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Zulum, Shehu of Borno Urge FG to Expedite Alau Dam Rehabilitation

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Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has called on the Federal Government to expedite the rehabilitation and expansion of the Alau Dam to avert a recurrence of last year’s devastating floods in the state.
Zulum made the call on Friday in Maiduguri when he received the Shehu of Borno, Dr Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, who led a traditional Sallah homage to the Government House.
He said the slow pace of work on the dam project was worrisome, especially as the rainy season had already begun.
“After the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction and expansion of the dam, which we all attended, the truth is that the work is not progressing as expected,” the governor said.
“The last time I visited the President, I informed him about the true state of the project. I will not relent; I will continue to follow up. I have also informed the Vice President.
“In the meantime, the Secretary to the State Government has set up a committee to provide immediate intervention at the dam,” he explained
Maiduguri and surrounding local government areas witnessed severe flooding in September 2024 following the collapse of the dam. In response, the Federal Government approved N80 billion for its reconstruction and expansion. The project was formally flagged off in March 2025.
Zulum reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to connecting all local government headquarters in the state to the national grid before the end of his tenure. He also promised extensive road rehabilitation once the Pulka quarry plant is operational.
“These are two critical issues dear to me,” he said. “I assure Your Royal Highness that all local government headquarters will be connected to electricity before my tenure expires, Insha Allah. On road infrastructure, insecurity has been a major challenge, but we remain committed. We have procured 40 new Howo tipper trucks, and once the Pulka quarry plant is completed, we will embark on massive road rehabilitation across the state.”
The governor also thanked the people of Borno for their continued support and cooperation with his administration.
Earlier, the Shehu of Borno stressed the need for urgent action on the Alau Dam project, noting that the first phase should have been completed by now.
He cited the recent flooding in Mokwa, Niger State, as a reminder of the dangers of delay.
“We witnessed the catastrophic flooding in Maiduguri on Sept. 10, 2024, and we do not want a repeat,” he said. “The Federal Government must act immediately.”
The monarch also urged the governor to continue engaging the Federal Government on oil exploration in Tuba, road rehabilitation, and electricity connectivity for more local government areas
During the visit, Zulum also received delegations from the University of Maiduguri, Kashim Ibrahim University, the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital, the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, and the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Azare, who paid similar Sallah homage.

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KNSG targets over 3.5m Ramadan meals, commends hygiene at cooking centres

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Kano State Government says it is targeting the distribution of more than 3.5 million meals under its 2026 Ramadan feeding programme across the state.

The Commissioner for Religious Affairs and Chairman of the Ramadan Feeding Programme, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani, said this while inspecting designated cooking centres responsible for preparing and packaging meals for beneficiaries.

Tijani said the inspection was aimed at assessing hygiene conditions, quality of ingredients and the general cooking process at the centres.

According to him, the team focused on cooking facilities and packaging processes rather than distribution points.

“We visited some of the major contractors responsible for preparing large quantities of meals daily for the programme.

“One of the companies we inspected feeds about 25,000 people daily, while others also prepare between 13,000 and 25,000 meals each day,” he said.

He explained that the programme targets the preparation of about 115,000 meal packages daily throughout the 29 days of Ramadan.

The commissioner said the meals would be distributed across the eight metropolitan Local Government Areas of the state.

Tijani commended the contractors for maintaining good hygiene standards at the cooking centres.

“We inspected the kitchens, the environment and the packaging process to ensure that the food meets the required hygiene standards.

“We are satisfied with what we saw. The level of cleanliness and the quality of the food being prepared are commendable,” he said.

He added that government officials had intensified monitoring to ensure quality control throughout the programme.

According to him, the supervision has helped address earlier concerns about food quality recorded at the beginning of the exercise.

“For the past two weeks, we have been visiting different centres to monitor both the quantity and quality of meals being prepared,” he said.

Tijani also said the government had resolved cases where some individuals attempted to divert food meant for designated distribution centres.

