Category: Northern Reports

Plateau State Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) Malam Nura Abdullahi yesterday dismissed allegation of the destruction of farmlands by the Irigwe ethnic group in Bassa Local Government.

The community raised the alarm again yesterday over an an alleged plan to attack members of their community.

A statement by Secretary-General of Irigwe Development Association (IDA) Danjuma Dickson Auta, who accused Fulani of the planned attack, said the group had received information on how the attack would be launched.

“As a follow-up to our earlier statement on the destruction of our crops and the killings of some cows by some individuals, we wish to state here that we received information of planned orchestrated and coordinated attacks on our communities by the Fulani armed men.

 “They have since surveyed their possible areas of attack through the recent exploration of our communities by way of the grazing they’ve been carrying out relentlessly million and have further impoverished our people who are mainly farmers.

 “This constant and calculated provocative destructions of our farmlands have shown that the Fulani do not want an end to these heinous acts.

“Therefore, enough is enough, if we have chosen the part of peace, then let us tour it because we can no longer tolerate it anymore.

“We, therefore, wish to call on government and the security operatives to double efforts in apprehending those behind all these evil acts and bring them to book,” the statement added.

But, Abdullahi, dismissed the allegation, describing it as baseless and unfounded.

“They know the atrocities they have committed. We didn’t destroy any farm. We are in the dry season. Where is the farm that we will destroy? Let them show us the farm that we have destroyed. They only want to hide under farm destruction to cover the damage they caused to us. They killed hundreds of cattle and shared the meat.

“About seven of their members were caught with the meat in their houses. We are not going to tolerate that. This is not the first they would kill our cattle for nothing. Do you know how much you can buy a cow now in the market? We are talking hundreds of cows?,” the chairman added.

The Nation had reported that herders have been carrying out constant attacks and destructions of their farmlands in the Irigwe community.

To this end, the two warring groups have been engaged in endless crisis, despite a peace accord, initiated by the Military Commander of STF, Major General Ibrahim Ali and the several efforts by the stakeholders to ensure peace and put a stop to the senseless killings, have not yielded any positive results .

Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has said Kano State, with textiles and agro-allied industries, assembly plant, hides and skin industries and others deserves an Inland dry port.

The minister said the port would facilitate international trade and transit cargoes to land-linked countries.

Represented by his Permanent Secretary, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Amaechi said: “It will bring shipping activities closer in the hinterland and increase cargoes throughput, act as a catalyst for improved trade flows and create jobs…”

He added it would enhance Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and be a  revenue source to the Federal Government.

Amaechi promised that the Federal Government was committed to linking approved dry ports with rail lines.

He said: “The Dala Inland dry port in Zawachiki would be given attention by considering possible options to align the facility with Lagos-Kano standard gauge rail line under construction, apart from the narrow gauge line in existence.”

Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje unveiled the theme and logo for Dala inland dry port ahead.

The port, to be inaugurated  this year, will serve Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

Ganduje also said the dry port in Dala would decongest traffic at the seaport in Lagos.

Over N5 billion has been spent on the dry port by the state and its management.

The governor said the state spent over N2.7 billion to build access roads, perimeter fencing, water and electricity.

Speaking in Abuja yesterday, Ganduje said: “This project was conceived over 20 years ago but did not go beyond paperwork.

“When we came in, we decided to give it political will and we discussed and we were requested to provide an enabling environment…

“We have spent more than N2.7 billion for the access road, fencing, water, electricity, and security. So, we are happy the project has taken off in earnest.”

On its potential, Ganduje said: “We assure you that if Dala is declared a port of origin and destination, we will not be serving Kano alone, we are discussion with Niger, Chad, northern Cameroon, Central Africa and they agreed to utilise this facility.’’

Emir of Kano Alhaji Aminu Bayero said the port would bring prosperity to the North.

Former Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki has told delegates in Katsina State that he is the most qualified of all PDP aspirants and deserve their votes.

Saraki, who spoke in Katsina through his Contact and Advocacy Council (SCAC), led by Prof Iyorwuese Hagher, a former minister, said he was the candidate for all Nigerians.

He added that Nigerians wanted a president that was a true democrat and not just a civilian detector.

