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Tag: Babangida Aliyu

  • North’s Governors to govt: unmask Boko Haram terrorists, sponsors

    North’s Governors to govt: unmask Boko Haram terrorists, sponsors

    The Northern State Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has called on the Federal Government and the security agencies to unmask the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists and their sponsors.

    The governors made the call in a communique at the end of an emergency meeting, held at the Niger State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

    Chairman of the Forum and Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, who read the communique on behalf of his colleagues expressed apprehension over security situation in many parts of the north.

    The Governors were particularly alarmed by the increasing number of people that are being killed by the Boko Haram insurgents and other criminal elements.

    “The crime rate and general insecurity in the region, in particular and the country in general are increasingly becoming a growing concern, ranging from mayhem being perpetrated by insurgents characterised by sporadic killings and attacks on schools and communities leading to several deaths and thousands being displaced”, the communique stated.

    The Forum called on governors in the north to establish security trust fund in their various states, with members states articulating a coordinated approach towards fighting insurgency in the region.

    The governors noted that the ongoing National Conference was intended to provide a more inclusive and focused forum for candid discourse on the daunting challenges confronting the nation and it’s citizens.

    They listed security, observance of rule of law and corruption among the key areas of focus.

    “Therefore, the Forum came up with a common agenda that would put the northern delegates in a better position to tackle the interests and aspirations of the north and the nation at large”.

    The governors said the outcome of the recent symposium organised by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) and attended by 12 of the governors in Washington DC was fruitful.

    They listed some of the gains of their participation to include: “Provision of strong platform for meaningful discussion and enhanced cooperation that will elaborately address security, social, economic and governance issues peculiar to states of northern Nigeria;

    “Conveying the support of high-level US, Norwegian and Danish Governments through their officials alongside other united key participants to achieve the desired objectives;

    “Articulate common position on how to attract support to address issues of common concern to northern states”.

    According to the communique, the Forum resolved to consolidate on the gains of the symposium by constituting a committee to articulate issues of common concern for a follow up and implementation with the agencies through the Nigerian Embassy in Washington.

    Members of the committee include the Secretaries to the Governments of Niger, Zamfara, Borno and Kogi States. Others are the Commissioner for Information of Niger State and the representative of the Nigerian Embassy in the United States.

    Besides Aliyu, other governors that attended the meeting included Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara); Idris Wada (Kogi); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara); Ramalan Yero (Kaduna); Garba Umar (Taraba); Deputy governors of Borno and Jigawa States.

     

  • Boko Haram: 13 Northern governors seek help in Washington

    Boko Haram: 13 Northern governors seek help in Washington

    Thirteen governors of the North are in the United States searching for help against the Boko Haram insurgency.

    They met yesterday for eight hours at the United States Peace Institute and the State Department in Washington DC. with U.S. government officials and representatives of Norway and Denmark.

    Details of the first round of the closed-door meeting, which was sponsored by the U.S. government in collaboration with the governments of Norway and Denmark, could not be obtained last night.

    The meetings are expected to continue till tomorrow.

    The Peace Institute said the biggest issue discussed was how Nigeria could overcome the Boko Haram insurgency, especially through education and economic investments.

    Other issues discussed included re-invigorating the U.S. attention on the north, economic investment opportunities in the region, security and challenges of private investments in the region.

    The governors were reportedly given time to dialogue among themselves on the way out of Boko Haram.

    Among the governors in attendance were Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Kashim Shetttima (Borno) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) (Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Saidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano).

  • Only 5 per cent of farmers have improved seeds

    Only 5 per cent of farmers have improved seeds

    The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme in Nigeria (WAAPP-Nigeria) has said only five per cent of Nigerian farmers have access to improved seeds.

    The National Coordinator of the programme, Prof. Damian Chekwendu,spoke yesterday at the 2014 Seed Production Planning meeting in Minna.

    He said Nigeria had the lowest agriculture growth indices among leading developing nations like Brazil, Malaysia and Thailand.

    “The percentage of farmers with access to improved seeds in the country is about five per cent compared to 25 per cent in East Africa and 60 per cent in Asia.

    “Agricultural mechanisation intensity is about 10 tractors per 1000 hectares compared to 241 per 1000 hectares in Indonesia.

    “Nigeria cannot continue to tolerate this state of things,’’ he said.

    Chikwendu said that WAAPP intended to support community seed multiplication this year.

    He said that WAAPP would collaborate with ADPs, AFAN, community-based association under the supervision of the Nigerian Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) to achieve the significant results.

    The coordinator said that WAAPP in 2013 had inaugurated seven private seed companies to produce maize, rice and sorghum seeds.

