The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kaduna state

  • Shagari lived well, says Sambo, El-Rufai, Shettima

    Former Vice President Namadi Sambo and Kaduna State Governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufa’i on Monday said Second Republic President late Shehu Shagari‎ stood for good governance and unity of Nigeria.

    Sambo, in his condolence remarks at the residence of late Shagari, urged Nigerians to emulate the worthy legacies and principles of the deceased whom he described as a father.

    While he prayed for the deceased, the former Vice President‎ also begged God to give other Nigerians opportunity to take a cue from style of Shagari.

    El-Rufai described the deceased former president as a symbol of respect and humility.

    “We heard a lot about him in our youthful days as students in Barewa College Zaria on his good leadership virtues”, he said.

    El-Rufai added” he was a trusted, honest and resilient democrat with selfless sense of leadership.

    “We have lost a great icon. May our drive for good leadership be strengthened and energised in our abilities‎ to emulate him.

    Welcoming them, Bala Shagari expressed gratitude to Allah for the remarks on his late father whom he described as an uncommon symbol of good relations across the country.

    Read Also: How to honour Shagari, by Afe Babalola

    He recalled that one of his grandfathers was the founder of the Jema’a (Kafanchan) emirate in Kaduna state. I commend El-rufa’i for his visionary steps.

    “We have common historical fraternity and tie between Yabo in Sokoto state and Jema’a in Kaduna state”, he pointed out.

    Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno ‎also among others, paid similar visit to condole the family and people of Sokoto state.

    While condoling them, said late Shagari‎ remain a shining example for his unequalled democratic legacies as a unifying factor for Nigeria’s prosperity.

    According to him” he would be remembered for his humility, selfless service and good governance as a true democrat.”

    He prayed Allah grants his soul eternal peace and family, people of Sokoto state and Nigerians the fortitude to bear the lost.

    Meanwhile, more sympathizers have continued to visit and ‎register their condolences to the family.

     

  • Kadun: El-Rufa’i vows to punish perpetrators of crisis

    Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufa’i has vowed to punish the perpetrators of the recent crisis at Kasuwar Magani that led to several deaths.

    He made the promise at a Town Hall meeting held at Kasuwar Magani in Kajuru Local Government area of the state.

    According to the governor, his administration would not tolerate acts of lawlessness and urged people of the state to live peacefully with one another irrespective of differences among them.

    He lamented over the manner in which the social media is being used by self-centered residents of the community to cause mayhem through the spread of fake news and hate speeches.

    El-Rufa’i described such act as criminal, and vowed that those engaged in it would be duly identified and punished.

    The governor assured that security agents are monitoring and tracking masterminds of crisis in the state.

    He appealed to citizens of the state to report any culprit to security agencies, assuring them that criminals would never go free under his administration.

    In his suggestion on how to end crisis in Kasuwar Magani, the District Head of Kufana, Mr Titus Dauda appealed for additional security personnel and resources in the community.

    Oh  his part, the  Sarkin Kasuwar Magani, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said lack of necessary action against perpetrators has helped in fueling more crisis in the area and appealed to the state government to look into the matter.

    He stressed that traditional leaders irrespective of religion and tribe, must shun sentiment and report any criminal act in their chiefdoms.

    On his part, the Secretary of Jama’atu Nasril Islam in Kajuru local government, Tijjani Muhammad, also appealed to the governor to ensure that perpetrators “are really brought to book.”

    He recalled that some of those known to have actively participated in the crisis in the past, were arrested and released.

    The Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria in the area, Pastor Joseph Maigida, also expressed similar concern.

    He also emphasized on the importance of living in peace with one another and urged religious and traditional leaders to always preach peace to their followers.

    The purpose of the town hall meeting was to find lasting solutions to the recurring crisis in Kasuwar Magani that had led to death and destruction of properties.  (NAN)

  • Yuletide: DPR assures of adequate fuel supply

     

    ….says 25m liters petrol in Kaduna strategic reserve alone

     

    As Nigerians celebrate Christmas, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has assured motorists and others that there is adequate supply of petroleum products across the country during the yuletide season.

    DPR Zonal Operation Controller, Kaduna Zone, Malam Isa Tafida told newsmen in Kaduna on Monday that, there is over 25 million litres of PMS in Kaduna strategic reserve to satisfy 2.1 million liter per day demands of Kaduna residents, with several such strategic reserves across the country.

