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Tag: Kebbi State

  • Malami denies distributing vehicles to APC officials

    Malami denies distributing vehicles to APC officials

    The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, has refuted allegation of distributing expensive vehicles to officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kebbi.

    Malami refuted the allegation on Tuesday in an interactive session with journalists in Birnin Kebbi.

    He said “At this moment, I have experienced a barrage of attacks, left, right and centre, some are local and others international, an attack that has to do with an allegation that I shared many expensive vehicles to delegates of APC.

    “As a person with some associates, neither I nor a friend of mine shared any vehicle to any delegate across the state.”

    Malami described the story as mischievous and misconstrued.

    “Let me state categorically that some of the foundations, as Khadi Malami and Khadimiyya for Justice and Development Initiative I am associated with over time, have workers who have demonstrated a greater capacity in the development of the state.

    “These associations have contributed immensely in poverty alleviation, provision of social amenities to remotest areas, empowering unemployed youth and women, as well as small and medium scale farmers and businessmen and women, among others, in the state.

    “In appreciation of what the workers of the associations have been doing in the state and beyond, the supporters of the associations, collectively and individually, decided to solicit for support from well-meaning Nigerians that have been supporting the NGOs in order to reward those that have been manning the affairs of the NGOs,” he said.

    Malami explained that it was his friends and associates who donated and distributed vehicles to long-term workers in the Khadimiyya Foundation.

    “I know I had an interactive session with APC stakeholders some days ago and had accepted calls from Kebbi people to run for the state governorship; the meeting was not for distribution of vehicles to any APC stakeholder.

    “None of the APC stakeholder or delegate in Kebbi State was given any vehicle by me, and I have not yet donated any vehicle to any delegate.

    “The mischief makers can contact the National Secretariat of the APC, get the lists of all the APC stakeholders and delegates in Kebbi State.

    “You too can do an investigative story to reach out to them, then you will realise how fictitious the claim is.

    “There is no connection between the names of APC stakeholders and the beneficiaries of the vehicles and are not connected whatsoever,” the minister pointed out.

  • Bandits attack Kebbi state Deputy Governor Col Yombe Dabai

    Bandits attack Kebbi state Deputy Governor Col Yombe Dabai

    The convoy of Kebbi state Deputy Governor, Col Yombe Dabai was attacked on Wednesday by bandits in the state.

    Confirming the incident, special adviser to Kebbi State Governor on security matters Rabiu Kamba, said that the attack occured when the Deputy Governor ran into a large number of bandits operating in Kanya community of Kebbi state.

    He said the bandits were already robbing shops and rustling cattles in the surrounding villages in Danko/Wasagu including Kanya when the Deputy governor ran into them.

    It was learnt that the Deputy Governor, who was traveling with military personnel, tried to intervene and help the villagers and in the process a fierce gun battle ensued.

    Kamba mentioned that some of the soldiers attached to the Deputy Governor lost their lives in the exchange of gun fire between them and the bandits but maintained that bulk of the casualty fell on the side of the bandit

    Mr Kamba said that the Deputy Governor escaped unhurt in the battle.

     

     

  • What I did after bandits blocked my way in Kebbi – Shehu Sani

    What I did after bandits blocked my way in Kebbi – Shehu Sani

    Former Kaduna State lawmaker, Shehu Sani has revealed what he did after bandits reportedly blocked the road leading to a wedding he was to attend in Kebbi State.

    Senator Sani said there were those who said they should pray and then continue with the journey, but that he decided to pray and return to his house.

    “We were heading to Kebbi for a wedding, we’ve been informed that bandits have blocked the road. Some said we should pray and move on, I’ve joined those who prayed and moved back home,” Sani tweeted.

  • 81 bodies recovered from Kebbi boat mishap – Gov. Bagudu

    81 bodies recovered from Kebbi boat mishap – Gov. Bagudu

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi says 81 bodies have so far been recovered from Wednesday’s boat mishap in Warrah, Ngaski Local Government Area of the state.

    Bagudu disclosed this on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi when he received Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State, who was on a condolence visit to the state.

    Recall that a boat from Lokon Minna, Niger State conveying traders, artisanal miners and other passengers capsized at Warrah and claimed over 100 lives.

    While appreciating the governor and his entourage for the visit, Bagudu prayed that the continues harmonious relationship between the two states would ever be sustained.

    Recalling the incident, Bagudu said the mishap happened in Warrah, adding that the town was by the side of River Niger close to Kainji dam.

    “This area remains a route for marine transportation, as it witnesses a lot of activities of canoes and boats on daily basis.

    “There are some boats that can carry and covey three long-trucks of goods at a time and there are some boats that travel as far as Mali from there.

    “But this boat was conveying over 170 people incidentally capsised at Warrah, where only 22 persons were rescued, and as at now, 81 bodies have been recovered and buried and rescue and search is still ongoing.

    “Warrah is a route where many people travel to Lokon Minna in Niger State for gold mining apart from women who go there to sell food.”

