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Tag: SOKOTO

  • Sokoto to build 1,000 tube wells to tackle drought

    Sokoto to build 1,000 tube wells to tackle drought

    The Sokoto State government has said it will build 1,000 tube wells to provide enough water to farm lands for the 2018 irrigation season. Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, at the weekend, said: “The water levels in our dams are very low and will not be enough to serve farmers for the dry season farming. To overcome that challenge, experts suggested we seek for alternative ways of watering our farms.

    “In that regard, we decided to build 1,000 tube wells across the state. This effort will help us meet our target for the 2018 cropping season.”

    Tambuwal added that the government has procured five supper tiller machines, 50 tomato grinding machines, 40 rice hand-held harvesters and five mini tractors, at N64 million, to support farming activities in the state.

  • Customs intercepts smuggled Tramadol drugs worth N4.6m in Sokoto

    Customs intercepts smuggled Tramadol drugs worth N4.6m in Sokoto

    The Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ) has intercepted 465 packets of smuggled tramadol drugs worth N4.6 million on Sokoto-Illea road in Sokoto state.

    Mr Nasir Ahmad, the Comptroller of Customs in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara Command, told newsmen on Thursday in Sokoto, that the consignment were apprehended in three bales and one person was arrested during the raid.

    Ahmad, who handed the items to officials of National Food, Drugs Administration and Control, Sokoto state office, added that each packet consists of ten sachets which was valued at N1000 per sachet.

    He said the drug was being regulated by the authorities due it wide abuse as intoxicant.

    Ahmad said it was sad that some people engage in smuggling the dangerous drug that has destroyed the lives of many in the country.

    “Smugglers conceal it in various forms to perpetrate their illegal businesses. Smuggling such regulated drugs contribute to the rising criminal activities in the country.

    “I want to appeal to the people, especially residents of border communities to assist law enforcement agents with useful information on smuggler movements.

    “Customs is committed on ensuring a smuggle-free society. Smuggling cripples the nation’s economy and subjects peoples’ lives to various forms of danger,’’ he said.

    He recalled that in 2017, the command apprehended high quantity of Marijuana and drugs which were also handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

    NAN

  • Sokoto to assist school for kids orphaned by Boko Haram

    Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has promised to assist a school founded by a Sokoto philanthropist, Alhaji Umarun Kwabo, to cater for over 150 children orphaned by Boko Haram.

    The school is expected to provide shelter, clothing and basic Islamic and Western education to the children in Sokoto, away from Northeast region, the conflict area.

    “This gesture is not only commendable, but worthy of emulation by all persons. Seeing these children happy is both touching and encouraging. In my personal capacity and as government, we will render our assistance to ensure that the children are comfortable,” Tambuwal was quoted as saying via a statement issued by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, in Sokoto.

    Speaking further when he visited the school’s boarding facility for the children, Tambuwal directed officials from the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare Development to constantly monitor the children’s progress and ensure they are comfortable at all times.

    “These are our children. The unfortunate incidence that brought them here notwithstanding, we will step in and act as all parents should. They are home in  Sokoto and it’s our collective responsibilities to cater for their needs,” he added.

    Conducting the Governor round the premises, Kwabo said he was touched by the plight of the children and decided to assist to ensure a future for them.

    He said some of them were as young as three years, adding that they spoke only their mother tongue.

    “So we took extra effort to recruit teachers who speak such languages to make their stay here as comfortable as possible,” he added.

  • Tackling low self-esteem

    Tackling low self-esteem

    A women group at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) has held an interactive session with female students to tackle low-self esteem and close interaction gap between teachers and students. SHUKURAT HAMZAT and SELIMOT AMUZAT (300-Level Biology) report.

    How to help womwn tackle low self-esteem was the focus of an interactive seminar held by members of the Female Staff Association of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) for female students.

    The seminar, with the theme: What it takes to be a successful female student, held in the school’s Multipurpose Hall II, was aimed at fostering a cordial lecturer-student relationship and closing interaction gap between teachers and students.

