The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • Tambuwal’s deputy Iya testifies before panel

    Tambuwal’s deputy Iya testifies before panel

    The immediate past deputy governor of Sokoto State, Muhammad Manir Dan Iya has appeared as principal witness before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to testify on the whereabouts of government official vehicles in his possession.

    Dan Iya, who drove himself to the Usman Farouk Secretariat venue of the commission of  Inquiry was docked before the five-man panel  constituted by the Sokoto State Government some months ago.

    Responding to the panel, Dan Iya testified that shortly upon leaving office on May 28, he was asked to release the official vehicles in his possession by his successor, Muhammad Idris Gobir.

    According to Dan Iya “Gobir asked through his Aide De Camp (ADC) which I did) without delay nor hesitation.”

    Read Also: Tribunal affirms Tambuwal’s election victory

    The former deputy governor told the commission that it was Governor Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto that directed the official vehicles be immediately returned which were earlier received by the current deputy governor.

    The former deputy governor explained that the vehicles returned were still in his possession and ready to return same if the state government or the commission wished.

    According to Dan Iya “if the commission wants to take over the possession of the vehicles, the vehicles will not stay an hour longer than necessary with me.”

    However, the former deputy governor was discharged and acquitted by the commission’s Chairman and a former Acting Chief Judge of Gombe state, Justice Mu’azu Pindiga on condition that the commission will require his presence for more clarifications in testimony on the matter if the need arouse.

  • Minna Catholic Diocese to provide trauma healing programme for IDPs

    Minna Catholic Diocese to provide trauma healing programme for IDPs

    The Catholic Diocese of Minna has disclosed its plans to provide tramme healing programmes for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and victims of terrorism in Niger state.

    This, according to the church, is due to the post-traumatic stress disorder faced by the victims and IDPs after experiencing attacks on their homes, families and farmlands or being abducted and released by the terrorists.

    The Coordinator of the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), Rev. Father Dauda Musa Bahago disclosed this during the closing ceremony of the ‘Emergency Response for Herders and Farmers Clash in Niger State’ Project at the Internally Displaced Persons Camps (IDP) in Gwada in Shiroro local government area of Niger state.

    Read Also: Tempers flare as Tompolo’s Tantita, soldiers foil oil theft off Ondo coast

    He said that the people need more than foodstuff as they are currently going through various stages of mental disorder which when not addressed could be detrimental to their body and health.

    Bahago called on the Niger state Government to include the provision of counselling and therapy for victims of banditry and terrorism in the state as part of humanitarian assistance given to the victims rather than focusing only on the provision of food.

    He noted that interviews and interactions with the victims have shown that the experiences they suffered have been harrowing and life threatening which should not be left like that.

    “The Catholic Diocese of Minna is moving around, and appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to see that we provide mental and psycho-social support.

    “In as much as they are here and can’t go back to their communities for now, they should live in the best mental state,” he said.

    Bahago said that the JDPC Minna has been working tirelessly to meet the needs of displaced persons through the provision of relief materials such as food and medicine noting that the Catholic Diocese of Minna had earlier provided medical services to the displaced persons through the intervention of the Divine Mercy Hospital.

  • FCTA commits $4.5m World Bank grants to FADAMA Programme

    FCTA commits $4.5m World Bank grants to FADAMA Programme

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has allocated the sum of $4.5 million to the FCT Fadama CARES programme to implement three disbursement linked Indicators (DLIs) out of a total allocation of $15 million made available to the FCTA by the World Bank for implementation of the FCT CARES programme.

    The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, said this during the kick off of disbursement of grant to third batch of FCT FADAMA CARES beneficiaries for year 2023/2024 Dry Season production held at FADAMA office, Gwagwalada, Abuja.

    Read Also: FCTA uncovers illegal oil refining warehouse in Abuja

    Specifically, the FCT Administration and World Bank has set a target for the FCT Fadama CARES programme to provide grants support to 12,283 individual farmers as well as upgrade 17 Wet Markets across the Federal Capital Territory.

    The minister noted that the event was another significant indicator of the unflinching determination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment towards the actualization of his Administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” which was designed with the specific purpose of revitalizing and deepening the nation’s economy through deliberate far reaching interventions in key sectors.

  • Varsity sign MoU with four firms to drive digital skills

    Varsity sign MoU with four firms to drive digital skills

    The Cosmopolitan University of Abuja yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with four international organisations to drive digital skills and entrepreneurial spirit among students.

    The four organisations are; Cisco, a multinational technology company and Global Wissen Consult which specialises in Digital Entrepreneurship programmes.

    Read Also: Be of good conduct, Bingham varsity tells new intakes

    Others are; Confucius Institute for Mandarin to offer students the opportunity to learn Mandarin and foster cross-cultural understanding and Across Atlantic Development (AAD), a company dedicated to building a just and sustainable world by embarking on global projects and proffering solutions to business challenges.

    Vice – Chancellor of the University Prof. Carl Adams, said the partnerships are intended to prioritise experiential learning, equipping its students with the skills and mindset to navigate an ever-evolving landscape.

