The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • Masari urges council chiefs to be honest, fair

    Masari urges council chiefs to be honest, fair

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari has advised local government chairmen  to ensure integrity and transparency in the conduct of their official duties.

    Masari, who gave the advice yesterday after inaugurating the 33 elected council chairmen at the Peoples Square, also urged them to serve the people with the fear of God.

    He identified the challenge of generating revenue in the state as the most disturbing issue delaying the progress and development of the state. Hence, the chairmen must use their good offices to harness various ways of improving revenue generation and be able to pay salaries.

    He congratulated the chairmen on their victory at the poll, stressing that their emergence showed that the people of Katsina have confidence in APC ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    Masari also thanked the State Electoral Commission for conducting a free and fair election in the state.

  • Maiduguri records first year’s rain

    Maiduguri records first year’s rain

    Residents of Maiduguri yesterday celebrated the first rainfall of the year in the town, expressing relief that the excruciating hot weather would subside.

    Areas such as Customs, New GRA, Abbaganaram, Polo, Damboa Road,  West End and Tashan Bama axis in the metropolis recorded downpours accompanied by strong winds.

    The rain, which started around 2:40 p.m. and lasted for more than 40 minutes, was a sequel to days of extremely hot temperatures hovering above 45 to 47 degrees Celsius.

    Ismail Alfa, a resident of New GRA, expressed joy that the rain had brought relief to the excruciating heat of the Ramadan month.

    Alfa said: “Many people did not find it easy within the past 10 days, fasting in Maiduguri. Many people were forced to stay indoors while some can only look for shades under the trees to get relief,” he said.

    Ali Goni, another resident, said that the downpour was a blessing and a relief to the residents of the metropolis.

    some other jobs because it was becoming very hard for him.

    “We normally go to Monday Market to look for customers to help them carry their commodities or foodstuffs for N100. But since the beginning of this fasting period which came with heat, I cannot go to the market.

    “Sometimes, I go very early in the morning and close around 11:00 a.m. when the sun is hot.

    “Indeed, this rainfall was a relief for me because the heat had reduced,” he said.

     

  • Court freezes businessman’s accounts over debt

    Court freezes businessman’s accounts over debt

    A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has granted an order to freeze all bank accounts linked to a Kaduna-based business mogul, Alhaji Bawa Garba of ABG Communications, and Mohammed Bawa Garba, over N1.7 billion debt owed Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

    AMCON, which is the applicant in suit No. FHC/KD/AMC/1/2022 had approached the court in a Motion Ex-parte dated March 28, 2022, praying the court for an order for a Post No Debit (PND) on all accounts operated by the respondents/defendants pending the determination/disposal of the proceedings for the recovery of debt of N1, 738,704,474.01.

    The applicant, through its lawyer, A.A. Salisu, explained that the sum is made up of the principal debt and accrued interest against the defendants pursuant to section 50 of the AMCON Acts, 2019 (as amended).

    Salisu  sought an order directing the following banks: Access Bank Plc, Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank plc, Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Heritage Bank Plc, Keystone Bank Limited, Polaris Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Standard Chartered Bank, Sterling Bank Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, and United Bank for Africa Plc, among others to file an affidavit before the court disclosing any amount in the name of the Respondents/Defendants.

    and standing to their credit and any sum therein as of the date of service of the order of the court on the banks.

    The presiding Judge, Justice M.G Umar, having heard and read the affidavit in support of 26 paragraphs and four exhibits deposed by one Aminu Sada, therefore, granted the order of Post No Debit on all accounts linked to the 1st defendant with the following banks: Access Bank Nigeria Plc, Eco Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank, Heritage Bank, Keystone Bank, Polaris Bank, UBA Bank, Union Bank, Unity Bank, and Zenith Bank pending the determination/disposal of the proceedings for the recovery of debt made up of the principal debt and accrued interest against the Defendants pursuant to section 50 of the AMCON Act, 2019 (as amended).

    The order, signed by the Principal Registrar 1, Maryam Abdulsalam also granted an Order of Post No Debit over any funds in accounts belonging to the 2nd and 3rd Defendants/Respondents pending the determination/disposal of the proceedings for the recovery of the debt made up of the principal debt and accrued interest against the Defendants/Respondents pursuant to section 50 of the AMCON Acts, 2019 as amended.

     

    Similarly, the court granted the order by the applicant seeking the said banks to file an affidavit before the court disclosing any amount in the name of the respondents/defendants and standing to their credits and any sum therein as of the date of service of the order of the court on the banks.

