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24 January 2011 Sule Ya'u Sule
Kano state
governor, Malam
Ibrahim Shekarau has challenged
the
Federal government to address the
influx of foreign textiles into the country as
unchecked incursion of imported textiles is crippling
local textile factories. The governor who made the call
while receiving the
Minister of state for Commerce,
Mrs. Joshepine Tapgun who visited him at the
government house in Kano argued that rules banning the
importation of such items must be fully enforced as
part of measures to revamp the economy. He also tasked the federal
government to look closely at the activites of
foreigners who are taking over local businesses by
importing goods and opening up retail shops in the
country, saying such actions must be regulated so as
not to deprive Nigerians of oppurtunites. The governor spoke on efforts by
the state government to maintain the commercial status
of Kano by intitiating the Kano ICT Park, several
projects under
Public – Private
Partnership as well as the
development of infrastructure like roads to ease
movement of goods and services. Malam Shekarau however lamented
that the crisis in the power sector is taking its toll
on the state, saying despite moves by the state
government to put in place an Independent Power Plant,
the pace has been slow because of the cumbersome
process involved. He also frowned at the slow pace
of the Kano Export Processing Zone, saying despite
efforts by the state government to provide
infrastructure to speed up the realization of the
project, it is yet to see the light of the day. He
therefore advised the federal government to do
something about it. The governor informed the
visiting Minister that
youth empowerment
has been a major challenge of his government,
explaining that it had modestly trained about 40,000
people since 2003 and had succeeded in keeping the
peace in the state despite its teeming unemployed
young people. Earlier, the Minister of state
for Commerce and Industry, Mrs. Joshepine Tapgun
disclosed that her visit to Kano was to inspect some
projects undertaken by the federal government under
her ministry including the Sugar Research Nursery,
Trade Fair complex and the Natioanl Export Processing
Zone, NEPZA. Mrs. Tapgun also revealed that
she inspected a new training complex for mechanics and
related activites at the state ITF building which has
been equipped to train youths for self reliance and
visited the new Kano office of the
Corporate Affairs
Commission to check that
everything is satisfactory.
.............................................ENDS.............................................
Kano
state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau
has applauded the military authorites in Niger
Republic for what he termed the Nigerien government's
"speedy transition program" which will return the
country to democratic governance. The governor who spoke while
receiving a delegetion from Niger Republic led by the
Governor of Maradi region, Colonel Garba Maikido at
the government house said the move has convinced the
international community that the military government's
intention is to restore law and order but not to hang
unto power. "We are happy that the Nigerien
authorities have kept their words as it is believed
the world over that the worst civilian government is
better than a military administration," the governor
asserted. On the the relationship between
the business cummnity in Kano and their Nigerien
counterparts, Malam Shekarau pledged that the
government wiil do all it can to ensure that the
bilateral relationship thrives, adding that his
administration is also ready to implement
recommendations of the
Nigeria/ Niger border
coopearation workshop as it will enhance the
commercial status of Kano state. He praised Nigeriens residing in
Kano for living peacefully with the host community and
for the support to his government, describing them as
good ambassadors of their country. The governor
promised that his administration will continue to
guarantee them free living as long as they continue to
respect the laws of the land. In his remarks, the governor of
Maradi, Niger Republic Colonel Garba Maikido told
Governor Shekarau that he is in Kano to attend the
validation workshop on Nigeria/Niger border
cooperation aimed at realizing the ECOWAS Charter on
free movement of people, goods and services in the
West African sub – region. Colonel Maikido described the
relationship between his country and Nigeria as beyond
artificial boundries, stressing that the governments
of the two sister states must work more closely to
solidify the the rapport in the overall interest of
their citizens.
.................................................ENDS...............................................
The
Presidential Candidate of the All Nigeria People's
Party (ANPP) and the Governor of Kano State, Malam
Ibrahim Shekarau has promised to entrench social
justice and provide equal opportunity for every
citizen of the country if elected President in the
April 2011 polls. The
ANPP Presidential Candidate also promised to pursue a
human development agenda to improve the living
standard of Nigerians if given the mandate to lead the
country.
Governor Shekarau made the promises when he received a
group of people who besieged the
Kano State
Government House on a solidarity rally
in support of his Presidential ambition. He
commended the group for their show of solidarity and
support, and urged them to continue the struggle for
good
governance peacefully. "I am
satisfied that you are one of the pillars of the
struggle to make us assume the leadership of the
country at the centre so that we can make Nigerians
proud of their country wherever they find themselves.
Our mission and concern is all about human development
and social justice. We want a government that can
secure life and property. We want a government that
can be trusted: a government that says what it means
and mean what it says", the ANPP Presidential flag
bearer promised. The
leader of the group, Lady Gloria Ewuzie described
Governor Ibrahim Shekarau as a man of the people and
man of vision, who through well thought-out policies
and programmes, transformed the socio-economic
condition of Kano State and restored peace and harmony
among the different ethno-religious groups living in
the state. Lady
Gloria Ewuzie who is popularly called Hajiya Mai
Silencer, assured the ANPP Flag bearer that they would
stage rallies in all the 36 states of the federation
to mobilize support for his presidential aspiration.
Sule Ya'u Sule
- senior Special Assistant on Media and
Publicity - To the Executive Governor,
Kano state, January 18th,
2011 |
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