The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • Kebbi, Britain to co-operate on economy, culture

    Kebbi, Britain to co-operate on economy, culture

    The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mrs Catiriona Laing yesterday said the British Government will deepen its economic and cultural relationship with Kebbi State.

    She stated this in Birni-Kebbi when she visited Kebbi State.

    She said there is an existing and deep relationship between Nigeria and Britain which made the late Queen visit Nigeria twice in her lifetime. The commissioner said King Charles lll will deepen the relationship.

    She said she and her team were in Kebbi State to see what the state is doing in respect of its successful agricultural programme and economic activities and to see where to learn and intervene.

    “We are going through a critical time in Britain with the loss of the Queen. Before she died she talked about her 2 visits to Nigeria.  King Charles lll will also have a good relationship with Nigeria as the late Queen did.  I’m confident that the relationship will grow stronger,” she said.

    She added that Kebbi is very successful in her agricultural activities, particularly in rice production and its government appears to be committed to its progress and development. She enjoined other states in the country to learn from Kebbi in the area of agriculture.

    Laing said: “Kebbi is very important in the committee of states in Nigeria. We will see where to learn from its agriculture programme.

  • UNICEF laments Northeast’s children’s education challenges

    UNICEF laments Northeast’s children’s education challenges

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed concern over the challenges which children’s education and health experience in the Northwest.

    The Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Kano Mr Rahama Rihood Mohammed Farah stated this at a capacity-building training for media practitioners in Jigawa, Kano and Katsina states.

    He said: “Children are facing a lot of challenges, particularly in the areas of health and education.”

    Farah, who was represented by the UNICEF Communication Specialist Mr Samuel Kalu lamented that, at times, children lack even the right to survive like every other person. This, he said, causes them to undergo some debilitating experiences.

    He said the training was aimed at using the media as a showcase for massive campaigns and enlightenment for the promotion and protection of children’s right to life, education and health care provisions in the three states.

    According to him, the media is a strong change agent, as it has a vital role to play to save the lives of thousands of children who suffer from malnutrition early marriage lack of education, among other threats to their growth and development.

    He maintained that UNICEF is doing its best through partnering with the media to protect and promote issues related to children’s survival.

    He called on journalists to make use of the opportunity to contribute to the protection and promotion of the lives of children who are the future hope of society.

  • WAMY, Inuwa Foundation offer eye surgery, drug to 2,736 patients in Jigawa

    WAMY, Inuwa Foundation offer eye surgery, drug to 2,736 patients in Jigawa

    More than 2,730 persons have benefitted from free eye services and cataract surgery financed by the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) in collaboration with Mallam Inuwa Foundation (MIF) in Jigawa State.

    MIF Head of Management, Dr Husseini Yusuf Baban, said surgical procedures were conducted on 636 patients; 600 others received glasses while 1,500 got a variety of drugs.

    Baban explained that the annual week-long outreach, supported by the state government, was necessitated by the need to reduce the burden of blindness in several Jigawa localities.

    “The motivation is purely to assist vulnerable communities and persons who lack the wherewithal to perform/undergo necessary eye surgeries. We are doing this solely to seek reward from Almighty God”, he noted.

    WAMY distributed medicated glasses and drugs for various eye ailments to the patients at the Dutse General Hospital at no cost.

    Head of the Foundation in Nigeria, Dr Isham Muhammad, and Chief Medical Doctor for the exercise, Dr Bihlali Abdallah expressed excitement over the reception in Jigawa and successes of the intervention.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Audu Ali Warwade conveyed heartfelt gratitude to the organizers of the yearly medical aid.

    Read Also: Police arrest two suspected kidnappers, recover weapons in Jigawa

    He applauded the charity organizations for their support which has helped to cure the cataract and other eye problems that hitherto affected their sight.

    The community-based MIF – facilitated by the family of Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) – was set up to improve the lives of Jigawa people.

    The body founded in 2018 has provided potable water and free eye services to thousands in Dutse, Gumel and Hadejia emirates, in conjuction with Qatar Charity Foundation.

    WAMY Foundation, established in 1972 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was founded by Muslim Brotherhood member Kamal Helwabi, who served as its executive director until 1982. It has offices in countries with significant Muslim populations.

  • Foundation donates 300kva transformer to Benue community

    Foundation donates 300kva transformer to Benue community

    After 16 months of groping in darkness, Mbaba people in the Gwer East LGA, Benue, have benefitted from a 300KVA transformer donated by the Yvonne Achado Foundation.

    donated a 300KVA transformer to the community following the breakdown and neglect o

    Social and commercial activities had been grounded in the community without power supply.

    “The return of electric power in the community after a long time in darkness will aid security, promote economic activities and be beneficial to everyone,” said Mbaba Kindred Head Yaro Iorshula during the commissioning of the transformer.

    Represented by Apu Yaro, the community leader urged his people to guard and take ownership of the power project for the benefit of everybody at Mbaba.

    Read Also: Benue police nab two suspected kidnappers

    Florence Achado, the chairman of the foundation, rejoiced with the people for the relief the project has brought the community.

