The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Firm targets 40,000 youths in solar kiosk fabrication and assembly training

    Firm targets 40,000 youths in solar kiosk fabrication and assembly training

    A technology and innovation company, Elite Logistics and Development Services Limited, has announced plans to embark on a training programme for at least 40,000 youths in the North Central region of the country on the fabricating and use of its solar-powered kiosk, called Elite Smart Kiosk. 

    The training programme which commences in the last quarter of the year will have at least 1,000 beneficiary from each of the 36 States, including the FCT. 

    In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, Mr. David Adesanya, the Group Managing Director of the company, said this is a strategic plan by the organization to ensure that the youths end the year on a positive note, with a skill that will usher them into robust economic opportunity in the new year. 

    According to him, the solar-powered kiosk has a humongous economic value chain that can lift people from obscurity to prosperity, urging that governments, non-governmental organizations and MDAs should adopt it as an empowerment tool. 

    The solar kiosk, which is a compartment designed for diverse purposes, from mobile healthcare dispensary units to exhibition stands, unisex salons, convenience stores, display retail outlets, ICT booths, security centers, multimedia centers, barbing shops, POS banking services and more.

    Read Also: BBNaija and the evolution of Nigeria’s entertainment industry

    Several others opportunities are inherent in this empowerment scheme as people would be trained in all skills for local fabrication and construction of the Solar kiosk. Different fabricating process of setting up of the Smart solar kiosk will involve carpentry handwork, electric connections, solar panel installations and others which would be a form of employment through skill acquisition training, aimed at providing manpower engagements for Nigerian youths.

    Highlighting the advantages of the innovation, Mr. Adesanya said the Elite Smart Kiosk is efficiently reliable, powered by solar, aesthetically designed with low maintenance costs and supports direct employment and empowerment opportunities for young Nigerians. 

    He noted that it will provide solutions to political office holders, NGOs, philanthropists, humanitarian organizations, federal, state, and local governments, as well as notable personalities across Nigeria and Africa seeking means to revolutionize empowerment for the teeming unemployed youths in the country. 

    He added that young Nigerians of all ages, including 40 and above have no reason to fail as the solution they are looking for to unlock their potentials is available with this smart kiosk.

    According to him, the training programme will teach beneficiaries how the kiosk is constructed, depending on the peculiar purposes they could be used for. 

    He called on youths of Kogi, Benue, Niger, Plateau and Kwara to come out in their large numbers and take advantage of this great opportunity to economically empower themselves.

  • Group urges dialogue over NUPENG’s planned strike on Dangote Refinery operations

    Group urges dialogue over NUPENG’s planned strike on Dangote Refinery operations

    A citizens-led coalition, Mass Action Against Economic Saboteurs (MAAES), has called on the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) to reconsider its threat of a nationwide strike linked to the operations of Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

    In a statement issued on Saturday, the group’s president, George Priye West, appealed for dialogue, stressing that union membership remains a matter of individual choice as affirmed by law.

    NUPENG had earlier indicated that its Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch may stop nationwide fuel loading from September 8, citing concerns over the recruitment process of drivers at the refinery.

    According to MAAES, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery represents a major investment expected to create thousands of jobs, strengthen local capacity, and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel. 

    The group urged stakeholders to support the project rather than allow disagreements to disrupt fuel supply.

    West also appealed to the federal government and security agencies to ensure that no action undermines the stability of petroleum product distribution across the country.

    “The right to join a union is guaranteed, but equally, the right not to join must be respected. What is important is protecting jobs, ensuring fairness, and promoting national interest,” he said.

    The group further called on Nigerians to remain calm and continue their daily activities, expressing confidence that constructive dialogue among stakeholders would resolve the matter.

    MAAES reiterated its support for the refinery, describing it as a key step towards achieving national energy security and economic growth.

  • Viral video sparks debate on Zamfara security challenges

    Viral video sparks debate on Zamfara security challenges

    A viral video of Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, speaking on the security situation in the state has triggered wide debate on the challenges of tackling banditry.

    In the undated clip, where the governor spoke in Hausa, he explained that although his administration had procured 150 vehicles to support security agencies, he allegedly had no direct control over their deployment since such directives come from Abuja.

    Governor Lawal also noted that with the resources at his disposal, he could track the movement of bandits but stressed that addressing the crisis required greater coordination and authority over security operatives. 

    He expressed confidence that if given more control, the issue could be resolved within two months.

    “I swear to God wherever bandits are, we know. I know, I can show you on this phone wherever they are… I know, but we can do nothing,” he said. “If I am the one in power to give the directives, I swear this issue will come to an end in two months.”

