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Why I Run ‘Marketplace’ Government – Gov. Wamakko

Aliyu Wamakko is the immediate past governor of Sokoto state. He was elected Senator to represent Sokoto North Senatorial District during the last general elections. In this exclusive interview with Newswatch’s Abdallah el-Kurebe, Regional Editor, he spoke on issues including his life, family, stewardship, G5 and the New PDP among others. Excepts: Writers have tried…

Nigeria Has No Reason To Import Rice, Says Attajiri

By Abdallah el-Kurebe A rice milling firm has debuted in Sokoto with the managing director of the company, Alhaji Nura Attajiri saying that Nigeria was blessed with fertile land capable of producing all types of crops, including rice and therefore had no reason to import rice. Attajiri said this during the inauguration of the N30…

SURE-P: Sokoto Gives Out 115 Buses At 45% Subsidized Rate

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Under the local government Subsidy Re-investment Programme (SURE-P), Sokoto state government has procured 115 brand new 18-seater buses at a total cost of over N902,750,000 as loan to the citizens of the state. Purchased at N7,850,000 each, the buses were loaned out at 45 percent subsidized rate of N3.5 million, with N500,000…

FRSC To Introduce Air Ambulances

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The Corps Marshal of Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi has disclosed that the Commission plans to introduce Air Ambulances in the country through partnership with the Nigerian Air Force. Oyeyemi said this in Sokoto on Wednesday during the commissioning of a new office block constructed for Sokoto Command of…

Food Insecurity, Unemployment Bane of Nigeria’s Development, Says Sultan Abubakar

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar has observed that insecurity, unemployment and food insecurity were some of the problems that are retarding the nation’s development. Receiving the new Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello in his Palace in Sokoto on Thursday, the Sultan stressed the need for action towards addressing the current security challenges…

UDUS Swears In 52 New Medical Doctors

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) has sworn in 52 new Medical Doctors that studied for the 2012/2013 academic session. Accepting the new Medical Doctors into medical practice on behalf of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria on Tuesday, State Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Abdulgafar Jimoh urged them…

Private Orthopedic Hospital Conducts First Hip Replacement in Sokoto

By Abdallah el-Kurebe For the first time in the whole of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, the Bone and Joint Orthopedic Hospital, a private entity based in Sokoto has successfully performed a hip replacement on Hajiya Rukayya Muhammad (65) of Wamakko local government area of the state by three surgeons. The Bone and Joint Orthopedic…

Polio: 240,000 Children To Receive Injectable Vaccine, Says WHO

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The World Health Organization(WHO) has said that at least, 240,000 children would be immunized during the Injectable and Oral Polio Vaccination campaign scheduled to hold between 2nd and 6th May in Sokoto North, Sokoto South and Wamakko local government areas (LGAs) of the state. The Supplemental Immunization Officer of WHO, Dr. Ana…

How I Got Converted To GMO Food

By MARK LYNAS APRIL 24, 2015 NAIROBI, Kenya — Mohammed Rahman doesn’t know it yet, but his small farm in central Bangladesh is globally significant. Mr. Rahman, a smallholder farmer in Krishnapur, about 60 miles northwest of the capital, Dhaka, grows eggplant on his meager acre of waterlogged land. As we squatted in the muddy field, examining…

Researchers Partner On New African opportunities for sustainable food systems

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Twenty-three (23) African and European research partners are presently collaborating on a long term research and innovation towards a sustainable improvement of food and nutrition security and the livelihoods of African farmers. A report by the Natural Resources Institute in Finland says that the focus of the research is on sustainable intensification…

Press Release: Nigeria Gets Biosafety Law

PRESS RELEASE By Prof. Lucy Jumeyi Ogbadu, Director-General/CEO, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Abuja Nigeria has finally joined the league of Biotechnology countries President Goodluck Jonathan has signed the National Biosafety Agency Bill, which is a milestone in the domestication of modern biotechnology in Nigeria a giant stride that will allow the country to join the…

