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Tag: Katsina

  • JUST IN: President Buhari departs Katsina for Yola

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday departed Katsina State, for Yola after a five-day private visit to his home in Daura.

    The president was in Daura to commiserate with members of his extended family, who were bereaved recently.

    The presidential aircraft took off from Umaru Musa Yar’adua International Airport, Katsina, about 10.30a.m. and headed for Yola where he is expected to declare open an anti-corruption conference.

    The conference theme is “Performance Based Governance: Transparency, Accountability and Social Value’’.

    While in Daura, Buhari received hundreds of sympathisers at his private residence to console the president over the deaths of two extended family members, Hajiya Halima Dauda and Hajiya Ai’sha Alhaji Mamman.

    They also sympathised with him over the auto-crash involving his son, Yusuf.

    Among the early callers were state governors from All Progressives Congress (APC), including the Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum and Zamfara Governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari.

    Others were Rochas Okorocha (Imo); Aminu Masari (Katsina State); Abubakar Muhammed (Bauchi State); Kashim Shettima (Borno); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo State) and Malam Nasir El-Rufa’I of Kaduna State.

    Also Gov. Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa, Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano State); Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi); Abubakar Sani-Bello (Niger) and Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State.

    The governors of Benue, Osun and Ogun were represented by their deputies at the meeting.

    The governors of Yobe and Plateau were also represented at the meeting.

    Okorocha, who spoke to newsmen after the visit, said their mission to Daura was to condole with the president over the loss of two members of his extended family.

    He said the governors also used the opportunity to commend the president for appointing Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as APC Chief Mediator in the party’s conflicts.

    The governor, however, dismissed the assertion that their meeting with Buhari which was held behind closed doors, was politically motivated and aimed at convincing the president to seek re-election in the 2019 presidential election.

    He said: “We are yet to discuss that. That would be in next the meeting where we will discuss whether we want to support him to run or not.

    “But for now we came on the issue of the death of his two relatives and to commend him for action taken on Tinubu as a conciliator.’’

    Similarly, the Emir of Maradun in Zamfara, Alhaji Garba Tambari, on Sunday paid a condolence visit to the president.

    Tambari, shortly after the visit, pledged the unflinching support of the traditional institution to Federal Government policies and programmes geared toward improving the welfare of Nigerians.

    The emir said that some traditional rulers across the country had resolved to ensure the re-election of Buhari in 2019.

    “Anybody who wishes this country good, who wishes this country well, will want Mr President to continue after 2019. So, we wish he will continue by the grace of God,’’ he added.

    Also on Sunday, Buhari received Katsina Senior Citizens led by Masari where he called on all citizens, particularly the elite, to be prepared to make sacrifices as a foundation for national growth and development.

    Masari, after the meeting, said they were in Daura to condole with the president over the death of his two relatives.

    He said the forum would soon issue an advertorial on the letter written to Buhari by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    On Monday, Buhari met with members of Daura Emirate coalition who also condoled with him over the demise of two relatives.

    The president, at the meeting, disclosed that all unclaimed looted assets, including landed property recovered by the Federal Government, would be sold and the proceeds deposited into government treasury.

    The president said he would not allow a repeat of what happened in the 1980s when buildings and other ill-gotten property seized by his military administration were returned to corrupt officials following his ouster as Head of State.

    The president told the groups that the APC-led government would consolidate on the gains and monumental achievements in the development of infrastructure across the country.

    “For most ordinary Nigerians, if you give them good roads, railway and stable electric power they will be happy to carry on with their lives.

    ‘‘We are doing so much for our country and we will continue to do more out of the fear of God,” the president said.

    The president promised that the Federal Government would sustain the provision of funds, improved seedlings and fertiliser to farmers to ensure that the sector remained the largest employer of labour to Nigerians.

    He said records of achievements on security, war against corruption and the revival of the economy had remained very impressive.

    The president is expected to return to Abuja later in the day.