    A senior lecturer at the Department of Adult Education and Extension Service, Dr Asiya Bagudo, who initiated the seminar, said the programme sought to build confidence in female students to enable them approach their lecturers and share their challenges.

    In her opening remark, the chairperson of the event, Dr Constance Shehu, said the association was established last year to help women achieve their academic and professional potential. She said the seminar had the purpose to create interaction between female students and members of the association to share ideas on how they could solve common challenges.

    Dr Shehu said: “We noticed that there is a wide gap between us and female students. This gap is largely created by fears among students to approach us. Some of you have the feeling that lecturers are not approachable and this seminar is aimed at creating avenue for engagement between us.”

    Prof Aysha Madawaki, a member of the association, said the interaction between lecturers and students should go beyond the classroom, noting that lecturers have the duty to ensure that their students are psychologically balanced.

    She said: “It is not enough to come to the classroom and teach. As lecturers, we need to engage our students to ensure that they are psychologically prepared for the future. As female students, you should add extra effort to every of your set goals and share your challenges with us. Beyond good character and following the school rules, you need to have clear-cut ambition to contribute meaningfully to the development of our society.”

    While addressing the students, Prof Asabe of the Faculty of Arts and Islamic Studies advised them to remain focused and remember their purpose of being in the school. She urged participants to always engage in extra-curricular activities.

    “With proper planning, focus and seriousness, you can combine education with marital life,” Prof Asabe told the students, some of who expressed regrets over combining schooling with homemaking.

    Dr Maryam Abubakar Koko advised the students to be creative and focus on their primary aims in the school.

    She said: “You have to create passion for entrepreneurship, because it will give you financial freedom. As a married woman, I never allow my business to divert my attention away from studies. I still want to attain higher level in my profession. You must have this ambition too.”

    Participants praised the organisers, but listed some of the challenges facing female students.

    A student, Ayisha Ahmad, urged the women association to liaise with the school management on behalf of student-mothers to provide a daycare in the school to enable them bring their babies to school.

    She also mulled the idea of a female students’ body to champion the cause of women facing victimisation and harassment.

    Responding, Dr Bagudo said protecting female students from harassment and victimisation was part of the reasons the seminar was held.

    She said: “We knew there are a lot of things going on in the school, which students did not want to share with us because of fear. There are a lot of challenges, which put our ladies in discomfort. Our girls are getting carried away and they don’t know how to face their life challenges or who to turn to for advice. As adults with more experience, we need to guide you through and champion your cause.”

    Dr Bagudo advised students to be free in sharing their challenges with female lecturers. She promised that the association would act on the students’ observations.

    A mother of seven and lecturer, Dr Maryam Koko, said the platform would give female students a voice to be part of the school development. She urged the participants to be focused on their studies, while sharing her person experience.

    She said: “I was a mother while I was a student. Initially, I found it challenging as a woman, but I didn’t allow challenges to weigh me down. Combining motherhood with education can be tough, but it should not be seen as limitations to pursing our academic goals. A challenge can serve as a boost or push to attaining success.”

    Dr Shehu, who is a consultant gynaecologist at the Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), said the association would be a platform for mentoring female students towards achieving their potential.

    A participant, Faith Onyebuche, a 400-Level Biological Science student, said: “I had thought the seminar would be boring, but it turned out to be a programme where questions that had disturbed my mind were answered.”

  • VVF: A reporter’s experience in Sokoto

    VVF: A reporter’s experience in Sokoto

    From Sokoto, JAMEELAH YUSUF reports on the horrors of vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF).

    It is the sprawling Maryam Abacha Women and Children’s Hospital that most women in Sokoto State living with vesico-vaginal fistula or VVF visit for remedies. The government-owned facility is located at Diori Hammani Road, Sokoto, the state capital.

    The hospital consists of two buildings, one the administrative block, the other the wards.

    A walk into the hospital on a hot Friday afternoon opened my eyes to a whole different world. It is a hospital with specialists on various gynaecological fields. The most famous for which it is known is the vesico-vaginal fistula disease.

