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KADUNA WEEKLY REVIEWNo. 42 9th July, 2018

IN THIS EDITION

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CHIEFTAINCY AFFAIRSMINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCESMINISTRY OF YOUTHS, SPORTS AND CULTUREMINISTRY OF RURAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTMINISTRY OF WOMEN AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTMINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

Installation of 500KVA transformer at KSDPC Layout in Kaduna South L.G.A., Kaduna.

KDSG Inducts and Trains Elected LG Chairmen of Kaduna StateEnvironment Ministry Partners Christian Aid on Disaster ManagementArewa JCI Synergizes with Ministry of Youths, Sports & CultureMini Solar Grids to be constructed by KDSGMrs. El-Rufai Assures VVF Survivors of Government Continuous SupportKADPMC: A Panacea to Agric-businessKDSG Expends 150 million on State Infrastructure

The newly elected local government chairmen and councilors in Kaduna state have been advised to pay more attention to development services, peaceful coexistence and security of lives and properties of the electorates who have chosen them as their representatives at the grassroots.

The Governor of Kaduna state, Mal. Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa'I gave this advice in Saminaka, during the opening ceremony of a 2 day induction/training workshop for the newly elected local government chairmen and vice chairmen. The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Local Government Affairs in collaboration with the state Planning Commission and the Department of Local Government and Development Studies, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

Governor El-Rufai, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Arc. Barnabas Yusuf Bala Bantex, described local governments as starting points for development and nation building and urged the newly elected chairmen as well as the appointed interim Local Government Chairmen of the 4 Local Government Areas of Jaba, Chikun, Kajuru and Kaura to reciprocate government efforts towards provision of infrastructure by promoting peaceful and harmonious relationship among people residing in their respective local government areas.

The Governor also used the occasion to unveil the local government's long term development plan designed individually by the 23 local government councils under the joint supervision of the Ministry of Local Government and the Planning Commission, the first time in history where a blue print for development of the local governments is designed.In his key note address, the Commissioner of Local Government Affairs, Prof. Kabir Mato, assured the chairmen that the Ministry of Local Government Affairs would continue to initiate policies and programmes that would enable the local government councils to operate freely and work towards the provision of

democratic dividends to the electorates.Professor Mato also drew the attention of the elected chairmen on the philosophy of the state government on transparent and accountable governance and urged the chairmen to ensure due process and cost effective public spending. He also urged them to give preference to continuity in executing capital projects so as to avoid the bad habits of too many abandoned and uncompleted projects in the local government areas.Papers were presented by resource persons from the Department of Local Government and Development Studies, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria on the” Role of Local Government in Nation Building”,” Intergovernmental Relation between the Local Government and the State”,” The Nigerian Local Government System: Application of Presidential System”, “Policy Formulation at the Local Government Level” as well as “Financial Management at the Local Government”.

Other resource persons who presented Papers at the event include; the Commissioner, Planning Commission Kaduna State, Director General, Code of Conduct Bureau, Auditor General for Local Government, Kaduna State, Chairman, Kaduna State Revenue Service, Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Kaduna State and Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice Kaduna State.

The Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Amina Dyeris Sijuwade, has said that the early warning and early response project launched in Kaduna state by Christian Aid Nigeria is timely and a welcome development. She expressed this in a remark at the closing session of the two-day workshop organized by Christian Aid Nigeria in Kaduna.The project is aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness in Nigeria (with focus on flooding) by improving Early Warning and Early Response (EW-ER) systems in Benue, Kaduna and Plateau states. This will contribute to improved emergency preparedness, timeliness and quality of risk information and response actions for multiple natural hazards by communities, government and NGOs in a coordinated manner.Hon. Amina Dyeris Sijuwade explained that the early warning response by Christian Aid would further compliment the state government's efforts in sensitizing Kaduna state residents on environmental issues. According to her, Kaduna state since 2017 has taken proactive measures to check flooding in the state. “In 2017, Kaduna state embarked on township drainages construction in the three senatorial zones; Kaduna metropolis, Zaria and Kafanchan to check flooding and other hazard caused by poor drainage system. When asked if the state government will bring back the compulsory monthly environmental sanitation, she said it was most unlikely “cleaning of our environment is a constant thing that should not be left to once in a month”.

KDSG Inducts and Trains Elected LG Chairmen of Kaduna State

Environment Ministry Partners Christian Aid on Disaster Management

Hon. Amina Dyeris Sijuwade in a group photograph with the participants of the workshop.

