The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Wamakko

  • Wamakko mourns Emir of Tsafe

    Wamakko mourns Emir of Tsafe

    Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (APC-Sokoto) has commiserated with ýthe family, people and government of Zamfara State on the death of the Emir of Tsafe, Alhaji Habibu Aliyu.

    ýWamakko, in a statement by his media aide, Bashir Rabe Mani, described the death of the emir as collective one, saying the deceased meritoriously occupied the throne for 26 years.

    According to him, the monarch’s death is a great loss to his family, state and nation. He prayed God to repose his soul and grant the family, people and government the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Father, son, die inside well in Wamakko

    A middle-aged man, Malam Umar, and his teenage son, Abubakar, died inside a well they were digging at Gidan-Filani village, near Wamakko in Sokoto State, on Wednesday.

    An eye-witness told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Wamakko on Thursday, that the duo had dug up to nine feet when the well suddenly collapsed on Abubakar, who was inside.

    The witness said that a distraught Umar jumped into the well to rescue his son, but that none of them came out alive.

    Alhaji Abu Maitifas, Secretary, Tippers Drivers Association, (Sokoto Chapter), who visited the scene of the incident, also told NAN that their bodies were later retrieved by personnel of the Sokoto State Fire Service.

    He said that the two men, who hailed from Lokobi village in Wamakko Local Government, had been buried.

    The Director-General of the Fire Service, Alhaji Ibrahim Dingyadi, confirmed the incident, and described it as “unfortunate”. (NAN)

  • Recession: Nigeria will be stronger, say Wamakko, Ajimobi’s wife

    Recession: Nigeria will be stronger, say Wamakko, Ajimobi’s wife

    More prominent Nigerians have expressed optimism that the country will come out of the recession stronger

    Senator Aliyu Wamakko( APC-Sokoto) told reporters on Wednesday night that Nigerians would be better at the end of the recession.

    “Even now, I am confident that these unfortunate difficulties will soon be part of our history for good. I am also confident that we will overcome the challenges we are facing as a nation”.

    The wife of the Oyo State Governor Mrs Florence Ajimobi also expressed a similar sentiment.

    She spoke while inaugurating the Royal Resorts in Ibadan, and at the 84th birthday celebration of an Ibadan business mogul, Chief Kola Daisi.

    She urged entrepreneurs to help ginger the economy.

    Mrs Ajimobi said: “It is the entrepreneur that makes things happen in an economy. They are the drivers of the economy and the creators of wealth. If we must make progress in this economy, our private sector would have to play a major role, just as the public sector would also have to create an enabling environment.”

    On the Daisi family, she said:” The Kola Daisi family is well-known for their philanthropic and entrepreneurship gesture. This period when people are losing their jobs and faced with economic hardship, this new resort will ameliorate the hardship and provide jobs for people. This family is devoted to the development of our economy and Nigerians too should imbibe this culture.”

    Some oil sector players yesterday in Bayelsa State insisted that diversification remained the only possible solution to recession and other problems plaguing the economy.

    Stakeholders at the end of a two-day forum, organised in Yenagoa by the Italian oil firm, Eni, which operates the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), said Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) should explore the potential in the agricultural sector.

    Eni brought entrepreneurs of small and medium businesses operating under its various capacity development initiatives to a two-day Business Leadership Workshop as part of its 2016 local content activities.

    Representatives of the Nigeria Content Development Management Board (NCDMB), Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Yenagoa and Port Harcourt chapters of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, as well as Wider Perspective, among others, attended the event.

    Agip at the event signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zenith Bank PLC to expand its 2014 Vendors’ Finance Scheme, and make it easier for SMEs to access credit facilities and sustain their firms.

    Speaking at the event, the President, Yenagoa Chambers of Commerce, Chief Lionel Jonathan, said only diversification into agricultural development would take Nigeria out of the woods.

    NNPC’s Deputy Manager, Community Relations, Clementina Arubi, spoke on the development of the agricultural sector as the best alternative to oil and gas.

    She appealed to participants to seize the opportunity of the workshop to develop the agro-based sub sector, lamenting that despite its potential, Nigeria can only produce 40 per cent of its sugar needs.

    Arubi said despite having fertile soil to produce cassava, the country still imports starch from other countries.

    But Agip said it remained committed to the development and promotion of made-in Nigeria products to improve the country’s economy.

    Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, NAOC, Mr. Massimo Insulla, who was represented by NAOC’s Manager, Nigerian Content Coordination District, Mr. Albert Ijigwe, said Agip would continue to respect Nigerian laws and guidelines relating to process for award of contracts.