     

  • Nigeria, Niger Republic partner to construct refinery in Katsina

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu on Wednesday signed an agreement with the President of the Republic of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou and the Energy Minister of the Republic of Niger, Mr. Foumakoye Gado to construct a refinery in the border town between the Republic of Niger and Katsina State.

    According to a statement by the ministry, “A mutually beneficial agreement was reached for the construction of a refinery in the border town between the Republic of Niger and Katsina State, Nigeria and a crude oil pipeline from the Republic of Niger to the new refinery. The statement added that, definitive bilateral and technical agreements to be signed in coming days.

    According to the statement, in line with the commitment to collaborative work across the region to ensure definitive solutions to the challenges of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

    Recall that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) recently announced that it is inching closer to arriving at the choice of financiers for the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC), Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC) and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited.

    The Group Managing Director, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru who disclosed this while briefing members of staff of the corporation on the fuel supply situation in the country said the agreements on the potential financiers for the refineries were being fine-tuned.

    “We are pushing towards the final selection of our financiers and we expect that when that is done, we’ll get the agreements and present them to our board, meeting this month to secure their endorsement and once we have the funding, we would start the rehabilitation of the refineries towards a 90 per cent capacity utilization per stream day before the end of 2019,” Dr. Baru affirmed.

  • Former Katsina military administrator, Madaki, dies at 70

    Former military governor of Katsina State, Col John Yahaya Madaki (rtd) is dead.

    He died in the afternoon on Monday at the National Hospital, Abuja after a brief illness. He was 70 years old. He was born 24th June, 1947.

    The Late Madaki was born in Gawu Babangida in Gurara local government area of Niger State. He was appointed military governor of Katsina State in December 1989 during the military regime of Gen Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

    He handed over to an elected civilian, Saidu Barda in January 1992 at the start of the Third Republic. He was nicknamed “Jungle Expert” after attending a course in Malaya on Advanced Jungle Warfare and Combat Survival.

    At the time of the 1985 coup in which General Ibrahim Babangida came to power, Major John Madaki was commanding officer of the 123 Guards Battalion at Ikeja, and assisted in the success of the coup. Madaki was promoted to Lt Colonel and became governor of Katsina State in December 1989.

    In May 1990 Madaki warned all religious leaders to stay out of politics, and established a religious board to licence and control the activities of all preachers in the state. After handing over to the civilian governor in January 1992, Madaki returned for two more tours of duty as Commander, Brigade of Guards before retiring as a Colonel. After retiring from the army, Madaki became a keen amateur golfer and first captain of the IBB Golf and Country Club.

    In April 2006 he was named a member of the Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria (PGAN) Tour Sponsorship Committee. Madaki is an influential member of the Catholic Church. In 2009 he was chairman of the FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board.

    He is a holder of the Order of St. Gregory (KSG) awarded by the Pope in 2009. Madaki was appointed chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission in May 2001.

    In August 2007 President Umaru Yar’Adua approved his appointment as Special Adviser on Security to the FCT Minister, Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar. In this role in May 2009 he endorsed a crack-down on traffic violations in the FCT, not exempting VIP convoys.

    He is survived by a wife and seven children, among whom is Lt Col Buhari Michael Madaki.

  • Tears, emotions as former Kaduna gov, Lawal Kaita is buried Katsina

    Tears, emotions as former Kaduna gov, Lawal Kaita is buried Katsina

    The remains of the former governor of the defunct Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, has been buried in Katsina.

    Kaita died on Tuesday in a hospital in Abuja after a protracted illness at the age 85.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the funeral prayer of the deceased was led by Imam Mustapha Liman at the palace of the Emir of Katsina at 2.30 p.m.

    Prominent personalities that attended the rite included a Federal Government delegation comprising the Minister of Defence, Maj.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd); Minister of State for Aviation, Alhaji Hadi Sirika, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Alhaji Garba Shehu.

    Others include deputy governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu; Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouq, and the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha.

