The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • Kano governor-elect to reform drug addicts, empower youths, women

    Kano governor-elect to reform drug addicts, empower youths, women

    Kano State Governor-elect, Abba Kabir Yusuf, yesterday promised to empower the youth and women in the state to get jobs and be self-reliant when he takes over the mantle of leadership.

    This was just as he promised to reform drug addicts to become responsible citizens.

    He made the promise while fielding questions from reporters shortly after his supporters paid Sallah homage at the Miller Road residence of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, in Kano yesterday.

    The incoming governor said his administration will reopen entrepreneurship institutes to massively create jobs for unemployed youths.

    According to him, modern learning materials will be provided to train youths and women in various trades.

    Yusuf highlighted that “the 26 skill acquisition institutes initiated by the Kwankwaso administration and neglected by the outgoing Abdullahi Umar Ganduje administration would be resuscitated and put to use, when he takes over the reins of the state.

    Yusuf said: “The institutes, numbering about 26, would be optimally put to use to squarely address the menace of drug addiction and thuggery that posed serious concern to residents of our dear state. Drug addicts and thugs would be reformed to become responsible citizens, through the entrepreneurship training and empowerment in order to become self-reliant and job providers.

    “We are going to take very serious measures against thuggery and drug addiction. We have to make sure we clean the society of the menace of drug addiction and thuggery.

    “By May 29, after the inauguration and when we take the mantle of leadership, we will hit the ground running towards implementation of all campaign promises, ranging from healthcare delivery, education, water supply, agriculture, security and human development, among others.”

  • Buhari mourns retired Gen. Sa’id

    Buhari mourns retired Gen. Sa’id

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the death of retired Maj.-Gen. Suleiman Sa’id, Commissioner representing Niger State at the Federal Character Commission.

    A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, said the president conveyed his condolences via a message to the family of the deceased yesterday.

    Buhari said that the late military officer was brave and worked hard to make the country’s army a respectable institution.

    “He dedicated his life to the discipline and pride of the country. May Allah accept his good deeds and grant those who mourn him fortitude to bear the loss,” the president added.

  • CP meets traditional rulers over communal clash in FCT

    CP meets traditional rulers over communal clash in FCT

    The Acting Commissioner of Police (CP) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Ahmed Musa has met with leaders of Hausa and Gbagyi communities in Gwarinpa following a recent clash in the area.

    A statement by SP Josephine Adeh, the Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT yesterday in Abuja, said that one person died in the clash and another hospitalised.

    She said the meeting was necessary due to the tension generated along 3rd Avenue at the Gwarinpa axis because of the squabble between some Hausa and Gbagyi youths on Saturday.

    The command spokesperson said a suspect had been arrested and currently assisting the Police to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the fracas.

    Adeh said the meeting deliberated on ways of restoring peace between the communities and how to keep the youths in check, as well as identify bad elements and oust them from the area.

    She said the acting CP urged the traditional rulers to encourage the youths to imbibe peace and pursue grievances through legally approved channels rather than taking laws into their hands.

    According to her, the command has intensified surveillance patrols in the areas to forestall escalation of the clash.

    Adeh enjoined residents to go about their lawful businesses and report suspicious activities, persons or groups to the command on  08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653 and 08028940883.

  • Entrepreneur advocates human-centred approach to Nigeria’s energy policy

    Entrepreneur advocates human-centred approach to Nigeria’s energy policy

    An entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer, Kenyon International, Dr Victor Ekpenyong, has called for a human-centred approach to energy policies as people have remained central to energy demand.

    Ekpenyong, an oil and gas expert made the call during the ongoing Nigerian International Energy Summit 2024 (NIES 2023) in a panel discussion on Global Perspective for a Sustainable Energy Future.

    In a statement, yesterday by the Public Affairs Manager, Kenyon,  Mr Ifechukwu Muonyili, the Chief Executive urged policymakers to adopt a democratic approach to ensure that the results from energy policies were people-friendly in terms of affordability.

    He expressed concern that the policy-making process in Nigeria did not reflect the interest of the people and recounted his own experience setting up an assembling plant and facing exorbitant energy bills.

    Ekpenyong explained the importance of energy for business success in Nigeria and cautioned that the transition to renewable energy was premature without accessible and affordable energy.

    He highlighted the obsolete transmission lines that convey energy generated and the need for viable transmission lines and technologies to make energy more accessible and affordable for all citizens.

    He further called on all stakeholders to close ranks in achieving a human-centred energy sector and ensure that energy is affordable and accessible to all Nigerians.

