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Tag: Kaduna State Government

COVID-19 Second wave: Kaduna imposes restrictions on churches, mosques, others
The Kaduna State Government has limited the service hour of churches and mosques to one hour in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state.
This was contained in a statement shared by the Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, on Sunday.
According to the statement, civil servants from Grade 14 and below are to work from home from Monday, December 21.
It read in part, “Further to Covid-19 containment measures announced last week, KDSG has directed civil servants below Grade Level 14 to work from home from Monday, 21st December 2020.
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“Places of worship must enforce facemasks, provide sanitisers, and ensure physical distancing. The number of worshippers will be capped. Congregational worship should not exceed one hour.
“Transport operators must reduce capacity to not more than two passengers per row and not more than 50 per cent of capacity.
“KDSG appeals to all residents to see Covid-19 prevention as a personal responsibility.”
December 20, 2020
Kaduna denied ownership of looted COVID-19 palliatives facility
By Ujah Simon, Kaduna
Kaduna State Commissioner for Planning and Budget Commission, Mr. Thomas Gyang has denied ownership of the facility where COVID-19 palliatives were looted by hoodlums in the State recently.
The commissioner said the facility which was used during the first round of COVID-19 palliatives distribution, is being used temporarily by him for the distribution of the second phase scheduled for next week. He said, in local radio station reports in kaduna, that the facility, where the looted Coalition Against Covid-19, palliatives, were kept at Gwari Avenue, Barnawa, Kaduna South local government, was being used temporary and does not belong to him.
Speaking further, the Commissioner said the facility was used previously for the distribution of palliatives in the first and second round of the lockdown, adding that the palliatives were scheduled for distribution this week when hoodlums broke into facility and carted away with them.
While he expressed regret over the unfortunate looting and vandalization of the palliatives, he appealed to the people to give peace a chance to enable the Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai implement the laudable reform programmes to make Kaduna great again.
According to him, the looting and vandalization of peoples private properties and investments, could be viewed as a deliberate action employed as a setback for the development strides being done by the Governor.
He however, reassured of the governor’s commitment towards the full implementation of the Urban Renewal programme for the benefit of all.
October 28, 2020
Kaduna Govt. extends curfew to cover the whole state
Hours after announcing the imposition of curfew in some parts of two local government areas, the Kaduna State Government has extended the 24-hour curfew to cover the whole state.
Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, said in a statement issued in Kaduna on Saturday that the decision was to safeguard lives and properties.
“This measure is taken to help safeguard our communities, protect lives and property and contain criminal elements who are looting public and private assets.
“The extension of the 24-hour curfew to all the 23 local government areas of the state is effective immediately.
“KDSG will keep the situation under review and regrets the inconvenience it may cause to law-abiding citizens.
“The state government wishes to appeal to all residents of the state to kindly bear with the government as it takes necessary action to maintain law and order, and protect the right of citizens to live in peace,” he stated.
October 24, 2020
Kaduna Govt. committed to tackling security challenges – Commissioner
The Kaduna State Government has reiterated its commitment to tackling the security challenges undermining sustainable development in the state.
The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, stated this on Wednesday, while addressing stakeholders at a security meeting in Kaura Local Government Area of the state.
The meeting was convened to discuss the lingering security problems between Takad community in Kaduna state and Ryom community in Plateau.
Aruwan noted that the solution to the challenges must be found from within the affected communities through constant dialogue and mutual understanding.
He said people perpetrating nefarious activities should be exposed to face the wrath of the law, describing them as threat to the society.
The commissioner cautioned the people against taking the law into their hands but rather should allow the law to take its course on every matter.
He urged the stakeholders to preach messages of peace and forgiveness and condemn every wrong doing.
Earlier, the Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Kaura Local Government, Dr Bege Katukah, appealed to the parties involved in the crisis to do themselves good by resolving their differences for legitimate activities to thrive.
Katukah, who lamented the frequent wanton destruction of lives and property, noted that the crisis in the affected communities had lingered since 2012.
In his remark, the Agwam Takad, Mr Tobias Wada, prayed for lasting solution to the unending clashes that had claimed lives in the affected communities.
Representatives of traditional rulers, security agencies including the Police, Civil Defence and DSS among others attended the meeting.
April 8, 2020
COVID-19: Kaduna Govt flags off distribution of relief materials in Kafanchan
The Kaduna State Government on Monday flagged off the distribution of relief materials in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area to cushion effects of the coronavirus lockdown.
