TEXT OF THE FIRST QUARTERLY MEDIA BRIEFING BY THE HONORABLE COMMISSIONER OF INFORMATION AND HOME AFFAIRS KADUNA STATE SAIDU A. ADAMU HELD AT THE N. U. J SECRETARIAT KADUNA STATE COUNCIL MUHAMMADU BUHARI WAY ON TUESDAY, APRIL 22^ND 2008

 From SA on ICT, Kaduna

May 23, 2008

Distinguished Gentlemen of the Media.

May I use this opportunity to welcome you all to the First Quarterly Media Briefing to unfold to you the Achievements of the Administration of Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo from the relevant Sectors and Agencies based on its Eleven (11) Point Agenda. To take us down memory lane, these Eleven (11) Point Agenda are:

1. Security for Peace and Development

2. Free and Compulsory primary education and general development of the Education Sector.

3. Intensive Agricultural Development

4. Poverty Alleviation

5. Youth and Women Development

6. Infrastructural Development

7. Improved Health Care Delivery

8. Industrial Regeneration (cottage and urban industries)

9. Provision of Housing for all particularly the Low Income Earners and the Civil Servants.

10. Transformation of our Rural Areas to Modern standards.

11. Improved Welfare package for all Workers and Pensioners.

The Ministry of Information and Home Affairs as you are well aware is the mouth piece of government saddled with the responsibility of disseminating all Government Policies and Programmes using the various media outfits at its disposal to achieve these objectives. In carrying out this mandate which is in line with the Policy Thrust of the Administration of Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo hinged principally on OPENNESS, RESPONSIVENESS, TRANSPARENCY ,ACCOUNTABILITY and above all the EXHIBITION OF INTEGRITY , the Ministry within the first quarter established a synergy on Information Management in the state by harmonizing Information Dissemination from all organs of government controlled and monitored them for clearer and better understanding of government focus and direction in relation to its programmes and policies.

The Ministry commenced the Publication of State’s Tenders’ Journal to publicize and carry advert of contract opportunities of the State Government with a view to widen opportunities for all Nigerians and Investors to compete for State Government Contracts. It is made mandatory for all contracts of the State Government to be advertised in the Tender’s Journal

To facilitate Communication between the Main Secretariat and Ministries around the Secretariat, the Ministry awarded contract for supply and installation of Intercom facilities at a total cost of N27, 499,500:00

To place the Ministry of Information and Home Affairs in a better position to carry its role of publicizing Government Programmes and activities effectively and efficiently:

1. The Ministry was re-organized with carving out of Film Department from hitherto Department of Information and Film Services each headed by a Director.

2. Contract for additional Offices and Furnishing of the New Offices have been awarded at the total cost of N1, 270,589:00 and N3, 988,950:00 respectively.

3. The Ministry has been connected to Internet to make it be in tune with trends on Information Communication Technology at a total cost of N3,699,520:00

4. The New Film Department has been fully equipped with state of the Art Film Equipment as well as Photography Equipments at sum of N6,660,500:00 and N2,717,500:00 respectively

To enhance capacity performance of the Government Printing Press and make it more result oriented, a 350KVA Generator has been procured and installed at Government Printing Department at total cost of N9,950,590:00

In keeping with Government resolve to maintain Security in its entire establishment, two contracts for Perimeter Wall Fence for Queen FM Radio Station Zaria and Rockview Radio Station Kafanchan were awarded at a total cost of 13,636,985:93 and N9, 996,880:30 respectively

Plans are underway to replace all the Analogue Transmitters of the State Radio and Television Station with Digital Transmitters for effective and wider coverage of the State to meet the I. T. U standards.

PEACE AND SECURITY FOR DEVELOPMENT

Kaduna State is a cosmopolitan State with a high concentration of people from all part of Nigeria and beyond. The State shares common boundaries with Katsina, Kano, Niger, Plateau and closer to the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. Based on its strategic location, crime wave especially armed banditry on our highways and within the metropolis, robbery hypnotism/abduction, assassination of loyal citizens/political fees, petty thefts. (brake and entry) rape of underage innocent children, Arson, car snatching, recurrent ethno-religious turmoil and other related crimes, hence the need to stamp out these social ills. It is in this view of the need to ensure peaceful and crime free Kaduna State that the idea for a bigger security outfit that "OPERATION Y AKI" was muted by the Kaduna State Government so as to restore hope and instill confidence on the good people of the State.

