Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has commended Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje for his “unrelenting determination and commitment in reforming the Justice sector” in Kano state.

Malami gave the commendation when he attended a special dinner organised by Governor Ganduje at Africa House, Government House, Kano.

The dinner was organised in honour of the Justice Minister and top brass of the ministry, the governor said.

Malami said he was in Kano for a top management retreat of the ministry, with the theme: ‘Enhancing Systems and Structures in the Federal Ministry of Justice for Effective Justice Sector Service Delivery.’

Commending Ganduje, the minister said: “When the federal government came up with the issue of fight against corruption and justice sector reform, Kano followed suit.”

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“In the area of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) strengthening system, Kano also followed suit. So, Kano state needs to be commended for all the successes it has recorded in the Justice sector.”

Malami added that Kano also matched the federal government in the area of infrastructural development in the judiciary. “This is commendable Your Excellency, (Ganduje),” he said.

Noting that the choice of Kano for the retreat was not accidental, the minister noted that “Kano has consolidated the spirit of the retreat. We are not disappointed for our choice of Kano.”

The minister also said he was thrilled by the level of infrastructural development in Kano state under the Ganduje administration.

In his few remarks, Ganduje disclosed he has established a powerful committee on the administration of Justice, which is why they are achieving great feats in the sector.

“We have a strategy to see how we can decongest our Correctional Centres (prisons) across Kano state as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

“We are assisting the judiciary so that the administration of Justice can be in compliance with the global best practice. That is part of the reasons why we are also digitising the Justice sector,” Ganduje said.

As part of efforts towards ensuring food sufficiency in West Africa, EcoBasicSeed, a foundation seed company, has in collaboration with out growers, established 50 hectares of maize and cowpeas seed farms across Nigeria.

Addressing a press conference to mark the company’s one year anniversary in Kaduna on Saturday, the Managing Director of ECOBasicSeed, Brighton Karume said Nigeria cannot achieve its desire of attaining self-sufficiency in maize production, unless farmers shun Open Pollinated Varieties (OPV) and embrace Hybrid Variety seeds for better yields.

According to Karume, “A year ago, we debuted with the promise of bridging the wide gap between foundation and certified seed production in the country as a way of giving our farmers the opportunity to maximise profit, and expand their production with the availability of quality and 100% seed purity.

“With just six personnel and an office building, we have been able to transform into an exciting organisation working without growers to cultivate over 50 hectarage of maize and cowpeas (beans) foundation seed across Nigeria,” he said.

Besides, other successes recorded within its first year of existence, is establishment of 60 demo sites.

“Prolific germination of about 60 different demo sites across Kaduna, Niger and Kano states with about 10 different varieties of hybrid maize including Sammaz 62, Sammaz 63 and Sammaz 68 of drought tolerant and high yield international training,” he informed.

“Our business model is a B2B thus our direct customers are registered seed companies in Nigeria.

“To date, seed companies have committed to work by placing foundation seed orders of various hybrids including the new cowpea seed on the market against next year.

“Although our operations are still far from our overall target, we are convinced that with sustained investment, Nigeria will be able to meet its annual maize deficit which currently stands at eight million metric tonnes,” he explained.

The Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) has awarded two contracts for agricultural projects across several local government areas of the state for a total sum of N6,036,334,688.66.

The projects include development of a total of 1,006 hectares irrigation structures (at sectors 9-14) at Watari irrigation scheme, Bagwai local government area and the construction of 40 Milk Collection Centers at different locations, spreading across 15 local government areas of the state.

The Watari infrastructure projects will cost the sum of N4.5 billion, while the 40 Milk Collection Centres will be constructed at the total cost of N1.5 billion, the Project Communication Specialist, Ameen Yassar, said in a statement to The Nation.

Yassar said the funds for the projects will be provided by the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF), as part of a broad vision to enhance agricultural productivity, ensure food and nutrition security and as well improve income generation for small-holder farmers and herdsmen.