Coordinator of the distribution committee for Jema’a and Kaura Local Government Areas, Dr Bege Katuka, said the relief materials were targeted at people more adversely affected by the restriction of movement.
“This is targeted at the urban settlements where the effect of the lockdown is more badly felt than other places.
“Not everybody will get these palliatives but we want a situation where those who eventually get are people who are really in need and cannot afford them at this time,” he said.
Katuka said that the distribution of the relief materials was not a political exercise but a humanitarian service aimed at supporting the weaker ones in society.
“The exercise is not in any way to be selective on the basis of who you know or which political platform you belong.
“It is solely aimed at sincerely supporting weaker ones among us who pray for just a meal to survive the next hour and we will be committed to ensuring that, to a greater extent, this is done,” he said
According to him, membership of the distribution committee for the two councils was drawn from traditional institutions, religious bodies, youths and women groups to ensure just and fair distribution of the items.
On measures to guard against possible diversion of the relief materials, the coordinator explained that committees had been selected at cluster levels to ensure the items get to those in need.
He stated that Jema’a and Kaura Local Government Areas are among the eight councils in the state selected in the pilot phase of the distribution.
One of the beneficiaries, Ruth Danladi, who spoke to NAN said the gesture was timely, especially during this “perilous time.’’
“We want to thank the state government for thinking it wise to support us with these palliative materials at this critical time.
“This will no doubt help reduce the effect of the lockdown, and it is my prayer that God will grant the government the enablement to do more for the downtrodden,” she said
The items distributed include cartoons of Indomie, bags of rice and beans, groundnut oil, garri and spaghetti, among others. (NAN)
April 6, 2020
KDSG will jail parents not sending children to school, says Gov. El-Rufai
Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, on Wednesday reiterated that his administration would jail parents who refuse to enrol their children in school.
The governor, who made the remarks in Kaduna at the opening of a public hearing on the state’s Social Protection Policy document, said his administration would not allow anyone to toy with the future of children in the state.
He said the state government is providing 12 years of free and compulsory education for children from primary to secondary school, as such parents have no excuse not to send their children to school.
“Every parent that doesn’t send his child to school, will go to jail because he destroys the future of his child without any reason.
“Every child under the age of 5 is entitled to free medical care for every kind of illness in our public health facility; antenatal care is also free for pregnant women.”
El-Rufai said the state government would ensure the protection of the poor, the old, sick and persons living with disability in the state.
He said the state vision regarding social protection was to have a progressive society with necessary tools and environment for citizens to attain their full potentials.
According to him, social protection includes providing quality education, access to affordable health services, encouraging job creation and building infrastructure.
He added that social protection was also about upholding human dignity and promoting the ability of individuals amidst socio economic adversity.
The governor noted that most of the over 10 million people in the state were young people without jobs and mostly poor, as such the government would continue to address their problems to the best of its ability.
“What we are trying to do in Kaduna state is to augment the Federal Government social protection programme by targeting more vulnerable people into the social protection umbrella.
“At the state level, we have targeted sectors that require the most critical interventions,” he added.
He disclosed that the state women empowerment fund was recently increased to N800 million, to enable vulnerable women to be self reliant and capable of accessing education, healthcare and skills.
“We will implement the state social protection policy to hamonize all social protection initiatives and efforts,” he said, adding that the government would remove any form of discrimination against any citizen irrespective of age, gender, ability or disability, ethnic, religious or political affiliation.
El-Rufai tasked participants at the public hearing to provide novel ideas on how everyone will be protected, ensure that everyone is safe without hunger, and is also healthy and productive.
“We want you to honestly tell us how we can do this and how to find the money to do it.”
On her part, Saude Atoyebi, chairperson the State Steering Committee on Social Investment, said the government has taken social protection seriously, because of the realisation that investment in physical infrastructure is insufficient without a deliberate effort to invest in the people in order to reduce poverty.
“Investment in the area of social protection are linked to improvement to the human development index which measure life expectancy, educational attainment and standard of living of people.”
She said her committee was tasked with developing the social protection policy by harmonizing all social protection initiatives in the state to minimize duplication, so that people would drive maximum benefits.
