The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • CUPP: We stand by our petition to President Buhari

    CUPP: We stand by our petition to President Buhari

    The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has said it stands firmly by its letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, asking him to investigate certain politicians in Kogi State over an alleged attempt to cause mayhem in a bid to disrupt the forthcoming elections.

    The CUPP, in a statement jointly signed by 19 leaders, said, arising from a crucial meeting of Steering Committee members in Abuja, yesterday, members passed a resolution to distance the coalition from a statement said to have been signed by one of its spokespersons against collective decision.

    The leaders of the coalition frowned at what they described as “wicked blackmail” of Ikenga Ugochinyere by a senatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Kogi State, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, which they said, “pressured Ikenga to make the release precipitately.”

    They insisted that security agencies should investigate allegations that militants were imported to join Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rally last year, among others, adding that their intervention was a patriotic one.

    “The coalition stands by everything written in that petition, including a demand for the investigation of the allegation making the rounds in Kogi State of importing Niger Delta Militants to join Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s rally last year in Kogi State,” the CUPP leaders said.

    They pointed out that the CUPP had its hierarchy of leadership and should not be confused as the sole ownership of a single individual, saying that “a letter signed by bonafide leaders and members of the coalition cannot in anyway be referred to as fake.”

  • Fed Govt to close energy gap through Rural Electrification

    Fed Govt to close energy gap through Rural Electrification

    The Federal Government said projects implemented through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) will go a long way in closing the energy gap and enlivening unserved and underserved Nigerians.

    Minister of State Power, Mr Goddy Jedy-Agba said this yesterday in Abuja at the 2023 REA’s Management and Board Retreat with the theme “Institutional Strengthening for Sustainable Development.

    Agba said that renewable energy was the quick solution to bridge the electricity gap in the nation, adding that was why the Federal Government planned to continue to optimize it.

    “While drawing in quality investments and private sector participation in the space, this administration’s efforts to improve energy access through on – and off-grid electrification solutions are commendable.

    “We must not lose sight of Vision 30:30:30, aimed at raising the generation capacity to 30,000MW by 2030, of which 30 per cent will be from renewable sources.

    “Already, we can see how pivotal this agency is to this vision and the critical roles it must continue to play in the global conversation on energy transition and off-grid electrification, ‘’he said.

    According to him, REA is a fundamental agency in the power sector.

    He said the agency was tasked with such a critical mandate, there is a need to strengthen the pillars of service delivery continuously.

    Jedy-Agba said the agency was undertaking a series of reforms to enhance the workforce, improve the institutional systems, and pursue innovative programming strategies.

  • ‘How firm, Payfi is creating wealth for Nigerians’

    ‘How firm, Payfi is creating wealth for Nigerians’

    Payfi, a fintech company,  has launched a product in partnership with First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Credit Direct Limited (CDL),  to provide credit access to underserved salary earners and other consumers.

    A statement by the company stated that it is focused on building wealth for Africans by providing split payment options for rent, school fees, shopping, healthcare, among others.

    It noted that the collaboration with FCMB and CDL was inspired by the need to ensure that every Nigerian has access to credit at the point of sale.

    The company said with its Buy Now, Pay Later(BNPL)  option, users can make purchases on credit and pay in instalments  .

    “For consumers, this product allows them to shop online when they don’t have the funds readily available. It’s a simple and flexible shopping method. Users find partnered merchants via the Payfi website, mobile app, or FCMB mobile app, add items to their cart and select Payfi as their preferred payment method.

    “They can then choose to checkout directly on Payfi with their bank account or sign in with their Payfi ID if they are existing Payfi users. Once the transaction is successful, the merchant will proceed to deliver the goods or offer the service, and the customer can pay back later. This system allows consumers to get access to quality goods and services in a financially flexible way,” it said.

     It said Nigerians needed access to purchasing power without breaking the bank every time, hence,  fintech solutions like no collateral loans and buy now, pay later(BNPL) are essential.

    “This will ensure all banks in Nigeria are integrated, so all users will need to transact on Payfi’s BNPL is their bank account number. By extending its BNPL infrastructure to other financial institutions, Payfi also frees up resources for these institutions for free, so they don’t need to commit time or resources to build from scratch.

    “This year, the company will be adding self-service credit scores from the mobile and web app to help users check their credit scores with the three credit bureaus. There’ll also be a new web app that eliminates the need to download an app from an app store, bill payment services, a no-credit check product backed by your savings on Investyield and a Save to Own product,” it added.