    Zamfara has remained one of the states most affected by banditry in Nigeria, with rural communities facing recurring attacks. 

    On August 23, gunmen invaded Gamdum Mallam and Ruwan Rana villages in Bukkuyum Local Government Area, killing two people and abducting more than 100 residents. Earlier in the month, another incident in Kauran Namoda left 24 people dead, 16 injured, and over 140 kidnapped.

    Security experts say the video highlights the complexities of Nigeria’s security architecture, where state governors, though described as chief security officers of their states, lack direct control of security agencies.

    Dr. Usman Shehu, a Kaduna-based researcher on violent conflicts, said the governor’s remarks underscored the need for reforms that would allow closer collaboration between federal and state authorities.

    Meanwhile, discussions have reportedly begun at different levels of government on how to strengthen operations in Zamfara, with some suggesting a more coordinated national response to the crisis.

    Governor Lawal has yet to formally respond to the debate generated by the video, but expectations are high among residents that stronger measures will be taken to restore peace and security in the state.

  • Soldiers kill bandit in Kwara

    Soldiers kill bandit in Kwara

    • Recover bike, AK-47, others

    Soldiers from the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin on Wednesday killed one armed bandit around Lema-Daban Lema road of Edu Local Government Area of Kwara state.

    Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 22 Armoured Brigade Capt Stephen Nwankwo said one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine loaded with 30 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and a motorcycle were recovered from the hoodlums.

    “Troops were deployed at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Patigi, in Patigi Local Government Area of the state on fighting patrol within Gbugbu general area, ” Nwankwo said.

    READ ALSO; BBNaija and the evolution of Nigeria’s entertainment industry

    “At about 12:10 am, the vigilant troops following a credible human intelligence on movement of armed bandits along Lema-Daban Lema road, Edu LGA of the state conducted ambush and subsequently made contact with the miscreants from the ambush site. In the ensuing exchange of fire, the soldiers overpowered the criminals with superior firepower, forcing them to withdraw in disarray. During a subsequent exploitation along the bandits’ withdrawal route, the troops neutralised one bandit.”

    “The remains of the neutralised bandits have since been handed over to the appropriate authorities for further action. To intensify operations and employ all legitimate means to eradicate criminal elements while safeguarding the lives and property of law-abiding citizens within its joint operations area.”

  • Bauchi speaker to receive fellowship of Nigerian Institute of Management 

    Bauchi speaker to receive fellowship of Nigerian Institute of Management 

    The Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Suleiman, has been elevated to the prestigious rank of Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered).

    The elevation, approved by the Institute’s Council, was conveyed in a letter dated June 11, 2025, and signed by the Registrar/Chief Executive, Taiwo Ganiyat Olusesi. The Fellowship will be formally conferred on Suleiman on Monday, September 8, 2025, in Abuja.

    According to the Institute, the recognition is in honour of Suleiman’s contributions to the management profession, his commitment to good governance, and his service to civil society.

    “This unique award is conferred on members who have contributed to the development of the Institute, the management profession, and civil society at large,” the letter stated.

    As a Fellow, the Bauchi Speaker is expected to play an active role in the Institute’s Faculty of Fellows, where his expertise in governance and administration will be further utilized. The Fellowship grade is one of the highest professional honours of the Institute, reserved for individuals who have distinguished themselves in their careers and public service.

    READ ALSO: Epidemic looms in Lagos’ largest estate as re-commissioned water project fails

    Responding to the announcement, Rt. Hon. Suleiman described the recognition as both humbling and inspiring. 

    “This honour is not just for me but for the people of Bauchi State who entrusted me with leadership. It challenges me to do more in promoting ethical leadership, sound governance, and the growth of our management profession,” he said.

    Born on September 24, 1969, in Ningi, Bauchi State, Suleiman began his public service career in 1989 as a Confidential Secretary before rising through the administrative ranks in the Bauchi State Government. He later held senior positions at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, before retiring in 2018 to venture into politics.

    That same year, he was elected to the Bauchi State House of Assembly, where he has since set a record as the first three-term Speaker. He has also served as Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria and currently chairs its Committee on Constitution Review.

    Academically, Suleiman holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Maiduguri and a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Bayero University, Kano. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D.

    His achievements have earned him several recognitions, including a United Nations POLAC Honorary Doctorate in Social Justice and Peace Advocacy, the UN/Federal Ministry of Women Affairs HeForShe Award, as well as traditional titles such as Dangaladiman Ningi and Barden Kudun Katagum.

