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Tag: Sokoto State

  • SOKOTO: 28 drown in canoe accident at Gidan-Magana village

    SOKOTO: 28 drown in canoe accident at Gidan-Magana village

    At least 28 people have drowned in a canoe accident at Gidan-Magana village, in the Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

     

    The village head, Mohammed Auwalu, said the incident happened on Wednesday when the victims were crossing the river in the canoe to a nearby village called Badiyawa.

     

    Auwalu said the accident occurred when the canoe hit a tree in the water and capsized.

     

    According to Auwalu, the canoe was carrying 34 people, mostly women and children.

     

    “When it hit a tree and sunk into the water, only six people were rescued, while 28 dead bodies were recovered,” he added.

     

    Auwalu stressed that his five children were among those who died in the accident.

     

    He said, “The victims, who were 34 in number, were going to Bodiyawa village in a canoe early in the morning today (Wednesday) and as they were moving in the water, the canoe hit a tree and capsized.

     

    “The rescue operators were only able to rescue six persons alive, while 28 dead bodies were recovered.

     

    “My five children were among those that died in the incident.

     

    “As I am talking to you now, we are in the cemetery trying to bury those who died.”

     

     

  • Court of Appeal dismisses appeal by Gada-led faction for lack of territorial jurisdiction

    Court of Appeal dismisses appeal by Gada-led faction for lack of territorial jurisdiction

    An appeal filed by the Senator Abubakar Gada-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State has been struck out by the Appeal Court in Abuja on Thursday for lack of territorial jurisdiction.

     

    Senators Aliyu Wamakko and Abubakar Gada have been battling for the
    state’s congresses of the party.

     

    An FCT High Court had earlier declined an application by a faction of the APC in Sokoto State loyal to a former governor of the state, Aliyu Wamakko, to set aside its earlier judgement over the disputed congresses in the state.

     

    The Wamakko group however appealed the FCT High Court judgement.

     

    The appeal was brought by the party’s state chairman, Isa Sadiq Acida.

     

    Earlier, Acida had asked a High Court in Sokoto to restrain APC from recognising Mainasara Abubakar Sani and others as officers and delegates of the ward, LG and state congresses of the party which were held on October 13, September 14 and October 16, 2021 respectively.

     

    Delivering ruling on the appeal by the Gada’s group, the member panel of Justices, H.S Tsammani, B.A. Georgewill and D.S Senchi unanimously submitted that the FCT High Court lacked territorial jurisdiction and struck out the appeal.

     

    The judges frowned at the trend of forum shopping by legal counsels and warned them to desist from dragging the courts into ignoble practices.

  • Insecurity: Forces of evil will be defeated – Buhari

    Insecurity: Forces of evil will be defeated – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has again assured the nation that government will ultimately defeat the forces of evil.

    He said no bandit or terrorist threatening the lives and property of innocent Nigerians would be spared.

    The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in a statement said Buhari gave the assurance at the palace of Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.

    He directed the nation’s Armed Forces and other security services to deal decisively with any person or group undermining efforts at achieving sustainable peace, security and stability in the country.

    He said: “I gave them specific orders not to spare any bandit or terrorist threatening the lives and property of innocent Nigerians.”

    The president commiserated with the government and people of Sokoto State over the recent loss of lives and property resulting from outrageous attacks by bandits and other criminal gangs.

    He assured Nigerians that he remained unrelenting in his resolve to put an end to heinous criminal activities in the state and other parts of the country.

    The president wrote in the visitors’ register: “My condolences to the Sultanate, the government and people of Sokoto State over the recent mindless killings by bandits and terrorists.

    “Nigeria shall win the battle over evil.”

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and the Sultan thanked the president for the show of sympathy and assured him of continued support towards peace and stability in the country.

  • Assembly passes Sokoto 2022 to 2024 expenditure frame work

    Assembly passes Sokoto 2022 to 2024 expenditure frame work

    The Sokoto State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the state Medium Term Expenditure Frame Work for 2022 to 2024.

    The passage followed a motion by Alhaji Bello Ambarura, the All Progressive Congress (APC) leader of the assembly.

    He urged the members to consider the expenditure frame work at the level of the Committee of the Whole House.

    Speaking at the plenary, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Alhaji Malami Basakkwace (PDP- Sokoto South II), said the frame work provided macro economic projections.

    “These include an analysis to guide aggregate revenue and expenditure for the years under reference for ease of implementation.

    “Accordingly, the expenditure framework projections and fiscal strategy had set out all revenue and expenditure projections for each year.

    “This will guide for effective implementation based on defined objectives and developmental priorities,” he said.

    The Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Abubakar Magaji, who presided over the plenary put the resolution into a voice vote and was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.

    The medium term expenditure frame indicated a total expenditure, including contingency reserve amounting to N143.7 billion, N154.7 billion and N158.5 billion for 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively.

