local Government Administration Law of Kaduna State 2012 as amended.
    Kurah said the court should determine whether the governor has power to issue notice to legal occupants of a market in the state for the purpose of establishment, maintenance, regulation or conversion of the said market.
    He said that if the above questions are resolved in their favour, the court should declare that the state government lacked the legal right to make any law to derogate from the function of local governments as specified by law.
    The plaintiffs also want the court to make a declaration that the state government have no constitutional power to take over Kasuwar Barchi market from Kaduna South Local Government and hand it over to private developer.
    They also prayed the court to declare that the establishment, maintenance and regulation of markets is a function constitutionally conferred on local governments, as such the state government has no legal right to hand over such functions to private developer.
    The traders said the court should declare that the threat by the defendants to demolish the market, including shops of the plaintiffs, is invalid, improper, blatant display of raw executive power, illegal, unconstitutional and null and void.
    The case has been adjourned till June 5, for hearing.

  • Kaduna trains health workers to eradicate malnutrition

    The Kaduna State Emergency Nutrition Action Plan (KADENAP) has commenced train-the-trainer programme to eradicate malnutrition in the state, an official has said.

    Hajiya Ummi El-Rufa’i, wife to Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, disclosed this at the flag-off of the training programme for some selected health personnel in Zaria.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training is entitled: “Training on Community Management of Acute Malnutrition: Training of Trainers (TOT)”.

    The governor’s wife, who was represented by Alhaji Shehu Usman-Muhammad, a member of KADENAP, said the workshop was aimed at improving the quality of health workers’ service in the management of malnutrition.

    “It is specifically organised to train-the-trainers for them to train others in their various local governments and zones.

    “It provides an opportunity to bring participants together from all over the state and best 20 will be selected to become trainers in the management of malnutrition in primary and secondary facilities,” she said.

    The governor’s wife said the personnel were drawn from state and federal health agencies and training institutions.

    She identified management of malnutrition as a critical element toward ensuring healthy future generation.

    The governor’s wife said she was motivated to be part of the crusade following a UNICEF study which showed high rate of malnutrition in the state.

    She said both her and the governor saw the report and felt so bad.

    “The children are malnourished not because of lack of food but because of ignorance, culture, food preparation and management.

    “We took it upon ourselves to change the trend and to give a sense of hope to our future generation,” she said.

    Hajiya Hauwwa Usman, Assistant State Nutrition Officer, Kaduna State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, said the workshop was meant to proffer solution to acute malnutrition.

    She said at the end of the training they want to get trainers who would train others on malnutrition at Community Management Adequate Malnutrition centres at various local government levels across the state.

    “We want to eradicate malnutrition in Kaduna State. To achieve that, we need to train our workers on how to go about the eradication process.

    “It is through this kind of training that the health personnel will be trained for the benefit of others,” she said.

    A cross section of participants interviewed by NAN expressed appreciation for the training and pledged to impart the knowledge acquired on others to achieve the set goals.

    NAN reports that about 69 health personnel were selected from the 23 local government areas of the state.

     

  • El-Rufai pledges to appoint more women in government

    El-Rufai pledges to appoint more women in government

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Thursday pledged to appoint more women into his government.

    El-Rufai made the pledge in Kaduna at the 2nd Women Economic Empowerment Summit, with the theme: Enabling access and participation; Linking women to Resources.

    The News Agency of Nigeria [NAN] reports that the governor had already appointed three women as commissioners, while the state Head of Service is also a woman.

    El-Rufai said his administration appreciates the important role women play in the development of the state.

    He urged the women to develop a road map to guide the government in addressing the challenges facing them.

    According to him, the government had established gender desk in all Ministries Departments and Agencies in the state to address women issues.

    He announced that the government plans to set up the Kaduna State Peace Commission and would appoint a woman as Executive Vice Chairman.

    NAN reports that the bill to establish the Peace Commission is currently before the state House of Assembly awaiting approval.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba said the success of the first women summit informed the hosting of another one to tackle challenges already identified.

    “The ministry believes that access to timely information is of great importance to women businesses and empowerment.

    “The summit is planned to explore knowledge, information technology and social linkages to enable women participate as full and informed players in the business environment.

    “We have deliberately invited men and women from different professions and sectors to this summit to advise us on various areas we can work together for gender mainstreaming and social inclusion in our dear state,” Baba said.

    The commissioner commended development partners and advocacy groups that facilitated the summit.

    NAN reports that the summit was supported by Enhancing Nigerian Advocacy for Better Business Environment (ENABLE2), Synagos Nigeria, UNILIVER and Power Oil.

