The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jigawa

  • Federal University Dutse students urged to abide by oath

    Federal University Dutse students urged to abide by oath

    The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Dutse in Jigawa, Prof. Jibrila Amin, has urged the institution’s new students to abide by their matriculation oath.

    Amin who made the appeal during the students’ matriculation ceremony in Dutse on Sunday also advised them not to indulge in any violence in the university.

    The Vice-Chancellor said the university was peaceful with a civilised environment, warning that whoever got involved in criminal activities would be punished accordingly.

    He also disclosed that the university had introduced a policy of refunding school fees of the best student in any department to encourage hard work and academic excellence.

    On the matriculation, Amin said 518 students from various departments in the institution were involved in the exercise.

    The vice-chancellor explained that 108 of them were admitted for Economics, while 68 were for English Language.

    “Ninety-three got admission to read Political Science and 43 to study Agricultural Science-related courses, among others,’’ he said.

  • Jonathan approves N5.7bn for victims of 2011 post-election violence

    President Goodluck  Jonathan has approved the release of a total sum of N5,747,694,780.00 to nine states of the federation for direct disbursement to those who suffered losses of properties, means of livelihood and places of worship in the post election violence of 2011.

    Special Adviser (Media) to the President, Dr Reuben Abati said in a statement that the approval was based on the submission of the Sheik Ahmed Lemu’s panel and its adoption by the Federal Executive Council.

    Following the post election violence and civil disturbances in some states after the April 2011 elections, President Jonathan set up a Panel of Enquiry headed by Sheik Ahmed Lemu to among other things, identify the spread and extent of losses suffered across the country.

     The Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing was later  mandated to assess the reported losses and damage to properties in all affected states.

    Consequently, President Jonathan has approved the release of funds to nine of the 14 affected states as follows:

    1.      Bauchi                 –        N1,574,879,000.00

    2.    Sokoto                 –        N55,888,506.00

    3.    Zamfara               –        N93,253,485.00

    4.    Niger                    –        N433,375,875.00

    5.     Jigawa                 –        N208,667,634.00

    6.    Katsina                –        N1,973,209,440.00

    7.     Kano                    –        N944,827,000.00

    8.    Adamawa            –        N420,089,840.00

    9.    Akwa Ibom          –        N43,504,000.00

    Total                –        N5,747,694,780.00

    President Jonathan has also directed that an Implementation Committee for the disbursement of the funds to beneficiaries in  the nine states be constituted as follows:

    1.      Executive Governor  or Deputy Governor        –        Chairman

    2.    Representative of State Government                –        Member

    3.    Secretary of the Sheik Lemu Panel                   –        Member

    4.    Representative of the OSGF                              –        Member

    5.     Representative of the FMLH&UD                    –        Member

    Inspection and assessment of damages and losses suffered are yet to be carried out in Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Kaduna and Nasarawa states as modalities and further instructions for the exercise are still being expected from the state governments.

    Funds to cover the losses sustained by victims of the post election violence in theses five states will be approved and released at the conclusion of the assessment exercise.

  • NBA to offer free legal services to rape victims in Jigawa

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said on Wednesday that its members would provide free legal services to rape victims in Jigawa.

    The Chairman of the association in the state, Mr Adamu Turaki, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse.

    Turaki described the rising spate of rape cases in the state as discouraging and likely to worsen if action was not taken.

    He said that the NBA initiative was motivated by the increase of rape cases recorded in the last few months in the state.

    The chairman blamed some parents for hiding under the umbrella of poverty and refusing to take good care of their wards.

    He, however, urged government to buckle up to the social security and welfare challenges facing citizens to check insecurity in the country.

    “The argument of poverty by some parents is not enough reason for them not to take care of their children.

    “While I call on parents to do their best as God given duty to protect their children from this recurrent ugly incident, I equally call on the government to do more in ensuring that the poverty rate is improved.”

    Turaki expressed the resolve of the association to ensuring that rape cases were diligently prosecuted, irrespective of who was involved.

    He pledged that the association would ensure that justice was done to victims and their families.

    “We at the NBA Jigawa State Chapter will offer free legal services to victims of rape by taking steps to ensure that suspects are brought to book,” he said.

