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Tag: Abubakar Bello

  • Gov. Bello donates N20m to Bida market fire victims

    Gov. Bello donates N20m to Bida market fire victims

    Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger on Thursday donated N20 million to victims of Bida Market fire, to cushion their losses.

    Our reporter, recalled that a night fire had destroyed over 600 shops in the market on March 1.

    “We thank God that no life was lost during the incident, but again, properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

    “As government, we cannot bring back what has been lost, but it is time for us to look inward to know the actual cause of the fire and avoid future occurrence.

    “We will further look inward to see the assistance government can give and we pray for God to help those who lost their goods and property to regain them in a short time,” he said during a condolence visit in Bida.

    He directed the state Emergency Management Agency to undertake proper assessment of the situation with a view to providing the victims with more support.

    The governor said a fire engine would be stationed permanently at the market, for prompt intervention in case of disaster.

    Bello advised people of the area to be law abiding and desist from act capable of disrupting the peace.

    Read Also: Niger Assembly Frowns at Bogus N156.3M Spending

    Responding, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar commended the governor for the donation and assured that the money would be distributed to actual victims.

    He said that the local assessment committee would work with that of the state government to determine the cause of the fire, quantum of losses recorded and recommend ways to avert future occurrence.

    The monarch advised the state government to remodel the market to meet global standard.

    Malam Mohammed Audu, one of the victims, commended the governor for the donation, but called for more support to victims “whose businesses have been crippled as a result of the fire.”

    “I lost everything in my shop during the fire and that shop was my source of living, I don’t know where to start from, I need government assistance to set up a new business,” he said in an interview with our reporter.

    NAN

  • Brothers assault police officers in Lagos

    Brothers assault police officers in Lagos

    Two brothers who allegedly assaulted a Chief Superintendent of Police and a Superintendent of Police were on Monday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Abubakar Bello, 16, and Sikiru Bello, 19, were docked alongside a woman, Risikat Arowolo, 33, before Chief Magistrate Patrick Adekomaya.

    The trio are standing trial on two- count charge of conspiracy and assault.

    According to the police, the defendants and the alleged victims are neighbours at Macarthy Police Barracks on Lagos Island.

    Prosecuting police officer, Sgt. Peace Chukwudi identified the alleged victims as CSP Onojaife Kent and SP Nwaimo Christopher.

    Chukwudi said the accused persons’ father is also a Police Superintendent.

    She told the court that the incident occurred on February 10 at Macarthy Barracks.

    According to her, a fight broke out following a heated argument during last Saturday’s clean-up exercise at the barracks.

    The court heard that trio allegedly conspired and assaulted the policemen.

    Chukwudi said the defendants beat the officers with belts and pushed them into a gutter.

    According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened sections 411 and 172 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 and punishable under same.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Chief Magistrate Adekomaiya granted each defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 and a surety in like sum.

    Hearing on the case continues on March 14.

  • Bello appoints panel to probe suspension of LG chairman

    Bello appoints panel to probe suspension of LG chairman

    Niger governor Abubakar Bello on Wednesday set up a panel to investigate the suspension of Alhaji Saidu Kaboji, Chairman of Mashegu Local Government Area, from office.

    The News men report that the State House of Assembly, in November 2017, passed a resolution suspending the chairman and councillors from office over alleged unruly conduct.

    The legislators had accused the local government officials of assaulting them when they demanded explanations over an on-going road project.

    Read Also: Bello: A governor and his controversies

    Dissatisfied with the legislators’ action, Bello decided to set up a panel to investigate the matter “to come out with the best recommendations and ensure equity”.

    He urged members of the panel to use their wealth of experience to “ensure for all involved”.

    Members of the panel, which has two weeks within which to complete the task, include Alhaji Musa Abdul, Hassan Kolo, John Sani, Rakiya Mohammed and Yohanna Bako.

    NAN

  • Police arraign 35-year old banker for cheating

    Police arraign 35-year old banker for cheating

    The police on Thursday arraigned one Daniel George, 35, at a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court in the Federal Capital territory  ( FCT ) for cheating.

    George, a banker and resident of Gwarimpa, Abuja, is standing trial on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and cheating.

    The Prosecutor, Otu Urom, said that Sanusi Saminu residing at Ishaka Close, Gwarimpa, Abuja, reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Mr Abubakar Bello, on December 13, 2017.

    He alleged that sometime in July, 2017, the accused and two others now at large, conspired and deceived the complainant.

    Urom alleged that they deceived the complainant to invest N1.5 million in their company under name of Global Trust Multipurpose Cooperative Limited.

    He said that the accused and the others promised to pay the complainant his money in 90 days but they failed to do so after the stipulated period.

    Read also: Police arrest 14 over Ibadan violence

    The prosecutor alleged that they converted the money into their personal use.

    According to him, the offence contravenes the Penal Code.

    When the charge was read out, the defendant pleaded not guilty”.

    The Senior Magistrate, Mr. Musa Jobbo, granted the accused bail for N1 million with one surety in like sum.

    He said that the surety must be a civil servant residing within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the case till February 5 for hearing.

