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Tag: Zamfara

  • FG disburses N6bn to poor households

    FG disburses N6bn to poor households

    The Federal Government on Tuesday said it has disbursed over N6billion to poor households in six out of the 14 local government areas of Zamfara State.

    The disbursement was done under the federal government Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme in 2020.

    Speaking during the flag off of Grant for Rural Women Project, on Tuesday in Gusau, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Faruk said the CCT which commenced in 2016, is designed to deliver timely and accessible cash transfers to beneficiary households.

    “CCT is set to support development objectives, priorities and to achieve improvement in health and nutrition, school o and retention, environmental sanitation and empowerment among others,” NAN reports.

    Umar-Faruk maintained that a total of 130,000 beneficiaries from Anka, Bungudu, Birnin Magaji, Kaura Namoda, Tsafe, and Talata Mafara local government areas received between N30,000 to N80,000.

    This she said, is according to the dates each beneficiary was enrolled into the programme.

  • Gov. Matawalle proposes one-week extensive prayer to end banditry in Zamfara

    Gov. Matawalle proposes one-week extensive prayer to end banditry in Zamfara

    Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara has called on residents to commence one-week of extensive prayers to seek God’s intervention to end armed banditry and other crimes in the state.

    A press statement signed by the governor’s Press Secretary, Jamilu Iliyasu, which was made available to journalists in Gusau on Sunday said the governor made the plea when the 17 emirs in the state came to condole with him over the death of the state’s PDP Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Mallaha.

    The statement said the governor noted that “his administration is making concerted efforts to bring an end to the menace of armed banditry, kidnappings and other criminal activities in the state through the stick and carrot approach.

    “He said that there is need for persistent prayers in order to seek God’s divine intervention.”

    The governor explained that as traditional rulers who are closer to the people, the emirs should have a lot to support the government through collaborative effort aimed at securing the state.

    He, therefore, directed the traditional rulers to mobilise Imams and other Islamic Clerics to embark on the special prayers at mosques and other preaching sessions for an end to the menace and thanked them for the condolence.

    Leading his colleagues, the Chairman of the state’s Council of Chiefs, who is also the Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmed, said they were at the Government House to register their condolences to the Government and people of the state over the death of Alhaji Ibrahim Mallaha, as well as an elderstatesman, Sen. Yushau Anka, who both died separately last week.

    The Emir said late Ibrahim Mallaha lived a very simple life worthy of emulation by other politicians and prayed for Almighty Allah to forgive all his shortcomings and grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    Other callers at the Government House to pay their condolences included Zamfara State Islamic Clerics under the auspices of the Zamfara State Council of Ulamas led by its Chairman, Malam Abubakar Aliyu, and the state’s chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by its Chairman, Comrade Bashir Mafara.

  • Lawyer to drag CBN, Zamfara state to court over illegal N5bn gold deal

    Lawyer to drag CBN, Zamfara state to court over illegal N5bn gold deal

    A lawyer, Joseph Onu Silas, has threatened to drag the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor and the Zamfara state government to court over the reported striking a gold mining deal to the tune of N5 billion.

    But the Zamfara State Government has denied the accusation leveled against it by the lawyer.

    The lawyer in a letter addressed to the CBN governor and sighted by TheNewsGuru.com, TNG threatened to sue both the state government and the CBN if the illegal deal goes through.

    However, in a reaction on Friday, Special Adviser to Governor Bello Matawalle on Media, Alhaji Zailani Baffa denied such deal.

    Baffa in a statement said, “The attention of the Zamfara State Government has been drawn to a shocking and disappointing reaction in the media where a known lawyer displayed ignorance of law regarding the recent revelation made by Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun) over mining in the state.

    “The lawyer, Mr Joseph Onu Silas, has accused the Central Bank of Nigeria of violating its constitutional boundaries to trade in gold with the Zamfara State Government. He further accused the state government of claiming to own the gold deposits in the state.”

    However, Baffa said the CBN did not enter into any trade agreement with the state government as claimed by the lawyer.

