The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Group urges Gov. Sule to probe alleged sales of Nasarawa Lagos Liaison Office

    Group urges Gov. Sule to probe alleged sales of Nasarawa Lagos Liaison Office

    Nasarawa indigenes residing in Lagos State under the auspices of Nasarawa State Development Association have called on Governor Abdullahi Sule to launch a thorough and transparent investigation into the purported sales of the Nasarawa State Liaison Office in Lagos.

    According to the group, the building which is situated at Plot 1234 Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos was allegedly sold by a former Governor. 

    In an open letter to Governor Sule, Chairman, Nasarawa State Development Association, Alhaji Musa Ikushigya, expressed shock at the barbaric and ruthless, manner in which members of the group were dehumanised by police operatives at the premises in the guise of evicting illegal occupants.

    “Your Excellency Sir, you may wish to know that Nasarawa State Development Association holds you in high esteem with a deep sense of respect and trust, considering your ethical principles of integrity, character, and honesty.

    “However, the recent development in the premises of the liaison office involving our members gives us shivers of concern and a reason for a reassessment of your integrity and our trust and confidence in you.”

    Alhaji Musa Ikushigya reminded Sule he assured the group he would not allow the sales of the edifice to stand while campaigning. 

    Read Also: Herdsmen attacks: Sad memories of lost loved ones as displaced villagers return home in Nasarawa

    “More disturbing is the fact that due process of public procurement procedure was not even followed in the alleged sale of the property, and no payment whatsoever can be traceable to that effect,” he added.

    Another chieftain of the group, Sunday Alidzi said Nasarawa indigenes in Lagos state would resist any move to sell the property.

    “This property holds significant importance to the Nasarawa State community in Lagos, serving as a symbol of our state’s presence and influence in the economic capital city. We repulse this gross misconduct and are ready to defend our collective assets with all our strength,” he added.

    Danladi Ojito, another top member of the Nasarawa State Development Association, Lagos State Chapter, called on Sule to take immediate action to ensure the protection of the property at the liaison office and the safeguarding of the indigenes therein to avert further harassment until the investigation is concluded.

  • Clerics preach against disaffection in Kano

    Clerics preach against disaffection in Kano

    Prominent Islamic scholars in the North have frowned at the outcome of Kano State governorship election tribunal and urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to thread softly.

    The clerics described the judgment as a subversion of the will of the people, which was freely given to Governor  Abba  Kabir.

    In a statement, Sheik Ahmed  Musa  advised  President Bola   Ahmed Tinubu  not to give in to the antics of some top ranking members of the  opposition.

    “We are calling on President  Tinubu not to yield to the antics of prominent members of the opposition who are trying to subvert the will of the people by snatching Kano which they clearly lost through the judiciary,” he said.

    Read Also: How NNPP, gov’s supporters drove us out of Kano – Tribunal Judges

    According to the clerics, the people of Kano State resoundingly voted for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) .

    It added that “The reasonable thing to do is for members of the APC to wait for another four years to prepare and test their popularity rather than fomenting trouble.”

    The clerics stated that having studied the judgment of the tribunal, they are convinced that an elaborate scheme has been put in motion to snatch the state from the NNPP.

    Sheik Ahmed  Guruntu lamented that the electorate who defied everything on election day to elect Abba were shortchanged by the pronouncement of the tribunal.

    Sheikh Atiku Abubakar Isah said  Governor  Kabir defeated  Nasir Gawuna and there  is no reason, no need to go to the tribunal.

    “We all know the importance of Kano to the socio-political and economic life of the North. This is so because the state remains the barometer upon which the average Northerner guage the prevailing tempo of the country.

    \”We call on our politicians to order and not to set the North and by extension the country on fire,”

  • Yobe Assembly Committee probes Nguru LG chairman

    Yobe Assembly Committee probes Nguru LG chairman

    The Yobe State House of Assembly’s Standing Committee on Petition, Human Rights, and Security recently embarked on a fact-finding mission in Nguru, in response to a petition filed by residents of Unguwar Ramin Birki in the Tsohon Nguru ward against the Local Government Chairman.

