The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kaduna

  • Kaduna Prison Command builds new facilities to decongest prisons

    Kaduna Prison Command builds new facilities to decongest prisons

    The Controller, Kaduna Prison Command, Mr. Yazid Alhassan, says the command has commenced the construction of three facilities to decongest prisons in the state.

    Alhassan told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kaduna that one of the new facilities, a one story building within Kaduna Prisons, had reached 95 per cent completion.

    “There is one in Makarfi, which is 70 per cent completed while there is another in Kubacha in Kagarko Local Government area.

    “Besides, there are on-going renovations in almost all the prisons across the state,” the controller said.

    Alhassan said the new facilities, when completed, would accommodate additional 200 inmates.

    The controller also told NAN that 75 inmates were released in the first quarter of 2017, including 21 inmates who could not pay fine or perfect their bail conditions.

    He appealed to judges to sentence convicts to community service in relevant instances rather than outright jail terms to decongest the prisons.

    “So if that system is adopted, you will find less number of people going to prison.

    “The method helps because nobody wants to go to a community to sweep market or environment while member of his family watch him; that will deter the person,” he said.

    Alhassan said the command would train over 100 inmates on carpentry, barbing, tailoring, hair dressing and computer appreciation this year.

    According to him, the training is being conducted with the support of Kaduna State Government and the National Open University.

     

  • Bloodbath averted in Kaduna

    Bloodbath averted in Kaduna

    After a Gwari man was killed in a Kaduna suburb, it took the state government, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), and other stakeholders to prevent what would have been a bloody revenge, ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE reports

    The man’s corpse, later identified to be that of a Gwari, was found on a Sunday in a suburb of Kaduna metropolis. On the morning of the following day, two rival gangs had mobilised and were spoiling for war. They started hurling dangerous objects at each other, and at passerby. In a city used to violence, motorists could smell trouble and wisely made some safe detours.

    The state government also suspected that things could go terribly wrong if it did nothing. That was why it sent a high-powered delegation to liaise with the leaderships of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), security agencies, and traditional rulers of Kabala West and Ungwan Muazu communities where the groups were already sizing each other up.

    Some said the dead man was a rogue, others that he was an innocent victim of thugs at a football viewing centre.

    The development caused tension around the city. Many drivers had to divert to other routes from Nnamdi Azikiwe bypass, on the western side of the city.

    But for the prompt intervention of the state government, Kaduna city would have been thrown into a dangerous religious crisis. The news that went round on that fateful Monday morning was that Muslims and Christians had started fighting.

    The Nation gathered that Gwari kinsmen of the dead man stormed Kabala West on Monday morning to retaliate his killing.

    Meanwhile, the state government swiftly sent a high-powered delegation to mediate between the communities. The delegation was led by Acting Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Sani, the Special Adviser on Internal Security and Special Assistant Media and Publicity Samuel Aruwan.

    It was gathered that the delegation met with the leaderships of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), youth leaders, security agencies and traditional rulers of the two communities.

    At the end of the meeting, the two sides unanimously agreed that all those responsible for the unrest should be fished out and brought to justice. The delegation also commended all residents of the communities that collaborated with security agencies in containing the unrest that could have degenerated beyond the two communities.

    The meeting resolved that all communities will be proactive in reporting any suspicious movements or activities to security agencies, and that it is illegal to resort to self-help or any act that amounts to taking the law into one’s hands.

    When our correspondent visited the area, days after the incident, policemen and security patrol vehicles were stationed there.

    Some of the residents gave different accounts of the event that led to the uproar. While one eyewitness said the deceased was attacked by some young men at the Naija Bet viewing centre in the area where he went to watch the premier league match between Arsenal FC and Man United around 5:30pm, another said the slain man escorted his girlfriend home and was attacked outside her house in the area.

    An eyewitness, Gambo Lawal who claimed to be at the football viewing centre when the incident occurred said, “The deceased came out of the centre holding two big phones when four young boys started harassing him. They collected one of his phones and continued harassing him. They later pinned him to the wall and collected his other handset. One of the boys pulled out a knife and the deceased picked up a stick. They stabbed him severally before they left the viewing centre with his two phones.”