    Also speaking, the General Manager, Zonal Coordinator, NCDMB, Mr. Gina Gina, who represented the board’s acting Executive Secretary, said the board would continue to enforce utilisation of made-in-Nigeria goods and available facilities.

    Gina described SMEs as the critical segment of the Nigeria business community saying they accounted for 90 per cent of business enterprises in the country.

  • Wamakko: measures by Buhari’ll start yielding dividends

    Wamakko: measures by Buhari’ll start yielding dividends

    Senator Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto) has said measures put in place by President Muhammadu Buhari, will soon start yielding dividends.

    “Nigerians will, therefore, soon start reaping abundantly from these laudable measures,” Wamakko said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Sokoto, yesterday.

    Wamakko, who represents Sokoto Central, added that the Federal Government had brought insecurity under control.

    The lawmaker said: ”The hitherto complicated problems of security, especially the insurgency in Northeast, will soon be history.

    ”The region had been liberated by the military, and it is always a happy story there.

    ”… kidnapping, armed robbery, militancy and other related issues are also on the verge of being eradicated.

    ”The nation’s military and other security agencies really deserve a pat on the back, although complacency should not be allowed to set in.”

    Wamakko extolled the anti-corruption fight by President Muhammadu Buhari, regretting that the social pandemic robbed Nigeria of the development.

    He solicited the support of Nigerians in the ”intricate” anti-corruption crusade.

    Wamakko hailed Buhari for his efforts to revamp agriculture, curb unemployment and other problems bedevilling Nigeria.

  • Wamakko donates clothes to 10,000 in Sokoto

    No fewer than 10,000 needy persons in Sokoto State have received clothing materials from Senator Aliyu Wamakko, representing Sokoto Central Senatorial District.

    The beneficiaries include over 4000 women, children, youths and the aged.

    Each of the male beneficiaries got five yards of guinea brocade and a sum of N1,000 for sewing, while each female beneficiary was given a wrapper and N1,000.

    Senator Wamakko while distributing the items said that the gesture was aimed at assisting the beneficiaries to celebrate the forthcoming Eid-il-Fitr with ease.

    “There is no auspicious time to assist the less-privileged than during the annual Ramadan fast,” he said.

    Some of the beneficiaries hailed the lawmaker for the gesture. They urged other wealthy persons to emulate him.

    “We sincerely appreciate and acknowledge Wamakko’s concern and recognition for the less privilege and needy persons in Sokoto state. It is a rare reputation to earn by a leader. Only Allah will reward him for his consistent care and support to the have-nots,” they prayed.

  • Buhari has good plans for Nigerians, says Wamakko

    Ex-Sokoto State Governor  Aliyu Wamakko yesterday reassured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari had good plans for the country.

    Wamakko, who represents Sokoto Central on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the President’s style of leadership was good for the advancement of the country.

    “He has a vision for a stronger, united and independent Nigeria in terms of infrastructure, economic development, security and social justice as well as respect for law and order.”

    The lawmaker, who spoke in Tureta, the headquarters of Tureta Local Government, at the inauguration of the councils’ election campaigns of the party, stressed that the APC-led Federal Government had good plans for Nigerians.

    He said the federal and Sokoto State governments had good intentions to revamp agriculture, solid minerals and other key sectors.

    Wamakko said: “Nigerians need to be patient and prayerful, as there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

    He described Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as “a worthy successor, who has the interest of the people at heart.”

    Tambuwal promised to sustain Wamakko’s legacies and initiate new programmes and policies with bearing on the people.

    He said: “I will strengthen and focus on education, health, agriculture, youths and women empowerment, among others.”

    The governor hoped that APC would win the chairmanship seats in the 23 local governments and 244 councillorship seats.

    The party Chairman, Alhaji Suleiman Danmadamin-Isa, said APC was determined to consolidate its victory, adding that the people would vote the party during the polls.

  • Tambuwal, Wamakko empower Sokoto inmates

    No fewer than 107 inmates of the Sokoto Central Prisons have graduated from various Qur’anic recitation and memorisation courses and skills acquisition programmes. They received cash donations of N2.88 million from Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal and his predecessor, Senator Aliyu Wamakko of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The donation was to enable them to set up their own businesses which will make them to be self-reliant.

    Forty-Four of the inmates graduated from the recitation and memorisation of the Holy Qur’an, while 63 graduated from various skills acquisition programmes.

    Theý donations were announced in Sokoto during the graduation ceremony of the inmates organised by the state command of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) in conjunction with Senator Wamakko. As a result, Tambuwal donated N2 million while Wamakko donated N 880,000.

    Speaking at the event, Governor Tambuwal, who was represented by the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Mani Maishinku Katami commended the command for organising the event, which is second in its annual series.