    The Director-General SMEDAN, Dr Dikko Umar Radda, member House of Representatives representing Kankia/Kusada/Ingawa, Alhaji Ahmad Babba, traditional rulers and religious leaders from across the country also attended the burial.

    Kaita was buried at the old Danmarna cemetery in Katsina metropolis. He is survived by a wife, children and grandchildren.

    The deceased was the elected governor of old Kaduna State under the National Party of Nigeria between October and December 1983.

     

    NAN

  • Buhari condoles with people, govt. of Katsina over death of Lawal Kaita

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family, the government and people of Katsina state on the demise of Alhaji Lawal Kaita, a former governor of the old Kaduna state.

    President Buhari’s condolence message is contained in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Shehu stated that the president, who was briefed this evening on the death of the former Governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), described the deceased as a complete gentleman.

    President Buhari noted that late Kaita had served his people and the nation with total commitment and devotion.

    “”Nigeria has lost a distinguished leader. We are all saddened by his demise.

    “”May his soul rest In Peace,’’ he said.

    Lawal Kaita, who was born on Oct. 4, 1932, in Katsina, passed away at the age of 85, at about 5.00p.m. in Abuja after a protracted illness.

    He was elected governor of the defunct Kaduna State under platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) from October to December, 1983.

    The son of the deceased, Alhaji Abubakar Lawal Kaita, had announced the funeral rites of their father would be performed in Katsina on Wednesday morning.

    The deceased left behind a wife, children and grandchildren.

  • Northern senators, governors converge on Katsina over restructuring, 2018 budget

    The Northern Senators’ Forum (NSF) and the 19 northern governors would on Monday converge on Katsina for a three-day retreat to deliberate on the agitations for restructuring of the country.

    The Chairman of the forum, Abdullahi Adamu, told newsmen in Abuja that the retreat would also focus on how to improve the security situation in the country.

    It would be recalled that for the same reason of agitations for restructuring and other challenges facing the country, Southern Senators met recently in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    Mr. Adamu, who represents Nasarawa West Senatorial District, said that the Forum had written letters of invitation to the 19 governors, leading traditional rulers, top politicians and ex-senators from the region to make presentations at the retreat.

    He said that the gathering would enable the senators, as the peoples’ representatives, to take a common position on restructuring.

    “It is expected that very important stakeholders will be attending. Northern governors will be attending in solidarity and very eminent traditional rulers, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, will attend.

    “Essentially, we will be discussing the impact of budget in the north, the issue of restructuring which is now the main issue in politics.

    “The issue of restructuring that the Senate can develop a position on. It is part of preparing ourselves to face that challenge.

    “The issue of security will also be discussed,” Adamu said.

    He pointed out that as representatives of the people, it would be expected that with the retreat, they would be better educated, better placed to consider issues related to the subject-matter.

    “We will be better prepared to face the matter and legislate and make laws over them for the good governance of Nigeria.

    “We believe we are there to educate ourselves to be better informed, to exchange ideas on the subject matter, because we make laws, we don’t make laws out of ignorance.

    “We have to be better informed on anything we are talking about,” Mr. Adamu said.

    He explained that meeting in Katsina was not necessarily because of the economic impact it would have on the city and state or how it would energise Nigeria’s politics, “but for some sort of our presence will make.’’

    “There hasn’t been this retreat over time. We are trying to bring back the culture.

    “It makes us have touch with our bases; people who elected us and feel our pulse, we will relate with them in a better way,” he said.

     

  • KEDCO promise better services in Jigawa, Kano, Katsina

    The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has promised its customers in Jigawa, Kano and Katsina states improved services to boost commercial activities in the areas.

    The company’s Managing Director, Dr Jamilu Gwamna, made the promise at the first KEDCO Managing Director’s Award Night in Kano.

    He said the company was committed to improve its operations to ensure effective service delivery and at the same time distribute the energy to the satisfaction of its numerous customers in the three states.