    He said, “The fact is that the CBN, just like in agriculture, is willing to invest in mining, as part of its Anchor Borrowers’ Programme whereby the apex bank will invest an amount for the state government to supply it with the gold as proceeds of the investment.

    “This is aimed at boosting the mining sector in the country which is within the provisions of the scheme.”

    Baffa further explained that “the state government is not directly mining the gold by itself”.

    He added, “It will rather purchase the gold from the mining companies registered by the Federal Government in the state.

    “All Nigerians are aware that the Federal Government is in the process of re-registering qualified companies allowed to mine mineral resources in the state on its behalf, just as obtains in the oil sector, which Mr Silas mentioned.”

  • Gunmen on motorcycles abduct APC chairman

    Gunmen on motorcycles abduct APC chairman

    Suspected kidnappers have abducted chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Gamji ward of Bakura local Government area in Zamfara, Alhaji Sani Dangwaggo.

    A resident, who spoke with newsmen under condition of anonymity, disclosed the gunmen arrived the chairman’s residence on motorcycles and whisked him away without hurting anyone.

    It was gathered the abducted chairman is a brother of former Commissioner for Local Government Affairs Alhaji Bello Dankande Gamji, whose children were abducted last month.

    When contacted, Zamfara Police Command Public Relations Officer SP Shehu Muhammad confirmed the incident.

    He said police detectives have been drafted to rescue the victim

  • NDLEA seizes 1,500kgs illicit drugs in Zamfara

    NDLEA seizes 1,500kgs illicit drugs in Zamfara

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Zamfara Command, has impounded a truck conveying 1,503.044kilogrammes of illicit drugs.

    The State Commander, Gabriel Adamu, stated this at a press conference in Tsafe town on Wednesday.

    Adamu said that officers of the command in Tsafe, acting on intelligence reports, intercepted a Mercedes Benz truck with registration number Anambra XY 200 FGG, along Gusau-Zaria expressway.

    He said the illicit drugs contained in the truck include Cannabis sativa 185kgs, Hypnox 11.5kgs, Diazepam 14kgs, Valinex-5 22.7kgs, Exol-5 310kgs and Codeine syrup 59.844kgs among others.

    Adamu said that two persons were arrested in connection with the seizure, adding that investigation was ongoing before further actions.

    He warned drug merchants to have a change of heart or face justice.

    The commander also solicited the assistance of general public to continue providing the agency with useful information.

  • Zamfara Assembly shelves session over death of 16 crash victims

    Zamfara Assembly shelves session over death of 16 crash victims

    Zamfara State House of Assembly shelved its plenary session on Thursday following the demise on Wednesday evening of 16 road crash victims.

    The crash occurred as supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a speeding vehicle cheered the state governor Bello Muhammad Matawalle returning to the state after a visit to Abuja.

    The suspension of the legislative session resulted from “the tragic motor accident yesterday (Wednesday) along Gusau-Yankara Road that involved mostly supporters of our great party, Peoples Democratic party (PDP) that wanted to welcome the state governor…back to the state from an official engagement in Abuja,” a statement signed by the House Director-General, Press Affairs and Public Relations Mustapha Jafaru Kaura said.

    The plenary has been rescheduled for Monday, August 31.

    The governor has declared three days mourning.

  • I need Buhari’s support to make my state amongst richest in Nigeria, PDP governor declares

    I need Buhari’s support to make my state amongst richest in Nigeria, PDP governor declares

    The governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle has said that the state would be among the richest in the country if President Muhammadu Buhari supports his plan.

    The governor made this statement at the Head Office of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Abuja, saying poverty was a way to pervasive sickness.

    According to the governor, his government is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that earnings of Zamfara State and residents improve.

    He also said that they are building facilities at the grassroots so everybody can access primary healthcare. He said that all general hospitals in the state have been equipped with new ambulances and health equipment to improve the secondary healthcare system.

    Matawalle revealed that all 147 primary health centres in the state are being built in every ward in the state, saying that his government is ready to welcome the participation of NHIS in Zamfara.

    The executive secretary of NHIS, Prof. Mohammed Sambo assured the governor of the agency’s support.