  • PAP saved N1.5b from inflated contracts in last six months

    PAP saved N1.5b from inflated contracts in last six months

    The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), has saved the nation N1.5 billion in the last six weeks, The Nation learnt.

    According to Niger Delta Rights Assembly (NDRA), a group consisting of Youth in the region, the culture of probity, accountability, and transparency instituted by

    Major-General Barry Tariye Ndiomu, the Interim Administrator of PAP is also helping the agency to achieve its core mandate.

    The group, in a statement, therefore pleaded with the incoming administration to sustain the momentum.

    The group also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Ndiomu to head PAP; saying that his coming as helped in addressing the incessant complaint about PAP.

    The group noted that “barely six months, Ndiomu has saved the Programme over N1.5 billion from inflated contracts and has effectively positioned the Programme towards achieving its core mandate of addressing the needs of ex-militants rather than meeting the needs of a few emergency contractors who lack both competence and capacity.”

    The culture of probity, accountability, and transparency instituted by Ndiomu is yielding anticipated results, especially in the exposure of monumental fraud bordering on flawed payment systems and contract inflation.

    The NDRA listed some of the achievements recorded by Ndiomu, including earning the confidence and support of President Buhari, timely payment of monthly allocations, sustaining peace in the region leading to increased production of crude oil at an average of 1.67 million barrels per day, new policy initiatives on cooperative, completion of 5 vocational training centres, and data sanitization to verify genuine ex-agitators, among others.

    The group also urged the incoming government to sustain the culture of probity and fiscal responsibility instituted by Ndiomu to stave off agitations in the future.

  • Be decisive on insecurity, Agbaje tells Tinubu

    Be decisive on insecurity, Agbaje tells Tinubu

    •Says President-Elect has best hands to work with

    An expert on the economy, Opeyemi Agbaje, has urged the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to be decisive with prevailing insecurity when he becomes president.

    Agbaje said available data indicates that Nigeria is engulfed in an economic crisis, and thus, needs capable leadership to bail it, through decisive moves against prevailing insecurity.

    Delivering a paper, titled, ‘Crime and Insecurity: Understanding Nigeria’s Socio-economic Crisis’, the guest lecturer, at a media parley, organised by First City Monument Bank (FCMB), stressed that if the security challenges are not tackled, they would have cascading effects on socio-economic development of the nation.

    Agbaje said the subsisting security architecture was potent and only needed the political will to drive the entire process.

    He stated that as long as there is a dysfunctional economy with weak leadership, crime rate would continue to increase.

    Agbaje added that to address the current economic quagmire, a mix of market and social policy was needed to move the country forward.

    He also said Tinubu has capable hands to turn the situation around for good when he assumes office as President.

    The Vice President, Corporate Affairs of the bank, Diran Olojo, submitted that an informed media would aid the nation’s growth and better the society.

    He charged reporters on responsible journalism for the good of the citizenry and image of their brands.

    Olojo said: “An informed and responsible media will continue immensely to the growth and development of a more informed and active populace. Knowledgeable and engaged citizens trigger economic growth, better governance and social cohesion, among other benefits, ensuring a prosperous, cohesive and sustainable society”.

  • Court of Appeal quashed corruption charges filed against – Fani-Kayode

    Court of Appeal quashed corruption charges filed against – Fani-Kayode

    Reprieve came for the former Aviation Minister, and a director in the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC), Chief Femi Fani Kayode, yesterday, after seven years of battling corruption charges preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
    Fani-Kayode disclosed yesterday that the Court of Appeal quashed the charges filed against him; former Minister of Finance Nenadi Usman, and others at the Federal High Court in Lagos by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the misappropriation of N4.6 billion and money laundering.
    “It was the second time such a thing would happen. That is when charges against me would be quashed.
    The former Aviation minister in 2008, was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos and was prosecuted by the EFCC for the misappropriation of N19.5 billion.
    Fani-Kayode and EFCC were present when the verdicts were delivered via Zoom at the Appeal Court.
    EFCC charged Fani-Kayode alongside Nenandi Usman, before a Federal High Court in Lagos on an amended 17-count charge of money laundering.