    “We are committed more than ever before to improve our operation to ensure effective and efficient service delivery to our customers across our coverage areas,” he said.

    He said the company found it necessary to honour its dedicated, committed and hardworking staff, to boost their morale.

    “It came as a board’s decision to recognise dedicated, hardworking and committed staff as part of effort to encourage them to do more,” Gwamna said.

    The managing director, who commended the staff of the company for their individual contributions to its development and success, noted that this was the first time the company collected over N2 billion in one month as revenue.

    “We are here today to appreciate you and those who invested in the company will continue to give you the necessary support to move the it to the next level,” he said.

    It is reported that the awards, which were in four categories, were presented to deserving staff from the three states.

    The high-point of the event includes drama and comedy performance as well as cultural dance by the popular Kano State Cultural Troupe, known as Yan’Koroso.

  • Buhari mourns Kanti-Bello, commiserates with family, Senate, people of Katsina

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja condoled with the Kanti-Bello family as well as the government and people of Katsina State on the death of Sen. Mahmud Kanti-Bello.

    President Buhari, in a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, also commiserated with the Senate over the passage of their distinguished colleague and former Senate Chief Whip.

    The President noted that as Senator representing Katsina Central Constituency/Daura Senatorial zone from 2003-2011, the deceased was a very outspoken and courageous patriot, who worked hard to ensure that all levels of government in the country were responsible and accountable.

    According to him, Kanti-Bello’s effective representation of his people at the national level and commitment to the unity of Nigeria will be long remembered and honoured; and will continue to serve as inspiration to many others.

    President Buhari urged the Kanti-Bello’s family, friends and associates to honour his memory by continually upholding the values of honesty and accountability, which served as his reference point throughout his public service.

    He prayed that Almighty Allah would comfort all who mourned him and grant his soul eternal rest.

    Kanti-Bello, a prominent member of the then ruling People Democratic Party (PDP), was in the Senate from 2003 to 2011.

    He dumped the PDP and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the 2015 elections but was unsuccessful in his bid to secure the party’s ticket to return to the Senate .

    The deceased had served as General Manager of Katsina Steel Rolling Mills for over 10 years and contested for the governorship of Katsina State in 1993 under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Late Kanti-Bello, who served two-terms in the upper legislative chamber, died on Tuesday, at the age of 72.

     

     

    NAN

  • Late Sen Kanti-Bello to be buried in Katsina by 4pm

    The death has been announced of former Senate Majority Whip, Sen. Mahmud Kanti Bello at the age of 72.

    Bello, who represented Katsina North Senatorial District, died in Abuja Tuesday morning and will be buried in Katsina by 4pm.

    A family member, Mohammed Ingawa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the funeral prayer for the deceased would, however, be held at the National Mosque, Abuja by 2 pm.

    Kanti-Bello, a prominent member of the then ruling People Democratic Party, was in the Senate from 2003 to 2011.

    He dumped the PDP and joined the All Progressive Congress before the 2015 elections but was unsuccessful in his bid to secure the party’s ticket to return to the Senate.

    The deceased had served as General Manager of Katsina Steel Rolling Mills for over 10 years and contested for the governorship of Katsina State in 1993 under the defunct Social Democratic Party.

     

    NAN

  • Just in: Ex-Nigerian Senator Kanti Bello is dead

    A two-time senator from Katsina State, Kanti Bello, is dead.

    He reportedly died in the early hours of Tuesday, in Abuja. Associates said he was 72.

    Mr. Bello, who represented Daura Senatorial Zone between 2003-2007 and 2007-2011, was the pioneer Managing Director of Katsina Steel Rolling Mill.

    Kabir Faskari, a younger brother to former Katsina State Deputy Governor, Abdullahi Faskari, confirmed the death in a statement.

    “I am directed to inform everybody that we lost Senator Kanti Bello early hours of this mourning (Tuesday) at Abuja. Burial arrangement will be announced later,” he said.