    Also,the product allows  financial institutions  to distribute their credits through PayFi’s platform, offering more options to their customers, increasing their retail portfolio and sales, reducing risk, improving customer loyalty, and also being able to monitor the use of credits by seeing the actual goods or services their customers have purchased. It also  enables financial institutions to offer BNPL as a product to customers.

    Payfi began as Osbit computing in 2018, initially providing financing to bankers and their families and friends who wanted to purchase mobile devices. Founded by three tech bankers–Philips Akinyele (CEO) Seun Sanni (COO), and Matthew Igho (CTO)–they began with the goal of helping Africans build wealth by providing credit access to underserved salary earners.

  • Hajj institute academic activities starts Feb 7

    Hajj institute academic activities starts Feb 7

    The newly-established Hajj Institute of Nigeria (HIN) by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) will begin academic session on February 7 at the Hajj House Conference with the first set of students/enrolees.

    The session will be declared open by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu who will administer the Matriculation Oath, while the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Musa Bello, will be Special Guest of Honour.

    The Institute will commence with a 4-week Certificate programme for the members of the board of the Commission on “Strategic Management of Hajj and Umrah Operations”.

    Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NAHCON Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, expressed delight at the final take off of the institution.

    “We congratulate all our stakeholders for the feat we have are able to achieve. We cannot lay claim to have solely achieve this. As such, we recognised the contributions of the past board. I implore the stakeholders to work together as build-up partners to uplift this institution to the highest pedestal even as we shall leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the sense of esteem of future Hajj managers are uncompromisingly preserved,” he said.

    The HIN is one of the headlight agenda of the current board with the vision to build professional Hajj Managers to administer Hajj in the future.

    The idea to establish an Hajj Institute was contained in NAHCON Establishment Act 2006 and was on the front burner of successive board of the Commission but it witnessed a more rapid pursuit in 2020, when the Commission sought and obtained the Provisional Approval of the National Board for Technical Education,(NBTE) to establish and run the institution.

  • Our records will make APC’s victory easier, says Abdulrazaq

    Our records will make APC’s victory easier, says Abdulrazaq

    Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said his administration’s achievements in office will enhance the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming elections.

    The Governor said this in Ilorin, the state capital at the inauguration of the over 2000-member APC Campaign Council.

    “As a government, we have made your job easy because of what we have done in every part of the state. We met dilapidated structures across the state in primary health and education, poor infrastructure, and lack of water supply. We have gone very far to overcome that. We have done exceedingly well across sectors,” AbdulRazaq said.

    He added: “We have stabilised things, and the next few years will serve to consolidate on our achievements and position our state for greatness and further empower our people positively, especially young people and women.

    “The previous governments couldn’t even pay salaries, pensions, and gratuities in spite of huge funds that they received. Within the last two months, we have paid about N6bn to clear salary arrears, pensions, and gratuities for 2009, 2010, and now 2011.

    “We will continue to upscale on what we have done in the areas of health, education, agriculture, road infrastructure, and social safety net.”

    AbdulRazaq congratulated all members of the council for their nomination by the party and charged them to consolidate on the success recorded in 2019.

    “You are charged to deliver our party just as you did in 2019. The immediate challenge is to deliver Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next president of Nigeria. Then, you must deliver all our senators and House of Representatives members on the 25th of February, 2023. You should also deliver all our candidates in the March 12 governorship and House of Assembly elections,” AbdulRazaq said.

    The Governor also encouraged the youths to learn from the experiences and guidance of elders to guarantee the success of the party.

    Kwara APC chairman Prince Sunday Fagbemi urged members of the council to work assiduously for the victory of the party at all levels in a peaceful and orderly manner.

    “We do not want violence in this election. Go about your campaign peacefully. We do not believe in violence because our party is not known for that. We commend the police for their prompt action, which led to the arrest of a member of the opposition who nearly disrupted our campaign recently in Ilorin,” he said.

    Read Also : Kwara generated N34.1b IGR in 2022, says govt

    Speakers at the inauguration included Senators Sadiq Umar and Lola Ashiru; Kwara Central Senatorial district candidate and Turaki of Ilorin Mallam Saliu Mustapha; House of Representatives candidates Raheem Adewuyi, Yinka Aluko, Mukhtar Sagaya, Dr Ahmed Adamu Saba; and Speaker Kwara State House of Assembly Yakubu Danladi Salihu; and Director General of the Campaign Council Alhaji Abdulfatai Yahya-Seriki.

    They urged members of the party to see their appointments as a call to duty and those not on the list to see themselves as part of the project.

