The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sokoto State

  • Commission frees 31 prison inmates in Sokoto

    Commission frees 31 prison inmates in Sokoto

    The Zakkat and Endowment Commission in Sokoto State on Tuesday said it paid various fines imposed on 31 prison inmates which enabled them to regain their freedom.

    The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Lawal Maidoki, made this known at a ceremony in Sokoto, adding that each of the freed inmates was also given N10,000 as transport fare to various parts of the state.

    Maidoki said that out of the money, the state government provided N1 milion, while an anonymous philanthropist donated N1 million.

    He said “the gesture was extended to the beneficiaries in the spirit of the ongoing Ramadan fast, which is a month of mercy.”

    He added that the gesture was aimed at complementing efforts to further reduce the congestion in prison.

    The chairman advised the freed inmates to stay off crimes to avoid coming back to the prison.

    A cross section of the freed inmates who spoke to newsmen commended the state government for the gesture and promised to shun crimes.

  • Sokoto approves N2bn for tuition

    Sokoto approves N2bn for tuition

    The Sokoto State Government has approved two billion naira for the payment of tuition and upkeep allowances of its students studying locally and overseas.

    The state’s Commissioner for Higher Education, Alhaji Isah Gada, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Sokoto.

    He said that the ministry had recently concluded payment of entitlements of students, studying in Bangladesh and Sudan.

    Gada said that students in Uganda and other institutions around the globe would soon be paid their payments.

    He said that the state’s scholarship board had been receiving tremendous support from the State Government.

    The commissioner disclosed that 20,000 fresh and returning students were currently being sponsored by the State Government.

    He said that the scholarship board had started processing information on students electronically to make payments to students faster and easier.

    The commissioner said, however, that there were pressing challenges facing the board, including a lack of operational vehicles.

    “There is a lack of vehicles required for effective running of the board and monitoring of our students in various institutions of higher learning across the country.’’

    He said that the board was also lacking access to internet facilities for easier communication and monitoring of students within and outside the country.

  • Sokoto pays N3.9bn arrears of pensions, gratuities — HOS

    Sokoto pays N3.9bn arrears of pensions, gratuities — HOS

    Sokoto State Government has paid the outstanding arrears of pensions and gratuities of retired civil servants amounting to over N3.9 billion, the state Head of Service (HOS), Dr Buhari Kware, has announced.

    Kware made the annoucement on Wednesday in Sokoto at a ministerial press briefing to mark two years in office of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal.

    He said that the government also paid arrears of gratuities of 1,901 retired civil servants amounting to N2.64 billion.

    According to Kware, the money covered life, death, contract gratuity and pension arrears that were accumulated from November 2011 to August, 2015.

    He said that in February 2017, the government paid the retirement benefits of 567 retirees to the tune of N1.23 billion.

    Kware said that verification of retired civil servants who retired from the service from May 2016 to December 2016 is ongoing

    “As soon as the exercise is completed, the government will settle them appropriately,’’ he said.

    The HOS said the government spent N79.4 million on furnishing of the offices of commissioners, permanent secretaries and directors-general.

    He said that two 500KVA generators costing N69.1 million were purchased and installed at Shehu Kangiwa and Usman Faruk Secretariats among other projects.

    Kware said that 500 indigenes of the state were recruited under the Teachers’ Service Board.

    He said that in spite of daunting financial challenges, the government ensured timely and prompt payment of salaries and allowances.

  • Sokoto to prosecute agric loan defaulters, says Commissioner

    Sokoto to prosecute agric loan defaulters, says Commissioner

    Sokoto State Government on Monday vowed to prosecute all the defaulters of the multi billion agricultural loans, disbursed in the last few years.

    The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Umaru Nagwari, made the pledge in Sokoto at a news briefing organised to mark the two year anniversary of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal.

    According to him, the ministry is a compiling list of all the defaulters and everybody must pay whatever he or she collected.

    “This is public fund and it must be repaid for other farmers to benefit,” he said.

    He also promised that the state government was fully committed to providing all the needed agricultural inputs and implements to farmers across the state.

    “This is to further boost food security, reduce poverty and unemployment, among others,” he added.

    On the fears of recurrence of tomato Ebola, Nagwari said that the ministry was taking measures to assist the farmers.

