Category: Northern Reports

Three people, including a mother and her daughter, were killed yesterday in a transformer explosion which occurred around 2:00 a.m. at Yaunde, Tunfure, Gombe State.

An eyewitness said the transformer exploded when the heavy wind blew and the high tension cable touched the service line that brought power to the transformer.

The mother of four identified as Mrs Patrick, who died with her daughter, was said to have woken up following the sudden power surge to switch off her refrigerator and was immediately electrocuted.

Gombe State Police Public Relations Officer Mahid Mu’azu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said three people were confirmed dead at the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe.

“Two of them are women and one man. We are still investigating the cause of the incident but the interim report said it was due to a power surge,” he said.

The state Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya who later visited the families to condole with the victims donated N1.5 million to the affected families and directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide relief materials for the families who lost their property to the incident.

Similarly, the governor directed Jos Electricity Distribution to immediately look into the remote and immediate causes of the incident.

Femadec Group, in partnership with the Federal Government, will, on May 5, begin the deployment of compressed natural gas-powered mass transit buses in Abuja, the country’s capital.

Mr Fola Akinnola, the Chief Executive Officer, of Femadec Group, confirmed the development in a chat with reporters yesterday in Lagos.

Akinnola said the move was part of the actualisation of the Federal Government’s auto-gas policy which was launched in December 2020, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, the mass transit scheme, which will be operated by Femadec Express, a division of the company, is starting with 20 buses manufactured by Hyundai in South Korea.

Akinnola explained that Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses were cheaper to operate and also environmental-friendly as the world was moving toward cleaner sources of energy.

He said: “Part of our business plans and strategies is to key into the Federal Government’s gas penetration scheme which includes CNG and auto-gas.”

On the company’s expansion plan, he said the company was planning to acquire a total of 100 CNG buses by the end of the year.

“Our plan this year is to hit 100 buses.

Also, Mr Oluwakayode Oyegoke, Head, Gas, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said the government would continue to create the enabling environment to drive investment in the sector.

Oyegoke said the NMDPRA, as a business enabler, was available to guide investors to ensure that the gas penetration policy of the government and the National Gas Policy was effectively cascaded down to the masses.

He said: “The Federal Government has realised that keying into gas is one of the rapid and accelerated ways of improving the economy.

“The government in its wisdom has laid down policies to help not only electricity and industries but also the transportation system.

“That is why we now have these buses that will be powered by CNG. This will reduce pressure on other white products like Premium Motor Spirit and Automotive Gas Oil.

“It will help diversification by giving options to consumers to improve their businesses.

“Above all, it is environmentally friendly and part of the government’s plan to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.”

The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has distributed assorted relief materials to Internally Displace Persons (IDPs) in Benue State.

The IDPs are spread across the different camps in Logo, Guma, Makurdi, Agatu, Kwande and Tarka local government areas.

Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Dr Emmanuel Shior, said there are about two million IDPs in Benue State as a result of sustained attacks on communities by suspected herdsmen.

Dr Shior lamented that the attempt by the IDPs to return to their ancestral homes is being hindered by armed herdsmen who have taken over the deserted settlements as their home.

He said the monthly distribution of relief materials to IDPs is to cushion the effect of hunger, saying they have been neglected by the Federal Government.

“The IDPs are tired of staying in the camps; they want to go back home and continue living their normal life. But we called on the Federal Government to provide security for them to go back to their homes,” the SEMA boss said.

He said the herdsmen have made life difficult for farmers in Benue State by completely destroying their houses, farmlands, roads, bridges and schools..

Relief materials distributed included rice, beans, indomie and non-food items.

The Federal Government has said the prevalence of malaria in Nigeria dropped by 19 per cent in eight years; from 42 per cent in 2010 to 23 per cent in 2018.

It, however, expressed optimism that the prevalence rate will further drop below 23 per cent with the expected result of the 2021 Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) this year.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire stated this during a news conference to commemorate this year’s World Malaria Day in Abuja, with the theme “Harness Innovation to Reduce the Malaria Disease Burden and Save Lives.”

He said: “According to the World Malaria Report of 2021, Nigeria alone contributed 27 per cent of global malaria cases and fatalities. Nigeria also recorded an increase in the proportion of deaths attributable to malaria from 23 per cent in 2020 to 27 per cent in 2021, as the report of the World Health Organisation (WHO) revealed.

