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Tag: SOKOTO

  • Sokoto distributes 22 boats to enhance transportation

    Sokoto distributes 22 boats to enhance transportation

    Sokoto State Government has provided 22 boats to enhance inland water transportation in the state, an official said on Tuesday.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Dingyadi, Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto, that the initiative was also ensure safety on the water ways.

    He said: “It was part of efforts of the government on disaster management and to safeguard people’s lives.

    “A case of boat mishap occurred last year at Gandi community in Raba Local Government Area where a girl died while traders were being transported to a nearby market.

    “Governor Aminu Tambuwal responded promptly in buying 22 boats and distributed them to communities using water transportation to get to various destinations.

    “The gesture is to forestall future occurrence and safeguard people’s lives; it was well appreciated by the communities.’’

    NAN reports that eight of the boats were released to Goronyo, four to Silame and 10 to Raba local council.

    The D-G explained that the agency has embarked on massive public enlightenment on disaster prevention, control and management to reduce the rate of disasters in the state.

    Dingyadi recalled that the government had in 2017 set up a high-powered disaster response committee headed by the State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu.

    According to him, the committee had helped in mobilising residents to respond to environmental issues and facilitated the recruitment of 550 environmental sanitation workers in Sokoto metropolis.

    The D-G said the agency is working closely with the State and Federal Fire Services, NEMA, Red Cross Society, religious groups and Non Government Organizations and agencies involved in disaster management.

    He urged the people to support government policies on environmental management and report any unforeseen circumstances for quick intervention.

  • Sokoto moves against fire outbreaks

    Sokoto moves against fire outbreaks

    Sokoto city needs help. No thanks to incessant fire outbreak. No fewer than four cases are recorded daily in the metropolis. This has raised concerns among residents. Last year, there were 481 outbreaks recorded in the state. Eleven people died. Properties worth N2.6 billion were lost.

    Commissioner for Home Affairs Alhaji Sadeeq Isah Achida and the Director-General, Sokoto Fire Service Department, Allhaji Murtala Muhammad, said plans were on top gear to embark on extensive public enlightenment campaign to tackle the menace.

    The Fire Service Department boss said the campaign was necessary considering the increase in the cases of fire outbreak in the state. Muhammad said the campaign would be in the 23 local government areas of the state. This, according to him, was to complement the state government’s efforts.

    He said the government had provided 17 fire fighting engines, several water tanks and two additional water centres, among others.

    He said the Aminu Tambuwal administration had approved the establishment of additional eight fire service stations with manpower and equipment, adding “currently there are four functional fire fighting stations in Gwadabawa,Wurno,Tambuwal and Bodinga.”

    Muhammad added that plans were on to repair all broken down fire engines and water tankers across the 23 local government areas.

    He called on the people, especially mothers, to always put off electrical appliances after use to avoid fire outbreak, assuring that the Department would continue to promptly react to fire outbreaks.

    He also said in its efforts to improve the capacity of the fire fighting personnel, employees were trained in Kano and Abuja.

  • Lawmaker empowers 350 youths with N7m in Sokoto

    A member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Abdussamad Dasuki (APC- Sokoto), representing Tambuwal and Kebbe Federal Constituency on Sunday disbursed N7 million to 350 unemployed youths.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the disbursement was flagged-off under the empowerment programme of the lawmaker in Jabo town of Tambuwal local government area.

    Speaking at the occasion, Dasuki said the gesture was part of his efforts to empower the unemployed youths to enable them establish small scale businesses for self-reliance.

    He said, “it is based on that today we are selecting 350 youths as a pilot programme in order to support each with N20,000 to become self-reliant.

    “Our aim is to support the unemployed youths and create jobs and entrepreneurial activities will continue to be our priority.

    “So, we have been on all major tracks to ensure that we can help our people, most especially youths and women.

    “This is because supporting them is key to improving the living standard of the society,” Dasuki said.

    He called on youths to shun any kind of violence to ensure sustainable peace and unity for the overall development of the country.