Nigeria Gets Biosafety Law, Joins League of Biotechnology countries

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Nigeria has finally joined the league of biotechnology countries with the signing the National Biosafety Agency Bill into law by President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday. The Law seeks to domesticate modern biotechnology used by advanced countries as cutting-edge technology to boost economic development. A statement signed by the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of…

Nairobi ABBC-2015 Declaration: Lift Ban on GMO Imports in Kenya

Delegates from 30 countries from around the world, attending an International Agri-Biotech and Biosafety Communication Conference (ABBC-2015) in Nairobi have called on the Kenya Government to lift a 2-year ban on GMO imports. Addressing the delegates comprising of farmers, scientists, policy makers, private sector, the media and science communicators, the Principal Secretary in Kenya’s Ministry…

Large Consumption, Impact of Climate Change Will Affect Food Security and Water Supplies – Says FAO

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said although there would be enough water to produce food for 10 billion people in 2050, consumption rate and the impact of climate change would still threaten food security and water supplies in many regions. According to the report already, water scarcity already affects…

Off-grid Smart Villages States key role of mini-hydro schemes in Nepal

Off-grid Smart Villages States key role of mini-hydro schemes in Nepal By Abdallah el-Kurebe As a follow up to the awareness campaign on rural energy for policymakers in Eastern Africa, held in Arusha, Tanzania in June last year, SmartVillages Initiative has launched a Smart Villages and Practical Action off-grid village energy workshop in Nepal. The…

Arusha Hosts Post-Durban Dialogue On Climate Change and Agriculture

By Abdallah el-Kurebe A three-day Post-Durban Dialogue on climate change and agriculture, aimed at examining the outcome of the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP 17) held in Durban in November-December 2011, has opened in Arusha, Tanzania. Jointly organized by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA);…

Modern Agric Biotech: Lessons From Brazil For Africa

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Journalists, farmers, scientists, biosafety regulators and agribusiness companies from Argentina, Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Uganda and the US gathered in Brazil between March 16th and 20th 2015 for the Biotechnology and Science Communication Confidence Building Project. This meeting was meant to enable African countries learn about and improve on their food…

Climate Change, Adaptation and African Agriculture

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Key Facts ¤ The scientific evidence is clear: global climate change caused by human activities is occurring now, and it is a growing threat to society.” – The board of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). ¤ Climate Change affects the social and environmental determinants of health – clean air,…

CSE Questions US’ Commitment on Climate Targets

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has described the United State’s climate action plan – the ‘Intended Nationally Determined Contributions’ (INDCs) as grossly inadequate. It also sees US, which has a history of being the world’s largest polluter of the environment, as doing less to address climate change….

Don’t Politicize Security Agencies – Gov. Wamakko Tells FG

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto state has cautioned federal government against politicizing the nation’s security agencies. He spoke in Sokoto on Thursday when he received the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Salisu Abdullahi recently deployed to the state. According to Wamakko, “The security agencies have no constituency. They should exhibit patriotism in…

No Bail For Weapon-Holding Thugs – AIG Zone 10

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Following political parties’ failure to prevail on their supporters to stop use of weapons at political rallies, the Zone 10 of Nigeria Police has vowed to grant no bail to any political thug that is arrested holding weapons during electioneering. The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Zone…

Nigerians Do Not Trust The Military, PDP, Jonathan – UPN Says

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Following the postponement of February elections, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) has said that Nigerians no longer have confidence on the Military,the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as President Jonathan. A press statement signed and issued in Sokoto on Monday by the National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi…

Poll Shift: Forget Insinuations of Conspiracies, Bishop Kukah Urges Nigerians

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Bishop Hassan Matthew Kukah of Sokoto Diocese has called on Nigerians to regard the postponement of the elections as an act of God, which is aimed at retrospection. He spoke at a town-hall meeting with the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate organised Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of Sokoto Diocese and held…

Electricity Supply: KAEDCO is Owed N36bn Monthly, Says MD

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The Managing Director (MD) of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO), Engr. Garba Haruna has disclosed that the company’s customers in Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi state owe it N36 billion monthly. The MD, who was on inspection tour of KAEDCO installations in Sokoto and Kebbi states addressed Journalists shortly after he inspected…