  • My emergence end religious,tribal politics in Nasarawa, says Speaker

    My emergence end religious,tribal politics in Nasarawa, says Speaker

    Newly elected speaker, Nasarawa State House of assembly, Danladi Jatau said, he will work hard as the number three citizen of the state to close religious and tribal politics in the state which has undermine unity of the state.

    He also assured the people of the State of open door and all inclusive leadership devoid of any sentiment.

    Speaker Jatau gave the assurance while playing host to Jama’atul Nasri Islam (JNI) and Tijaniyya Movement, Nasarawa State Chapter in his office yesterday in Lafia.

    He advised religious leaders against inciting sermons capable of threatening the existing peace being enjoyed in the State.

    Read Also: Nasarawa Assembly elects majority leader, two other principal officers

    ” I want to appreciate you for the visit and to assure you of my readiness to operate an open door policy.

    ” I want to thank God for making me to be the leader of the House, I will work hard to close religious and tribal differences undermining unity, peace and progress of the State,the entire situation is worrisome ” he said.

    ” I came from a background without religious sentiment, in my immediate family, there are both Muslims and Christians and we operate as one united entity,” he added.

  • Zamfara Govt Recovers 50 ‘Stolen’ Vehicles

    Zamfara Govt Recovers 50 ‘Stolen’ Vehicles

    The Zamfara State Government said it has recovered about 50 operational vehicles allegedly taken away by the immediate past governor of the state, Bello Matawalle.

    Briefing journalists on Thursday in Gusau, Sani Sambo, a spokesperson for Governor Dauda Lawal said the action followed the judgement by a Federal High Court in Sokoto last Friday.

    He said due process was carefully followed to recover the vehicles from the Gusau and Maradun residences of the former governor who earlier denied having possession of any government property when he was leaving office as governor.

    Read Also: Banditry: Zamfara’s elites deepening silence

    Sambo stated that the Governor Dauda Lawal-led administration is doing everything possible to bring about the desired development in the state but not to witch hunt or project anyone in a bad light.

    When Lawal took over power as governor of Zamfara on May 29, 2023, the controversy about stolen operational vehicles at the Government House Gusau and siphoning of public funds set in, and security agencies raided the two residences of Matawalle in Gusau and Maradun local governments where some vehicles were recovered.

    The former governor quickly secured a court order restraining the state government from such action, pending the determination of the court’s decision on the matter.

    According to the state government, the court in Sokoto dismissed the former governor’s suit against it.

  • ‘Court judgment’ll not deter good governance policy in Zamfara’

    ‘Court judgment’ll not deter good governance policy in Zamfara’

    An Aide to Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Alhaji Yahaya Yari said the recent Appeal Court judgment will not discourage the governor from executing developmental projects.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the appeal court sitting in Abuja recently declared the March 18, Zamfara governorship election inconclusive.

    The court ordered re-run polls in the three local government areas of Birnin-Magaji, Bukkuyum and Maradun.

    Yari, a Special Adviser, said that the judgment would not affect the good governance policies initiated by Lawal.

    He said, “As we all know, the rescue mission policies of our administration came to change the condition of Zamfara to a better position.

    “We have nothing to worry about the judgement, because we are here with the mandate of the people and I believe that people of the state still have confidence in our administration.

    Read Also: Banditry: Zamfara’s elites deepening silence

    “Even tomorrow, people of Zamfara are ready to vote for Lawal again as governor , because they have seen the impact of good governance projects.

    “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is ready for the rerun even if it is held tomorrow, therefore, nothing will discourage it.

    “You can see the ongoing projects initiated under urban renewal policy and a policy to revive the education sector of the state among others,” he said.

    Yari said he was confident that when rerun election was conducted, PDP would emerge victorious, adding, “I call on PDP supporters and the people of the state to remain calm and law abiding.

    “We appreciate the kind prayers, love, understanding and loyalty from the general public to the present administration in the state,” he added.

    Yari urged the people of t

  • Sokoto awards over N18bn contracts for vehicles, road construction, solar street lights

    Sokoto awards over N18bn contracts for vehicles, road construction, solar street lights

    Sokoto state government has approved the award of over N18 billion worth of contracts including N1.001 billion contract for the purchase of vehicles for the office of the governor.

    Others include the construction and reconstruction , rehabilitation of township and rural  roads and the installation of solar powered street lights across 39 township roads in the state metropolis.

    In the same vein, 47 township roads for construction and reconstruction in Tudun Wada and Ungwan Rogo metropolitan area will gulp N8.999 billion.

    Briefing newsmen shortly after the state executive council meeting  on Wednesday, the state Commissioner of Information, Sambo Bello Danchadi said the projects were aimed at fulfilling the promise by the administration to have a new Sokoto state with attractive look.

    “Sokoto needs to be on the map of modernity with attractive features. All these are part of repositioning the state especially the capital city”, Danchadi remarked.

    He also explained that the total contract sum also captured compensation cost to affected structure while disclosing that all the roads will have solar powered street lights facilities to be installed at the cost of N1.756 billion by Abled Filed Ltd.

    “We have 5 other roads to be powered by Solar street lights at N97.266 million by Zamani Global Enterprises .

