The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SOKOTO

  • Aliyu, Lamido, three others are patriots – IBB

    Aliyu, Lamido, three others are patriots – IBB

    Former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, on Monday described the five northern states governors who are consulting with elders to find solution to the country’s political problems as patriots.

    The governors are – Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Alhaji Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto), Alhaji Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Rabiu Musa Kwankonso (Kano) and Muritala Nyako (Adamawa).

    Rising from a meeting with the governors which also had Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) in attendance, the former military leader said the move by the governors was not only commendable but timely, acknowledging the foresight of the governors in finding solution to the various challenges facing the country through consultations.

    The meeting took place at the Presidential Lodge, Minna.

    “I want to commend the governors and some of their colleagues. I was very impressed because they have seen the problem of the country as our problem and they have taken the right steps to consult widely in trying to finding solution to some of these problems.

    “These governors are real patriots and I am very happy and I told them so,” the former military leader stated.

    Four of the five governors on Monday continued their consultations with eminent personalities with a meeting with the two former military leaders in Minna.

    They were in Abeokuta last Saturday to meet with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Hilltop residence.

     

  • 40,444 voters for Sokoto by-election

    THE Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) expected about 40,444 registered voters across five wards of Kyadawa/Holai, Kiri, Kwarma, Kada Saka and Wauru in Gada West of Sokoto State to participate in yesterday’s state assembly by-election in the state.

    The Nation reveals that accreditation commenced as early as 8am at polling units under the watchful eyes of party agents and security personnel.

    However, voting started at about 12:30pm in almost all of the polling units with few exceptions where accreditation did not commence at exactly 8am due to some minor issues, like sorting out of names, acting Electoral Officer, Yahaya Sarkin Tashan Nakuru, said yesterday, shortly after voters’ accreditation commenced for the election expected to fill in the vacuum created by the death of a member, Murtala Attahiru Wauru.

    Wauru was killed a month ago by suspected armed robbers while on his way home after a brief meeting.

    Candidates from eleven political parties were expected to participate in the exercise.

    Top among the major political parties that fielded candidates included: ANPP, DPP, CPC, PDP, APGA.

    Wauru said national officers were deployed from the INEC headquarters to supervise the exercise.

    He explained that not less than 301 ad hoc staff from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto and NYSC were recruited for the exercise across 82 polling units.

    ” They will serve as collection, returning and constituency officers,” he stated.

    Meanwhile top contenders, that included a former council chairman of Gada, Tanimu Dangaladima of the Peoples Democratic Party and Musa Hamidu of the All Nigerian Peoples Party as well as Kalle Aminu of Congress for Progressive Change were in high spirit yesterday, expecting victory.

    But as the time of filing this report no result had been released from the polling units.

     

  • Sokoto lifts farmers

    Tokoto State Government is to sell 15,500 tonnes of fertiliser in conjunction with the Federal Government to farmers in the state.

    Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko disclosed this at Rabah Local Government Council while launching this year’s sale of the commodity.He said his government has subsidisedthe commodity by 70 percent.

    “By this subsidy, MPK fertiliser would cost N1,700 while Urea type would be sold at N1,800 ”, he added.

    Governor Wamakko warned those entrusted with the sale of the commodity to be just and honest as only genuine farmers would benefit from the exercise.

    He said government had continued to subsidise the agricultural sector so that farmers would produce more food for the country and also improve their own income.

    The governor said the state government has purchased some farming implements to replace hoes .

    He urged farmers to take advantage of the new implements and modernise their farming methods, improve seed varieties and boost food production.

    Governor Wamakko said his administration has introduced many incentives to farmers as well as established a college of agriculture all in an attempt to boost agriculture.

    He said as part of his honest resolve to improve agricultural activities in the state, three billion Naira had been disbursed to farmers so far by his administration.

    The Governor added that arrangement had been concluded to disburse another two billion Naira loan to commercial farmers while modalities are being worked out to give two billion Naira again to farmers who engage in rice production.

     

  • Sokoto sets up skill centres

    The Sokoto State government has established three agricultural skills acquisition centres in each of its three senatorial zones in a bid to improve livestock production in the state.

    Governor Aliyu Wamakko made the announcement in a statement issued in Sokoto by Malam Abubakar Dangusau, his Special Assistant on Press Affairs.

    He made the announcement at the end of the annual Gumare Fishing Festival in Romon-Sarki in the Tambuwal Local Government Area of the state.

