The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dutse

  • Petrol scarcity bites harder in Jigawa

    Petrol scarcity bites harder in Jigawa

    As petrol scarcity bites harder in Dutse, residents have urged the Federal Government to take decisive measures to restore normalcy in the supply of the product to the Jigawa capital.

    A correspondent who visited all the filling stations in Jigawa state capital, reported that only the NNPC Mega Station was dispensing petroleum products to long queues of vehicles.

    A cross section of the motorists on Friday noted that the scarcity was artificial, pointing accusing fingers at activities of economic saboteurs.

    A resident, Malam Abubakar Umar, said: “People, especially the poor, are exposed to difficulties in sourcing for the product due to its acute scarcity.

    “The Federal Government must adopt practical measures to check petrol scarcity; such measures are imperative to address this lingering problem once and for all.”

    Another resident, Malam Sani Muhammad, said that the exorbitant prices of petrol had exposed many people to unnecessary hardships and forced some to park their vehicles and alternated with commercial ones.

    Read also: Abuja residents spend Christmas in petrol queues

    Muhammad, who attributed the problem to diversion of the product and hike in its prices by some petroleum marketers, added “even the price of ordinary kola-nuts has now increased”.

    A civil servant, Malam Ahmad Balarabe, bemoaned the devastating effect of the scarcity on many residents in the state capital.

    “Look at the situation most of us find ourselves now; to fuel vehicles, to travel, to buy food stuff, in fact, to do everything now has become a problem.

    “Almost everything is affected by the present fuel scarcity across the country.

    “So the Federal government and other parties concerned should do everything possible within their powers to bring an end to this unnecessary hardship we are experiencing.

    “However, we know that the Federal Government is doing its best for Nigerians,” Balarabe said.

    As at Jan. 4, only the Dutse NNPC Mega Station was selling the commodity to consumers at the official pump price of N145 per litre.

    However, the product is sold for between N250 and N300 per litre at the black market.

    NAN

  • Police arrest suspected robbers in Jigawa

    Police arrest suspected robbers in Jigawa

    The Police Command in Jigawa on Wednesday said it had arrested four suspected armed robbers in Dutse Local Government Area of the state.

    The command’s Spokesman, SP Abdu Jinjiri, said in Dutse that the suspects were arrested in Nerawa village at about 3:30 a.m.

    Jinjiri said the suspects, aged between 22 and 30, were arrested by a joint team of police and a vigilance group operating in the area.

    He said the suspects allegedly attacked and robbed one Alhaji Umar Maiwake at his residence in Kudai village at about 3 a.m.

    “The three suspects were arrested over alleged criminal conspiracy, trespass, causing grievous hurt and armed robbery.

    “The incident was reported at about 3:30 a.m. by one of the residents of the area that a group of 11 armed robbers stormed the residence of the victim at about 3 a.m. and robbed him of two mobile phones, unspecified amount of money and inflicted injuries on him.

    Read also: 2 robbery suspects killed in Nsukka

    “Footsteps followed by joint patrol team between police and vigilante to Nerawa village led to the arrest of the four of the suspects,” Jinjiri said.

    He said one cow and two motorcycles ( Bajaj ) suspected to have been stolen were recovered from the suspects during the arrest.

    The spokesman added that the victim was rushed to Federal University Dutse ( FUD ) Teaching Hospital, Dutse, for medical attention.

    He said investigation into the case had begun, after which the suspects would be charged to court.

    NAN

  • Legislative council sets up committee on missing property

    Legislative council sets up committee on missing property

    The Legislative Council of Gwaram Local Government of Jigawa has inaugurated a six-member committee to investigate some missing property in its various offices.

    The Information Officer of the local government, Alhaji Nasiru Yusif, announced this in Dutse on Tuesday.

    Yusif said the committee was inaugurated during the council’s sitting, presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Isyaku Mustapha, on Monday.

    He explained that the committee was expected to investigate the missing of property at the offices of the legislators, the Chairman’s official residence, staff quarters, as well as offices of Heads of Department.

    Read also: Jigawa gets N420m from Fed Govt

    The spokesman added that the deputy speaker, who described the rampant cases of theft as “unfortunate”, said that the legislative council decided to investigate the issue to end the menace.

    According to him, Mustapha urged members of the committee to justify the confidence reposed on them by identifying the culprits and the property stolen.

    The committee has Malam Isa Usaini as Chairman and Isyaku Mustapha as Secretary, while others include Usman Haruna, Abdu Adamu and Ibrahim Musa.

