The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • Massive crowd welcomes Yahaya Bello back to Okene

    Massive crowd welcomes Yahaya Bello back to Okene

    In what they described as a celebration of “eight years of unprecedented strides”, indigenes and residents of Okene in Kogi State on Sunday trooped out in their thousands to welcome the immediate past Governor Yahaya Bello back home after two impactful tenures. 

    They treated the White Lion, as he is fondly called, to a heroic homecoming ceremony at the ancient town, Okene, where Bello hails from.

    With loud cheers, pomp and pageantry, the jubilant residents heaped praises on the immediate past governor over his sterling performance in office, with different clans performing with their masquerades amid the thick crowd that thronged the streets.

    Before Bello arrived Okene, a crowd of residents of Lokoja, the state capital, had assembled on the highway linking the former governor’s country home to bid him farewell after successfully handing over to his successor, Governor Usman Ododo.

    They lined up at the roadside and expressed gratitude to Bello, saying he had successfully transformed Kogi beyond their expectations in his two terms in office.

    Some of the citizens who spoke after Bello’s convoy pulled over to acknowledge their greetings, said the former governor had left an indelible mark of achievements in the Confluence State.

    When Bello’s convoy arrived at the entrance of Okene town, enthusiastic and proud indigenes/residents were seen waving at their kinsman in excitement.

    As the convoy journeyed deeper into the heart of Okene, the town erupted in jubilation as the former governor’s kinsmen who adorned in ceremonial attire, accompanied by drums and trumpets, danced along the streets, saying Bello had elevated Okene and Kogi State to an enviable height. 

    The former Governor visited his maternal ancestral home where special prayers were offered in honour of the memory of his departed mother, seeking divine blessings for him as he returned home.

    Also, Bello stormed the palace of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, along with the new Governor of the state, Usman Ododo, where he was given a rousing welcome. The mammoth crowd seen at the palace was unprecedented. 

    The traditional ruler, HRM, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani, hailed former governor Bello’s transformative impact on Kogi state’s infrastructure and economy and congratulated Governor Ododo on his inauguration. 

    Bello expressed profound gratitude to the people of his hometown and Kogi State in general for the overwhelming reception accorded him.

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    While addressing his admirers, he urged citizens of the State to support the administration of Governor Usman Ododo for the continued development and transformation of the state.

    “I am filled with joy over this overwhelming show of gratitude, happiness and love. It further attests to the impacts our government has made in the lives of Kogites. I humbly return all thanks and praises to the Almighty God. He alone is the Doer of everything we can lay claim to have done in office as a government. Without His enablement we would have been both helpless. To God be the Glory!

    “Now, we can live with a clear conscience, confident that we did our best for Kogites within the time and resources available to us.

    “I have successfully handed over to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo. Ododo will need our support to succeed in the overall interest of the state. Once more, I want to thank you for this honour,” the former Governor stated.

  • Association to CNS: don’t be distracted in fight against oil theft

    Association to CNS: don’t be distracted in fight against oil theft

    The Oil Producing States Progressives Association on Monday, January 29, urged the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla not to be distracted in the fight against oil theft.

    The association urged President Bola Tinubu to dismiss what they termed “fallacious and baseless” claims, asserting that the allegations were an attempt to divert attention from the ongoing efforts to combat oil theft and bunkering activities in oil-producing states.

    The national president of the association, Tamunor Charles Wokne said in a statement: ”We wish to inform the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to disregard such fallacious and baseless publication for lack of fact.

    “The said publication was an attempt to distract Mr President and the Nigerian security forces in their reinvigorated fight against oil theft and bunkering activities in the oil-producing states which the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fighting with great success.

    ”When President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, Nigeria’s daily crude oil production, including condensates, reached 1,430,146 barrels and as the war on crude oil theft intensifies, the following month, in June 2023, this output rose to 1,499,416 barrels per day. September 2023 marked a significant milestone for the year, as Nigeria achieved its highest production thus far, hitting 1,572,315 barrels per day.

    ”While the Chief of Naval Staff and other heads of the sister security agencies continue to fight oil theft and oil bunkerers without any form of compromised negotiations; the chances are that Nigeria’s daily oil production under the current administration can hit the projected plan of Mr President’s target of 2 million barrels per day. This is what the oil thieves and economic saboteurs are fighting to subvert today.