    Wikipedia defines vesico-vaginal fistula as an abnormal fistulous tract extending between the bladder and vagina, resulting in continuous voluntary release of urine into the vaginal vault.

    The sight of young and older women with a bowl in hand, and a tiny pipe channeling liquid from beneath their wrapper into the bowls is one you cannot be oblivious to.

    The hospital has on admission, an average of 40 women of different age range that are mostly from various rural settlements in the state capital and its environs. Most of these women are awaiting surgery or have just been operated on.

    Hauwa, a 20-year-old lady revealed that she had just had her fourth operation in four years. She got married at 13, and had a baby she lost at 16. She got VVF as a result of childbirth. Since then, she kept returning to the Maryam Abacha Hospital, as the operated place opens up after a while.

    Hauwa said her father brought her to the hospital as her husband works in faraway Ibadan and only returns home after a year.  So, she is in the hospital all by herself. She would return to her father’s house once the catheter is removed.

    When asked if she plans to have a baby anytime soon, she said she hadn’t thought about that yet. Her major concern is to get her health back.

    Another patient, Kulluwa, 33, who had just been operated, after trying to deliver her seventh child at home.

    “It was difficult to get the child’s head out and when it finally came out, she was a lifeless baby,” said Kulluwa’s mother who was with her in the hospital. They noticed she was passing urine involuntarily and brought her to the hospital.

    A nurse at the hospital, Zainab Ahmad explained that they do not have a very accurate record of the age of the patients as most of them do not know their exact age.

    Mrs Zainab explained that contrary to popular belief, early marriage is not the only cause of the vescovaginal fistula disease as they have patients who are of age.  She said, “Apart from early marriage, some people have this disease as a result of prolonged labour and some other ones have pelvis that are too small to carry the weight of their babies. Another identified cause among women is numerous childbirths. Some of these women have given birth to over 12 children.”

    “The rate at which patients are brought here has reduced significantly as there is more awareness at the grassroots level.

    “Once admitted admitted, patients have the catheter fixed on them. It is taken off after four weeks, and then they have the surgery if there is the need for it. Some patients have this surgery more than four times while some others have it just once and they get cured.

    “Ideally, once the patients get their surgery done, we discharge them as soon as they are fit and schedule a checkup appointment for them after every two months for six months. After six months, if they are no longer dripping urine, we place them on a family planning package that ensures they do not give birth, after a year, we take it off and they can have their babies successfully. We however advise them strongly to come to the hospital when they are almost due. If they try to give birth at home by themselves, they would get the VVF disease once again.”

    “Most of the patients on admission are either victims of early marriages or prolonged labour. They live in small villages that are far away from the hospital. The hospital is a place of last resort for them as most of them attempt to deliver at home and only resort to the hospital when complications occur. Most times, it is already too late as they have to cover a distance of an hour or more to get there.”

    One very impressive thing you would notice about the VVF patients of the Mariam Abacha hospital is the spirit of sisterhood they share. These patients are mostly from villages far apart, united by the same predicament.

    In the evenings, they are mostly found in the hospitals courtyard with the bowl that collects the urine from their catheter lying close to them while they weave hand fans from straws or do other things.

    The atmosphere isn’t as gloomy as one would imagine as these women seem to have accepted their fate and are doing a good job at staying happy and living in the moment.

    One would think that with the amount of aid Nigeria receives from numerous international organisations especially for health, funding would not be a problem.

    I met a number of patients who haven’t been operated and have only had one dosage of their required drugs in over four weeks of their admission. When asked why they haven’t been given more drugs, I was made to understand that there are no more drugs.

    The hospital is impressively maintained but the welfare of the patients could make use of more attention. The bureaucracy in the administration of most sectors in Nigeria, including the health sector, is the major reason why funds given as aids do not get to the intended recipients as it was given by the organisation. Hospitals like the Maryam abacha clinic have special needs that should be attended to as a matter of priority by the state Government.

     

    • Yusuf is a 500-level law student of the Uthman Danfodio University Sokoto, and contributor to our Campus Life

     

  • Foundation inaugurates pedestrian bridge in Sokoto

    The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Foundation yesterday inaugurated a pedestrian bridge at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.

