The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sokoto State

  • UNICEF donates N47m to improve hygiene in Sokoto

    The United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has donated N47 million to the Sokoto State Government to boost sanitation and hygiene.

    Mr Mohammed Mohiuddin, the Chief of the Field Office, Sokoto, announced the donation during a sensitisation programme for traditional leaders and local government councils’ chairmen on Friday in Sokoto.

    Mohiuddin said that the money was provided to support the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Sustainable Development Goal – Six (SDG-6) emphasises provision of clean water and sanitation for the populace.

    The UNICEF official explained that the donation entailed provision of technical assistance through procurement, contract, management, implementation and monitoring of water supply and sanitation infrastructure in rural areas.

    According to him, the aim is to work with government in accelerating access to water and sanitation for all people in the state.

    He recalled that the state government had begun the mission of achieving the Sustainable Development SDG-6 by 2030.

    He said that the donation was therefore aimed at encouraging the state to intensify efforts at achieving that goal in record time.

    “UNICEF has also been working with the Rural Water and Sanitation Agency for the implementation of community-led total sanitation model.

    “This is being done in 122 communities to be certified as open defecation free in Tangaza Local Government Area of the state,’’ he said.

    He said that the Fund had supported the state to provide access to safe water in 30 communities in the local government through rehabilitation of 44 water facilities.

    “The Fund has also developed a system for water safety planning, household water treatment and hygiene promotion aimed at improving health outcomes.

    “UNICEF also supports the state government in other areas of maternal and child health, nutrition, polio and basic education.

    “It also helps in social protection through conditional cash transfer to poor families and communication for development among others.’’

    Mohiuddin advised the state government to scale up the WASH model interventions to cover other local governments through increased funding.

  • With Buhari, Nigeria will bounce back to glory, says former Rep

    A former member of the House of Representatives from Sokoto State, Alhaji Sa’idu Gumburawa, says Nigeria will bounce back to glory with the way President Muhammadu Buhari is handling the affairs of the country.

    Gumburawa, who is also a former member of the Board of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said this in an interview with NAN in Sokoto on Wednesday.

    ” I am truly confident that with the way and manner the president is governing the nation, Nigeria will soon get better.

    ” The Federal Government has been successful in surmounting the challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgency, while other security challenges such as cattle rustling, militancy, kidnapping and armed robbery, are being tackled,” he said.

    The former lawmaker who is also a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) in the state, said efforts by the Federal Government to diversify the economy into sectors such as agriculture and mineral resources had also recorded huge success.

    ” I am also hopeful that Nigeria will soon exit the current recession, although more efforts should be made in this direction,”he said.

    Gumburawa lauded the Buhari Administration for its ongoing fight against corruption, and urged that all stolen funds be fully recovered, while those indicted should be duly prosecuted.

    The former lawmaker also welcomed the whistle blowing policy of the government and advised that it should be strengthened.

    He appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the government, saying,” Buhari is God-sent and there will be light at the end of the tunnel”

  • NLC wants N25, 000 minimum pension

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC), has demanded a review of pension to a minimum of N25,000, per month, in Sokoto State, as against the four thousand naira being paid for the past twelve years.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the chairman of the congress in the state, Mr Aminu Umar, made this demand in Sokoto on Monday at the 2017 May Day celebration.

    Umar also called for the implementation of the government circular of December 2014, on the payment of gratuity and pension to staff and medical workers in the Local Government service, as their counterparts in the state service.

    The chairman, however, lauded the State Government for the payment of arrears of gratuities of more than four billion to retired civil servants at the State and Local Government service.

    He also noted the regular payment of salary and pension “at a time when some workers in some states are being owed arrears of salary and pension”.

    “Regular training and retraining of civil servants, priority given to education, agriculture and commerce.

    “Increased food production and security, creation of job opportunities, as well as increased revenue generation, among others”.

    Umar promised that workers in the state would continue to be hard working, honest and dedicated to duty, in order to move the state forward.

    In a message, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, promised to continue to accord priority to the welfare of civil servants, as well as the generality of the citizens.

    Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba, the governor promised to motivate and encourage the civil servants to become robust, disciplined and productive.

  • Corps member dies of heart failure

    Corps member dies of heart failure

    A National Youth Service Corps member serving in Sokoto State has died of heart failure, the State NYSC Coordinator, Alhaji Musa Abubakar, announced Friday.