    These include a total recurrent revenue amounting to N95.3 billion, N105.3 billion and N115.9 billion and personnel costs amounting to N35.1 billion, N36.8 billion and N38.7, while the capital expenditure gets N75.7 billion, N79.9 billion and N 79.5 billion for the years respectively.

    Indicated also are transfer to capital account N30.2 billion, N34.7 billion and N41.1 billion, financing loans N27.9 billion, N28.4 billion and N29 billion and public debt service N20.4 billion, N23.7 billion and N25.3 billion for the years.

    Others are capital receipts N20.5 billion N21 billion and N13.6 billion overheads N7.3 billion, N7.9 billion and N8.7 billion, planning reserves N3.9 billion, N4.2 billion and N4.2 billion and social contribution and social benefit N2.1 billion for each of the years, respectively.

  • Gov. Tambuwal confirms 43 deaths in Illela’s bandits attack

    Gov. Tambuwal confirms 43 deaths in Illela’s bandits attack

    Sokoto State’s Gov. Aminu Tambuwal on Thursday confirmed the killing of 43 persons in Monday’s bandits attack on Illela Local Government Area of the state.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Tambuwal’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Malam Muhammad Bello, on Thursday in Sokoto.

    Bello said Tambuwal led members of the state’s executives and the Security Council, as well as other top government officials on a condolence visit to the people of Illela on Wednesday.

    Illela is a border town, 97 kilometres from the state capital and has been experiencing pockets of bandits’ attacks lately.

    According to Bello, marauders attacked the town and some villages near it in the wee hours on Nov. 15 killing 13 persons in the first instance.

    “At the time of the governor’s visit on Wednesday, the death toll had risen to 43,’’ he stated.

    Bello explained that the village head of Kalmalo, one of the five villages affected in the midnight attack was wounded.

    Other villages affected were Munwadata, Sarma, Runji and Masasa.

    He added that Gov. Tambuwal told the people of Illela that the government and people of Sokoto State felt their grief and extended their condolences.

    “This is not a small occurrence. It is upsetting. This incident really touched us,’’ he quoted Tambuwal as saying.

    Bello stated that Tambuwal commended the local government authority, traditional rulers and community leaders for their lawful composition of a volunteer group to work with security operatives in the area.

    He added that the governor assured that the state government would constitute join operations of volunteers who would work under the supervision of security agencies to enhance security in the area.

    The governor appealed to the people not to be daunted by the attacks.

    “Instead, this should motivate you to redouble your efforts without seeking revenge in securing your communities,’’ Bello also quoted Tambuwal as saying.

  • Buhari gives go ahead for completion of project started in 1999

    Buhari gives go ahead for completion of project started in 1999

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari has given go ahead for the completion of a project started in 1999.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the project is the Middle Rima Valley Irrigation located in Sokoto State, which was initiated during the military era.

    Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja when he briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Council meeting.

    Adamu disclosed that the Council approved N10.7 million as augmentation for the completion of Middle Rima Valley Irrigation Project in Sokoto State.

    “The Federal Ministry of Water Resources presented a memo to council for the revised total cost of phase II of the construction of middle river valley irrigation project.

    “That is the completion of the middle Rima valley irrigation project in Goronyo, Sokoto State.

    “This contract was started in 1999 by the military administration then, first phase was completed, comprising 873 hectares.

    “The phase II was started in 2007 and that is what we have been struggling to complete. It is also an inherited project.

    “The total scope of the phase II is 404,333 hectares out of which about 80 per cent of the work has been done.

    “So, this memo is seeking a revised cost of the project, with an augmentation of about N10.7 million so that we’ll be able to finish the project, hopefully before the expiration of this administration in 2023,” he said.

    According to Adamu, the project has a potential of generating employment for almost 50,000 people as well as enhancing food production.

    “It’s expected to provide, by the time it’s completely finished, a production of 39,000 tons of rice, 195,000 tons of vegetables per annum and it will generate employment for not less than 47,000 people and their families.

    “So, Council graciously approved this memo with an additional completion period of about 24 months.

    “Like I said, our target is to try to complete this project by 2023. This is in line with what we’ve been doing since the inception of this administration in my ministry; to complete ongoing, inherited and abandoned projects,” he stated.

  • Senator Wamakko appoints 18 new SAs

    Senator Wamakko appoints 18 new SAs

    Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto) has appointed 18 new Special Assistants (SAs) to facilitate the delivery of dividends of democracy to his constituents.

    Wamakko, who represents Sokoto North Senatorial District, was also a former governor of Sokoto State.

    On Sunday in Abuja, he said the new appointments were also aimed at further reducing unemployment in the state.

    Wamakko said: “These new appointees are either former Local Government Council Chairmen, Secretaries or former lawmakers, as well as other retired top civil servants, among others.

    “The gesture is also to further reinvigorate my legislative duties at the National Assembly with a view to ensuring effective representation of my constituents.