    NAN

  • Bello to corpers: You are safe in Niger

    Bello to corpers: You are safe in Niger

    Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has pledged to provide adequate security and ensure welfare of corps members posted to the various Local Government Areas in the state.

    He said this during the closing ceremony of the 2017 Batch “B’’ corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Paiko on Monday.

    Bello, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, advised corps members to continue to play vital roles in the area of education, health care, agriculture and rural development.

    He enjoined them to be committed to their work, adding that government would strengthen awards to recognise distinguished corps members.

    The governor, however, appealed to employers to accept corps members posted to their organisations.

    Read also: NYSC DG warns corps members against night parties, indecent dressing

    In her remarks, Mrs Theresa Arokoyo, the NYSC Coordinator in Niger, commended the State Government for the provision of drugs to facilitate the smooth running of the camp clinic.

    She appealed to employers to create an enabling environment for corps members to excel in their places of primary assignments rather than rejecting them.

    Arokoyo urged corps members to be good ambassadors of the scheme and practice all they have learnt during the three weeks orientation course in the camp.

    NAN

  • World Bank urges Niger to pay N80m counterpart fund

    World Bank urges Niger to pay N80m counterpart fund

    The World Bank has urged Niger Government to pay balance of N80 million being its counterpart funding for the implementation of  FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) Project in the state.

    Dr Adetunji Oredipe, the World Bank Task Team Leader, gave the advice on Thursday at the Eight Joint World Bank/Federal Government FADAMA III AF implementation supervision mission to the state.

    Oredipe, represented by Dr Ahmed Ibrahim, a member of the team, said, “The mission has observed that Niger is lacking behind in terms of payment of its counterpart fund.’’

    The team leader said that prompt payment of the fund would guarantee successful implementation of the project.

    He said the team observed some challenges in the area of small scale infrastructural development such as roads in the benefiting communities in the state.

    “We have the fear that after handing over these facilities to the benefiting communities they will be abandoned.

    “We want to know if the state government has put measures in place to ensure sustainability of the facilities,’’ Oredipe said.

    He urged the state government to always hold meetings of the Project Implementation Committee with the stakeholders toward the success of the project.

    Oredipe said that the mission would follow up its findings of the mid-term review in the last six month and make recommendations.

    Responding, Alhaji Yusuf Kagara, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, promised that the state government would pay the counterpart fund before the end of the week.

    “Gov. Abubakar Bello has directed his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, to go to the Ministry of Finance to ensure the payment of the counterpart fund.

    Kagara said that the state would do everything possible to pay the counterpart fund as the project had impacted positively on farmers in the state.

    He said that measures had been put in place to ensure sustainability of the project objectives in the state.

    “Niger Government is sensitising the benefiting communities to own and maintain the facilities,’’ Kagara said.

    Earlier, Alhaji Aliyu Kutigi, the State Programme Coordinator, said that N160 million out of the targeted N240 million had been paid.

    Kutigi said that the project which started in 2014 was scheduled to end in 2019.

    The programme coordinator said that during the period under review the state achieved 66.7 per cent in the programme implementation.

    NAN

  • NYSC registers 2,071 corps members in Niger

    NYSC registers 2,071 corps members in Niger

    The National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) says it registered 2,071 corps members comprising 991 males and 1,080 females for the 2017 Batch ‘B’ orientation course in Niger.

    Mrs Theresa Arokoyo, the NYSC Coordinator in the state, disclosed this on Thursday during the swearing-in-ceremony in Paiko.

    She called on corps members to participate actively in camp activities and acquire skills that would be beneficiary to them after the service year.

    Arokoyo disclosed that the scheme would partner with the state government in the development of its agricultural value chain programme.

    She commended the state government for its support and cooperation in ensuring effective and efficient performance of the scheme in the state.

    In his remarks, Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger, urged corps members to be more patriotic as the nation continue to address its socio-economic and security challenges.

    Bello, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, said that the fight against epidemic diseases, illiteracy, pastoral crisis, poverty and collective quest for sustainable democratic governance required a collective efforts.

    “I challenge you to see yourselves as agents of change to sensitise our people towards the much-clamoured national orientation and nation building.

    “It is my belief that your education, exposure and call for national service have given you enough psychological and mental preparedness needed to fight those vices that deprive us of our deserved position in the comity of nations,” he said.

    Bello commended the corps members for their campaign against HIV/AIDS and drug abuse among youths in the state.

    He gave the assurance that corps members would be given adequate security in their respective places of primary assignment.

    NAN

  • NIPC to partner Niger on development of Tourism, Agriculture

    NIPC to partner Niger on development of Tourism, Agriculture

    The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission ( NIPC ) on Thursday said it would partner the Niger State Government to attract investors into tourism and agricultural sectors of the state

    Ms Yewande Sadiku, the Chief Executive Officer of NIPC, said this when Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger visited the commission in Abuja.

    Sadiku said that the commission would support the state government in profiling investment opportunities that would attract foreign investors to the state.

    According to her, the commission was building a platform for capacity building and profiling investment opportunities; starting with a tool that would help in profiling small and medium scale enterprises (SMES).

