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The Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has advised its newly recruited officers to maintain discipline and exhibit the highest level of professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
The NSCDC Commandant General, Dr Abubakar Audi, gave the advice during the passing out parade of the 2019 recruited officers in Katsina on Wednesday.
The 368 recruited officers participated in a three-months training in Katsina state.
Audi was represented by ACG Babangida Abdullahi, the Provost, College of Peace and Disaster Management, Katsina.
According to him, the recruitment is part of the efforts to resuscitate and reposition the NSCDC for improved service delivery.
He assured the officers of the corps’ readiness to safeguard their welfare to boost morale and encourage effective discharge of duties.
The commandant general further emphasised that more training and retraining on counter-terrorism and intelligence gathering would be organised to improve the capacity of officers and men of the corps.
The state NSCDC Commandant, Mr Mohammed Sanusi-Bello, thanked Audi for his efforts in providing all the needed equipment for completion of the recruitment.
Sanusi-Bello also commended Gov. Aminu Masari, for his continuous support to the corps in the state.
He urged the newly recruited officers to show the highest level of integrity and loyalty to the constitution of Nigeria.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the governor on Drug Narcotics assured the corps of the state government readiness to assist them in the protection of lives and properties of the citizenry.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Katsina State Government says that shortage of funds has contributed a lot to the delay in development of some parts of the education sector since the inception of Gov. Aminu Masari’s administration.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Prof. Badamasi Lawal who disclosed this while speaking to newsmen on Monday in his office, said the challenge had affected every sector.
The Commissioner who was responding to newsmen on some dilapidated school structures, added that the government could not do everything at the same time.
According to him, with the shortage of funds, the state government had done a lot in terms of schools partial renovation, full rehabilitation and construction of new ones.
“Despite the shortage of funds this government found itself, almost every other structure was dilapidated when the government came on board in 2015.
“But I am happy to say, look at the enormous development this government brought in education, before you look at the other side where it’s still waiting.
“We know it is waiting, it is not a hidden thing. We can not go round at the same time because of the shortage of funds.
“But I assure you, if you go through our records, you will find this evidence.” The Commissioner said.
He added that, “If you go round to areas where this government did work from 2015 to date, you will witness a number of schools that have been either totally or partially renovated across the state.
“These are some of the developments or key indicators that would show that Katsina State under Gov. Masari, has done very well in its own resources.
“Of course, there are so many areas where you will meet problems. But let me start with the achievements we made so far within this period.
“Let me say infrastructure, when you go across these three senatorial zones in the state, we have constructed seven new schools.
“We have also partially renovated many schools – fully renovated over 57 across the 34 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
“Look at this, we have 560 secondary schools in the state. So look at it, what comes to Katsina is the only thing we can do.
“We thank God, at the end of the day you can now see the impact of this. We know, even by budgeting, because you cannot spend money by budgeting.
“Whatever we budgeted for, not up to 40 per cent of that money comes to Katsina. Since from the budget you can see the deficit.
Prof. Lawal explained that, whatever the government of Gov. Masari intends to do can only be achieved when there is money.
The commissioner said that supposing the government had enough money, it would have done more.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that during a recent visit to some communities by a team of newsmen, some community leaders expressed concern over the poor condition of schools in their areas.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Katsina has stressed the need for a robust collaboration with other security agencies to tackle drug abuse and other criminalities in the state.
The NDLEA Commander in the state, Mr Mohammed Bashir, stressed the need in Katsina at a seminar on the role of law enforcement officers in substance abuse prevention and inter agency synergy and cooperation.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the seminar is part of activities to mark the 2022 UN International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
“The need for robust and effective interagency synergy and collaboration is the only way to win the fight against crime and criminality in the country.
“The seminar drew participants from all the military, paramilitary and other law enforcement agencies and is aimed at chatting a way forward on the effective and efficient need for synergy.
“If the criminal elements in the country synergize while carrying out coordinated attacks, nothing stops law enforcement agencies from doing so and overpowering them,” he said.
He explained to the participants the different ways of drug concealment, how to achieve drug reduction and demand as well as ways to achieve a drug free society.