    “This new set of appointees would join other numerous others to help me in ensuring the diligent representation of my constituency as well as adequately providing the needs of my constituents.

    “More Special Assistants would come on board in the nearest future as we strive to better the lots of my constituents.”

    Wamakko, who chairs the Senate Committee on Defence, urged the new aides to justify the confidence reposed on them as their appointments were based on merit.

    The new aides are Usman Musa Bachaka; Shehu Dangi Balle; Ummaru Dan Habbi; Bello Danbaba; Garba Dan Gambo and Garba Gidan Ajiya.

    Others are Usman Fakko; Bello Buba Kaurar Kimba; Umar Ahmad; Al-mustapha Alhaji Ada; Tsalhatu Dantama and Umaru Umaru Falanje.

    The remaining are Aliyu Bahago; Abubakar Dantama; Umar Nakande; Aliyu Lumu Usman; Muhammad Sahabi Gidan Madi and Nura Shehu Dalhatu.

    Meanwhile, Wamakko has commended the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s APC congresses in the state.

    Commenting on the successful conduct of the exercise using the consensus mechanism, he said: “This has further gone to show that APC is one in Sokoto state.

    “The successes recorded during the wards and local government congresses, a fortnight ago and yesterday, Saturday, respectively, have also helped us to shame some negligible Judases in the party in the state.

    “APC will also continue to wax stronger and stronger, while it has again become evidently clear that, the party is intact and united,” Wamakko stressed.

    The leader of APC in Sokoto state commended all the stakeholders and members of the party for their sustainable cooperation and contributions towards ensuring the success of the congresess.

  • 24 family members poisoned to death in Sokoto

    24 family members poisoned to death in Sokoto

    Dr Ali Inname, Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, on Tuesday confirmed the deaths of 24 family members after eating some poisonous food.

    The commissioner said in a statement that the incident occurred on Monday in Danzanke village of Bargaja ward of Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

    He explained that the incident was caused by use of a fertiliser type of chemical, popularly called ” Gishirin Lalle in Hausa” as seasoning in domestic family cooking which was considered as common salt.

    ”Regrettably, the entire family who ate the meal lost their lives, except two female members, who merely tasted the food and are currently responding to treatment, with very good chances of survival.

    ”Attempts to save the lives of all the affected people by providing the needed medical care proved abortive,” Inname said.

    The commissioner urged the public to learn from this incidence and keep away such poisonous chemicals from easy reach.

    He further appealed to people to always be cautious to prevent reoccurrence in their families.

    He said that it was very important for the public to know that the incidence was preventable and not contagious, as it was extremely fatal, even with best medical attention given to victims.

    Inname advised people to always separate storage sites for food items from other agricultural and cosmetic items, and to carefully check all ingredients and food stuff before use.

    He stressed that food stores should be secured to prevent access to flies, while cooked food and water sources should be secured.

    Inname enjoined people to safeguard their surroundings to be clean and reduce flies and other vectors and wash hands regularly with soap and water.

    ”Wells should have covers to prevent contamination from faces of surface water after rainfall, the water should be boiled before use, especially in rural areas.

    ”Report to health facility or isolation camp in your area early when you observe any unusual symptoms or unusual condition,” Inname appealed to residents.

  • BREAKING: EFCC nabs Lagos ponzi scheme operator in Sokoto

    BREAKING: EFCC nabs Lagos ponzi scheme operator in Sokoto

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arrested a Lagos State based ponzi scheme operator identified as Omotade-Sparks Amos Sewanu.

    According to the EFCC, the suspect, who operated the Inks Nation Ponzi Scheme, was arrested in Sokoto State by the zonal office of the Commission in the State.

    “The suspect who had been at large, was finally arrested on Thursday May 27, 2021 and has made useful statement,” the EFCC stated.

    TNG reports Sewanu was declared wanted by the EFCC in a case bordering on obtaining by false pretence, names-dropping and fraud to the tune of N32 million while claiming to have floated an online digital currency called “Pinkoin”.

    He fled No 19, Posukoh Quarters, Via Joseph Dosu Way, Badagry, Lagos State for Sokoto after the anti-graft agency declared him wanted.

  • Sokoto Agric Commissioner Tureta dies at 62

    Sokoto Agric Commissioner Tureta dies at 62

    The Sokoto Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Arzika Tureta, has died at the age of 62, after a protracted illness.

    The Ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Muktar Dodo-Iya made this known in Sokoto.

    He said the deceased passed on in the early hours of Monday at the Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUS)leaving behind two wives and seven children, .

    He said that Tureta was once a member representing Tureta local government area in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, before becoming a federal lawmaker representing Bodinga/DangeShuni/Tureta, Federal Constituency.

    Similarly, the deceased served as commissioner during former Gov. Aliyu Wamakko’s administration for eight years and was later reappointed by Gov. Aminu Tambuwal for an additional six years.

    Meanwhile, preparations for his burial have commenced in his hometown of Tureta.