    Meanwhile, the summit has set up eight syndicate groups to develop roadmap to tackle gender challenges from different business sectors including Agriculture, Education, Health, Governance, Commerce, Security and ICT.

    One of the resource person, Katha Nwator said her organisation was working with the state authorities to address gaps in providing agricultural inputs to women farmers.

    Nwator said challenges and gaps slowing down women participation in Agriculture, Health and Sanitation issues must be addressed.

    She pledged that her organisation, Synergos Nigeria, would work with the Women Affairs and Agriculture ministries to address the issue of gender in agriculture.

    She also said effort was being made to address the alleged fraudulent activities in fertiliser procurement by women and imposition of illegal taxes in parts of the state.

    According to her, social media platform would be used to provide information among women farmers in the state.

    She advised women farmers to register their cooperative groups in a well structured manner to enable them access various agriculture credit facilities.

  • 2019: APC may loose Kaduna if……– Shehu Sani

    2019: APC may loose Kaduna if……– Shehu Sani

    Sen. Shehu Sani (APC Kaduna Central) says the All Progressives Congress [APC] may loose Kaduna State in the 2019 governorship election, if the state government’s “seeming anti people’s policies”continue.

    Sani spoke to newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday shortly after he received a complaint from traders on Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai’s plan to demolish the famous Kasuwan Barci Market in Kaduna.

    “The anti APC policies of the administration in Kaduna state is sending people away, many people now only have faith in Buhari not in the party any more.

    “Most programmes of government in the state are not in favour of the people and if it continues, APC will pay for it.

    “The current administration’s policies are only designed to please some certain group of people in the state,“ Sani claimed.

    He urged the state government to shelve plan to demolish the market, famous for its textile and second hand clothing.

    The Senator noted that demolishing such market with 4,800 shops at this time of hardship would spell doom for thousands of families.

    “I identify with the pains, concerns and fears of the traders and I appeal to the governor to think twice with a human heart over the issue.

    “We promised to deliver change to the country and as democrats, whatever we will do, we need to consult and carry the people along.

    “We cannot treat people with arrogance and insolence and expect them to trust us again,“ Sani said.

    According to him, the traders are angry and fear that if the market is demolished, it will be difficult for them to regain their shops back.

    Sani, who is the Senate Committee Chairman on Domestic and Foreign Debts, advised El-Rufai to suspend the demolition plan and concentrate on completing projects he had started.

    “For the entire project he started, he has not completed any. So, the mistake will be when he demolishes the market and there is no funds to reconstruct it, what will happen to the traders and the place?“

    He noted that most government activities would shut down by 2018 when political activities begin ahead of the 2019 general election.

    “The market had provided jobs for more than 30,000 men and women, with many youth off the street and engaged in tailoring, craft work and trading.

    “Engage the traders in reconstructing the market by giving them a specific design to reconstruct with a deadline,“ he suggested.

    Sani told the traders that he would forward a memo to the governor on the issue and advised them to also seek dialogue with the state government to resolve the matter.

    He also advised them to approach the state House of Assembly, religious leaders and human right organisations for intervention.

    The Senator added that the traders also have the option of taking legal action if all efforts failed to stop the government plan.

    The Chairman of the market traders union, Haruna Umar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the market with 4,800 shops records over N500 million daily turnover.

    Umar said there were more than 30,000 persons earning their livelihood from the market and demolishing it would be devastating to them and their families

     

  • Gov. El-Rufai pledges protection for Corps members

    Gov. El-Rufai pledges protection for Corps members

    Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State, on Friday pledged to provide protection and welfare support to National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving in the state.

    The governor made the pledge in Kaduna on Friday when the State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Bello Ballama visited the Government House.

    El-Rufai, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Barnabas Bala, said that the state government had placed high premium on the protection of the lives and property of the corps members.

    According to him, that the government will also support the NYSC in carrying out its mandate especially in providing vital skills to corps members to be self reliant.

    He said that the government, which recently received the award of best state in the ease of doing business in the country, would continue to motivate its youths to acquire skills for their economic empowerment.

    The governor stressed that providing skills to the youths would help reduce unemployment and facilitate opening up of new businesses.

    Earlier, the NYSC state coordinator, Mr Bello Ballama appreciated the state government support to the welfare of corps members, and assured that the scheme would continue to contribute to the speedy development of the state.

    According to him, that NYSC is a vital instrument of human capital development in the country.

    He said that over 80 per cent of corps members serving in the state were deployed to the education sector.

    Ballama added that the scheme had also provided critical manpower in the health sector, especially in rural areas.

    The coordinator urged the government to support the state NYSC office with utility vehicles, ambulance and accommodation for its senior officials.