He noted that the situation had been addressed in collaboration with local authorities, adding that such cases had reduced significantly.

The commissioner said the cooking centres were also complying with the dietary standards approved by the state government.

“We checked the ingredients being used, including cooking oil, seasoning and meat, and they meet the required standards,” he said.

Tijani described the 2026 Ramadan feeding programme as one of the most organised in the state, noting that the government would continue to monitor the exercise to ensure its success.

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Tinubu campaign group donates N11m, rice to Katsina APC Officials

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A political support group, Tinubu/Dikko Assured (TDA 2027) has on Wednesday donated ₦11 million in cash and 95 bags of rice to party executives of the All Progressives Congress in Katsina.

The distribution, which took place in Katsina, was aimed at supporting party leaders and stakeholders during the holy month of Ramadan.

The Director-General and founder of the group, Umar Ahmad-Zayyad, said the distribution exercise would be supervised by members of the TDA State Steering Committee.

Represented by the TDA State Coordinator, Khalil Aminu, the D-G said the gesture was part of the group’s continued commitment to strengthening the party structure from the grassroots while supporting loyal party executives.

He further assured that the structure of the party in Katsina Local Government and the state in general, remains intact, adding that it had mobilised ahead of future political engagements.

Ahmad-Zayyad described the outreach as part of a sustained effort to consolidate party unity and reinforce grassroots mobilisation in line with the objectives of the Tinubu/Dikko 2027 Project.

He described Ramadan as a period of sacrifice, compassion and generosity, adding that the initiative was designed to cushion the economic burden on party officials and their families during the fasting period.

According to the breakdown provided at the ceremony, five bags of rice and ₦500,000 were distributed across each of the 12 Wards in Katsina Local Government Area.

In addition, 15 bags of rice and ₦2 million were presented to the Katsina Local Government Executives to support their activities and welfare.

Similarly, 20 bags of rice alongside ₦3 million were handed over to the State Party Executives as part of the broader intervention package.

Party leaders who received the items expressed appreciation to Ahmad-Zayyad for what they described as a timely and thoughtful intervention.

Other beneficiaries who spoke at the occasion pledged their continued loyalty and support to the party’s leadership at both the state and national levels.

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Radda unveils ₦10.3m Ramadan support for APC members in Katsina

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Gov. Dikko Radda of Katsina has unveiled a ₦10.3 million Ramadan support initiative under the Maituraka Foundation for APC members and community leaders in Katsina Local Government.

The cash disbursement, launched on Tuesday in Katsina, aims to cushion the effects of economic hardship on beneficiaries during the fasting period.

Radda described the intervention as humanitarian, reflecting “the spirit of Ramadan, a period of compassion, sacrifice and generosity”.

He stressed that governance must remain people-centred, adding that supporting citizens is a priority of his administration.

The governor said strategic partnerships with well-meaning individuals and groups would continue to complement government efforts at poverty alleviation.

He commended APC members for their maturity and unity during the recently concluded party congresses.

According to him, the outcome has strengthened the party’s internal cohesion and grassroots structures across the state.

“After the APC congresses, our party has emerged stronger and more united than ever before.

“This unity will translate into better service delivery and political stability,” he said.

The programme’s initiator, Abdulaziz Maituraka, said the ₦10.3 million intervention was conceived as a Ramadan gesture to support beneficiaries.

Maituraka stated that those selected had remained steadfast in advancing the party’s ideals at the grassroots.

He described Ramadan as a season of giving and reflection, urging beneficiaries to use the support to ease domestic burdens.

Maituraka also called on party faithful to sustain their loyalty and mobilise support for Radda ahead of future political engagements.

He specifically urged continued backing for Radda and President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.

“Though this is an annual gesture, this year’s edition is unique because I expanded it to cover the entire local government.

“My first consideration is the APC, where I belong,” Maituraka said.

Beneficiaries expressed gratitude, describing the intervention as timely and impactful amid rising living costs.

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