The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jigawa

  • 489 arrested for street begging in Kano

    The Kano State Hisbah Board said it had arrested 489 beggars in February and March for allegedly violating the law banning street begging in the state.

    Malam Musa Tsangaya, Head of the Anti-begging Unit of the board, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano that 192 of those arrested were children while 228 were adults.

    “Our men arrested the street beggars around France Road, Dangi Junction, Lugard Road, Murtala Mohammed Way and Magwan Junction violating the law banning street begging in Kano metropolis.

    “Out of the 489 beggars, 314 were adults, both male and female, while 175 were children who engaged in begging by the road side and in the premises of major businesses,” Tsangaya said.

    He stated that 300 of the arrested beggars hailed from Kano city, while 237 were from Jigawa, Katsina and Kaduna.

    According to him, the remaining nine are from Cameroon and Niger Republic.

    Tsangaya said some of them had been charged to court, while four of them suffer mental disorder.

  • Forum lauds FUD VC’s commitment toward sports development

    The Jigawa Students Union Government Presidential Forum (SUGPF) has lauded Prof. Fatima-Batul Muktar, the Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Dutse (FUD), for her commitment toward the development of sports in the institution.

    The forum gave the commendation at a news conference in Dutse on Wednesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the SUG Presidential Forum is for all SUG Presidents in the state.

    The forum, according to its Chairman, Bashir Kassim, was formed to ensure that the welfare right of students is protected across the state.

    “On behalf of the entire students studying in Jigawa, it is our pleasure to extend our best wishes to the vice-chancellor of Federal University Dutse and other principal officers for hosting the 25th NUGA Zone Preliminaries.

    “We also commended the vice-chancellor for her commitment toward taking sports further along the path of positive change and establishing holistic and sustainable sport development,” he said.

    The forum also noted that the 2017 NUGA preliminaries being hosted by the university had created fun for the participants from 18 universities from the zone.

    It added that the Games were a fountain for the promotion of unity through sports.

    “We salute the hosting university in the field of medical, accommodation and transport.

    “We are also convinced that this year’s NUGA preliminaries will be a landmark in the history of 2017 NUGA Games.

    “We believe that the Games have been organised by a team of men and women that are vast in experience,” Kassim added.

    The forum also acknowledged the efforts of the Sports Director of the university, Alhaji Iliyasu Hussaini, Dean Students Affairs and other committee members for their tireless efforts to ensure the success of the NUGA preliminaries.

    According to the forum, Games in universities are designed to nurture students, and assist the nation to identify talents who could in future represent it in international competitions.

    NAN reports that 18 universities from the zone are currently participating in the event featuring football, athletics, basketball, volleyball, handball, chess, scrabbles, badminton, tennis, table tennis and taekwondo among others.

     

  • Jigawa: Soft drink vendors make brisk business in Hadejia

    As the scorching sun bites harder in the desert, soft drink vendors are recording high sales in Hadejia, Jigawa as people buy more cold drinks to quench their thirst.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the rise in temperature to about 40 degrees Celsius in the past weeks resulted in significant rise in the consumption of chilled drinks by residents.

    The prevailing weather, coupled with dusty atmosphere, was also making life unbearable to residents.

    A check by NAN showed that price of small size ice block is now selling for N40 as against N20 before the heat.

    A sachet of cold water sells for N10, a bottle of chilled Maltina is going for N140 while a bottle of Coca-Cola costs N90, as against their previous prices of N5, N120 and N80 respectively.

    Some vendors, who spoke to NAN, expressed joy over the appreciable patronage and hoped the trend would continue for long.

    Malam Hamza Aliyu, a shopkeeper, said he has been recording high sales since the dry season set in.

    Aliyu said he sold more than 500 sachets of water daily, as against less than 100 sachets during the cold season.

    “My sales have increased; I am happy and making a good saving’’, he said.

    Alhaji Kamal Danladi, a resident, said he spent about N300 on cold drinks every day.

    “I need chilled soft drinks to cool off the heat’’, Danladi said.

    NAN reports that the hot weather also forced many families to stay late outside, in spite of mosquitoes.

     

  • Meningitis: Expert calls for effective response strategies

    “The committee should be responsible for reviewing the antibiotic vulnerability of Neisseria meningitis serotypes in the country.

    “Such committee can then use current trend and data on antibiotic resistance to formulate appropriate prophylaxis and treatment by state, zones or the country as a whole,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that there has been an outbreak of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) across 16 states of the country since November 2016, of which a new strain of the disease called “stereotype C’’ had emerged.