    The chairman urged judges in the state not to take rape offences lightly in view of its gravity and spread.

  • Jigawa to recruit 3,044 workers

    The Jigawa State Government is to recruit 3,044 workers this year.

    The state Head of Service, Alhaji Mustapha Aminu, told The Nation that 1,670 workers were also approved for promotion, saying that the recruitment and promotion would be spread across all sectors as captured in 2013 Appropriation Bill.

    He explained that 1,200 teachers would be recruited under the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to teach in primary and junior secondary schools.

    According to him, 400 university graduates would be employed to teach in senior secondary schools across the state. The head of service said the government had directed each of the tertiary institutions to recruit 40 workers.

    Aminu said the administration is committed to reducing the level of unemployment by creating employment in the state.

  • ‘Insecurity forces Yobe govt to Jigawa’

    ‘Insecurity forces Yobe govt to Jigawa’

    •It’s not true,  says Speaker

    Insecurity has forced top Yobe State government officials to relocate from Damturu, the State capital, to neighbouring Jigawa State, Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu said yesterday.

    The governor spoke in Abuja during the late Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation lecture series in Abuja.

    Aliyu, who is also the chair of the Northern State Governors Forum, urged the North to stand firm against terrorism.

    He said: “North must stand up against terrorism because of investing in the region.

    “The (insecurity) situation has reached a situation whereby members of the state Executive Council in Yobe now run away to nearby Jigawa State for their safety. What is happening is very scary.”

    He added: The implication is that “those who are after us have defeated us and have taken over, what is the best way out and how do we address this situation because if the government institution is relocating then it means nobody is safe. We must stand up and say no more to terrorism in northern Nigeria.

    “We must tell the government what to do and many of us have access to government.

    “ Don’t say my state does not have problem, you are in the middle of the problem and you must wake up and assist so that it won’t continue and we must appreciate that and I believe also that this guided Sardauna in making sure that he did not discriminate in terms of institutions or in terms of religion. He regarded people by what they can do to the transformation of the local community.

    “This is indeed a moment of sober reflection for all of us; a moment that we should ponder to find out where we got it wrong almost a century after Sardauna left us and how it was possible for one person(the Premier) to achieve so much for the entire Northern Region and to unite the people to live in peace and harmony, while providing quality leadership.”

    In those years, he said security of lives and property was almost taken for granted as people went about their normal lives without any hindrance.

    “In the north (then), murder, kidnappings and extreme criminality were abomination,” he added.

    He said history would forever be kind to the late Sardauna, who he described as a colossus, a quintessential philanthropist and a selfless and revolutionary aristocrat and humanist.

    “This is indeed a moment of sober reflection for all of us to ponder and find out where we got it all wrong almost half a century after Sarduna left us and how it was possible for one person to achieve so much for the entire northern region and to unite the people to live in peace and harmony while providing quality leadership,” he said.

    But Speaker of Yobe state House Assembly Adamu Dala Dogo, described the statement credited to Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu that Yobe state government officials have fled to Jigawa state as careless, reckless and immature.

    “I am very disappointed with Governor Babangida Aliyu for making such careless, reckless and immature comments based on a newspaper report which is not true.

    Governor Aliyu as the chairman of Northern Governors Forum should have called his colleague Ibrahim Gaidam (of Yobe) to clarify things before making such sweeping statements in the public.

    “In the first instance, Governor Aliyu cannot differentiate between Jigawa and Kano State because that purported report said Kano but Governor Aliyu said Jigawa. In any case, I challenge Governor Aliyu and any body to come to Yobe and take a roll call of all government officials in the state. Everyone is on ground.

    “All the members of the state House of Assembly are around. All activities in the state are moving smoothly, nothing is grounded. I am speaking from my house in Damaturu”, the Speaker said on the telephone.

    The Speaker added: “come to my house right now and see all my children with my wives. I am right in my house with my children”.

     

  • Police arrest robbery syndicate in Jigawa

    The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested four men suspected to be members of a syndicate that specialised in armed robbery and shop breaking in some parts of the state, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Theophilus, said at a news conference in Dutse, that the syndicate operated in Yayari village in Buji Local Government Area of the state.

