Category: Northern Reports

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has declared that he has not anointed anybody as his successor or for any other elective position.

Gov. Ortom disclosed this Saturday, at the residence of Prince Yandev Amaabai in Yandev, Gboko LGA while addressing party faithful who had converged for a meeting at the instance of a House of Representatives aspirant for Gboko-Tarka, Hon Kelvin Vihishima.

He stated that though God has not revealed to him who will succeed him as Governor, he believes that with due consultations with major stakeholders, a strong hearted person who will preserve and protect the land will be chosen.

While charging members of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, especially Gboko to remain resolute and work for the success of the party in the forthcoming elections, the governor expressed optimism that the PDP will take over power in 2023 and make things better for the country.

Ortom also maintained that the people of Gboko have no reason to fraternise with any political party apart from the PDP, especially with their son, Dr Iyorchia Ayu as leader of the party in the country.

Governor Ortom informed the people of Gboko that he will soon visit to consult and solicit their support for his Zone B senatorial ambition.

The Chief Judge of Katsina State, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar, has declared that 80% of the prison inmates in Katsina State are mostly those awaiting trials since 2016, due to the non-performance of the justice ministry as well as inadequate number of legal personnel from the ministry to handle cases.

Justice Abubakar, who made the above disclosure in his office in Katsina while receiving newly appointed Katsina State Commissioner of Police, Idris Dabban and his team, further blamed the State’s Ministry of Justice and her personnel, whom he said are mainly politicians who pay lesser attention to judicial duties.

He said, “If the Attorney-General is there all the time, the OC Legal will have his work cut out.

“Unfortunately, some technicalities that often emanates from the Justice Ministry often take over and cause delays.

“The Commissioner of Police, the Director of Public Prosecution and the Attorney-General, ought to sit down regularly to iron out pending issues.”

“2016 cases are still pending and unattended to. They should start tracking cases and stop shifting blames. Why should the ministry delay the prosecution of cases? Why should their case files be missing all the time?’

“80% of the inmates in Katsina prisons are mainly those awaiting trials since 2016…. When IGP came here on familiarisation visits, we told him of the cordial relationship between the courts and the police. Court reforms are facing less serious issues; very important roles are assigned to the police in Criminal Justice systems.”

The CJ further disclosed that the disputes resolved last year through conflict resolution mechanisms were greater than those handled by regular court trials.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police told the CJ that the command sees the Judiciary as second component and important stakeholder in the administration of justice.

He therefore solicited the cooperation and synergy of the Judiciary with law enforcement agencies in the state to ensure quick justice delivery

His words: “We are in a terrible situation and we can’t move forward without your cooperation and support.”

The Plateau State government has reaffirmed its commitment to generating over N5 billion monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), through the implementation of the Land Administration signed into law by Governor Simon Bako Lalong.

He explained that if all things works out well, the state will be poised to enhance all the untapped areas to increase its revenue drive.

This was the submission of the chairman of the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS), Dashe Arlat, at the stakeholders’ engagement forum of the Plateau State Geographic and Information Services Law and Land Use Charges Law With Private Sector Group, held in collaboration with GIZ.

He said anything land-related is a very critical aspect of production and the economy because without land nothing can be done.

Arlat said Gov. Lalong has been working on how best to harness all the potentials in land sector, by having the land law established, so that all those who benefit from land use in the state can do the needful.

He said if anything related to Land Use Act is gotten correctly, every other thing would fall into place, since land drives every other sector.

In his remarks, the Commissioner Plateau State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Town Planning, Yakubu Datti, urged the business community to cooperate with the government while saving huge resources through timely payment of their Property and Land Use Charge.

“In Plateau State, because land-based revenue has remained hugely untapped and the returns from the sector in dire need of a turnaround, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, had on the 14th July, 2021, in a bid to turn the land sector around, assented to the Plateau State Property and Land Use Charge Law 2021 and the Plateau State Geographic and Information Services (PLAGIS) Law 2021 – two critical laws passed by the Plateau State House of Assembly to aid revenue collections from land administration.

“It is for this and other reasons that the management of the ministry deemed it necessary to organise this stakeholders’ engagement in order to bring heads of government Ministries, Agencies, Departments, development partners and members of the business community, especially the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the state who are clients of the ministry under one roof, to present these laws, appreciate their implications on land administration and to chart a way forward for the growth and development of the state through increased revenue generation from the collective collaboration of all critical stakeholders.”

Datti said the 50% waiver granted Small and Medium Scale Enterprises by the governor on all land-based transactions with the ministry since inception of his administration is a testimony of his love for the business community.

A group of Katsina youths, the Katsina Democratic Front, has called on the Secretary to the Government of Katsina State, SGS, Dr Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, to publicly declare his interest to contest the governorship seat of the state.

The chairman of the group, Gambo Runka, who made the passionate call while presenting an award of excellence to the SGS at the old Government House Banquet Hall, Katsina, said the leadership quality of Dr Inuwa has been the main reason for the award, having served the government at various levels.

He further appealed to government scribe to answer the clarion calls of the people in the state by seeking the governorship seat to replace Governor Aminu Bello Masari come 2023.

The SGS who spoke through his Director of Press, Abdullahi Yar’adua, thanked the group for identifying with Dr Mustapha Inuwa and two other persons for the award, even as he urged them to play politics with caution and fear of Allah.

He said seeking a governorship seat requires diligence and commitment, and pleaded with them continue praying for the best for the state.

Former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State, Mr Jonathan Vatsa, has expressed fears over the possibility of elections being held in the state next year due to the increasing spate of insecurity that has left several people displaced.