    He further commended the governor for his effort in keeping the state against bandits which he said discouraged professionals from the state.

    Recall that on Monday, Matawalle presented gold bars and an assortment of precious stones, products of Zamfara to President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Former commissioner’s wife, two children kidnapped, guard shot dead in Zamfara

    Former commissioner’s wife, two children kidnapped, guard shot dead in Zamfara

    The Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of four persons in the house of a former Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Mohammed Bello Dankande Gamji in his Gamji home town of Bakura Local Government Area of the state.

    “This was made known in a press statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu.

    “The report which was received at about 0500hrs of today indicates that, at about 0430hrs, a large number of armed bandits stormed the house and kidnapped two of his children and two others including an NSCDC officer on guard duty in the house.

    One person was shot dead while a woman was wounded in the process” the statement indicated”

    The police spokesperson said the command has already deployed armed and plain operatives on a search and rescue operations to rescue the kidnapped victims and apprehend the assailants.

    “The Command further assures the former Commissioner and indeed all the people of the state that it is doing everything possible to get the abductees released as was done recently where six (6) kidnapped victims including two district heads of Basasa and Ruwan Gizo in Talata Mafara and Bakura Local Government Area were rescued safely by the Police”

    “However, the Command appeals to members of the public to avoid confronting gunmen during such invasion but report the incident on time to the police or any security agency nearest to them for prompt action”

    The statement assured that normalcy has been restored in the area while the Command will update members of the public on any development in this regard.

  • Sad! Food poisoning wipes out family of seven in Zamfara

    Sad! Food poisoning wipes out family of seven in Zamfara

    Food poisoning has wiped out a family of seven at Auki village, Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    The State Police Command confirmed the development on Saturday.

    The family, comprising two housewives and their five children, died after taking their dinner, which was mistakenly cooked with a poisonous salt.

    A statement issued by the spokesman of the Police Command, Mohammed Shehu, said the family developed stomach disorder immediately after eating the food.

    He said three members of the family died instantly while the other four were rushed to Bungudu General Hospital, where they later died.

  • Edo 2020: Buhari endorses Ize-Iyamu, urges APC to avoid mistakes of Rivers, Zamfara

    Edo 2020: Buhari endorses Ize-Iyamu, urges APC to avoid mistakes of Rivers, Zamfara

    President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to avoid the pitfalls that affected the party’s victory in Rivers, Zamfara and Bayelsa States in the 2019 elections.

    Buhari also called on the party leaders and campaign team to do all that is necessary by following legal and constitutional means to win the election.

    The president gave the charge when he received the Edo State governorship candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu alongside Gov. Mai mala Buni of Yobe, who is the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC.

    Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, who doubles as the Chairman of Progressive Governors Forum and the APC Campaign Chairman for Edo State elections, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje also accompanied the APC candidate to the villa.

    With the resolution of the “acute crisis’’ in the party in Edo, Buhari said that he was optimistic that the party would regain its pride of place in winning elections and serving the people.

    The President urged party leaders at the national and state levels to follow the electoral process in an open and transparent manner.

    He said: “What I want is a transparent process so that the confidence of the people will be strengthened’’.

    The president congratulated Ize-Iyamu on his emergence as the party’s candidate in Edo after a “turbulent process’’, assuring him of full support.

    Sowore blasts Buhari for endorsing Ize-Iyamu despite N700m fraud case

    Meanwhile, #RevolutionNow activist, Omoyele Sowore, lampooned Buhari, for endorsing Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who is facing corruption charges to the tune of N700 million.

    Ize-Iyamu was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Benin by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly receiving about N700m during the build-up to the 2015 general elections.

    Responding to the development, Sowore, tweeted, “The nature of dementia! Pastor Ize-Iyamu is undergoing trial for N700m scam, Buhari pretends not to remember, hands him a flag to become next Edo governor, much like Senator Godswill Akpabio was asked to handle NDDC.”Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the party’s caretaker committee, who presented the candidate, told the President that “Pastor Ize-Iyamu is a seasoned grassroots politician, who is loved by his people’’.