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Tag: Sokoto

  • 2019: Buhari’ll still win Sokoto, Kano, Bauchi if he campaigns on ‘sickbed’ – Amaechi

    …insists lawmakers’ defections won’t affect president, APC’s chances in 2019

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, on Friday said Sokoto , Kano and Bauchi States in the North will be easy ride for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

    The minister also claimed that the governors of Sokoto and Kwara states, Aminu Tambuwal and Abdulfatah Ahmed respectively, would leave the All Progressives Congress.

    Amaechi also claimed that Tambuwal had presidential ambition, and that President Muhammadu Buhari would win in Sokoto, Kano and Bauchi states in the 2019 general elections even if he (Buhari) is taken to the states “on a sick bed”.

    The minister told journalists that although he did not wish to speak about political matters, he was sure that despite the defection by the APC members at the National Assembly, the party would win the 2019 presidential election.

    When told that the APC might be heading for a collapse considering the gale of defection in the party, the minister said, “That’s according to you. Look, you are not a politician so you can’t be commenting on what you don’t know. In fact let’s look at it. Unfortunately I don’t want to speak about this but you are putting me under pressure.

    “However, no matter what you do, the Governor of Sokoto will leave naturally. He has ambition to be president. If you take a chicken to him he will still go. The same with Kwara. These are people you expect that they will leave.”

    He said, “On those that defected at the House of Representatives and Senate, where do they come from? They come from areas that the President is comfortable. Do you honestly believe that the President will lose election in Sokoto? We are not God, but it’s one of his comfort zones.

    “If you bring the President on a sick bed to Bauchi and Kano, he will win and he has never lost election in Bauchi. But that is a bit arrogant on our side; we should not underestimate them.

    “I am not God. It is only God who can say the APC will win or not. But what is clear is that if you remove the God element, I think we are prepared to coast to victory because Nigerians will certainly reject a second looting. Nigeria can’t survive a second looting. Never!”

    He said the delay by the opposition party to name its candidate for the presidential election about six months to the election would work in favour of the ruling party.

    “In our time, it was clear who would be the APC candidate one year ahead of time,” he added.

     

  • Attacks: Sokoto buries 32 corpses, recovers another nine – Tambuwal

    Attacks: Sokoto buries 32 corpses, recovers another nine – Tambuwal

    The death toll in recent attacks in Sokoto state has risen to 39, Governor Aminu Tambuwal said Thursday.

    Tambuwal said more bodies had been recovered after 32 were buried.

    The attacks occurred in Rabah Local Government Area of the state, the latest in a string of deadly attacks across northern states.

    A senator, Adamu Aliero, on Thursday blamed the attack on “bandits”.

    Tambuwal, who received five governors on a condolence visit, said such mass killing was happening in Sokoto for the first time.

    “Currently, there are three Internally Displaced Persons camps comprising more than 10,000 people in the affected areas,” he said.

    According to him, security personnel have been mobilised for constant patrol of the areas.

    Zamfara state’s Governor Abdulaziz Yari, who as chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum led the condolence visit, said leaders will cooperate to check killings and destruction of properties around the country.

    He described the incident as worrisome, noting that Sokoto State enjoyed relative peace in spite of the fact that it shares boundary with some areas experiencing problems in Zamfara.

    Yari said, “We were in Plateau 10 days ago and now in Sokoto for the same condolence, which signified that drastic measures were needed to stop this menace.

    “As leaders, we must stand up to our responsibilities, being that most of us here are affected. We are losing loved ones, property and many being injured all over the affected places.

    “We need to look inward because the crime is a chain that must be stamped out. As leaders, we must cooperate and evolve measures to tackle the situation.”

    Governor of Jigawa, Badaru Abubakar, led the gathering in prayer for the deceased and quick recovery for the injured.

    Other governors in attendance were Aminu Masari (Katsina), Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa), Abubakar Bello (Niger) and Kashim Shettima of Borno.

    Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Ahmad Abdulkadir and Sadiq Achida, National Vice Chairman Northwest and Sokoto State Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as APC chieftain, Umarun Kwabo, were also on the visit.

    Hundreds of suspected gunmen on Tuesday invaded Gandi and Mabanni villages in Rabah local government of Sokoto State and killed many people, destroyed properties.

     

  • Gunmen kill three policemen, abduct Syrian expatriate in Sokoto

    The Sokoto State police command has confirmed the killing of three policemen and kidnapping of an expatriate, Abul Nasir, a Syrian national working with Triacta Construction Company in the state.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, Cordelia Nwawe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that the incident occurred at about 7. 20 a.m. at the company’s quarry site at Lambar Mazaru village in Bodinga Local Government Area.

    Ms Nwawe said the three policemen guarding the premises were confirmed dead in the hospital, while the expatriate was taken to unknown place.

    She said the police had commenced investigation into the issue with a view to releasing the abducted Syrian national and arresting the culprits.

    When NAN correspondent visited the scene of the incident, some of the company’s security men guarding the quarry said four hoodlums, who drove in a car with tinted glasses, attacked the place.