The Katsina Customs Area Comptroller, Mr Dalha Wada-Chedi in his presentation, said the time had come for collaborative efforts, rather than outsmarting one another.
The presentation was on: ” importance of synergy among security operatives in Katsina for effective coordinated border management.”
Wada-Chedi added that with the seminar, periodic joint meetings were encouraged to achieve the desired results.
The Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Masari on Drugs, Narcotics and Human Trafficking, Alhaji Hamza Borodo, said the state government had the political will to ensure drug abuse was eliminated in the state.
According to him, as part of this political will, the government recently inaugurated a state Drug Control Committee to achieve the objectives.
He said that the committee would ensure each and every aspect of life received a touch to curtail the menace and proliferation of drugs trafficking in the state.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Katsina State Government has reiterated its commitment to continue to support its agencies that would boost agricultural productivity.
The Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Masari on Agriculture, Dr. Abba Yakubu Abdullahi, made this known on Saturday during the mid-term stakeholders meeting of RAYUWA project, in Katsina.
The project is an initiative of Pyxera Global, an NGO that works to enhance food security in the country in partnership with the federal and state governments.
He commended the project for its impact in improving the lives of the rural populace in Kafur, Malumfashi, Bakori and Danja Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Earlier, the Director of the programme, Dr Lekan Tobi, said the primary aim of the project was also to improve the agricultural practices of farmers.
According to him, it can be achieved by supporting them through the value chain of food production, processing and marketing.
He explained that the RAYUWA project had provided seeds and other farming inputs to farmers and trained them on modern methods of planting and processing of various food crops.
Tobi noted that the project had also encouraged school enrolment by providing teaching and learning equipment and recruiting teachers within the benefiting communities.
The Dan-Galadiman Katsina, and District Head of Kafur, Alhaji AbdurRahman Rabe, lauded the efforts of RAYUWA project in enhancing the agricultural practices of small holder farmers.
He added that the NGO had supported farmers through mechanisation, provision of farming inputs and training on global best practices in crop and livestock agriculture.
In his remarks, an official of the project, Alhaji Auwal Mahmud, said in the course of implementing the project, structures were put in place to ensure its sustainability, particularly by creating community ownership and providing step-down training for beneficiaries.
Some of the beneficiaries, Malam Nasir Usman and Ibrahim Isiyaku, said the project had improved their income and enhanced their farming practices.
Another farmer, Abubakar Usman, said with the seeds donated by the project, he made over N2 million profit from last year’s dry season farming.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
A Qatar-based NGO, Education Above All Foundation (EAA) said it earmarked N332.8m to support 20,802 out-of-school children in Katsina State.
Mr Rahama Rihood, the Chief of United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Kano Field Office, made this known on Friday at the inauguration of the cash transfer programme in Mani Local Government Area (LGA), Katsina.
According to him, the cash transfer programme is under the EAA’s ‘Educate a Child’ programmes implemented by UNICEF in Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.
The UNICEF Chief added that, “Through this cash transfer programme, a total of N332,832.000 will be disbursed to 20,802 out of school children in Kafur, Mani and Safana LGAs of Katsina State.
“The funds will be disbursed through 10,557 female parents and caregivers to assist the children return to school.
“Each female will receive N8, O00 per tranche, twice in 2022, amounting to N16,000 per beneficiary.
“The cash transfer programme will ensure that beneficiaries are enrolled and retained in school, including Integrated Quranic Schools (lQSs), and that they are provided with literacy and numeracy skills linked to employability and livelihood schemes.”
Rihood said that the cash transfer programme was being delivered together with the birth registration programme which had so far seen the registration of 20,400 children.
“I am also excited to learn that the beneficiaries of the cash transfer will be linked to the Katsina state social protection register.
“This comprehensive approach to programme design is more likely to be sustainable and have lasting effects for the beneficiary communities.
“In addition to putting in place necessary legislations, I would like to urge the Katsina State Government to allocate and dispense more resources to the education sector.
He called for “the education development budget that addresses the improvement of the learning environment that directly impacts the quality of learning outcomes.
“I would like to assure the government or Katsina State of UNICEF’s continued partnership to deliver on the right to safe, inclusive and quality learning for every child,” he said.
