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Tag: Umar Ganduje

  • Ganduje mourns Kano athletes in auto crash

    Ganduje mourns Kano athletes in auto crash

    The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Umar Ganduje has described the death of 20 young athletes from Kano State as a national heartbreaking tragedy.

    The athletes died in a road accident 50KM to Kano while returning from the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    Ganduje in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu in Abuja on Saturday said that the accident dealt a heavy blow not only to the bereaved families and the people of Kano State but to the entire nation.

    He described the deceased athletes as promising and dedicated youths who embodied the future of Nigerian sports and the pride of Kano State.

    “This is a deeply sorrowful moment. These young athletes travelled in the spirit of unity, patriotism, and excellence to represent our state and nation. To lose them in such a tragic and untimely manner is a devastating national loss,” Ganduje said.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s oil industry scales evacuation hurdles as GEIL export terminal sets

    The APC Chairman extended deepest condolences to the grieving families, the Government and people of Kano State, and the wider Nigerian sports community.

    He offered prayers for the peaceful repose of the souls of the deceased and comfort and strength for those left behind.

    Ganduje, who is performing Hajj in Saudi Arabia, also called on the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident and implement stronger safety protocols to protect Nigerian athletes during future national assignments.

    “May Almighty Allah (SWT) grant the families the strength to bear this irreparable loss and grant eternal rest to the departed souls,” he added.

  • Ganduje acquires 100 buses to roll out BRT system In Kano

    Kano state government has concluded arrangement for a multi-billion naira Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, in Kano metropolis, in an effort to ensure urban regeneration and sustainable transportation.

    The initiative, which is the first of its kind in the state, is a “tip of the iceberg infrastructural project” as the Ganduje administration commences its second term in office on May 29.

    BRT is a high quality bus – based public transport system designed to deliver fast, comfortable and cost effective services at metro – level capacities. It does this through the provision of exclusive lanes with busways and distinctive stations typically aligned to the center of the road, off – board fare collection and fast, regular operations.

    Already, the Kano state government, Kano Metropolitan Transport Company, Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Company, China and Zhengzhou Public Bus Communication Co. Ltd., China have signed an MOU for the supply of 100 buses for the project.

    The MOU further entails  integrated transport solutions that includes routes network and infrastructure planning, suitable bus models, Intelligent Transport System, ITS, modern  management of operation and maintenance of the fleet data analysis systems, regulation improvement and local talent improvement.

    Speaking shortly after conclusion of discussion and signing of the MOU, in Zhengzhou, Henan, China, the state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje disclosed that his administration decided to embark on the project “to revolutionize transport and enhance ease of doing business in Nigeria’s foremost commercial center”.

    Read Also: Kano can pay N30,000 minimum wage -Ganduje

    “Presently, Kano is the most populous state in the country. It has a population of over 16 million people. The main public vehicles are mini buses and tricycles which are not supportive of long – term mega city development, therefore an efficient modern system of public transportation must be established. This will reflect the position of Kano as a truly megacity”.

    Represented by the State commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Engr. Aminu Aliyu Wudil, the governor explained that the project has several benefits in terms of job creation, urban mobility and air pollution reduction besides improving the physical outlook of the state capital.

    “We decided to partner with Zhengzhou Yutong because it is the world’s largest and reputed bus manufacturer with capacity providing Integrated Solution of Public bus transport system and several decades of experience”.

    “Kano state government is expected to invest not more than 25 percent of the project cost while the operator, Kano Metropolitan Transport Company is the main shareholder while the Chinese company will serve as the technical partner”.

    The State Commissioner of Work, Engr. Aminu Aliyu Wudil hi counterpart of the Ministry of Finance, Aminu Mukhtar DanAmu and Yusuf Aliyu Umar signed for Kano state government and Kano Metropolitan Transport Company, while Mr. Zou Meikan and Guo Yuanyuan signed on belalf of Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Company, China and Zhengzhou Public Bus Communication Co. Ltd., China respectively.

     

  • 2,931,235 APC members endorse Buhari in Kano

    Ganduje to give him 5m votes.

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari scored a total of 2,931,235 votes in the just concluded All Progressives Congress (APC), Presidential Primary Election conducted at 484 wards across the 44 local Government Areas of Kano State.

    Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, who is also the Chief Returning Officer for the election, announced the result that Buhari scored a total of 2,931,235 votes from party members, who participated in the exercise and all signified their interest for Buhari to return.

