Tag: Katsina State

  • List of top dignitaries at Daura for Buhari’s burial

    List of top dignitaries at Daura for Buhari’s burial

    The funeral of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who died in London on Sunday at the age of 82, is currently ongoing with  high-powered delegation of political figures and dignitaries  arriving in Daura, Katsina State.

    The ancient town, Buhari’s birthplace and final resting place, is witnessing a surge in human and vehicular movement, as Nigerians from all walks of life gather to pay their last respects to one of the country’s most influential leaders.

    Among the early arrivals in Daura are heavyweight political figures, including two former vice presidents and an array of former governors and ministers.

    Some of the notable names sighted include:

    Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President

    Yemi Osinbajo, former Vice President

    Rotimi Amaechi, ex-Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State

    Aminu Masari, former Governor of Katsina State

    Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State

    Ahmad Lawan, former Senate President

    Ali Isa Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy

    Ibikunle Amosun, former Governor of Ogun State

    Ali Modu Sheriff, ex-Governor of Borno State and former PDP Chairman

    Yahaya Bello, former Governor of Kogi State

    Aliyu Wamakko, former Governor of Sokoto State

    Kayode Fayemi, former Governor of Ekiti State

    Pauline Tallen, former Minister of Women Affairs

  • Katsina extends work-free day for Buhari’s burial

    Katsina extends work-free day for Buhari’s burial

    Following the postponement for the burial of the former President Muhammad Buhari in Daura, the Katsina State Government has also extended its earlier work-free day to Tuesday, July 15.

    The Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Alhaji Abdullahi Garba-Faskari announced this in Katsina on Monday, in a statement signed by his Director Press, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu-Yar’adua.

    According to him, the decision to extend the work-free day from Monday, to include Tuesday, followed an announcement for the postponement of the burial to tomorrow.

    Recall that earlier today, while briefing newsmen at the Government House, Gov. Dikko Radda announced the postponement of the burial.

    The SSG disclosed that the remains of the former president is expected to arrive in Katsina by noon on Tuesday, and the funeral prayer is scheduled to hold at 2p.m in Daura.

    “His Excellency has approved for extension of the public holiday earlier declared, from Monday, July 14, to Tuesday, July 15, 2025, to enable the civil servants and other workers to attend the funeral prayer for the departed great leader.

    “As the nation continues to mourn the demise of this distinguished elder statesman, Gov. Radda requested well-wishers, associates, and members of the public to continue to pray for his gentle soul. Late Buhari dedicated his life to the service of this country.

    “May the Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus, and give the family, Katsina State, and the entire nation the fortitude to bear this great loss,” Radda prayed.

  • Katsina declares Monday work-free day to honour Buhari

    Katsina declares Monday work-free day to honour Buhari

    The Katsina State Government has declared Monday, July 14, as work-free day in the state, following the death of the former President Muhammad Buhari.

    This is contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abdullahi Faskari, signed and issued by his Director of Press, Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu-Yar’adua.

    According to Garba-Faskari, Gov. Dikko Radda gave the directives to honour the late former president who died on Sunday, July 13, 2025 in London.

    He noted that the holiday was intended to enable workers and residents of the state to join the rest of the country in mourning the loss and offering prayers for the late leader.

    According to him, Radda expressed profound condolences to the family of the late former president, the people of the state, and the entire nation.

    “He described late Muhammadu Buhari as a great leader, a hero, a true democrat and a patriotic elder statesman whose life was dedicated to the service of Nigeria,” he said.

    The SSG disclosed that the governor further prayed to Almighty Allah to grant mercy to the gentle soul of the late former President, forgive his shortcomings, and reward his good deeds with Aljannatul Firdaus.

    He explained that details regarding the burial arrangements will be communicated to the public in due course.

  • 2027: PDP vows to unseat APC in Katsina

    2027: PDP vows to unseat APC in Katsina

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has urged its loyalists to remain committed and stand firm to reclaim their mandate in 2027 general elections.

    Its governorship candidate during the 2023 general elections in Katsina, Sen. Yakubu Lado-Danmarke stated this in Katsina on Sunday, during a rally which drew party’s officials from the 34 Local Government Areas of the state.