    It has two weeks to submit its report.

    NAN

  • Argungu Fishing Festival: FG, tourism stakeholders to partner Kebbi State

    Argungu Fishing Festival: FG, tourism stakeholders to partner Kebbi State

    Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria ( FTAN ) says it will partner with the Kebbi State Government to revamp the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival.

    Mr Nura Sani Kangiwa, the Vice President of FTAN ( North West Zone ), made this known in an interview in Abuja on Monday.

    Kangiwa said that this was part of the decisions reached at the 9th National Council on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation conference held in Dutse, Jigawa State recently.

    The National Council on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation is an annual gathering aimed at bringing together stakeholders to discuss ways the sector can contribute effectively to improve the country’s Gross Domestic Products ( GDP ).

    Kangiwa said that part of the decisions reached at the meeting was the revamping of the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival as it was set to make a big comeback.

    “Based on the resolution recently reached by the National Council on Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, it was agreed that the Federal Government and all tourism stakeholders will partake in the revamping of the festival.

    “So, all tourism stakeholders are going to partner with the Kebbi State Government to ensure that the festival, which has been comatose for some years is revived in order to promote our country as a tourism destination,” he said.

    He said that the Federal Government in its effort to diversify the economy had recognised the creative industry, which  culture and tourism were integral part aimed at creating jobs and improve foreign exchange earnings.

    Read also: Argungu Festival shines at UNESCO’s session

    “This was reflected in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017 to 2020.

    “Cultural Tourism is a source of revenue generation. As an “invisible export” it creates a flow of foreign currency into the economy of a nation.

    “The Culture and Tourism Sector is gaining more recognition and visibility and evolving economic activities capable of reducing extreme poverty, creating jobs and generating revenues for national growth and development.

    “Therefore, in line with the mission of the current political dispensation for diversification of economic activities, revamping the Argungu International Fishing Festival will no doubt satisfy the yearnings of our people,” he said.

    Kangiwa, who is `Turakin Kebbi’ described the Argungu International Fishng and Cultural Festival as “second to none in Africa’’.

    “It has been a beehive of activities for fun seeking tourists for decades. It is a cornucopia of cultural heritage and it astonished the world in both authenticity and variety of contents.

    “It is a festival that is already a tourism product that is acclaimed worldwide; no doubt UNESCO inscribed it in its prestigious list of Intangible Cultural Heritage for Humanity.

    “A study from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) reveals that 80 per cent of international tourists visit destinations on the world heritage list.

    “This no doubt gave Kebbi honour, dignity and pride,” he said.

    The Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival is expected to hold in March 2018.

    The four-day yearly festival held in Kebbi is one of Nigeria’s internationally recognised tourism attractions.

    The festival has not been held since the last edition in 2009 largely due to the security situation the country has been faced with and this had posed a huge revenue loss to the local economy and the country.

    On the issue of security, Kangiwa said Kebbi State was undoubtedly the safest state in the country in spite of its diverse religious and ethnic groups, adding that the level of youth restiveness and religious crisis remained the lowest.

    NAN

  • Two policemen, NSCDC staff probed for abduction in Jigawa

    Two policemen, NSCDC staff probed for abduction in Jigawa

    The Police Command in Jigawa says it is interrogating two policemen, a personal of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC ) and one civilian over alleged abduction of fake money producer.

    The command’s Spokesman, DSP Abdu Jinjiri, confirmed this to newsmen in Dutse on Thursday.

    Jinjiri said that the suspects (names withheld) were arrested in Hadejia Local Government Area of the state after they allegedly abducted the victim, Malam Ahmad Muhammad, also known as “Akrami’’.

    He explained that the suspects allegedly conspired and abducted the victim at his residence at Mahucin Sarki quarters, after they learnt that he produced fake money.

    The spokesman added that they suspects allegedly took the victim to the bush and demanded that he produced money for them.

    “On December 26, we received a report from Hadejia division that two policemen, one personal of NSCDC and one civilian allegedly conspired and abducted one Malam Ahmad Muhammad from his residence in Mahucin Sarki quarters, Hadejia town.

    “They kept the captive for one day insisting that he must produce money for them.

    “This is very unprofessional, as they were supposed to take him to station for interrogation but they decided to keep him with them,’’ the spokesman said.

    He said investigation into the case had begun, and that the suspects would be charged to court if evidence was established against them.

    NAN

  • NUC approves medicine, others for FUD

    The National Universities Commission (NUC) has given the Federal University, Dutse (FUD) in Jigawa State approval to run five academic programmes in the College of Medical and Health Sciences beginning from the 2017/2018 academic session.