Kaduna State Dep. Gov. Arc. Barnabas Bala Bantex presentingGov. El-Rufai’s speech during the Induction.

Prof. Kabir Mato, Comm. of Local Government Affairs while deliveringhis keynote address at the event.

Kaduna State Dep. Gov. Arc. Barnabas Bala Bantex, unveiling theLocal Government Long Term Development Plan, during the Induction.

A section of the Local Government Chairmen Inducted and trained.

In his closing remarks, the Country Director, Christian Aid, Charles Usie appreciated the participants for the mass turnout. He said the intervention will focus on 27 rural locations across 9 LGAs of Benue, Plateau and Kaduna states. It will also directly reach 40,500 vulnerable individuals within the 27 target communities in collaboration with 15 local, state and federal agencies. However, compared to the other two states where same workshops have been held, Kaduna had the largest and most robust gathering and urged the stakeholders to remain committed to the action plan which was jointly developed and endorsed by the participants. The workshop was attended by security agencies, religious leaders, emergency management agencies, media, civil society groups and others.

The leadership of Arewa Junior Chambers International(Arewa JCI) Kaduna state, have visited the Ministry of Youths, Sports and Culture. The group, made up of a world-wide federation of young active citizens below the age of forty, leaders and entrepreneurs, who meet, learn and grow to make remarkable impact in their various communities, were there to seek partnership with the Ministry for the planning and hosting of their Northern Nigeria Conference tagged "DAN AREWA" with the theme: CITIZENS IN ACTION FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. The conference is scheduled for 9th to 11th August 2018. JCI is an International Organisation that has branches in 19 countries. In Nigeria, it cuts across the 36 states of the federation and delegates from all over the country will be in attendance.The Ministry will be supporting the program for the second time going since the vision of the group falls within one of the core mandates of the Ministry which is youth development.

Kaduna state government is constructing mini solar grids in the 3 pilot communities under Pampaida scale-up program. The benefitting communities are Banki, Kubau Local Government Area, Ungwan Wahalain Kajuru LGA and Ungwan Moroa in Jema'a LGA.The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Rural and Community Development, Alhaji Mahmud Zailani disclosed this after a site

thmeeting at Banki village on Thursday 27 June 2018.According to him, the project is a continuation of the Kaduna State government's effort to improve the socio-economic condition of the rural communities in the state.He also urged the communities to give their maximum co-operation towards the security and sustainability of the project which is expected to be completed by October 2018.Members of Banki community thanked the government for choosing their community as one of the 3 to benefit such an important project and assured that they will give their maximum

support to the success of the project and its sustainability.

Wife of Kaduna State Governor, Hajiya Ummi Aisha El-Rufai has assured survivors of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) of government's continuous support in ensuring that they are given proper and needed treatment for total rehabilitation.

She made this commitment when she paid a visit to VVF ward at the Gambo Sawaba Specialist Hospital Zaria where she donated food items worth hundreds of thousands to the survivors.Mrs El-Rufai charged the survivors to religiously adhere to medical instruction adding that she is optimistic that the rehabilitation is successful and they would soon return to normal lives.

Speaking before the donation, Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Mohammed Baba explained to the survivors that the state government is making efforts to ensure that more doctors are trained and deployed to the hospital to handle the surgery and other forms of repairs.

The commissioner also reassured the survivors that the present administration led by Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai would not relent in extending goodwill to them whenever the need arises as the gender friendly Governor gives high premium to social sector.In response, the head matron of the hospital, Hajiya Safiya Magaji expressed her profound gratitude for the donation adding that the items donated would go a long way in relieving their pains as good nutrition with medical care boosts healing.

After series of consultations and analysis, the administration of Mal. Nasir Ahmad El–Rufai has come up with Kaduna Produce Management Company (KADPMC), a panacea to tackle and address the challenges in the agricultural sector in Kaduna state.KADPMC is aimed at bringing farmers and buyers closer in order to increase agricultural production and sales of agricultural commodities to ensure that farmers get good prices. With this in place, small holder farmer risk is minimized there by making them enjoy the favourable, investment friendly environment endowed in the state. Part of the challenges faced by farmers is quality agricultural inputs supply as such KADPMC is saddled with value added services in the area of quality inputs supply, i.e. provision of improved seedlings, assorted fertilizers,technical services and at times finances because most times, small holder farmers must meet stringent conditions as the requirements in commercial banks, leaving farmer with little or no profit.

