Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and his wife, Hajiya Hafsat, will be conferred with the titles of Aare Fiwajoye and Yeye Aare Fiwajoye of Ibadanland by the Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun.

The ceremony will hold on Saturday at the ancient Mapo Hall in Ibadan.

A statement by the monarch’s media aide, Oladele Ogunsola, said the conferment followed recommendation by the Oba Yoruba Kano, Alhaji Murtala Alimi Otisese (Adetimirin-1), that Ganduje and his wife be appreciated for making the state a home for both natives and non-natives.

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According to the recommendation, the conferment ‘will be a reward for a man who has been very compassionate to us as a people, and who believes that any Nigerian can stay and work in any part of the country without molestation or denial of basic things of life’.

It added: “The conferment will not only further cement the bond of friendship between the Ibadan and Kano people, it will also help to maintain a handshake across the Niger and engender the much sought after unity which has turned fragile over the years.”

Ganduje, in his acceptance letter by his Chief of Staff, Usman Muhammad, described the conferment as ‘quite timely and will eventually go a long way in strengthening the already existing cordial relationship between the Oyo Kingdom and the people of Kano State.”

The Plateau State Executive Council yesterday said it had received a report of two cases of Monkeypox disease in Bassa and Shendam Local Government Areas (LGAs).

It said the government was doing everything to prevent the disease from spreading and urged residents to imbibe good personal hygiene and other preventive measures.

Commissioner for Information and Communication Dan Manjang, who spoke with reporters after the Council meeting, said N26.6billion was also approved for the re-award of contracts for legacy projects.

The contracts were previously terminated by the state government. The sum will enable it to complete the projects and engage a consultant to provide post-contract services.

Commissioner for Information and Communication Dan Manjang, who spoke with reporters after the Council meeting, said the projects were in the state’s 17 Local Government Areas (LGA).

They include the construction of nine model primary schools, six model secondary schools and six model hospitals with a completion period of 32 weeks.

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He explained that the government had earlier secured N18billion funding for the ‘Lalong Projects’ which was still available for the work.

Manjang said the project was also rescoped downwards to N26.6b, adding that the Council approved the sourcing of the shortfall of N8.6billion.

It also approved that further funding is raised from the capital market for furnishing and equipping the projects.

The Commissioner said the government was determined to complete the projects so they could be part of Governor Simon Lalong’s legacies.

He said already, some of the projects had come in handy for other uses such as Model Secondary School in Ny’ak Shendam LGA which has been donated as a temporary site for the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic, N’yak.

He said others were being considered for the establishment of the Plateau State University Teaching Hospital, among others.

Manjang explained that the projects, which were at various stages of completion, would be commissioned within the administration’s tenure.

The Commissioner said the Executive Council also approved over N647million for the procurement of water treatment chemicals.

He said, “Council approved N647, 480million for 100 MT of Aluminum Sulphide (Alum), 248 MT of hydrated lime and 1000 45 kg drums of Calcium Hypo chloride”.

Governor Bello Matawalle yesterday raised the alarm about a sudden resurgence of banditry, kidnapping and the menace of informants in Zamfara.

He said the state was doing everything to tackle the problem, and could even order a communications shut down to check bandits’ informants.

Matawalle spoke via a statement by his Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment, Media and Communications, Malam Zailani Bappa.

He commiserated with the families and loved ones of recent abductees from Bebeji Plaza, Gusau, adding that proactive steps had since been taken to prevent escalation of the situation.

No fewer than 50 members of the Union of Communication, were abducted by bandits on the Sokoto-Gusau Road, on their way from the wedding of one of their members in Tambuwal, Sokoto State on May 11.

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“I appeal to the families of all abducted persons to have confidence in our ability to do all that is needed to be done in rescuing their dear ones.

“I have directed all security agencies for a speedy location of the abducted persons, and In sha Allah, they will be rescued.

He said his administration would not tolerate acts of indiscipline from unscrupulous persons, who aim to use the situation to score political goals.

Matawalle added: “We have noted the rise of informants’ activities leading to many unfortunate banditry attacks on soft targets.

“We shall take more stringent steps in addressing the current situation, including possible communication shut down once again,” the statement read.

Matawalle advised stakeholders to counter the activities of informants in their midst by alerting security operatives with credible intelligence.

The Kano State House of Assembly yesterday unanimously approved Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s request to access a loan of N10 billion from Access Bank, to help the government scale up security.

The money will fund the development of optic cyber and the installation of CCTV in strategic locations of the metropolis and headquarters of Emirates councils.

The approval followed a letter of request to the assembly, read by the Speaker, Hamisu Chidari, during a sitting.