    Another resident of the area, simply identified as Maman Abdul, said, “I learnt that some boys from Samarun Kataf who are resident in Kabala West had a fight over a girl. After the fight, a dead body of one of the boys was found in the Christian graveyard and they accused the Hausa people of perpetrating the act.

    “We saw two dead bodies being taken away and I learnt that one of them was a Hausa water vendor, I don’t know who the other person was because when the incident was taking place, everybody closed their shops and ran for safety.

    “It is unfortunate that people are linking the fracas to religion, but I want to tell you that it has nothing to do with religion at all. We are however happy that security people intervened immediately and the situation is returning to normalcy as I speak to you”.

    Security agencies have arrested 18 persons suspected to have been involved in the unrest that followed the lynching in Kabala West and Ungwan Muazu.

    A statement from the state government said that security agencies arrested the hoodlums around the two communities following reports of threats to law and order.

    Spokesperson to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Samuel Aruwan while confirming the arrests of the suspects, said they will be charged to court as soon as the investigations are concluded.

    Aruwan dismissed stories making the rounds on social media that the crisis has escalated to other parts of Kaduna town leading to the killing of a few persons and others injured and warned those peddling false stories to desist.

  • SON seizes 213 assorted toiletries, organises sensitisation programmes in Kaduna

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), said on Monday it had seized no fewer than 213 substandard assorted toiletries in Kaduna in the first quarter of 2017.

    The state’s Coordinator of SON, Mr Danlami Datti, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna.

    Datti said SON’s objective was to promote the nation’s quality products and ensure availability of jobs for the populace.

    He said: ‘‘All products must be of quality standard before reaching consumers.

    ‘‘We are committed to flushing out any form of substandard goods in our market.

    ‘‘We warned manufacturers to desist from producing substandard goods; we will continue to be vigilant on such bad products and impound them.’’

    Datti said during the period under review, SON had organised six enlightenment and sensitisation programmes in the state.

    ‘‘We took sensitisation to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Kaduna on the role of SON in skill acquisition and enterprise development.’’

    He added that the organisation had also conducted advocacy visits to secondary schools, and held sensitisation programmes on environmental management.

    ‘‘All the sensitisation programmes were aimed at enlightening the public on what SON is doing to rid Nigeria of substandard goods and make the environment safe to produce standard products.’’