OBJECTIVE AND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

The main objective of "OPERATION YAKI" is primarily to curb the rate of crimes in Kaduna metropolis including our highways and all the Local Government Areas of the State. Operation Yaki covers the Kaduna metropolis, the four (4) major highways in and out Of the capital city the Local Government Areas, an the feeder highways in the Local Government Areas, volatile roads) some identified black spots within and outside the State. Operation Yaki helicopter Aerial Surveillance gives assistance to the NNPC by patrolling their pipelines. The metropolis has been sectorised with security operatives patrolling all these areas day and night.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Operation Yaki has achieved the following so far:­

1. Kaduna State Government has established Joint Operation Headquarters for Operation Yaki situated at No.4 Doka Crescent Abakpa, Kaduna.

2. the State Government purchased vehicles, communication equipment, bullet proof vest and other security devices for more effective and safety of the operatives such as:­

   1. Single cabin Toyota Hilux - Qyt - 50

   2. Double cabin Toyota Hilux - Qty – 20

   3. 406 Saloon cars - Qty 7 Surveillance

   4. Ambulance vehicle - Qty – 6

   5. All the patrol vehicles are fitted with communication gadgets. 3 repeater stations installed in Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria. All other Local Government Areas have High Frequency (HF)/Radios, Base  

   6. radios, walkie-talkies;

   7. Global Positioning System (GPS) have been purchased and installed on all the vehicles for better monitoring of the operation and the operatives;

   8. Insurance Cover for all the vehicles and the operatives has been done;

   9. Bill Boards and posters have be done for awareness and publicity of the operation;

USE OF HELICOPTER

The Slate Government has introduced the use of helicopter for Operation Yaki. Their sole responsibility is aerial surveillance on our highways and the metropolis monitoring NNPC pipelines as assistance to NNPC group. The State Governments funding all the logistics and other operational requirements of the helicopter and the crew members

MEDICAL COVER

A medical resettlement station will be established in the Joint Operation Headquarters with some First Aid Kitting. This will cater for the operatives and other office staff. Each patrol vehicle will carry first scale first aid kit on them while on duty. The Government has given assistance to the Police Medical centre, 44 Reference Hospital of Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Air Force Hospital. They will serve as back up to the medical need of the Operation.

WELFARE GENERAL

A comprehensive welfare has been packaged for all the operatives to enhance their operations. All operatives are provided an enhanced Ration -Cash Allowances. Insurance cover for all the operatives will be provided by IG Insurance Company. They are entitled to Free Medical Cover. Death Gratuity will also be provided for any operative killed in action. The Government has put in place full fueling of the patrol vehicles through the designated fuel points on daily basis. The repairs of the Police clinic and that of the Army and Air Force have been taken care of to enhance effective operation. A Reward System for each squad success will be provided for any successful outing.

ERECTION OF OBSERVATION POST

The State Government has started erecting observation post on the four (4) major highways entering Kaduna State Capital city. This will assist the operatives as stop area for Holt Parade and rest.

EXTENSION OF THE OPERATION TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS

"Operation Yaki" will extend to all twenty three (23) Local Government Areas

of the State which will include their feeder highways. High Frequency communication equipment has been installed to cover the whole Local Government Areas of the State.

PARTICIPATION IN OPERATION G6

As part of the Federal Capital Territory's strategy to re-enforce its crime control and security surveillance, the FCT Administration considered the imperative of developing a contiguous security network involving the States that share common boundaries with the Federal Capital Territory. Kaduna State is one of the contiguous State taking part in the on going G6 Operation which started in December, 2007. The State has been mandated to cater for Abuja, Kaduna Highway and Kaduna-Birnin Gwari. Effective patrolling of these two (2) highways has been going on effectively

COMMISSIONING

The operation was finally commissioned on the 26th March, 2008 by His Excellency the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
 

HEALTH SECTOR

In the health sector during the period under review, the following projects and programmes were carried out:-

1. Upgrading of Zaria and Kafanchan hospitals in addition to Barau Dikko specialist hospital kaduna to Re Reference Hospital Projects executed in these hospitals are:-

1. X-ray equipments for 3 hospital at the cost of N281,210,000.00

2. 3 theaters equipped to the tune of N97,480,000.

3. Barau Dikko Specialist Hospitals provided with a Modern Laboratory Antenatal Block and an Intensive Care Unit at the cost of N255, 740,115.39. The Haemadialysis Unit expended from a 5 bed to a 20 bed facility fully equipped with 10 machines and a water treatment plant at the cost of N260, 000,000.

4. Two lifts in Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital were replaced with new modern ones at the cost of N35, 238,000 to ease the movement of patients between floors.