    As at April 3, there were 2,524 suspected cases with 336 deaths recorded in 90 local government areas in the affected states.

    The states included Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Nasarawa , Jigawa, FCT, Gombe, Taraba , Yobe, Kano, Osun, Cross Rivers, Lagos and Plateau.

    Meningitis outbreaks peak in the dry season in certain states in the Northern region due to low humidity and dusty conditions and usually end as the rainy season approaches.

    The bacteria that cause it can be spread through exchange of saliva, which can occur during common activities such as kissing, sharing utensils and drinking glasses.

    The risk factors for meningitis also include living in close quarters such as dormitories, sneezing and coughing as well as smoking or being exposed to smoke.

    Also, particular lifestyle such as staying out late or irregular sleeping habits could put people at greater risk for meningitis, by weakening their immune system.

    Some common symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, confusion, sensitivity to light, headaches and vomiting.

    According to the WHO, even when the disease is diagnosed early and adequate treatment begins, five per cent to 10 per cent of patients die, typically within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

    Vaccination against the three types of bacteria that can cause meningitis still remains one of the most effective ways to be protected against certain types of bacterial meningitis, alongside avoiding the risk factors.

     

  • Hoodlums raze NSCDC office in Jigawa

    Hoodlums raze NSCDC office in Jigawa

    THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) office in Maigatari Local Government of Jigawa State was last Thursday razed by hoodlums.
    Reports said the hoodlums mobilised themselves about 7pm on a market day, stormed the NSCDC office and beat officers before setting the building ablaze.
    Spokesman Adamu Abdullahi confirmed the incident. He said no life was lost.
    “Last Thursday, about 10am, a soldier reported to our office in Maigatari council, that he suspected his friend was having an illegal affair with his wife.
    “So we invited the suspect for investigation and in the process, two persons claiming to be soldiers came on a motorcycle and demanded for his release. They insisted the suspect is their friend and, therefore, must be released.
    “When our officers refused to release the suspect, one of them went out and came back with sticks and broken bottle, which he allegedly used to beat our officers on duty.
    “For fear of what might happen, we contacted the police but there was no response; we also contacted the OC of “Operation Salama, in charge of the area, but he said his boys were on patrol and came himself.
    “When our officers noticed the situation was getting out of hand, they released the soldier to the OC on bail.
    “Some hoodlums started booing our officers and stoned the officers on duty. But the youths still mobilised and burnt down our office.
    “Investigation has begun and a manhunt for the perpetrators has begun,” Abdullahi said.

  • Meningitis kills one, infects four others in Jigawa

    The Jigawa Government says meningitis has killed one person and infected four others in four local government areas of the state.

    Dr Muhammad Kainuwa, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health, confirmed this to newsmen in Dutse on Thursday. Kainuwa said that five suspected cases of Cerebro Spinal Meningitis (CSM) were reported to the ministry.

    He explained that two of the cases were recorded in Gwaram Local Government Area, while one each was reported from Kirikasamma, Kiyawa and Maigatari Local Government Areas.

    The permanent secretary added that a 13-year-old boy lost his life to the disease in one of the cases recorded in Gwaram.

    According to him, the four infected persons had already been treated.

    “As of today, five suspected cases were reported in Kiyawa, Kirikasamma, Gwaram and Maigatari local government areas.

    “In Gwaram, there were two cases where a 13-year-old boy lost his life.

    “And all cases reported were investigated using standard operation procedures and specimens were taken also where one was found to be positive,” he said.

    Kainuwa also said that the ministry had contacted the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) for vaccines.

    “The major challenge is the non-availability of the vaccines.

    “But as soon as the Federal Government made available the vaccines, we will immunise the affected communities,” said Kainuwa.

    He added that the ministry had mobilised its Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers in all the local government areas in order to combat the menace.

    Besides, the permanent secretary said that as part of measures to prevent further spread of CSM, the ministry is also collaborating with the World Health Organisation (WHO) for proper documentation of the disease.

    “We have also increased our surveillance in collaboration with WHO particularly in Maigatari which is along the Nigeria/Niger border.

    “The WHO is also providing more investigative kits, the state government has also reactivated the Port Health facility in Maigatari.

    “Also, we’ve already commenced creating awareness across the state so that people will able to prevent themselves from getting infected and also quickly bring to hospital anyone that has the symptoms.