    Earlier, Masari said the visit was to sympathise with government and people of Kebbi State over the unfortunate incident.

    He said: “We are here to condole with the people of Kebbi State over the unfortunate incident and to sympathise with our brother and Chairman, Progressives Governors’ Forum, His Excellency, Gov. Atiku Bagudu.

    “This tragedy affects all of us, because in a situation where over 100 persons lost their lives is not an easy task, as you can see in other countries when one or two people loss their lives, leaders become highly emotional and offset.

    “This is because, the essence of government right from onset is to protect lives, wellbeing and property of the citizens. However, when something contrary happened, the leaders felt bad more than any other person.”

    Masari observed that the death of over 100 people may affect thousands of people, considering the fact that many people rely on some of these deceased for a living.

    He lamented that the tragic incident was highly devastating and sad, praying that God Almighty would avert the recurrence of similar accident in future.

  • INEC to expand, relocate 1,340 polling points in Kebbi, says Commissioner

    INEC to expand, relocate 1,340 polling points in Kebbi, says Commissioner

    Mr Festus Okoye, National Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in-charge of North-West, on Tuesday, announced that the commission had taken ‘bold steps’ to expand 1,340 voting points in Kebbi state.

    He disclosed this at a Stakeholders’ Forum meeting on “Expansion of Voters Access to Polling Units” held at the INEC state headquarters, Birnin Kebbi.

    Okoye, who is also the National Commissioner on Information and Voter Education, said a few existing polling points would be relocated to other locations to enable the electorate have access to them.

    “The commission is fully ready to expand 1,340 polling points in Kebbi state and relocate a few existing ones to locations where the electorate will have access to them.

    “Since 1996, about 25 years ago, the same polling units created for about 50 million voters are still in existence till today while the national population had grown to over 200 million.

    “In 1999, the same polling units were used for an electorate of 57 million, while in 2011, 2015 and 2019, the same polling units were used for 61.5million voters, 73.5 million voters, and 80 million voters respectively”, he said.

    He explained that what the commission was doing and what it would be doing continuously would be to promote inclusivity and consultation on its programmes and policies.

    “Sine 1996, when the last polling units were created, no polling units were created. And as at the time these polling units were created, the voter population was 50 million.

    “During the 2019 voter registration, we had a voter population of over 80 million and we still remained with the same number of polling units.

    “As such, the commission decided that all the polling points in existence should be converted to full polling units. We would take these polling points to underserved areas,” he said.

    Okoye added that the commission was working towards carrying all stakeholders along, so that they would track what was going on before the commencement of voter registration on June 20, 2021.

    Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kebbi State, Alhaji Ahmed Bello-Mahmud, noted that the commission was ready to make history for itself by expanding and creating new polling units, after over 25 years.

    He said due to congestion and inaccessibility of polling units, many voters had been disfranchised, observing that with the expansion of the polling units and creation of new ones, voter apathy would be drastically reduced.

    In a remark, the Kebbi State Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Bala Sanni-Kangiwa, described the development as a good reform that would enable party supporters to vote.

    He said: “the more polling units we have, the less congestion we would experience, leading to less voter apathy and less crowd situation.

    “So, it is a very good exercise and I want to commend the commission for the programme. I hope they will sustain the exercise for the good of democracy and the nation.

    “It is going to benefit our political parties because more of our supporters will now have the opportunity to vote.”

  • BREAKING: Student’s death sparks outrage, forces closure of Kebbi State University

    BREAKING: Student’s death sparks outrage, forces closure of Kebbi State University

    Management of the Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, (KSUSTA), Aliero has announced the indefinitely closure of the institution over the death of a 22-year-old final year Biochemistry student.

    Alhaji Musa Labbo, the Registrar of the University, announced the closure in a statement made available to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, on Sunday.

    “This is to inform all students of the university that the management has directed the closure of the school indefinitely.

    “Therefore, all students are hereby directed to leave the university with immediate effect”, the statement said.

    Also, Malam Hussaini Adamu-Zuru, the Public Relations Officer of the University, while speaking with newsmen, confirmed the closure of the institution, saying that students of the University had earlier gone on rampage in Aliero town, when they learnt of the death of their colleague.

    He, however, explained that the school had been closed before the students went on rampage.

    It was gathered that the deceased, identified as Sharif Sale-Kanya, who was about writing his final examination, reportedly bought a handset in Aliero town, on Saturday and subsequently made payment through a transfer.

    It was further gathered that the deceased, immediately after purchasing the handset went into the examination hall and switched it off.

    It was learnt that a few hours later, when he switched on the handset, he realised that the money he transferred for the payment of the handset had been reversed due to network failure.

    The deceased was said to have returned to Aliero town to pay for the handset in cash.

    “On getting to the place, a mob of youth descended on him, shouting barawo (thief) and he was beaten into a coma.

    “He was rushed to the General Hospital, Aliero, but was confirmed dead shortly after he was admitted,” an eyewitness, who craved anonymity, said.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), DSP Nafi’u Abubakar, confirmed the incident, with a promise that the culprits would be brought to justice.