    The Fellowship award marks another milestone in Suleiman’s decades-long public service career and underscores his growing influence in shaping governance and professional standards in Nigeria.

  • Group urges ex-power minister Aliyu to join 2027 Yobe governorship race

    Group urges ex-power minister Aliyu to join 2027 Yobe governorship race

    The Abubakar D. Aliyu Movement for Good Governance, a grassroots advocacy group, has called on former Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, to contest the 2027 governorship election in Yobe State, describing him as “a bridge between experience and innovation” and “the steady hand required to sustain and deepen Governor Mai Mala Buni’s legacy.”

    In a statement by its coordinator, Mohammed Yusuf Ajiji, the group praised Yobe’s progress since its creation 34 years ago, noting that the state needs a leader who will strengthen and expand on the achievements of past administrations.

    The movement highlighted Aliyu’s record as minister of power, citing his role in boosting electricity generation, upgrading transmission networks, encouraging renewable energy investments, and institutionalising data-driven planning.

    Read Also: Women Affairs Minister charts pathway for inclusive growth at Gender and Inclusion Summit 2025

    It also credited him with key interventions in Yobe, including the Potiskum Power Substation upgrade, expansion of Fika Government School, construction of bridges in Nguru and Tandari, road projects, and provision of solar-powered boreholes and streetlights across several communities.

    Recalling his decade-long service as deputy governor, the group said Aliyu earned a reputation for humility, accessibility, and grassroots problem-solving.

    “Governor Buni has laid a solid foundation of peace, infrastructure and human capital development. What Yobe needs now is a successor who will not only protect these gains but scale them up into a new phase of inclusive growth. Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu is that successor,” the group declared.

    A Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and a member of COREN, Aliyu is a graduate of Civil and Water Resources Engineering from the University of Maiduguri.

    The group concluded by describing him as “an indispensable asset” whose experience and leadership are crucial for Yobe’s future.

  • Tinubu to inaugurate 6,000MT lithium plant in Nasarawa

    Tinubu to inaugurate 6,000MT lithium plant in Nasarawa

    President Bola Tinubu is set to visit Nasarawa State to commission a newly completed 6,000-metric-ton lithium processing plant built by Chinese investors.

    Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State who announced this to reporters at the State House on Wednesday after a closed-door meeting with the President, said the project marks a major boost for Nigeria’s mineral value chain.

    The new facility, located in Nasarawa Local Government Area, is twice the size of the 3,000MT capacity plant launched in 2023.

    Although he did not give a specific date, the governor disclosed that the commissioning will take place shortly after the President returns from a two-week trip to France scheduled to begin later this week.

    “They promised to build a bigger one, and they have just concluded building it. It is ready for commissioning. Mr. President assured me that on his return from his short vacation, he will come to Nasarawa to commission the project,” Sule said.

    READ ALSO: Tinubu seeks NASS backing to fast-track State Police

    The development underscores Nasarawa’s emergence as a key hub in Nigeria’s growing lithium sector.

    Lithium, essential for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems, has drawn significant foreign investor interest amid the global shift to clean energy.

    Sule noted that the project is the result of strong investor confidence in the state’s mineral resources.

    “Last year, we commissioned a 3,000-metric-ton capacity lithium processing plant in Nasarawa Local Government. During that time, another set of investors, excited by the quality and volume of our deposits, committed to building something bigger. They have now fulfilled that promise,” he explained.

    The Federal Government has in recent years pushed for more value-added investments in solid minerals.

    In May, it disclosed plans to commission at least two Chinese-backed lithium processing plants in 2025 as part of its strategy to curb raw mineral exports and strengthen domestic refining capacity.

    Officials say the Nasarawa plant is among several projects backed by China-based companies following exploratory surveys confirming commercial-grade deposits in the state.

    The Ministry of Solid Minerals has also hinted at restricting lithium exports to encourage in-country processing, mirroring policies in Indonesia’s nickel industry and Zimbabwe’s lithium sector.

    Governor Sule tied the state’s expanding industrial capacity to reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration, including fuel subsidy removal and naira unification, which have boosted revenue for infrastructure development.

    “With the huge improvement we have seen, we are able to proceed without borrowing. Instead of going to the banks, we are utilising the improved resources we now have,” the governor said.

    Earlier this year, President Tinubu declared Nigeria’s ambition to position itself as a regional hub for lithium-ion battery and solar panel manufacturing, citing the nation’s abundant mineral wealth and the surging global demand for clean energy technology.