He pointed out that Katsina’s success in increasing primary enrollment and completion was truly commendable.
According to him, the recent law on access to basic education enacted by the executive arms set the stage for delivering on all children’s right to basic education.
“Yet we know that some of the most disadvantaged children in Katsina, as across other Northern states, remain excluded from education.
“This is particularly true for girls, who face increasingly restricted access as they enter their adolescent years.
“Just 58 per cent of primary school-aged girls in Katsina are attending school, and this percentage decreases to less than 30 per cent by the time they reach secondary school age.
“Overall, only 1 in 3 children who completed primary education, transit to secondary school. There are many gendered reasons for the low transition rate between primary and junior secondary school.
“But an overriding challenge that the state and the nation must confront in earnest is the availability of junior secondary schools to meet the large and growing adolescent population in Nigeria”, Rihood said.
Gov. Aminu Masari commended the foundation and UNICEF for the support, saying it would go a long way in returning many out of school children to class.
He promised to give them all the necessary support in executing the programme, adding that it was a complement to his ongoing commitment in the education sector in the state.
NewsSourceCredit: NAN
Don charges APC to guard against losing governorship election in Katsina State
Election
By Abdullahi Shugaba
Katsina June 13, 2023 A varsity teacher at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University, (UMYU), Katsina, Dr Kabir Yandaki, on Monday charged the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Katsina State to address lingering crises between stakeholders and supporters.
He warned that if the crises were not addressed, the APC risked losing the 2023 governorship election in the state.
The lecturer called on Gov. Aminu Masari as leader of the party in the state to act urgently to avoid the collapse of the party.
“If the crises persist and APC Katsina chapter fails to carefully handle the problems, the party may lose the 2023 governorship election.
“What is expected is unity among members to face the bigger challenge ahead of them in 2023
“Opposition parties in the state have presented popular candidates for the 2023 election. They are carefully watching to benefit from the crisis in the state’s APC,’’ he said.
Yandaki said that it was unfortunate that some APC stakeholders in Katsina State were attacking the personalities of President Muhammadu Buhari and that of Gov. Masari
“The President, in view of his position and age, deserves to be respected by all party faithful and Nigerians at large,’’ he stressed.
Yandaki, Head of Department of Political Science, UMYU, urged APC’s gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Umar Radda, to extend his hand of love and fellowship to his opponents at the primary election and their supporters.
He observed that after the primary election, some party chieftains vowed not to work with Radda.
(NAN)
The Yoruba Muslim Scholars in Nigeria has commended the resolution of the 11 All Progressives Congress (APC) Northern governors to support zoning the presidency to the South in 2023 after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure. The group gave the commendation in a statement jointly signed by Sheikh AbdurRasheed Mayaleke, its President General, Prof Olaiya Abideen, its Secretary General and Abdulganiy Ezra, its Publicity Secretary on Sunday in Abuja. The group recalled that the Concerned Yoruba Muslims Scholars in Nigeria had been calling for a Muslim presidential candidacy from South-West for sometime. “And we see the present zoning decision as a step in the right direction, we are greatly indebted to President Buhari, who not only created enabling environment for the resolution of the lock-jam. “But also went ahead to endorse the resolution of the Northern governors position in the overall interest of unity, peaceful and mutual trust and progress of our nation. “We acknowledge this courageous stance for equity and moral rectitude,” the group said, adding that the zeal and determination of all stakeholders to engage realistically and honestly was acknowledged. It described the resolution as an uncommon resolve to confront issues militating against the country’s march towards nationhood and ultimate greatness. It added that by the gesture, it was convinced that the ascendant march towards stability, progress and prosperity was not truncated by selfish or parochial interests. The group congratulated all the aspirants that stepped down for exemplary conduct, saying that posterity would remember them for good. “All the stakeholders that intervened at one point or the other behind the scene are well appreciated. “Special mention must be made of the leader of the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto and the leadership role of Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria in this regard. “While we look forward to the emergence of a Muslim from among the loyal and competent aspirants from the South-West, we wish the party a hitch-free convention,” it said. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 11 governors from the North had in a statement on Saturday, announced their decision to support power shift to the South after the end of the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari. The governors, while urging presidential aspirants from the region to step down from the 2023 presidential race, said ”the decision to support power shift to the South is in the best interest of the country”. The Northern APC governors also commended their Jigawa counterpart, Gov. Abubakar Badaru, for withdrawing from the race ahead of the party’s presidential primary election slated for June 6 to June 8.