     

    The Judge, therefore, adjourned the case to May 10, 2022, for hearing.

     

     

  • Youths give Amaechi 48-hour ultimatum to resign

    Youths give Amaechi 48-hour ultimatum to resign

    Seventy-two hours after declaring to run for president in 2023, the National Executive Committee of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has called for the resignation of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, saying the timing was inappropriate following the bombing of the Abuja-Kaduna train by terrorists.

    The youths said it was shocked to see Amaechi “in a total political jamboree, jumping around in the name of declaring for the 2023 presidency rather than being in a sober mood of seeking solutions to the pains of the grieving Nigerians and particularly the affected families.”

    It called on the minister to apologise to Nigerians for his “indiscretion of elevating his personal ambition over a national tragedy and a national sad mood.”

    The NYCN, at the end of its emergency meeting in Abuja, urged the minister to resign within the next 48 hours or be sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari as a mark of respect for the dead, who he deliberately or unwittingly desecrated.

    In a communique signed by the NYCN President, Solomon Adodo, the group said: “It was, therefore, the rudest imaginable shock for them to see the Minister of Transport, Chibuike Amaechi in a total political jamboree, jumping around in the name of declaring for the 2023 presidency rather than being in a sober mood of seeking solutions to the pains of the grieving Nigerians and particularly the affected families.

    “While the NYCN has nothing against Amaechi’s aspiration, his actions is unconscionable, condemnable, reprehensible, irresponsible, distasteful and disgraceful in the face of our national reality and mood. It is tantamount to dancing on the graves of the victims of the train attack, and celebrating the pains of the abducted and the wounded.

    “The National Executive Council (NEC) of the NYCN is equally saddened that  Amaechi, who is supposed to take responsibility and lead the way in ameliorating the plight of the victims, has rather thrown caution to the winds and shown no strand of care.

    “We are frustrated that while we are spending our resources, and risking the lives of the youth leaders in trying to seek solutions to our national challenges, politicians in the class of Amaechi who have failed Nigeria in the first place, are working to force the country into fatal amnesia by trivialising a matter as serious as the Abuja-Kaduna rail track bombing.

    “In all, the NYCN is very disappointed that a leader of Amaechi’s standing and experience could be this insensitive to Nigerians. The NYCN has always resisted the temptation to view him as a careless, arrogant and unfeeling leader, as many of his critics argue.

    “Sadly, however, the event of Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Port Harcourt points unequivocally in that direction as far as his true character is concerned.

    “Since the only important thing in this country to him is his aspiration for the presidency, he should therefore vacate the Ministry of Transport before worse disasters hit us.”

  • Ganduje appoints Head of Service, four Perm Secs

    Ganduje appoints Head of Service, four Perm Secs

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has approved the appointment of Malam Usman Muhammad as the State Head of Service (HoS).

    This is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Mr Abba Anwar yesterday in Kano.

    Anwar said the governor also approved the appointment of four new Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service.

    He said Muhammad was a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information before his appointment.

    “The new Permanent Secretaries include Muhammad Shehu, who, until his appointment, was Director of Research and Statistics with the state Roads Maintenance Agency (KARMA).

    “Others are Malam Magaji Lawan who was Director of Finance and Accounts, Ministry of Finance before his appointment.

    “The rest two are Mr Bilyaminu Zubairu, and Malama Mairo Dambatta,” Anwar said.

    He said the appointments were with immediate effect.

  • Fintiri seeks re-election for second term

    Fintiri seeks re-election for second term

    Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has declared  to seek re-election in the 2023 general elections.

    Fintiri, who was elected the Adamawa State governor in 2019 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said yesterday that he would be seeking the party’s ticket once again for the coming general election.

    Similarly, Fintiri’s immediate predecessor, Jibrilla Bindow has declared his intention to seek a return to the office that he vacated in 2019.

    Bindow, who is sitting governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC ) for the 2019 election, said yesterday that he would be seeking the APC governorship ticket once again as the 2023 elections approach.

    Governor Fintiri made his own re-run declaration at the Ribadu Square in the state capital Yola yesterday after swearing-in 21 local government chairmen, who were elected in council elections conducted earlier on Saturday.

    Fintiri said he was encouraged to seek a second term by people who had been urging him on, with some of them even obtaining the necessary forms for him.

    Fintiri said: “It is no longer news that the Nomination Form for Adamawa governorship race of our party has been picked for me. This is because we have built a trusting relationship with the electorate, the majority of who are the masses where our support (in votes and prayers) is derived.”