  • I will speak on second term bid when am ready – El-Rufai

    I will speak on second term bid when am ready – El-Rufai

    Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has disowned comments by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Saidu that he (El-Rufai) will not recontest the governorship seat in 2019.
    Governor El-Rufai said the Chief of Staff’s statements was a misrepresentation of his (El-Rufai) position and that of his government.
    The Governor in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Sunday also said what Saidu said was his personal opinion, as he (El-Rufai) will not communicate his decision to run for a second term in 2019 through surrogates, but directly to the people of Kaduna State.
    Governor El-Rufai in the statement he titled ‘I will inform the public on second term when I am ready’, said “My attention has been drawn to statements credited to our Chief of Staff which clearly misrepresented his good intentions aimed at encouraging youths in politics and governance of our dear state.”
    “What was reported was that I had no plans to run for another term of office, and will be succeeded by someone below the age of 50. Both statements are misrepresentations of my position and the government. It has become imperative that these wrong impressions thereby created be corrected.
    “In 2014, when I complied with the directive of our leader President Muhammadu Buhari to run for the office of Governor of Kaduna State, I made the announcement in person. I did not employ surrogates to engage the public on this important decision. What I did not do as an aspirant for office, I will not do as incumbent Governor. I will not communicate my decision to run for a second term in 2019 through surrogates, but directly to the people of Kaduna State.
    “Regarding the views ascribed to the Chief of Staff, they are perhaps his personal opinion. I do not wish to be associated with such sentiments. I am of the firm opinion that nobody, no matter the position they hold, can dictate to other citizens what they can or cannot aspire to. No individual can introduce into the electoral process conditions that are not embedded in the laws of our country and the norms of electoral competition.
    “The Constitution of Nigeria, the Electoral Act and the APC constitution have no provisions imposing maximum age limits for those aspiring to elective office. I am a strict law-abiding citizen and loyal party member, and will not countenance anyone even hinting at circumscribing constitutional rights. While our administration believes strongly in encouraging youths, evidenced by the number of young people we have appointed into key government positions, we believe that it is the combination of the wisdom of the elderly and the energy of the youth that leads to societal progress.
    “While our government will continue to train these young persons in leadership responsibilities, and prepare them for the future, we do not believe that decreeing a generational shift is either lawful or pragmatic. Choice is the prerogative of the voting public which decides at each moment who and what platform they believe best represents their needs.
    “Any artificial intrusion into this process can only yield unwanted distortions. And we have already suffered that distortion in Nigeria. When a military government decided to elevate those it called newbreed politicians by curtailing the rights of experienced politicians who were banned from seeking office, it did not improve the quality of our politics. Rather, it monetized the electoral process and left our polity without regard for issue-based platforms.
    “For the avoidance of doubt, the choice of who governs Kaduna will depend, not on the age of the person, but his or her acceptability by the leaders of our party first, and ultimately the voters of Kaduna State. At the right time, these choices will be made and not earlier.
    “The mid-point of an administration is not the time for politics. We were elected to work for four years. And that is what every appointee of this government must do. I have therefore directed all government appointees aspiring to future political or elective positions to stop putting up posters and billboards in violation of the Electoral Act. KASUPDA is further directed to take down all these as the whistle has not been blown for either national or local government elections campaign or politicking to start yet. KASUPDA is expected to impose the applicable sanctions on any violators.
    “Any appointee of our administration that immerses himself or herself into ambitions for 2019, at the expense of the vital public assignments entrusted them will be deemed to have constructively vacated office, and will be relieved of his position. I appeal to all our colleagues in government to comply with this and continue to exercise prudence and commitment in the implementation of our reform and restoration programme,” El-Rufai stated.

  • ‘Kaduna Dry Port set for inauguration’

    The Kaduna Inland dry port which is the first of its kind in Nigeria is now set for inauguration ,  Executive Secretary and Chief Executive officer of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC)  Hassan Bello has said.

    Dry ports operate as centres for transshipment of sea cargo to inland destinations.

    Addressing stakeholders shortly after the tour of facilities at the Kaduna inland dry port on yesterday, Bello  said the council was already talking with the Federal Government to formally open the  dry port soon , even as skeletal services have since beguns at the port.

    Bello also said that congestion, both vehicular and human, that is common at the nation’s sea ports, would not be seen at the dry port because it would be well controlled.

    The NSC boss said once inaugurated, the Kaduna dry port, would be the beehive of economic activities in the state,  adding that Kaduna inland port which is the first in the country would become a role model for other states to emulate.

    He praised  Governor Nasir El-Rufai for ensuring security, and  enabling environment for the port,  adding that as soon as the port is commissioned,  it will generate no fewer than 5000 employment opportunities for the teaming unemployed youths in Kaduna.

    He reiterated that with the commissioning which will not be long from now and as soon as the Kaduna inland dry port effectively takes off, it will stimulate the economy and reduce stress of business transactions across the country and particularly at the ports.

    The Council’s boss urged resident of Kaduna State, particularly business men and women to utilise the port effectively to further boost their business prospects, stressing that the dry port will serve both for import and export purposes.

    “We are committed to make the port a modern port and in compliance with international standard to ensure proper regulations, we will also ensure that appropriate cargo clearance equipment will be deployed while human and vehicular traffic within the port will be avoided as much as possible” he stressed.

    He, however, vowed to ensure that the activities of touts, otherwise known as Warf Rats at the sea ports is not tolerated at the Kaduna Dry port once it begins operations.

  • My captors were angry I had only N20,000 in my account – Hirse

    My captors were angry I had only N20,000 in my account – Hirse

    Mr Bagudu Hirse, former Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), who was kidnapped in Kaduna, on Nov. 20, 2016, has said that his captors were angry when they confirmed that he had only N20,000 in his account.

    Hirse, who relayed his experience with the captors in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday in Jos, said that the captors confirmed the balance in his account when they checked his phone.

    “They went through my bank details and expressed deep disappointment that a former minister and Ambassador had such a little sum in his account.