    The petition, endorsed by 41 concerned residents, accuses the chairman of violating their fundamental human rights. The chairman reportedly initiated a water drainage project that encroached upon their properties without fair compensation or consultation.

    Read Also: 1,000 Yobe flood victims get N100,000 each

    According to the petitioners, the project caused more harm than good due to its improper execution.

    Prompted by this petition, the House Committee visited Nguru town to assess the claims firsthand. On Monday, September 18, 2023, they met with residents at the Tsohon Nguru residential quarters of Nguru Local Government.

    Several affected individuals shared their experiences with the Committee, urging justice to prevail. The Chairman of the House Committee on Petition, Human Rights, and Security, Hon. Ya’u Usman Dachia, who also serves as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, was accompanied by Hon. Hassan Mohammed and Hon. Bulama Bukar during the visit.

    Hon. Dachia assured the residents that the Committee’s presence aimed to verify their claims, and they would report back to the House for further action, promising that justice would be served to all parties involved.

  • Grant fresh interview to reveal your role in Zangon-Kataf crisis, community tells Lekwot

    Grant fresh interview to reveal your role in Zangon-Kataf crisis, community tells Lekwot

    The Zango Urban Community Development Association (ZOCUDA), a Hausa/Fulani community in the Zangon-Kataf local government area of Kaduna State, has cautioned General Zamani Lekwot to grant a fresh interview revealing the role he played in the 1992 Zangon-Kataf crisis.

    The community in its reaction to a recent interview granted Daily Trust newspaper by  General Lekwot, pointed out that he was among the indicted culprits that got pardoned in the crisis.

    The group, therefore, cautioned Lekwot to desist from granting distorted interviews on the crisis if he is not ready to reveal what actually transpired, adding that, “the biased” interview he recently granted to justify heinous crimes committed against Hausa/Fulani members of the community in the 1992 crisis, of which he played a role, only opens the wound of the past and recalls the trauma and sorrow suffered by the victims and their families.  

    Challenging Gen. Lekwot to bring his witness about the market he said was the cause of the crisis, Acting Chairman, Board of Trustees of ZOCUDA, Ibrahim Bisallah, said the purported site was an empty land without any infrastructure and no single stall was built by the authority concerned. But relocation was announced impromptu in order to achieve what he described as an ethnic agenda by the then Chairman of the Local Government Area. 

    The ZOCUDA challenged General Lekwot to conduct another round of interviews to tell the world the “honest and humble truth,” adding that contrary to Gen. Lekwot’s “false” assertion in the interview, the 1992 Zangon Kataf crisis started as a result of the relocation of a new market, which led to an attack on the Atyap community which the General failed to mention its name and the number of casualties. There are enough records in ZOCUDA archives to enlighten the public of the roles played by all the parties, the group claimed.

    Read Also: Rice farmers hail appointment of Perm Sec in Kaduna ministry

    According to Bisallah, General Lekwot needs to go for counselling on human relations and psychology and desist from granting an interview on the Zangon-Kataf crisis of 1992 because the more he speaks of it, the more he reawakens the trauma and sorrow of the victims.

    He argued that not only were General Lekwot’s responses uncoordinated, but they resonated with deliberate mischief, distortion of facts and misinformation. “As you rightly stated, you were tried, convicted and pardoned, but you were wrong in claiming you were framed for a crime you never committed. For somebody of your standing, a retired General belonging to a clique in Nigeria that is hardly caught on the wrong side of the law, if you were not culpable, the truth would have set you free. The world would have come to your rescue. You would not have been indicted by a Commission of Enquiry and Tribunal both headed by Christians like you. 