    Ganduje who was Impressed by the mass turn out of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), reiterated its commitment to give President Muhammadu Buhari over 5 million votes in the forthcoming 2019 general election.

    He said, “With these figures of over five thousand votes from my ward, Ganduje ward of Dawakin Tofa local government, which only come from APC card carrying members, it is indicative to the fact that our promised over 5 million votes to our dear President in 2019 election is tenable and realizable.”

    “People should understand that, when the general election comes around apart from our APC members that would vote for the continuation of President Buhari regime, many more others who belong to other parties would join the queue.

    Read Also: Anambra APC adopts Buhari for second term

    Not only that, even those that do not belong to any political parties, but have their permanent voters card will opt for him also,” he maintains.

    Ganduje added that, the conduct of direct primaries was intended to provide enabling environment for maximum political participation, insisting that, “This also shows how we are solidly behind President Muhammadu Buhari in strengthening democracy at all levels.”

    “The turnout is encouraging. With this therefore I am calling on our people to come en mass and vote for Buhari come 2019 general election. Kano state is always ready to continue to support him,” Ganduje stated.

    He expressed his satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of the presidential primary election, as witnessed in all the 44 local government councils of the state.

    “Party leadership should be commended for the peaceful conduct of this direct primary election in our state, all in an effort to further deepen democratic process. This will go a long way in ensuring all Nigerians that our party is all out for strong internal democracy,” he explained.

    He also called on the party leadership to maintain the good tempo witnessed from the presidential primary election that took place across all the 36 states of the federation including the federal capital territory, Abuja. “I need to acknowledge and appreciate the good conduct of our party members during this election,” he said

  • 2019 Election would be tough – Tofa

    A one-time Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC), Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, on Friday in Kano, said the 2019 General Elections would be tougher than that of 2015, in view of the current challenges confronting both the ruling party APC and the PDP.

    Tofa, however advised the leadership of the APC to brace up to the challenges, in order to ensure the total victory of the party against the opposition parties, who are also not leaving anything to chance.

    Tofa, who spoke as a Guest of Honour at the official launching of the APC Volunteer group, held at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Friday, said the APC at this time need to take appropriate measures to ensure that it emerges victorious.

    “I am part and parcel of the APC Volunteers and would like to see a situation, whereby the people, who agreed to work in principles and as a matter of personal sacrifice will do so without fear or favour.

    We are desperately in need of an association, like this, which we were unable to get but now we have a group that is all out to change the way things were being done in the past for the better”

    Tofa posited that, if we are divided, the possibility of actualizing this concept would not be achievable in our quest to bring about good governance.

    Earlier, the Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje told the mammoth crowd that gathered at the launching of Volunteers that he is the number one volunteer, who believes in the new innovative ideas brought about by the founders of APC Volunteers, whose main objectives is to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari and the current administration continued with the good work they started.

    ” I am very happy because all of you are happy, because you have seen that we have taken the route to modern democratic system. This occasion is the official launching of APC Volunteers Group, it is a new innovation by our great party in Kano, it is a new idea, in order to sanitize our system and give everybody a sense of belonging by abiding by the doctrine of democracy.

    “We abide by the rules and regulations of our politics, we abide by due process to ensure that this democracy is nourished , we build it so that it can be strong, like any developed democracy.”

    “We thank you very much for forming this association, which will guide the conduct of our primaries, as well as guide the conduct of our elections. And will also instill into our followers that you have value, your worth as a party faithful, it is not the amount of money we have but the amount of integrity that we have. This is what we mean by this important group”

    Read Also: Resources’ll be utilised for all Nigerians, Says Buhari

    “As Volunteers in the APC, we must work assiduously to ensure that there is credible free and fair primary elections in the APC at all levels and should be ready to face whoever is going to disrupt the process of election during the forthcoming general election”

    Ganduje noted that it is mandatory for the Volunteers to also match their words with action by protecting all the electoral boxes from the ward to the local governments levels or State INEC offices and wait till the votes are cast and results announced.

    In his remarks, the Coordinator of the Kano APC Volunteers and Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, informed the gathering that “ours is a voluntary service to the people and an effort to build up strong pillars which our next democratic steps will be based on.

    “Let me use the opportunity to call on you to make good use of this golden opportunity you found your selves by contributing your individual and collective quota in electing people of impeccable character, as we have seen in PMB and His Excellency, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje”

  • My resolve to contest for second term lies with Kano People – Ganduje

    Kano State Governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said that his resolve to contest for second term as governor  lies with the interest of the people of the State in order to give him the opportunity to consolidate the gains of democracy.