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    ”The fight against crude oil thefts under the leadership of the current Chief of Navas Staff has resulted in improved revenue to the tune of billions of naira. In December 2023, the Anti-Crude Oil Theft Patrol Team of FOB Igbokoda intercepted MT Vinnalaris with 15,000 metric tonnes of stolen crude oil with 17 crew members arrested. The Nigerian Navy made another breakthrough on November 8 when they intercepted another vessel MV Mother Gabrini attempting to take delivery of 15,237 Metric tonnes of crude oil with fake documents in Bony, River State.

    ”Earlier in October 2023, the Nigerian Navy Ship NNS Pathfinder, in Port Harcourt, destroyed a three million litres capacity illegal refinery in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State. The illegal refinery comprising six refining camps is located within Cawthorne Channel 2 on the coast of the state. The facility allegedly steals crude oil from a wellhead in Oil Mining Lease-18 operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and Sahara Energy.

    ”The Commander, NNS Pathfinder, Commodore Desmond Igbo, who conducted newsmen around the illegal refinery at the time expressed annoyance that the suspected oil thieves were steadily sabotaging the nation’s economy Equally, troops of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with operatives of the Tantita Security Services Limited and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, NSCDC, in December arrested a vessel with 15,775 litres of crude oil/ illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil from illegal bunkering in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    The association added: ”On January 18, 2024, the Nigerian Army, 6th Division Port Harcourt uncovered yet another illegal refining camp with the capacity of 2.8million litres of crude oil, in a forest within Odagwa community, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The General Officer Commanding, 6th Division, Nigerian Army, Maj. Gen. Jamal Abdussalam, at the scene of the incident, noted that the illegal refinery has 49 boilers for crude oil processing and 14 large reservoirs with 200,000 litres of crude oil each, amounting to 2.8 million litres.

    ”The efforts by the Chief of Naval Staff in collaboration with other sister security agencies in the fight against oil thefts have no doubt yielded great results, thus, the campaign of calumny and bad publicity by the economic saboteurs and the agents of oil thieves to distract him. The NNPCL CEO, Mele Kyari said in December 2023 that crude oil production has increased to 1.6m bpd, the figure upon which the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries declared Nigeria as the Highest Crude Oil Producing country in Africa.”

    The group urged the CNS and President Tinubu ”not to be distracted but to stay focused in the sustained and vigorous fights against crude oil thieves and their collaborators in the overall good of the country.”

    ”We members of the Oil Producing States Progressives Association stand strongly behind you and we’ll continue to give you the necessary support in your efforts to rid our country of the evil activities of oil thieves and economic saboteurs.”

  • Succour for soldiers’ widows

    Succour for soldiers’ widows

    • DEPOWA unveils milling shop at NAFRC

    To cushion the effect of the economic hardship being experienced across the country, the Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA) at the weekend donated palliatives to over 50 widows of soldiers.

    The beneficiaries whose husbands died in active service were given foodstuffs and cash gifts at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre (NAFRC), Oshodi.

    Handing over the palliatives to the beneficiaries, DEPOWA President, Mrs..Oghogho Musa, urged them to remain good citizens and ensure that the various skills they had acquired before were adequately utilised.

       Mrs. Musa who also unveiled a grinding and milling shop built at the centre by the Coordinator of the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre Officers Wives Association (NAFRCOWA), Grace Amesinola, said they would continue to embark on activities and programmes that will better the lives of soldiers’ wives and children.

    According to the DEPOWA President, the grinding and milling shop aligned with her vision to empower women and girls to become productive contributors to family and society.

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    She articulated the initiative’s role in enhancing capacity development for DEPOWA and Defence Non-Commissioned Officers’ Wives Association (DENCOWA) members, as well as providing crucial humanitarian support to the less privileged and vulnerable individuals.

    She commended the NAFRCOWA coordinator for her ‘ingenuity and unwavering commitment” to establishing the Grinding and Milling Shop, underscoring its potential to alleviate the hardship faced by the wives and children of military personnel in grinding food products.

    “I wish to appreciate the Coordinator NAFRCOWA Mrs Grace Amesinola for her ingenuity and commitment in establishing the Grinding and Milling Shop, this will really reduce the hardship of going to distant places by wives and children of personnel to grind food products.”