    “This is by purchasing improved tomato seeds and insecticides as well as providing efficient extension services,” the commissioner averred.

    The commissioner explained that the gesture was aimed at preventing the huge losses recorded by tomato farmers in the state in 2015.

    Nagwari further stated that the state government has taken measures to curb the menace of quealea birds across the state.

    “We have mapped out strategies to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in this direction,” he added.

  • Tambuwal incorporates religious groups to support fight against polio

    Tambuwal incorporates religious groups to support fight against polio

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal has incorporated the Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), as part of the Task Force to support the fight against polio in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this came to the fore on Sunday, in Bodinga town, Bodinga Local Government Area of the state at the commencement of the immunisation plus days.

    Speaking at the event, the governor announced the formation of an expanded high powered task force, made up of leadership of JNI and CAN.

    He said that the committee will ensure the massive mobilisation of all persons resident in the state, towards the success of the exercise.

    He said,”my administration is committed in ensuring that the successes recorded in the fight against polio and other killer-diseases are not reversed.”

    Tambuwal further called on stakeholders not to relent until the country was free from the dreaded polio virus.

    Tambuwal said,” the Sokoto State Government has committed huge sums of money for the renovation of hospitals, construction of staff houses, as well as provision of basic medical equipment to Primary Healthcare Centres.

    “This is to enable them provide qualitative primary and secondary health care services to the people.

    “We will also continue to renovate our health facilities and construct some additional primary health centers for equitable distribution of facilities in all areas where there are none.”

    Tambuwal also directed all the 23 local government areas to provide all needed support towards the success of the exercise.

    The governor also inaugurated the task force on polio immunisation and implementation in all the 23 LGAs with each council chairman serving as head.

    In his remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the Magajin Rafin Sokoto, Alhaji Rilwanu Bello, called on all district heads to be fully involved in the immunisation drive.

    In their separate remarks, representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, Rotary International and national primary Healthcare Development Agency, reiterated their determination to ensure that Nigeria is free from the wild polio virus (WPV).

    On his part, the state commissioner of health, Dr. Balarabe Kakale called on all communities to take precautionary measures on the impending risk of Gastro enteritis, especially as the raining season is about to set in.

    He also appealed to people to maintain personal and environmental hygiene, adding that the ministry will continue to discharge its duties effectively.

    Other members of the task force announced by the governor include development partners, women groups, heads of security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, labour leaders, political officers, student groups, members of the civil societies, among others.

  • Windstorm kills 3, destroy 139 houses in Sokoto State

    Windstorm kills 3, destroy 139 houses in Sokoto State

    Three persons were killed on Monday when windstorms ravaged some neighbourhoods in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) disclosed this in Sokoto on Thursday via a statement issued by Mr Sulaiman Muhammad, the Head of its Sokoto Zonal Operations Office.

    The statement said that the windstorms also destroyed 46 houses and injured one person in the same local government.

    Similarly, windstorms damaged 93 houses in Tambuwal Local Government Area of the state.

    However, the statement said that no death was recorded in the incidents but four persons were injured.

    “Over 1,000 households were affected in the two local governments, with Jabo town and Tambuwal Local Government Area worst affected.

    “The agency had since assessed the extent of damage caused by the disasters and arrangements are being made to donate relief materials to the victims,’’ Muhammad was quoted as saying in the statement.

  • Sokoto creates 27,000 jobs in agric sector, says Tambuwal

    Sokoto State Government says it has created no fewer than 27,166 jobs in the agricultural sector in the last two years.

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal said this on Wednesday in Sokoto at the opening of a stakeholders’ sensitisation workshop on Climate Change Adaptation and Agri-business Support, organised in collaboration with the State Office of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

    “In the period under consideration, we have supported more than 33,000 people, through the promotion of improved crop production techniques, para-veterinary clinics as well as women and youth off-farm activities.

    “Similarly, we have created, through our community-based agric and rural development initiatives, 27,166 jobs via different interventions in sustainable agriculture, community infrastructure, rural enterprise development, among others,’’ he said.

    The governor said that his administration was fully committed to the development of agriculture, with a view to enhancing food security, eradicating poverty and boosting employment opportunities, especially among the youth.