Arewa JCI Synergizes with Ministry of Youths, Sports & Culture

Mini Solar Grids to be constructed by KDSG

Mrs. El-Rufai Assures VVF Survivors of Government Continuous Support

KADPMC: A Panacea to Agric-business

The Managing Director, KADPMC, Mr. Chris Gaiyya, during a meeting witha delegation from Kaduna Inland Dry Port, led by the Port Traffic Manager,

Mr. Ahmed T.M, the Commissioner of Agric Dr. Manzo Daniel Maigari,and other stakeholders.

Hon. Daniel Danauta, Comm. Youths, Sports and Culture on a round tablewith the members of the Arewa JCI, during the visit.

A group picture of the Comm. of Youths, Sports and Culture, with the members of the Arewa Junior Chambers International, during the visit.

Hon. Daniel Danauta

Haj. Ummi El-Rufai, Haj. Hafsat Baba amid some of the VVF Survivors.

The organisation is mandated to collect farm produce from

farm locations, transport them to the warehouses and

aggregation centres and also provide proper storage facilities

to ensure post-harvest losses are minimized.

The Managing Director of the Kaduna Produce Management

Company (KADPMC), Mr. Chris Gaiya, says, "The company is

looking inward to suggest a safe landing mechanism to farmers

by way of guaranteeing prices of produce. This is because

instability of prices discourages farmers.”

For now, the company is to promote four (4) crops that Kaduna

state is leading in its production in the entire country. These are

ginger, maize, tomato and soyabeans.

KADPMC is a collaboration between Kaduna state government,

Flour Mills, OLAM, Shebag Holding, Tomato Jos and Nalmaco.

In a meeting with some stakeholders Mr. Gaiya said KADPMC is

reaching out to interested firms and other organizations to

come forward and explore the infinite opportunities of agro

business in Kaduna state.

He further informed that KADPMC potential beneficiaries and

the general public can get further information regarding the

activities of the company from the print, broadcast and social

media.

Kaduna State Government has spent over 150million on

providing health, agriculture and education sector facilities.

The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Architect

Barnabas Bala Bantex disclosed this at a seminar organized by

the Federal Character Commission at Arewa House, Kaduna to

sensitize state stake holders on Socio-economic and

Infrastructural Facilities.

According to him, investments in the state, has created more

job opportunities to the youths as more than 60% of youths are

unemployed. He further said the state accommodates and

makes provision of land for business that will generate profit for

its growth.

Architect Barnabas said, in every local government area of the

state, there are hospitals equipped with facilities while about

154 wards in the state have access to health services within a

distance of 5 kilometers to their areas. Millions of children in the

state now have access to quality education in the public primary

schools of the state due to the reforms in the local governments

and educational sectors.

In a separate remark, the Secretary to the Government of the

Federation, Boss G. Mustapha said the thrust of the 2018

Budget is to partner with private and development partners to

leverage resources for growth. He said the socio economic

mandate of the Federal Character Commission is aimed at

ensuring even distribution of infrastructure and social

amenities to improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians in all

sectors.

He explained that in agricultural sector, the government has

proposed N25.1bn for promotion and development of value

chain across more than 30 different commodities, boosting the

leakage between agriculture, trade, exports and investment.

He also disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and

Housing is set to execute major capital projects such as the

second Niger Bridge, construction and rehabilitation of several

road networks in the country.

Mustapha said the President, Muhammadu Buhari has

approved the establishment of the Presidential Infrastructural

Development Fund (PIDF) which is managed by the National

Sovereign Investment Authority to address critical

infrastructure deficit especially in roads and power projects

across the country. Adding that government has addressed

cases of rural banditry and kidnaping both in cities and rural

areas of the country.

Earlier, the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Dr

Shettima Bukar Abba said the Commission has devoted the

greater part of its existence to the institutionalization and

domestication of the Federal Character principle in the

operations of Nigeria Public Service.

He further said they are entrusted with the responsibility of creating a sense of belonging among the citizenry in order to preserve the unity, peace, security and stability of our multi-ethnic polity.

KDSG Expends 150 million on State Infrastructure

Kaduna State Dep. Gov. Arc. Bala Bantex while delivering his speech during the event.

A section of the Participants of the Sensitization workshop.

Mallam Ahmed Joda CFR, Chairman of the Occasion, Arc. Barnabas BalaBantex, Rep. of Gov. El-Rufai, Dr. Shettima Bukar Abba, Ag. Executive

Chairman, Federal Character Commission and the representativeof the SFG, Mustapha Boss, at the event.