    The PDP former governorship candidate further declared that: “I am still a card carrying member of PDP and I have no plan to leave the party for any coalition.”

    According to him, all his supporters across the state are still members of the party, and will continue to remain.

    Recall that a faction of the party led by Dr Mustapha Inuwa, on Sunday, officially announced its decision to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Lado-Danmarke said the news going round that PDP had collapsed to another party was not true, hence the party members and the general public should disregard such fake news.

    He attributed the failure of the PDP in the last general elections in the state to lack of competence of the campaign coordinator in the state.

    The former governorship candidate explained that PDP remained optimistic in the next general elections, while calling on members of the party to be committed to the success of the party at all levels.

    He said : “I want to assure you that there is no political party in this country that can reduce the current hardship faced by the people, except our party, the PDP.

    “Everyone of you knows the kind of good governance experienced during the leadership of PDP at the national, state and local government levels.

    “I believe if the eight years of PDP were to be rewinded, Nigerians will definitely feel as if they were in paradise. Therefore, you should not allow anyone to change your mind.”

    He called on the party officials to cascade the message to supporters across local government, ward and unit levels.

    Earlier, the PDP Chairman in the state, Alhaji Nura Amadi-Kurfi said the party was too big to join any political party as coalition, saying: “if anyone wants us to join hands as coalition, it must be under the PDP”.

  • Downpour: Flood sacks Katsina community

    Downpour: Flood sacks Katsina community

    Flood, caused by a heavy midnight rainfall, has sacked many residents of Dankama community, in Kaita Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State from their houses.

    The incident was confirmed to NAN in Katsina on Sunday, by a resident of the area, Alhaji Ishaq Sarkin-Fulani.

    During the early hours  of Sunday, a heavy downpour was experienced across some parts of the state.

    Sarkin-Fulani said that the situation, which started at about 3am had affected many houses around six areas with ponds (Kududdufi).

    He explained that the flooding had sacked the affected residents from the area as flood waters ad taken over their houses.

    According to him, many residents were left stranded throughout the night, forcing some of them to seek shelter from friends and other relatives that were not affected.

    He attributed the situation to the blockage of many drainages across the town with refuse by some unidentified residents.

    Sarkin-Fulani added that some of the drainages also needed urgent repairs by the government as they were collapsing.

    Another resident of the area, Alhaji Isma’il Namadi, disclosed that the flooding had also affected the Dankama Juma’at mosque.

    He appealed to the state government to as a matter of urgency come to their aid, in order to reduce the hardship caused by the flood.

    In her reaction, Hajiya Binta Dangani, the Executive Secretary of the state’s Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), also confirmed the incident.

    According to her, arrangements were underway to send officials to the area to assess the level of damage caused by the disaster.

  • Rainstorm destroys schools, staff quarters in Katsina

    Rainstorm destroys schools, staff quarters in Katsina

    The Katsina State Government says a devastating rainstorm has damaged some schools, as well as staff quarters, across Funtua zone of the state.

    The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa disclosed this in a statement, by Malam Sani Danjuma, the ministry’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) on Tuesday in Katsina.

    Musa-Musawa disclosed that the storm caused significant damages to infrastructure and staff quarters, across multiple educational institutions in the affected area.

    “The ministry extends its heartfelt sympathy to the schools, staff and their families impacted by this calamity.

    ”We pray for divine intervention to alleviate the sufferings of those affected and assure them of the ministry’s support during this challenging time,” the commissioner said.

    She urged management of the affected schools to ensure that all ongoing school activities continued, while emphasising the importance of maintaining student attendance and academic continuity.

    According to her, the ministry is assessing the extent of damages and will provide further updates on measures to address the situation.

  • Katsina: 287 former aspirants, candidates dump PDP for coalition

    Katsina: 287 former aspirants, candidates dump PDP for coalition

    Former candidates and aspirants for the positions of House of Assembly, Chairmanship, and Councilorship, in previous elections under Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Katsina, have dumped the party.