The projects, awarded to eight, separate indigenous contractors, will begin in September and be completed by December next year, it was learnt.

“The investment is predicted to impact thousands of farmers and pastoralists, thus, revitalising the economy of Kano State,” Yassar said.

Speaking shortly after signing the contracts, being coordinated by the Kano State Ministry of Justice, the State Project Coordinator, Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, said the event was a significant step towards revamping agriculture in Kano state.

“These interventions, which will soon be followed by serious activities, will bring about change in the agricultural fortunes of Kano and will lift a significant number of our people out of poverty,” Muhammad said.

The KSADP coordinator urged the contractors to see the projects as a service to humanity, noting they are expected to abide by all the contractual guidelines in order to deliver value for the money to be spent.

The Managing Director of Kano State Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) and executing agency of KSADP, Dr. Junaidu Yakubu Muhammad, told the contractors that a strong monitoring mechanism is put in place to supervise their works.

The West Africa Network for Peace Building, WANEP, yesterday donated football wears to the youths of Lunguda and Waja Tribes in Nyuwar Community of Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State to promote peaceful co-existence among them.

Both tribes have been at loggerhead in recent times resulting in violent clashes that had claimed tens of lives and destruction of property worth millions of naira.

WANEP National Network Coordinator, Mrs. Bridget Osakwe represented by Mr. Mohammed Umar Farouk, listed the items donated to include; two sets of 16 Jerseys, two sets of football socks, two balls, two sets of captain bands and whistles, as well as four sets of training bibs for regular training of each of the teams and two sets of goalkeeper jerseys.

Farouk said the choice of football wear was borne out of the proposals made by the youths and women from the Nyuwar community during the various peace dialogues held.

“Each of the two clubs, “Wonders Sparrows” and “Gilengitu FC” of Nyuwar, were a mixture of players from both tribes, so as to strengthen their relations.”

Receiving the items from the representative of WANEP, in Talase, the Chairman of Balanga Local Government Area, Mr. Garba Umar, who was represented by the Chief Administration Officer, Mr. Adamu Yerima, thanked WANEP and commended the move as a very good step in bringing peace and development to the people in Nyuwar and Balanga Local Government Area as a whole.

The Gombe State Emergency Management Agency represented by the Director and Head, Rescue and Rehabilitation, Mr. Mohammed Garba, said the gesture by WANEP made his organisation the happiest because, with the unity and peace in Nyuwar, Gombe SEMA would have fewer burdens in its hands.

The Nigeria Consul-General for the North West and South West regions of the Republic of Cameroon, Hon. Lawal Bappah, has been presented with an official letter of Exequatur by the Cameroon Governor of the South West region, Bernard Okalia Bilai.

Speaking during the official ceremony designated for the handing of the “Exequatur” to the newly appointed Nigerian Consul General, Bilai hailed the excellent diplomatic, economic, social relationship between both countries thus far.

According to him, the Republic of Cameroon has remained a strong ally and strategic partner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the African continent. “By choosing to be an ally of Cameroon, Nigerian Head of States have shown the world the kind of influence Cameroon has in trade and political relationship. However, it has not been without challenges of security but both nations continue to fight together,” he said.

Bilai said, both governments have continued to show resilience through the Trans-border Security committee.

“This expresses the zeal to maintain confraternity as people who have coexisted even before the establishment of both modern states,” he added.

Upon handing the Exequatur, the governor enjoined Consul Lawal to promote and conserve the economic dynamism of Nigeria in Cameroon and ensure the preservation of its interest as stipulated in the Exequatur, and coordinate the activities of the Nigerian community in his area of jurisdiction. He also called on Nigerians to always collaborate with the CG in the excise duty which is to be executed in strict compliance with the laws and regulations.

It was a colourful event that brought scores of regional administrative and traditional authorities together, such as the Nigeria High Commissioner to Cameroon, Amb. Abayomi Olonisakin, Consul General of Nigeria in Douala, Queen Efe Alexandra Clark-Omeru, Defense Adviser, Captain (NN) Bimbo Agunbiade, members of the Consular and Diplomatic Corps, members of the Nigerian community, collaborators of the governor, religious and traditional leaders, executive directors of companies and international organisations, Bappah’s wife, children, relatives among others.