    They said the gunmen opened fire on the policemen immediately they arrived the quarry.

    They said the kidnapped expatriate was the manager of the site.

  • Philanthropist sponsors 100 marriages in Sokoto

    Philanthropist sponsors 100 marriages in Sokoto

    Alhaji Umarun Kwabo, a philanthropist and All Progressives Congress (APC) party Chieftain, on Sunday, sponsored the marriages of 100 couples in Sokoto.

    The Chairman of the Marriage Organising Committee, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, said at the Abu Huraira Mosque, Sokoto, where the wedding Fatiha took place, that Kwabo spent a total of N31 million to ensure that the wedding took place.

    He said wedding programmes started in the last four months, adding that various committees were constituted to ensure the success of the marriages.

    Dingyadi explained that the committees included those in charge of the health status of the couples, couples’ screening, education and enlightenment of couples on marriage responsibilities, marriage consummation, publicity, clothing and materials, as well as supervision committee.

    He noted that 200 persons benefitted from the gesture as thousands of men and women applied for the opportunity, saying that location, eligibility, financial status and others were considered before a couple could be sponsored.

    The chairman said each couple was provided with set of house furniture, bedding sets, food items, while dowry was also paid on behalf of the brooms.

    The state Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, who was at the event, urged couples to respect marriage institution by protecting individual’s rights, as well as live up to expectations in their respective matrimonial chores.

    Tambuwal commended the sponsor of the marriages and described it as a distinct gesture with huge
    importance in community’s social wellbeing which would surely impact positively on moral and economic sectors.

    He also urged wealthy individuals and groups to emulate the initiative.

    Kwabo, who commended the support and cooperation of all committee members, noted that the initiative was to assist young people who desired to get married but were facing financial challenges.

    He pledged to do more in other areas, stressing that supporting people with needs was best way to thank Allah.

    The weddings, administered by Imam Mansur Ibrahim, was attended by Sen. Aliyu Wamakko, Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Ahmad Aliyu, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III and other traditional rulers, commissioners, politicians and the public.

    NAN

  • Gov. Tambuwal’s spokesperson, Imam Imam, is dead

    Imam Imam, the spokesperson for Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal is dead.

     

    Imam, passed on at the age of 44 after being diagnosed of pneumonia at Nizamieye Turkish hospital in Abuja in the early hours of Friday, April 27.

    He was also known as the special adviser on media to Tambuwal as then speaker of the House of Representatives, between 2011 and 2015.

     

    Before his death, he was the Special Adviser on Media to the Sokoto Governor.

     

    He is survived by two wives and four children.

     

    The deceased will be buried at 2pm at Annur Mosque, Abuja, according to Islamic rites.

     

    He was a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and a graduate member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

  • Gates, Dangote, six Govs sign MoU on immunization in Sokoto [Photos]

    Bill Gates, Aliko Dangote and six Governors Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding on improved access to immunization across Northern Nigeria.

    Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto was joined by Kashim Shettima of Borno, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Muhammed Abubakar of Bauchi and Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna at the signing ceremony which held at the Sokoto Government House. Yobe state governor was represented.

    Health Minister, professor Isaac Adewole also witnessed the signing ceremony.

    Delivering the opening remarks, Tambuwal said all the states are committed to improving vaccine availability, encouraging stronger community engagement and securing financing.

    “In addition, we will ensure strong monitoring and evaluation while at the same time, accountability mechanisms will be put in place,” he added.

    Speaking at the event, Bill Gates said all partners are committed to ensuring maximum number of children are reached, adding that the MoUs are intended to enable states achieve targeted coverage.

    “Routine immunization is crucial to ensuring that every child is protected against vaccine-preventable diseases, helping them achieve their potential and live full, productive lives. We are ready t support the states in reaching the targets set out in the MoUs,” he added.

    He said with the election season approaching, all hands must be on deck to ensure the targets are met. He projected that all partners are committed to reaching at least 80+ coverage in the coming year.

    Gates commended all the signatory-states for their commitment, adding that Nigeria is so far on the right track not just in efforts to fight polio, but on achieving targets in routine immunization.

    “My request is that all the Governors should review campaigns and ensure that in the next two years, we complete polio eradication. On routine immunization, the opportunity is fantastic, vaccinations are phenomenal on their impacts. We can prevent millions of deaths by doing work on RI.

    In his remarks, Dangote emphasized the need for governments to be up to date on the payment of their counterpart funds, and to work hard on improving data especially at the grassroots level.

    “We are delighted that the MoU has been extended, reaffirming Bauchi, Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto and Yobe states’ commitment to the health of their citizens. Our expectation now is that this commitment will be translated into concrete action,” he stated.

    He commended both the federal and governments for working on data improvement and for reaffirming their commitments to tackling preventable diseases.

    In their separate remarks, the Governors expressed delight at the signing of the MoUs, and vowed to ensure full implementation in their various states.

