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Tag: Zamfara

  • Tinubu lauds people of Zamfara for ensuring his ”biggest win”

    Tinubu lauds people of Zamfara for ensuring his ”biggest win”

    President Bola Tinubu has lauded the people of Zamfara and members of the APC for ensuring his biggest win in the state.

    Tinubu, represented by Sen. Kabiru Marafa, gave the commendation on Tuesday night in Abuja at an inauguration dinner.

    The dinner was organised by Marafa.

    Tinubu, appreciated members of his Presidential Campaign Council which was coordinated by Marafa in Zamfara.

    He thanked the immediate past governor of the state, Bello Matawalle, former governor Abdulaziz Yari and other members of the APC.

    “My administration will surely reward all those who showed their commitment in one way or the other for our victory,” Tinubu said.

    In his address, Marafa said he organised the dinner to bring the people together to thank God and the people of Zamfara for ensuring victory for the APC in the state.

    “We are still hopeful and confident in the Nigerian judiciary in the case of the governorship election which we are challenging in  court.

    ”We have identified all those APC members who hypocritically worked against us and will take appropriate measures against them as provided by the party.

    “We will continue to appeal to our president to empower our youth and women so that our state and the country in general will be better,” he said.

    Marafa thanked the outgone governor Matawalle for giving him the required support to succeed as the state Coordinator of the APC PCC.

    The dinner was attended by members of the state PCC,  members of the Matawalle-led executive council, APC elders, and the party state Chairman, Alhaji Tukur Danfulani, youth and women groups from Zamfara.

    Tinubu emerged as the winner in Zamfara in the Feb. 25 Presidential election.

    Tinubu won 12 out of 14 Local Government Areas in the state, while Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party won two.

  • Zamfara Gov, Matawalle announces dissolution of executive council

    Zamfara Gov, Matawalle announces dissolution of executive council

    Governor Bello Matawalle has approved the dissolution of the Zamfara State Executive Council and has relieved all political appointees of their appointments.

    This was contained in a press statement signed and issued to newsmen in Gusau, the state capital, by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs, Dr Lawal Hussein.

    According to the statement, members of the state executive council include all special advisers, chairmen of boards and commissions (except the Civil Service Commission), Independent Electoral Commission, Judicial Service Commission, and House of Assembly Service Commission.

    Others include all non-career directors-general, chief executives of extra ministerial departments, agencies and companies who are politically based, sole administrators of the 14 local government councils, secretaries of the 14 local government councils, councillors of the 14 local government councils, and area development councils.

    “With this development, the affected public officers are directed by the Governor to hand over the affairs of their organisations to officers next in command,” the statement said

    “Chairmen of the affected boards and commissions are to hand over to secretaries of their respective organisations, while sole administrators of the 14 local government councils are to hand over to their respective directors of administration.”

    The statement also noted that the governor expressed his appreciation and best wishes to all public officers affected by the development for their individual and collective contributions to the development of the state during his term in office.

    He also thanked the people of Zamfara State for their cooperation and support during his stewardship as the executive governor of the state, saying that the dissolution takes immediate effect.

  • Troops kill scores of bandits, seizes several weapons in Zamfara

    Troops kill scores of bandits, seizes several weapons in Zamfara

    Military troops operating under the umbrella of Operation Hadarin Daji (OPHD) have again unleashed their arsenal on several bandits in their dens as they were neutralized while several weapons were recovered in Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    It was  gathered that several bandits were killed while others escaped with serious gunshot wounds and their camps destroyed and taken over by military troops.

    The  joint task force troops of the OPHD have again conducted operations and cleared popular bandits camps at Dawan Jiya and Tungar Daji Villages in Bagega District of Anka emirate in the state where they killed many bandits and recovered many weapons.

  • Surrender to us after handover, EFCC tells Gov Matawalle

    Surrender to us after handover, EFCC tells Gov Matawalle

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has advised Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle to surrender after handover over alleged N70billion fraud.