    Abubakar  named the deceased as Anthony Ochai  from Benue State.

    He spoke at  the passing out of 1,411 corps members deployed to the state under the 2016 batch ”A”, Stream One.

    Ochai was deployed to the Government Secondary School, Tsamaye, Sabon-Birni Local Government in the state for his primary assignment

    “The deceased was resting after a football match between the various batches of the scheme, suddenly he just collapsed and died,” Abubakar said.

    “His remains were brought to the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto and it was confirmed that he died of heart failure.”

    Abubakar also said 10 corps members had their service year extended by between three months to one year, for absconding.

    However, 10 corps members were given state merit awards, while four others received the Chairman’s commendation certificate.

    He added that 85 other corps members were given commendation letters for outstanding performance.

    Abubakar advised the outgoing corps members to continue to be good ambassadors of the service.

     

  • Sokoto Assembly approves N2bn loan for UBE, agric, environment

    The Sokoto State House of Assembly has approved the state government’s request to obtain a loan of over N2.07 billion from Zenith Bank.

    Part of the money would be used as counterpart fund for the Universal Basic Education(UBE).

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this followed the adoption of a motion moved by the Assembly’s Leader, Alhaji Garba Bello (APC- Yabo).

    NAN also reports that the motion followed a letter from Gov. Aminu Tambuwal which was presented to the floor of the Assembly on Thursday by the Speaker, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji.

    It read: “I am pleased to inform the state Assembly that Zenith Bank Nigeria Plc has offered the state government a term loan facility of N1,042,027,027.02.

    “This is to enable the payment of counterpart funding for the state universal basic education, 2016.

    “The facility attracts an interest rate of 19.5 per cent, one per cent management fee, one per cent commitment fee.

    “Repayment would be done through an Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) at N 96,278,477.30, per month for a duration of 12 months”.

    The letter also indicated that the bank had also offered a term loan of N1,033,044,900.00 to enable the payment of counterpart funding for Nigeria Erosion and Water Shed Management project.

    “Moreover, the facility attracts an interest rate of 19 per cent, one per cent management fee, one per cent commitment fee and repayment through ISPO at N52,074,364.92 per month for a duration of 24 months,” it said.

    The letter said that the government was seeking the Assembly’s consideration of the offer to enable it benefit from the facility so as to access the counterpart funding projects.

    Bello said that the facilities would enable the government to improve the standard of education and agricultural development for the overall development of the state.

    After the members unanimously accepted the motion, the Speaker said: “the Assembly will allow the state government to obtain the required loan facility to enable the payment of the counterpart funding”.

     

  • Sokoto earmarks N4.44bn for water projects

    Sokoto earmarks N4.44bn for water projects

    The Sokoto State Government says it will expend N4.44 billion for the construction of 251 Solar-powered water projects across the 23 local government areas of the state.

    The Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Sa’idu Umar, made the disclosure in Sokoto while addressing journalists on the outcome of the state executive council meeting.

    The commissioner said that the projects would ensure provision of adequate potable water for human consumption and livestock in the state.

    Contributing, the state Commissioner for Animal Health, Alhaji Tukur Alkali, also disclosed that the council approved over N336 million for the rehabilitation of the defective irrigation facilities in Rabah Local Government Area of the state.

    Alkali said that the state government’s effort would boost food production, curb unemployment and poverty in the state.

    He further disclosed that the council had approved over N 326 million for the construction of a new library complex at the Sokoto State University.

     

  • Principal laments abandonment of N370m contract in Sokoto

    Principal laments abandonment of N370m contract in Sokoto

    Hajiya Fatima Magaji, the Principal of Gamji Girls College, Rabah, in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State, has decried the abandonment of the N370 million contract for the school’s rehabilitation.

    Magaji spoke in Rabah on Tuesday with newsmen, who were on a monitoring tour of projects being undertaken by the State Government.

    According to her, “the contract was awarded by the State Government in July 2017.

    “However, the contractor had abandoned the site since February 2017.

    “The contract entailed the total rehabilitation of the school and the gesture of the government in this direction is highly commendable.

    “We are, however, calling on the State Government to prevail on the contractor to return to the site.”

    Reacting, the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Jabbi Kilgori, said that the State Government was not aware of the development.

    The ministry would, however, investigate the matter and prevail on the contractor to remobilise him back to site,” Kilgori promised.

