The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • My appointment call to service, says NAHCON chair chair

    My appointment call to service, says NAHCON chair chair

    The newly appointed Acting Chairman /Chief Executive Officer of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Alhaji Jalal Ahmad Arabi has assumed office with a pledged  pursue the vision and mission of the commission with the sole aim of seeing the interest of the pilgrims.

    He stated this in his address while being welcomed to the Hajj House, stressing that the appointment was not only a privilege but a call to services.

    The chairman added that his objectives was to achieve his goal through the pursuit of the mantra of Trust, Sacrifice and Allah knows best (TSA) with the sole objective of improving the service rendered to the pilgrims.

    He said: “My appointment was a privilege. I am lucky to be called upon to serve the Guests of Allah, knowing fully well that the reward for serving the guest of Allah will be both Here and Hereafter.

    “I know like all establishments, we have our mission, vision and it is being pursued vigorously before now but certainly there is always room for improvement in whatever endeavour. Of course, without, prejudice to what we intend to achieve through our vision and mission, I have come with three nouns that will be so cardinal and of course will be on the tripod. I call them ‘TSA’ and my definition is entirely different from the TSA you know. Let me start with my T – trust. I know most of us, if not all, know the burden of trust and responsibility on any Muslim that is so charged to carry that trust. My ‘S’ is sacrifice. Whoever is entrusted with trust knows that he or she makes sacrifice and my A is Allah. Allah knows all.”

    Earlier, Alhaji Nura Hassan Yakasai, while congratulating Arabi on his appointment as the new chairman of NAHCON, reminded him that the task ahead were enormous and very challenging.

    Read Also: Tinubu appoints new helmsmen for ICPC, NAHCON, PTDF

    “We congratulate you for your appointment. The outgoing chairman would have wished to be here but due to some reasons beyond his control, he couldn’t make it. But I believe he will be here in the afternoon or when he will be able to meet you.

    “Apart from that, I just want to mention that you are coming in or stepping into the NAHCON at a critical time, at the time when all the preparations for Hajj are supposed to start or have already started and unfortunately, this time around, the period of time given by the Saudi authority is different from the traditional ones where we have sufficient time to do whatever we want to do or arrange but unfortunately you have a very short time.

    “The assurance I will give is that you have capable staff here that can assist you to succeed and it is our hope and prayers that you succeed,” he stated.

    He solicited cooperation of all stakeholders, especially the staff in order to make things better.

    “Our train is moving, we need to re-position the commission to be able to perform better and we shouldn’t do anything to slow it down”, adding “we shall try to address some of the complaints that have been made. We therefore need to work as a team,” he said.

    He promised to build a well-disciplined, professional and highly motivated staff, but said they must earn it.

  • Zulum to build 1,000 houses for IDPs

    Zulum to build 1,000 houses for IDPs

    Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has approved the construction of 1,000 houses for displaced communities at Darajamal and Mayanti communities in Bama Local Government Area of the state.

    Zulum, who gave the approval yesterday during an assessment visit to Bani, said infrastructure should be completed within four months.

    “We are here to implement a policy statement I made about one year ago to resettle some of our IDPs, particularly in Bama and Banki. These locations in Borno that have a large number of IDPs. We want to construct 500 houses each here in Darajamal and Mayanti, this should be the first phase of the construction exercise,” Zulum said.

    Read Also: Zulum’s 100 days wonder

    He said the government would provide social infrastructure, including primary school, health centre and water facilities, among other basic needs of the community.

    Zulum also announced that resettlement packages, including food and non-food items and cash, would be distributed to the returnees to support their means of livelihood.

    The governor assured that the government would work towards resettling displaced persons currently taking refuge in Bama.

    He noted that the returning of people at Banki junction would go a long way in reviving commercial activities and provide job opportunities to thousands of residents.

    According to him, the government will work with the military to secure communities and enhance civic authority so that the people can pick up the pieces of their lives.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the agrarian communities were displaced by Boko Haram insurgents in 2014, forcing most of the residents to take  refuge in Bama and Banki towns.

