The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SOKOTO

  • Customs seize N30m contraband in Sokoto, Kebbi

    Customs seize N30m contraband in Sokoto, Kebbi

    The Federal Operation Unit ( FOU ) Zone `B’ of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has seized second hand clothes, rice, cooking oil and vehicles worth N30 million in the last six months at borders across Sokoto and Kebbi states.

    The Federal Controller, Mr Usman Dakingari, told newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday that the items were seized from April and the unit had strategies to address smuggling in all axis, including porous borders.

    Dakingari said smuggling of banned items remained customs challenge in the 11 states under the zone and urged border communities to assist customs with useful information as smuggling deprived Nigeria of economic progress.

    “The Federal Government intensifies efforts on reviving cotton, rice and soya beans cultivation to enhance indigenous textiles, rice and cooking oil processing factories.

    “The efforts will provide employment and general income to government to execute needed projects, but smuggling activities cripple the system’’ Dakingari said.

    He said that such smuggled products constituted health hazard, stressing that customs officers and men were being motivated to ensure that they lived up to expectation.

    The controller expressed the unit’s commitment to its primary duty of anti-smuggling in all forms.

    NAN

  • Commissioner: no room for quacks in Sokoto labs

    Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Dr Balarabe Shehu Kakale has said there is no room for quackery in the medical laboratories in the state.

    He urged the management of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) to join hands with his Ministry to eradicate the menace in the state.

    Kakale spoke when he received  the MLSCN Acting Registrar, Mr Tosan Erhabor.

    He said Governor Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, quackery would no longer be tolerated in medical laboratory facilities because of its harmful effect on the people.

    According to him, B.Sc and HND holders or others with similar qualifications should not be working in the medical labs as they had not been trained to do so.

    “We cannot condone quackery. If you are not a professional, trained specifically to work in the medical laboratory, but you decide to go and work there, that could also be suicidal considering that you might not know how to handle certain specimens that you may be exposed to. Therefore, you could easily be infected.”

    The Commissioner recalled that a directive had been issued to the Ministry of Higher Education to stop posting polytechnic students to medical laboratories for Industrial Attachment.

    While pledging support for the Council’s efforts to stamp out quackery and ensure that medical laboratories performed up to expectation, Kakale also enjoined the MLSCN to help his Ministry advocate more funding for the health sector, particularly at the Federal Government level as the budgetary allocation to the sector had not achieved much.

    “We have to work together, as no single person or group can do it alone.

    ‘’The Federal allocation to the health sector is a problem. Also, there are existing laws that have not been effectively implemented, including the National Health Act which, if fully implemented, could positively impact medical laboratory services,” he said.

    The MLSCN boss explained that the courtesy visit was in furtherance of the cordial relationship between the Council and the Sokoto State Government, especially the Ministry of Health. He urged the state to work with the Council towards eradicating quackery which he described as the most virulent cankerworm militating against progress in the medical laboratory services sector in the country.

    “Suffice it to say that the activities of quacks have continued to put the lives of our citizens at risk, in addition to creating crisis of confidence for which citizens with the wherewithal prefer to travel to other climes in search of perceived quality diagnosis.

    ‘’Quackery is not only when a trader or carpenter pretends to be a doctor or a medical lab scientist. Anyone that is working in a field, pretending to have the requisite training and experience, which they don’t actually possess, is, indeed, a quack! Thus, there should be no room for BSc. HND and ND holders; including Corps members in any medical laboratory in this state, even for the purpose of internship, when there are qualified Medical Lab Scientists, Technicians and Assistants available for such duties,” he said.

    While expressing the Council’s readiness to collaborate with the state to sanitise medical laboratories there, Erhabor advised the Ministry to ensure that tertiary health facilities in the state commenced the process of getting their laboratories accredited as soon as possible in addition to keying into the Council’s External Quality Assurance (EQA) scheme.

    “These schemes,” he noted, “were established to ensure that medical laboratory tests results based on the same reagents, specimens, and parameters etc., are incontrovertibly accurate and similar irrespective of the location of the facility.”