    Read Also: May 29: And Fani-Kayode goes spiritual


    On Friday, Fani- Kayode tweeted with eclat:
    “Yesterday the Court of Appeal quashed the charges filed against me, the former Minister of Finance Nenadi Usman and others at the Federal High Court in Lagos by the EFCC for the misappropriation of 4.6 billion naira and money laundering.
    “The case lasted for 7 long years.
    “Glory be to God!
    “This is the second time the Lord has done this and it is a testimony of His goodness and mercy.
    “History records that in 2008 I was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos and was prosecuted by the EFCC for the misappropriation of 19.5 billion naira.
    “Again the case lasted for 7 long years.
    “Thanks be to God, I was discharged, acquitted and cleared of all charges in 2015.
    “Yesterday the Lord did it again.
    “On both occasions, His grace and mercy fought for me and my innocence spoke for me.
    “God is awesome in battle and faithful to His own!
    He is my shield, my glory and the lifter of my head!
    Glory be to His name!”

  • Senate Presidency: No aspirant from North has stepped down, says CSO

    Senate Presidency: No aspirant from North has stepped down, says CSO

    A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), on Sunday, denied media reports that all the aspirants jostling for the post of Presiding Officers of the 10th Senate from the North have withdrawn from the race.

    The CSO under your the auspices of The Policy Advocacy and Integrity Network Nigeria, in a statement in Abuja by its Executive Director, Josh Mesele, described the report as fake news.

    The statement reads in part: “We are amazed and taken aback with the fake report in one of the tabloids belonging to one of the aspirants from the South shamelessly claiming that aspirants from the North have all stepped down from the race.

    “This is lie from the pit of hell. We can boldly say with all sense of responsibility that no single aspirant from the North has stepped down, rather they are very much in the race.

    Read Also: ‘Zone Senate president to Southeast’

    “The leading aspirant in the race, Distinguished Senator Barau I. Jibrin from the North West, for instance, has been up and doing with his campaign and gaining grounds daily all over the country.

    “We urge all well-meaning Nigerians, especially Senators-elect not to be deceived by this misleading report.

    “The report has clearly shown that the aspirant in question is drowning in the race and desperately clawing at a non-existent straw.”

  • Sallah homage: Gov Bello receives widow of Army officer Ali

    Sallah homage: Gov Bello receives widow of Army officer Ali

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello on Friday hosted Hajia Sameera Mohammed Abu, the widow of the late Kogi-born Army officer, Lt. Col. Muhammad Abu Ali at his Lugard House, Lokoja official residence.

    Hailing Hajia Sameera Abu Ali for what he called her patience and belief in the will of the Almighty, Governor Bello said his administration will continue to keep in touch with those that were left behind by their loved ones who died in active duties. He said no matter the amount of succour and assistance the government and individuals provide for those who lost their loved ones, there are always burdens that can only be controlled by the Almighty, citing the father’s love for his children, husband’s love and care for his wife as some of the heaven burdens on the bereaved. Bello said that government will continue to pay attention to the needs of the families of the fallen heroes.

    Read Also: EID-EL-FITR: Bello congratulates Muslims

    Replying, Hajia Abu Ali thanked the governor for standing this far with her family describing the gesture as rare.

    Lt Col Mohammed Abu Ali, CON was an Army officer who commanded the Army’s 272 Tank Battalion until he and six soldiers were killed in an ambush by Boko Haram in Malam Fatori, Borno State on November 4, 2016.

    On the 9th of September 2015, Chief of Army Staff Lt General Tukur Buratai went to the battlefield in Gamboru where Lt Col Ali was carrying out a military onslaught against Boko Haram to present him an award for exceptional bravery

    Lt Col Abu Ali was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army Armour Corps in September 2003, a statement by Onogwu Muhammad, Chief P Tess Secretary to the Governor said.

  • Senator Musa felicitates Muslims at Eid-El-Fitr

    Senator Musa felicitates Muslims at Eid-El-Fitr

    Senator Mohammed Sani Musa on Friday, felicitated Muslim faithful in the country and all over the world on the celebration of the Eid-el-Fitr.

    Musa who represents Niger North Senatorial District, in a statement by his media office in Abuja, also congratulated Muslims on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast.

    He stressed that witnessing another Eid-el-Fitri was a special privilege from the Almighty Allah who has control over the destiny of man.

    Musa said the 30-day spiritual exercise, no doubt, drew the faithful closer to Allah and urged them to keep on practising the lessons learnt from the holy month in their relationship with their Maker and fellow human beings.

    He also urged the citizens to be vigilant and celebrate in moderation, noting that the current situation in the country and globally has made it imperative for Muslims and adherents of other religions to live in love, peace and harmony with one another, as well as seek the face of God in prayer for divine intervention.