The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • NDA gets Research Adviser

    NDA gets Research Adviser

    The Centre for the Study of Leadership and Complex Military Operations, Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna has appointed Ekpa Stanley Ekpa as Senior Leadership Advisor and Research Fellow at the Centre.

    In a letter dated November 20, the Director of the Centre, Dr. Bem Audu noted that the appointment is based on Ekpa’s scholarship, leadership credentials and commitment to public good.

    He also stated: “He is required to provide technical expertise, informed insights and provide timely policy advice on how the Centre can achieve its established mandate and on matters relating to a range of leadership, security and development issues for national development.

    “As a research fellow, he is expected to “bring leading-edge thinking, contribute to scholarly research and ensure evidence-based approaches” to his methodologies.”

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    The Centre for the Study of Leadership and Complex Military Operations, NDA, was established and mandated for the purpose of research and to also serve as a think tank factory. The Centre’s research, lectures and publications are in the area of leadership, complex military operation, development and national security.

    Ekpa Stanley Ekpa is a lawyer and leadership consultant. He attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS)’s Policy, Strategy and Leadership Course in 2021, holds a Master’s degree in Leadership Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy, MSc in Political Economy, and a law degree from Obafemi Awolowo University.

    As a Partner at Plan Partners, he has extensive experience advising public and private institutions on a wide range of constitutional, governance, infrastructure, development, enterprise and regulatory responsibilities.

  • Troops kill four terrorists, recover 57 rustled cows in Zamfara

    Troops kill four terrorists, recover 57 rustled cows in Zamfara

    Troops of the Joint Task Force North-West Operation Hadarin Daji have killed four terrorists in Zamfara State during a coordinated clearance operation.

    The operation was conducted at some identified terrorists’ hideouts at Tazame, Mashema, Gandaya, Maje, Doka villages and surrounding forest in Gandaya village of Bungudu Local Government.

    This was disclosed in a statement yesterday by the spokesperson for Operation Hadarin Daji, Captain Yahaya Ibrahim, saying an unconfirmed number of terrorists escaped with gunshot wounds in the latest clearance operation.

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    “The troops have recovered 57 rustled cattle, military camouflage uniforms, sleeping kits and nine hundred thousand naira (cash) from the terrorists’ enclaves,” he said.

    “All the identified terrorists’ enclaves and makeshift camps were destroyed instantly during the operation.”

  • NAHCON to review guidelines for medical team

    NAHCON to review guidelines for medical team

    The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in a bid to promote transparency and reposition the activities of the National Medical Team yesterday inaugurated a 15-member Committee to review the operation of the team for next year’s Hajj.

    Acting Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Malam Jalal Arabi, said some of the process and procedure have become archaic and obsolete.

    According to him, “The National Medical Team is so important in the performance of Hajj activities. It is fairly disturbing that some of its process and procedure needs to be tinker with, if we must achieve better results. We need to inject new ideas in the way its tasks is been implemented as some of its process and procedure have become archaic and obsolete.

    “As with all human endeavour, the team have faced overwhelming challenges. Therefore, we need to think outside the box and explore other ways. Through adventurous, but it is the only way we can reposition their activities”

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    The NAHCON chief, who expressed his trust and confidence in the committee members, advised them to be flexible and follow the extant regulations/guidelines.

    “In tinkering with the guidelines, please take cognizance of the extant rules so that we can achieve maximum results. With your expertise, background and disposition; and having proven yourself in the past, so much is expected from you and I believe you won’t fail us,” he said.

    Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Saidu Dumbulwa, assured that the team would come up with robust, comprehensive and simple guidelines that will ensure that Nigerian pilgrims are served satisfactorily.

    The committee which has two weeks to submit its recommendations is to evaluate the effectiveness and identify the shortcomings in the current National Medical Team guidelines; to analyze and assess the roles of relevant stakeholders and their key contributions in the context of operations among others.