  • Sokoto Assembly suspends two members

    Sokoto Assembly suspends two members

    The Sokoto State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended two of its members, Sani Yakubu (APC- Gudu) and Malami Galadanchi (APC- Sokoto North I).

    The two lawmakers were suspended for unethical conduct.

    The assembly had set up a special committee to investigate the conduct of the two members during the recent impeachment of the Deputy House Leader, Kabiru Ibrahim.

    The Committee, headed by Habibu Modachi (APC- Isa), in its report, said the two members had pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

    According to the report, the conduct of the members on Aug. 15 in the legislative chamber was “unethical” and contravened the house standing rules.

    Subsequently, the assembly accepted the report and suspended Yakubu for 40 legislative days while Galadanchi was suspended for 30 legislative days.

    The two were also told to submit separate letters of apology to the Assembly.

    The Speaker, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji, presided over the House sitting.

    NAN

  • Bagudu inaugurates 5-year advocacy forum on child survival

    Bagudu inaugurates 5-year advocacy forum on child survival

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, on Thursday inaugurated the state Advocacy and Community Engagement Forum to raise the level of enrolment of children in school over the next five years.

    The forum would develop a five-year plan covering 2018-2022, for use by UNICEF and the government to address issues of school enrolment, child health and survival.

    The plan is expected to upscale access to routine immunization, antenatal care, exclusive breast feeding, net school enrolment, hygiene and provision of safe drinking water, among others, in the state.

    Bagudu said the forum should work closely with traditional and religious leaders across the state to mobilise residents against practices that result in cholera outbreaks and other preventable diseases.

    “I want UNICEF to value our local practices; in all our villages and communities, you will find Muslims and Christians going about their lives according to their religious teachings and providing education to their people in their own ways.

    “Even if they are doing it wrongly, you should work with them so as to succeed in the advocacy and achieve the aim by the specific period,” he said.

    He commended UNICEF for its successful interventions in the state, and advised all stakeholders to work together in addressing the challenges.

    Earlier, UNICEF Chief, Sokoto Field Office, Muhammad Muhiuddin, said handbooks had been developed with inputs from Muslims and Christian clerics as well as experts addressing various issues from the religious perspective.

    He said the handbooks cover such areas as nutrition, hand washing, sanitation and hygiene, education and child protection.

    “Verses from the Qur’an and Hadith and the Bible related to maternal and child survival, development and protection are carefully selected and compiled, providing the spiritual basis for promoting the big impact interventions,” he said.

    According to him, community and religious leaders will lead the campaign of providing new opportunities to ensure that children in the state get the best options in life for their survival, development and growth to full potentials.

    NAN

  • Hajj: 2,700 pilgrims return in Zamfara

    Hajj: 2,700 pilgrims return in Zamfara

    No fewer than  2,700 pilgrims out of  the 4,793  that performed the 2017 Hajj exercise from Zamfara  have so far been transported back home.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, the Chairman of  the  State Transportation Committee on this year’s Hajj, stated this while receiving the fifth batch  of the pilgrims at the State Camp in Gusau on Tuesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fifth flight,  which conveyed pilgrims from Kaura-Namoda, Anka and  the remaining pilgrims from Maru and Bungudu Local Government Areas, arrived  at the Sultan Abubakar lll International Airport, Sokoto,  at 3.30 a.m.

    According to him, the pilgrims later arrived Gusau at about  10. a.m.

    Tanko, who is also the Chairman of  Gusau Local Government Council,  said the pilgrims were transported by Max Airlines, adding that all of them were in good health.

    “We are expecting the sixth flight between today and tomorrow Insha Allah; we are hoping to complete the transportation of all our pilgrims before the deadline given by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON),” he said.

    Tanko said that  the transportation exercise of this year’s hajj was moving on successfully while  the pilgrims in the state  had  behaved remarkably well during the Hajj .

    He thanked the state government, NAHCON, Max Airlines, State Amirul Hajj Committee and the media for their support.