    Ganduje said he is being pressurized by the people to come out and re- contest as they have set aside a whooping sum of N5 million for him to purchased the  form for his  second term bid. .

    He noted that his second coming to government once it comes into practical reality would see the final transformation of Kano to a Mega City through the provision of  laudable infrastructures

    Ganduje who spoke to reporters,said over N1bn contract had been awarded for the construction of a transmission plant for onward distribution of the energy expected from the Kano IPP.

    Ganduje explained that the state was blessed to fund its capital projects with Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), noting that the state is generating up to N3bn IGR monthly.

    He regretted that only less than 10 per cent of people that are due pay tax as and when due in the state, assuring that government would continue to hammer on the rich in order to provide social amenities to the people.

    On the light rail project, Ganduje said the project was still on, saying the project was broke into phases and that a contractor had been selected.

    He said, “Federal government is currently negotiating with Chinese government on the issue of interest, “even last week, officials from Chinese had discussion with the  Federal ministry of finance on the project”, he added.

    Read Also: Ganduje okays N345m for Ramadan feeding

    Speaking on the abundant 5km roads projects spanned across the 44 local government areas of the state, Ganduje noted in dismay that the project gulped the state over N100 Billion but today it has being neglected.

    He said when they came on board they realized that the whole idea was conceived out of ignorance because there was no way one could build a 5km roads across each local government.

    The Governor worried that some of the roads are of N2 Billion worthwhile in that particular local government they need a simple agricultural projects of less than one Billion Naira to make a difference.

    ” You will agree with me that it is not all local government that needs a dualized roads for example Warawa local government how can you build a dualized road there while in real sense what they need is a single agricultural produced conveyor road”.

    “So one can see that even compensation of billions of Naira had to be paid to demolished people’s homes and 90 percent of the money for that Contract it was Local governments money one could ask where would they get that money to finance the project”.

    The Governor revealed that most of the Contractors had their certificates hanging with no money to pay them so when this government came in she  had to order for the redesigning of the projects to tally with the reality on ground.

  • Kano to create agency in combating drug abuse

    Kano state Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje yesterday announced plans to establish an agency with a mandate to fight drug abuse and addiction among youths in the state.

    Ganduje made this  Known,while receiving delegations of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies ( NIPSS ), Kuru at the Government House, Kano.

    “What is worrying us now is this issue of drug abuse. The use of illicit drugs by the people. We are therefore urging that, we need to work side by side with this Institute in curtailing this menace,” He said.

    According to him, “the state would also establish an agency that would look into the issue of drug abuse in the state.”

    “As experts in policy formulation, implementation and evaluation we really need to work together with you, in order to see how we can address this problem of drug abuse,” he added.

    Ganduje also said community policing is part of the secret of success in achieving peace in the state.

    “We have the cooperation of all, while embarking on this strategic initiative. While at the same time people believe there would be no development without peaceful co-existence among our people. That is part of the strong reasons why we have achieved that feat, ”

    “We, as a state, believe in the community policing. That is the main reason why we are establishing an agency for community policing,” he added.

    Ganduje applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for “setting the pace and evolving ways to improve the security of the country in general, which also has direct bearing on the states.”

    In his remarks, Director of Research of the Institute, Prof. Habu Galadima, who led a delegation to Ganduje, commended the governor for his efforts in securing the state.

    He said they were in Kano for a study tour to the state with the Senior Executive Course No 40, 2018.

    “The theme for the Course under study in 2018 is Strengthening Internal Security Framework and Community Policing in Nigeria: Models, Policy Options and Strategies. We are assuring you that Kano is key in this area,” he said.

    Galadima added that they visited the state “to study the internal security mechanism being used to enjoy this peace and stability in the state. To also look at how community policing strategy is working effectively. We really appreciate the pattern taken by the state government in tackling the issue of insecurity.”

    He further said Kano was selected “because of the immense peace and stability achieved recently, despite its large population size.”

  • Ganduje appoints Prof. Jega chairman Maitama Sule centre

    Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has appointed the former lNEC chairman Professor Attahiru Jega to chair a Committee for the Establishment of Yusuf Maitama Sule Centre for the Advancement of Politics and Democratic Governance in the state.