Atoyebi assured that the committee would produce a policy document which will be implementable and a reflection of the desire of the people.(NAN)
March 11, 2020
Kaduna govt pledges special scholarship packages for talented athletes at state sports festival
The Kaduna State Government will provide talented athletes identified at the ongoing sixth edition of the State Sports Festival with special scholarship packages, an official disclosed on Monday in Kaduna.
The state’s Deputy Governor, Hadiza Balarabe, made the disclosure while declaring open the festival at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium.
She said the state government would, in view of the importance attached to sports, provide incentives such as scholarship packages to students who distinguished themselves in events.
“To provide these incentives, the state has instituted special scholarship packages for those who excel in sports,” Balarabe declared.
She said the state government was aware of the importance of sports in promoting the socio-economic development of states.
The deputy governor pointed out that this knowledge led to the need to give the state’s Sports Development Ministry the necessary support to ensure the festival was held annually.
She said the state government was hopeful the festival would enable young athletes in the state to find national and international space to exhibit their talents.
“Sports generally enhances students’ academic performance. Youths involved in sports are also most likely not to engage in drugs and they do not drop out of school.
“Sports unites people, and it is as such a driving force that makes us to begin to provide sports facilities in all public schools,’’ Balarabe said.
She charged the chairmen of all local governments in the state to support events at the grass roots to ensure an all-round development.
“Also, let me call on corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals to come and partner with us in ensuring this sports festival is sustained annually,” she said.
Over 2O,000 athletes and officials from the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state are featuring in the one-week event.(NAN)
March 2, 2020
KDSG urges religious leaders to spread messages of peace
The Acting Governor of Kaduna State, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, on Friday called on religious leaders to reach out to the people with messages of peace for sustainable development.
Dr Balarabe made the call when she received the Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Uche who came on a courtesy visit to Government House, on Friday in Kaduna.
The acting governor thanked the Church for preaching peace and mutual coexistence among the people, saying, “we are happy to see people preaching peace, I thank you for your efforts.”
She assured that the state government would continue to address the security challenges in the state, to build people’s confidence and encourage investment.
Dr Balarabe noted that the recurring crisis in the state has abated due to sustained enlightenment encouraging mutual respect, peace coexistence and tolerance.
Earlier, the Prelate expressed appreciation to the state’s efforts in building sustainable peace in line with the teachings of the Holy Books.
He noted that the two Holy Books preach oneness, while ignorance breeds hatred, lack of love, discrimination and intolerance.
“Let us all live together in one love; the way forward is for us to preach peace and be united with one another for sustainable development.
“We are for peace, I urge you to partner with us,” he said.
The Methodist Prelate, who is on Apostolic Tour of the North, took his time to pray for the Governor, his Deputy and officials of the government as well as for the peace and progress of the state.(NAN)
November 23, 2019
Insecurity: Kaduna Govt Indefinitely Suspends School Resumption
The Kaduna State government has suspended the resumption of schools across local governments of the state until further notice.
Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting on Monday, Governor Nasir El-Rufai explained that the government took the decision due to the ongoing aggressive military operation against bandits in most parts of the state.
He informed the meeting attended by members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), as well as professional and community-based associations that the operation was aimed at flushing the bandits out from their hideouts.
Governor El-Rufai added that the government was committed to protecting vulnerable children from being attacked by fleeing bandits who were already feeling the superior firepower of the military.
He revealed that the military has deployed more troops to the state for the operation and warned the residents to be vigilant and mindful of unknown faces in their midst, saying fleeing bandits might infiltrate their communities.
In his remarks, NMA Chairman in Kaduna, Dr Aliyu Sokomba, asked the Federal Government to licence the use of firearms for profiled citizens.
He stated that this was necessary to enable the people to protect themselves from being attacked by bandits since the security forces cannot be everywhere.
Sokomba believes licensing of firearms for citizens has become expedient due to the constant kidnapping of many people, including health workers.
A gender-based activist, Asma Mirza, who was also present at the meeting, stressed the need to deploy technology to the various flashpoints, including the forests and highways.
Kidnapping and banditry have become fast-growing organised crimes in Kaduna and some parts of the north-west region – posing a major security threat for the people.
Hardly will a week pass by without sad stories of abduction of innocent citizens, including children, young, and old people by the marauding bandits.
Amid tension in which farmers have been forced to abandon their farms, some secondary schools and a tertiary institution were attacked by bandits recently in Kaduna.
But some of the schools have employed local vigilantes armed with local weapons – an action that has often proved ineffective against the heavily armed bandits.