    Tafida, who warned petroleum marketers against illegal practices like selling above pump price, under dispensing, fuel adulteration, however urged Nigerians to beware of panic buying and harmful practices such as stocking fuel at home, travelling with petrol inside cans in the house, especially during the hatmattan period.

    According to him, “We have adequate petroleum products across Kaduna state, our surveillance teams are going around the state to monitor the marketers. Depots across the state have enough fuel to sell during the Christmas and new year festivities.

    “We are not anticipating any challenge, next year elections will be peacefully conducted without fuel hardship. We went round the city and at a mega station, the underground tanks are filled up and four trucks are still waiting to discharge fuel.

    “The threat by Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria to shutdown the depots has been resolved, as government has accepted to clear the debts it inherited from previous administration. We have built up enough strategic reserves to curtail internal issues such as union strikes and externally due to volatility in the international fuel market.”

    Read Also: DPR scales up boarder surveillance over fuel diversion

    He said, though fuel sells costlier in neighboring countries like Niger Republic, Benin Republic and Chad at N400 to N500 per litre, they have taken measures to guide against marketers who may want to get involved in profiteering.

    He warned citizens to, “avoid panic purchase of petrol, avoid storing petrol in your houses inside plastic or metal containers as this poses danger of fire hazard during this hatmattan period.  Avoid travelling with petrol in cans in your car, it is unsafe. Don’t buy fuel from road side hawkers to avoid buying adulterated products this might damage your vehicles.

    “We are combing the nooks and crannies of the country to ensure that people who put up illegal gas dispensing facilities are stopped forthwith. We are going round to check unauthorized retailers to monitor their activities. Investors are welcome to come and invest in the area of gas supply but they must follow due process.” He assured.

     

  • Police parade security guard over theft of N1.4m from boss

    The FCT Police Command on Wednesday paraded 23 suspects for their alleged involvement in robbery, car snatching, murder, cultism and other crimes.

    One of the suspects, Yakubu Luka a security guard at National Assembly quarters was paraded for allegedly stealing $4000 from his master’s room.

    According to the Police, Luka used the money to buy a car, motorcycle, zinc, tiles and other items.

    Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday on how he was arrested, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Ciroma said: “On 22nd November, 2018 following an investigation into a written complaint, police operatives from the Command arrested one Yakubu Luka ‘m’ 27 years, a private security guard, who broke into his master’s bedroom and stole cash in both foreign and local currencies amounting to N1, 485,000.00 only.

    “The suspect who was arrested after a discreet investigation at Apo confessed that he used the stolen money to buy: one golf 3 Volks Wagon car, one Hajo motorcycle, seven bundles of zinc 35 cartoons of floor tiles which were all recovered from Kikureni village of Kauru LGA of Kaduna State.”

    The Police also recovered the sum of N148, 800 from him.

    Narrating how he committed the alleged crime, Luka said: “I am from Kaduna state and I work with Senator Amori at the National Assembly quarters Apo. I work with him as a security man and I started work with him in 2015 and then I married last year.

    “I started working with him through one woman who introduced herself to me as his sister. My boss was hardly around. He comes at the weekend and travels out of Abuja during the week.  As at 2015, his sister told me to always clean his room for him whenever he is due to come back and she handed the key to his room and other properties like television to me.

    “This year, I fell sick for almost one month and the sickness made me very weak. I was sick but I could not approach my boss because if I do, I know he will not give me because I asked him one time but he declined and even reduced my salary claiming that I did not work while I was sick.

    I decided to carry his key, opened the door, carried $4000. I went to change the money, I treated myself and I used the balance to buy car, motorcycle, zinc.

    Read Also: Police nab vandals of Enugu Games Village

    “I built house with my salary in the village in Kaduna and  I wanted to use the zinc to complete my building. I changed the money to N1, 485,000. I bought the car at the rate of N485, I bought the machine at the rate of N265,000. I wanted to use the car to start a taxi business which would earn me money.”

    He added: “I remained in the house after stealing the money but I was later arrested and I confessed to stealing the money. I had the intention of returning the money later in life when I would have made so much money but I was arrested and they recovered everything I used the money for.

    “I even lied to my wife who asked me where I got the money to buy all the things I bought that I borrowed the money.”

    The police also paraded one 58-year old Olawole Michael Olatunji who the police claimed has been parading himself as a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).

    Items recovered from him include; forged receipt bearing Nigeria Police Force Airwings, cheque books from different banks, and some documents he used to defraud some of his victims.

