Suspected outbreak of Bird Flu in Kachia

When the going was good...

By Dangwa Danjuma

A strange disease suspected to be bird flu has been reported in Ankwa, a district in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna state, killing chickens in their hundreds on daily basis in poultries that dot the area.

Our correspondent who visited the area during the week reports that chickens are dying daily in droves. Thomas Tambaya, a poultry farmer in Ankwa said of the strange disease: "I have lost count of the chickens I have lost to this strange disease. My household is struggling to sustain the surviving birds now", Tambaya remarked, maintaining that his community can no more make those marginal profits from domestic poultry products as before in the area.

Another farmer in the area, told Cubinks that he had to focus more on his layers in far away Gumel, as the locally grown chickens he keeps in Pa chiki are being lost to the strange disease.

To aggravate matters in the area affected by this disease, bacterial blackspot disease is ravaging fruits such as mangoes, oranges and guava. Embai Barde a horticulturist, is having a bad season in his fruits market, with over one thousand mangoes trees, aside oranges and guava affected by the scourge.

Cubinks' visit to the area was facilitated by the Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment and Development (CALPED) a body championing Climate Smart Agriculture, citizens' engagement and good governance. Barde and Tambaya, the affected farmers, regretted their helplessness in not knowing where to seek help.

The session on Climate Smart Agriculture and Open Government Partnership organized by CALPED which held at Kachia on 13th and 14th April, 2018 had participants from Kachia, Kauru, Zangon Kataf, Jema'a and Kagarko Local Government Areas. The program was aimed at creating awareness on the Open Government Partnership (OGP), Climate Smart Agriculture in line with the commitment of governments to implement an inclusive statewide tree planting program in 2018.

"We are going beyond what government should do, and are going to work on what we can source locally to make tree planting a success", said Jonathan Samson Umaya, the Head of CALPED Agric Series.

Another stakeholder Dangwa Abbas Danjuma contended that "Agro-forestry can be developed through our partners in these communities, to grow by organic means, products for premium markets. " , hence the need for the program which is also aimed at providing enduring environment to operate.

Comments

TRIBUTE: Dr Bala Takaya 1930 - 2018

Bala John Takaya (2nd Left) at a function recently By Nasiru Jagaba Again, with rude shock, death has come upon us in the early hours of Sunday, 27th May, 2018. It is with deepest regret that the Middle Belt Youth Wing of Middle Belt Forum mourns the death of our President, Father, Mentor, and a tireless advocate of equity, fairness and justice, Dr Bala John Takaya, the President of Middle Belt Forum has silently closed the door of life and departed from us, never to return. 68 years old Takaya, an unparalleled University Senior Lecturer, a distinct politician who served as the Secretary to State Government of the old Gongola State, a member of the 1987 Political Bureau. On the fight to restore democratic system of governance, he worked hand in hand with Chief Solomon Lar. Also, in 1999 he was the governorship candidate of the All People’s Party, APP later ANPP. He is much esteemed in the community of Middle Belt and generally recognized as on...

Open Government: Expert cautions Kaduna on Open Budget

A summary of the state government's commitment to open budget By DANGWA DANJUMA T he Kaduna State Fiscal Responsibility Law (2016), should be reviewed to guarantee citizens participation in the budget process. Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment and Development's (CALPED) Head of Leadership, Governance and Advocacy, Yusuf Ishaku Goje who dropped the hint, maintained that "an amendment bill of the Fiscal Responsibility Law (FRL, 2016) should also be sent to the House of Assembly to capture the CDCs as an integral part of budget process". This, he said would surely, "boost citizen’s confidence in the State government and ensure we deliver on the OGP key performance indicators on open budget." During this year’s budget formulation, CDCs generated from some of the local government areas were submitted to the Planning & Budget Commission, but no evidence to show that a single one was captured in the 2020 approved budget....

Kaduna's 'Comprehensive Urban Renewal Programme'

A comprehensive roads-repairs-and-rehabilitation programme has reached an advanced stage to address the worrisome condition of urban and sub-urban roads in Kaduna state, as part of a renewed and systematic approach of the Kaduna State Roads Agency (KADRA) to deliver dividends of democracy. KADRA’s Managing Director, Engr Lawal Mohammed Magaji who made this known in his office, in a chat with correspondents and leading members of the civil society who paid him a courtesy visit to be abreast of operations and the workings of KADRA revealed that the agency has bought into Commitment 2 of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), of the Governor el-Rufai-led administration, which has to do with openness and transparency. “ I am very delighted by your visit. I used to have a wrong impression of some civil society organizations. Initially I thought civil societies were there to confront government and fine fault where there is none. I now think differently, especially given ...

COVID-19, Public Spending and Accountability in Kaduna State.

Hand washing in compliance with Covid-19 protocols By YUSUF GOJE T he way Kaduna State government is handling the Covid-19 pandemic can be faulted on other grounds but not on the pro-activeness and decisiveness with which it is confronting the resultant public health crisis and its socio-economic consequences. Objectively speaking, the decisions, many of which are controversial, remain the most viable alternative for any serious government to take in emergencies like this. After all, unusual times require unusual measures. The Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-rufai, on various public platforms has disclosed his readiness to face any resultant consequences of such decisions. Now that the government is getting a hold on how to contain the spread of the pandemic, even though the numbers keep rising, it is time for citizens to begin to also ask the right questions. This is necessary because the global economy is contracting at an accelerated pace. Sub-...

Expert advocates for prudence and and accountability in Treasury Management

By EDDY OCHIGBO L ack of efficient and prudent treasury management in the country have been identified as the source of fraud and sharp practices in nation's public and private sector. Dropping the hint during a breakfast meeting with Correspondents in Kaduna during the week, the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management of Nigeria, Mr Adedoyin Olumide, reiterated that poor treasury management remains the bane of public and private finance utilization in the country, calling for greater synergy among all professionals in accounting, banking and finance. He disclosed tha...

Cubinks NEWS

Search This Blog