    They said the victory of APC would the continuation of more good things to come to the state, adding that it is a project that all must work together to win.

    All members of the party must see themselves as campaign managers and deliver their respective polling units and wards, the chieftains said.

    They said the administration of AbdulRazaq had been good for everybody and every community, thereby making things easier for the party in the state.

    The chieftains said what the Governor had done is evident across various rural communities, adding that the statistics are improving in health and education and the likes and patriots will not allow Kwara to go back to retrogressive old days.

  • FGC Kaduna marks 50th anniversary

    FGC Kaduna marks 50th anniversary

    The Federal Government College Kaduna (FGCK) held its 50th year anniversary at the international conference centre in Abuja last Saturday with alumni of the institution home and abroad in attendance.

    The event which was chaired by the former group CEO of Access bank Plc, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, attracted distinguished gathering of the old and young all of who have traversed the different sectors of Nigeria’s economy and many outside the country. 

    Aig-Imoukhuede frowned at the state of unity in the nation. He called on all to make Nigeria great again using the success of FGCK and its alumni as a platform of unity in progress. It was a task he instilled on all who attended the event. 

    Aig-Imoukhuede also officially launched the 1B Endowment Fund with N100 million.

    Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo gave the Keynote address of the occasion  titled ‘The quest for Unity in Nigeria and the role of the unity schools’

    He said: “Unity is a key ingredient in achieving success in any human activity involving two or more persons. Where people are not united, there is divergence of purpose and a greater chance of confusion.”

    He  stressed on the importance of unity in a society like Nigeria and what role the unity schools can play to foster peace.  

    The National President of the FGCK Alumni Association, Comrade Seyi Gambo, spoke about the rich history of FGCK and what it has achieved as a citadel of learning in Nigeria.

    He pointed out some of its outstanding qualities which points to the success of all its alumni spread across the world. He welcomed all over 40 members of the alumni who travelled from United Kingdom, Australia, United States of America who came to join their counterparts in Nigeria for the celebration.

    Graduates of the school from the first set of 1977 to the last set attended the gala night where various awards were given to many members for their support to their alma mater and their service to the nation. Many of the awardees had served meritoriously in the armed forces and police of Nigeria. The proud alumni were elated to be well honoured.

    A documentary of the school and its achievements was played at the event in celebration of the institution.

  • Buhari, Kalu mourn as Emir of Dutse is buried

    Buhari, Kalu mourn as Emir of Dutse is buried

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the demise of Dr Nuhu Sanusi, the first-class traditional ruler (Emir) of Dutse in Jigawa.

    The president said the deceased was recognised as one of Northern Nigeria’s modernising leaders.

    Before his death, the Emir was the Chancellor of Sokoto State University.

    The president noted that the late Emir was considered an exemplary leader in the global quest for a sustainable living environment, and a lead advocate for afforestation and the green ecosystem.

    “The late Emir’s official biography equally puts him up as an advocate of the mitigation of climate change, prompting him to build the Dutse Royal Golf Course, which is reputed to be one of the largest in Nigeria with lush vegetation, exotic flora and rare fauna,” the president said.

    While expressing sadness on the passing of the Emir, Buhari said, “He was instrumental to the progress Dutse had achieved in the last three decades under his watch. He was a grassroots person who was loved by all.”

    Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu described the late Emir as a compassionate, generous and humble person.

    Kalu said that the late royal father would be remembered for his exemplary leadership style.

    “The demise of the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sanusi is a big loss to Jigawa and Nigeria in general. The late Emir was a patriotic and selfless leader, who used his position to advance the cause of the people. He was passionate about the growth and progress of his domain. The late emir demonstrated outstanding leadership attributes in various capacities. He was a rallying point for his contemporaries and the younger generation in view of his impeccable personality,’’ he said.

    Meanwhile, the remains of the late Emir Sanusi were laid to rest yesterday amid tears at a public cemetery in Dutse.

    The burial of the First Class Emir at a public cemetery was done in accordance to his will as against the royal cemetery.

    The Chief Imam of Dutse Central Mosque, Dr Sani Birnin Kudu, who led the funeral prayer, prayed the Almighty Allah to forgive the deceased.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that about 50 emirs and other top government functionaries attended the funeral prayer.

    Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, led the Federal Government delegation, while Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and former governors of Jigawa, Saminu Turaki and Sule Lamido attended the prayer.

    Also in attendance were the Vice Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima, captains of industries, entrepreneurs, religious leaders and hundreds of residents of the state.

