By Shuaibu Zubair Tatu, Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi state government has budgeted N650 million for rehabilitation of dilapidated structures and road for the 2020 Argungu international fishing festival slated for March 2020
The Commissioner of Works and Transport, Alhaji Abubakar Chika-Ladan, disclosed this after State Executive Council Meeting in Birnin Kebbi yesterday.
” The state government has budgeted N650 million for the rehabilitation of dilapidated structures ,road and others for the 2020 Argungu international fishing festival slated for March 2020 ”, he said.
He explained that the rehabilitation of structures including repairs of the main Festival Village ‘ Matan Fada’, venue of the ‘ Kabanci ‘ display, accommodation at the fishing village and the Grand Fishing Hotel as well as access roads within Argungu especially roads leading to the event site were ongoing to meet the deadline.
Ladan stated that a World Press Conference would soon be held in Abuja while a delegation from the state would brief the Minister of Information and Culture on the events as well as formal invitation to Mr. President , Muhammadu Buhari who will be the Special Guest of Honor at the event .
He said the Chairman of the main organizing committee, Deputy Governor, Alhaji Samaila Yombe Dabai has travelled to Abuja to make the necessary contacts with relevant stakeholders and brief them on the preparations so far made about the festival.
The commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Mamuda Warrah in his remarks said the council was concerned by the threat of expected rainfall in few months to come and Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has directed the Ministry of Works to quickly appraise roads and culverts threatened by the coming rains and erosion.
Warrah said ” the governor has also directed members of the executive council to go back and look at their ministry’s structures so that effective measures could be taken to address them before the raining season sets in.
The Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Muktar Umar Bunza in his remarks disclosed that Federal University of Agriculture Zuru is an upgrade of a former College of Agriculture in which a special unit has been established in university, making it possible for all current students to graduate.
Bunza stated that 439 academic and non-academic staff of the College of Agriculture, Zuru would be retained by the Federal University of Agriculture.
The commissioner said based on the submission made, the state government would provide the land, adding that it would also allow the state-owned college to serve as take-off site for the university. saying that the college currently has 700 students.
