The Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board has introduced an e-payment system ahead of this year's Hajj to ease the exercise.
Alhaji Suleiman Hadejia, secretary to the state Pilgrims Welfare Board, disclosed this in Dutse at an induction course for Hajj officers. Hadejia explained that the new system would remove the stress associated with the payment exercise.
He said the E-payment would enable intending pilgrims to make payments to the approved banks close to them without difficulties.
In a related development, Kiyawa Local Government of Jigawa has inaugurated an 18-member Hajj Committee.
Alhaji Dahiru Madaki the council’s chairman, who inaugurated the members, urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them. Madaki gave the committee one month to submit its report and begin screening of intending pilgrims from the area.
He warned that no intending pilgrim would be allowed to pay for the Hajj until after he had been screened.
SGF Inaugurates Committee on Research Fund
Amb. Babagana Kingibe, secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has inaugurated a six-member committee on the actualization of the proposed Science and Technology Research Development Fund (STRDF).
A statement by Alhaji Salisu Na'inna, deputy director Information, office of SGF, quoted Kingibe as saying that the inauguration of the committee was in response to President Umaru Yar'Adua's directive.
He said the President directed that the Board of the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA), the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and other relevant ministries should jointly manage the proposed Fund.
Kingibe said the committee, which has Prof. Oluwafeyisola Adegoke as chairman, would facilitate the establishment of the Fund, and determine the desirability or otherwise of a legal instrument to back it up.
The committee will also advise on whether there was need to review the Nigerian National Merit Award Act or enact a new law for the purpose.
Kingibe said the committee would also offer any other advice or recommendation, which in its opinion, would assist the government toward the establishment of the Fund.
``The committee should see its task as a challenge, in view of the strategic importance of science and technology in the quest to meet the targets of Vision 2020,'' he added.
Responding on behalf of other members, Adegoke promised that the committee would work assiduously toward achieving its objectives.
He said all the 54 laureates of the NNMA were willing to put their expertise and intellectual capabilities in the service of the country toward achieving the objectives of Vision 2020.
World Bank Spends N720 m on Agriculture in Kwara
The World Bank is to spend over N720 million on agricultural production in Kwara.
Mr Onno Ruhl, the country director in Nigeria, disclosed this when he visited Gov. Bukola Saraki at Government House, Ilorin.
He said the World Bank had an agreement and intervention programmes with the state government in the areas of agriculture, health and education.
The country director added that some money would also be spent on community development and fadama projects.
Ruhl explained that the World Bank was trying to develop strategy to solve the food crisis in the country and support the president's seven point agenda.
According to him, people must be provided with basic infrastructure such as education, stable electricity, agriculture inputs and improved health care system to effectively fight poverty.
Responding, Saraki said that his administration had been trying to reposition the state through private - government partnership initiative.
He said that the current food crisis be a blessing in disguise because it had underlined the need to provide enough incentives for farmers for increased agricultural production.
The governor observed that food production could not be increased in a situation whereby farmers depend solely on rainfall. Saraki also advocated more government assistance, including accessibility of farmers to soft loans from commercial banks.
