The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • Kaduna traffic official beats driver to death

    Kaduna traffic official beats driver to death

    A Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Agency (KASTLEA) marshal has allegedly killed a yet to be identified driver during an altercation along Ali Akilu Road, Unguwar Sarki, Kaduna State, on Friday.

    It was gathered that the incident, which happened around 4pm, led to a serious traffic gridlock in the area and its environs.

    Details of what led to the altercation were unknown as at press time, but eyewitnesses said the victim died after a head injury.

    According to an eye-witness, the deceased was hit with a stick during the argument.

    ýConfirming the incident, Kaduna State Police Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammedý Jalige, said the Commissioner of Police, Mudassiru Abdullahi, had ordered the arrest of those behind the incident.

    He added that the police will commence full investigation into the matter.

    “There was an altercation between KASTLEA and some drivers. They beat him and he was rushed to a hospital, where he died. So, the drivers decided to block the main road in protest but we stopped them,” he said.

    Our Correspondent gathered that as soon as the young man fell down, the KASTLEA agents left the scene for fear of being attacked by angry youths.

    Contacted, the General Manager, KASTLEA Corps, Mýashal Garba Yahaya Rimi, said he is yet to receive the full details of what happened, and therefore could not comment on it.

  • Insurgency: Borno, Army re-open Maiduguri–Dikwa–Gamboru/Ngala border road

    Insurgency: Borno, Army re-open Maiduguri–Dikwa–Gamboru/Ngala border road

    The Borno State Government and the Nigerian Army on Friday reopened the Maiduguri – Dikwa – Gamboru/Ngala road for unrestricted movement.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that there was restriction of movement on the 138 kilometre border road linking Nigeria to Cameroon and Chad Republic, due to insurgency.

    Speaking at the ceremony in Maiduguri, Gov. Babagana Zulum, said that motorists could now ply the road from 8am to 2pm.

    Zulum said that while motorists did not need security escort from Maiduguri to Dikwa, the military with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) and hunters would be escorting motorists for the remaining journey of about 60 kilometres from Dikwa to Gamboru/Ngala.

    He urged motorists to observe all rules and regulations as laid down by the authorities while plying the road for their safety and easy movement.

    In his remark, the Theatre Commander of Joint Task Force, Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Christopher Musa, thanked Borno government for its sustained support to the military and other security agencies in the state.

    “We encourage you not to relent. We assure you of our cooperation and support in every aspect to ensure that Borno and Northeast in general remain peaceful,” Musa said.

    Excited motorists and commuters, in their different responses, lauded the development, which they said would boost business activities in view of its commercial viability.

    “From Maiduguri to Gamboru/Ngala is just two hours drive, but because of the insurgency, we used to spend about four days. We really suffered for years.

    “Now that there is unrestricted movement, we can only say thank you God, thank you Gov.  Zulum and the Nigerian Army,” Mallam Idris Habib, a businessman said.

    Highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of 10 patrol vans to the Army, while hunters group and CJTF patrolling the road got four patrol vans each.

  • Agency needs 2,000 toilets to end open defecation

    Agency needs 2,000 toilets to end open defecation

    The Federal Capital Territory Rural Water Supply Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) has called for collaboration to build 2, 000 toilets in public places to enable the FCT to achieve open defecation-free status in the six area councils by 2025.

    At a workshop to review the public toilet design for FCT, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister of State Mohammed Usman noted that the administration is making all efforts to ensure that Abuja and its environs is open defecation-free by 2025.

    Noting that some communities in the FCT are already attaining the status, he urged RUWASA to increase the tempo to ensure that more communities are free of the menace.

    He said that 40 per cent of FCT residents still defecate in the open.

    He stressed the need for all stakeholders, the private sector, to collaborate with the administration in realising its objective.

    Acting Executive Director of RUWASA Dr Mohammed Dan-Hassan noted that the issue of open defecation has been a long one affecting the health of FCT residents, saying when it comes to the issue of sanitation it is important to think outside the box in line with current trends.

    He said the workshop was organised for stakeholders to look into the design of constructing public toilets to end the menace of open defecations, saying the more toilets in public spaces the more people will be encouraged to use them.

    He maintained that RUWASA has scaled up sensitisation of FCT residents to change behavioural patterns in terms of open defecation.

    Head of Advocacy Policy and Communication, WaterAid Nigeria, Kolawole Banwo said with only 76 out of the 774 local government areas to have attained open defecation-free status in Nigeria, the sanitation crisis in the country remains critical and it demands urgent action.

    He said: “With about 46 million people practising open defecation in Nigeria and 112 million people without access to basic sanitation service, it is important to act now to respond to the crisis in a manner that delivers equitable, sustainable and scalable sanitation services.”