APC WINNING AMBIENCE IN SOKOTO

By Muhammed Kabir Hassan The All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign trail in Sokoto gathered tumultuous reception of Sokoto masses. In every local government people line up enthusiastically to welcome the campaign team in appreciation of the development impacts of Governor Wamakko, the leader of the Party in the State. The team includes known weights in…

PDP receives 6,000 Defectors in Sokoto

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it received 6,000 people that defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Wamakko local government of Sokoto state on Thursday. They were received by the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma. Speaking on behalf of other defectors, Alhaji Abubakar Gedawa said that they…

The Academia are better partners in policy formulation, Says APC Northwest

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in charge of Northwest zone, Barr. Inuwa Abdulkadir has said that in formulating government policies as well as implementing its programmes, the academia is important. He said this at the occasion of an interactive session of members of the academic community drawn…

We Have Tangible Reasons To Yearn For Change, Says UPN National Chairman

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The acting National Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Dr. Manzo Abubakar has said that Nigerians have all it takes to effect change of political leadership in the country. He told Newsdiaryonline in an exclusive interview in Sokoto on Sunday that the present leadership in the Peoples Democratic Party under…

Kano UPN Condemns Clash Between Supporters

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The Kano state governorship candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Alhaji Yahaya Kyabo, has condemned recent political clashes between supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and those of the All Progressive Congress (APC), which took place in Kano. Kyabo who spoke with Newsdiaryonline through a telephone conversation on Sunday…

Youths Are Catalyst For Political Development, Says Kano UPN Guber Candidate

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The governorship candidate of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in Kano state, Alhaji Abubakar Kyado has said that the youths are a global catalyst for political development. He said during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party in Sokoto Thursday that while the youths, who are the leaders of…

Court Rules Against Deployment of Military For Elections

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto on Thursday ruled against the deployment of the military for elections security. Judgement in the suit instituted against the Attorney General of the Federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was delivered upon an Originating Summons dated October 22, 2014. Justice Rilwan Mohammed granted…

It’s Unconstitutional To Deploy Military For Elections – Court

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Justice Mohammed Rilwan of Federal High Court Sokoto has ruled that it is unconstitutional for the military to be deployed for election purpose. Delivering the Judgement today, he stressed that other than for the purposes of protecting the Nigeria’s territorial integrity, there is no constitutional provision that allows for the deployment of…

Vigilante Group Invades Five Sokoto Villages, Kills 16 People

By Abdallah el-Kurebe A Vigilante Group allegedly from Zamfara state, on Sunday invaded five villages in Rabah local government of Sokoto state. Briefing news men at the headquarters of the Police Command on Monday, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Shuaibu Lawal Gambo the group were allegedly invited by the communities because some people there were…

Retract Your Violent Steps, Tambuwal Tells Politicians

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Speaker of the House of Representatives and All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Sokoto state said that the current scale of violence introduced by politicians in the country must stop. He stated this at an interactive session with the leadership of students of all tertiary institutions in the state in Sokoto…

DPR Seals Two Filling Stations in Sokoto

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has sealed two filling stations who are major marketers in Sokoto for defying the directives issued by the Federal government for filling stations to reduce pump prices of petroleum products from N97 to N87 per litre. According to Salihu Moriki, the Operations Controller of DPR in…

Disappoint Prophets of Doom, UN tells FG

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The United Nations (UN) Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Ibn Chambas has called on the local, state, federal governments and all Nigerians to be mindful of their roles and ensure the conduct of credible elections. He spoke during a courtesy visit on Governor Aliyu Wamakko at his residence in Sokoto…

JOHESU Strike: Leave Us Out, UDUTH CMD tells Union

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The management of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) has lamented that the Hospital should not be part of the ongoing national strike of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU). The Chief Managing Director (CMD) of the Hospital, Dr. Yakubu Ahmed told news men in his office on Saturday that far as…

APC Rejects Dasuki’s Proposal to Postpone Election

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The All Progressive Party (APC) has rejected the proposal made by the National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Col. Sambo Dasuki for the postponement of the February general elections. Communicating the rejection through Governor Aliyu Wamakko during the Presidential campaign of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Sokoto on Thursday, the party said…