  • Fintiri reconciles feuding police, military operatives

    Fintiri reconciles feuding police, military operatives

    Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has reconciled police and military personnel who engaged in bloody confrontations on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

    The governor called an emergency meeting on Wednesday night where the state Commissioner of Police, Afolabi Babatola and Commander of the 23 Armoured Brigade Yola, Brigadier General Gambo Mohammed committed themselves to a peaceful inter-agency relationship.

    Addressing journalists after the emergency security meeting which took place at the Government House, Yola, Governor Fintiri said the security heads in the state had vowed to work in synergy for the interest of Adamawa and Nigeria.

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    The governor said both the military and police lost one officer each and others sustained injuries.

    He said: “We are just coming out of the state high command strategic meeting where all the issues between the two concerned state commands were discussed extensively and resolved. We all agreed that our common concern should be the peace and security of the state.

    “We have taken note of the men on both sides that lost their lives and those who were injured. The understanding now is that the heads of the sister security agencies are on top of their men and this kind of thing will not happen again.”

    He called for restraint among all security agents, assuring all citizens that they were safe to go about their normal businesses.

  • Barau offsets N1.45m cancer treatment billfor undergraduate

    Barau offsets N1.45m cancer treatment billfor undergraduate

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, has paid the medical and surgery bills of a 30-year-old Kano State indigene and Master of Science student who has been battling cancer.

    Abdurrabah Idris Yahaya, a resident of Bankaura/S.Doka area of Ungogo Local Government of Kano State, who had been receiving treatment from home, went viral on social media, seeking assistance following medical doctors’ advice that he undergo surgery.

    Worried by Abdurrabah’s situation and the urgency of the doctors’ advice, the Deputy Senate President sent a delegation with the sum of N1.45 million to offset his medical and surgery bills.

    Represented by his Chief of Staff, Prof Muhammad Ibn Abdullahi, Senator Barau expressed concern over the health condition of the student who is a beneficiary of his Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme.

    While urging the patient and his family to remain prayerful, as every illness is the will of Allah, Senator Barau prayed for the quick recovery of the student, according to a statement by his Special Advocate on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, in Abuja.

    “The Deputy President of the Senate is deeply worried since he heard about the situation of this young, talented man’s health. As such, he sent us the sum of N1,450,000 as required by the doctors for his surgery.

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    “Strengthen your faith in Almighty God, Abdurrabah will be okay by the grace of Allah,” he said.

    He reiterated the commitment of Senator Barau to supporting people in education, health, and other areas for the development of society irrespective of their constituents, region, or state.

    While appreciating the Senator, the mother of the patient, Malama Halima Haruna, who could not hold back her tears, said she had no words other than prayers for the Senator.

    Speaking on her behalf, Abdurrabah’s elder sister, Nafisa Idris Yahaya, said they had been pleading for support from people, but Senator Barau has by his financial assistance, wiped away their tears.

    “We received the sum of N1,450,000 from the Deputy President of the Senate. In the past, Senator Barau had paid for his scholarship for a master’s degree.

    “Here he is again, assisting our family. We have been looking for where to get money for the surgery, but today is our happiest day. We appreciate him for this. May Almighty Allah reward him abundantly,” she said.

  • Tinubu inaugurates 15 motorised boreholes in Benue communities

    Tinubu inaugurates 15 motorised boreholes in Benue communities

    President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated motorised bole holes in Benue communities.

    Performing the ceremony, the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mr Zaphaniah Jisalo, who represented the President said the boreholes were funded by the National Lottery Trust Fund.

    He said the agency had built a total of 19 motorised boreholes across the country adding that 15 of them were located in Tarka and Gboko local government areas of Benue State.

    “Let me commend the management of the Trust Fund for successfully delivering 19 motorized boreholes across the nation within the shortest possible time; these noble projects in water and sanitation will no doubt bring access to clean portable water closer to the beneficiaries, curb the spread of diseases, and improve the health of the benefiting communities,” he said.

    The minister appealed to the beneficiaries to own the projects and protect same for improved sanitation and hygiene.

    Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Dr Bello Maigari, congratulated the 15 benefiting communities.

    Maigari re-affirmed the agency’s commitment to continuation of the laudable programme until every community in dire need of portable water supply across the six geo-political zones of the country is reached.

    “The World Bank estimates that 70 million Nigerians lack access to safe drinking water. Nigeria has abundant water resources, but poor water management practices and inadequate infrastructure render most unfit for human consumption.

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    “This knowledge has further consolidated the agency’s initiative to provide the basic infrastructure needed to strengthen access to clean portable water which will in turn curb the spread of diseases and improve good health and wellbeing of the benefiting communities,” he said.

    Speaking to the representative of late JS Tarka family, Mr Moses Tarka, who is also the eldest son of Tarka Nanchi, said water remained their greatest challenge within the area.

    Tarka said that before the construction of the motorised borehole, people trek about two to three kilometres to access water that was not even clean.

    He said with the construction of the borehole, the whole area now have access to clean water and commended the Federal Government for remembering them.

    Also, the APC woman Leader, Tarka Local Government Area Mrs Grace Igbudu commended Sen George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) for facilitated the project to the area.

  • Kwara Gov visits military camp in Oro Ago, commends improved security in region

    Kwara Gov visits military camp in Oro Ago, commends improved security in region

    Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Wednesday visited the military troops involved in the Still Waters III exercise in Oro Ago town in Ifelodun local government where he commended the efforts of the 22 Brigade to improve security of lives and properties in the axis. 

    The Governor also visited the palace of the Oloro of Oro Ago Oba Johnson Olanrewaju Dada where he held a brief meeting with the monarch. 

    AbdulRazaq expressed satisfaction on the quality of job done on the Orisa bridge, which is now near completion.

    He said the bridge would replace the colonial passage erected on the Omu Aran-Oro Ago road since the 1940s, thereby ending decades of anxieties on the fate of the people during raining season.

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    “I am truly impressed with the pace of the work. This is Orisa bridge and you can see the old one (colonial bridge). The team lead is Engr Daramola, a pioneer engineer in the State Ministry of Works. I am impressed. It is part of the infrastructural development of the state that we have embarked upon,” he told reporters on the embankment of the bridge. 

    “The old bridge was built in the 1940s. The new one is a great leap in our infrastructural development. We will continue to dig deep and do more.”

    This comes two days after AbdulRazaq visited Igbaja and Ora communities to touch base with the people and to inspect ongoing projects. 

    The Governor, who noted the excellent synergy among all the security agencies, said the military presence in the axis and many other areas of the state has helped to consolidate security efforts as criminals now have no where to hide — an appraisal backed by the Oloro who said “we sleep with our eyes closed”. 

    “We paid visit to this camp to thank the Nigerian Army. You know internal security is not exactly their work. But they are doing a yeoman’s job to make the country and Kwara safe. We appreciate what they are doing here. We will continue to support their activities,” the Governor told reporters at the Step Up Headquarters of the 22 Armoured Brigade of the exercise Still Waters III. 

    “It is a camp outside Ilorin to make sure they have boots on the ground and make sure they secure the whole state by not sitting down in the state capital and wait for intelligence. They are out here to deter any criminals from having a base here.”

    Brigade Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade Sobi Brigadier General AbdulRahman Babalola, who conducted the Governor round the base, commended the Governor for his support for the operation. 

    “I want to thank His Excellency the state governor for his support and proactiveness in everything that concerns security in Kwara State. We have received tremendous support from him,” he said. 

    “Since we deployed to this location, the security situation has improved tremendously. Like His Excellency said, we cannot just sit down in Ilorin while other areas have no security presence. We have deployed in Yikpata, Patigi, Kaiama, Kosubosu (and a few others) to ensure that the state of harmony remains harmonious.”

    The Oloro, for his part, said the exercise has boosted peaceful living in the area. 