  • Kwara Gov exemplary in Nigeria’s fight against malaria, says FG, Global Fund

    Kwara Gov exemplary in Nigeria’s fight against malaria, says FG, Global Fund

    Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Wednesday came up for national applause by the Global Fund as the body rated the administration as one of the best in the fight against malaria.

    The commendation came as Governor AbdulRazaq personally launched the statewide distribution of integrated Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention and insecticide Treated Nets (SMC/ITN) across communities in the state.

    “Today’s event again testifies to the commitment of our administration to the wellbeing of our people, especially in the fight against malaria. Our malaria elimination programmes and strategies are complementary to the multipronged approach we are using to address health care challenges in the state,” the Governor said in Ilorin at the flag off ceremony of the integrated SMC/ITN campaign for 2023.

    Dwelling on the huge success recorded by the administration during the implementation of 2020 ITN campaigns, AbdulRazaq promised to continue to pay prompt attention to the health needs of the masses.

    The Governor said the mosquito net is an effective tool to tackle the menace of malaria through the barrier it provides against mosquito bites, especially in the night when used as prescribed, urging Kwara residents to collect and put them to good use.

    “The remarkable success of our last outing in November, 2020 was not limited to the 99% state-wide coverage and its attendant socioeconomic impacts. It also contributed to the overall improved health indices that we are celebrating and have been rewarded for in the state,” he said.

    “It has been established that these interventions have helped to bring the prevalence of malaria to as low as 20%. This is far from the 27% that was recorded in 2018 before we came on board and even below the current national average of 22%. 

    “The success in the implementation of the SMC strategy since 2021 where we have been administering malaria preventive tablets to our under 5-year-old children has also crashed the incidence of severe malaria among this age group to as low as 6%.”

    He congratulated every member of the team and partners on the huge feats made, and pledged to continue to create an enabling environment to encourage and support partnership and collaborations to achieve a lot more.

    The Governor earlier on Wednesday received on a courtesy visit a delegation comprising representative of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and Team Lead for Global Fund Programme Management Unit for National Malaria Elimination Programme, Federal Ministry of Health Dr. Issa Kawu; Nigeria Country Manager for Global Fund Dr. Jean-Thomas Nouboussi; Managing Director Society for Family Health Dr. Omokhudi Idogho; and State Coordinator for World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Salihu Abdullahi; among other dignitaries.

    They were received at the Government House alongside Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi; Secretary to the State Government Prince Abdulkadir Mahe Aliyu; and State Commissioner for Health Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam; Commissioner for Communications Hon. Bola Olukoju; Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology (BIT) Yusuf Damilola; Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs Abubakar Bata; and Commissioner for Energy Abdulganiy Abdulazeez Kola; among others.

    Dr. Issa Kawu, who represented the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, said malaria, according to the 2022 World Malaria report, remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, with the country contributing 27 % to the global malaria burden and 23% to malaria deaths globally.

    He commended the Governor for his proactiveness that has resulted in the huge success recorded in the state’s response to malaria prevalence.

    Dr. Kawu said malaria prevalence has dropped drastically in Kwara State under the watch of the Governor owing to his commitments to the antimalaria campaign in the state. 

    Dr. El-Imam, for her part, said some 2.2m nets worth $11.6m and SPAQ (malaria preventive drugs) worth $36.1m are to be distributed in this round for the benefit of the people.

    She attributed the feat the government has recorded to the government’s passion and responsiveness to the welfare needs of the citizens, hoping to achieve greater results for the current SMC/ITN campaign.

    The Commissioner said the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) activities are already ongoing in 11 LGAs of the state that were selected based on rainfall pattern information for 4 consecutive months. 

    Dr. Jean-thomas, country manager for Global Fund, hailed the Governor’s leadership style and dynamism that he noted led to the state’s landmark achievements in the health sector.

    He said AbdulRazaq’s passionate drive of the health sector accounted for the choice of Kwara as the first state to receive the new and effective LLIN and SMC/ITN nets.

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct Kwara lawmaker’s wife, two children

    “Before the end of the year, our Executive Director will organise a mission to visit Kwara. He wants to visit Kwara because of all the successes that we have been telling. It is not only the Global Fund secretariat, but the whole world is telling good stories about Kwara, on the story of Kwara regarding the successes and elimination of Malaria in Kwara,” he said. 