    “The people of Zangon Kataf especially the Hausa-Fulani Community would like to wonder what exactly you set out to achieve by this interview at this critical time when the nation is in a desperate search for peaceful co-existence among its people in the face of the protracted insecurity…especially in Zangon Kataf, Southern Kaduna and Kaduna State in general. 

    “Perhaps it could have been an opportunity for you to tender an unreserved apology to the widows, the orphans and the relatives of the hundreds that were maimed and killed as well as the tens of thousands of the Hausa/Fulani you and your kinsmen displaced and sent out as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in a continuing onslaught that has lasted about 31 years,” he said. 

  • Sani outlines security plan for safer Kaduna

    Sani outlines security plan for safer Kaduna

    Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has outlined his administration’s blueprint for building peace, tackling insecurity and ensuring a safer Kaduna State.

    The governor spoke as the guest of honour at a symposium organised by the Kaduna Peace Commission, at Kaduna State University, to commemorate the 2023 International Day of Peace with the theme “Call for Action: #GlobalGoals.”

    The governor who was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Peace and Conflict Resolution, Atiku Isaac Sankey, said his administration is bolstering the security architecture of the state with the recruitment of 7,000 additional vigilantes to join the existing 2,000 vigilantes in the Kaduna Vigilance Service for a community policing model that complements the efforts of national security agencies.

    Read Also: Troops nab murderer of Dorathy Jonathan in Southern Kaduna

    He added that the administration will deepen dialogue among the diverse communities in the state by strengthening the platforms that allow for open, frank, and honest discussions that are essential in addressing issues of concern.

    Addressing the gathering, the Governor’s representative said “Citizen engagement lies at the heart of Governor Uba Sani’s administration. Through town hall meetings, public consultations, and grassroots initiatives, we will create avenues for meaningful participation and input from our citizens.

    He added that Governor Uba Sani’s administration recognises the invaluable role played by the traditional institutions that serve as vital links between the government and the people, and their knowledge and wisdom are invaluable in maintaining peace and security.

    Sankey further said to truly address insecurity and build sustainable peace, Governor Sani firmly believes in the importance of human capital development, inclusiveness, and poverty eradication adding that these pillars form the foundation upon which the administration’s peace-building efforts stand.

  • Sule kicks off distribution of farm inputs to 8,200 farmers in Nasarawa

    Sule kicks off distribution of farm inputs to 8,200 farmers in Nasarawa

    Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, yesterday kicked off the distribution of farm inputs and assets to 8,200 farmers from across the state, under the Nasarawa State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (N-CARES) programme.

    The Governor said N-CARES is providing 4,000 farmers with an input package of herbicide, fertilizer and 4,000kg of sesame seeds to support them with climate-smart agricultural inputs to increase farm yield and livelihoods.

    He added that N-CARES is also providing 4,200 farmers with an asset package of sprayer, rain boot, hand glove and nose mask to serve as Personal Protective Equipment in line with global best practices.

    He commended the N-CARES for the provision of farm inputs to support local farmers in order to improve yield and boost agricultural production for food security and value-chain addition in the country.

    “As you may be aware, the NG-CARES programme was designed to serve as a response to the hardship occasioned by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic which affected the global economy over the years.

    “It is also intended to provide support in the form of grants to the poor and vulnerable households, with a view to enhance access to livelihoods and other social services,” he stated.

    Read Also: Tinubu woos Nigerians in U.S. to invest back home

    He emphasized that the Nasarawa State N-CARES programme is focused on agriculture because agriculture remains the mainstay of the economy of the state, with over 80 percent of the population engaging in one form of farming activity or the other.

    The Governor used the opportunity to announce that his administration has approved for the immediate procurement and distribution of fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers, in addition to other farm inputs which are being distributed towards delivering the objectives enshrined in the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS).

    Commissioner of Finance, Munirat Abdullahi, described the event as a turning point in the state government’s commitment to supporting agriculture while  recognizing that a thriving agricultural sector is vital for the prosperity of the people and the growth of the state’s economy, as well as growing the IGR of the state.