    Wamakko said that his administration would continue to accord priority to the agriculture sector which, he said was the mainstay of the economy.

    “We will indeed, continue to ensure that all forms of farming activities in the state are bolstered.

    “Food security is next to nothing and it is extremely crucial to find solutions to the current food problems plaguing Nigeria.’’

    The statement said that the government was also committed to improving and encouraging fish farming in the state, adding that the government had also introduced modern fish farming techniques in the 23 local government areas of the state.

    It advised the people to engage in any form of farming with a view to improving the socio-economic development of the society.

    “We should go back to the farms as they hold the key to the transformation and revitalisation of our personal and national socio-economic development.’’

    The highlight of the occasion include presentation of a vehicle and N50,000 to Malam Sani Dan-Halima and Malam Sani Barga as first and second prize winners respectively, while Malam Umar Sani clinched the third prize of a motorcycle and N50,000.

  • Sokoto sets up skill centres

    The Sokoto State government has established three agricultural skills acquisition centres in each of its three senatorial zones in a bid to improve livestock production in the state.

    Governor Aliyu Wamakko made the announcement in a statement issued in Sokoto by Malam Abubakar Dangusau, his Special Assistant on Press Affairs.

    He made the announcement at the end of the annual Gumare Fishing Festival in Romon-Sarki in the Tambuwal Local Government Area of the state.

    Wamakko said that his administration would continue to accord priority to the agriculture sector which, he said was the mainstay of the economy.

    “We will indeed, continue to ensure that all forms of farming activities in the state are bolstered.

    “Food security is next to nothing and it is extremely crucial to find solutions to the current food problems plaguing Nigeria.’’

    The statement said that the government was also committed to improving and encouraging fish farming in the state, adding that the government had also introduced modern fish farming techniques in the 23 local government areas of the state.

    It advised the people to engage in any form of farming with a view to improving the socio-economic development of the society.

    “We should go back to the farms as they hold the key to the transformation and revitalisation of our personal and national socio-economic development.’’

    The highlight of the occasion include presentation of a vehicle and N50,000 to Malam Sani Dan-Halima and Malam Sani Barga as first and second prize winners respectively, while Malam Umar Sani clinched the third prize of a motorcycle and N50,000.

  • Building collapses, kills 3 children in Sokoto

    A  building has collapsed, killing three children of same parents in Adarawa area of Dange town in Sokoto State.

    The structure caved in as a result of wind and rainstorm that occurred in the early hours of Sunday.

    The victims of the disaster are: Zahara’u, Yusuf and Zainab Abu-Malam , aged 15, 9 and 7 years respectively.

    The Chairman of Dange-Shuni Local Government Area, Alhaji Magaji Bodai, told NAN in Dange on Tuesday that two of the children died on Sunday while the third one died on Monday at a hospital following injuries sustained from the incident.

    He said he had since visited the area and condoled with the family of the victims.

    The chairman described the incident as an act of God and prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and for the family to bear the loss.

    Bodai said he had ordered the immediate rehabilitation of the collapsed building.

  • Building collapses, kills 3 children in Sokoto

    A building has collapsed, killing three children of same parents in Adarawa area of Dange town in Sokoto State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the structure caved in as a result of wind and rainstorm that occurred in the early hours of Sunday.

    The victims of the disaster are:  Zahara’u, Yusuf and Zainab Abu-Malam , aged 15,  9 and 7 years respectively.

    The Chairman of Dange-Shuni Local Government Area, Alhaji Magaji Bodai, told NAN in Dange on Tuesday that two of the children died on Sunday while the third one died on Monday at a hospital following injuries sustained from the incident.

    He said he had since visited the area and condoled with the family of the victims.

    The chairman described the incident as an act of God and prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and for the family to bear the  loss.

    Bodai said he had ordered the immediate rehabilitation of the collapsed building.

  • Christmas Day bombing: Boko Haram suspected kingpin Sokoto faults trial

    Christmas Day bombing: Boko Haram suspected kingpin Sokoto faults trial

    The alleged mastermind of the 2011 Christmas Day bombing at the St Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, Kabiru Umar, has faulted his trial and asked the court to set him free.

    In his no-case submission, Umar also known as Kabiru Sokoto, argued that the prosecution had failed to produce sufficient evidence to link him with the charges of terrorism levelled against him. He urged the court to discharge and acquit him.