    Bala: “On 10th December, 2018 Police operatives from the Command have arrested one Olawole Michael Olatunji ‘m’ 58 years who has been parading himself as a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police.

    “The suspect has hidden under the same pretext to defraud unsuspecting members of the public by offering to help them secure contracts with the Police Air-Wing. He was arrested at a bank in Kubwa where he had gone to make some financial transactions.

    “In the course of investigation, fake Police Air-Wing receipts, fake contract documents, eleven ATM cards, Ten Cheque books and letter headed papers of different companies were recovered from him as exhibits. Investigation is on-going.”

    Explaining how a receipt bearing NPF Airwings was found in his possession, Olatunji said: “ I did not forge the receipt for monetary sake. The money in question is just N300,000. A pastor introduced me to one Alhaji Lawal. When he introduced me, he wanted something to fetch out money and he said he needed receipt to back up the money. I went to the bank to withdraw money and I was told my account was frozen. I only forged the receipt at Banex plaza to authenticate the business.”

    The Police said the suspects would be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigation.

  • 2019: Kaduna women vow to deliver 2m votes to Buhari, El-Rufai

    Kaduna state women across the 23 local government areas, under the auspices of El-Rufai Support Group, on Tuesday, declared to deliver no fewer than two million votes to President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Nasir El-Rufai, re-election in the 2019 polls.

    Addressing the Kaduna women who gathered at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House for an interaction, wife of Kaduna state governor, Mrs. Hadiza El-Rufai, while commending the women for their support urged them to embark on door to door peaceful campaigns especially in the grassroots.

    The governor’s wife hailed her husband for nominating a woman as his running  mate saying her transformation at state primary health agency would be remembered by all in Kaduna.

    El-Rufai’s wife who cautioned youths not to involve in any form of violence during campaigns,called on voters to cast their  votes in 2019  for all All Progressives Congress( APC) candidates:”Our  door to door campaign down to the grassroots should be based on our achievements in office”

    In her part, Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s running mate, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, urged women to fully participate in the coming 2019 general elections by voting APC candidates for continuity that will take the nation to the next level.

    Balarabe however urged women to embrace peace for socio-economic development, stressing that governor El-rufai has done excellently well in all sectors and should be re-elected to continue with the good work.

    Read Also: Special military parade for Buhari at 76

    Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hafsat Baba, said governor El-Rufai’s reforms in health, education, among other sectors needed to be sustained, adding that only the present administration can consolidate:” We know APC candidates and we must votes for all of them in 2019, only then there will be massive development.”

     

  • Govt. deploys troops, as gunmen kill 12 in fresh Southern Kaduna attack

    Kaduna state security council said it has deployed troops to Ungwan Pa-Gwandara in Jema’a local government area of Kaduna state, as unidentified gunmen allegedly killed 12 persons in the village at the weekend.

    Reports from the area said that, 21 other persons were seriously injured during the attack by the gunmen.

    Eye witness account claimed that, at about 7:30 to 8pm heavy armed herdsmen invaded the community during a wedding ceremony and opened fire killing 12 people instantly.

    The news about the deployment of the troops to troubled community was contained in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to Governor Nasir El-Rufai on Media and Publicity, Samuel Aruwan, on Monday.

    According to the statement, the deployment of troops is intended to further secure the area and provide the atmosphere for extensive investigation of the sad incident, and the apprehension and prosecution of the culprits.

    Read Also: Troops arrest three suspected gunrunners

    Quoting the Governor, the statement said, “criminal elements must not be allowed to divide people and wantonly take lives. The governor has sent a message of condolence to the community, expressing his deep sadness at the loss of lives and his sympathy for the victims and their families.”

    He urged anybody with useful information on the attack to kindly contact and make same available to the security agencies near them.

    “The governor has also directed Jema’a local government council and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to, as a matter of urgency, work towards taking care of victims receiving medical attention and provide relief materials to the community,” he added.

     

  • Recovered N3b: I’ve no case to answer, ex-NNPC boss, Yakubu tells court

    …Court to hear no-case submission, Jan 17

     

    Former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Andrew Yakubu has said he has no case to answer in relation to his trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

    Yakubu is being tried on a six-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in which he is charged with failure to declare assets and money laundering.

    Read Also:NNPC loses over $800m revenue to contract breaches

    The EFCC had, on February 3, 2017 raided Yakubu’s house, located on Chikun Road, Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State, from where it claimed to have recovered $9,772, 800 USD and £74,000.00, a recovery which informed the charge.