    Recall it was earlier reported that EFCC said it was currently probing Matawalle and there was therefore apprehension at the Government House, Gusau.

    Also, Matawalle of Zamfara had accused the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, of being corrupt.

    The governor, in a press statement on Wednesday, personally signed by him and sent to media channels, had said Bawa should also surrender himself for investigation.

    According to Matawalle, he and some eminent Nigerians have evidence to substantiate Bawa’s corrupt practices and abuse of office.

    Meanwhile, in a press release, the anti-graft agency on Thursday said Matawalle would be arrested as soon as he handed over on May 29.

    “The Commission would like to put the nation on notice to expect more of the kind of wild allegations made by Matawalle as those at the receiving end of EFCC’s investigations, fight viciously back.

    “But the real issue with Matawalle is that he is being investigated by the EFCC, over allegation of monumental corruption, award of phantom contracts and diversion of over N70billion.

    “The money which was sourced as loan from an old generation bank purportedly for the execution of projects across the local government areas of the state, was allegedly diverted by the governor through proxies and contractors who received payment for contracts that were not executed.

    “The Commission’s investigations so far reveal that more than 100 companies have received payments from the funds, with no evidence of service rendered to the state. Some of the contractors who had been invited and quizzed by the Commission, made startling revelations on how they were allegedly compelled by the governor to return the funds received from the state coffers back to him through his aides after converting the same to United States Dollars.

    “They confirmed that they did not render any service to Zamafara state but were allegedly directed to convert the monies paid to them into United States Dollar and return to the State governor through some of his commissioners, notably the Commissioners in charge of Finance and Local Government Affairs.

    “One of the contractors, a popular Abuja property developer, collected N6billion on a N10billion contract without rendering any service to Zamfara state. Another contractor collected over N3billion for a contract for the supply of medical equipment but the Commission traced a payment of N400million from his account to a Bureau de Change operator. The contractor confessed the payment was to procure the dollar equivalent allegedly for the state governor.

    “As part of the extensive investigation of contracts awarded by the Matawalle administration, especially for phantom projects in the local government areas, the Commission has recovered a sum of N300million from a company, Fezel Nigeria Limited. The funds were traced to the Zamafara Investment Company.

    “The EFCC investigation is the source of anxiety in Government House, Gusau, with the governor in mortal dread of his fate once he steps down as governor on May 29. In Nigeria state governors and their deputies enjoy immunity from criminal prosecution while in office, a reason the EFCC has yet to arrest Governor Matawalle.”

  • Hoodlums vandalise Zamfara anti-thuggery secretariat

    Hoodlums vandalise Zamfara anti-thuggery secretariat

    Suspected hoodlums vandalised the Zamfara anti-thuggery agency’s secretariat during the March 21 post-election violence in the state after announcement of governorship election results.

    The Commandant, Bello Bakyasuwa, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Gusau on Saturday.

    Gusau, the state capital, on March 21, recorded post election violence as hoodlums joined the PDP in celebration of the governorship election victory.

    The violence led to vandalism of APC offices, billboards, destruction, and looting of government’s offices and properties worth millions of naira.

    The state police command in a statement, said it had arrested 40 suspected hoodlums for the alleged violence.

    Bakyasuwa described the violence as an ugly incident.

    He condemned the level of theft and destruction by some alleged party supporters in the state.

    He noted that the agency remained apolitical and was established by Gov. Bello Matawalle to complement security agencies, to promote peace and stability in the state.

    According to him, two operation vehicles of the agency, including a Hilux and Pegeout 406 saloon belonging to the agency, were stolen by the hoodlums.

    He said properties worth N50 million at the Secretariat were stolen by the hoodlums.

    “As a I am speaking to you, the main gate of our Secretariat has been removed, windows, doors and furniture of our offices were removed and stolen by the hoodlums

    “All our offices, including conference room, store, kitchen clinic and pharmacy were vandalised and all properties inside stolen.

    “All the properties in our tailoring unit with uniform worth millions of naira, ICT Centre have been vandalised and stolen.”