    NG-CARES state coordinator, Umar Dahiru Ibrahim, said his agency has so far impacted on 100 beneficiaries.

  • I’m committed to peace, protection human rights, says Alia

    I’m committed to peace, protection human rights, says Alia

    Benue state Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has stated that the government is committed to peaceful coexistence and the protection of human rights, offering hope for the future of Benue and Nigeria.

    Governor Alia stated this yesterday during the occasion to mark the International Day of Peace.

    The Governor, who described peace as not merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of harmony, understanding, and justice, explained that his administration has institutionalized a framework to support peace-building and peace enforcement initiatives in the state.

    Read Also: Former governors, firms, others lose choice land in Abuja

    He added that he has been interfacing with a plethora of local and international organizations, including agencies of the United Nations, with the aim of establishing a robust foundation for peace in the state.

    He said his administration has equally strengthened the state’s Commission for Peace and Reconciliation, to serve as the main instrument for the actualization of the peace framework, adding that several peace initiatives, including that of creating the right atmosphere for the return and resettlement of internally displaced persons in the state as well as ways of reducing violent conflicts are been considered.

    He said traditional rulers and Community-Based Organizations, as well as other critical stakeholders in peace building have all been carried along in the efforts to foster peace in the state, explaining that keen attention has been given to conflict hotspots in Ukum, Oju, Konshisha and Gwer  as well as at border areas such as Ebonyi and Cross River,  in order to create an environment conducive for growth and development.

    While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for working assiduously with relevant partners and stakeholders with the aim of ensuring peace in Nigeria, the governor called on the international community to lend their invaluable support to the state, through technical expertise, financial contributions as well as by sharing best practices that will not only resolve conflicts in the state and country, but will also prevent their recurrence.

  • Local govt polls: Borno APC begins sale of forms

    Local govt polls: Borno APC begins sale of forms

    Ahead of January local government election in Borno, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has commenced sales of Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms for chairmanship and councillorship elections.

    According to a statement by the State Publicity Secretary, Malam Makinta Zarami, the sales which commenced on September 20, would end on September 28.

    “Interested party members are advised to obtain the form within the stipulated time as there will be no room for an extension,” Zarami said.

    Read Also: Shaibu’s Govt House office reallocated

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC) had on Aug. 2 released a time table for the council election.

    According to the election time table by BOSIEC, parties are to submit a list of nominated candidates on October 16 for screening and final display of cleared candidates on November 19.

    Election campaign by parties is to commence from November 28 to January 18, 2024, and the election is scheduled for January 20.

  • N/East elders hail onslaught against terrorists

    N/East elders hail onslaught against terrorists

    The North-East Elders for Restoration (NEER), a pressure group has hailed the ongoing military clearance operations nationwide, especially against Boko Haram/Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.

    The group gave the commendation in a statement by its president, Mallam Bello Katagum and Secretary, Alhaji Sani Sanusi, yesterday in Abuja.

    They also declared their support for the appointment of Gen. Christopher Musa as Chief of Defence Staff and expressed confidence that Nigeria would witness improved security with the military under his command.

    The group said the North East region witnessed improved security when Gen. Musa was the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai theatre.

    They said it was during Musa’s tenure that displaced persons in the region began to return to their various means of livelihood as a result of intense military operations against terrorists.

    According to the group, the region also witnessed a large number of terrorists and their family members surrendering to troops of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

    Read Also: Tinubu woos Nigerians in U.S. to invest back home

    “We are, therefore, not surprised that he has begun to replicate these attributes as the Chief of Defence Staff. No matter the noise from the terrorists and bandits, we are rest assured that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is in good hands.

    “Very soon, Nigerians will begin to rejoice over the enemies who don’t want us to leave in peace. During his time as the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Gen. Musa was thorough, didn’t side with any religion and gave the terrorists a hard time,” they said.