  • NDE trains 100 Zamfara youths in agric business

    NDE trains 100 Zamfara youths in agric business

    No fewer than 100 youths in Zamfara State have been selected by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to receive training in agriculture business under the Rural Employment Programme of the directorate.

    The training had been approved for implementation in the state by the Director-General of the NDE Mallam Abubakar Nuhu Fikpo.

    The State Coordinator Mr Mustapha Aliyu Gonori explained that the exercise was part of its primary responsibilities of job creation for Nigeria’s teeming youths, especially in agriculture to enable self-reliance as well as boost economic activities in the country.

    While at the flag-off training scheme on Sustainable Agricultural Development conducted in Gusau, Zamfara State capital, the coordinator further noted that the training was a step forward to further give impetus to NDE’s resolve to bring agriculture to the fore and to its rightful place in the national economy.

    He said the training cuts across various aspects of the agriculture business such as poultry production, fish rearing, vegetable garden and sheep and goat production.

    “The duration of the training is three months out of which one month will be spent in classrooms for theoretical and adaptive farm training and the remaining two months will be on practical attachment in well-established farms.

    “Agriculture as a business is a potent vehicle for the creation of mass employment opportunities for our teeming unemployed people as well as sure means of boosting food production and ultimate increase in our gross domestic earnings,” he said.

  • Plateau attacks: Aspirant suspends political activities

    Plateau attacks: Aspirant suspends political activities

    The Leader of the DVD Movement in Plateau State, Nde Victor Dimka has directed that all political engagements and consultations be suspended with immediate effect.

    The decision was taken in view of yesterday’s attack on some communities by bandits in Kanam Local Government Area and a similar attack that took place last week in Bassa Local Government Area, all in Plateau State where many residents were killed and several others injured.

    In a statement by his media aide, Boniface Kassam, the DVD leader and governorship aspirant said the suspension was to mourn with the families of the departed and condole with the Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong, the Chairmen of Kanam and Bassa local government areas, and the people of the two local government areas.

    He described the unfortunate development as one of the wicked and barbaric acts ever experienced on the Plateau in recent times.

    Dimka, who expressed sadness also called on the government at all levels to ensure that the bandits who have been terrorising innocent citizens, especially in some communities of the state are fished out and the law takes its course.

  • I will restore Plateau’s glory, says aspirant

    I will restore Plateau’s glory, says aspirant

    The Managing Editor of Newswatch Magazine, Chief Amos Gizo has joined the governorship race in Plateau State for the 2023 general elections.

    Gizo, who is aspiring on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he intends to restore the glory of Plateau State if elected as governor in the 2023 general elections.

    He said his aspiration is premised on a 3Rs pillar that will usher in a new dawn of hope for the people of Plateau State. They are Redefining, Reconstructing and Restoring the glory of Plateau State.

    The aspirant, who declared his intention yesterday in Jos said: “You will agree with me that the dream, the inspiration, the vision and mission of our founding fathers have been eroded by a lot of factors that have grossly destroyed our collective heritage.

    “We no longer trust one another, the dividend of democracy which our people toil to harvest is scarcely there and hope is lost not because of any particular leader but system failure which can only be corrected with great sacrifice from the leadership and the citizens.”

  • Sule inaugurates Mararaba Udege-Udege Mbeki Road

    Sule inaugurates Mararaba Udege-Udege Mbeki Road

    Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule yesterday inaugurated the 25-kilometre Mararaba Udege-Udege Mbeki Road in Nasarawa Local Government Area.

    The road spans from Mararaba Udege Community to Udege Mbeki Community, all in Nasarawa Local Government Area.

    Sule, represented by his Deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, noted that the construction of the road at the cost of over N3 billion was in line with his administration’s commitment to providing infrastructural facilities for the development of the state.

    He hinged the construction of the road on the economic potential of the area, being a major hub for agriculture and mining activities, adding that the project would spur his administration to further meet other yearnings and aspirations of the citizens.

    Sule, who applauded the contractor of the project, Tongy Group Limited for a job well done and meeting specifications, attributed the delay in completing the project to the outbreak of COVID-19.

    Chairman of Nasarawa Local Government Area Mr Mohammed Otto, stressed the numerous benefits associated with the completion of the road, which he described as unprecedented in the history of the area.

    He expressed appreciation to the governor for his foresight and commitment to the completion of the project.

    The Emir of Nasarawa Alhaji Usman Jibrin stressed the need for the people of the area to reciprocate the gesture by continuing their support for the governor and his team for more dividends of democracy in the area.