  • Buhari condoles with meningitis victims in Sokoto

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the families of the victims of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) in Sokoto State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the disease has claimed about 328 lives in 16 states of the federation in the last four months.

    Fourteen states are severely affected in the Northern region with two states in the South.

    No fewer than 41 live have been confirmed lost to the epidemic in Sokoto between November 2016 and March ending, this year.

    This was made known on Monday by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of the state when he led a team on a condolence visit to areas affected by the outbreak at Danchadi village and surrounding areas in Bodinga Local Government Area of the state.

    “From the latest casualty figures from Sokoto state, up to 41 people were known to have died.

    “Our leader and President, Muhammadu Buhari, has asked me to condole with all of you over the outbreak of the disease in your localities.

    “He has also asked me to tell you that everything is being done to contain the outbreak and ensure it does not occur again.

    “Health officials have been deployed to affected areas and they have been working round the clock to ensure your safety.

    “We urge you to follow their instructions and at the same time cooperate with them as we tackle this challenge,” the governor said.

    According to Tambuwal, more than 700,000 people will be immunised by the state government against the Type ”C” strain of the virus in the 23 local government areas of the state.

    He said: “Immunisation of children against child-killer diseases like measles, yellow fever and others are being intensified.

    “This is even as officials from affected states are comparing notes to ensure coordinated efforts across borders.”

    The governor also commended officials of the Federal and State Ministries of Health as well as development partners, for their various efforts in tackling the challenge.

     

  • Meningitis: Death toll rises to 23 in Sokoto – Commissioner

    The death toll as a result of the meningitis epidemic in Sokoto State has now risen to 23, the News Agency of Nigeria( NAN) reports.

    The State Health Commissioner, Dr Balarabe Kakale, confirmed the meningitis-related deaths on Monday in Dange town, headquarters of Dange/Shuni Local Government of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria( NAN) reports that Kakale disclosed in continuation of the ongoing sensitization campaigns across the state.

    Kakale gave an update on the state of high alert declared on the health sector by the Ministry since on March 20.

    He stated that the deaths were recorded in the seven worst hit local governments areas  of Kebbe, Bodinga, Rabah, Wamakko, Gada, Dange/Shuni and Tureta.

    Kakale said: “the state government had since on March 20, deployed no fewer than 15 medical teams, comprising more than 150 medical personnel.

    “They were deployed across the 23 local governments of the state, fully equipped with ambulances and provided with  drugs, as well as medicament.

    “The emergency response teams are conducting house to house cases search, definition and management, both at home and the hospitals.

    “They have so far treated no fewer than 400 mixed cases of severe malaria and meningitis across the seven top-hit local governments.

    “Out of the 400 cases, 56 were confirmed in the laboratories to be cases of meningitis, out of which additional fatalities were recorded.”

    Kakale further noted that thousands of other cases were treated at the Primary Health Centres in the state.

    The commissioner further disclosed that the state government was contemplating closing some public and private schools, if the problem persisted

    “We are hereby again intimating the people of the state that the cases of meningitis should not be linked to witchcraft or sorcery.

    “Rather, all suspected cases should be reported to the hospitals as the state government had stocked adequate drugs and medicament for the free treatment of the patients.”

    Also speaking, the Chairman of Dange/Shuni local government, Alhaji Mode Dan-Tasallah, commended the sate government for swiftly swinging into action to control the epidemic.

    “In our own case we have also purchased additional drugs as well as deployed more health personnel and logistics, to complement the efforts of the state government,” he added.

  • Councillor donates drugs worth N2m to constituents

    A councillor in Tambuwal Local Government Council of Sokoto State, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim ( APC- Faga/Alasan), has donated assorted drugs worth over N2million to his constituents.

    The drugs which were handed over to the various communities on Monday included anti-malarial, anti-biotics, among others.

    Ibrahim said that “the gesture was aimed at complementing the efforts of the federal and state governments.

    “The drugs would be distributed free to the residents of the various communities in the ward, especially women and children.

    “I am therefore appealing for the judicious use of the drugs and I intend to sustain the tempo.

    “As it is always said, health is wealth, and it is only a healthy society that can be productive.”

    Alhaji Zaki Bashire, Chairman of the area who responded, commended the councillor for the gesture, saying that it came at the right time.

    Bashire,who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Bello Jabo, urged other lawmakers to emulate Ibrahim.

    The District Head of Tambuwal, Alhaji Muhammadu Mainasara, also lauded the councillor for the gesture.