The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SOKOTO

  • Wamakko strengthens infrastructure

    Wamakko strengthens infrastructure

    Several projects are afoot in Sokoto State as the Aliyu Wamakko administration continues its infrastructural renewal plan.

    As part of this plan, the governor directed the state task force on water supply to ensure sufficient distribution of the utility, saying people in position of authority owe a lot to the people.

    “It is only when we appreciate our responsibilities to the people that we value and cherish legacies with direct impact on the people,” he said.

    He also announced that the state executive council has revoked the N1.15b contract on water and primary health centres.

    Wamakko disclosed this at the state executive council meeting at the Council Chambers in Government House, Sokoto.

    He said: “Governance is a systemic line of action plan to sustain policies and programmes directed at improving the lot of people.”

    Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Commissioner for Information Nasiru Danladi Bako and his counterpart in Health, Ahmed Aliyu, said the council revoked three major water and health-related contracts, re-awarding them to new contractors at over N1.15b.

    The health commissioner said 22 solar-powered boreholes in both Shagari and Tambuwal local governments would be completed in six months at the cost of N198m.

    Aliyu also said the construction and drilling of 15 water borehole schemes at the cost of N135m has been approved.

    He maintained that 89 solar-powered boreholes across the state would soon be completed, adding that “water is an important ingredient to survival and we need to ensure adequate supply and distribution of the utility across the state.”

    He further disclosed that the state government has approved the purchase of furniture and medical equipment at the cost of N83.9m to ensure that Noma Children Hospital in the state capital is fully equipped to discharge its services.

    Danladi Bako disclosed that the state government has approved the purchase of 10 units of haulage trucks at the cost of N82.2m.

    He said the essence is to boost the fleet of vehicles of the state transport company in order to improve on, and spread, its services to the public.

  • Kukah blames nation’s under-development on military

    Kukah blames nation’s under-development on military

    Most Rev. Hassan Kukah, the Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Sokoto State, says the military administrations are responsible for the lack of meaningful development in Nigeria.

    Kukah told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Tuesday that the military only succeeded in destroying the solid foundation of the nation’s democracy.

    He said that other countries that had similar military incursions in leadership had a different experience.

    “But in our own case the greed of the military led to their intervention which destroyed the foundation laid by the nation’s founding fathers,’’ he said.

    He explained that the Nigeria military had no capacity to provide basic infrastructure to the governed for all the years they were in power.

    He said, “the greed of the military that led to the myriad of military coups destroyed even the foundation of the military itself and this truncated democracy in Nigeria.’’

    Kukah called on Nigerians to exercise patience as democracy was the only option needed to ensure rapid political growth of the country.

    He said that the country could have been better in the hands of civilian administrations rather than the military.

    “Patience, understanding and support from Nigerians are the only guarantees to the nation’s even socio-economic and political development.

    “It is only by so doing that Nigerians from all nooks and crannies could feel the impact of the dividends of democracy.’’ (NAN)

  • Police move to curtail banditry in Sokoto

    Police move to curtail banditry in Sokoto

    Sokoto State Police Commissioner Shuaibu Lawal Gambo yesterday said his command has mobilised two armoured vehicles to curtail cross-border banditry and smuggling of arms and ammunition into the country.

    He said: “We are working with the Nigerian Immigration Service to fight border crimes.”

    According to him, the command has re-strategised its mode of operations, using the special unit squad to fight border crimes.

    Gambo said his command would not compromise security, adding: “We need the support of the public to perform our constitutional duties.”

    Addressing reporters in his office in Sokoto, the police boss said security was a collective responsibility that required everybody’s support.

    His words: “Security is paramount in attaining development. We require the support of reporters and the public to achieve this.”

  • Sokoto, MDGs fight poverty with N300m

    •Governor Wamakko

    In an effort to reduce poverty, the Millennium Development Goals office and the Sokoto State government have provided N300 million for a comprehensive programme within communities in the state.

    The programme will give emphasis to widows with the burden of children and those abandoned by their husbands as a result of health problems such as Vesico Vaginal Fistula(VVF).The third category are parents that are incapacitated.

    Speaking at the inauguration of committees from eight local government councils in the Sokoto Central Senatorial zone at the Giginya-Coral five-star Hotel, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Farouk Malami Yabo said the programme is aimed at empowering the residents particularly the poor at the grassroots.

    According to him, both the state government and MDGs office will provide their counterpart funds of 50 per cent each for the programme.
    The councils whose committees have been given one week to come up with lists of 20 qualified would-be beneficiaries each include: Wamakko, Sokoto North, Sokoto South, Silame, Binji, Tangaza, Gudu and Kware respectively.

    Alhaji Yabo explained that the programme is expected to reach 2,300 beneficiaries across the 23 local government areas in form of trainings and take-off capital to support their respective trades.

    “ Our target is 50,000 beneficiaries because our vision is for the fold to keep multiplying while beneficiaries extend support to others,”he said.
    However, Yabo said the emphasis of the first phase which comprises of 120 communities would be on poultry farming and cattle breeding, adding that the training will be for three days and transportation has been provided to convey beneficiaries who will be entitled to N5000 as monthly allowances for 12 months.

    “ Already we have Skills acquisition centres at designated areas across the state where the training exercise will be carried out accordingly”, he added.
    Yabo explained that the essence is to responsively explore more efficient and effective avenues as poultry farming and cattle breeding for quick yield within the shortest possible time.

    “ It will enable the beneficiaries run at rapid gain in terms of egg production which can be of support to women beneficiaries as means of livelihood”, he pointed out.

    He urged would be beneficiaries to avail themselves the opportunity and ensure the success of the partnership.