    She further reassured them of the foundation’s commitment to the development not only of Gwer East, but the whole of Benue state and beyond.

    According to her, the foundation, which is honoring late Yvonne Acchado, a philanthropist of note, is on a mission to provide better health care, mobility support for persons with disabilities, and to eliminate poverty through social and human capital development.

  • Kwara disburses N600m grant to 30,000 traders

    Kwara disburses N600m grant to 30,000 traders

    Kwara State Government on Wednesday commenced the distribution of a whopping sum of N600m grant to empower at least 30,000 women and petty traders across the sixteen local governments of the State.

    The support, which is being coordinated under the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), is a replica of World Bank programme, Nigeria for Women Project, with each of the beneficiaries receiving N20,000 to support their trades.

    The disbursement exercise started with Asa, Ilorin West and Ilorin South, while other local governments are scheduled for the coming days.

    “We are paying N20,000 each to 30,000 petty traders across the State. As I speak, enumeration is still ongoing to accommodate more people. But we needed to kick-start the payment,” Acting GM, KWASSIP Abdulqowiyu Olododo told newsmen on the sideline of one of the disbursement centres at Alanamu, Ilorin West LG.

    “From now till Saturday, we will be paying the first batch of the beneficiaries. And subsequently like a week or so, disbursement for the new entrants will continue. We are doing Ilorin West, South and Asa today. We should be able to cover about 3000 beneficiaries of them under the first tranche.”

    Olododo dismissed speculations that the selection process was political, saying the list was a product of consultations with relevant stakeholders, including trade groups, in the affected locations.

    Read Also: ASUU strike: NANS threatens to occupy Kwara Airport

    “Some people are speculating that the selection process is political. There is nothing like political patronage about the exercise. This administration is known to spread dividends if democracy to all parts of the state and to all persons at various times. We worked with different community people, trade bodies, and other stakeholders across the State who helped us to identify the genuine petty traders,” he added.

    “This is not the first time the government is giving out Owo Isowo (trader-moni). It is a second phase of such. After disbursement, our office usually does proper monitoring and evaluation, because we have their details including addresses with us. The evaluation enables us to ascertain the impact from the beneficiaries. So far, we are impressed with the feedback and that is why we are doing it again.”

    The TIC Chairman for Asa, Alhaji Abduganiy Saadu Atebise said the concept is people-focused and one that will go a long way in reviving several businesses, and hailed the gesture of the State government.

    Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke to newsmen, expressed their joy for the financial support and applauded the process leading to their pick.

    Mrs. Kabira Nasirdeen, who is vending foodstuffs, said the money will help strengthen her business, thanking AbdulRazaq for the business-friendly initiative.

    Mrs. Ishola Memuna, Gari seller, prayed for AbdulRazaq for coming to their rescue through such empowerment.

  • Floods ravage Plateau, Yobe, Jigawa communities

    Floods ravage Plateau, Yobe, Jigawa communities

    By Kolade Adeyemi, Jos and Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

    No fewer than 400 houses have been submerged by flood in some parts of Pilgani District of Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State following several days of torrential rain.

    The Nation reports that the areas mainly affected include, Zamadede, Shilur, Pishe, Agwangani, Galang and several other communities.

    When contacted, the Executive Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Area, Rimven Zulfa said: “We received reports of the flooding in the communities and would look into it and ensure that the necessary agencies are contacted so that succour would be provided for our people.”

    Also, Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni on Monday, inspected Jumbam and Kaliyari communities in Tarmuwa Local Government Area that were ravaged by floods.

    Buni directed the state’s Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Umar Dudaye, to rehabilitate the road leading to the area.

    Read Also; Two swept off, nine rescued in Lagos floods

    He also directed the state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to ensure that all victims were given relief materials and those admitted to the hospital received free treatment.

    Alhaji Mohammed Goje, SEMA Executive Secretary, confirmed that the death toll from Saturday’s boat mishap in the area had risen to 11.

    He said the flood destroyed 180 houses and washed away 752 hectares of farmlands.

    In Jigawa State, no fewer than 95 lives had reportedly been lost to a flood-related accident in the past three weeks, the police said.

    Confirming the figures to our reporter, the Police Public Relations Officer in the Jigawa State Police Command, DSP Lawal Shi’isu Adam said the flood has caused a lot of disasters across the state.

  • 700 Plateau youths trained in film production

    700 Plateau youths trained in film production

    The Director-General/Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph Ari has commended the Plateau Diaspora Tourism and Culture Agency for their effort toward ensuring Plateau youths aspire for entrepreneurship in the creative industry and have access to the tools required for a digital learning/training.

    Ari, who gave the commendation in Jos at the training of over 700 youths in film production organised by Accelerating the True Potential, said the fund has attracted entrepreneurship and innovation advancement that provide and promote platforms for local and international programmes aimed at making it easier for anyone to start and maintain a business.

    The “Accelerate your True Potential” event is very important to the country’s current economic experience and there is no better time to have this programme than now.