    He said the agency was working with security agencies to ensure the arrest of the perpetrators.

    In his reaction, the Secretary, Publicity Committee, PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Ahmad Shatiman-Rijiya, said PDP had no hand in the post election violence.

    Shatiman-Rijiya said PDP had been existing in the state since 1999 but never record violence.

    “Our members have no hand in attacking, destruction, or stealing of APC supporters or property.

    “How do you expect, we the PDP that recorded victory to cause violence, I am telling you this is not true,” he added.

  • “Arrest persons rejecting old naira”- Zamfara gov orders security agents

    “Arrest persons rejecting old naira”- Zamfara gov orders security agents

    Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, has instructed the security agents to arrest anybody who refuses to recognize and accept old naira notes as legal tender in the state.

    Matawalle who gave the directive at a swearing-in ceremony of the new High Court Judges and Special Advisers held at the Government House Gusau on Friday said the redesigning of the currency was ill-timed and wrongly implemented.

    He, therefore, directed that “Anyone who refuses to accept the old currency notes of N200, N500 and N1000 in the state should be arrested.”

    "Arrest persons rejecting old naira"- Zamfara gov orders security agents
    Bello Matawalle

    He said the old currency notes remain legal tender until the final verdict of the case instituted against the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government by three northern governors of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states at the Supreme Court.

    The governor explained that he and his counterparts in Kogi and Kaduna are seeking the Supreme Court to order the extension and validity of the old naira notes.

    Matawalle said, “As you are all aware, the economy of the country as a whole has been plunged into a serious crisis by the decision of the Central Bank to cease recognition of the old naira notes as legal tender from February 10.

    He said, “This decision compounded the already dire situation of our state occasioned by banditry and sundry crimes, which significantly disrupted economic activities in the state and the subregion over the years.

    “It was in consideration of the grave consequences of this disruptive policy which was not well thought out, that I took the decision to team up with the sister states of Kaduna and Kogi to seek the intervention of the Supreme Court to ensure that both the new and old naira notes remain as legal tender beyond February 10.

    “Gladly, the Supreme Court has given an interim injunction barring the CBN from the enforcement of its plan of phasing out the old notes as legal tender from February 10, pending its final ruling on the matter on February 15.”

  • FG plans vehicles’ transit park, dry inland port for Zamfara — Matawalle

    FG plans vehicles’ transit park, dry inland port for Zamfara — Matawalle

    Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara says the Nigerian Shippers Council will soon commence the construction of a new Vehicles’ Transit Park and an Inland Dry Port in Gusau.

    Matawalle disclosed this through his Special Adviser, Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Malam Zailani Bappa, in a statement issued in Gusau on Thursday.

    “This is part of the fallout from the concerted efforts my administration’s vision of an economically viable Zamfara,” the governor was quoted as saying.

    “In a letter of conveyance, the Nigerian Shippers Council also requested for the immediate commencement of the initial steps towards the realisation of these projects.

    “Already, a meeting between the State Government officials and those of the Shippers Council is scheduled for early next month to fast track the take-off of the projects.

    “Gov. Bello Matawalle said the intention of his administration is to ensure that the State benefits from all available Federal Government Transport and Commercial Infrastructure that will lead to economic leap for the state,” Bappa said.

    He added that officers from the headquarters and Sokoto Zonal Office of the council are expected to arrive Gusau soon to begin earnest preparations for the take-off of the projects.

  • CBN directs banks to release new naira notes in Zamfara

    CBN directs banks to release new naira notes in Zamfara

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has ordered Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) in Zamfara, to release the new naira notes to Point of Sale (POS) operators or face sanction.

    The CBN Controller in the state, Alhaji Buhari Abbas gave the charge on Friday at a sensitisation exercise for POS operators in Gusau.

    He said the measure was imperative to cushion the hardship being experienced by residents and business due low circulation of new naira notes in the state.