    “We are profiling investment opportunities in a way that will be easy to market.

    “By doing this, such profiling will help investors identify specific opportunities. We are happy to work with whatever team you designated first to profile.

    “We have adequate information on different types of profiling that can be used as teasers for our engagement with investors,” she said.

    She noted that the platform would help states with investment projects to market their products.

    Sadiku said that Niger had the potential to feed Nigeria and West Africa if attention were given to key sectors such as infrastructure development in agriculture and tourism.

    She said that the development of infrastructure would help the state close some of the challenges it might face in terms of competitiveness of manufactured goods.

    “Nigeria has three hydro-electric dams located in Niger and power is the foundation for industrial development.

    “Niger is one of the 36 states that is unique due to its proximity to Abuja, this means that the state is already close to the market.
    .
    “We are delighted to work with you in terms of marketing projects and profiling,” she said.

    Earlier, Gov. Bello had solicited the support of the commission in profiling and carrying out feasibility studies on agriculture and tourism sectors in the state to attract global investors.

    He said that the state had structures such as the Baro Port, tourist sites and agriculture potential that had not been adequately harnessed due to lack of proper profiling and feasibility studies.

    “We have tourist sites and agriculture potentials which many investors have shown interest to develop; but we need profiling on these key sectors for foreign investors to know what Niger State can offer them,” he said.

    Bello, however, noted that such potential if properly harnessed would have more impact and generate more revenue and jobs for the people of the state and the country at large.

    NAN

  • Staff verification saves Niger N216bn

    Staff verification saves Niger N216bn

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), Niger State Chapter, on Wednesday said that the verification exercise for civil servants had saved the state government about N216 billion.

    Alhaji Idris Ndako, the state NLC Chairman, disclosed this at the presentation of the report of the verification exercise to Gov. Abubakar Bello in Minna.

    The state government had on July 15 embarked on staff verification to determine the number of civil servants in its employment.

    Ndako said that irregularities such as salary padding, double salary, over payment and undue allowances were discovered during the verification exercise.

    He said that the culprits were made to refund such monies to the central account of the state Ministry of Finance and receipts were issued.

    According to him, accounts belonging to dead persons, retirees, absconders and workers that did not come for verification remained active on the salary platform until they were suspended.

    The NLC chairman said that the verification exercise succeeded in strengthening the employment records and bio data of the state workforce.

    “To a large extent, the exercise has sanitised and blocked potentials for leakages in the system. These components were hitherto porous, a situation that gave room for fraudulent practices.

    “With the above in place and consolidated, the system is made self-checking and any attempt of fraud will be easily identified and tracked,” he said.

    Responding, Bello called for continuous working relationship between the organised labour and government to improve the welfare of civil service in the state.

    He said that a study of the new system would be carried out with a view to better the standard of living of civil servants in the state.

    He appealed to workers at the state and local government levels and organised labour to work for the progress and development of the state in order to bequeath a workable legacy for generations yet unborn.
    .
    “We should wish for the progress and development of Niger State. We will all want to see a better Niger State tomorrow and to leave a system that is workable for the future generations.

    “I want to believe that no one of you here wants to leave problems for the future generations. We should be able to lay a platform so that when they come they will have better quality life.

    “I pray that in the future we will see a manageable workforce of about 29, 000 at the state level and 60,000 at the local government level.

    “By this, we will be able to pay our workers all their allowances and improve their standard of living so that we can get a quality civil service,” Bello said.

    He commended the NLC leadership for partnering with government in the conduct of the exercise.

    NAN

  • Niger Tornadoes receive N10m gift

    Niger Tornadoes receive N10m gift

    Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna on Thursday received N10 million gift from its sponsors, the Niger State Government, for coming second in the maiden AITEO Cup competition.

    The state Governor, Abubakar Bello, who made the announcement when he hosted the club at the Government House, said the team had done well in spite of the 3-2 penalties loss to Akwa United of Uyo on Oct. 15 in Lagos.

    “In every game, there is always a winner and a loser, to us here, you are the winners and you should know that you have moved the state football industry forward.

    “The strength of Niger Tornadoes is now known all over the world and we will continue to support you in areas that will move the club forward.

    “Niger Tornadoes is a brand name and all of you have turned out to be good ambassadors of the state,” Bello said.

    The governor advised the team to work hard so as to make serious impact in the West Africa Football Union Cup.

    To further encourage the team, the governor announced a raise in the monthly grant to the club from N7 million to N10 million, provision of a new bus and a pledge to tackle other challenges including modern facilities.

    According to him, the government is also making investments in other areas to develop potentials and encourage more youth to participate in sports.

    Bello said work on the Bako Kontagora Stadium would be completed in 2018, and the government had given approval for the development of a new football facility at Bahago roundabout, Minna.

    Earlier, Adamu Aliyu, Chairman, Niger Tornadoes FC, said the support they received from the government made it easier for the team  to excel.

    He told the governor that apart from coming second in the competition, the team supporters also emerged as the Best Supporters Club in Nigeria.

    NAN