  • Sultan of Sokoto urges Muslims to get their PVCs ahead of 2019 elections

    The Sultan of Sokoto and President General of Supreme Council of Islamic for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria, Alhaji Saad Abubakar has stressed the need for all Muslim ummah to take advantage of the ongoing Continues Voter Registration CVR to obtained a voters card ahead of the 2019 General elections.

    Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 32nd edtion of the National Quranic Recitation Competition holding in Katsina, Saad said it is only by doing this that one can have a say as to who becomes what and when.
    According to him, the Muslim population is mass and it is those with cards are eligible to vote.
    He said one can only actively participate with having a voters card noting that it is high time the Muslim ummah realised the need for it adding that ‎’ let’s get our voters card because it is with it that we can seek for our rights with our votes. All Muslims to seek their cards to enable us vote, People will come seek for votes and we shall then tell then what we need of them’
    He enjoined leaders to fear God and the followers as well and should always pray so that we forged ahead in this trying period of our times adding that leaders must redouble effort to boost peaceful coexistence in various places.
    In his remarks, the state governor Aminu Masari said the scourge of Almajiri education must be holistically looked at by all stakeholders giving the increasing misuse and social vices of system.
    About 360 participants took part from 32 states and FCT in the 8 days event.
    Amina Aliyu Mohd from Borno state and Amiru Yunus Guru from Bauchi state emerging as the overall winners carting home brand new cars, Hajj seats and other cash donations.
    Gombe state was announced as winner of the hosting of next years 33rd edition of the competition.
  • Sokoto introduces ambulances services with 300 vehicles

    Sokoto introduces ambulances services with 300 vehicles

    Sokoto state government said has introduced specialised ambulances to deepen access to medical care and improve emergency service delivery across the 23 local government areas of the state.

    The state commissioner of health, Dr. Balarabe Shehu Kakale, told journalists in Sokoto Tuesday that already, 300 vehicles equipped with necessary health gadgets and equipment, have been provided in the pilot phase of the scheme.

    “We’re upping the ante in medical care provision for our people. By this, we plan to provide both emergency response and patient transfer when the need arises.

    “We are placing ambulances in all our hospitals, across major roads and highways and other areas. Basically, we are ensuring that all the 244 political wards in the state have one functional ambulance to aid patients in need.

    “For the ones to be stationed on our highways, they will serve as primary providers of a 24/7 response to medical and trauma-related emergencies. They will provide a disciplined and organised system, allowing a timely response of appropriately qualified health care workers,” he added.

    The commissioner said a central communication unit has been set up at the State Specialist Hospital to coordinate the ambulances services for easy interface and direction.

    He said the entire aim of the ambulance service is to ensure a coordinated response in the health sector and to ensure that the right clinical/medical resources are provided to the right patient within the right time-frame for their medical needs.

    While commending Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for approving the establishment of the new service, Kakale said even though limited aspect of the service has been rolled out, the full benefit will be felt after the specialised training of para-medical workers is concluded.

  • From less than 30 to 115: Sokoto boosts enrollment of girls in FGGC Tambuwal

    Worried by the apparent lack enough Sokoto indigenes at the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) Tambuwal, the state government has sponsored 115 girls to begin academic pursuits in the institution.

    The admission for the 115 girls was secured under the auspices of the newly-created Agency for Female Education.

    Though located in Sokoto State, reports indicate that the number of Sokoto indigenes in the school is less than 30, a situation that warrants government to take drastic action to fill the gap.

    Speaking to reporters in Sokoto, Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Girl Child Education, Dr. Amamatu Yusuf, said government acted when it was brought to attention that there were few Sokoto indigenes in the school.

    “The Agency for Female Education liaised with the Ministry for Local Government to source for students from the 23 local government areas of the state. We organized an entrance examination for them and the best among them were offered admission.

    “To lessen the burden on parents, Governor Tambuwal gave approval that all necessary materials needed for fresh students in the College be provided for the new intakes. We therefore distributed mattresses, school bags, sandals, mosquito nets, blankets, schools wears among others free of charge to support them,” she added.

    The Adviser noted that all the girls were admitted into JSS 1 and 2 and SSS 1 and 2.

    “We will continue to monitor the progress of the girls. Even though this admission circle is over, next time, we will also ensure that anywhere there is deficit in the number of our girls in any College in the country, we will fill it up without hesitation,” she added.

    Governor Tambuwal recently created the Agency for Female Education promote and coordinate all issues related to female education from basic to tertiary levels in the state.

  • 80 students escape death in Sokoto

    Eighty students of Government Girls Secondary School, Mabera, in Sokoto metropolis escaped death on Sunday night when fire completely razed down their hostel.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the inferno destroyed the four-room A’isha hostel and valuables but no student was hurt.

    It took the combined efforts of officials of State Fire Service and other security personnel to put off the fire suspected to have originated from electrical sparks.

    The school authorities declined to speak on the incident, saying that they have no authority to entertain media enquiry.

    Efforts to speak to officials of the state Ministry Education and state Fire Service were unsuccessful as they failed to pick phone calls and did not reply text messages.

    NAN recalled that in December 2017, a student hostel was also burnt down at the Government Science Secondary School Kware in the state.