    Inaugurating the bridge, the Group Managing Director of UBA, Mr Kennedy Uzoka, said the construction of the bridge was part of the bank’s efforts to give back to the society.

    Uzoka also said the bank deemed it necessary to construct the bridge, to cushion the suffering of the students of the institution.

    “Today’s event is very symbolic. We believe in the society we operate in and this gesture is part of efforts of the UBA Foundation to give back to the society.

    “I strongly believe that with this bridge, students can move freely and will not have to go a long distance to reach their hostels.

    ‘’So, this saves time and will enable them to study harder,” he said.

    He said the Foundation gave priority to education through scholarship to Nigerian students; improve environment and empowered many people with a view to impacting on the society.

    According to Uzoka, UBA is creating a new narrative for Africa capable of making Africans run organisations that can stand the test of time for over 100 years.

    In his remarks, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba lauded the UBA Foundation for the gesture.

    He called on other banks operating in the state to emulate the footstep of the bank by giving back to the society.

    “We need more of these interventions to public universities in order to improve teaching and learning.

    ‘’I really commend Tony Elumelu and the Group Managing Director for coming to the aid of the students,” the governor said

    Tambuwal, therefore, renamed the bridge ‘Tony Elumelu UBA Pedestrian Bridge’.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, described the construction of the pedestrian bridge as unprecedented.

    He said it would go a long way in taking care of the challenges facing the students.

     

     

     

  • Tambuwal appoints three new Perm Secs

    Tambuwal appoints three new Perm Secs

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto on Friday approved the appointment of three new permanent secretaries in the state’s civil service.

    This development followed the appointment of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Alhaji Bello Ambarura, as commissioner and the recent vacuum created due to retirement of some permanent secretaries from service.

    A statement by the governor’s spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, said all the appointees are qualified senior officers, who possess wealth of experience and discipline required to hold senior positions in the civil service.

    According to Imam, the officers appointed as permanent secretaries include Alhaji Dadi Adare, Alhaji Haruna Ahmad and Alhaji Muhammad Audu.

    Imam added that Tambuwal had approved the appointment of Alhaji Kasimu Yabo as the Managing Director, Sokoto Environmental Protection Agency.

    He said: “This followed the subsequent appointment of the Managing Director, Alhaji Ahmad Ibrahim as Director-General, deployed to Sokoto Central Market.”

    He added that until his appointment, Yabo served as the Director, Environmental Conservation of the Agency.

    NAN

  • Sokoto and monster of water scarcity

    SIR: Water is much more than just a basic human need. It is an essential, irreplaceable element to ensuring the continuance of life. It is intrinsically linked to fundamental human rights such as the right to life, to food and to health. Access to clean drinking water as described by the United Nations General Assembly is a necessity and a basic human right.

    Sokoto is richly blessed with abundant water resources but largely untapped. In spite of the abundant resources, both the state and local governments have failed to successfully harness these resources to ensure a sustainable and equitable access to safe, adequate, improved and affordable water supply to the common man. Many people living in the state particularly in the rural communities are currently facing enormous hardship because water supplies are neither sufficient nor safe. For several people living in state, water scarcity is rapidly becoming an issue crucial for life and, in the broad sense of the concept, a right to life issue.

    In the absence of water from piped supplies and protected wells, millions of people living in the state are forced to consume what is available – unhygienic and contaminated waters largely from local vendors, wells, streams and ponds, thus directly endangering the social well-being of the people and giving life to several forms of waterborne diseases as well as adding another burden on the state public health service since water remains one of the major primary drivers of public health.

    While the state capital city is facing a decline in supply, the rural areas are even not in the picture. The state government is giving less or no priority to rural water supply; local government councils often do not have the funds to make necessary improvements and hence compelled to use short-term solutions which cannot be maintained by the communities who need them.