    It is the ex-NNPC’s contention, in the no-case submission he filed on November 6 this year, that he has no case to answer.

    Yakubu argued that the essential elements of the charge brought against him, was not proved by the prosecution to warrant his being called to enter defence.

    According to the defendant, the evidence led by the prosecution’s seven witnesses did not establish a case against him to require him to defend himself.

    He is praying the court to strike out the charge and discharge and acquit him.

    Prosecuting lawyer, Ben Ikani announced the closure of the prosecution’s case on October 17 this year, at the conclusion of the testimony by Suleiman Mohammed, an official of the EFCC (who testified as  7th prosecution witness), following which the court adjourned to December 5 for the defence to open its case.

    In his testimony, Mohammed explained how a team of EFCC’s investigators, which he was a member, recovered the money, estimated at N3 billion, which comprised of  $9.7 million and ?£74,000.

    Led in evidence by Ikani, Mohammed said the money was hidden in a fireproof safe, allegedly belonging to Yakubu. The huge safe has since been tendered in evidence in the proceedings.

    The prosecution’s 7th witness said the recovery process and the counting of the money were recorded and saved in a 32-gigabyte memory card and in another two mini disks, which were admitted as exhibits by the court on October 17 this year.

    Yesterday, Ikani was absent in court. There was no reason why he was not in court.

    Defence lawyer, Anone Usman told the court that the case was adjourned to December 5 for the defence to open its case.

    Usman said, upon the closure of the prosecution’s case, the defence filed a no-case submission on behalf of the defendant, as provided under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

    He said the no-case submission was filed on November 6, 2018 and served on the prosecution on the same date.

    Usman later applied for a date for parties to adopt the processes in respect of the no-case submission.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed adjourned to January 17 next year for adoption of written addresses on the no-case submission.

    Justice Mohammed also directed that hearing notice be issued on the prosecution.

  • 2019 polls between thieves, trustworthy politicians, says El-Rufai

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has said next year’s general elections are between thieves and trustworthy politicians.

    The governor spoke yesterday in Kaduna at the inauguration of 69-member Campaign Council of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has nothing to offer Nigeria as its ideology is for “looting”.

    El-Rufai, who delivered keynote address at the launch of the campaign council at Murtala Mohammed Square in Kaduna, described Monday’s kick-off of PDP’s campaign in Sokoto as a gang-up of “thieves” who rented crowd from a foreign country.

    He said: “The 2019 general elections are between trustworthy people and thieves; between patriotic leaders and those who went to Abuja to loot our treasury. So, we have to stand up and show them that Kaduna is not a state that will allow them to cheat the people and the masses.

    “What we have done in Kaduna State in the last three years has shown that APC is the one that loves the masses and assists the masses, not a party that will take public funds and share them among the rich. That is why we want you to go out and tell the people to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari again.

    “Thieves have ganged up against President Buhari. They were in Sokoto yesterday and they rented crowd from Niger Republic, just to show people that they have supporters, because Sokoto people refused to come out. So, when it is time to launch President Buhari’s campaign in Kaduna, people should come for the whole world to see that Niger Republic people are not the ones disguising as Nigerians.

    “We must show that we are in support of President Buhari. And when is time to cast our votes, we should vote for President Buhari and all APC candidates. In Kaduna, we will support APC from top to bottom.

    “With the hard work of our members and the votes of our people, APC won a sterling victory in 2015. The government we produced has anchored its agenda on putting the people first…”

     

  • More knocks for BEDC over blackout in Edo

    …residents urge BEDC to take lessons from Kaduna DisCo, others

     

    As public angst against the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) grows in Edo State over the power company’s inefficiency, leading to weeks of power blackout in almost all parts of the state, some residents in the state have asked the management of BEDC to take lessons from other power distribution companies in the country.

    Mr Osagiede Izekor, who resides in Benin City said his parents who live in Kaduna enjoy about 24-hour electricity supply in the Northwest state, daily.

    He described as “unacceptable, the total blackout that Edo residents are currently experiencing and the attendant negative impact on businesses and social activities in the state.”

    Izekor said: “My parents live in Kaduna State and I go there regularly to see them. I speak with them daily and they enjoy regular electricity supply, up to 24 hours daily. The gross inefficiency of BEDC is very glaring in Edo State and I am glad that the state governor has spoken the minds of all Edo people with regard to how they feel about the electricity distribution company.”