    He further commended the people of his constituency for their continuous support towards ensuring the success of all his programmes.

    In his remarks, the District Head of Jabo, Alhaji Aliyu Garba commended the lawmaker for his contributions towards the development of the area and the society in general.

    He called on the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the money tp improve their living standard.

  • Nigeria must regain its pride in food exportation – Buhari

    Nigeria must regain its pride in food exportation – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja reiterated Federal Government’s determination to continually review and strengthen ongoing reforms in the agriculture sector “until Nigeria regains its pride of place as food exporting country.”

    The president said this when he received a delegation of All Progressives Congress ( APC ) from Kebbi, led by the state Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu in the Presidential Villa.

    He added that the country’s rice import bill had dropped significantly, noting, however, that “beyond self-sufficiency, Nigeria must strive to become net exporter of food commodities.

    “We are not doing badly in the agriculture sector: Nigerians and indeed the world, are beginning to appreciate our efforts. We will work harder until we start exporting food.

    “We are happy that rice and beans importation into the country have gone down by over 90 per cent, and everyone can see how productive states like Kebbi turned out to be and states like Lagos, Ogun and Ebonyi are following the example.”

    The President said Kaduna, Katsina, Kano and Sokoto states had already reported remarkable turn-around in the agriculture sector, with more youths taking interest in entrepreneurship.

    Buhari, who disagreed with the astronomical food import bill presented by the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN ) from the inception of the administration, pointed out that it was later discovered to be “fraudulent practices’’ by some elite to deplete the foreign reserves.

    He said “when I was told that the CBN had no savings after the windfall of selling oil for more than 100 dollars per barrel for many years and production was 2.1 billion barrels per day, I did not believe them.

    “I did not believe them because majority of Nigerians cannot afford imported food; they rely on what is locally grown. It turned out that 50 per cent of the export bills were fraudulent, courtesy of the Nigerian elite.

    “Unfortunately, we will not know all that happened because the elite worked in collusion with institutions in developed countries like insurance firms, shipping companies and other financial outfits, to perpetuate the fraud.”

    On security, President Buhari said the return of farmers to their farm lands in the North East, with glaring results of high yields, was a testimony to the relative peace that had been achieved.

    He assured that more would be done to check the mayhem of suicide attacks.

    The President said his administration would put in more effort to reposition the education and health sectors to compete with other global institutions.

    While introducing the delegation, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, commended government’s policies toward reviving the agriculture sector.

    The Kebbi Governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, said “the state government and the APC family was pleased with the performance of Federal Government in securing the country, reviving the economy and fighting corruption.”

    Bagudu and members of the delegation, which included former Governor of the state, Alhaji Usman Dakingari and other former PDP stalwarts, prayed for the quick recovery of the President’s son, Yusuf Buhari who was involved in a bike accident.

    NAN

  • Six filling stations shut in Sokoto, Kebbi

    Six filling stations shut in Sokoto, Kebbi

    The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has shut six filling stations in Sokoto and Kebbi states, for selling above the pump price of N145 per litre, alleged diversion, security issues, and operating in dirty environments.

    Acting Zonal Controller, Nura Kamba, who spoke yesterday, said four of the six stations were in Sokoto, while the others were in Kebbi.

    Five are owned by independent marketers, while one belong to a major firm.

    According to Kamba, the stations indicted for selling above N145 were fined N100,000 per pump, while those sealed for alleged diversion were reopened after being forced to sell to motorists.

    Kamba, who acknowledged a shortfall in supply, said only three trucks supplied Sokoto city daily, as against an average demand of 18 trucks.

    He promised that DPR officials will sustain the routine checks and raids to ensure motorists get value for their money.

  • Historical places to visit this christmas

    Historical places to visit this christmas

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  • US donates 2.9m bed nets to Sokoto

    US donates 2.9m bed nets to Sokoto

    The United States (US) government has donated 2.9 million bed nets for distribution in Sokoto State.

    The nets, which are worth N2.92 billion ($8.1million), will be distributed in all 23 local government areas of the state.