    Also, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111, who spoke through the ý District Head of Sokoto North, Alhaji Buhari Abubakar, called on Nigerians to complement the efforts of the government in providing the welfare needs of prison inmates.

    In his brief remarks, Senator Wamakko, who pledged the commitment of the National Assembly towards decongesting Nigerian prisons, noted that the prisons were established in order to reform inmates and give them a new sense of life and not to expose them to hardshipý.

    ‘’I am also calling on Chief Justices in Nigeria, the police and the courts to make deliberate efforts to ensure speedy dispensation of justice.

    ‘’This is important in decongesting the prisons which are overwhelmed with awaiting trial inmates across the nation,’’ Wamakko said.

    He explained that his plea premised upon the adage that justice delayed, is justice denied.

    Senator Wamakko, who is Chairman, Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, had also donated copies of the Holy Qur’an, clothing materials and various working tools to the inmates.

    The items donated included sewing and knitting machines, equipment for welding and electrical electronics, as well as items for soap making, among others.

    The Controller-General of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Dr Peter Ezenwa, who was represented by Assistant Controller-General Budget and Finance (ACG), Mr Shehu Kangiwa said the Federal Government is fully committed to prisoners’ reformation.

    ‘’The service is also committed to improving staff welfare in accordance with the change mantra of President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ he added.

    The Controller of the state command of the service, Mrs Hauwa Shettima Bukar lamented that the prison was overwhelmed with awaiting trial inmates.

    ‘’The capacity of Sokoto Central Prison is 576, saying that the prison is hosting above its capacity. Currently, the prison is hosting about754.

  • Buhari, Tambuwal, Wamakko meet over ministerial nominee

    Buhari, Tambuwal, Wamakko meet over ministerial nominee

    To resolve the controversy surrounding the nomination of Aisha Abubakar as minister from Sokoto State, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met the Sokoto state Governor, Aminu Waziri and his predecessor, Senator Aliyu Magatakrda Wamakko.

    The Nation gathered that the outcome of the one hour meeting was fruitful.

    “At the moment, all issues are being resolved‎,” a source told our correspondent.

     

  • Assembly begins probe of Tambuwal, Wamakko

    Assembly begins probe of Tambuwal, Wamakko

    The Sokoto State House of Assembly said yesterday that its probe of the state’s finances was to ensure that due process was followed in the utilisation of the funds.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the assembly had directed the government to furnish it with details of the state’s finances and expenditure from January to August.

    The probe will cover the tenure of former Governor Aliyu Wamakko, who handed over to Governor Aminu Tambuwal on May 29.

    Alhaji Malami Galadanchi, the chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, told NAN that the probe “is to examine expenditures, state of revenues, financial statements and the beneficiaries of such.

    “Our aim is to ensure that the actualisation and principles of the expenditures being utilised by the executive are in the right order, and to make sure that due process is complied with.”

    “We also need to know the beneficiaries of such expenditures, as well as the debt, if any, for the benefit of the state and the public.”

    Galadunchi said the committee met with the Accountant-General, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi and the Auditor-General, Alhaji Sambo Nawawi, on the issue.

    He said the meeting yielded an assurance that the records of government finances within the period under review would be submitted to the Assembly on Friday.

    The chairman pledged the Assembly’s support of Tambuwal’s determination to fight corruption and ensure good governance.

     

     

  • Wamakko inaugurates rice mill

    Wamakko inaugurates rice mill

    A rice milling factory established by an indigenous investor in Sokoto, Alhaji Nura Attajiri was inaugurated at the weekend by the state governor, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko.

    The rice mill is to complement rice production in the state and beyond.

    However, the combined capacity of the mill is 1,250 kilograms, per hour, while the firm operates for eight hours daily, six days a week.

    Wamakko who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Muhammad Arzika Tureta commended Attajiri for the gesture.

    The governor who noted the efforts put to realise the establishment of the rice, said: “The firm was set up with two loans of N20 million and N10 million instalments, advanced to him by the state government out of the nearly N3billion loans disbursed to farmers and agro-investors in the state.”

    Wamakko while stressing the landmark achievements recorded by his government thus far, also said it gave top priority to the providing subsidised fertlizers, agricultural inputs, tractors, pesticides and extension services, among others.

    He further expressed happiness that such efforts were now yielding results with more people in the state producing more food for subsistence consumption and sales.

    Also, the state Commissioner for Commerce, Alhaji Aliyu Achida, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed commended governor Wamakko for implementing several policies and programmes aimed at boosting food production and security.

    Speaking, Managing Director of the Mill, Alhaji Nura Attajiri lamented the massive importation of rice, noting that although the nation has been blessed with vast fertile capable of producing all types of crops, including rice.