In his remarks, CG Lawal Bappah counted it a great honour and privilege to have been graced by the presence of the Governor of the South West Region, H.E. Bernard Okalia Bilai, he expressed appreciation to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, and the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Geoffrey Onyeama for finding him worthy of appointment as the Consul General of Nigeria to the North West and South West Regions of the Republic of Cameroon. He also appreciated His Excellency Paul Biya, for graciously signing and transmitting his Exequatur through the Ministry of External Relations to the Governor of the South West Region.

“This benevolent act of the President of the Republic of Cameroon is a clear and undeniable expression of the excellent and unique bilateral relations that exist between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon,” he noted.

Consul Lawal did not leave out the contributions of the Nigerian foreign envoys to Cameroon to the success of his ceremony.

“I thank His Excellency Gabriel Abayomi Olanisakin, the High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of Cameroon, HRM (Hon.) Queen Efe Alexandra Clark-Omeru, the Consul General of Nigeria to Littoral and West Regions of the Republic of Cameroon and all distinguished guests, both from within and outside Cameroon, who spared their precious time to attend today’s ceremony.

“Undoubtedly, the Republic of Cameroon is home away from home. It is in that light that I see it as a unique privilege for me to have been called to serve in the South West and North West Regions of the Republic of Cameroon to complement the efforts of our indefatigable High Commissioner with a view to strengthening and deepening bilateral relations with Republic of Cameroon; especially by addressing the consular needs of Nigerian nationals in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963,” said Bappah.

“As we continue to work and collaborate together in moving our two friendly countries forward, I wish to testify, without any reservation, that Buea is indeed a City of Legendary Hospitality and the entire Republic of Cameroon is Home away from Home,” Bappah concluded.

The newly installed CG H.E Lawal Bappah, was born on July, 2, 1962 in Bauchi State. Before coming to Cameroon he had served with the Nigerian foreign service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the then secretary of the consular and immigration department from 1988-1991, he was later appointed as second secretary at consular officer at the Consulate of Nigeria in Kuwait, 1992-1995, from then he was appointed as first secretary and counselor at the directorate to the ministry of foreign affairs.

From 2003 to 2007, he was appointed Minister High Commissioner at the Nigerian Consul in Accra Ghana, other similar appointments and recognitions followed until his appointment as Nigerian Consul General for the South West and Northwest regions in 2021 following the departure of former Consul-General Ibrahim Bashir.

Borno governor, Babagana Umara Zulum on Friday visited Kwaya-Kusar town and laid the foundation stone for the construction of a 48-classroom Higher Islamic College with Staff Quarters.

Kwaya-Kusar town is headquarters of Kwaya-Kusar Local Government Area, located in Southern Borno. Zulum drove there from Biu where he had spent three days since Tuesday, commissioning projects.

The college in Kwaya-Kusar was to meet the request made by community members for which Zulum in November 2021, promised to address.

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The Higher Islamic College, which will integrate Islamic and Western Education, is to admit students with vast Qur’anic knowledge from traditional Islamiyas to study and earn diplomas, after which they can qualify for admission into universities and other tertiary schools for graduate programmes.

Commissioner for Education, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe said the college will have three blocks each with 16 classrooms, to produce a total of 48 classrooms with a capacity for about 2,000 students.

He added that the college will have an administrative block, and two units of two-bedroom flats as initial staff quarters. There will also be six wash facilities.

Zulum arrived Kwaya-Kusar in company of Borno’s Chairman of the APC, Ali Bukar Dalori, Deputy Speaker of the State’s Assembly, Engr. Abdullahi Musa Askira, a candidate of the APC for House of Representatives, Engr. Bukar Talba, some commissioners, advisers, assistants and party chieftains.