    “This (first-of-its-kind event) is to compensate your effort in mobilising your colleagues and health workforce in putting some resources in this campaign. Kwara is one of the best states playing its part by putting its counterpart resources as and when due. It has been quite exemplary.”

    Highlights of the event were the symbolic presentation of insecticide Treated Nets to some families in the state and the Governor demonstrating the use of the net by briefly sleeping in it.”

  • You’ll go to jail if you steal, Fintiri tells commissioners, perm secs

    You’ll go to jail if you steal, Fintiri tells commissioners, perm secs

    Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has told his commissioners and permanent secretaries that he is committed to his government’s zero-tolerance to corruption.

    He said any of them caught in any corrupt act will not only be shown the way out of government but will also be prosecuted.

    Speaking on Tuesday during a retreat organised for the commissioners and permanent secretaries, Fintiri charged the top officials to also be prudent with resources and time.

    “Be cost efficient. If there is something we can do at N1, let’s do it at N1. And use your time judiciously.  We must not fail to make noticeable differences where we work,” the Governor said.

    He charged the members of his cabinet to also adhere to humility in service, saying, “We are all custodians of the people’s mandate. We are not lords but servants in the work of building Adamawa.”

    Read Also: Fintiri kicks-off building of N21bn road

    The three-day retreat organised for 24 commissioners and 31 permanent secretaries, is designed to feature 10 researched papers, with the first paper scheduled for Tuesday morning being on policy conception and implementation, to be presented by the Vice Chancellor of Modibbo Adama University, Yola.

    Other papers for presentation during the retreat holding at AUN Hotel, Yola, include Effective Management of Resources; Understanding the Procurement Process & Adamawa State Procurement Law; Overview of Public Service Rules, among others.

  • Electricity workers strike over 72-month pensions arrears

    Electricity workers strike over 72-month pensions arrears

    Kano electricity workers, under its umbrella body of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), yesterday shut down the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) over alleged failure to remit their pension deductions in the last 72 months.

    The source of power supply to the metropolitan city of Kano and its environs may even be cut off and residents will grope in prolonged darkness as the affected workers yesterday vowed to keep the company under lock and key until the owed remittances are paid.

    North-West Chairman of the union, Malam Ado Ririwai, led hundreds of the union members at KEDCO headquarters and forcefully shut down all official activities of the electricity distribution company indefinitely.

    “The action by the workers has become pertinent -to demonstrate their displeasure over the management’s failure to remit workers’ 72 months pension benefits.

    “We will not allow such unwholesome attitude to continue,” Ririwai, who addressed at a briefing at KEDCO headquarters, said.

    Comrade Riruwai lamented that the management of KEDCO has continuously been victimising workers, particularly the union leaders who agitate for staff welfare and improved working conditions of staff.

    He also accused the company of refusing to provide basic medical care for the workers, as contained in the contract agreement, ”in spite of the hazards associated with their jobs”.

    Read Also: Expanded Dangote sugar refinery to produce surplus electricity

    “This is imperialism and wickedness against the rights of workers (to demand for what is theirs) as enshrined in Nigeria’s Constitution, which frowns at victimisation of workers demanding freedom at work,” he said.

    Spokesman for KEDCO, Sani Bala, yesterday confirmed the management’s indebtedness to workers.

    He appealed to the protesting workers to be patient in their demands, assuring that the new managing director will address the situation.

    He, however, said part of the claims had been paid.

    Bala said the new management of KEDCO inherited a huge sum of workers’ entitlements but the situation has been better in the last eight months.

    He added that the new management has been ensuring prompt remittance since it took over from the previous management.

  • Bauchi distributes rice to 10,764 households

    Bauchi distributes rice to 10,764 households

    The Bauchi state government has distributed rice as palliative to 10,764 people in the state capital to alleviate the hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.

    The distribution was a collaborative effort between the State and the Federal governments.