    Banwo urged stakeholders to adopt a toilet model that will accommodate the needs of women, and girls, initiate partnerships that will facilitate the design, construction, effective operations and management of such a model so as to place FCT as a pacesetter and help achieve objectives of a clean Nigeria.

  • Sule releases N340m for retirees’ gratuity

    Sule releases N340m for retirees’ gratuity

    In his commitment to ensuring the welfare of senior citizens of Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule has released the sum of N340 million for the payment of gratuity of 1,193 state and local government retirees.

    The Director-General, State Pension Bureau, Sulieman Nagogo disclosed this at a briefing yesterday in Lafia, the state capital.

    The D-G said the approval of the N340 million was to offset the gratuity of 576 and 614 local government and state retirees respectively. He added that the gesture was aimed at alleviating the plights of retirees in the state.

    Nagogo explained that the administration inherited a backlog of debt of gratuity and pension benefits of retirees at the state and local government levels from successive administrations in the state.

    He said: “Upon my assumption of office, I discovered that the magnanimous posture of Abdullahi Sule knows no bounds and that is why his government has continued to attend to the plights of pensioners of the state.

    “The governor swung into action by offsetting the backlog of pension arrears witnessed in January 2022 for local government pensioners as well as the approved quarterly release of N340 million to pay the gratuity of state and local government retirees.

    “Apart from this, there were litigations at various courts of law filed by pensioners against the state government. These dispositions were worrisome to His Excellency, considering the fact that these Pensioners had served the state meritoriously and needed not to be treated shabbily.

    “In addition, the Governor took bold steps at settling their grievances through Out-of-Court Settlement which brought about the relative peace and harmony between the aggrieved Pensioners and the State Government,” Nagago said.

    He pledged the Bureau’s readiness to continue to support the cause of governance in the state.

    Nagogo assured the people of the state government’s commitment to attending to the plights of retirees as a show of appreciation for the services they have rendered to the state.

    The D-G, therefore, called on the people of the state to continue to support the Governor Sule-led administration to enable him to provide the dividends of democracy for the people.

  • Sule inaugurates N2b Karu retail, recreational centre

    Sule inaugurates N2b Karu retail, recreational centre

    Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the Karu Retail and Recreational Centre, estimated to cost N2 billion.

    Sule performed the groundbreaking at the site of the project at Karu, Karu Local Government Area yesterday.

    The Karu Retail and Recreational Centre is a joint venture between the Nasarawa State Government and the Barlow and Barrow International Nigeria Limited.

    According to the governor, it is a realised dream for his administration for retail institutions such as ShopRite to come to the Karu International Market, which was built from public funds but left to fallow.

    He pointed out that, being an investor and coming from the private sector, it was difficult for his administration to watch while the Karu International Market, located in a prime location, is not being utilised for the purpose of generating revenue for the state.

    He noted that his administration’s leverage on the proximity of the state to the Federal Capital Territory has continued to yield investments, stressing that the Karu Retail and Recreational Centre is a significant offering for economic and social impact while being in line with the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS).

    Chief Executive Officer of the Karu Retail and Recreational Centre, Yahaya Yahaya, said Nasarawa State has become an investment destination, with the Karu Retail and Recreational Centre which is a well-thought-out development and business model that promises to deliver a sustainable return on investment for the parties involved.

    The Managing Director and CEO of the Nasarawa Investment Development Agency, Ibrahim Abdullahi, described the event as a landmark partnership for the retail sector in the state.

  • Coalition to honour individuals, organisations

    Coalition to honour individuals, organisations

    In a bid to appreciate the contributions and impactful works of senior citizens and organisations that are 60 years and above, the Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN) is set to hold its maiden edition of the Corporate Senior Citizen Award Initiative.

    The award, which is designed to enhance national productivity, competitiveness, innovation and consciousness, also seeks to encourage corporate institutions to strive for longevity and sustainability.

    The Coalition, however, decried the lack of reliable data on older people across the country, which will assist the government and other relevant stakeholders to properly plan and cater for the health, economic and social needs of older people. It stated that it is working with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to address the problem.

    The President of COSROPIN, Senator (Dr.) Eze Ajoku, who disclosed this during a stakeholders outreach meeting in Abuja, stated that the award would likely be held between March and April this year.

    He said: “The National Corporate Senior Citizens Award Initiative is a national strategic innovative initiative with an international focus, designed to help our country create and develop institutional memory, reference and award protocol for corporate senior citizens from 60 years and above. This will create a need for reward, appreciation and recognition for them as to create classification, branding and possible rebate/waivers, special privilege and protocol to them.

    “Also to create aspiration banks and competition needs to get to be a member of privilege Nigeria Corporate Senior Citizen.

    “We are inviting and engaging all of you as critical partners and stakeholders in advancing, promoting, organizing and hosting the maiden edition in March/April 2022, and for us all to be a part of history, a memorial of this initiative.”