    The donation is done through the President’s Malaria Initiative.

    The US government also provided an additional $1.5 million for logistics, including transportation of the bed nets, community mobilization and training of workers to distribute the bed nets.

    These nets and support for the distribution, according to a statement by the US Embassy in Abuja, are a gift from the American people to the people of Sokoto State.

    ”Increasing access to health services – especially for the poor – is a sound and sustainable investment that can command great economic returns.  “This bed net distribution is significant in order to scale up access to malaria prevention within every household in Sokoto State.  Malaria is one of the leading killers of children and a leading cause of illnesses in Nigeria, particularly during the rainy season when the mosquito population increases.

    ”Sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net every night is the best way to prevent malaria.  Bed nets put a vital barrier between people and the mosquitoes that carry malaria, particularly during the hours from dusk to dawn.  Nightly use of insecticide treated bed nets prevents infections which in turn prevent the spread of malaria,” the statement further stated.

    The US government also stressed that “eliminating malaria in Sokoto State and throughout Nigeria as a whole is possible, if we all work together.”

    Since 2011, the US government has spent more than $420 million to control malaria in Nigeria. Over 50 per cent of US government funding for malaria goes into procuring and distributing insecticide treated bed nets, malaria diagnostic kits and malaria medicines.

    In addition, the US government supports advocacy and mobilization to encourage members of the community to sleep under the bed nets every night and trains health workers to test for malaria before treatment.

  • Pensioners urge Tambuwal to seek re-election in 2019

    Pensioners urge Tambuwal to seek re-election in 2019

    Members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners ( NUP ), Sokoto state chapter have urged the Governor of the state, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, to seek re-election in 2019.

    Alhaji Umaru Abubakar, the state Chairman of the union gave the advice on Monday in Sokoto while speaking with journalists during the 2017 pensioners’ day.

    He said the decision of the union was based on the fact that Tambuwal had been able to pay N4 billion accumulated and inherited gratuities and pensions to state and local government retirees in two years.

    Abubakar said the present administration in the state achieved the feat in spite its current financial crisis.

    Read also: Tambuwal commends FG on economic diversification

    He also said the union had resolved to purchase nomination form for the governor in appreciation of his efforts toward uplifting the living standard of pensioners in the state.

    “The regular payment of our entitlements and the payment of our arrears have made Sokoto one of the states that gives priority to the welfare of pensioners in the country.

    “The members of the union have resolved to ask Tambuwal to seek for a second term in view of his commitment to our welfare in Sokoto,’’ he said.

    The state chairman called on all well-meaning people of the state to support the state government to ensure its continuity beyond 2019.

    “This is because of the present administration’s outstanding achievements in the education and health sector.”

    NAN

  • Over 150 cases of abuse, others resolved in Sokoto

    Over 150 cases of abuse, others resolved in Sokoto

    Sokoto state government through the office of its  Special Adviser on Human Rights, NGOs and Donor Agencies has said it had amicably resolved over 150 matrimonial and child abuse human rights cases across the state.

    The cases  include 86 matrimonial and 68 child abuse cases as well as settlement of dowries since the creation of the office.

    Speaking at an interactive event with women in the state to mark the 2017 World Human Rights day, the Special Adviser, Dr Hafsat Buhari Galadima said the break through was in tune with the state government’s effort and commitment to protecting the rights and place of women in development process.

    According to her, the place of human rights in survival was all encompassing adding that” women deserve to be given the required protection as custodians of societal development.”

    She explained that the state government through her office was ready to sustain the tempo of according priority attention to less privileged women in the state.

    She further called on governments at all levels, agencies and other relevant bodies to demonstrate the spirit of collectivity and commitment for the development of women in the state and country through responsive synergy.

    ” The essence is to create and build the sense of belonging in the minds of our women by respecting their rights and those of the children who are most vulnerable.”

    Guest Speaker at the annual event marked at the famous Maigero open air theatre, Sokoto, Dr Larai Aliyu Tambuwal said the day was set a side by the United Nation with the aim of promoting as well protecting the rights of citizens globally irrespective of gendre.