    The gospel truth is that the water infrastructure currently available in Sokoto State is suffering from severe neglect. Successive regimes did very little in this regard while the present administration has totally failed to maintain the existing infrastructure not to mention of establishing new ones. In essence, Sokoto state today neither has a standard water plan nor policy despite the huge resources allocated to the sector annually. Billions enough to provide adequate drinking water for the entire North-West region have been spent so far on the state water sector since the return of democracy in 1999, yet, the problem continue to escalate, forcing millions to live with the monster of water scarcity as their lifetime companion.

    What the foregoing denotes most eloquently is that the problem of water scarcity currently ravaging Sokoto state is a serious issue that must be tackled. Provision of standard water infrastructure, upgrading existing ones and proper water management is therefore perhaps the most important requirement for solving water scarcity in the state. More attention must be given to coordination and cooperation between all actors in the water industry at all levels.

    Public private partnership can also play an important role in providing access to clean drinking water, provided that the state government has the political will and stakeholders work together for a common goal: that of guaranteeing access to safe and clean drinking water for all. This does not undermine the role of the state in fostering the realization of the right to access to safe and clean drinking water.

     

    • Usama A. Dandare,

    Sokoto.

  • Sokoto FRSC introduces night patrols, other measures for safety to curb accidents – Hamzat

    Sokoto FRSC introduces night patrols, other measures for safety to curb accidents – Hamzat

    The Sokoto Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Cops (FRSC), Muhammad Hamzat Sani says the command has rejuvenated its operations by introducing night patrols and other monitoring measures to ensure safety and accident control on roads in the state.

    Speaking to a group of journalists Tuesday at the command’s headquarters in Sokoto, Mr Hamzat said the essence was to widen the scope of its operational strategies of curbing the rate of vehicular crashes and accident cases on both major highways linking the state with other places.

    According to him” we are also making good use of  support  by the special marshalls, NYSC and schools road and safety clubs and other voluntary organs and individuals especially in communities within the routes”, he said.

    Sani explained that the sector had also initiated a proactive drive through ‘Post Crash’ activities by visiting accident victims at hospitals and homes with a view to take advantage and sensitise their families on road safety and traffic rules and regulations.

    He noted that the agency which clocks 30 years of establishment has demonstrated high level commitment in its drive towards ensuring road traffic and safety laws were followed.

    Read Also:  Sokoto defunct CPC members cry marginalisation in state affairs

    “ It has introduced many measures of keeping abreast with happenings on major roads, curbing accidents including the single card driving licence now used across the world due to its authenticity and importance.”

    “We have volunteers especially along Sokoto-Gusau; Sokoto-Tambuwal and Sokoto-Illela who normally relay information to us about accidents, grid lock and road block on those roads. We send them recharge cards on monthly basis just to tidy our operation in the interest of the public we serve” , the Sector Commander explained.

    In the same vein, the Sector Commander said with the existing outposts across states of the federation, the agency has the operational capacity to cover, monitor and manage routine traffic and accident frequencies without much challenges, adding that” We have our Zebra centres and road side clinics for emergencies in the event of accidents.”

    Accordingly, Sani said the recent introduction of Speed Limiting Device(SLD) which compliance he explained was fast encouraging has attributed to the less cases of accidents in the state and country.

    “Prior to the establishment of the agency, little or nothing was done to regulate and check traffic as well as curbing accidents. Little or nothing about public enlightenment and education on road traffic and safety against accident.

    “We can now give prompt and rapid response attention  to victims of accidents, advise to government on condition of our roads and education of motorists on the rules and regulation of safety as well as the unification of vehicle registration as a special intervention introduced by the agency”‘ he explained.

    “We have always partner relevant stakeholders as the state government through the ministry of health, religious and traditional leaders, NURTW, Motorcyclists and Tricyclists Associations, Tipper, Luxurious buses and Tanker drivers union for campaigns as well as reaching out to markets, motor parks and other public places in the metropolis and communities”, he stated.

    He said the agency was committed to updating its personnel on modern techniques of operations through routine training and retraining to broaden their capacity to meet up with global operational standards.

  • Usmanu Danfodio varsity SUG task students on life after school

    Usmanu Danfodio varsity SUG task students on life after school

    The leadership of the Students’ Union of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto has thought it wise to feature its predecessors to discuss trending issues concerning students’ unionists and unionism in Nigeria.