    Tanko also thanked the State Mass Transport Service, security agencies, the Federal Road Safety Commission  and various volunteer groups for their support.

  • Sokoto recruits 67 agric extension workers

    Sokoto recruits 67 agric extension workers

    Alhaji Ibrahim Malami, the Project Manager of Sokoto State Agricultural Development Project ( SADP ), has said the state government had employed 67 additional agricultural extension workers to boost agriculture in the state.

    Malami told journalists in Sokoto on Friday that the state government also distributed improved seedlings to farmers in 2017.

    According to him, the efforts are geared toward encouraging increased agricultural production in line with the drive to diversify the economy.

    He also said that the state government was working toward achieving the ratio of one extension worker to 400 farmers in state.

    Malami also said the state government was targeting to employ 300 extension workers before the end of 2018.

    According to him, the state government accords top priority to agriculture because it provides jobs to the people and food security for the nation.

    He said that SADP was partnering with Institute of Agricultural Research ( IAR ), Zaria, for the training new extension workers and retraining of the old ones on modern agronomic practices.

    The project manager said that the agency also partnered with IAR on the production of improved seedlings, relevant to the climatic condition of the state.

    He said the seedlings would be distributed to various categories of farmers in the 23 local government areas of the state.

    Malami expressed delight that the collaboration had yielded positive results, adding that most farmers were happy with multiple yields brought about the development and the deployment of extension workers on routine supervision of farms.

    He said that during his two-year stewardship, five project vehicles were refurbished while 20 motorcycles were distributed to extension workers to facilitate coverage of the rural areas.

    The project manager said he cleared all workers’ genuine liabilities, promoted 28 senior officers besides routine training which was absent in the past 18 years.

    He commended Gov. Aminu Tambuwal for his support and pledged to evolve more initiatives to rejuvenate agricultural practices to modern yielding business across the state.

    Malami also said that livestock keeping was also enhanced in addition to de-worming, vaccinations and other activities such as enlightenment on the care for animals conducted by SADP workers.

    He stressed that 65 tube wells were drilled to facilitate irrigation, adding that the agency was targeting to drilled additional 3,000 wells after the raining season.

  • IFAD to engage Sokoto farmers in cultivation

    IFAD to engage Sokoto farmers in cultivation

    The International Fund for Agricultural Development ( IFAD ) on Thursday restated commitment to engage more farmers in Millet cultivation in Sokoto state.

    Dr Aminu Aliyu, the state programme coordinator made the pledge during farmers display on millet produce in Tangaza Local Government Area of the state.

    Aliyu, represented by the state programme Engineering Officer, Malam Yahaya Gangara, said that the programme was aimed at show casing the potentials of farming activities, particularly in the areas of millet production.

    “It was also to exchange ideas among various farmers in Tangaza Local Government Area.

    “This is in order to complement one another and exchange ideas to ensure a bumper harvest of millet produce in the state and to enhance food security in the country.

    “As such, IFAD will continue to engage more farmers in its Climate Change Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme ( CASP ) to ensure the procurement of seeds that can yield a better harvest.

    “Our mission is to ensure the selected farmers become the seasonal Ambassadors of IFAD to mobilise others to participate fully in the next season of millet farming,” he said.

    Aliyu explained that IFAD had since engaged Agricultural industries to purchase all farm produce from the farmers in order to ease their transaction after harvest.

    He called on farmers to judiciouly utilised the farming techniques learnt from The International Fund for Agricultural Development in order to ensure a better harvest across the country.

    Earlier, the local government Chairman, Alhaji Nura Dalhatu commended IFAD desire for supporting farmers and farming activities in the state.

    Dalhatu assured farmers that the local government will continue to procure seed for distribution to various farmers across all villages in the council.

    He maintained that the local government will ensure that all farmers in the area benefitted from the gesture to boost food security in the communities.

  • Sultan: let’s live in peace as one

    Sultan: let’s live in peace as one

    The Sultan of Sokoto and President -General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairsý(NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has appealed to Nigerians to live in peace with one another for the unity of the country.