    He said that the companies had produced 432 tonnes of various varieties of maize and 150 tonnes of improved sorghum seeds.

    According to him, 172 tonnes of rice and 15.603 tonnes of sorghum had been distributed to farmers in WAAPP adopted villages.

    The Governor of Niger, Dr Babangida Aliyu thanked WAAPP for bringing the meeting that would intervene in the seed sector to the state.

    Aliyu was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Ahmed Ibrahim.

    He said that the state has 10 per cent of the arable land in the country, adding that the state had water bodies that would add aqua culture.

    The governor stressed the need for mechanisation, saying that less than one per cent of fish farmers had access to facilities to dry their fish.

    He solicited the support of the private sector in the programme, saying that the state had voted 50,000 hectares to Dangote Group of Companies to cultivate rice in the state.

    He assured WAAPP of government support to make the programme a success.

    The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by Chief Executives of Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) across the nation.

    Others at the meeting included the Agricultural Research Institutes and the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN).

     

     

     

  • 14 northern states meet over oil exploration

    14 northern states meet over oil exploration

    Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu, would on Monday declare open the meeting of Association of Petroleum Inland Basin States of Northern Nigeria (APIBONN) in Minna.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the Press Secretary to Governor Aliyu, Danladi Ndayebo, in Minna on Sunday.

    The statement said the 14 northern states which fall under the region’s sedimentary basin were set to kick-start oil and gas exploration in the inland basin states.

    The statement said the relevant commissioners in the affected states would brainstorm on the modalities and action plan that would kick start and sustain oil and gas exploration in the region.

    “The meeting will fashion out strategies to harness the resources in Sokoto, Chad, Bida and Benue basins, although their hydrocarbon contents are yet to be properly developed and estimated,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor’s media aide as saying in the statement.

    The statement expressed support for ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to explore oil in the sedimentary basin of Northern Nigeria.

    The inland basin states are – Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Gombe, Kogi, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kwara, Nasarawa, Taraba, Yobe and Plateau.

     

  • Mu’azu meets Babangida in Minna

    Mu’azu meets Babangida in Minna

    The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, on Friday held a closed door meeting with former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, in continuation of his nationwide consultation with elders of the party.
    He also met with the Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.
    The meeting came barely one week after the party chairman had a similar meeting with former president Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
    Mu’azu, who was said to be on a private visit led a 15-man team to the Minna uphill residence of the former military leader at about 12:05pm and entered a closed door meeting which lasted till 1:05pm.
    Those in Mu’azu’s entourage including the PDP National Youth Leader, Alhaji Abdullahi Maibasera, former Speaker Gali Na’aba and the state PDP acting chairman, Barrister Tanko Beji were excused from the meeting to enable the two leaders have a confidential and private session.
    Emerging from the meeting, the host, Babangida refused to talk to journalists. The former leader bluntly told reporters that he was not prepared to talk. “I am not going to say a word. I am not talking,” he told journalists.
    The PDP national chairman, however, said that he was in Minna as part of his reconciliatory move and in continuation of his meeting with some elders of the party since he emerged as the chairman of the ruling party.
    “I am here in continuation of my visit to our elders and I had a fruitful meeting with the former president. It was a fruitful meeting,” Mu’azu offered.
    He, however, declined to give details of the meeting. “What we discussed is not meant for public consumption. All I can say is that we had a fruitful discussion.”
    The convoy later left for the Niger State governor’s private residence where another round of meeting which lasted 20 minutes took place.

  • Mosque attack: Four Governors condole with Kwankwaso

    Mosque attack: Four Governors condole with Kwankwaso

    Governors Babangida Aliyu (Niger State) yesterday called for a thorough investigation of the recent attack on the father of the Kano State Governor, Alhaji Musa Saleh Kwankwaso, at a mosque in Kwankwaso.

    Three persons died in the attack launched by yet to be identified people.

    Governor Aliyu with whom were Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) as well as the deputy governor of Katsina, Alhaji Abdullahi Faskari, spoke during a solidarity visit to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso in Kano.

    The Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum said the incident is a reminder that security should not be left to the federal government alone.

    He commended Governor Kwankwaso for the maturity with which he handled the matter.

    He also asked the federal Government to fortify security arrangements in the entire country to protect lives and property.

    He thanked the Almighty Allah for sparing the life of Governor Kwankwaso’s father and prayed for the speedy recovery of those who suffered varying degree of injuries during the attack.

    Responding, Governor Kwankwaso thanked the governors for the visit to share his moment of grief.

    He asked the Federal Government to address unemployment crisis in the country with a view to curbing crimes in the country.

    He promised to further beef up security across entire 44 Local Government Areas of the state.