“Through years of concerted efforts by the government and development partners, in the malaria programme implementation across the country, several programme indicators have witnessed an upward trend. The utilisation of insecticide-treated nets (ITN) among under five-year-olds increased from 43.4 per cent in 2015 to 52 per cent in 2018, while expectant mothers increased from 49 per cent to 58 per cent in 2018.

“Fever testing among children under five increased from five per cent in 2010 to 11 per cent in 2013, and 13 per cent in 2015. This is still very low and calls for more efforts to address, it because not every fever is malaria. Therefore, fevers need to be tested to confirm that they are malaria-related before we start giving treatment.

“Nigeria witnessed a reduction in the prevalence of malaria from 42 per cent in 2010 to 27 per cent in 2015 and 23 per cent in 2018. This is a good downward trend that we hope will change. We expect that when the result of the 2021 Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) is out, we will see a further downward trend in that respect.

“We continue to work to ensure that we achieve a parasite prevalence of less than 10 per cent, and reduce mortality attributable to malaria to less than 50 deaths per 1,000 live births by the year 2025.”

The Country Representative of the WHO, Dr Walter Mulombo urged stakeholders to harness innovation to reduce the global malaria burden and save lives.

“Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the first malaria vaccines, RTS,S, were released by WHO last year to prevent malaria in children aged six months and five years. However, suppliers are currently limited. It is important to ensure that those available are utilised for maximum impact and ensure preventive measures,” he said.

Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari has appointed his Chief of Staff Alhaji Muntari Lawal as Acting Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

This is contained in a statement by the Director-General, New Media to Governor Alhaji Al-Amin Isa yesterday in Katsina.

Isa said Lawal would replace Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa, who resigned as the SSG to join the state governorship race.

The Emir of Kano Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero has described Cross River State as a perfect example of national unity where peace and tranquillity reign supreme, irrespective of religious and ethnic differences. He also said it shares a lot in common with Kano in that regard.

The first-class monarch stressed that the two states are a perfect reflection of the indivisibility of Nigeria, a legacy the country’s founding fathers established.

The Emir, therefore, urged the two states to continue to promote unity, tolerance and peace among people of divergent backgrounds residing there.

This, according to him, was to show a good example to other states to emulate.

Through a palace delegation to the Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade over the recent enthronement of the new Sarki of Hausa/Fulani and Head of Muslim Community in the state, the Kano Monarch said Cross River State has always been and will continue to be a bastion of peace in the country.

Led by the Yarima of Kano, Alhaji Lamido Abubakar Bayero and Dan-Maliki of Kano, Ambassador Ahmed Umar; the Emir condoled with the government and people of Cross River State over the death of the former Sarki, Alhaji Salisu Abba Lawan and congratulated the new Sarki and Head of Muslim Community, Alhaji Garuba Lawan.

He maintained that Kano and Cross River states have a heritage that is long known in history, including hospitality, tourism and colonial antecedents that have translated to economic growth under a serene and peaceful atmosphere.

The Emir of Kano’s delegation was in Càlabar to give a royal blessing to the new Sarki of Hausa/Fulani and Head of the Muslim Community in Cross River State and to commend Governor Ben Ayade for his peaceful disposition in leading the state.

Bandits invaded a Kaduna community on Monday and killed the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Aribi Ward in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Mr Iliya Auta and one other person.

Though, Kaduna State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammad Jalige said he was yet to receive a report from the Area Commander in charge of the area, a competent source from the community said the APC Chairman was killed on his farm while another person with him sustained bullet injury and receiving treatment in a hospital in Kagarko Town.

The source said Ilya was not the target of the bandits who were apparently on a mission when they saw him on his farm making a call beside his car which was mistaken that he was calling to report their presence, hence he was shot dead as a result.

The source said: “The APC Ward Chairman went to his farm and after the close of work on his farm, he was about to go back home but his car developed an electrical fault and he was trying to call an electrician to come and fix it; not knowing that the bandits were behind him and thought he was calling the villagers to report their presence. That was how they shot him and he died instantly the other person with him also sustained a bullet shot and he is receiving treatment at Kagarko Hospital.

“One other person by name Tanko was killed in another village called Kuchi and another person sustained injury and in critical condition in the hospital. The bandits also made away with eight motorcycles and several cattle,” he said.

Another source, however, said an unconfirmed number of people was abducted after the attack that took place on Monday night within and around communities in Kagarko Local Government Area.