    Sunusi died on Tuesday after a brief illness at the age of 79.

    Born on Dec. 27, 1944, Sunusi was installed the 3rd Emir of Dutse in 1995, after the demise of his father, Muhammadu Sunusi.

  • Nigeria heading towards a fiscal ‘cliff,’ CISLAC warns

    Nigeria heading towards a fiscal ‘cliff,’ CISLAC warns

    The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has warned that the country was heading towards a fiscal “cliff” as a result of its rising debt profile.

    According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), Nigeria’s total public debt stock as of June 30, 2022 was N42.84trillion.

    CISLAC said Nigeria’s national debt was growing and increasingly putting the country in a precarious situation, adding that this was with limited access to further financing on concessional terms.

    Executive Director, CISLAC, Auwal Rafsanjani at a briefing in Abuja in collaboration with Christian Aid Nigeria on the Increasing Role of Private Creditors in Nigeria’s Debt Crisis and its Human Costs, said: “It is instructive to recall that Nigeria’s debt service cost presently outweighs its revenue with clear signs of economic dangers ahead.

    “We call on all state and non-state actors to mobilise collective actions to nip this issue in the bud as we head towards a fiscal cliff, in the interests of the increasing population of poor Nigerians whose lives are affected by the crisis.”

    He said the group was concerned with the lack of vigorous scrutiny and attention by federal lawmakers in granting requests for loans without reflecting on the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and the greater implication for the nation’s economic state.

    He said  the Nigerian legislators have the constitutional and legislative mandate to approve loan requests only on the basis of public interest and should put this clause as a prerequisite to any approvals they might want to give.

    The CISLAC boss urged presidential candidates in next month’s election to proffer solutions towards reducing Nigeria’s debt profile.

  • Rotary donates wheelchair to physically-challenged

    Rotary donates wheelchair to physically-challenged

    The Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama yesterday donated an electric wheelchair worth N1.5 million to a physically-challenged man.

    The beneficiary, Festus Azike, a 42-year-old poliomyelitis survivor and father of three, had struggled with movement, and crawled for over 30 years before the intervention by Rotary.

    Speaking during the presentation in Abuja, the District Governor, District 9125 of Rotary International, Dr. Goddy Nnadi, said: “Since I became District Governor on July 1st last year, we have done very impactful projects. We have built schools, primary healthcare centres, paid school fees for indigent students, donated monies to widows under the economic empowerment programmes, planted trees, and other interventions.

    “However, the ones that touch me are the ones like this where this man who has been like this without his limbs and a polio survivor. Through the help of Rotary and other international organizations, we have driven polio out of Nigeria.”

    While addressing journalists, the President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama, Yusuf Alli, said: “We are here to present an electric wheelchair of about N1.5 million to a poliomyelitis survivor. As a club, we decided to assist him. He has been challenged in the last 30 years. We did not know him but he reached out to us, and in the last six months, he has been mounting pressure on us.

    “We conducted due diligence and we found him to be worthy. He is not a beggar on the street; he has a job. All he needed was assistance from us so that he could go to his workplace.”

    Azike, while appreciating Rotary for its magnanimity and giving him hope of a better life, said:  “I was nine years old when this whole thing happened. I am a survivor today. I went to school crawling – Primary, Secondary and Tertiary (Auchi Polytechnic). Afterwards, I served in JAMB before I was employed into the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) as a computer analyst.

    “I have been trying to procure a wheelchair on my own but could not achieve it.  Before I use my kneels to crawl on the floor. It usually takes me time to get to some places. This wheelchair is like my leg I lost. Rotary Club Maitama is like a second God to assist me.”

  • Kwara hosts 250 tech ecosystem builders to ease businesses

    Kwara hosts 250 tech ecosystem builders to ease businesses

    Kwara State Government at the weekend assembled at least 250 tech ecosystem builders across Nigeria to develop ideas and digital skills that will address some of the problems associated with government businesses in the country and beyond.

    The two-day event, which attracted participants from Cross Rivers, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger and Kwara States, saw contestants coding all night, seeking to proffer solutions to letter and memo tracking systems; data capturing system; medical record systems for hospitals; election monitoring systems; among others.

    Organised by the state-owned Ilorin Innovation Hub led by Temi Kolawole, some of the ICT talents were rewarded with monetary prizes at the end of the pitching exercise that was keenly supervised by a panel of judges.