    According to her, ” human beings have rights to various activities in their endeavours which should be protected as an exclusive aspect for their survival irrespective of gendre.

    ” Our priority is that of the woman and child who are mostly victims of abuse in so many respects in their course of survival.

    ” We are using this occasion to  further advocate and sensitise on the urgent need to respect the rights of the women ad children as well provide equal opportunity for them attain thier aspirations and create avenue for thier self actuisation through empowerment, healhtcare services and education aong others”, Dr Tambuwal said.

    In their separate remarks, the Wives of the state governor, Hajiya Mariya founder of NPDI Foundation and Hajiya Maryam Mairo Aminu Tambuwal through their respresentatives, Dr. Kulu Haruna and Hajiya Hadiza Tureta said were advocates of rights of women and children in the state.

    Dr Kulu said the Hajiya Maryam NPDI Foundation was established to extend the primary role and commitment to supporting and encouraging cooperation with relevant bodies in fostering the education of women and children with a view to shaping their quest for sound education and self reliance.

    ” The Foundation has impacted on the lives of many women and children in terms of providing healthcare services and empowerment items to boost their right to survival.”

    Also, Hajiya Tureta noted that right to women was right right to societal growth while stressing that Hajiya Mairo Aminu Tambuwal has distinguished her self in supporting the teeming women in the state.

    According to her, the woman and child factors were critical components in  driving the process of development in any society, thus, needed their rights protected.

    In the same vein, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Kulu Abdullahi Sifawa said the state government was in active collaboration wit various development agencies to promote and ensure women maternal and child health and empowerment were provided at the urban and rural levels.

    She said ” these aspects are primary rights that should not be denied them”, adding that” we are in working terms with NGOs and CSOs to encourage responsive synergy to protect the rights of women and children to basic needs of life as citizens.

    ” Sokoto state is at the front row on women and child rights promotion”, Sifawa added.

    However, drama presentation on the rights of women and children by a cultural troupe was the highlight of the annual event attended by top women politicians and NGOs representatives which included Hajiya Ubaida Muhammad Bello an advocacy specialist among others.

  • Restructuring: Northern senators, governors to meet in Katsina

    Restructuring: Northern senators, governors to meet in Katsina

    The Northern Senators’ Forum and the 19 Northern governors would on Monday converge in Katsina for a three-day retreat to deliberate on the agitations for restructuring of the country.

    Chairman of the forum, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, said in Abuja that the retreat would also focus on how to improve the security situation in the country.

    Adamu said that the Forum had written letters of invitation to the 19 governors, leading traditional rulers, top politicians and ex-senators from the region to make presentations at the retreat.

    He said that the gathering would enable the senators, as the peoples’ representatives, to take a common position on restructuring.

    “Northern governors will be attending in solidarity and very eminent traditional rulers, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, will attend.

    Read also: Masari presents N211.4bn appropriation for Katsina

    “Essentially, we will be discussing the impact of budget in the north, the issue of restructuring which is now the main issue in politics.

    “The issue of restructuring that the Senate can develop a position on. It is part of preparing ourselves to face that challenge.

    “The issue of security will also be discussed,” Adamu said.

    He pointed out that as representatives of the people, it would be expected that with the retreat, they would be better educated, better placed to consider issues related to the subject-matter.

    “We will be better prepared to face the matter and legislate and make laws over them for the good governance of Nigeria.

    “We believe we are there to educate ourselves to be better informed, to exchange ideas on the subject matter, because we make laws, we don’t make laws out of ignorance.

    “We have to be better informed on anything we are talking about,” Adamu said.

    He explained that meeting in Katsina was not necessarily because of the economic impact it would have on the city and state or how it would energise Nigeria’s politics, “but for some sort of our presence will make’’.

    “There hasn’t been this retreat over time. We are trying to bring back the culture.

    “It makes us have touch with our bases; people who elected us and feel our pulse, we will relate with them in a better way,” he said.

    NAN