    Read Also: Sokoto governor tasks cabinet on transformation drive

    “The Runjin Sambo area connecting road network will gulp N2.189, Maidduguri-Bodinga-Secretariat roads will cost N816.289 million.

    “Also, the beautification and landscaping of Forces Avenue -Lodge roads, Old Market – Mairuwa roundabout and Kalambaina will gulp N488.870 million to complete the projects awarded to ZBCC Ltd and Karma Investment Ltd respectively” the Commissioner for Lands and Housing Barrister Nasiru Dantsoho said among other contracts worth over N293 million.

    Similarly, the Commissioner for Environment,  Nura Shehu Tangaza said two major contracts for the rehabilitation and construction of culverts and Asphalting of Silame- Gande1.55Km  road at N2.244 billion had been awarded to Roads Nigeria Ltd.

    According to him, all contracts were expected to be completed within the earliest possible time of 12 months.

  • House pushes for Mines Inspectorate agency

    House pushes for Mines Inspectorate agency

    The Chairman House of  Representatives  Committee on Solid Minerals, Gaza Gbefwi said the House  is advocating for the establishment of a Mines Inspectorate Environmental Agency.

    He said the agency would monitor miners to ensure better revenue for the country just like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) handles tax payers.

    Gbefwi said the greatest challenge in the solid minerals sector is dealing with illegal miners and the fact that it does not have enough boots on ground the tackle the scourge.

    The lawmaker said this yesterday in Abuja at the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Research Project, policy dialogue with legislature, Senate and House of Representative committees on Solid Minerals.

    Gbefwi said: “If Nigeria can have the resources coming from the Solid Minerals sector, Nigeria would be far ahead of its pairs within the subregion because of the great endowment we enjoy in Solid minerals.

    “Unfortunately, States have very lean manpower in terms of the inspection of mining sites at the state levels. What we are advocating for is to see that we increase the number of boots on the ground in the states where you have in each senatorial district, mines Inspectorate offices that are established with adequate manpower that we hope would graduate into an independent entity that can be called the Mines Inspectorate Environmental Agency that would be in charge of compliance and give them independence and flexibility to operate.

    “We know that one of the greatest challenges of this sector is illegal mining, ones we can have adequate monitoring like FIRS monitors tax payers, let’s have an agency that would monitor miners so that we have better revenue at the end of the day.”

    Read Also: Will Abbas, Kalu lead 10th House of Representatives?

    Chairman RMAFC, Mohammed Shehu said over the years, in the course of discharging this mandate, the Commission has observed that revenue accruals into the Federation Account from the solid mineral sector has been abysmally low, compared to that from hydrocarbons.

    He said this is opposed to what was obtained in the 60s and 70s, when the Nigerian economy was sustained by revenue from the agricultural and solid mineral sectors.

    She added that consequently, and in line with effort of the Government of the Federation to diversify the nation’s economy, the Commission conducted Two nationwide solid minerals revenue monitoring exercises in the last Seven years. Specifically, 2016 (Phase 1) and 2022 (Phase ll), with the intention of boosting revenue generation from the mining sector.

    The Chairman also said it has been established that despite the robust activities of Artisanal and Small Scale Mining, the subsector contributes negligible amount to the Federation Account due to the informal nature of operations.

  • My emergence end religious, tribal politics in Nasarawa, says Speaker

    My emergence end religious, tribal politics in Nasarawa, says Speaker

    Newly elected speaker, Nasarawa State House of assembly, Danladi Jatau said, he will work hard as the number three citizen of the state to close religious and tribal politics in the state which has undermine unity of the state.

    He also assured the people of the State of open door and all inclusive leadership devoid of any sentiment.

    Speaker Jatau gave the assurance while playing host to Jama’atul Nasri Islam (JNI) and Tijaniyya Movement, Nasarawa State Chapter in his office yesterday in Lafia.

    He advised religious leaders against inciting sermons capable of threatening the existing peace being enjoyed in the State.

    ” I want to appreciate you for the visit and to assure you of my readiness to operate an open door policy.

    ” I want to thank God for making me to be the leader of the House, I will work hard to close religious and tribal differences undermining unity, peace and progress of the State,the entire situation is worrisome ” he said.

    ” I came from a background without religious sentiment, in my immediate family, there are both Muslims and Christians and we operate as one united entity,” he added.

    The Speaker appreciated Governor Abdullahi Sule for his developmental strides in the state and called on all to give him the maximum support to succeed.

    Read Also: Nasarawa Assembly elects majority leader, two other principal officers

    ” I want to appreciate His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi Sule for being up and doing in developing the state.

    ” Let’s continue to support His Excellency to succeed ,” he said.

    Earlier, Caliphate Mallam Muhammad Buhari, the Leader of Tijaniyyah Movement, Nasarawa State said that the visit was to congratulate Rt. Hon Jatau on his emergence as Speaker of the state legislature.

    ” We are here to congratulate and rejoice with you on your emergence as Speaker of the House

    ” You have the experience and capacity to lead the House as God gives leadership to whom he wishes,” he said.

    He assured the speaker of their loyalty and support at all times, urging him to operate an open door policy.