Southern Kaduna: Zangon Kataf, Kaura on the brink

Manchok Plains of Kaura, Kaduna-Nigeria

By Dangwa Danjuma,

Kaduna

Seven communities in Kaura and Zangon Kataf local government areas of Kaduna State are now at risk of deforestation should the proposed Access Quaint solar and Vicampro projects take root.

In a dramatic twist last week, Dr. Zwahu Bonat of the Kaduna State University and a native of the communities where the proposed solar power project and potato processing facility are cited, was briefly detained by the Kaduna State Police Command for his stand on the matter.

Bonat, was released shortly after members of the community marched to the Police Headquarters in solidarity with their kinsman. On the solar power generation project, spokesman of the community, Dr. David Duniya Adam told our correspondent that "contrary to the popular mischief making rounds, our communities have no problems with the siting of the investment. We are only asking that the investment be positioned uphill away from the people's arable land the only source of their livelihoods".

On the potatoes processing facility, Adam said: "Our men, women and youths are already willing to produce potatoes to feed the Vicampro processing factory, what we are however against is any attempt to confiscate our lands under any guise."

Cubinks learnt that Bonat was arrested on trump up charges by the Kaduna State Government, that he allegedly destroyed properties belonging to Messers Access Quaint Nigeria Limited and Vicampro Farms Nigeria Limited. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a member of the affected community revealed that "there were threats by Access Quaint, Vicampro and the office of the Governor to silence the community for vested interest."

When our correspondent visited the Command, for confirmation, Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Mukhtar Aliyu was unavoidably absent.

Comments

Kaduna COVID-19 Lockdown, People Living with Disabilities and Inclusion

Chairman JONAPWD, Abdulaziz Suleiman , (Right) and a colleague (Middle) in a chat with CALPED's Yusuf Goje By SMITH WAYA Before the index case of Corona virus (Covid-19) in Nigeria, the Kaduna state government held a public hearing on the proposed Kaduna state social protection policy, in line with the administration's slogan of putting the people first. The Joint National Associations of Person with Disability(JONAPWD), Kaduna chapter, as the umbrella body for people living disabilities in the State, were invited to present a position paper on their expectations of the new policy. The Disability Community took advantage of the town-hall meeting to appeal to the state government to work assiduously towards reducing poverty and hunger in their household. The Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, assured them of the state government's commitment in ensuring that no one is left behind especially people living with disabilities. Incidently, as the State governm...

NEWS FEATURE: Governor el-Rufai and the Sanctity of the Ballot

el-Rufai: Voting at his polling unit BY NASIRU JAGABA F irst of all, let me start by congratulating the Citizens of Kaduna State, for violence free election in the local government polls. The peaceful conduct of the citizens in Kaduna despite the happenings that had shown clearly the desperation of persons in the corridor of power to manipulate, overturn the result refused to give in to the chaos but rather responded with all sense of maturity and confidence in the sanctity of the ballot. Had Kaduna responded in similar desperation as shown by the institutional riggers, perhaps curfew would have been slammed in several areas which would have created the perfect cover for the malpractices to happen. The hate speeches and incitement from the top government officials in Kaduna state government did not end on the platforms for the campaigns alone but went further to reflect in the exercise that held. There are several accounts going round about thugs accompanyin...

Reflecting on Kaduna State's Commitment to Open Budget

By YUSUF GOJE T he present administration of Governor Nasir Ahmed El-rufai, since coming into office in 2015, has initiated a number of reforms. These reforms are aimed at strengthening the State’s public finance management system and improving public service delivery to the residents. The reforms are rooted in key laws such as the Fiscal Responsibility Law, Public Procurement Law, Tax Codification & Consolidation Law, Public Finances Law all in 2016, and Planning & Budget Commission Law in 2017. They provide the mechanism for achieving the developmental and socio-economic aspiration in the State Development Plan (SDP, 2016-2020) through the Sectors Implementation Plan (SIP, 2016-2019) and annual budgets. The high point of these reform initiatives came in 2017 when the State government signed into the Open Government Partnership (OGP). In fact, making it the first subnational in Nigeria to do so and was later elevated as a member of OGP global in 2018. This was follo...

Climate Action: Hope rises for Kaduna!

A multi-stakeholder project to plant 10 million economic trees in Kaduna state in the next six years is in the works towards enhancing the state's vegetal cover, in accordance with the renewed global campaign against climate change. Head, Social and Enterprise Development of the Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment and Development (CALPED), Dangwa Abbas Danjuma who dropped the hint during the week in Kaduna while on a courtesy visit to the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, explained: "The Coalition is interested in driving a multi-stakeholder project to plant 10 million economic trees in Kaduna State on or before the end of the year 2025, this is towards re-greening Kaduna. We desire to do so across local governments in the state to empower citizens to take action against deforestation through community based groups with a sustainability plan to develop a robust value chain to improve livelihoods." While apprec...

Virtual Conference Fallout: Why Lawyers rejected Gov el-Rufai

By DANGWA DANJUMA F rayed nerves and reactions have trailed a virtual conference being organized by the Nigerian Bar Association over the selection of Governor Ahmed Nasir el-Rufai as one of the key speakers for the event. Announcing the cancellation of his registration and withdrawal from attending the conference a young lawyer, Itong Washington tweeted,"we should be able to take a definite stand on certain things. As an individual in my corner, this is about the best I can do." it is unfortunate that Paul Usoro keeps making odious decisions that are highly regrettable Reacting to Washington's position, Sunny Omekedo a lawyer and real estate consultant pointed out: "I expect the NBA to feel the pulse of its members. You have my support and I also withdraw". On his part, Adeshola Adeola regretted that, "it is unfortunate that Paul Usoro keeps making odious decisions that are highly regrettable." Adeola described the action of the associat...

Cubinks NEWS

Search This Blog