    Read Also: Nkechi Blessing hits fan for unauthorized filming

    He said it is evident that the country cannot continue to be dependent on oil, stressing that it is imperative to look towards other sectors for the sustenance of our future economy.

    The conveners of the programme, Josephine Ibrahim and Lady Gertrude Longwan Odoala from the United States and the United Kingdom respectively, who are members of the board of directors of the Plateau State Tourism Corporation in Diaspora, said they targeted over one million youths to be trained.

    The duo argued that Accelerating the True Potential of our youth promises to redefine the direction of flow that the teaming youths will take in their career pursuits in the film industry which will have a profound lifetime effect on how they will conduct themselves in the business world, particularly in the film industry.

    This has made the state the film producers’ haven.

    Tourism plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of the developed countries, saying their mission is to identify and engage critical stakeholders and harvest the vast human, financial and technical sources of the Diaspora community through the public, private partnership (PPP) approach.

  • Taraba APC: Court orders fresh governorship primary in 14 days

    Taraba APC: Court orders fresh governorship primary in 14 days

    The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo yesterday nullified the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election that produced Senator Emmanuel Bwacha as the flagbearer of the party in Taraba State for next year’s general elections.

    The presiding judge, Justice Simon Akpah Amobeda, ordered that a fresh primary poll be conducted within 14 days of the judgment.

    “Within seven days only, the party (APC) should determine the mode of conduct of the fresh primary -whether by direct poll, indirect or consensus,” the court said.

    One of the aspirants in the Taraba APC governorship primary held on May 26 2022, David Sabo Kente had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Emmanuel Bwacha and the APC as the first, second and third defendants respectively, challenging the legitimacy of the conduct of the primary.

    In determining the substantive suit, the judge noted that the Chairman of the Taraba APC Governorship Election Committee had said there was no election and that he did not order the conduct of any election when he held a press conference at the Police Headquarters in Jalingo.

    Read Also; Primaries: Court sets aside PDP Kebbi Rep’s candidate election

    The judge also noted that there was no evidence before the court that the direct primary adopted by the third defendant (APC) was held.

    Justice Amobeda also held that the aspirants were not given equal opportunity to campaign.

    He resolved that the weight of evidence before the court showed that no election was held and that the nomination of Senator Bwacha “was null and void and therefore set aside.”

    “No APC governorship primary election was held in Taraba. Therefore, the nomination of the second defendant (Bwacha) as the governorship candidate did not comply with the Electoral Act of 2022,” the judge held.

    The judge described the Taraba governorship primary election held on May 26, 2022, as a “sham,” adding that “the third defendant (APC) is restrained from presenting its candidate (Bwacha) to the first defendant (INEC) for the 2023 general election.

    Justice Amobeda ordered that “the third defendant shall, within 14 days, conduct a fresh election and shall determine the mode of primary within seven days of the judgment.”

  • UN tackles Northeast’s acute malnutrition with $10m

    UN tackles Northeast’s acute malnutrition with $10m

    The United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced the release of 10 million dollars under the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to ameliorate the suffering of people who are experiencing food and nutrition crises in the Northeast.

    This is contained in a statement by OCHA in Maiduguri on Monday.

    The UN said no fewer than 1.74 million children less than five years are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in the Northeast this year.

    Read Also: Kemi Jeje: Every chronic illness is borne out of malnutrition

    It noted that more than 5,000 people were expected to die while those who survived could face lifelong disabilities.

    The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr Matthias Schmale was quoted as saying: “We urgently need to close the funding gap to rapidly scale up the response and implement immediate life-saving measures.

  • Federal roads: Buhari seeks approval to reimburse Yobe, Kebbi, Taraba

    Federal roads: Buhari seeks approval to reimburse Yobe, Kebbi, Taraba

    President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the House of Representatives to convey the approval granted by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for reimbursement of N18, 663,843,119.39 to Yobe State for the execution of five Federal Government roads as presented to the Council meeting of July 16, 2022.

    In another letter, he wrote to convey the approvals granted by FEC for reimbursement of N6, 706,835,495.12 for the Kebbi State Government, for the execution of two Federal Government roads and N2, 470,525,729.53 in favour of the Taraba State Government for the construction and rehabilitation of Bali-Serti-Gembu Road as presented to the Council meeting of August 24, 2022.

    Both letters were read by the Speaker of the House of Representatives at the resumption of the Plenary yesterday.

    Read Also; Buhari to launch financial framework for sustainable devt in New York

    “Given Current Fiscal Constraints, I have approved that the reimbursement is made through Issuance of Promissory Note.

    “Because of the foregoing, the House may wish to consider and approve the issuance of Promissory Note by Debt Management Office (DMO) to Yobe State for the execution of five federal road projects in the state,” the President said.

    Similarly, the second letter reads: “Given Current Fiscal Constraints, I have approved that the reimbursements be made through Issuance of Promissory Notes.

    “Because of the foregoing, the House may wish to consider and approve the issuance of Promissory Notes by Debt Management Office (DMO) to Kebbi and Taraba State Governments respectively”