    “The state government will continue to honour and fulfil all financial obligations entered into with IFAD and other donor agencies, so that the people of the state can continue to enjoy its maximum benefit,’’ Tambuwal said.

    In his goodwill message, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, represented by the North West Regional Director, Mr Adeyemi Ayoyeyi, said that the Federal Government was determined to develop the agricultural sector.

    “The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, was resolute in its vision of promoting agricultural production in Nigeria.

    “The Federal Government was implementing programmes aimed at attracting the youth to agricultural practices across the value chain.

    “The ministry, in collaboration with IFAD and other partners, has developed and implemented the climate change adaptation and agri-business support programme.

    “This is to fast-track climate change mitigation and stimulate smart agriculture in the country,’’ Ogbeh said.

  • FG releases N30 Bln for development of solid minerals sector

    FG releases N30 Bln for development of solid minerals sector

    The Federal Government has released N30 billion for the development of the solid minerals sector, a top official of the Solid Minerals Development Fund has announced.

    Hajiya Hadiza Goni, Acting Secretary of the fund, made the announcement on Wednesday in Sokoto.

    She made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of a workshop on the Mining Sector for the North West Geo-political Zone.

    Goni said the release of the money would facilitate the development of the solid minerals sector and boost nation growth.

    The acting secretary noted that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari had given priority attention to the diversification of the economy.

    “The discovery of oil in commercial quantity in Nigeria made the mining sector the mainstay of the economy and oil the major revenue earner of the country.

    “Unfortunately, in the approximately 45-year decline of the country’s mining sector, we have been unable to articulate a framework upon which the sector would viably stand and operate.

    “We have, as such, missed out various opportunities to capitalise on the up-surging of the commodity process.”

    Goni disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel had, however, identified 45 solid minerals types across the 36 states of the federation.

    The Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, in a message expressed the determination of the State Government to develop the mineral sector in the state.

    His message was read by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba.

    Tambuwal said: “Even more important than oil, we were getting revenue from coal which is also a solid mineral.

    “But we have abandoned the huge deposits of coal since the discovery of oil.

    “There are countries that still rely on solid minerals for their survival, in spite of oil. An example is Copper in Tunisia.

    He assured that the state would collaborate with the Federal Government to exploit solid minerals in Sokoto State

  • Tambuwal appoints VC, other principal officers for state varsity

    Tambuwal appoints VC, other principal officers for state varsity

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has approved the appointment of Prof. Sani Dangoggo, as the new Vice-Chancellor of Sokoto State University.

    Until his appointment, Dangoggo was the Director, Sokoto Energy Research Centre, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

    He succeeds Prof. Nuhu Yaqoob, whose tenure has just expired, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, said in a statement on Saturday.

    Similarly, Tambuwal has also approved the appointments of Prof. Zayyanu Umar and Prof. Nasiru Ibrahim, as the new Deputy Vice-Chancellors in charge of Academics and Administration respectively.

    Umar was the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Usman Danfodiyo University, while Ibrahim was an agriculture lecturer in the same institution.

    The tenure of the Registrar, Mrs Amina Garba, was also renewed for a final second term.

  • 1,500-seat conference centre in Sokoto will be ready in June – contractor

    A 1,500 seat  international conference centre being built by Sokoto State will be ready in June, the contractor said.

    The centre is being built for more than N428 million

    Alhaji Mohammed Bello, the Managing Director of Diamond Global Energy Investment Ltd, the contractor, disclosed this when journalists visited the site on Friday.

    “The contract was awarded in late 2014, but the actual work commenced in the first quarter of 2015.

    “The work was to have been delivered in 12 months, but there was a delay due to the transition in 2015.

    “The first phase of the project, which comprises of an administrative block, VIP lounge and an Internet Cafe, among others, has so far reached about 90 per cent completion.

    “This phase of the project will be delivered in the next 20 days.

    “But, the second phase that comprises of the auditorium, has now reached 80 per cent completion stage and it will be delivered in the next 30 days.”

    Bello commended Gov. Aminu Tambuwal for according top priority to the project and promised to deliver a “world- class structure”.

    He also promised not to compromise on the specifications and quality of the project.

    “We will never fail the state government or the people of the state in this direction,” Bello said.