    The contestants, numbering 287, took the decision to join the Coalition of Political Parties.

    Speaking at a gathering in Katsina on Thursday, Malam Jamilu Yahaya, the Chairman of the House of Assembly Aspirants’ Forum, said their decision to join the coalition was informed by their desire to bring positive change.

    According to him, before taking such decision by 25 of them, series of meetings were held by the members, which at the end they decided to dump PDP and join the coalition.

    He explained that there were about 20 per cent of their members that were still in PDP holding positions, but assured that before the forthcoming general elections they would also join.

    Yahaya assured the coalition leadership that as new members, they would remain loyal and ready to join any political party the leadership resolved to be part of.

    Also, the Chairman of Local Government Chairmanship Aspirants’ Forum, Alhaji Yasir Ibrahim, said that betrayal and deceitful in the PDP, forced about 13 of them to leave the party.

    He said: “We were called to contest for the position of local government chairmen, but unfortunately we were deceived by a faction of the party.

    “We struggled to obtained the expression of interest forms, but to our greatest surprise, our names were not submitted to the electoral body.”

    According to him, PDP is no longer an opposition party in the state, “hence our decision to join the coalition for a stronger opposition.”

    The Chairman of Councilors Aspirants’ Forum, Malam Aminu Yunusa, expressed the readiness of his members to work with the coalition towards salvaging the state and the country as a whole.

    He added that before their decision to join the movement, he had to make sure that his members, numbering about 247, would be carried along in the new journey.

    During the meeting, two House of Assembly candidates under the PDP in the previous elections, also joined the coalition.

    Earlier, the leader of the coalition, Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa, expressed happiness with the decision of the new members, assuring every member of equal treatment.

    He advised members of the coalition to exercise patience, assuring that stakeholders were working tirelessly to provide a right political party for them to join.

    Receiving the new members, Sen. Ahmed Babba-Kaita, said: “I know the value of the new members, and their struggle in the PDP before leaving.

    “The new members were deceived by the faction of the party, therefore, their decision to join the coalition is greatly welcomed.

    “The forthcoming general elections is going to be between the APC and the masses. It is not a hidden issue, nobody is doubting that Nigerians are suffering.”

  • Troops kill 8 terrorists in Katsina

    Troops kill 8 terrorists in Katsina

    Troops of 17 Brigade, operating under Operation Fasan Yamma at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Kurfi in Katsina State, have on Wednesday, eliminated eight terrorists in an encounter along Kurfi – Batsari Road.

    This is contained in a statement by the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, on Thursday in Abuja.

    Kangye said the troops swiftly engaged the terrorists and thwarted their plans after a prolonged duel.

    He said the terrorists suffered significant casualties, with recovery of five AK-47 rifles, six AK-47 magazines, and 13 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.

    According to him, a soldier was however, wounded in action and evacuated to 17 Brigade Medical Centre for treatment.

    “The situation remains calm, while troops’ morale and fighting efficiency remain high. “The Defence Headquarters commends the bravery and professionalism of the troops involved in the operation.

    “We reassure Nigerians of our continued efforts to ensure the safety and security of our citizens,” he said.

  • Katsina Govt speaks on negotiating with bandits

    Katsina Govt speaks on negotiating with bandits

    The Katsina State Government has denied claims that it is actively negotiating with bandits. Instead, it clarified that its primary focus is on reintegrating repentant criminals who voluntarily surrender their weapons and choose to embrace peace.

    TheNewsGuru reports that this clarification follows the emergence of viral reports and video footage featuring wanted bandit leader Ado Aleru.

    Aleru, who has been on the police watchlist since 2020 with a ₦5 million bounty on his head, was seen addressing traditional rulers, local officials, and personnel from the Nigerian Army.

    This sparked public outcry, as many perceived the situation as evidence of state-sanctioned negotiations. At a press conference on Monday, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Mu’azu, emphatically stated that the Dikko Radda-led .

    “The position of the government is very clear — from the beginning, Governor Dikko Radda has said the Katsina government will not negotiate with bandits,” Mu’azu declared.

    He added, however, that any bandit willing to lay down arms would be given a chance to reintegrate and live as a law-abiding citizen.