    Read Also : AbdulRazaq briefs Kwara professionals in Lagos

    Prominent among the participants and mentors were the Country Director, UK Nigeria Tech Hub, Justina Oha; House of Reps candidate (APC) Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency Hon. Mukhtar Shagaya; representative of the Director General National Information Technology and Development Agency (NITDA) and Director Zonal offices of the agency Babajide Ajayi; Vice President IHS Towers Kazeem Oladepo; Memunat Monsuma; CEO Plat Technologies Ltd Engr Taofik Abdulkareem; and some government officials, including the State Commissioner for Communications Hon. Sadiq Buhari; Executive Chairman Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) Folashade Omoniyi; Managing Director, Ilorin Innovation Hub, Temi Kolawole; Executive Chairman, State Geographic Information System (Kw-GIS) Abdulmutalib Shittu; GMD Harmony Holdings Abdulmajeed Abdullahi; and Acting GM state Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) Abdulquowiyu Olododo, among others.

    Country Director, UK Nigeria Tech Hub, Justina Oha, said e-solutions are now becoming part of the processes globally, commended the state government for going digital and for the choice of Temi Kolawole as the head of Innovation Hub.

    She said the United Kingdom is interested in collaborating with Nigeria and Kwara in particular to develop an enabling tech ecosystem.

    “The governments of this World are looking for e-solutions to become a part of their processes, and regardless of the outcome tonight you are all winners as you are contributing to the digital economy of this World and the solutions that will matter,” she said.

    “Technology drives innovation. It has come to stay and it will continue to be so. It is really difficult imagining where the World will be in the next ten years just because of the principles of multiplicity. Things are happening in a very accelerated space. And staying alive with your vision in technology is a sure way to become part of that movement.

    “We will continue to work together to develop an enabling tech ecosystem in Nigeria and in Kwara state. God bless this state and all of you,” she added.

    Temi said they organised the programme to unlock some key solutions in government, and also kick-start a revolution in the way government is run in Nigeria.

    “We believe the government can become more efficient via adoption of technology and digital transformation. The current mode of communication in government agencies is still mostly paper-driven, which comes with several risks.

    “We are putting this hackathon together to unlock some key solutions in government, and also kick-start a revolution in the way government is run in Nigeria, while supporting local talent,” he said, while speaking with newsmen late Sunday.

    He said the contestants were grouped into 50 teams with each of them allocated areas of focus and identifiable problems in government businesses to solve, adding most of them are indigenes, who he said, were picked to encourage them harnessing their talents in digital space.

    “They have worked on solutions on letter and memo tracking systems, data capturing systems, and medical record systems for hospitals. You know how in hospitals the files are physical. When you go to hospitals you start looking for your files, after asking you for your cards. We can rather digitize all medical records; you just enter a patient name or number, and it brings out all their records. It can even be between life and death when you spend 30 minutes looking for a patient’s file. So these are little things that can be done to solve problems in our society, using technology.

    “Another example of a project that we have is the election monitoring systems. You know we have different kinds of issues in the elections, you can send in pictures where incidents happen. You can also look at the scores; how different candidates are performing in different polling units and wards just as a way of tracking and keeping accountability to compare results from different sources,” he added.

    Other projects already put in place, according to Temi, was the garment factory online platform — a newly established firm by the Kwara state government, where he said people can order wholesales from anywhere in the world.

    Shittu, one of the jurists at the competition, said they expected contestants to create ideas, the solutions to solve those ideas, and to assess their ability to build those ideas within the two days the event lasted, as well as their (ideas) marketability in the society.

    “We have a lot of sponsors here. We have Whogohost, FibreOne, and so on. They are all here sitting down to look at the take that are here. So the talents are going to be taken on board, nurtured fully and be given the assistance they need to develop these solutions they have made and make them marketable. Some of the solutions they have made are meant to be sold to the state and the whole World”.

    Memunat Monsuma – a technology expert from Edu local government of Kwara state, who spoke to the topic: “Facilitating Gender Equality on Technology”, said 89 percent of Kwara women are not IT compliant, explaining some.of the steps she has been taking to address that.

    She said she has trained over 5000 women so far about the use of the internet to enable them to meet up with the global expectations.

    Highlight of the event was the presentation of monetary gifts to the winning teams. The first prize (N2m) went to Team Health stack; Team INOVATIF got the 1st runner-up prize of N1m, while Team KidsTech, which is the 2nd runner up, received N500,000.

    The likes of Team Machine Glow, Team Kids tech and Team Soft A1 were all rewarded with N100,000 consolation prizes for being adjudged the Best User Interface; Best Presentation; and Most sophisticated teams respectively.