    This was contained in a statement  by the university’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Malam Abdullahi Yahaya Bello, which also listed six other programmes that secured full accreditation after the May/June accreditation exercise.

    The programmes under the Collage of Medical and Health Science are: “Bachelor of Surgery, Bachelor of Medicine, (MBBS); Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. Biology); Bachelor of Science, (B.Sc. Human Anatomy); Bachelor of Science, (B.Sc. Human Physiology) and Bachelor of Science, (B.Sc. Biochemistry)”.

    According to the statement, the approval was contained in a letter dated September 15, 2017 to the Vice Chancellor, Prof Fatima Batul Mukhtar, and signed by the Director of Academic Planning, Dr. Gidado Bello Kumo, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Abubakar Adamu Rasheed.

    The commission had in May raised a panel of experts to undertake resource verification of the proposed academic programmes with a view to assessing the human and material resources available for their establishment.

    The letter reads in part: “I am directed to inform you that the Executive Secretary has approved the establishment of the full mode of academic programmes to be run in the Main Campus of the University, effective from 2017/2018 academic sessions.

    “I am to add that the approval does not cover part-time mode of delivery of programmes, as all programmes must bear only the approved titles and nomenclatures and any change will require the re-approval of the Commission.”

    The other programmes that secured full accreditation were: English, Biology, Physics, Political Science, Zoology, Botany and Chemistry.  Biotechnology, however, was granted interim accreditation, while Computer Science was denied.

  • Admissions: Dutse Varsity approves 160 as cut-off

    Admissions: Dutse Varsity approves 160 as cut-off

    The Federal University, Dutse in Jigawa, has approved 160 cut-off point as its benchmark for the 2017/2018 admissions against the 120 set by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for universities in the country.

    The university’s Registrar, Malam Bukar Usman, announced this in a statement issued in Dutse on Saturday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JAMB had fixed 100 for candidates seeking admissions into polytechnics.

    “The Management has approved 160 as the minimum benchmark for the 2017/2018 admission in the university,” he said.

    He also announced the institution’s cut-off points for programmes in the three Faculties of Agriculture, Arts/Social Sciences and Faculty of Sciences.

    Agriculture 180, Fisheries and Aquaculture 160 and Forestry and Wildlife Management also 160.

    In the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Economics is 180, English 180, Criminology 195 and Biotechnology 180.

    Also in the Faculty of Sciences, cut-off point for Chemistry is 180, Computer 180, Environment 180, Mathematics 170, while Microbiology and is 180 respectively.

  • NCC arrest four over sale of Pre-registered SIM cards

    NCC arrest four over sale of Pre-registered SIM cards

    The Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) Tuesday in Dutse, Jigawa state arrested four black-market SIM card dealers over their involvement in selling pre-registered SIM cards to the public.

    According to NCC’s Head of Enforcement Unit, Mr. Salisu Abdu who spoke to Reporters in Dutse, over 70 pre-registered SIM cards of various service providers were recovered during a raid that was conducted at Hakimi street and New Market street in Dutse.

    He said the operation was as a result of a tip-off over the illegal activities of SIM card dealers in the state, adding that the suspects have already been handed over to security agents for further investigation.

    Abdu explained that the raid on the two identified areas by his men and security agents took them over two hours to clampdown on the hideouts of the illegal dealers.

    He, however, called on service providers in the country to be cautious on how they issue SIM cards to the public, pointing out that unscrupulous individuals use fake names and bio-data to secure SIM cards through proxy, “which is criminal and fraudulent.”

    According to him, “these pre-registered SIM cards are usually used to commit crimes such as kidnapping, armed robbery, Obtaining By Tricks, and other vices that are now prevalent in the society.

    “NCC has asked operators to provide a system how registered SIM cards will be coordinated in such a way that anybody using pre-registered SIM card can be easily traced and apprehended.

    “We insist on this because going after these sellers of pre-registered SIM cards have remained a herculean task, but we must continue to clamp down on these illegal dealers.

    “We have had a lot of engagements with service providers on this issue of selling pre-registered SIM cards to the public, because NCC is a regulatory.

    “We call on Nigerians to stop buying pre-registered SIM cards to avoid being involved in criminal activities, because when you buy these cards and start using them, you can be traced by security agents and that means you have gotten yourself in trouble.”

     

  • Association identifies lands for date palm cultivation in Jigawa

    The Association of Date Palm Growers in Jigawa says it has identified over 15 parcels of land that are suitable for date palm cultivation in the state.

