Kagara, Niger State

Kagara
—  Town  —
Kagara
Location in Nigeria
Coordinates:
Country  Nigeria
State Niger State
Time zone WAT (UTC+1)
3-digit postal code prefix 922

Kagara is a community in Niger State, Nigeria, the headquarters of the Rafi Local Government Area.

Kagara is part of the Niger South Senatorial district, and is the seat of the Kagara Emirate.[1] The other two major emirates in the state are the Minna Emirate and the Suleja Emirate, each of which expect political representation in the state if not at the national level.[2] Early in 2010 the state government sacked the chairman of the local government area and set up a commission of inquiry to probe the council's financial undertakings during his term in office. In December 2010, a Minna High Court ordered his reinstatement.[3]

The town has a talc processing plant.[4] Construction of a dam was initiated in 1979 for a sum of N5 billion.[5] The Federal University of Technology, Minna carried out the Environmental Impact assessment for the Upper Niger River Basin and Rural Development Authority (UNRBDA).[6] About N3 billion had been paid by February 2002, when the Minister of Water Resources, Muktar Shagari, gave the contractor a deadline to complete the dam by December that year.[5] In February 2004 the Minister of State for Water Resources, Mr. Bashr Ishola Awotorebo visited the dam site, and as a result called the contractor to account for delays in the project.[7] In August 2004, while presenting 500 hand pumps from the Federal Government to the Niger State Governor, Abdulkadir Kure, Mukhtar Shagari said the dam project could be doomed due to non-approval of the budgetary allocation.[8] In August 2007, Bala Kuta of the All Nigeria Peoples Party, a National House of Assembly representative, pledged to help with the dam project.[9]

Remains of the iron age Nok culture have been found at Kagara, which lies at the far northwest end of the zone of Nok culture.[10]

References

  1. ^ Jide Orintunsin (2010-04-20). "Battle of the emirates in Niger". The Nation. http://thenationonlineng.net/web2/articles/43647/1/Battle-of-the-emirates-in-Niger/Page1.html. Retrieved 2011-01-11. 
  2. ^ Dipo Laleye (21 June 2010). "2010: Can IBB’s ambition upset calculations in Niger?". Nigerian Tribune. http://www.tribune.com.ng/index.php/politics/7059-2010-can-ibbs-ambition-upset-calculations-in-niger. Retrieved 2011-01-11. 
  3. ^ Aideloje Ojo (19 December 2010). "Court orders Niger to reinstate sacked Rafi Council boss". People's Daily. http://www.peoplesdaily-online.com/news/national-news/1465-court-orders-niger-to-reinstate-sacked-rafi-council-boss. Retrieved 2011-01-11. 
  4. ^ "Mandate". Raw Materials Research and Development Council. http://www.rmrdc.gov.ng/about-rmrdc/mandate. Retrieved 2011-01-11. 
  5. ^ a b Wole Mosadomi (14 February 2002). "Kagara Dam to Be Completed This Year - Shagari". Vanguard. http://allafrica.com/stories/200203140690.html. Retrieved 2011-01-11. 
  6. ^ "History". Federal University of Technology, Minna. http://www.futminna.edu.ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=85&Itemid=81. Retrieved 2011-01-11. 
  7. ^ Juliana Taiwo (25 February 2004). "Minister Summons Kagara Dam Contractor". ThisDay. http://allafrica.com/stories/200402250290.html. Retrieved 2011-01-11. 
  8. ^ Jide Orintunsin (2004-08-13). "Kagara Dam Project Jinxed - Shagari". http://news.biafranigeriaworld.com/archive/2004/aug/13/100.html. Retrieved 2011-01-11. 
  9. ^ "Kuta Pledges to Assist in Dam Development". ThisDay. 12 August 2007. http://allafrica.com/stories/200708130793.html. Retrieved 2011-01-15. 
  10. ^ William Fagg, Herbert List (1990). Nigerian images. National Commission for Museums & Monuments. p. 24. ISBN 0853315663.