Zulum: No cause for alarm over raising of Alau Dam

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has allayed the fear over the rising level of water at Alau Dam, noting that there is no cause of alarm.

There has been widespread fear of flood and anxiety among residents of Maiduguri following the recent downpour.

The governor made this known shortly after inspecting the ongoing reconstruction work at Alau Dam, near Maiduguri.

Zulum said that the widespread panic in Maiduguri was also a serious concern to his administration but insisted that there was no cause for alarm over any possible devastating flood due to overflow from Alau Dam.

He remarked that new channels have been opened up, and the water was running, saying the level of water in Alau Dam has dropped about 4 inches within the last few days, and the volume would continue to drop.

“As at now based on the engineering knowledge we are having, we concluded that there is no cause for alarm,” Zulum stated.

“However, nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, we are working and shall continue to monitor this programme. The contractor is doing a good job.

The governor, however, warned the residents in flood-prone areas from dumping refuse into the drainage systems in front of their houses and those who were in the habit of building on water ways to desist from doing so.

“Most importantly, I want to warn the people of this state to desist from building on water ways, and they should be very careful” he said.

The governor urged the residents to be law abiding, saying ” if you have drainage in front of your house, you have to make sure you clean it all the time.”

On reviewing the master plan, Zulum said that his administration was going to look at the whole master plan and see where distortions were being made with a view to rectify all abnormalities.

“But we must go back to the drawing board and then look at the master plan and ensure that all tributaries and all water ways shall be cleared so as to allow inflow of water to the main canal.

“We must enforce certain environmental standards, which is very painful but I believe we have no option,” Zulum said.

On the delay of the reconstruction of Alau Dam, the Governor said that the delay was due to some technical procedures, but assured the public that the contractors had resumed fully.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving N80 billion to execute the ongoing work at Alau Dam.
End

Governor Buni launches the 2025 mega agricultural empowerment program in Yobe.

By: Yahaya Wakili

In his efforts to enhance agriculture production, increasing food sufficiency and food security, as well as to improve the economy of the state. Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON has launched another 2025 Mega Agricultural Empowerment Program at August 27 Stadium, Damaturu. Saying agriculture remains the main occupation of over 90 percent of the state’s population, who are either engaged in crop production, livestock agriculture, or both.

Adding that, this becomes necessary for the government to be more committed to developing the sector for our people to migrate from subsistence farming to mechanized agriculture.

Governor Buni further revealed that, last year, the state government unveiled a mega Agricultural Empowerment Program that was launched by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, who was ably represented by the vice president, His Excellency Senator Kashim Shettima GCON. Governor Buni appreciates His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, piloting the affairs of our great country at this very challenging moment, adding that the commitment of your administration to security is no doubt yielding the desired result, with our communities having access to their farmlands with increased agricultural productivity for economic growth.

“Last year, Yobe state government procured agricultural machines, including 100 tractors, 889 hand push planters, 599 hand push tiller machines, 4,202 solar powered irrigation machines, over 1,000 harvesters, 72,000 bags of fertilizer, ox -drawn ploughs, small ruminants and assorted improved seedlings among others and distributed to over 5,300 beneficiaries across the 178 political wards in the state, the intervention by the state government last year contributed tremendously to the increase in food production and economic empowerment of our people, therefore, the government found it expedient to intensify this intervention to provide more support for more people to benefit and expand production.”

“This year, the government procured 40 Massey Ferguson tractors, 1,961 power tillers, 1,250 hand-push planters, 553 multipurpose threshers, 3,410 solar water pumps, 830 fertilizer applicators, 4,500 bags of NPK 20-10-10 fertilizer, 195 crop residue crushers, 495 crop residue choppers, 20,000 assorted improved seeds, assorted agrochemicals, 4,000 bunches of cassava stems, assorted certified seeds, 50 tricycles, and 30 motorcycles to be distributed to farmers across the state.”

“In line with our policy to promote agricultural development in the state, the governor directed that the machines, equipment, and other farm implements should be distributed free to deserving farmers and also directed a 50% subsidy on the sale of fertilizer to farmers, adding that this administration has carefully and systematically embarked on an all-inclusive, multi-sectorial approach to make our recovery program successful and beneficial to our people across the 17 local government areas.

He said his administration has prudently and judiciously managed the state resources to address the destruction caused by the protracted security challenge and other decays caused by aging, especially on structures predating the creation of the state. Adding that, the government has taken the bold and deliberate step to address the infrastructural challenges facing Damaturu after it became the capital of our dear state 34 years ago. This is to find solutions to the corresponding challenges of its growing size, increase in population, increase in the density of traffic flow, controlling the floods, and curbing the incessant menace of traffic accidents at the city center.

“I am proud to state with a very high sense of responsibility, humility, and satisfaction that our administration has over the years accorded great attention to all the critical sectors, including agriculture, education, healthcare delivery, road construction, water supply, wealth creation, and employment generation, to improve the lives of our people,” Buni said.

Governor Buni launches the 2025 mega agricultural empowerment program in Yobe.

Brief on the late Emir of Gudi

By: Yahaya Wakili

The late Emir of Gudi, Alhaji Isa Bunuwo Ibn Madubu Khaji, was born in Gadaka town in 1950, a time that is considered in history with the arrival of the first batch of Christian missionaries to Gadaka town, the Fika Native Authority, and later the Fika Emirate.

Alhaji Isa Bunuwo started his western education at Gadaka Central Primary School, and on graduation he gained employment under the Fika native authority in 1969 as an instructor in the Agricultural Department. He then proceeded on course to the College of Agriculture in Maiduguri, the northeastern state, in 1972.

On graduation, the late Isa Bunuwo was transferred from the agriculture department to the treasury, and after settling, he secured admission into the Staff Training Center Potiskum, now the College of Business and Administrative Studies (CABS), where he graduated with a diploma certificate in accountancy in 1983.

Alhaji Isa Bunuwo Ibn Madubu Khaji was later seconded to the Federal Girls College Potiskum as an accountant and later redeployed to the treasury department as a revenue officer, then cashier, where he served for many years. Following the aspirations and desire of the people of Gudi to have a district, he was appointed as the District Head of the newly created district of Ngeji with headquarters at Gadaka in 1991.

The spirit and desire of the Ngamo people to have a kingdom continued, and this time around it was for the upgrading of the district to an emirate, where Alhaji Isa Bunuwo Ibn Madubu Khaji became the Mai Gudi with third-class grade status confirmed by Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim FNIQS in 1993.

The hope of the Ngamo was, however, dashed following the change of government from civil to military in 1993 when the military administrator of Yobe state, then COMPOL Dabo Aliyu, reversed the appointment and dissolved the emirate.

Alhaji Isa Bunuwo Ibn Madubu Khaji had to adjust to his former position as district head of Ngeji and acted for nearly 6 years. When Alhaji Bukar Abba Ibrahim was re-elected for the second time, his appointment was resuscitated, and the wishes, yearning, and aspirations of the Ngamo and indeed all ethnic groups across Yobe state for getting their traditional chiefdoms were renewed.

The Emir of Gudi and all other emirs received various upgrades from their grades to a higher one, an exercise that was conducted in several phases, which brought all the emirs from their previous classes to first-class status, and the Emir of Gudi was among the beneficiaries in 2007.

The late Emir of Gudi enjoys farming, and he has received awards from the Farmers Institute of Nigeria, has travelled widely within and outside Nigeria, and is happily married to four wives.

Brief on the late Emir of Gudi