    The Commandant, NAFRC, Air Vice Marshall (AVM) Adeniyi Amensinola lauded the DEPOWA president for providing assistance to those who have sacrificed so much for the nation’s security and well-being.

    He emphasized the importance of not forgetting the widows and orphans of the deceased personnel and assured them that their spouses’ supreme sacrifice in the line of duty would not be in vain.

    “The show of human kindness and initiatives such as we are witnessing today being undertaken by the President DEPOWA are reassuring and comforting bearing in mind that widows of deceased personnel are not forgotten and that the supreme sacrifice paid by their spouses in the line of duty while upholding national security is not in vain. “As we continue to remember our fallen heroes and veterans who sacrifice much to the nation, we use this opportunity to thank Almighty God for their lives well spent in the service of our dear country as well as in maintaining regional peace and stability”, he said.

    The Nation reports that the visit also saw the DEPOWA President and members of his entourage planting trees at the Widows and Orphans skills acquisition site inside NAFRC.

  • Bride, 12 others die in Niger auto crash

    Bride, 12 others die in Niger auto crash

    A new bride, five of her bridesmaids, her brother-in-law, and six others have died in a car crash that occurred around Lukoro in Edati Local Government Area of Niger State.

    It was gathered that the accident happened on Friday evening and was caused by excessive speed, wrongful overtaking by the driver conveying the bride and her guests.

    The car carrying them collided with an incoming vehicle which led to loss of control.

    The Nation learnt that 20 people were involved in the accident out of which 13 died and seven others were critically injured.

    Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Niger State Command,  Tsukwan Kumar, who confirmed the accident said that the crash involved two vehicles- an ash Toyota Corolla from Mokwa to Bida and a commercial Nissan bus heading from Minna to Ogbomosho.

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    He said that those who died included eight female adults, four male adults, and one male child while four female adults, one male adult, one male child, and one female child were injured.

    Kumar said that the injured victims were taken to the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Bida for medical treatment while nine of the dead victims were handed over to their various relatives at the crash scene upon identification of the bodies and the remaining four dead were taken to General Hospital Kutigi mortuary.

    “The vehicles and properties which include five phones, one International passport, one NIN slip, three handbags, two traveling boxes, goods, and other personal effects, belonging to the victims were handed over to the Police Outpost in Wuya,” he said.

  • Minister challenges Ododo on security, infrastructural development

    Minister challenges Ododo on security, infrastructural development

    The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, has called on Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo to improve security and promote infrastructural development in the state.

    Audu made the call in a congratulatory message to Governor Ododo in Abuja yesterday, for his inauguration as the fifth governor of the state along with his Deputy, Mr Joel Oyibo.

    He urged Ododo to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor, Yahaya Bello and focus on building sustainable peace and unity for the progress of the state.

    The minister, who was the Director-General of the Kogi All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign Council, expressed confidence that the governor would take Kogi to greater heights.

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    “Your victory at the polls on November 11, 2023, was very consequential in the history of our dear state, Kogi.

    “Your popularity and acceptance across our state were the key factors in your victory at the governorship polls last year.

    “As the Director-General of the Kogi APC Governorship Campaign Council, I was confident that you would emerge victorious despite all forms of political intrigues that were playing out.

    “Today we celebrate that victory, which marks the beginning of an era of continuity and consolidation of the successful eight-year tenure of former Governor Yahaya Bello,” he said.

  • INEC to deploy 4,000 personnel for Feb 3re-run polls in Kaduna

    INEC to deploy 4,000 personnel for Feb 3re-run polls in Kaduna

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will deploy no fewer than 4,000 personnel for the conduct of Saturday’s re-run polls and by-election for the State and Federal Constituencies in Kaduna State.

    Malam Aminu Idris, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in Kaduna State told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Kaduna.

    Idris said the personnel would include 3,000 drawn from members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and 1,000 INEC members of staff.

    He said: “The commission projects to have about a total 4,000 staff including about 3,000 had hoc staff with the categories drawn from members of the NYSC as Presiding Officers and institutions like the Kaduna Polytechnic while others would include NYSC and INEC staff.

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    “So far, we have started with the recruitment and training of ad hoc staff especially those of Supervisory Presiding Officers then to those of Presiding Officers officers and Assistant Presiding Officers.”