    “We thank God. Since the Military personnel have been here, we’ve been enjoying peace. We’ve been sleeping well. In fact those people coming to the market who used to be afraid of security situation are now telling themselves that Oro-ago is free and peaceful for business transactions. So we no longer have problem. And the Military operatives are really performing. They go up and down day and night,” the monarch said. 

    “We thank the Kwara State Government for assisting us in this area. We also thank the military officers for doing their job perfectly.”

  • Agric: Niger govt, German firm sign MoU on comprehensive farm estate

    Agric: Niger govt, German firm sign MoU on comprehensive farm estate

    Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago of Niger State has signed an agreement with the management of Sun Farming in Germany.

    The agreement was centered on establishing a comprehensive farm estate in the State.

    Under the arrangement, the investors is expected to construct the Comprehensive Farm Estate which will encompass several key areas.

    According to Governor Bago, the Farm Estate will serve as an educational hub, offering training and resources related to agriculture and sustainable practices.

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    Furthermore, it will include a crossing center to assist newcomers and integrate them into the community.

    The proposed Farm Estate will also focus on energy, likely incorporating renewable energy sources to power its operations sustainably.

    He added that a substantial aspect of this initiative is food security, gearing toward producing and distributing food locally to ensure a stable food supply.

  • Army records zero-banditry, kidnapping in Kano, says Gen. Are

    Army records zero-banditry, kidnapping in Kano, says Gen. Are

    The Brigade Commander, 3 Mechanized Brigade, Bukavu, Brig-Gen. Jamiu Are,  said the Nigerian Army has recorded zero-cases of banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities within Kano city and its environ.

    The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that Are was speaking while receiving the members of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Garko yesterday.

    He said they were able to sustain peace in Kano as a result of the Joint Security Taskforce put in place to confront any form of security threat within its area of supervision.

    Are said: “In Kano, the synergy we have with other security agencies has yielded positive results and it has continued to make it easy for us to keep the state safer than ever before. With the level of cooperation and understanding of the people in terms of intelligence gathering, put work has made much more easier.

    “Before now, we have serious issues with local government areas with boundaries with Katsina, Bauchi and other bandits-infested states.

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    “However, due to the intelligence gathering and synergy, we have succeeded in ensuring peace in those places.”

    He said their activities at Falgore forest had effectively checked the influx of non-state actors into Kano and its environs while travellers on the route were plying the roads without any fear.

    The commanding officer explained that the military’s main job was to ensure the protection of lives and properties, adding, “in Kano where it is our jurisdiction we will ensure that the state remains peaceful.”

    Earlier, Garko said they were ready to partner with the military and other security agencies on information dissemination.

    Garko commended Are for doing his possible best to make Kano more peaceful, adding, “the mission of the media mission is development not destruction.”

  • Bauchi Gov: we’ve borrowed N100b in four years

    Bauchi Gov: we’ve borrowed N100b in four years

    Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed yesterday said his administration has secured a total of N100 billion in loans since assuming office in 2019.

    He emphasized that over N90 billion of these funds were allocated to infrastructural projects, with additional allocations directed to the education and health sectors.

    Speaking at the State Executive Council meeting, the governor explained that infrastructural projects alone gulped over N90 billion.

    He assured transparency in the utilization of funds, expressing a commitment to repaying every borrowed kobo.

    He also highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance service delivery, urging Commissioners to prioritize their responsibilities and endorsing the signing of performance bonds.

    Mohammed said: “You can see the projects and programs, we are just starting. We have borrowed N100 billion and today, the projects alone for the infrastructures getting to N90 billion plus.

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    “Of course, we are going to save some for education and health. We are saving from the little money we are getting from the Federal Government so that we can leverage this loan to do infrastructure alone. You should be aware of this. We are not thieves, we are not here to take anything out of the system, we want to take back every kobo.

    “This is our third Executive Council meeting since we came back for a second term. Our attitude to work is to make sure that we make a difference.

    “Bauchi State is our major concern and we have no misgivings against anybody. Of course, there are distractions here and there but we will not allow ourselves to be distracted.”