’’They want a president who has ears to listen; a president like the late President Yar’adua and that is why coming here is such a sensitive thing’’.

‘’Bukola Saraki is an extension of the late President Yar’adua. We need somebody who has courage because Nigerians have suffered so badly. Katsina State alone has suffered more than most states in this country because your future is compromised’’.

‘’Loans have been taken that your great-grandchildren will have to pay, yet these children are not in school.

“Katsina has the second-highest number of children out of school in Nigeria at the time when APC was in government. What were they doing’’?

Hagher said ‘Saraki can wipe out the tears of Nigerians because he understands what diversity means,’ adding that         ‘Nigerians have suffered because people have forgotten that the country is a diverse one, where people of different ethnic groups live together.’

Plateau State chapter of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) yesterday went on strike.

It stalled hearing of the murder case of Pa Dariye as courts were closed.

JUSUN’s spokesman Philip M. Longji said the strike was to protest the 2014 allowances, which were neglected and forgotten by management.

Longji spoke at the High Court premises yesterday in Jos.

He said: “We shut down all business activities this morning to ensure that government  listens to us on the demand reached with the former Exco  sometime in 2014.

‘’We have not jettisoned the agreement with the management, but we are not talking about getting financial autonomy, no this grey area that we are now talking about is a particular allowance approved to us since 2014.

“Our predecessor left this pending issue and handed it over to us and we now took it to see that whatever belongs to our union should be given to us, it was only the overhead cost that the government was able to pay,” he said.

Bauchi State has settled backlog of N421 million direct school feeding debts to contractors, it was learnt.

Commissioner for Education Dr Aliyu Tildespoke  in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi yesterday.

He said the government introduced food monitors in secondary schools  to ensure supply and delivery of quality food to the schools.

The commissioner said the food monitor policy had brought sanity as pupils were now properly and adequately fed with quality meals.

According to him, the ministry engaged private marketers for the supply of foodstuffs to ensure efficient and regular supply.

He said the government engaged Amalgamated Bauchi traders and Artisans Multipurpose Cooperative Union Ltd., to handle supplies and delivery of food items to schools.

“I commend their resilience and punctuality as their performance has changed the narrative for the better,” he said.

He noted that N4.2 million was generated from proprietors of private schools for annual renewal and purchase of application forms.

“We achieved this feat through constant checking on the private schools obligations before clearance,” he added.

The seven-day warning strike in Niger State has crippled the health sector as patients  are denied  treatment  at the general hospitals and healthcare centres, it was learnt.

Passengers using the state Transport Authority were also stranded and had to find alternative means to travel because NSTA park was closed as a result of the strike.

The strike began after deadlocked meetings between Organised Labour and the government.

At the Transport Authority, all two gates were locked. Hospitals and health centres were also closed.

At the State Secretariat, government Ministries, Departments and Agencies were locked with NLC notice informing workers of the strike pasted on the gates.

It was learnt banks were given 24 hours to operate, pending agreement between the government and NLC.

Niger chapter of Nigerian Labour Congress said the strike would continue if their strike demands were not met in seven days.

All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart and presidential aspirant Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has congratulated Ata’ of Igala Matthew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche-Akpa on his appointment, installation and presentation of staff of office.

The APC leader spoke with reporters at the coronation and presentation in Idah.

Represented by Realwan Okpanachi, director general of Asiwaju Project Beyond 2023, Tinubu said he was confident the monarch would uphold the sanctity of the stool.

He said he hoped the Ata’ of Igala would bring his experience and exposure to bear on his assigned duties.

“As a good custodian of traditional values and rich heritage of Igala, we are confident, he will take Igala traditional stool to higher heights.

“We pray that as the 28th Ata’ of Igala, the monarch would leverage on his experience, leadership qualities and goodwill to promote peace and unity in the kingdom …” he said.

Former Benue State Governor Senator Gabriel Suswam has declared his intention to seek re-election into his Benue Northeast seat, next year.

The declaration is coming less than 24 hours after Governor Samuel Ortom declared to contest the Benue Northwest senatorial seat at the end of his tenure.

Suswam’s declaration was held in Katsina-Ala yesterday before a huge crowd of party supporters.

They comprise zonal Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) exco members, youths, women and elders.