    Idris said strict supervision has been out in place with the presence of the stakeholders including personnel from EFCC, ICPC and other relevant agencies to ensure transparency during the exercise.

     “They will work against incidences of vote buying and other malpractices at the polling units and in terms of being accountable to the law as nobody is immune including INEC staff and corps members .

    “Anyone that contravenes the electoral law in terms of distorting the elections, would face the wrath of the law whether you are an INEC staff, NYSC or even security agent,” he said.

    Idris urged the stakeholders to collaborate to ensure that a conducive environment was provided for the smooth running of the elections and for the voters to be vigilant so that trouble makers will not be allowed to disrupt the process.

    He said: “Party agents should equally take the responsibility as their job should not be left for INEC alone to do so that they report to their respective parties because that is the way to prepare for litigation if there is any need for it.”

    Idris said elections would take place in six constituencies covering seven local government areas including; Chikun, Igabi, Kaduna South, Kudan, Kachia, Kagarko and Kauru.

    “Total polling units in the six constituencies are 1,114, with the number of registered voters that have collected PVCs of about 639,914,” he said.

    NAN reports that INEC has fixed Saturday for the conduct of supplementary polls in 44 constituencies across the county.

    Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman Information Voter Education Committee (IVEC) of INEC, said this in a statement tagged ‘timetable and schedule of activities for bye-elections and court-ordered re-run elections.

    He said: “The commission has approved the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for conducting bye-elections resulting from the resignation or demise of Members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.

    “These vacancies were declared by the Presiding Officers that is the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Speakers of State Houses of Assembly.

    “The vacancies occurred across two Senatorial Districts, four Federal Constituencies, and three State Constituencies spanning nine states of the federation.”

  • Lack of commitment to good governance is brand of corruption, says Zulum

    Lack of commitment to good governance is brand of corruption, says Zulum

    Borno State Governor  Babagana Zulum yesterday in Maiduguri identified lack of commitment to good governance by leaders and followers as another form of corruption afflicting Nigeria.

    “One of the major problems in Nigeria is lack of obedience to rules and regulations.

    “We will never get it right until we follow the rules and regulations,’’ he said at the close of the 10th annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture.

    Born on June 12, 1910, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, was killed in Nigeria’s first military coup d’etat of Jan. 15, 1966.

    He served as the first and only premier of defunct Northern Nigeria region from 1954 until his assassination in 1966.

    “During Sardauna, there was obedience to rules and regulations,’’ Zulum observed.

    The governor dwelt on the negative impacts of corruption and said that Nigeria would not get things right so long as corruption thrived.

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    He noted that leaders and followers must collectively own the fight against corruption by abiding with rules and regulations of doing things.

    Zulum said hope was not lost if Nigerians renewed their commitments in line with the theme of lecture: “Creating pathways for peace: Tackling banditry and insurgency through good governance for sustainable development.’’

    He said his administration’s commitment to good governance by focusing on security and executing vital projects in various sectors, and fulfilling campaign promises, strengthened the resilience of the citizenry.

    “These developments demonstrated our achievements through good governance and understanding of our multifaceted approach to curb banditry and insurgency.

    “Security situation in Borno has consequently improved by 95 per cent and by the grace of God before the end of my administration Borno will be rid of insurgency,’’ Zulum said.

    Highlight of the event attended by some northern governors was the presentation of Lifetime Achievement awards to deserving personalities and the handing over of the symbolic flag of the next host to Bauchi State

  • Banditry: Governor Radda calls for vigilance

    Banditry: Governor Radda calls for vigilance

    Governor Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State has called on the citizens of the state to step up their night watch and ensure increased vigilance against banditry attacks and several other activities of criminal elements in the state

    Radda made the call yesterday while inaugurating three Islamiyya schools donated by a philanthropist, Alhaji Abubakar Dardisu Wambam Mani.

    He said people’s partipation in ensuring their security and well being has become a necessity.

    Unconfirmed reports from Jibia Local government had it that five villagers were killed during banditry attacks.

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    The Police authories in katsina state are yet to confirm the Jibia reports despite enquiries by The Nation.

    While opening the schools, located in Yammama, Malumfashi, Mani Town, and Muduru, Mani Local Government Area, the governor described them as testament to the collective commitment towards education and community development.