    Speaking at the exercise held at the premises of Bauchi Local Government Area Secretariat, yesterday, Commissioner of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajara Yakubu Wanka explained that the Governor Bala Mohammed directed that the food items be distributed first to enable the beneficiaries in the 20 local government areas to have something to eat.

    Read Also: Suspected ritualists kill 10-year-old girl in Bauchi

    According to her, the conditionaal cash transfer will soon be made available to beneficiaries across the state.

    “As soon as we finish all administrative processes, the amount will be transferred to each of the beneficiaries.” she said Caretaker Chairperson of Bauchi Local Government, Zainab Baba Takko, said the beneficiaries were carefully screened and selected,stressing that they are the poorest among the poor households in the area.

    She urged them to ensure that they did not sell off the bags of rice but used it to provide food for their families in the meantime.

    The Nation reports that Bauchi is the 8th council to be visited by the Palliative Committee headed by the Emir of Bauchi, Dr Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu.

  • Sani appoints ex-Perm Sec as SSG

    Sani appoints ex-Perm Sec as SSG

    Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has appointed former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Abdulkadir Muazu Mayere as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

    Dr. Meyere was appointed to replace Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal who was on Monday sworn-in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the Minister of Environment.

    A statement by Governor Sani’s spokesman, Muhammad Lawal Shehu said, Dr. Mayere’s appointment takes immediate effect.

    According to the statement, “Dr. Abdulkadir Muazu Mayere is a retired Federal Permanent Secretary.

    “As a Federal Permanent Secretary, he served at different times in the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, two ministries that are strategic to the socio-economic development of Nigeria and the fight against poverty, hunger and achieving food security.

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    “He served for 32 years in the Federal Public Service, progressing through the ranks from Medical Officer II to become a Director, Sports Medicine at the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports in 2011.He was appointed a Federal Permanent Secretary in 2017.

    “Dr. Mayere currently serves as a Senior National Consultant to Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations on “Hand in Hand Initiative in Nigeria,” working with Federal MDAs and some States on achieving SDG #1 and SDG#2. He is happily married with Children,” the statement read.

    Shehu stressed that Governor Sani expects the new SSG to use his wealth of experience towards achieving the SUSTAIN Agenda of the present administration.

    He wished Dr. Mayere Allah’s guidance and protection in his new assignment.

  • Dangote to increase power generation to national grid

    Dangote to increase power generation to national grid

    By: Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

    In an effort to support improvement of the national economy, the Dangote Group of Companies will generates Power from Numan Sugar Refinery and directed to national grid to increases energy production in the country.

    A statement by Dangote Group of Companies Communication Officer in charge of North, Malam Jibril Abubakar, quoted the group general manager of Dangote Sugar Refinery (DSR) Numan in Adamawa state, Mr Bello Abdullahi Dan-Musa, as saying that the company operates an independent power system, and that excess energy will be redirected to the national grid.

    The statement stated further that “the power, from the Dangote Sugar Refinery, Numan, when redirected to the National Grid has the potential to contribute immensely to the rapid development of the economy of the entire Northeast”.

    He added that the energy will bring about accelerated development and industrialization in the region. 

    “President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, had said that upon completion of the BIP projects, his sugar company will be able to create about 300,000 direct and indirect jobs, with positive multiplier effects on the national economy”.

    Read Also: Dangote vows to increase power generation to national grid to boost nation’s economy

    The Group General Manager added that “Sugar Refinery (DSR) employs no fewer than 7,000 workers yearly in its Backward Integration Project (BIP) in Numan, Adamawa State, adding: “The Dangote Group is the Nigeria’s biggest employer of labour after the Government”.

    Dan-Musa said most of the employees are often engaged on a temporary basis during the cane production season.

    Recently, he said the company paid over N500 million to the out-growers for the sugarcane they produced under the DSR Numan out-growers scheme.

    The current capacity of the DSR Numan refinery of 4,800 Tons of Cane Per Day (TCD), he said, is being upgraded to 6,000 TCD by end of 2023, 9,800TCD by 2024 and subsequently to 15,000TCD. 

    According to Mr. Dan-Musa, Dangote Sugar Refinery Numan has contributed immensely in the realization of the Backward Integration programme of the Federal Government.