    The elders also commended the military for the enhanced synergy between the services and other security agencies, saying it had produced positive results across the country.

    They urged Nigerians to continue to support the military to ensure their sacrifices for peace and stability would not be in vain.

  • Stakeholders seek review of WASH policy

    Stakeholders seek review of WASH policy

    Stakeholders in the water, environment and health sector have called for a standard stand-alone Sanitation and Hygiene Policy to address the poor sanitation situation in the country.

    They also called for a review of the current national Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) policy to be in tune with current realities.

    The stakeholders made the call during a validation meeting on the Situation Assessment of Sanitation and Hygiene Policies at the National Level in Abuja.

    Technical Expert of the organisation, Kabiru Abass noted that many policies from years back had prioritised the provision of water supply, thereby relegating the crucial role of scaling up sanitation and hygiene.

    He said sanitation interventions ought to be done in an integrated manner so as to gain traction and promote sustainable hygiene practices in the country.

    Abass said: “We recommend a standard and standalone sanitation and hygiene policy, we also recommend a review of the current National WASH policy 2000 to ensure that it aligns to all African Sanitation Policy core elements, other cross cutting issues.

    “We need to incorporate climate change into sanitation and hygiene policies as well as emergency preparedness plans so as to prevent casualties in the future.”

    He said a multi-disciplinary and inter-ministerial sanitation policy review committee should be established to coordinate the process of reviewing and developing the sanitation policy.

    Abass said there should also be a holistic sanitation and hygiene sub-sector funding mechanism in the reviewed sanitation policy, saying it should also elaborate on the roles of civil society organisations.

    The technical expert however called for renewed collaboration between all stakeholders so as to ensure that when the policies are formulated, implementation would be beneficial for the people.

    Head of WASH, WaterAid Nigeria, Nanpet Chuktu, said the activity was one of the organisation’s pillar in strengthening the system for multi-sectoral coordination and collaboration.

    Read Also: Former governors, firms, others lose choice land in Abuja

    Chuktu said the recommendations from the committee for a stand-alone policy, would allow all other phases of sanitation and hygiene to be considered.

    He said: “They are not jettisoning the old thing, but they are saying that if we have one policy that addresses sanitation and hygiene, we will be able to pick unique issues.

    “We see these as important because it will strengthen the sector, it will contribute to the National Action Plan, which is revitalising the sector, If you have the government to align the budget, we would see a reduction in duplicity.”

    Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Elizabeth Ugoh, said the report being validated aligned with the objectives of the African Sanitation Policy Guidelines (ASPG).

    Ugoh said it was critical to acknowledge the absence of a national, clear, coherent and stand-alone sanitation sector policy framework, saying this was a huge challenge.

    She said: “This lacuna has given rise to numerous issues, including overlapping functions, conflicting interventions, ineffective resource deployment, and inadequate monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.

    “A stand-alone sanitation policy is good for Nigeria, Because when you talk of sanitation, you talk of water and sanitation, for instance, look at our WASH accounts in Nigeria, there’s so much funding going into water, sanitation and hygiene is suffering.

    “And so if we have a stand-alone policy, this will help also to attract not just the government budgetary process, to bring in money into sanitation, donors will also see why we need to have more funding and be able to achieve good results in sanitation.”

    The director said the validation meeting was a critical milestone in the journey towards transforming Sanitation and Hygiene practices in Nigeria.

    She added that Nigeria needed to get it right when it comes to sanitation, saying a lot of things depended on it especially in the lives of the most vulnerable.

    The African Ministerial Council on Water (AMCOW) had developed the ASPG for member states to develop, review, and implement national sanitation and hygiene policies.

    It provided guidance to African governments to enhance or develop a clear and comprehensive sanitation policy that will pave the way for the development and implementation of large-scale national sanitation programmes.

    Fatoa and Associates Nigeria Limited, was engaged to carry out a review of existing sanitation policies at the national level.