    The event, which was held at the university auditorium, was themed: “Students’ Unionism and Life after School.”

    The program according the current union leader of the school, Idrees Maibasira was to “compare the past with the present to get better bright future of Students’ Unionism in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto.”

    Present at the event were past Students’ Union leaders of the school who were invited to make sincere juxtaposition of Students’ Unionism of the school between past and the present.

    In his opening remark, Vice Chancellor of the school, Prof Abdullahi Abduzuru said: “Today is a very special occasion and a remarkable initiative of the current SU administration. They have thought it wise to engage individuals who have experienced life both within and outside the campus, and will be speaking from firsthand experience.”

    As part of the plans to make deep prospects of “Students’ Unionism and Life after School”, nine vibrant past union leaders of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto formed a discussant panel and plenary. The panel was properly moderated by the duo of Suraju Sifawa, a veteran journalist in Sokoto and Ibrahim Dogondaji, the Director of Sokoto State Mobilization and Enlightenment Commission.

    On his part, Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, who was also once a union leader of the school in 1992, Prof Nasiru Yawuri, expressively compared Students’ Unionism of the past and the present. He outspoke his mind disappointedly over what the union has grown to become over the years.

    “The Students’ Union, unlike what we left behind, has depleted in morality. It has become a platform for display of money and affluence. And, students’ unionists of nowadays have become errand boys to politicians,” he lamented. He added that “there is no reason why Students’ Union leadership should get intimidated by the management.”

    While encouraging students to be courageous and radical when it comes fighting to protest the right interests of students, he moaned emotionally, saying “during our time, we stood our ground alongside the management over students’ welfare, unlike today when money is the priority of most students.”

    He however advised students to embrace good moral character in order to get to their promised lands.

    Bashir Umar, who was the Students’ Union President in 2011 hailed the speech of Prof Nasiru, he said: “Before success, there must be struggle.”

    Dr. Shadi Sabeh, the two-time consecutive president of Students’ Union of the school in 2002 and 2003 respectively, who is now a successful lecturer and entrepreneurer spoke to the students on the need to embrace entrepreneurship.

    “It is true that year-in-year-out, tertiary institutions dose out graduates. However, we don’t have a corresponding increase in job creation. Therefore, you should not see bagging a degree as a guarantee to getting employed. Add value to yourself by building your capacity. Think of creating jobs and not taking jobs. Humility is also a vital key to making money. Believe me, If jobs are what you’re looking for, they do not exist,” he urged.

    Also, Mansur Ngaski, the current assistant manager of Zenith Bank, Sokoto, who was also  a union leader in 2004 remarked on the need for students to diversify as the Nigerian economy diversifies. “There are a lot of opportunities in such a developing economy like Nigeria’s. But there are too much wastages, particularly among the youths. So, as the government provides enabling atmosphere for businesses to thrive, we as youths must also manage our resources, reduce our spending and be financially disciplined.”

    Amina Abdulazeez, a one-time female union leader in 2013 admonished students on the need to be productive and creative. Innovation, she said is what is called ideal entrepreneural skill.

    In her words she said: “There are one hundred and one jobs for whoever is ready to innovate. Despite my second class upper, B.sc degree in political science, my skill in photography made me who I am today.”

    Speaking on the importance of entrepreneurship, Alhaji Mahmud Sani, the 1993 union leader of the school and now a politician, also emphasised that “If you retire as a civil servant, you’re going to die a poor man.”

    CSP Suleiman Gulma, the 1992 SU president, then described the panacea to the recessed Nigerian economy as “active involvement of all stakeholders and continuity in policy implementation.” Youths involvement in entrepreneurship,  he said would save the country from economic quargmire.

    Dean of students affairs, Prof Adamu Aliero hailed the efforts of the Students’ Union for organising such a positive thought-provoking event.

    The event, he described as an eye-opener for students.

    He however advised the students to have respect for age.  Experiences of the elders, he said should not be over-looked by any student who wants to excel in life.