Among the governors who signed the communique at the end of the meeting where the decision was taken, are Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State, Abubakar Bello, Niger; Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa and Prof. Umara Zulum, Borno.
Others are Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau, Dr Umar Ganduje, Kano State; Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and former Governor of Sokoto State, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko; Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna State; Muhammad Yahaya, Gombe state, and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara.
(NAN)
The Chief Medical Director (CMD), Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Katsina, Dr.Suleiman Muhammad said the Federal Government has approved the conversion of the centre to a Teaching Hospital. Muhammad told newsmen in Katsina on Monday that the development followed singing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal and Katsina State Government. He said that efforts to covert the Centre as a clinical training point for medical students of Umaru Musa Yar’adua University (UMYU), Katsina has been on for long, adding that it has became a reality. According to him, the conversion is sequel to the approval by President Muhammadu Buhari that sealed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the FG and Katsina State Government. The CMD said the MoU clearly stipulated that the Teaching Hospital would be used as clinical training site for medical students of UMYU, Katsina. “The MoU was signed on 8th December, 2020 by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Katsina State on behalf of the Katsina State Government” “While the the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire signed on belf of the Federal Government of Nigeria” “The occasion was witnessed by the management of UMYU and Federal Teaching Hospital Katsina (FTHK) as well as Katsina State Elders Forum. He commended Gov. Aminu Masari, Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari, the board of management of the hospital and the Katsina Elders Forum among others for the feat achieved. (NAN)
Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State flagged off the construction of a N4.3 billion interchange flyover in Katsina metropolis on Wednesday.
He said the contractor had been paid 50 per cent of the cost of project and that it would be delivered within 12 months.
The governor explained that the project, the third of its kind in the state, would reduce traffic congestion in the Government Reservation Area of Katsina metropolis.
“In 2015, we established a committee for urban renewal, especially in Katsina, Funtua, Daura, Malumfashi, Dutsinma and other major big towns of the state.
“In Katsina, our plan is to improve traffic flow at the major entrances, especially at Kofar Kaura, Kofar Kwaya, Sarki Abdulrahman Road and at Kofar Guga.
“We thank God that we are here today at Sarki Abdulrahman Road to flag off this project, and within this period.
“Before May 29, 2023, God willing, we will be able to complete it, including the improvement of traffic flow at Kofar Guga.
“Due to the volume of traffic at Kofar Guga Roundabout, we may not have a similar arrangement like this, but we will produce an arrangement that will improve traffic flow,’’ he said.
Masari added that his administration had done much in terms of development projects notwithstanding economic challenges occasioned by the fall in crude oil prices, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He expressed regret that serious security challenges had consumed a lot of Katsina State’s resources.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport, Alhaji Tasi’u Dandagoro, said the project would cost N4,327,129,296.55.
He added that the Kofar Kaura Underpass project had reached 80 per cent completion, while the project at Kofar Kwaya had reached 40 per cent completion.
The two projects would be completed within the next three-and-half months, he said.
In his remarks, representative of the construction company, Mr Maruen Ghostine, apologised to traders at the site area over the inconvenience they’d suffer during project execution.
He assured the traders of speedy execution of the project.
Editted by AbdulFatai Hakeem
(NAN)
President Muhammadu Buhari has extended best wishes to Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State on the occasion of his 72nd birthday.
The president’s message is contained in a statement issued by Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, on Sunday in Abuja.
President Buhari said : “I wish you good health and long life as you continue to serve the nation with your well-known spirit of humility and hard work.”
“Gov. Masari has written many chapters in the development of our young democracy and in Katsina, where he is about to end his two terms as Governor.”
He noted that Masari’s immense patriotism, hard work and self-discipline would continue to be appreciated as assets of the nation.
“May you stay healthy and live long and under your leadership, our wish for a peaceful and prosperous Katsina state will be realised,” he added.
(NAN)