  • Kebbi discharges 5 additional COVID-19 patients

    Kebbi discharges 5 additional COVID-19 patients

    Kebbi State Government says it has discharged five more COVID-19 patients, bringing the number of patients so far discharged from the Kebbi Medical Center, Kalgo to 16.

    Malam Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser to Gov. Abubakar Bagudu on Media, disclosed this in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.

    Sarki said the state’s Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Jaafar Mohammed made the disclosure at a COVID-19 routine briefing in Birnin Kebbi.

    The commissioner, who was also the Chairman of the State Taskforce Committee on COVID-19, said the discharged patients tested negative twice to the virus.

    While commending the efforts of health personnel in the state, he also appreciated the state’s Taskforce team and other stakeholders for their resilience towards containing spread of the pandemic in the state.

    “I must put it on record that the Taskforce, health team and other related officers have been working tirelessly to effectively control the spread of the pandemic,” he said.

  • COVID-19: Kebbi approves safety allowances for frontline health personnel

    COVID-19: Kebbi approves safety allowances for frontline health personnel

    Gov. Abubakar Atiku-Bagudu of Kebbi State has approved the payment of operational safety allowances for frontline health workers, working round-the-clock to check coronavirus disease (COVID-19) threat in the state.

    Malam Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser to the governor, on Media announced this in a statement in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday.

    “These allowances are structured to enhance the pay for the frontline health workers as a light compensation to the risks involved in handling the patients infected with COVID-19.

    “The affected workers include public health officers, medical officers, nurses, pharmacists and medical laboratory scientists.

    “Others are disease surveillance and notification officers, directors of PHCs in the LGAs and specialised medical consultants,’’ Sarki quoted Alhaji Jaafar Mohammed, Commissioner for Health, making the announcement on behalf of the governor.

    Mohammed, who doubled as Chairman, state Task Force Committee on COVID-19, gave a breakdown of the categories of the allowances.

    He said consultants and medical officers would receive N20,000 and N15,000 daily respectively.

    “Nurses, pharmacists and medical laboratory scientists will receive N10,000, daily while ambulance drivers, cleaners and security personnel will receive N5,000 daily,’’ the commissioner said.

    He said that occupational safety allowances have been graded according to the level of risks involved.

    He said the governor also approved motivational incentives for the task force team members and other frontline health workers making tireless efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

    “Each of the task force members will get N250,000, while the chairman will receive N500,000.

    “Consultants will receive N300,000, while medical officers, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists and nurses at the isolation centres will each be given N250,000.

    “Also, medical officers at hospitals trained on infection prevention, control and case management would each receive N200,000 while nurses at general hospitals trained on infection prevention, control and case management will also collect N150,000 each.

    Other categories of officers, including epidemiologists and surveillance officers, disease surveillance and notification officers (DSNO), directors of PHC at the state and local government levels would receive N150,000.

  • Kebbi commissioners contribute 50% salaries to contain COVID-19 pandemic

    Kebbi State commissioners have unanimously resolved to contribute half of their monthly salaries to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Mahmud Warra, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi.

    Warra said the gesture was an unalloyed commitment towards ensuring successful onslaught against the ravaging global pandemic.

    He said: “Commissioners who are members of the Kebbi State Executive Council (SEC) have each donated 50 per cent of their monthly salaries to assist in the fight against the dreaded virus.

    “This is part of our collective resolve as always, to support the laudable and people-oriented initiatives of Gov. Abubakar Bagudu in his quest to further move Kebbi State forward”.

    Warra said in view of the prevailing campaign against the spread of COVID-19, the commissioners and members of the SEC would solidly stand behind Gov. Bagudu to attain safety and protection of the citizenry.

    “This is also to boost the myriad of measures that have so far been employed by the state government to protect the good people of Kebbi State from the Coronavirus pandemic.

    “May the Almighty Allah continue to assist the governor and the entire people of the state so that Kebbi will continue to grow from strength to strength,” he added.

  • 24 escape death as trailer loaded with cows kills 3

    24 escape death as trailer loaded with cows kills 3

    Three persons lost their lives while 24 others were hospitalised in an accident involving a trailer loaded with cows along Kalgo-Jega road in Kebbi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the loaded trailer was heading to Lagos from Birnin Kebbi when the accident occurred on Saturday afternoon.

    An eyewitness, Malam Saidu Ibrahim, told NAN that the accident was as a result of tyre burst.

    He said the trailer which was also loaded with other goods and passengers somersaulted when one of the tyres burst.

    “The driver suddenly lost control of the trailer while he was trying to stop it when the tyres burst. The driver cabin got separated from the main body and rammed to the ground,” he explained.

    The Public Relation Officer of Federal Roads Safety Corps in the state, Abdullahi Muhammad, confirmed the accident, saying the injured were rushed to the Medical Centre, Kalgo.

    “Three persons died on the spot while 24 others were rushed to the hospital; we have also recorded the death of seven cows.

    “It happened when the driver of trailer lost control of the vehicle following tyre burst,” he said.