    “We also use jingles in radio stations in the state so as to reach to the populace,” the permanent secretary said.

    Kainuwa, therefore, advised residents to take precautions against the disease and make sure that they do not sleep in unventilated and crowded rooms.

  • WAEC deregisters 12 schools in Kano, Jigawa

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), has deregistered 12 schools in Kano and Jigawa states for their involvement in examination malpractice during the 2015/2016 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSSCE).

    WAEC Branch Comptroller for Kano/Jigawa zone Mr. Abayomi Zuberu, who made this known in Kano during the 65th anniversary of the body, said the schools were being punished for two years.

    According to him, 11 of the sanctioned schools were in Kano, while one was in Jigawa. He added that eight of them were private schools.

    He recalled that last year alone, 97 schools were given letters of serious warning, “due to complaints we received on their nefarious activities which encourage examination malpractice”.

    Zuberu added: “Examination malpractice has remained a source of distraction for WAEC with the spread of virulent rogue websites across the sub-region. The scourge of examination malpractice has persisted in all member-countries and the Council has continued to utilise every available means and opportunity to discourage die-hard perpetrators of the malaise.

    “We remain resolute on our stand to fight examination malpractice which has become a terrible menace. We are appealing to teachers and our students to stop examination malpractice.

    “Parents who encourage their children today to engage in examination fraud because they want them to be like others, are killing their tomorrow. We think we are helping them but in future, most of them will regret it.”

     

  • Varsity spends N7m to renovate facilities for NUGA games – Official

    Varsity spends N7m to renovate facilities for NUGA games – Official

    The Federal University Dutse (FUD), Jigawa, said it had spent about N7 million to renovate sports facilities to be used in the upcoming 2017 Nigerian Universities Games Association (NUGA) preliminaries.

    The university’s Sports Director, Iliyasu Hussain, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Monday.

    “About N7 million was spent to renovate facilities to be used during the exercise.

    “The renovation is part of our preparations to successfully host the 2017 Zone ‘A’ NUGA preliminaries.

    “So, all facilities to be used for the games have been put in to ensure, hitch-free, smooth and successful conduct of the competition,” the sports director assured.

    Hussain lauded the efforts of the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Fatima Muktar, for her support and cooperation in the ongoing preparations for the games.

    NAN reports that 19 universities from the zone will compete for tickets to the NUGA Games at the preliminaries, billed to take place from April 2 to April 8.

    A team of experts from Zone A of the NUGA Council had on March 14, inspected facilities at the university and other venues in preparation for the preliminaries.

    The council also appointed 13 coordinators for the games to feature in the preliminaries which include: football, basketball, volleyball, handball, hockey, badminton, tennis and table tennis.

    Others are; swimming, athletics, chess, Taekwando, cricket, scrabble, squash and judo.

     

  • Jigawa governor appoints eight permanent secretaries

    Jigawa governor appoints eight permanent secretaries

    Jigawa State Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar has approved the appointment of eight new permanent secretaries.

    A statement by the Head of the Civil Service, Muhammad Inuwa Tahir, said the appointment takes effect immediately.

    The appointees include Gambo Ibrahim, Nasir Mahmud, Musa Muhammad Diginsa and Bello Ado Madaka

    Others are M.A Kainuwa, Lawan Dahiru Ringim, Aliyu Ahmed Shungurun and Hauwa Zakar.

    Governor Badaru last year sacked about 10 permanent secretaries.

  • FG gives contractors 14 weeks to complete housing project in Dutse

    Contractors handling Federal Government’s housing estate in Dutse, Jigawa, have been given 14 weeks to complete the project.

    Mr. Chiambe Felix, the Controller, Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing, disclosed this in an interview on Thursday in Dutse.

    Felix explained that the Federal Government awarded contracts for the construction of housing estates in the 36 states capitals in 2016, but due to the economic recession, the project could not take off immediately.

    He said that the contractors handling the Dutse project were mobilised to site and were working assiduously to complete the project.

    The controller said that the contractors were expected to construct 48 units of two bedroom semi detached bungalows and 24 units of three bedroom semi detached bungalows within the stipulated period.

    According to him, the project which is a pilot scheme, will be extended to the 774 local government areas of the country.

    He added that architects, structural engineers, civil engineers, town planners, surveyors, and other professionals were on site supervising the project to ensure that the contractors execute the work according to specifications.

    Felix, however, warned that the Federal Government would not accept any job that was of poor quality or failed to meet specifications.