    The Islamiyya school in Yammama was dedicated to the memory of the late father of the state governor, Bare-bari Umaru Radda, while the one in Muduru was named after his mother, Hajiya Safara’u.

     The school in Mani was also named in honor of the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir.

    Governor Radda assured the communities of comprehensive government support in fostering educational endeavors.

    Acknowledging the noble gesture of Alhaji Abubakar Dardisu, Governor Radda expressed gratitude for the philanthropist’s dedication to uplifting communities through education. .

    He called on the residents of Yammama, Mani Town, and Muduru to utilize and maintain the newly inaugurated schools, Governor Radda underscored the significance of education in community progress.

    At the inauguration, Alhaji Murtala, a member of the Board of Trustees of Dardisu/Fatimah Foundation, conducted the visitors round the facilities within the schools, including classrooms, toilets, administrative blocks, and boreholes.

  • Kwara Gov signs 2024 Appropriation, LG Amendment Bills into law

    Kwara Gov signs 2024 Appropriation, LG Amendment Bills into law

    Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Friday signed the 2024 Appropriation Bill into law, calling it another bold step to expand infrastructure and grow the economic base of the state on a sustainable basis.

    The Governor also assented to the Local Government Amendment Bill, saying: “We are looking forward to holding the local government elections very shortly.”

    He thanked the House for its legislative roles on the Local Government Elections bill, which he noted now paves the way for the conduct of the elections.

    The Governor said the 61 per cent that the administration has budgeted for Capital Expenditure was a deliberate move to scale up infrastructural development across the state.

    “Today, we are taking another bold step in the annals of our state. We commend the Assembly for doing a good job with the budget and for taking their time and making sure it is SABER (State Action on Business Enabling Reforms)- compliant,” the Governor said late Friday in Ilorin.

    “You did very well before when we were committed to SFTAS (State Fiscal Transparency Accountability and Sustainability). Our being SFTAS compliant has been very beneficial to the state as it ensured transparency in the way we do things.

    “This is a budget with 61 per cent for capital expenditure (CAPEX) and 39 per cent for recurrent. 61% for CAPEX shows that Kwara does not want to continue as just a civil service state with no strong industrial base. We want to change how we do things, and we want to ensure that we put a lot of effort into infrastructure in the state. Moving the state forward is paramount to us.

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    “We have been able to reduce the debt of the state through negotiation with the federal government, and it will soon be reflected in the DMO chart, where you will see that the debt profile has drastically gone down.”

    Kwara Speaker Yakubu Salihu Danladi commended Governor AbdulRazaq for being one of the first state governors to comply with the SABER template for budget process, and for working so hard to reduce the debt profile of the state.

    “By the grace of God, the Kwara State House of Assembly has engaged all the MDAs for budget defense and scrutiny, and we were able to meet up with the SABER standard, which is a new template after SFTAS has wound down in the first quarter of 2023,” he said.

    “It is a new template being used by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and all the states and I am happy Kwara, being the state of the NGF Chairman, is one of the first states to key into the SABER template.

    “This budget has touched all sectors, and I know Kwarans will benefit greatly from it.”

  • Senator Natasha facilitates business empowerment scheme for constituents

    Senator Natasha facilitates business empowerment scheme for constituents

    The lawmaker representing Kogi Central senatorial district, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Thursday, January 25, facilitated the National Business Development Empowerment Skill Initiative (NBDSI) for her constituents to address poverty and foster self-reliance among people.

    The programme, which was hosted by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in its Kogi office, empowered artisans with the necessary equipment needed to become self-sufficient while contributing to productivity in the overall economy.

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    In a statement issued by her chief press secretary, Israel Arogbonlo, Senator Natasha said that the programme was aimed at alleviating poverty and creating job opportunities, describing it as a great economic tool to make constituents self-reliant. She also urged the beneficiaries to make effective use of the opportunity.

    She said that she had after the election decided to give back to the society who voted her into office.

    The beneficiaries who cut across the five local government areas of Kogi Central were trained in various skills, which include tailoring, shoemaking, and laundering.

    It would be recalled that the celebrity senator as fondly called, in the last six months distributed six trailers of rice, 20,000 notebooks, and 10,000 wrappers to her constituents, installed streetlights, and facilitated job employment, amongst other constituency projects.