    “I am calling on all Nigerians to imbibe and embrace the culture and spirit of living in peace, irrespective of tribal, ethnic or regional differences.”

    Alhaji Abubakar made the plea  in a statement in Sokoto yesterday.

    He said Nigeria would continue to remain one nation with a common goal of purposeful development.

    Alhaji Abubakar said the action of some should not be allowed to tear the country apart, adding that bad ones should be called to order by their elders and community leaders.

    He challenged elder statesmen to call the youth to order and educate them on the need for  peaceful coexistence in their respective geo-political zones.

    He said traditional leaders would continue to preach love among the diverse communities in their domains throughout the country.

    The Sultan said Nigeria was brought together by an act of God, despite the different ethnic group, religions and diverse rich and beautiful cultures to form one country. He said God would protect the sovereignty.

    He urged Nigerians to live in peace and respect one another and go about their normal businesses

    The Sultan promised the federal and state governments as well as security agencies in their collective efforts to bring sustained peace and development to the country.

  • IFAD to engage more farmers in millet cultivation in Sokoto state

    IFAD to engage more farmers in millet cultivation in Sokoto state

    The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on Thursday restated commitment to engage more farmers in Millet cultivation in Sokoto state.

    Dr Aminu Aliyu, the state programme coordinator made the pledge during farmers display on millet produce in Tangaza Local Government Area of the state.

    Aliyu, represented by the state programme Engineering Officer, Malam Yahaya Gangara, said that the programme was aimed at show casing the potentials of farming activities, particularly in the areas of millet production.

    “It was also to exchange ideas among various farmers in the area.

    “This is in order to complement one another and exchange ideas to ensure a bumper harvest of millet produce in the state and to enhance food security in the country.

    “As such, IFAD will continue to engage more farmers in its Climate Change Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme (CASP) to ensure the procurement of seeds that can yield a better harvest.

    “Our mission is to ensure the selected farmers become the seasonal Ambassadors of IFAD to mobilise others to participate fully in the next season of millet farming,” he said.

    Aliyu explained that IFAD had since engaged Agricultural industries to purchase all farm produce from the farmers in order to ease their transaction after harvest.

    He called on farmers to judiciouly utilised the farming techniques learnt from IFAD in order to ensure a better harvest across the country.

    Earlier, the local government Chairman, Alhaji Nura Dalhatu commended IFAD’s desire for supporting farmers and farming activities in the state.

    Dalhatu assured farmers that the local government will continue to procure seed for distribution to various farmers across all villages in the council.

    He maintained that the local government will ensure that all farmers in the area benefitted from the gesture to boost food security in the communities.

  • Four dead, 30 others injured in Sokoto auto-crash

    Four dead, 30 others injured in Sokoto auto-crash

    Four Police Officers were feared dead while 30 others injured in a ghastly auto-crash ‎in Sokoto.
    The accident  occurred on Monday along Ungwan Rogo road in the state capital while returning from a shooting range exercise.
    Confirming the occurrence of accident, ‎Mr Ibrahim Abaras, Police Public Relations Officer of the Sokoto Command said the fatal accident which occurred at about 7:30 pm involved newly recruited officers of the Force who were participating in a training at the Police College, Sokoto.
    ” They were returning from a shooting range exercise at Kware local government of the state when the accident occurred close to the Sokoto History Bureau‎.
    Abaras said corpses of the deceased had been handed to their respective families and buried accordingly.
    The Command’s spokesman however said, those who sustained various degrees of injuries were taken to the Usmanu Danfodiyo Teaching Hospital(UDUTH), Police Clinic and Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Kware  all in Sokoto where they were being treated.
    Meanwhile, the PPRO said the State Police Commissioner, Muhammad Abdulkadir,  Sokoto state Deputy Governor, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto including other members of the public participated actively in evacuating the victims at the scene of the accident which he said was the first of its kind in the state.
    He said the state government had offered to provide all necessary logistics support to the victims.