By; Amos Tauna, Kaduna.
Determined to make Kaduna State great again, Governor Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai revealed that All Progressives Congress, APC-led government in the state has created over 125,000 direct jobs in less than one year in office.
El-Rufai, who stated this during his 6th town hall meeting in Saminaka, Lere local government area, said the state school feeding programme created at least 85,000 jobs, including the vendors, their staff and supervisors.
He told the gathering that Dangote and Olam are in advanced discussions with his administration on integrated tomato agro-industrial projects around Galma Dam in the state.
The governor added that Olam has also decided to build the largest poultry and feed-mill facility in Sub- Saharan Africa in the State, with the ground breaking ceremony to take place in April this year.
“The Job Impact of ongoing interventions is over 125,000 direct jobs in Kaduna State within less than one year of the APC being in office.
“School feeding programme at least 85,000 jobs, including the vendors, their staff and supervisors. School uniforms; 11,100 jobs, rehabilitation of Schools; 7,542 jobs, construction of toilets; 6,285 jobs, solar boreholes; 5,028 jobs, KASTELEA; 2,550 jobs, Waste collection; 6,700 jobs, Science and Maths Teachers; 2,300 jobs,” he explained.
El-Rufai added, “Stallion group is to build a 10,000-hectare rice farm and mill in Kaduna in Southern Kaduna to reduce our dependence on imported rice. Other rice farm and mill projects are being implemented by many firms to utilize our zero-interest loans around the CBN Rice-Anchor Lending Programme.”
El-Rufai, accompanied by the Senator representing Kaduna North Senatorial District, Alhaji Suleiman Hunkuyi and other top government officials in a Police Chopper for aerial view of the security in that part of the state, said operations against cattle-rustlers, kidnappers and other criminal gangs were ongoing in the affected areas.
“Our security agencies have better vehicles and improved communication infrastructure to respond to threats. Our internal security team, Operation Yaki, has been active in razing black spots and preventing crimes, while responding more rapidly to instances of robberies and other threats to lives and property.
“While thanking the security agencies for their efforts and service to our state, we ask our religious and community leaders to continue to preach peace and unity, promote tolerance and discourage hate speech and renew calls for increased vigilance in all our communities.
“These, in a nutshell, are the things your government has been doing since we last met in November 2016. We are steadily following the APC manifesto on which we campaigned and for which you elected us. Delivering the policies that will empower you and your children are our focus.
“Please shun all those who seek to distract us by pushing divisive ethnic and religious messages. They are doing so because they created the current state of poverty and hopelessness in their last decade and half in office through massive looting and enrichment of a few at the expense of the many.
“The current APC government believes that every resident of Kaduna State is entitled to security, safety and progress. Let us keep marching together to make Kaduna” El-Rufai maintained.