    “That was when they started harassing my wife because they had earlier asked for a ransom of N50 million.

    “In fact, when they confirmed the figure, they started doubting if I was the Bagudu Hirse, a former Nigeria envoy to Namibia,” he said.

    Hirse said that the kidnappers kept ordering his wife to bring the money that her husband was hiding.

    “My wife told them the truth about our financial status, but they were not convinced,” he said.

    The former minister, however, confirmed that the captors were “paid something in dollars”, before he was eventually released.

    He said that the captors told him that they were graduates who were forced into kidnapping to survive because they were “jobless and frustrated”.

    “One said that he graduated from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, six years ago, and had remained without a job, while another said he studied Chemical Engineering and had been jobless for five years,” he said.

    Hirse, who said he was “treated very well” by the kidnappers, said that he maintained a cordial relationship with them throughout the period of the captivity.

    He advised government to create more jobs, and stressed the need to concentrate on building the private sector.

    “If the private sector is supported to be viable, there will be jobs and most of these idle youths will be absorbed,” he said.

    NAN reports that eight suspects have been arrested in connection with Hirse’s ordeal.

    Mr Don Awunah, police spokesperson, who announced the arrest, said that the gang was apprehended based on intelligence reports and surveillance which led to the arrest of one Dominic Nwakpa, the gang leader, on Jan. 1.

    Among those arrested and paraded by the police was a dismissed police officer, Clinton Abere.

    Others included Ifeanyi Chukwu, Balat Paul (driver), Ibrahim Samuel, Jatau Peter and Afini Paul, younger sister to the driver of the gang and owner of the house where kidnapped victims were kept.

    The police quoted the suspects as admitting that they collected ransom before releasing Hirse.

  • Police seize over 1000 bags of adulterated fertilisers in Zaria

    The Police Area Command in Zaria, Kaduna State, have uncovered and seized over 1,000 bags of adulterated fertilisers at a fake factory in Zaria.

    ACP Abdullahi Ibrahim, the Area Commander, Zaria Police Area Command, made the disclosure at a news conference in Zaria on Tuesday.

    He said that the fake factory, owned by one Mohammed Lawal-Bashir, was located at Dala on Birnin Gwari Road, Gwargwaje, Zaria.

    Ibrahim added that investigation showed that one bag of Urea was being mixed with five bags of sand to produce six bags of adulterated fertilisers.

    According to him, both the owner of the factory and the seized bags of fertilisers have been taken to Kaduna for further investigation.

    He said the police have recovered many materials used in perpetrating the nefarious act.

    The area command boss noted that the act was meant to scuttle Federal Government’s effort tagged “Presidential Fertiliser Initiative”.

    When contacted, the Chairman of Fertiliser Dealers’ Association in Zaria, Alhaji Sani Danmarke, distanced his members from what he described as inhuman act.

    He said the association had raised a security committee that would go round the area to flush out “bad eggs” out of the business.

    A cross section of farmers interviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria appealed to government to fish-out the producers of the sack used in packaging the commodity.

    They observed that identifying and arresting the producers would curtail the spread of adulterated fertilisers.

     

  • It is not a sin for President Buhari to seek medical attention, says Imam

    A Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Malam Muhammad Nafi’u, on Monday lambasted those celebrating the ill health of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying they are sinning against God.

    Nafi’u, who is the Cheif Imam of Nupe Road Central Mosque, Kaduna said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the President, like all mortals have a right to seek for medical attention.

    “If Buhari is not feeling fine it is not a sin for him to seek for medical attention, he is a human being like everyone of us.

    “It is a sin to speculate and spread false rumours, and people should stop it, as every human can fall sick.

    “Rather than wasting time on sinful propagation of falsehood, we should be praying for Buhari to have sound health,” the Imam said.

    He noted that President Buhari had demonstrated love and commitment to the people of Nigeria and deserves nothing less than prayers.

    “Our president has to be healthy, because governance is a big task; we should be grateful to Allah for given us a president that has the country at heart,” Nafi’u added.

    He urged all Nigerians of goodwill to support the present administration, pray for its success and the progress of the country.

    The Imam said Nigerians should also unite in prayers for the president to quickly recover and return home hale and hearty.