According to him, 36 political wards in four local government areas in the state have been deserted, wondering how INEC would create voters registers for residents of these wards who have been displaced.

Vatsa, who took an x-ray of the current security situation in the state, stated that if elections are allowed to take place in the state under the current bad security situation, such elections can never be said to be credible.

“Nine political wards each from Shiroro, Munya, Rafi and Paikoro local government areas have been deserted by the people, with over 10,000 Internally Displaced People (IDP) from these wards taking refuge across the state.

“If five out of the nine local government areas in Niger East and five of the eight local government areas of Niger North are under the control of the terrorists/bandits, and with their recent unsuccessful invasion of Niger South, where will the elections take place?

“Will INEC create another voters registers for these people in IDP camps or it will de-enfranchise them? Will such elections be said to be credible when people have been sacked from their place of registration?” He asked.

Vatsa, therefore lamented that the entire state is now home to terrorists and bandits.

The former publicity secretary of APC in the state also lamenting that the federal government has continued to pay lip service to the situation.

“The President ordered military operations against the terrorists but we are yet to see that in operation and no explanation has been given as to why the operations haven’t kick-started. The federal government need to take the security situation in the state very serious.”

No fewer than 900 health workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) may lose their jobs.

This is because the FCT Administration (FCTA), has given the managers of the Garki Hospital a month notice to vacate the facility.

The Nation reports that this move by the government was as a result of the expiration of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement between the NISA Premier-the current managers of Garki Hospital and the FCTA.

The concession agreement for the PPP was signed between the NISA Premier and the FCTA in 2007 for a period of 15 years.

Further findings revealed that aside from the percentage given to the FCT Administration at the end of every year when the hospital management declares profit, NISA Premier has paid the total annual concession fees, rent on quarters and all other payments stipulated on the agreement to the tune of N406 million since the beginning of the agreement.

However, the FCT Administration, on March 1, this year, gave the hospital management notice to vacate and hand over the facility to it on April 1, 2022.

The Nation reports that over 900 workers, including 21 consultants, 113 medical doctors, 24 house officers, 159 nurses, 96 patient-care attendants, pharmacists, medical record officers, laboratory scientists and other technicians, currently work at the hospital.

Some source who spoke with The Nation explained that after the agreement was signed, the FCT Administration removed all equipment in the then General Hospital. NISA Premier had to start equipping the hospital from scratch. Currently, all equipment in the hospital is owned by NISA Premier.

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has, however, urged the FCT Administration to consider renewing the concession agreement between it and the hospital managers because of the sterling medical services the hospital has offered residents over the years.

The FCT chapter Chairman of the NMA, Dr Enema Amodu said: “Apart from the over 900 workers, there are patients that are on long term intensive care that will require suitable arrangements so that they continue to receive life-saving medications.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Media and Strategic Communication, Malam Abubakar Sani called for calm. According to him, there is no crisis between the FCT Administration and the management of NISA Premier.

Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has described bandits terrorising the people of Kebbi and Sokoto states and the entire Northwest as enemies of the people, adding that it required united forces to defeat them.

Tambuwal stated this during his condolence visit to the Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu over the killing of some vigilante members and military personnel by bandits at Kanya Town in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

He said: “We commiserate with you and pray that the souls of the departed heroes and those who have lost their lives rest in peace.  I pray that the Almighty Allah will give the relatives of those who lost their beloved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.”

Tambuwal, however, donated N30 million to the victims of the bandits’ attack and prayed to Almighty Allah to grant them Alijanah Firdaus and to their families the fortitude to bear the loss.

Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu commended Governor Tambuwal for the visit and described the incident as a national and global challenge.

He said: “An attack to one is an attack to all. Regrettably, this is not the first time this happened and you are prompt in coming home to show solidarity to encourage us.

“I must commiserate with you as well.

Bagudu observed that security challenges were highly frustrating but they require maximum co-operation.

He advised that people must stop politicising issues of security.

Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong would begin the building of the N18 billion British-American flyovers and conversion of the road to Lamingo Junction Roundabout to a dual carriageway today.

A statement by the Commissioner for Works, Pam Botmang stated that the groundbreaking will be performed by former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and witnessed by governors of Niger, Edo and Kwara states.

According to the statement, the event will take place at the British-American flyover Junction site in Jos by 10:00 a.m.

The statement enjoined all guests to note that COVID-19 protocols will be strictly observed.

The Federal Government and the Katsina State Government have agreed to join forces against malaria upsurge as well as the elimination of other health care challenges in the state.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, who said this during the launch of the Insecticide -treated Nets Mass Campaign in Katsina State, said the use of insecticide-treated nets has remained one of the crucial strategies adopted by the federal and Katsina state governments for the prevention and elimination of malaria.

He further said Katsina is one of the 14 states to benefit from the intervention in 2022 and that 5.2 million insecticide-treated nets will be distributed with the active support of the Global Fund through the Society for Family Health.

He said: “I am pleased that my ministry, in collaboration with the Katsina State Government and the RBM partnership in the state, has ensured that proper and adequate planning has been done to achieve a successful ITN mass campaign in the state.”

The minister further called on the people of the state, traditional and religious leaders, to take leadership and ownership of the process to ensure sustainability that will lead to the elimination of malaria and encourage people in the communities to sleep inside the net every night.

The National Coordinator, National Malaria Elimination Campaign Programme, Dr Perpetua Uhomoibi described the flag-off campaign as well-timed and an important milestone in the effort of the Federal Government and its partners to ensure that every citizen is protected against malaria attack.

He said: “Over the years, efforts by the governments and partners have enabled some successes in malaria response.”