    The Chairman of the association, Alhaji Abubakar Yakubu, said this on Tuesday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.
    He said that the identified lands were in Hadejia, Kazaure, Ringim, KafinHausa, Dutse, Gumel, Gwaram and Birninkudu Local Government Areas of the state.
    Yakubu said that the lands were suitable for date palm growing because of their wet nature.
    “These lands we identified are very good and suitable for the production of date palm because they are wet lands.
    “In short, when date palm is growing on them, you don’t need to water it and we considered this as cost saving.
    “And we identified over 15 of such lands in some local government areas of the state; we are hoping to find more,’’ he said.

    Yakubu, therefore, called for the intervention of the federal and state governments in efforts to develop such lands in order to boost date palm production in the state.He also urged the federal and state governments to include date palm growers in their agricultural development programmes, so as to provoke mass production of the fruit.

    Yakubu stressed that the government support for date palm growers would encourage production and exportation of date palm fruits.He said that this would further improve the socio-economic lives of people, particularly the residents of the areas where the date palm was grown.
    He said that the government’s intervention would also enable date palm producers to learn modern techniques and skills to boost their activities.
    “Since the two governments promised to develop agriculture, we therefore call for the expansion of their agricultural support programmes to include date palm production.
    “Such support is essential to enable us to produce in large quantity and export,’’ he said.
    Yakubu also called for the training of the date palm producers in modern preservation techniques to encourage the production of “hygienic fruit’’.
    He, however, commended the Dutse Date Palm Sub-Station of National Institute for Palm Oil Research (NIPOR) for supporting the date palm growers in the neighbourhood with improved seedlings and other inputs so as to boost their productivity.

    NAN reports that date palm is widely grown in Jigawa, while its capital, Dutse, which is known for different species of date palm, has a large population of date palm growers.

     

  • For Haladu Danu, Dan Amana Dutse, most befitting

    Taken literally, Dan Amana means “the trusted one.” It is a very prestigious title to be conferred on anybody, but specifically meant to recognise sons of Dutse emirate that have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields of human endeavour to the benefit of Dutse and humanity in general.

    Recently, the ancient emirate of Dutse was agog as it celebrated one of its illustrious sons. The Emir of Dutse, Alhaji (Dr.) Nuhu Muhammadu Sunusi, who decorated Alhaji Nasiru Haladu Danu as the first Dan Amana Dutse.

    Danu, who is a well favoured son of the emirate, has achieved monumental successes in politics at a relatively young age. Not only is he ahead of his peers, Danu is most of all a detribalised Nigerian whose friends cut across the various parts of Nigeria.

    As a founding member of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which was one of the legacy political parties that merged to become APC, Alhaji Danu worked very assiduously in cementing the bonds of friendship that made the merger a success.

    Blessed with abiding integrity, candour and generosity, Danu’s connectedness to the grassroots has no doubt earned him the title. Despite his age, Danu does not wear his closeness to President Muhammadu Buhari as a badge neither does he flaunt the fact that he is a Northwest national ex-officio member of the ruling APC.

    Even in the business world, Danu towers as a colossus, being chairman of NHD Interbiz Projects Limited and Casiva Nigeria Limited, from where he garnered experience and made a mark in construction, procurement, logistics, security services, as well as up and downstream oil and gas industry.

    His firms boast of many world class technical partners from Israel, Uzbekistan, United States of America, among other development nations, with whom they delivered on many projects spread across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

    Most of those who come across Alhaji Danu note his quiet humanity, limitless compassion and philanthropy. It is a mark of his boundless generosity that Danu is quietly supporting many Non-governmental orgaisations and assisting the less privileged in the society without fanfare.

    However, it is his foundation dedicated to funding of education for indigent children in Jigawa, Abuja and other places that gives Alhaji Danu out as a gift to humanity. Out of his interest in raising future leaders, the young man also built a school in his community, alongside a befitting mosque for the worship of God.

    When therefore the Emir and people of Dutse announced the decision to honour this wonderful enigma, the outpouring of spontaneous joy across Jigawa State was not surprising. As all men of goodwill join the good people of Jigawa to applaud and honour their son, it is indeed true that when a child washes his hands well, he will dine with kings. Without doubt, Alhaji Danu has washed his hands well. Yet, knowing him, the title of Dan Amana Dutse sounds like a fresh call for service to God and humanity!

     

    • From Shaibu Baiyee

    Dutse, Jigawa State.