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha who was represented by the Director of Public Affairs Department office of the SGF, Mrs Veronica Agugu drummed support for the initiative, stating that it would encourage others to emulate their paths, hence leave enduring legacies.

  • CNPP to Buhari: Sign re-amended Electoral Bill

    CNPP to Buhari: Sign re-amended Electoral Bill

    The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Electoral Bill without further delay as lawmakers have removed the contentious clause on direct party primary elections.

    Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare had, on Monday, confirmed the transmission of the re-amended bill to the President.

    He had explained that the transmission of the bill to Mr President was in line with the provisions of Section 58 (3) of the 1999 Constitution and the Acts Authentication Act Cap A2 LFN 2004.

    However, in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the CNPP said “nothing should be a stumbling block to the assent of the bill by Mr President as the National Assembly has done his bidding.

    “The best legacy Mr President can leave at this time of our national life is to bequeath to the country transparent elections, of which assent to the Electoral Act Amendment is critical.

    “We, hereby, join other well-meaning Nigerians to call on Mr President to immediately sign the re-amended Electoral Bill in demonstration of a genuine commitment to electoral reform; as a victim of electoral manipulation and a beneficiary of improved electoral system under the President Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2015.”

  • Plateau primary: Lawmaker emerges PDP candidate

    Plateau primary: Lawmaker emerges PDP candidate

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Plateau State has concluded its primary for the forthcoming Jos North/Bassa Federal House of Representatives by-election Musa Agah emerged as the flag bearer of the party.

    Musa scored 152 votes, while Jonathan Dabo polled 127 votes.

    Declaring the results yesterday at Lamonde Hotel in Jos, the state capital, Chairman of the PDP Primaries Committee, Francis Orogu said the third aspirant David Racha got only one vote out of 281 total votes cast by the delegates of the party.

    He urged the aspirants to take advantage of the rancour in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) primary for a sound victory on February 26, 2022.

    “Having seen that we have done our best and God decided what is best for the party and state, I urge every member of this party to ignore any technical hitches or human error and let’s dislodged this system of government we have in place.

    “If we did not unite and corporate, and only look at a technical issue that will suit our personal interest having gone this far, then we should know that we have ourselves to blame.”

  • Kaduna records 114 fire outbreaks in January

    Kaduna records 114 fire outbreaks in January

    Kaduna State Fire Service said it recorded 114 fire outbreaks and six deaths in January in three areas of the state.

    Mr Paul Aboi, Director, State Fire Service disclosed this in a chat with reporters in Kaduna yesterday.

    He said the fire outbreaks occurred in Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan.

    Aboi said the service rescued four people unharmed, while eight people sustained injuries from the fire.

    “The service saved property worth about N3.4 billion, while others worth N785 million were destroyed within the period under review,” he said.

    Aboi said the outbreaks were caused by carelessness and improper use of electrical appliances, even as he urged residents to take preventive measures to avert fire disasters.

    The director said that the service was doing its best to reduce fire outbreaks by educating residents on fire safety measures.

    According to him, residents need to be extra careful during the dry season because fire outbreaks occur more during the period.

  • PCN inducts 176 pharmacy graduates

    PCN inducts 176 pharmacy graduates

    The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has inducted 176 fresh pharmacy graduates from the Faculty of Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Jos and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

    The PCN noted that the entry of the new inductees in January comes at a very critical time when the world is still tackling the effects of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Registrar of the PCN, Elijah Mohammed, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, also stated that in the event of a dispute over the distance between an existing pharmacy and a proposed pharmacy, the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the report of a registered land surveyor that is acceptable to both parties may be used to resolve the issue.

    He said: “As you may all be aware, the processing of applications for registration and issuance of 2022 Pharmacists and premises licences is in progress. Pharmacists are therefore advised to renew their licences for the year 2022 early, as fines for late registration/renewal would be applied after March 31, 2022.

    “In January 2022, 176 fresh pharmacy graduates from the Faculty of Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Jos and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, were inducted into the Pharmacy profession.

    “Re-accreditation visit was paid to the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State as well as the Faculty of  Pharmacy, the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State in the month under review. Furthermore, an advisory visit was also paid to the David Nweze Umahi University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi State.

    “The First Cycle of the Pre-Registration Examination for Pharmacists (PEP) has been scheduled to hold on March 19, 2022. Candidates who wish to register for the examination are advised to make use of the PEP portal (pcnmcpd.com/pep) for such on or before March 7, 2022.”

    “Similarly, the First Cycle of the Foreign Pharmacists Graduate Orientation Programme (FPGOP) has been scheduled to hold from April 24 – June 5, 2022, at Kaduna State University, Kaduna (Northern Centre) and University of Lagos (Southern Centre).”