    The directive came against the backdrop of public outcry over scarcity of the new bank notes, as traders and businesses in the area refused transaction in old naira notes.

    He said the apex bank would not condone currency hoarding, warning that defaulters would be sanctioned.

    The controller urged the POS operators with banks accounts in Gusau, to access the new notes from the DBMs, and report erring banks.

    According to him, the daily transaction limit for POS operators is N500,000, while N10,000 per individual bank account holders.

    Buhari warned the POS operators to desist from charging customers above normal fee, warning that erring operators would be prosecuted.

    “The old naira notes remain legal tender till midnight Jan. 31,” he said.

    Also, the Chairman, POS operators in the state, Alhaji Kabiru Abubakar lauded the gesture, and promised to adhere to the normal cash withdrawal charge.

    Nigerian standard reports that traders and businesses in Gusau rejected the old naira notes due to the alleged hardship they faced in depositing it in the banks.

    The situation got worse leading to the near collapse of businesses due to the scarcity of new naira notes in the state.

  • Death sentence on Islamic cleric excites group in Zamfara

    Death sentence on Islamic cleric excites group in Zamfara

    A Zamfara-based Islamic group on Wednesday in Gusau commended Kano Upper Shari’a Court for convicting an Islamic scholar, Abduljabbar Kabara to death by hanging for blasphemy.

    The Kano Upper Shari’a Court sentenced Kabara to death by hanging on Dec. 15, 2022, over blasphemous comments against Prophet Muhammad.

    Chairman of the “Joint Youths Islamic Organisations’’, Malam Sanusi Kwatarkwashi gave the kudos to the court at an interactive session with the media and some Islamic organisations.

    “We commend Kano State government for arraigning the cleric at a competent Islamic Court over blasphemy.

    “That was a good lesson for people like Kabara who thought they could blaspheme the prophet of Islam and go scot free.

    “We also appreciate the Judge, Ibrahim Sarki-Yola for the justifiable judgment that sentenced Kabara to death by hanging.

    “On behalf of all Islamic organisations in Zamfara, we are appealing to Kano State government to continue to pursue the case.

    “We as Muslims are assiduously waiting for the day when Kabara will be hanged publicly to serve as a lesson to other blasphemers,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, Chairman, Zamfara Ulama (clerics) Consultative Council, Sheikh Abubakar Fari said the judgment showed that Kano State and Muslims adhere to the rule of law and to due judicial process.

    Sheikh Fari called on people of the two states to continue to pray for peace and stability in Nigeria as a whole.

    Also speaking, Chairman, Zamfara Preaching and Jumu’a Mosque Commission, Sheikh Aminu Aliyu described Kabara’s actions as ugly and worthy of condemnation as they were totally against the teachings of Islam.

    Also chairman of Jama’atul Izalatil Bid’ah Wa’ikamatis Sunnah in Zamfara, Alhaji Na’alla Zurmi said Islamic organisations were ready to support Kano State government to follow up the case up to the Supreme Court.

    In his remarks, Chairman, Zamfara Anti-Corruption Commission, Barrister Aliyu Abdullahi said Islamic law and the Supreme Court also recommended death penalty for blasphemers.

    Abdullahi urged Muslims to always adhere to due process and to go through court processes at all times to address issues.

  • Nonpayment of salaries: Union stages peaceful protest in Zamfara

    Nonpayment of salaries: Union stages peaceful protest in Zamfara

    The Joint Health Sector Unions, Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau chapter, has staged a peaceful protest in the hospital over the nonpayment of salaries. This is coming after the union earlier issued a one-week ultimatum to the Zamfara State Government.

    The ultimatum was for the State Government to clear their members’ salary arrears and correct the half salaries being paid to some of them.

    According to the Union, they contacted relevant authorities over the issue but nothing was done despite several assurances.

    They said the failure of the relevant authorities to act on their demands within the 24 hours ultimatum earlier issued forced them to stage a peaceful protest.

    It was gathered that apart from Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, many health workers in other hospitals in the State are also owed salaries for months.