Leader of the House, Labaran Madari, (APC-Warawa) explained that the loan had a single-digit interest rate with a repayment period of 10 years.

He added that the facility would also be used to build control rooms for security information and intelligence gathering.

The House further confirmed the appointment of Malam Ismail Musa as the state’s Auditor-General.

It also directed the immediate stoppage of corner shops and other physical structures on the fence of the Infectious Diseases Hospital, (IDH) on France Road in Fagge Local Government Area (LGA).

It directed its committees on Health, Environment and Land to visit the hospital and report their findings on Tuesday.

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“Furthermore, the bill for the Kano State Harmonised Retirement age for Teachers 2022 and that of Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital scaled first reading,” The House said in a statement by its Chief Press Secretary, Uba Abdullahi said.

Meanwhile, Governor Ganduje said the government had spent over N7billion to fulfil its obligation of providing quality, basic education.

He spoke in Kano at the opening of the quarterly meeting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) with Executive Chairmen of States Basic Education Boards (SUBEB).

“As of 2021, the state government had accessed its matching grant from Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and, as part of its responsibility of ensuring quality teaching and learning in its schools, expended N7 billion in providing a conducive learning environment,” Ganduje said.

He pointed out that tackling the challenges caused by the out-of-school phenomenon inspired the Law on Free and Compulsory Basic and Secondary Education, particularly for girls and vulnerable children with special needs, despite the high number of pupils and students enrolment in the country.

Ganduje was represented by his deputy, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna.

“The policy of implementing Free and Compulsory Basic Secondary Education came with a huge financial commitment to the state and, in that regard, the government established an Education Trust Fund to complement the financial commitment,” he added.

Minister of Education Mal. Adamu Adamu, represented by the Executive Secretary of UBEC Dr Hammid Bobboyi, emphasised that the Federal Government places a high premium on child education, assuring that it would continue to address all aspects of education.

He stated that the Federal Government came to the aid of state governments through the World Bank-supported Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) to address the out-of-school phenomenon.

UBEC Executive Secretary, represented by Prof. Bala Zakari, explained that the meeting had helped UBEC and SUBEB to remain focused on their primary assignment of providing access to quality basic education for school-age children in the country.

The College of Education Academic Staff Union (COESU) yesterday shut down the Niger State College of Education, Minna, in compliance with a nationwide strike declared by its national body.

The state’s COESU branch, led by its Chairman Ibrahim Mohammed Hassan as early as 7am, barricaded the institution’s entrance gate bringing academic activities to a halt.

Union members turned back academic staff at the gate and allowed only non-academic staff into the school.

COESU on Tuesday directed its branches to resume a suspended nationwide strike to press home its demands, including the release of the N15 billion approved out of the N456billion revitalisation fund recommended for both Federal and state-owned Colleges of Education across the country.

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Addressing journalists, Hassan said the strike was for four weeks but government inaction could make it longer.

“The resumption of the suspended strike was necessitated by the continued inaction of government on lingering issues despite the Union’s lengthy perseverance of uncommon disposition towards alternative dispute resolution”.

The Union’s other complaints include the non-implementation of the consequential effect of the implementation of CONPCASS 15 on lower cadres since 2014, the non-implementation of the 2014 needs assessment report in Colleges of Education, and non-payment of outstanding promotion arrears among others.

The Chairman added that the Niger State Chapter of COEASU would use the opportunity to press home its local demands which included recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff, and non-payment of salary arrears owed to some staff.

He warned that even if the national body called off its strike, the Niger State Chapter would not unless its demands were met.

The Federal Government, United Nations and other stakeholders yesterday called for enhanced youth involvement in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mobilisation.

They spoke in Abuja at the second edition of a three-day “Training of Trainers (TOT) for SDGs Development Knowledge Facilitators” organised by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs) in collaboration with the NYSC.

Participants included the host, SSAP-SDGs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige and his Ministry of Youths and Sports counterpart, Sunday Dare.

Their call was echoed by the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Mohammed Fadah.

Fadah, represented by the Director, Special Project and Community Development Services, Abdulrazak Salawu, noted that youths’ involvement in SDGs mobilisation had improved since the OSSAP-SGDs and the NYSC partnered in 2017 under the “NYSC-SDGs Champions” project.

He added that with support from the OSSAP-SGDs, his agency “embarked on the War Against Poverty (WAP) programme where almost 4,000 Corps members were trained in entrepreneurial skills and empowered.”

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Orelope-Adefulire expressed delight at the positive impact of her office’s collaboration with the NYSC, which she said had resulted in the involvement of more youths in deepening the actualisation of SDGs.