    He urged BEDC to review its business model and harken to the voice of the people before the company is thrown out of the state as its growing unpopularity can earn it a major public relations disaster.

    “The company must review its practices if it wants to remain in business in the state and elsewhere. Public dissatisfaction has reached unprecedented level and the worst could befall BEDC sooner than later.

    Read Also: Edo to slash price of food stuff at food fair

    “People could resort to attacking BEDC staff, vandalizing their rickety and wabbly equipment across the state if the company’s managing director does not come down from her high horse and serve the people that are harassed daily for electricity bills even when they are in darkness.

    “The managing director cannot continue to grand stand when clearly, she is grossly inefficient and incompetent. She is the most unpopular and unwanted personality in Edo State today. Ask the market women, small and medium scale business owners about the MD of BEDC, they all have very harsh things to say about her for keeping them perpetually in darkness.”

    He added that Edo people are very hospitable and accommodating, but warned the management of BEDC “not to take the people’s hospitality for granted.”

    Izekor, who is a public relations expert, advised BEDC not to wait for its current unpopularity to degenerate into a crisis before resorting to reactive public relations strategy, instead, the agency should be proactive.

    Backing Izekor’s claim, Mr Friday Eguavoen, who works in Kaduna State, said “Kaduna DisCo has a lot to teach BEDC,” and urged Mrs Funke Osibodu to “humble herself and learn how others are doing the business, especially from Kaduna DisCo.”

    The counsels from Mr. Eguavoen and Izekor follow similar advice from several Edo groups for the management of BEDC to change their failing tactics, which informed the decision of Governor Godwin Obaseki to walk the BEDC MD out of his office, recently, when she sneaked into Edo Government House, in company of members of the House of Representatives Committee on Power, who were in the state for an oversight visit.

  • FRSC establishes fire fighting unit in Kaduna

    The Kaduna Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says it has established a Fire Fighting Unit to save lives in accidents that involve fire outbreaks.

    The Sector Commander, Umar Ibrahim, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Kaduna during the flag-off ceremony of the 2018 Ember Months Campaign tagged: “Safety Driving, Safe Arrival”.

    According to Ibrahim, the move which is the first and only one in the country, became necessary to avert loss of lives caused by fire outbreaks during accidents.

    He said that Kaduna State Government has donated two fire fighting trucks.

    “Officers of the unit have been trained and will be positioned along the Kaduna-Abuja and Kaduna-Zaria Expressways, for quick response.

    “I thank the Kaduna State Government for supporting the corps with the trucks and implementing several road safety policies and programmes in the state.’’

    He assured the government that the FRSC will make the best use of the equipment, to further enhance safety on the highways.

    The commander said that the Ember Months Campaign is organised as a public enlightenment campaign of the corps toward ensuring safer roads during festive seasons.

    “To sustain the campaign, road shows and rallies will be carried out from now till the end of January at major motor parks and worship places, to create the necessary awareness on safe driving.

    Read Also: Ambode assures of peaceful, good yuletide

    “Therefore, every stakeholder has a civic responsibility of ensuring that the message we set out to preach through the campaign is not received as formalities but adequately adhered to guarantee safety of road users,” he said.

    Ibrahim called on transport union leaders, public servants, and media organisations to assist the corps in reaching out to as many road users as possible, to ensure accident free festive season.

    Inaugurating the trucks, Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna, commended the command for the efforts toward addressing the menace of reckless driving on highways, particularly during the ember months.

    El-Rufai, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Works, Housing and Transport, Malam Murtala Dabo, said that his administration will continue to support the FRSC in achieving its goals.

    Also speaking, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, also thanked the Kaduna State Government for its continued support and partnership toward ensuring accident-free roads in the state.

    Oyeyemi, who was represented by the Assistant Corp Marshal, Abayomi Omiyale, who is the Zonal Commander in charge of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, urged other states to emulate Kaduna state.

    He advised motorists and roads users to abide by all traffic rules and regulations, to prevent avoidable deaths and accidents.

    According to him, the decision we take now in our driving attitude will determine how we arrive in 2019; alive or dead, on sick bed or healthy and sound.

    On his part, Malam Lawal Kajuru, State Secretary, Road Transport Employees Association of Nigeria, assured the FRSC and other relevant stakeholders of the union’s commitment toward respecting traffic regulations.