     

  • Xmas: Northern governors preach peace, tolerance

    Xmas: Northern governors preach peace, tolerance

    The Northern States Governors Forum on Tuesday called on Christians to spread the virtues of peace, love and charity, which underscored Christ’s mission on earth as they celebrate Christmas.

    In a Christmas message issued in Minna, the forum’s Chairman and Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, called on Christians to use the opportunity to pray fervently for an end to the numerous challenges confronting the nation.

    The forum’s statement that was signed by Governor Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, said there was no better time to preach and internalize Jesus Christ’s mission on earth than now owing to increasing intolerance in the country.

    He urged the faithful to continue to co-habit peacefully with non-Christians so as to engender sustainable peace that was needed for the growth and development of the nation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Aliyu wished Christians a joyful celebration and prayed for the warmth of God’s love to fill every home during the festive season.

     

  • G7 governors intact, insists Aliyu

    G7 governors intact, insists Aliyu

    GOVERNOR Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said yesterday in Kano that the G7 governors are still ‘intact’ regardless of the recent defection by five of them from the PDP to the APC.

    Only Aliyu and his Jigawa counterpart, Alhaji Sule Lamido, remain in the PDP out of the seven Governors opposed to what they called undemocratic style of the party’s national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

    Aliyu, on a courtesy visit to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, one of the five that defected, described the G7 as intact and solid, but only pursuing the same objective through different approaches.

    “We are still together as one indivisible body. We communicate, exchange ideas and are pursuing the same objective. Our goal is never different, for your information,” he said.

    What is unfolding in public, according to him, should not be misconstrued to mean that the group is now divided.

    Aliyu, who was accompanied by former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima declared that nothing can separate him from Governor Kwankwaso.

    “All we are doing is a unified idea. We are only strategising towards the same objective,” he said.

    His host spoke in the same vein.

    He said: “Those of us that went ahead were to chart the way for those we left behind for the political commanders to finish one or two things before joining us. Be rest assured that they will join us.

    “We share everything together and people should be rest assured that we are engaging in a political strategy.”

     

  • Jonathan in talks with Lamido, Aliyu at Villa

    *13 PDP Governors meet Sambo, SGF at Villa

    President Goodluck Jonathan Sunday  night met the remaining two aggrieved governors who refused to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa.

    The two state governors, who met with Jonathan, Vice President, Namadi Sambo and the Secretary
    to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim at the First Lady Conference room are Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Sule Lamido (Jigawa).

    Details of the discussions at the meeting is still unknown as the meeting was still on as at press time sunday night.

    While the meeting with the G-2 governors was starting at the venue, the Vice President and SGF met for about two hours with 13 PDP Governors at House Seven in the Presidential Villa.

    None of the members spoke with journalists when the Vice President ended the meeting at House Seven around 8.40p.m as Sambo and Anyim rushed to meet up with the President’s meeting with the G-2 governors.

    When Chairman of PDP Governors Forum Akpabio was approached at House Seven for comments, he said that the meeting was Vice President’s meeting.

    The 13 PDP governors, who met with Sambo and Anyim at the Villa had also earlier met briefly at the Akwa Ibom State Lodge with Akpabio before proceeding to the Villa.

    The PDP governors present at Akwa Ibom Lodge include Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Idris Wada (Kogi), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).

    Others are Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Theodore Orji (Abia), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Serike Dickson (Bayelsa), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), and Niger and Kaduna deputy governors.

    PDP governors who were absent at the Akwa Ibom State lodge meeting included Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Ibrahim Dankwambo ( Gombe), Garba Umar (Taraba), Gabriel Suswam ( Benue) and Saidu Dankigari (Kebbi).

  • I’m still a member of PDP – Governor Aliyu

    I’m still a member of PDP – Governor Aliyu

    Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has denied media reports purporting that he has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he remains a member of the party.

    Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, said in a statement on Tuesday that his principal was shocked at the announcement of the merger of New PDP and APC even before a final decision was taken on the matter.

    The statement said the governor was not present at the meeting where the merger deal was sealed.

    The governor insisted that talks were still ongoing with President Goodluck Jonathan and would await the outcome of the negotiation before taking a final decision.

    But the Interim Chairman of APC in Niger State, Alhaji Bako Shetima, said his party would accept the governor to the party in the state.

    He said, “We learnt of the development and our party will be ready to accept them into the party. The G-7 governors have been talking with our leaders at the national level. They are welcome. Our doors are open to them.”

    Shetima, however, gave a condition for the acceptance of the governor to APC.

    “We are going to accept him just like every member. He should not expect the party to wave or give him any concession. He is a member like any other member,” he stated.