    He argued yesterday that the proof of evidence before the court did not link him to the crimes alleged against him.

    He contended that the evidence so far led by the prosecution failed to establish any offence against him

    His position is contained in a written brief he filed in court, a copy of which The Nation sighted yesterday.

    He contended that while the state accused him of “facilitating the commission of a terrorist act by planting and encouraging some boys (now at large) at Mabira Sokoto, in Sokoto State with the intention to bomb the police headquarters and some other government agencies in the state,” the government failed to bring any of the boys he allegely planted and encouraged to testify against him.

    He said rather than bringing the boys whom the operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) claimed gave them information about how he encouraged them to bomb police headquarters and other government agencies in Sokoto, he said the Federal Government brought operatives of the SSS who came to court to give hear-say evidence which has no probative value.

    Umar argued that the prosecution failed to lead evidence to establish how he facilitated the commission of a terrorist offence.

    Umar also argued that althouh he was accused of withholding information about the plan to bomb the church from law enforcement officer, the prosecution failed to establish at what point he got hold of such information and at what point it became an offence for him not to have disclosed it.

    Umar contended that all the witnesses that testified in the case wasted the time of the court as the evidence led were not credible to sustain the charges preferred against him.

    He prayed the court to dismiss the two-count charge preferred against him.

    Parties in the case are to adopt their written submissions next Friday, during which they would also dwell on their written arguments.

    The state called eight witnesses to support its case.

    At the close of the prosecution’s case, Umar, who was expected to open his defence, indicated his intention to make a no-case submission in respect of which he filed the written submission.

    A no-case submission is where an accused person argues that the prosecution has preferred no sufficient evidence linking him to the charge.

    Should the court upholds the submission, that ends the case in the defence’s favour.

  • Sokoto Varsity spends N10.3b

    Not less than N10.3 billion has so far been spent by the Sokoto state government to ensure a smooth take-off of academics in the Sokoto state University.

    Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Nuhu Yakubu, made this known in Sokoto on Monday while receiving three units of 36-seater buses donated to the university by Governor Aliyu Wamakko.

    The governor was on inspection of works at the university as part of events marking democracy day in the state.

    Yakubu, who also took the governor and other dignitaries round to, inspect the university’s project, said academic activities are expected to start in the 2013/2014 session soon.

    He said three faculties– Education, Sciences and Arts and Social Sciences – had been completed for the take-off.

    Completed projects inspected by Wamakko included students hostel, administrative block, lecture halls, some completed staff quarters as well as mosque.

    Meanwhile, the governor has assured of speedy completion of the staff quarters project.

     

  • Stallion opens new centre in Sokoto

    Governor of Sokoto State Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamako has praised the the Stallion Group for opening its new multi-brand automobile facility in Sokoto, describing the initiative as another stride towards the socio-economic transformation of the state.

    Wamako, who was accompanied by top government functionaries and the representatives of the Sultanate, to the inauguration of the centre, said: “We welcome you unequivocally and pledge you won’t regret investing in this state.”

    He enjoined the group to take advantage of the huge treasures in the state and diversify its investments.

    The coming of Stallion, he said, was the result of reciprocal calls on investors to explore the huge resources of the state, adding: “This initiative is the beginning of a fruitful and prosperous relationship with the organised private sector.”

    Stallion Motors Limited Managing Director, Mr Parvir Singh, said the company is ready to collaborate with the government to transform the region to an ultramodern commercial centre.

    Singh said Stallion was mindful of the commercial and traditional significance of the ancient city in the annals of history.

    He noted that the company has bolstered her image to a global brand with reputation for excellence.

    He said: “We are expanding our network to cater for customers, irrespective of their locations. Stallion Motors Multi-Brand automobile facility is a complete one-stop shopping arcade, covering all aspects of vehicle ownership and providing seamless access to quality service.

    “The first of its kind in the region, the facility is an entirely multi-brand automobile precinct uniquely designed to provide sales, service and spare parts for about 10 different automobile brands marketed and distributed by the company.”

    Incorporated 40 years ago, Stallion Group has grown from its modest start into a fledging multi-business conglomerate, becoming one of sub-Sahara largest.

    “This is in addition to several multinational representations in eight African countries with unrestrained involvement in commodities, agri-business, food, industries, automobiles and services,” he added