    He added that, the company has acquired state of the art machines to support its production process, adding that it facilities are environmentally friendly.

    The Group General Manager stated further that “its Backward Integration goal is to become a global force in sugar production, by producing 1.5M MT/PA of refined sugar from locally grown sugar cane for the domestic and export markets”.

  • Kano distributes free books, uniforms to schools

    Kano distributes free books, uniforms to schools

    Kano state government has distributed instructional materials to primary and secondary schools in the state.

    Also, one million exercise books, thousands of school bags, uniforms and pairs of sandals were given to students for free.

    Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who spoke at the event, held the Coronation Hall of Government House, Kano, assured of his administration’s commitment in uplifting the standard of education at all levels in the state.

    The governor said 1,300,000 text books would be distributed to the schools, which include English textbooks, Mathematics, Technology and Science textbooks among others.

    Yusuf said he will re-board all the girls’ secondary schools that were de-boarded by the previous administration.

    He said his administration also paid examination fees for National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) for secondary school students.

    Read Also: Kano Mass Wedding: Don’t check your husband’s phones, Kwankwaso advises couples

    About 45,000 girls were given N20,000 each under the conditional cash transfer programme, initiated by the Yusuf administration, it was learnt.

    The governor said his administration will soon screen teachers, under the Basic Education Service Delivery (BESDA), with the aim of making their appointments permanent and pensionable.

    “This is in fulfillment of our campaign promises. And I assure you that my administration would not relent in investing on human capital development, geared towards building a prosperous society.

    “Our believe is that no society will grow without education, hence we will do everything possible to uplift the standard of education in Kano state,” the governor said.

    Commissioner for Education, Umar Haruna Doguwa, urged teachers and students to make judicious utilisation of the instructional materials and uniforms provided.

  • Controversy surrounds train coaches evacuation in Maiduguri

    Controversy surrounds train coaches evacuation in Maiduguri

    The Borno State Government has expressed support for the street protests by residents of Goidamgari and the Railway Terminus general area of Maiduguri Metropolis concerning the contentious evacuation of train coaches from the state.

     The story of the arrest of about six suspects who attempted to load three train coaches from the Railway Station terminus in Maiduguri had gone viral on both mainstream and social media platforms. The suspects were apprehended by the State Police Command following an intelligence report.

     According to the State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Yusuf Lawan, upon receiving a distress call from the Railway quarters, loader trucks were observed evacuating and loading property belonging to the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), including the three train coaches. The suspects claimed to have been assigned by the managing director of NRC to evacuate the coaches to Plateau State. However, they lacked the proper identification to verify their claims.

     The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) admitted receiving official communication regarding the evacuation, but the police maintained that they had not been informed, leading to the arrest and detention of the suspects.

    In response to the protests by hundreds of aggrieved residents who gathered at the station with placards bearing slogans like ‘We want our Railway coaches back’ and ‘No to evacuation of Railway facilities from Maiduguri.’

    Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, represented by his deputy, Umar Kadafur, assured the protesters that the state government would not permit any railway facilities to leave Maiduguri. Instead, they would work diligently to revive the railway services for effective transportation and development.

    Youth leader Mallam Abubakar expressed his dissatisfaction with the incident, emphasizing that Borno, which had suffered from over a decade of Boko Haram crisis, required government intervention in reconstruction, rehabilitation, resettlement, and the revitalization of railway services rather than the evacuation of its facilities.

    Read Also: Amuneke to train coaches

     Meanwhile, the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has refuted claims that its train coaches were stolen from Maiduguri.

    According to the Managing Director of NRC, Fidet Okhiria, the coaches were being moved by NRC officials to the Corporation’s Running Shed in Jos, Plateau State, for maintenance and to return them to operation. He explained that the NRC is working to expand Rail Mass Transit nationwide.

     The Borno State government has called for calm regarding the planned evacuation of railway infrastructure to a running shed in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

    A statement issued by the State’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, urged the public to be law-abiding and highlighted that railway infrastructure management is a federal matter within the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Railway Corporation.

    “The state remains peaceful and committed to restoring peace and security”, he said.