Gov. Wamakko, Sokoto Police Draw Battle Line

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The rosy relationship that exists between Sokoto State Command of the Nigeria Police and Sokoto state government seem to be strained with the recent exchange of bitterness against each other. The stained relationship got worse when on Tuesday at the Police Command, the Commissioner of Police (CP), Shuaibu Lawal Gambo responded before…

Charlie Hebdo: Our Position, – Says Da’wah Council

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The Da’wah Coordination Council of Nigeria, a conglomeration of 47 Muslim organisations in the country has condemned in strong terms, the recent publication of a cartoon by a French magazine. In a statement issued to Journalists in Sokoto on Monday, the President of the Council, Mohammad Lawal Maidoki observed that the magazine…

Da’wah Council Reacts to Bishops’ Claim on Boko Haram

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The Da’wah Coordination Council of Nigeria, an umbrella body of 47 different Islamic organisations in Sokoto on Monday reacted to the claim of Prelate Samuel Uche that the Fulani/Kanuri that are desperate to get power were behind the Boko Haram insurgency in the North. Addressing Journalists at the office of Sokoto state…

Sultan To Jonathan: Don’t Disenfranchise Eligible Voters • I Have No PVC

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that every eligible voter in Nigeria was allowed to vote. He made the call when the President paid homage to the Sultan at his Palace in Sokoto on Monday. According to Abubakar, there is the tendency that many Nigerians would be…

Don’t Fight Campaigns Wars, Fight Insurgency, – Sultan Tells Jonathan

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar bared his mind to President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday when the later paid courtesy visit at his palace. The Sultan told Jonathan that the time to end the current insurgency was now when the nation needed peace. According to him, “The timeline to immediately bring an end to…

Sokoto 2015: Tambuwal tasks supporters on peaceful electioneering

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The governorship candidate of the All Progressive Party (APC) in Sokoto state, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal has called on the people of the state, to resist all kinds of violence during the implementation of the electoral processes. He made the call during the party’s electioneering, which took place on Sunday at Tureta town in…

“If You Have Security, We Have God,” Gov. Wamakko Replies Pres. Jonathan

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto state has reacted to an alleged threat by President Goodluck Jonathan that the ruling party would use the power of security agencies in the state to win the February election. He reacted to the threat during the All Progressive Congress (APC) campaign rally on Thursday at Shagari…

Sokoto PDP Rally: Jonathan intimidates the opposition

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Intimidation is was when on Wednesday during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign flag-off in Sokoto, President Goodluck Jonathan threatened that the ruling party had all it takes to win the February election. Speaking through the former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Bello Haliru Muhammad, President Jonathan boasted He stressed…

Sokoto PDP: Shagari, Suleiman, Sen. Gada shun PDP campaign launch • As Wali receives flag

By Abdallah el-Kurebe The campaign launch of the Sokoto Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday failed to have in attendance the trio of aggrieved governorship aspirants, Mukhtari Shagari, Yusuf. Suleiman and Sen. Abubakar Gada. The governorship candidate of the party, Abdallah Wali received the PDP flag as the standard governorship candidate for the February 2015…

2015 Polls: Tambuwal Alleges PDP Plans To Form Interim Govt

By Abdallah el-Kurebe Speaker of House of Representatives and Sokoto state candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has chided the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for making plans to postpone the February general elections by forming an interim government. He said during the official flag-off campaign ceremony for the 2015 general…

Sokoto 2015: Return To APC – Dingyadi tells Bafarawa

By Abdallah el-Kurebe In the buildup to the February 14th general election in Sokoto state, the All Progressive Congress (APC) has called on Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa to rethink and return to the party. The Director General of the party campaign in the state, Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, who was strong political ally to the former governor…

Governor Wamakko Vindicated

By Abdullahi Usman The Nigerian political landscape is now active with frenzy of campaigns leading up to next month’s elections. Two political parties, All Progressive Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dominate the jostling to capture voters’ attention. The voters are citizens of Nigeria whose fate is at stake. Since 1999 when the country…