Headlines
UK’s FCDO spends £130 million on intervention projects in Kano
Nasiru Yusuf
The United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has spent £130 million in Kano state through various interventions between 2014-2021.
KANO FOCUS reports that FCDO is also spending £14.7 million, equivalent to N8.6 billion, in its 2020-21 financial year as intervention on development projects in Kano state.
The FCDO’s Development Director, Christopher Pycroft revealed this on Wednesday while speaking at the opening of the strategic dialogue between the FCDO Nigeria and the Kano state government.
Mr. Christopher Pycroft
He however explained that there is a 28% reduction in the aid budget of FCDO this year.
“As you are aware the impact of COVID-19 has been far reaching and created a huge downturn in the global economy and the UK is no exception. This has led to a reduction in the aid budget to 0.5% of gross National income from the original 0.7%.
“This means that we will not be able to carry out all the of the development interventions programs we originally identify here in Kano.
“However, even though the financial envelope has reduced this does not indicate a reduction in our commitment to development in Kano.
“We believe that through our mutual commitment, dialogue, transparency and accountability from all parties we can achieve great impact and support to Kano state government’s own effort through this mutual accountability framework” Pycroft declared.
He explained further that “over the last seven years, from 2014-2021, FCDO has spent a total in excess of £130 million in Kano state through our program interventions. In which £14.7 million is projected to be spent in financial year 2020-21.
“The details of our 2021-22 financial commitments will be finalised following our mutual accountability strategic dialogue meeting that will hold today and we will publish all of the information about all these allocations as part of our transparency pledge”.
Responding, the Kano state governor Abdullahi Ganduje, emphasized the need for institutional development in order to achieve better opportunities for development.
Abdullahi Umar Ganduje
“There is the need for strong institutions to support and sustain better opportunities for development.
“That is why we are we are establishing the institutions that will sustain the development including interventions from the FCDO” he stated.
“There is no doubt the relationship between FCDO and the state is helping us to strengthen our institutions. For any sustainable development there must be strong institutions. Stronger institutions provide better opportunities for sustainable development.”
“Our relationship has always been fruitful. As a result therefore, we increased our budgetary allocation to 25% in the education sector. All our policies on education and other sectors are formulated towards having strong institutions. We are partners in progress,” Ganduje said.
Participants
Head of Sub-National Team, FCDO, David Ukagwu, UNICEF Chief of Party, Maulid Warfa, TaRL Africa representative Inyang Omoren and Open Government Partnership (OGP), Civil Society Co-Chair, Abdulrazak Alkali gave some goodwill messages, acknowledging state government’s efforts in keeping faith to process of sustainable development.
As part of the agenda for the programme, the two parties, FCDO and the state government would sign an MoU on Thursday, at Science Secondary School, Dawakin Tofa, to seal the effort.
The Kano state Government under the able leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has announced it decision to revisit the abandoned trailer park projects in Kano south zonal.
The decision was announced by Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf through his spokesperson Sanusi Bature after an unscheduled to the Dakatsalle site of one of the abandoned projects.
According to the statement, these trailer park projects were initiated by the Rabiu Kwankwaso administration in 2014 at Dakatsalle, Gundutse and Dawanau but they were abandoned the immediate past administration of Ganduje.
The Governor who lamented the rampant blockage of road by heavy duty vehicles creation unneccesary hardship to road users within the metropolis, said the decision to revive the projects particularly at Gundutse and Dakatsalle in Kano South.
“It was unpatrotic for the immediate past administration to have vandalised the third location of these projects in Dawanau, which was expected to serve Kano north but the project site has allocated plots to members of thier families and cronies.” Gov. Yusuf lamented
The Governor further stated that the reasons for resustsiting were for maintaining of safety, ease vehicular movement and economic development.
Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa added that the Governor has directed all relevant agencies to ensure strict compliance of road traffic and ensure that no major road is blocked by any gathering including Friday mosques within and outside the Kano city.
Similarly, the Governor has revocked all lands allocated within the two trailer parks in Kano south (Gundutse and Dakatsalle) as part of the plan to revisit the projects.
It could be recalled that the projects were handed over to National Association of Road Transport Owners (NATO) to operate after completions
Sanusi Bature DawakinTofa
Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Kano.
The Executive Governor of Kano State His Excellency Abba Kabir Yusuf has flagged off the second phase of women empowerment on livestock entrepreneurship.
A statement from the office of the Governor’s Spokesperson Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa revealed that the women beneficiaries were given three small ruminants (goats) across the 44 Local Government areas of the state.
The iniative was championed under the State’s Livestock Fattining Programme of Kano Agro-Pastoral Development (KSADP).
While flagging off the second phase of programme, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said as part of his administration’s commitment to fighting abject poverty, it has been resolved to coordinate a multi-dimensional approach to supporting the plight of women and youth for self-reliance.
He said under this iniative, the state is distributing seven thousand one hundred and fifty eight (7, 158) goats to two thousand three hundred and eighty six women beneficisries.
The Governor further stated that the programme will include the distribution of one thousand three hundred and forty two (1, 342) cows to women and youth and also one thousand eight hundred and twenty two rams.
While distributing the empowerment, the Governor issued a stern warning on diversion of the animals other than the purpose it was meant for.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano has inaugurated a 7.3 kilometer rural road equipped with solar-powered streetlights valued at over N4 billion in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area.
KANO FOCUS reports that the project which was launched Sunday, was originally initiated by Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s administration in 2012 but was Abandoned by the immediate past governor in state.
Gov Abba Kabir Yusuf
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Yusuf expressed joy at fulfilling one of his campaign promises.
“Today, we witness the realisation of a commitment made to the people of Dawakin Kudu,” he said.
Dawakinkudu road
“I am delighted to commission this project, which will significantly enhance the socio-economic well-being of the community.”
The road project was revalidated last year under an agreement with H&M Nigeria Limited, the contractor, to complete and deliver it within the first quarter of 2025.
Sani Ahmad Mairago, Chairman of Dawakin Kudu Local Government, commended the governor for prioritizing and completing the project, describing it as a vital development for the local community.
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