Category: Northern Reports

The Kano State Executive Council (SEC) has approved about N377.3 million as 2017-2020 outstanding counterpart funds for the Leventis Foundation and Kano State Agricultural Training School, Panda.

Commissioner for Information Muhammad Garba stated this while addressing reporters after the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting yesterday.

Garba said the school, which was established in 1988, has so far trained and graduated over 2,700 youths in crops, livestock and fisheries value chains. The programme, he added, is in line with the Agricultural Transformation Programme of the state’s policy of trust in agriculture.

The commissioner noted that despite non-receipt of the fund, the school’s programmes and activities of are ongoing, including staff salaries and operational standards.

He also said the council approved the upward review of operative rates in the construction of two-coat surface dressed road network at NNDC Quarters, Sharada, awarded at N48.6 million, but revised to N105.6 million.

The council, he said, also received a progress report for May on the construction of the Muhammadu Buhari Interchange at NNPC mega Station Rotary Intersection, Hotoro, along Maiduguri Road in the metropolis.

According to him, the project, which has reached 70 per cent completion, was awarded at N9 billion, while about N6 billion has been paid to the contractor.

Garba also said the council approved the implementation of the 2022 budget for the state Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHCMA), totaling N6.9 billion.

Other approvals by the Council were a review of membership of the State Council of Emirs, comprising 21 members, to include representatives of all security organisations; renaming of the Girls’ Science and Technical College, Gwarmai, to Hajiya Mariya Sunusi Dantata, after the mother of reknown businessman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote. This followed a request from the Committee on Education and Elders in Bebeji Local Government Area in view of Dangote’s contribution to the development of education.

Also approved were award of contract for the construction of two roads at Tumfafi community in Dawakin Tofa council; construction of two cell RC box culverts as flood control measures at Airport by Katsina Road Roundabout; procurement of firefighting operational vehicles; award of contracts for the construction of Kwanar Garin Ali-Garin Ali Road in Garko council and supply of water treatment chemicals in 2021.

A Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Babaji Sunday has ordered the enforcement of regulation on drone usage. He said violators will be arrested and such drones confiscated.

Babaji said investigations showed there is indiscriminate and illegal use of personal and commercial drones in the FCT.

A statement by the spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, reads: “Information at the disposal of the Command, as well as public outcry on the sighting of drones hovering personal and government-restricted air-spaces, contrary to extant laws, thereby creating fear and apprehension in the minds of residents.

“It is pertinent to state that flying drones in the FCT requires meeting certain qualifications, obtaining certifications, as demanded by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and obtaining approval from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) as the case may be without which it becomes an offense to at any time and any day be found flying one.

 “Consequent upon the above, the Commissioner of Police has directed the immediate enforcement of drone usage regulations, arrest of violators, and the confiscation of such drones. To help the police effectively police the air-spaces, it is important to notify the police of the usage of the drone in every instance, especially for commercial purposes.

“While the police continue to take proactive security measures, residents are urged to remain vigilant, and report any suspicious or abnormal occurrences to the police through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, while the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk, could be reached on: 0902 222 2352.”

More than 5,000 persons have been killed in Benue State since the terrorist attacks began in 2011, Governor Samuel Ortom said yesterday.

Ortom spoke during the passing out of the first batch of 500 personnel of the state Community Volunteer Guards at the IBB Square in Makurdi.

He noted that the worsening insecurity in the country had complicated the state’s security situation, ‘as other forms of criminality have started creeping in due to the Federal Government’s refusal to decisively address insecurity’.

Governor Ortom said the Federal Government’s failure forced the state to revisit the Benue State Vigilante Law of 2000, which was enacted to complement the conventional security agencies to address emerging security issues.

He explained that the law had to be amended to pave the way for the Community Volunteer Guards, to assist the conventional security agencies to curb insecurity.

Ortom said: “By the provisions of the new law, the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards can therefore carry legally approved weapons which we have duly provided.

“The Benue State Community Volunteer Guards represent our modest attempt to support our communities in their daily struggle to escape the worst of the atrocities of the terrorist herdsmen. As we all witness the passing-out parade of these able-bodied young men, we believe that security will improve in Benue State.”

Earlier, Special Adviser to the governor on Security, Lt.-Col. Paul Hemba (rtd) said the first batch of 500 personnel of the Community Volunteer Guards have been trained as riot squad, unarmed combat squad and intelligence gathering to work with conventional security agencies at the grassroots to curb insecurity. He urged them to be professional in the discharge of their duties.

The Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, in his goodwill message, hailed the House of Assembly for enacting the enabling law, and pledged support of the traditional institution to the security outfit.

The National Agenda for Greater Asiwaju (NAGA), a support group, has sensitised women across Niger State against selling their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs).

Coordinator Hajiya Hadiza Vatsa, during the sensitization in Minna, noted that preliminary research had shown that women were the ones who sell their PVCs, therefore the need to educate them on the dangers of selling their PVCs.

She said: “Now that the registration of PVCs is closed, we felt the next step is to mobilise the women and their groups, educate them on the importance of voting and the need to safeguard their PVCs.

“We have understood that whatever happens at the end of the election, the women feel the impact more. That is why we want them to keep their PVCs and not sell them, no matter the persuasion or temptation they may get from any quarter.”

The group’s spokesperson, Abdullahi Usman, said the meeting was also to advocate for violence-free campaigns and elections.

One of the participants, Hajiya Rayinatu Ibrahim, said she is now well educated on the importance of her PVC, adding that she will sensitise the women in her community to safeguard their too.

Plateau State Governor and Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Simon Lalong yesterday received the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, at the Plateau Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

Rev. Alia said he came to appreciate the governor for his support and encouragement throughout the process of his emergence as the party’s flagbearer.

The cleric said since becoming the candidate, he has continued to consult relevant stakeholders within and outside the state towards the success of the party in the 2023 elections.

A statement by Alia’s spokesman, Makut Macham, said Lalong and Alia later held discussions behind closed doors.

As a deliberate step towards closing the unemployment gap in Nigeria, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has upgraded three of it’s training centers to accommodate innovation, entrepreneurship and employability of Nigerian citizens.

Director-General and Chief executive of ITF Sir Joseph Ari disclosed this in Jos yesterday at the unveiling of the three-year Strategic Skill development plans of the Fund.

He said: “ITF has concluded arrangements to upgrade three of it’s training centers to Center for Advanced Skills Training for Employment as a deliberate step towards closing the unemployment gap in the country.

“The manpower development plans for the next three years strategic policy direction is such that ITF will provide the enabling environment to foster creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and employability through its skills training centres.

“By this, the Centres for Advanced Skills Training for Employment (CASTE) will be embedded with production hubs, skills/e-Hubs, as well as creative and innovative hubs in its skills training centres and vocational wings.

“In this regard, the Fund will equip training Centres with state-of-the-art facilities, partner relevant stakeholders for placement of trainees, and identify the competitive advantage of the centres for production purposes. We will also introduce instructors’ training in three designated centres, advertise and deploy the centre’s facilities and equipment for commercial use, engage trainees in the design and development of products and establish creative and innovative clinics. In addition, it will develop entrepreneurs and rename all Industrial Skills Training Centres as ITF Skills Training Centres (ITF STCs).

“With this strategy, we will now have three Centres for Advanced Skills Training for Employment (CASTE) in Lagos, Kano and Jos, as well as well-equipped training centres and vocational wings; train 450 I structors annually; maximise investment and improve our revenue base.

“We believe that the new policy framework, if fully implemented, will place us in better stead to fully implement our mandate and drive the achievement of Federal Government’s goals with particular reference to unemployment, poverty and their associated consequences.”

The Federal Government yesterday kicked off its community tuberculosis (TB) screening across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), beginning with the Gishiri community in Abuja.

National Coordinator of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) of the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Chukwuma Anyaike, said the initiative is geared towards finding the missing TB cases (over 300,000 cases) in communities across the country, educate Nigerians on best prevention practices, and raise awareness on the signs and symptoms of TB, and how to get help.

Anyaike said: “We are here to tell the community that TB is a very big problem and it is killing people; it is not a respecter of persons or status. And because it is in the air, it is more dangerous. We usually have such gatherings every March 24, but we decided not to wait till 2023 to bring interventions.

“If you are coughing for more than two weeks, you can call 3340 to be attended to. It is not only for coughing, but if you feel sick, you should visit the hospital for a proper check. With the support of communities, we can kick out TB from the country because it is a healthy community that can prosper.

“We don’t want people to die from TB because it has a cure and can be prevented. Funding for this intervention comes from partners like the USAID, Stop TB Partnership, WHO, IHVN and other partners.

“The community must work hand-in-hand to ensure that persons who test positive for TB take their medications so they don’t infect others. Also, anybody who has received treatment should not be discriminated against.”

Chief of the Gishiri Community, Bala Akusu, said: “We are very happy with this programme as this intervention will reduce the disease burden of TB in our community. Also, our Primary Health Centre is working very well.”