5. Hajiya Gambo Sawaba Hospital Zaria was provided with a Diagnostic Complex comprising X-Ray and Laboratory Unit fully equipped at the cost of N228, 480,110.50. In addition a Maternity Unit has been proposed for immediate take off at the cost of N173, 948,738.63.

6. The completion of Houses constructed by Previous Regimes at General Hospital Kafanchan at the cost of N236,075,000

7. The provision of facilities to meet the Accreditation Requirement of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria in the College of Nursing Kafanchan. Contract have been awarded worth N61,823,433.25 for the provision of 2 buses for the School, procurement of Teaching Aids, Communication Equipment, construction of a Solar Borehole and 500 Capacity Auditorium/Lecture Theatre, Students Hostels, Laboratories and Staff Quarters.

8. Free treatment of pregnant women and children under five years of age at ASSO in Jema’a Local Government Area ,supply of drugs and other consumables worth N156,436,382 were procured.

9. Free medical care for pregnant women covers antenatal services, delivery, care for 6weeks after delivery and complication associated with pregnancy and delivery while that of the children include common ailments principally Malaria, Dior rhea, Acute Respiratory Tract Infections, Measles and Meningitis. The estimated cost of the programme covering services, system, hardware and demand creation is N8.5billion naira for 2008 and N8.9billion naira for 2009. The State Government, Local Government Councils and Ministry for Local Governments will jointly finance the programme. Contracts have been awarded to 2 companies for the supply of drugs and other consumables worth N207, 973,887.80. Government disburses N70,000,000 monthly to 26 hospitals across the state for the implementation of free treatment.

10. The state government has declared war against malaria. The vision of this administration is that by 2015 malaria will no longer be a major cause of mortality in the state. Towards this ends government has taken intervention measures which include integrated vector management, procurement of anti-malaria drugs, insecticide treated nets and strengthening partnership. All the 23 local government councils in the state will contribute N230 million naira. N1,000,000,000 is required for the control of malaria in the state in 2008. Recently the State Executive Council approved the procurement of Anti-Malaria Drugs worth N47,025,280.00 and the procurement of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNS) worthN24,800,000.00 which it is jointly funding with the Global Fund on Malaria

11. The prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in Kaduna state is 5.6% while the National Average is 4.4%. In this regard the State Government has intensified the fight against HIV/AIDS with the provision of N325,484,634 for the Patient Free Voluntary Counseling and Testing and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV. This is in addition to World Bank assisted project in the 2008 Budget of N377, 297,000 to fight HIV/AIDS in Kaduna state. Anti Retroviral Drugs worth N82, 000,000 have been procured and are being given to patients free.

12. Establishment of a 500 Bed Hospital in Kaduna and expansion of other health facilities to provide specialized services through the Public /Private Partnership (PPP) Programme. Twenty two companies have indicated interest on the project and their submissions are being evaluated. With the movement of ABU Teaching Hospital to Shika in 2006, the State Government immediately established 3 hospitals in Kaduna Metropolis to bridge the services gap created by ABUTH. General hospital Pambegua was commissioned on the 22^nd January 2008, Kawo and Sabo Tasha General Hospital are ready for commissioning. Contracts for the procurement of hospital equipments for these Hospitals have been awarded. General Hospital Rigasa is at an advanced stage of completion. Provision has been made in the 2008 budget for the upgrading of 4 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) to Rural Hospitals to improve access to Health Care. In addition, the Health System Project II Department is Constructing 16 Health Facilities made up of 6 Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and 10 Health Clinics (HCs) at the total cost of N239, 258,801.89. These Health Centers and Clinics will be equipped and commissioned soon

13. To enhance project conceptualization, implementation and supervision, consultants have been appointed for the ministry on zonal basis. This is made up of 4 consultants for each Senatorial Zone and 4 Lead Consultants to oversee the 3 Zones. These Consultants are currently in the field preparing Drawing and Bills of Quantities for projects in the Health Sector. This will enable government draw out a plan for Construction, Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Health Facilities for successful implementation of Programmes on Health. The sum of N1, 557,520,159.00 has so far been paid to contractors which contributed positively to the execution of on-going projects in the sector.

14. Allowance of Health Workers in the State have been reviewed upward .The new pay package is already attracting Medical  Doctors and other Health Staff back to the service. In addition, a total of 503 staff made up 185 senior and 318 junior staff were promoted with effect from January 2008. 913 staff have been employed since the coming of the present administration. This is made up of 571 senior and 342 junior staff. Staff employed includes 58 Medical Doctors and 390 Nurses and Midwives. With the commissioning of General Hospitals in Kawo and Sabon Tasha, an approval was given for the recruitment of 32 staff.