    Theophilus said the suspects operated with two others earlier arrested about two weeks ago in the state, adding that investigation into the case had begun.

    He said some of the suspects in Takur, Dutse Local Government Area, were arrested based on information by members of the public.

    The commissioner said they made confessional statements that they broke into the house of one Mr. Attah Emmanuel and Adamu Hussaini of Miyyati Allah quarters in Dutse.

    Theophilus said a police patrol team in Duste also recovered a motorcycle with registration number QB 543 YKS, belonging to one Francis Akpede of the State Security Service.

    The commissioner said in the course of investigation, a suspect from Karaye Local Government Area of Kano State was arrested while riding on the motorcycle.

    He said the suspect alleged that he was sent from Malunfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State “to come and be stealing such items in Jigawa.’’

     

  • Clashes: Police arrest six in Jigawa

    The Jigawa Police Command has arrested six persons over the fierce clashes between the followers of Guri Local Government Chairman and a lawmaker, representing Guri/Kirikasama Federal Constituency on Sunday.

    The Guri Local Government Chairman is Alhaji Abdullahi Bulama, while the House of Representative member is Alhaji Adamu Hassan.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that followers of the lawmaker and that of council chairman clashed during public hearing session on the review of the 1999 constitution on Saturday where vehicles belonging to the two political leaders were destroyed and many were injured.

    The Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) of the state, Malam Abdu Jinjiri, told NAN on Sunday that those arrested would help them in their investigations.

    Jinjiri said that after their investigation, whoever found wanting would be punished accordingly as the police would not allow any miscreant to disrupt the peace enjoyed in the state.

    NAN investigation revealed that constitution review congress on Saturday in Guri Local Government Area was hijacked by hoodlums resulting to the destruction of no fewer than four vehicles and injuring many.

     

  • Jigawa is my second home, says Jonathan

    •President begins two-day visit

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday described Jigawa State as his second home.

    The President spoke in Dutse, the state capital, at the beginning of his two-day visit to the state.

    He expressed happiness that the state has been peaceful despite the security challenges in parts of the North.

    Jonathan noted that there was evidence that the state government enjoys a cordial relationship with the residents.

    He said: “I am overwhelmed by what I saw. I see Jigawa as my second home, where peace and culture are displayed.”

    The President promised to ensure the nation’s continued unity, adding that Nigeria belongs to all of us.

    He also promised to transform every sector of the nation’s life to ensure positive impact on Nigerians.

    Governor Sule Lamido assured the President of his administration’s support.

    He urged the Federal Government to assist the state to attain socio-economic transformation.

    The Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar Maje, expressed joy over the President’s visit to his emirate.

    He thanked the Federal Government for its projects in the state.

    The monarch, however, sought the President’s assistance to construct an embankment on the Hadejia valley to prevent recurrent floods in the area and neighbouring local governments.

    The Emir added that there is need for the Federal Government to rehabilitate the Kano-Jahun-Hadejia Road to enhance vehicular movement.

    The highpoint of the visit was the foundation-laying ceremony of the proposed Jigawa State Collage for Remedial and Advanced Studies in Kafin Hausa.

     

  • Jigawa awards N66m contract to check flooding

    Jigawa awards N66m contract to check flooding

    The Jigawa State government has awarded contract for the construction of 475 metres drain in the Ringim Local Government Council to check flooding in the area.

    The state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Babandi Ibrahim, told reporters in Dutse that the project which is in continuation of efforts to check flooding in the area would cost N66 million.

    Ibrahim said that the contract was awarded to Triacta Nigeria Limited, adding that the scope of the contract included, the construction of embankment, culverts and drain.

    “The state government has constructed various drains, under the first phase of the project as part of measures to control flooding,’’ Ibrahim said.

    He said the state government had also constructed drains and culverts in other flood prone communities across the state to stem environmental degradation.

    It would be recalled that four persons died while more than 1,000 houses, farmlands and roads were destroyed across 13 local government areas in the last four weeks.

    The government had also set up a committee to relocate displaced communities in the flood prone areas.

    It also embarked on drainage clearing across the 27 councils as well as sensitising the communities on dangers of dumping waste in drains.