    “If the bandits feel the need to drop their arms and come forward, the government is ready to give them the opportunity to live like every normal citizen of Katsina State,” he said.

    Mu’azu explained that the peace meetings seen in recent weeks were initiated by local communities, not by the state government.

    He confirmed that Jibia and Batsari LGAs had witnessed successful dialogue between community leaders and some bandit groups.

    “We are lucky that in Jibia and Batsari, the bandits came forward through messengers and initiated discussions with their communities’ leadership,” he said.

    He noted that a similar peace outreach took place in Danmusa last week, where discussions between community representatives and repentant bandits had led to “another form of peace deal.”

    “The discussions were robust and we are currently seeing peaceful activities in these areas,” he added.

    Despite the cautious optimism, the commissioner warned that the state would continue military operations in high-risk areas such as Kankara, Faskari, Sabuwa, and Dandume, even as peace discussions continue elsewhere.

    “We will give them the opportunity to continue normal lives, but in case they renege on their promises, we will deal with them as we used to,” he warned.

  • Katsina Assembly enacts 40 laws in 2 years – Speaker

    Katsina Assembly enacts 40 laws in 2 years – Speaker

    The Speaker, Katsina State House of Assembly, Alhaji Nasir Yahaya-Daura, says the assembly has passed more than 40 substantive bills in the last two years.

    The speaker revealed this achievement and others in a statement on Friday in Katsina, commemorate the Eighth Legislature’s second year anniversary.

    According to Yahaya-Daura, these significant milestones  since inauguration in 2023, aims at reshaping governance and uplifting citizens’ welfare.

    He highlighted the assembly’s unwavering commitment to address the State’s most urgent challenges through progressive legislation.

    The speaker emphasised that the extensive legislative output directly targeted the fundamental needs of the people of the state.

    He highlighted several cornerstone enactments driving the assembly’s transformative vision, starting with enhanced security through the establishment of the state’s Community Watch Corps.

    According to him, this empowers local communities to actively collaborate with security forces in combating banditry and kidnapping, creating a robust grassroots security network.

    “To further strengthen local governance, the assembly has established the Katsina State Community Development Programme (CDP), institutionalising  direct community participation in development planning and execution.

    “On the economic front, the Katsina State Enterprise Development Agency (KASEDA) law provides critical support, including grants, training, and mentorship.

    “This specifically targets Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs), youth, women, and vulnerable groups to spur job creation and economic diversification,” he said.

    He added that another remarkable bill passed by the 8th assembly was that of Katsina State Geographic Information of Service (KTGIS) law.

    According to the speaker, this represents a transformative leap in land administration, establishing a modern, digital framework to resolve land disputes and enhance transparency.

    “This landmark legislation mandated the digitisation of all land records across the state, replacing outdated manual systems with an integrated digital platform.

    “By streamlining land codification and certification processes, KTGIS eliminates bureaucratic bottlenecks, curbs fraudulent practices, and provides a reliable database for land ownership verification,” he said.

    He pointed out that the assembly passed two pivotal laws related to the enhancement of agriculture, which he described as the state’s backbone.

    He said that Katsina State Irrigation Authority law facilitates year-round farming through advanced water management systems, bolstering food security.

    “While the complementary Katsina State Water Users Association Law empowers communities to collectively manage water resources for irrigation, domestic use and livestock,” added.

    The Speaker said that as part efforts to ensure transparency in governance, the  assembly enacted the Katsina State Assets Management law to centralise, digitise the system for tracking and managing all state-owned assets, thereby preventing waste and enhancing accountability.

    He lauded Gov. Dikko Radda for his unwavering support and profound respect for legislative independence, which led to the feat achieved by the assembly.

    He said that the collaboration between the executive and legislature in the state was a model of democratic maturity essential for advancing the state’s development agenda.

    Yahaya-Daura assured residents that the assembly would continue to prioritise their welfare, by introducing and passing more people-centrered bills.

    “This will help accelerate development, strengthen institutions, enhance service delivery, and improve quality of life across the state,” he said.