    The Federal Government has also launched a mining police unit to clamp down on illegal mining, particularly in the north-central region, where artisanal operations have proliferated.

  • CRUDAN trains Southern Kaduna communities on early warning system for farmer-herder peace

    CRUDAN trains Southern Kaduna communities on early warning system for farmer-herder peace

    The Christian Rural and Urban Development Association of Nigeria (CRUDAN), with support from Tetra Tech Technologies (SPRING), has trained stakeholders in Kaura and Zangon Kataf Local Government Areas of Kaduna State on early warning and response systems to curb recurring farmer-herder conflicts.

    The five-day capacity-building programme, which ended in Zonkwa, brought together community leaders, youths, women and herders to design practical mechanisms for anticipating and de-escalating disputes before they spiral into violence.

    CRUDAN Project Coordinator, Michael Agon, described the initiative as a timely step to equip communities with tools to manage conflicts at the grassroots. He said early response committees were set up in three communities—Kpunyei, Chenchuk and Mifi Attackar—to serve as lasting structures for dialogue, monitoring and collaboration.

    “We cannot continue to wait for conflict to escalate before acting. The early warning system gives our communities the ability to anticipate and manage disputes before they become violent,” Agon said, stressing that community ownership was key to sustaining the structures.

    Peacebuilding and Conflict Management Officer, Tulari Tine, who anchored the training, noted that while conflict was inevitable, violence was not. He said the programme armed participants with conflict mapping, analysis tools and collaborative planning tailored to local realities.

    Read Also: Southern Kaduna leaders hit El-Rufai over ‘lies, disdain’ for indigenes

    “The system is not about waiting for government to intervene; it is about empowering the people themselves to resolve issues before they escalate,” he added, urging stronger partnerships between traditional leaders, youth, women and security agents.

    Traditional rulers, including the Dakachi of Chenchuk, Filibus Jatau, and his Kpunyei counterpart, Joseph Biliyock, hailed the training for fostering dialogue between farmers and herders. 

    Youth leader, Sunday Musa, said the sessions had transformed young people from potential agents of violence to ambassadors of peace.

    Over the five days, participants worked with tools such as the “Conflict Tree” and “Peace Flower” to examine root causes and build resilience. The training culminated in joint action plans and the inauguration of inclusive early response committees with membership drawn from farmers, herders, security agencies and women groups.

  • Gunmen kidnap Kogi monarch

    Gunmen kidnap Kogi monarch

    Gunmen have kidnapped a traditional ruler, David Wada, who is the District Head of Bagaji Odo, in Omala Local Government Area, Kogi State.

    Residents said the monarch was kidnapped on Monday evening while returning from a traditional council meeting held at Abejukolo, headquarters of the Omala Local Government Area.

    The paramount ruler of the Local Government traditional council, Boniface Musa, who is the Onu Ife, confirmed the incident to reporters.

    He appealed to security agencies to ensure the traditional ruler’s safe rescue.

    READ ALSO: Fed Govt: renewable energy open to local, foreign investors

    It was learnt that Wada was abducted at a spot known as Ojuwo Ugweche around 5 p.m on Monday.

    The commercial cyclist conveying him on a motorcycle  when the gunmen waylaid them reportedly escaped by whiskers.

    The spokesman for the state Police Command, Superintendent of Police, Williams Aya, said the command had mobilised operatives to ensure the rescue of the traditional ruler.

    The gunmen were yet to contact the family or any member of the traditional council as at press time.

  • Katsina Signs MoU on waste management solutions with Zoomlion Nigeria Limited

    Katsina Signs MoU on waste management solutions with Zoomlion Nigeria Limited

    Governor Dikko Umaru Radda has witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Katsina State Government, represented by the Climate Change Secretariat, and Zoomlion Nigeria Limited, a leading environmental management company, to implement sustainable waste management projects across the State.

    READ ALSO: Fed Govt: renewable energy open to local, foreign investors

    The Managing Director of Zoomlion Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Habiba Abubakar, signed on behalf of the company, while Professor Mohammed Al Amin, Special Adviser to the Governor on Climate Change, signed on behalf of the Katsina State Government, with senior officials including, Hon. Khalil Nur Khalil, Economic Adviser to the State Government and Hon. Suleiman S. Ribadu, Senior Special Assistant on Climate Change, present as witnesses.

    This landmark MoU followed the Katsina State Government’s commitment to tackling environmental challenges, promoting climate resilience, and ensuring a cleaner, healthier State. The agreement sets out a framework for public-private partnership aimed at modernizing solid and liquid waste management through innovative and sustainable solutions.