    NAN reports that President Buhari left Nigeria on Sunday night for further medical attention in London.

  • Monarch dispel rumours of renewed insecurity in Southern Kaduna

    The Agwan Bajju in Southern Kaduna, Malam Nuhu Bature, on Friday dismissed as unfounded and baseless, rumours of insecurity in the chiefdom.

    Nuhu said those spreading the rumour were only doing so to blackmail the people and scare away those wishing to transact legitimate businesses in the area.

    The monarch said when he received some officials of Kaduna State Government on projects inspection at his palace in Zonkwa, that residents were moving about peacefully in the area.

    “I plead with those peddling the rumour to desist from the act and portray the chiefdom in good light as it is peaceful,” he said.

    Earlier, Mr Thomas Gyang, who spoke on behalf of the team, told the Agwam Bajju that a contractor turned down the offer to construct Zonkwa township roads on grounds of insecurity.

    Gyang however said that the state Ministry of Works would re-award the contract to ensure that the project commence in earnest.

    He expressed confidence that peace had returned to the area in view of the warm reception accorded the delegation.

    Gyang assured the people that the state government would not relent in executing developmental projects across southern Kaduna and the state in general.

  • Appraising Kaduna’s smart infrastructure plan

    SIR: Kaduna State government surely knows that infrastructural development is a straightforward way to inject money into the economy and lay the foundation for long-term growth. This is why it has committed N108 billion of its 2016 budget to capital expenditure and N130 billion in 2017.

    Already, 421 contracts have been awarded for renovation of public primary and secondary schools in the state. These renovations are complete with the provision of solar-powered bore holes and cubicle toilet blocks. The aim is to expand class sizes to the extent that they cater for school enrolment rates which have soared from about 1 million pupils in 2015 to 1.8 million currently.

    In the same vein, the Dangote Group alongside the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have provided funding support to the Kaduna State government for the renovation and equipping of one Primary Health Care centre in each of the 255 wards in the state. Imagine how much of the state’s health burden will be relieved if 255 PHC’s function optimally across the state.

    In the years leading up to 2015, much of the state was without potable water. This will change in early 2018 when the N50 billion Zaria water facility is completed. Thanks to the African Development Bank and Islamic Development Bank, the Zaria water project will supply 150 million litres of water daily and provide water coverage for 2.2 million people across seven local government areas. Even for agriculture, the sludge generated from the water treatment process will be used as fertilizer.

    In 2012 and 2014, construction on the project was disrupted when the contractors abandoned site due to the inability of the government to offset some N3.2 billion payment for completed and future works. Now, thanks to a deal brokered by the governor and his team, the contractors will accept staggered payments of N300 million monthly until all outstanding on the project are cleared.

    It is in making smart deals like these that the state raises the required funds for most of its infrastructural projects.

    Already, the state government has begun a redesign of its entire transport infrastructure. With the support of the Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NIAF) and funds from the UK Department of International Development (DFID), a transport policy was launched in 2016. The policy will ensure accessible and reliable public transport service that meets the mobility needs of the state.

    The Zaria road in Rigassa, the Rabah road and Kawo roads are very major entry, intra and exit ways for Kaduna State. Unfortunately, these roads have become peculiar traffic areas. The State Government has responded to this by implementing measures that streamline traffic inclusive of dualizations, repairs to dilapidated roads and the introduction of a bus rapid transport (BRT). The BRT will have an exclusive lane such that it can operate even at times when traffic is the most congested.

    Besides these efforts, a N10 billion proposal was included in its 2016 budget to construct a Metropolitan Rapid Rail Line. The line will run through the Millennium City to Rigassa and Mararaban Rido, Zaria expressway to Sabon-tasha, Mando and Nnamdi Azikwe expressway. Expressions of interest have been sent out and a prequalification carried out on 18 companies.

    The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai knows that infrastructure spending unlike any other form of government expenditure puts an economy firmly on the path of sustained progress. This is why his administration is committed to putting in place infrastructure that guarantees easier access to both education and health services, improved transportation systems that result in easy accessibility and an overall increment in the standard of living.

     

    • Bukola Ogunyemi,

     Lagos.