She stressed the need to “encourage and engage our NYSC members, “who are from diverse backgrounds, to be at the forefront of implementing the SDGs in Nigeria.

“This can easily be done by providing a platform for more digital and entrepreneurial skills, as well as leadership opportunities, to enable them to thrive locally and guarantee decent and sustainable work for inclusive growth and development.

“We will continue to play our central role in the integration of the SDGs into the Sectoral Policies and Plans of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)”.

Dolapo Enejo of the United Nations Global Compact Network (UNGCN) in Nigeria, noted that the “active engagement of youth in sustainable development efforts is central to achieving sustainable, inclusive and stable societies by the target date.”

Enejo, who represented the Chair of the UNGCN in Nigeria, Mrs Soromidayo George, added that youth involvement would help  avert “the worst threats and challenges to sustainable development, including the impacts of climate change, unemployment, poverty, gender inequality, conflict, and migration.”

Represented by John Achike, Ngige hailed those behind the initiative and assured of his ministry’s support for efforts to encourage skill acquisition among the youths.

Dare, who was represented by Hamid Nagogo, spoke in a similar vein and commended the collaboration between the OSSAP-SDGs and the NYSC.

The Tiv community in Wukari Local Government Area (LGA) of Taraba State which was dislodged following a communal clash with its Jukun neighbours has pleaded for assistance to return home.

It appealed to the new Aku-Uka of Wukari, Manu Ishaku Ada Ali and Governor Darius Ishaku to facilitate their return to their ancestral homelands after three and a half years of displacement.

The community made the appeal on Monday, during a courtesy call on the traditional ruler at his palace as part of reconciliation measures with the Jukun.

The appeal was contained in a June 13 letter signed by the community’s village heads, leaders and the leadership of the Tiv Cultural and Social Association (TCSA) in Wukari.

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They urged the paramount ruler to use his good offices as a father of both Jukun and Tiv people of the area and allow the return of the internally displaced persons.

They also called Governor Ishaku to hasten the fulfilment of his Bali Declaration that all the indigenous Tiv people of Taraba State affected by crises would be returned to their ancestral homes to enable them resume their life.

The community regretted that its members were all children in the same kingdom who had wronged each other and needed forgiveness and reconciliation.

“But as a compassionate father, we believed that you will not let your children continue to linger in the sun. You are our human shelter. You have come to embrace your prodigal children, the lost sheep that you must bring home,” they said.

Responding, the paramount ruler described the crisis between the Tiv and Jukun as a perennial challenge and appreciated the Tiv Community for the various efforts to restore permanent peace in the area.

He said he had been anticipating their coming, but encouraged the Tiv Community to complain to the state government because the power to resettle them rests solely in the government.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), yesterday stated that security measures were in place to stop anyone plotting to abscond from Israel and Jordan during the 2021/2022 pilgrimage.

It said when caught, such persons would be arrested and made to face the law.

FCTA Permanent Secretary Mr Olusade Adeshola gave the warning at the pre-departure orientation exercise for the 2021/2022 Easter pilgrimage.

Adeshola, who was represented by the Director, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Mr Udoh Atang, said: “As you may wish to note, pilgrimage is an important component of our foreign policy. I, therefore, charge you to respect the country and yourself by exhibiting the highest sense of exemplary conduct while on pilgrimage.

“I would also like to remind you that our administration seriously frowns at such misconduct as abscondment. Those with such intentions are advised to have a rethink as adequate security measures have been put in place to apprehend and bring culprits to justice”.

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Over 295 pilgrims are travelling to the holy lands.

He added: “Permit me to remind you not to lose focus of the primary essence of the pilgrimage exercise; it is a deep spiritual journey intended to further build our faith through an experience of the sights and sounds of the birthplace of Christianity.

“You will have the opportunity to visit places such as the sea of Galilee – where most of the disciples of Jesus Christ fished, the river Jordan where our Lord, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist to become the Christ, as well as the Western Wall in Jerusalem amongst other interesting sites of deep religious significance to Christian faith.

“We hope that this spiritual journey to the Holy Lands would have a direct impact on your spiritual growth, thereby benefitting not only yourselves but the country as a whole through a value reorientation based on the exemplary life of Jesus Christ.

“I would therefore enjoin us all to view this trip, not as a form of holy entertainment or business trip, but rather a journey of discovery of the true essence of the Christian faith”.

While commending the efforts of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), the FCT administration pledged to continue to support the activities of the FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board focused on improving the spiritual well-being of FCT residents.

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello and Minister of State, Ramatu Aliyu were acknowledged for their sustained support for the spiritual welfare of FCT residents.

Adeshola said they had ensured that adequate provisions were made to cater for their needs while on pilgrimage.