    According to a statement signed by the Commissioner of lnformation malam Muhammad Garba noted that the establishment of the Centre is a tribute to late Yusuf Maitama Sule’s immense contributions to the political and democratic development in the north and Nigeria in general.

    The center will be utilized for research and scholarly discourse for the advancement of politics and democratic governance.

    Members of the 15-man committee include Justice Mamman Nasir (Galadiman Katsina), Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, Prof. Mustapha Isa Ahmad (Vice Chancellor, Yusuf Maitama Sule University), Prof. Shehu Musa Alhaji (Vice Chancellor, Kano State University of Science and Technology), Prof. Sule Bello and Prof. Dahiru Yahaya.

    Others are Engr. Mansur Ahmed, Tajuddeen Aminu Dantata, Arc. Ibrahim Haruna, Alhaji Muhtari Hassan, Alhaji Muhtari Maitama and representative of Kano Emirate Council while Office of the Secretary to the State Government is to provide the secretary for the committee.

    It could be recalled that following the death in July last year of the two time minister and former Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Governor Ganduje renamed the state-owned university to Yusuf Maitama Sule University and the street where his residence is located to Yusuf Maitama Sule Road in honour of the octogenarian statesman.

  • Ganduje reshuffles Media Team

    Ganduje reshuffles Media Team

    Kano state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has approved the appointment of Malam Aminu Kabir Yassar as the Director-General, Media and Communications in the Government House.

    Before his appointment, Malam Yassar was Director of Press to the Governor.

    According to a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, Alhaji Salihu Tanko Yakasai who was former Director-General, Media and Communications has been moved to the Social Media department as Special Adviser to the Governor on Social Media.

    On the same vein, Alhaji Abba Auwal, a Corespondent with Guardian Newspaper in Kano has been appointed as the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

    Garba said the appointment which is aimed at rejuvenating Governor Ganduje’s media team to be more proactive, robust and efficient takes immediate effect.

  • Huge crowd as Buhari campaigns in Kano

    Huge crowd as Buhari campaigns in Kano

    HUGE crowd yesterday received All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign team to the Northwest. Kano, the North’s commercial heart and Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, were throbbing with people as APC candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari sold his party’s programme.

    The Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano was filled to capacity. There were more people in the foreground than in the arena.

    Supporters climbed different platforms, including telecom masts, to sight the APC leaders.

    Gen. Buhari and his team, including Campaign Director-General Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Bukola Saraki, Governor Aliyu Wamakko, Senator Kabir Gaya, party Deputy Chairman Lawal Shuaibu, Chief Bisi Akande and party Chair Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, were received by Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and his deputy, Umar Ganduje. Ganduje is the APC governorship candidate.

    Presenting the party’s candidate to the enthusiastic supporters, Tambuwal said: “I want to tell you that God is with us, for He has given us Buhari who will end corruption in Nigeria…If you come out and vote for us, by God’s grace, we will achieve all we have set to do.”

    Gen. Buhari, overwhelmed by the massive crowds, slowly made his way to the stage and addressed the supporters in Hausa, reaffirming his commitment to restoring security, power supply, education and infrastructure. He also spoke on the vital importance of collecting the permanent voter cards and ensuring that votes are defended. “Ensure you stay behind and defend your votes,” he said to an enthusiastic audience who replied, screaming: Sai Buhari! Baba oyoyo!

    Kwankwaso said he was optimistic that Gen. Buhari would be sworn in as  the president.

    Tinubu said:  Nigeria sai Buhari, Kano sai Ganduje, Kano  Central Senatorial district, sai Kwankwaso. Thank you. God bless you.”

    The team moved to Jigawa at about 4:30pm.

    In Dutse. Gen. Buhari said his administration would utilise aviation, seaport and railways to generate revenue and job opportunities as alternative to oil.

    He promised to revive the agricultural sector, if elected, to provide food and enough raw material to agro-allied companies.

    He said: “As I have been saying wherever I go, if elected into office, my government will revitalise agriculture from subsistence to commercial through provision of modern techniques of farming.”

    He said the devaluation of the Naira, socio -economic backwardness, insecurity, and lack of social amenities will be a thing of the past

    Gen. Buhari said he would fight corruption headlong and would give opportunity to the less privileged to enjoy free education.

    Odigie-Oyegun said Nigeria must be brought back to life again.

    “What we are saying is that there will be peace in Nigeria, once more, if Buhari wins.”

    The gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Jigawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru Talamis, said once Gen. Buhari is voted in as the president, there woulf be no more corruption.