15. As a result of the service gap created with the movement of ABUTH to Shika, His Excellency approached the President and the Federal Ministry of Health to solicit for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre in the State. This led to the setting up of a State Committee comprising Prominent Citizen of Kaduna State with staff of the ministry of health as members. Professor Ango Abdullahi is the Chairman of the Committee which also has the Honorable Commissioner of Health and Permanent Secretary among others as members.

AGRICULTURE

During the period under review, the Sector carried out  a number of projects aimed at achieving government’s objectives to boost agricultural production in the state as outlined below:-

Farmers supply company LTD(FASCOM) as Government Agency under Agriculture during period under review carried out the following

• Awarded a Landmark for the supply of 5490 MT tones of fertilizer in the state  worth N584,370,030 for the 2008 cropping season made up of :-

  • NPK           5000MT               545,490,000

  • SSP             490MT                 38,880,030

  • TOTAL       5,490MT              N584,880,030

Delivery of the above products is presently in progress.

Revenue generation between 29^th may 2007 to date; FASCOM generated total revenue of N32, 255,980. This is as result of the commitment of management toward ensuring sustainability and service delivery which remains its watch word. Detail of the revenue collected is as follows:-

• Profit fertilizer sales                                    28,428,980

• Rents of stores and other building              3,171,100

• Others                                                         655,900

• 32,255,980

In its determination of fixing agriculture in the right direction and boost agricultural production in the state, the agency procured Agricultural Implements which included Ridger and knapsacks sprayers worth N2, 100,000. It also sold Agricultural Agro-Chemicals, Agricultural Implements and other general items at affordable prices to the farmers.

WOMEN AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

The focus of this Administration in this Sector is to initiate and support Programmes that will improve the Economic Empowerment and Education Development of Women and Children on a sustainable basis.

Details of its project carried out are as follows:

YOUTH AND SPORT

DETAILS OF CAPITAL PROJECT CARRIED OUT

During the period under review, this sector sponsored Youth Officers to Bauchi, Kano and Ogun State for Empowerment Training, Entrepreneurship Development and Training on Management of Farm Produce.

Granted assistance of N2m (two Million Naira) to 17 youth organizations and youths in difficult circumstances

Re-activated the National Youth Council, Kaduna State Chapter and supervised the election of its executives.

Organized the National and International Youth Week collaborated with line Ministries for effective delivery of Youth Development Services to the Youths at the grassroots.

Provided the sum of N40million for four (4) Youth Center

Provided the sum of N10 million for Renovation and Equipment of five (5) Development Offices.

Organized and hosted competitions locally for athletics

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. A total of 41 contracts awarded for establishment of new BATCS and provision of Equipment ,Training Materials and Renovation of Science and Technical Schools in the State at the cost of N193,163,213.32

2. 9 out of the 41 contracts have been completed. BATC- Kakau has already been commissioned.

3. Reproduction and Marketing of Books on SSCE questions and answers on Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English language and Mathematics.

4. Currently fabricating a Castor Seed Shelling Machine for the production of castor seed oil.

5. Currently on research on the use of sugar cane to produce cellulose

6. The sector came 1^st in the 2007 science and technology exhibition during the National Science Week Celebration in Abuja in November 2007. Items exhibited by the State include Ethanol; Bio-Fuel extracted from sugar cane in the mini pilot plant established by the Ministry.

7. Building of the Sanga Kudan and Kajuru BATC’s in progress to train youths on Vocational Skills.

8. The Energy Department completed and test run the Bio-Ethanol Pilot Plant achieving 99% fuel Grackle from sugar cane

9. In line with the Government Agenda to reduce Poverty, the sector signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion NOTAP to establish a sugar processing company ( The Zazzau Brown Sugar Pilot Plant) at Babangida Bizara Zaria. This outfit will provide jobs and income to state indigenes when it attains maturity. The pilot plant was commissioned on 7^th February 2008.

10. The sector has received approval for the sum of N37, 625,000 for the improvement of feeding in all boarding schools in Kaduna state. The total student population in these Boarding Schools at 21,500 in a total of 26 schools. Thirteen of these Schools are under the Science and Technical Schools Management Board while the remaining 13 are under the Ministry of Education. Initially, parents pay N3,500 for feeding per term per student. Government is now complementing this amount by 50% which is N1,750 per student per term. ...FOR COMPLETE DOCUMENT CLICK TO DOWNLOAD NOW>>

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