The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kano

  • Sokoto agog as Atiku flags off Northwest campaign

    The People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) on Monday flagged off the Northwest Zonal campaign of its Presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    Kangiwa square, venue of the flag off has been a beehive of activities since the early hours of Monday.

    Read Also:2019 poll: Atiku meets Wike ahead of campaign kick off

    Already, the party’s chieftains , supporters and well-wishers from across the zone comprising of Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Zamfara have converged on the multipurpose venue.

    However, the Presidential candidate and his running mate, Peter Obi, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, governorship candidates, National chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, Senate President Bukola Saraki, serving and former PDP governors arrived the venue  at about 2pm.

  • Kaduna, Kano govts take agencies to tax tribunal

    The Kaduna and Kano State governments  have taken some federal government agencies to the Northwest zone of the Tax Appeal Tribunal for failure to remit taxes.

    The Kaduna state board of internal revenue, dragged the Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria, before the tribunal, for un-remitted Pay as You Earn (PAYE) and withholding taxes, totaling N6,169,774,658.01. The taxes were  due, to the Kaduna state government, but were un-remitted, between 2007 and 2012.

    The tribunal, which has just been newly reconstituted, with Umaru M. Adamu as Chairman, Abubakar Gwandu Sameerah, Bayero A.S Mohammed, Ahmed Kumshe, Isa Kabir Dandago, as Commissioners, also attended to tax issues against Kaduna Polytechnic, brought before it for unremitted personal income taxes and withholding taxes, for the period, 2007 and 2012, totaling, N3,346,864,461.06.

    The Kano state Board of Inland Revenue on, the 29th of November, brought before the tribunal, appeals to determine whether they were entitled to recover from the National orthopedic and another, the sum of N18,672,474,25  being also withholding and PAYE Taxes, due for the 2011 and 2012 year of assessment.

    Bayero University Kano, alongside the Minister of Education and the Minister of Finance were also brought before the tribunal with respect to withholding taxes and PAYE taxes, for the 2004, to 2009 year of assessment, in the sum of N1,829,842,076.96.

    Also brought before the tribunal via various appeal for determination, was the National Independent Electoral commission (INEC), in the sum of N200,021,335.96, the Standards Organization of Nigeria, in the sum of N17,303,000.00, the National Examination Council (NECO) in the sum of N17,732,000.00. The Federal College of Education Bichi, in the sum of N250,492,645.10 . Also, the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), in the sum of N31,141,588.03, the Joint Matriculation Board (JAMB), in the sum of N5,447,673.07.

    Also brought before the Tribunal, was the Hadejia Jamare River Basin Authority, in the sum of N129,355,083.02  and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which was also brought before the tribunal for non-remittance of the sum of N21,142,557.30  being unremitted PAYE and Withholding taxes.

    Finally brought before the tribunal, was the Federal College of Agriculture by the Kano State Board of Internal Revenue, for non-remittance of the sum of N6,870,862.91, being un-remitted PAYE and Withholding taxes, due for the year of assessment 2009 to 13.

    The Chairman of the North West Zone, Umaru M. Adamu, while addressing critical stakeholders during the course of the tribunal sessions, urged all tax payers, members of professional bodies, including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chartered Institute of Taxation, ICAN and Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, to avail themselves of the services of the Tribunal, as the purpose is to give succor to tax payers and engender confidence in the tax process.

     

    He also called on all relevant State Boards of Internal Revenue, in Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara and Jigawa, to emulate the Kano State Board of Internal Revenue that had brought before the Tax Appeal Tribunal, defaulting tax payers, owing the State, in excess of N3 billion.

     

    He assured all the Stakeholders of a speedy disposal of their appeals, as the Tax Appeal Tribunal, was the only body currently in Nigeria, operating a fully automated court and a case flow mechanism that nearly guarantees the disposal of all disputes, within 90 days.

     

     

  • 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.

  • Kano Govt, UNICEF to open new office for three states

    The Kano State Government and UNICEF have agreed to establish a new office to serve Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States to focus on addressing children issues.

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje confirmed this when UNICEF officials led by its Country Representative, Mr Mohammed Fall, paid him a courtesy visit in Kano on Thursday.

    He said the state government started processing the new UNICEF field office since August 2018, by proposing Magwan Water Restaurant, which was inspected by a team of professionals and fully endorsed by UNICEF.

    Ganduje, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Nasiru Gawuna, said Kano was one of the most peace loving states that has been accommodating development partners and other officials from all over the world.

    “For Kano state, it is very clear and considering that Kano is a very peaceful state and His Excellency is doing very well in terms of security and peace of the people of Kano state, that is why we are happy to welcome UNICEF to Kano state.
    “I want to on behalf of His Excellency, inform you that he has approved for a befitting facility to serve as the new UNICEF office in Kano in a choice and prime area and one of the most secured places we have in the state,” he said.

    He expressed the readiness of the present administration to continue to collaborate with UNICEF and other development partners towards addressing issues that affect the wellbeing of children and women.
    “I want to assure you that this administration will do its possible best to fulfil all the requirements needed to ensure effective commencement of the UNICEF office and smooth collaboration with Kano state.

     

    Read Also: Ganduje puzzles Kano with legal rigmaroles

     

    By the time you move your office to Kano, you will be very conversant with people of Kano and on our part we are going to make sure that you stay very comfortably here in Kano,” he added.
    Fall had earlier said they were at the Government House to discuss and officially inform the state authority on the move by the UNICEF to open a field office in Kano.

    He noted that their physical presence in Kano would help in boosting their programmes to other parts of the country.
    “UNICEF is focusing more on result. Result is linked to numbers and you know Kano is one of the densely populated states in the country, therefore, if one succeeds in Kano, you will be able to reach a large number of children even beyond the population in the state.

    “Some of the deprivations affecting children whether it is difficulty to access health, nutrition, sanitation and education services and all issues related to child protection, they all happen at a very large scale in mega cities or urban areas that we must work together to alleviate the sufferings of children,” said the country representative.

    e expressed optimism that Kano state would provide all the enabling environment and support to help in reaching out to a very large number of children in need of UNICEF’s support the most.

    he official further thanked the Ganduje administration for all the support and cooperation it has been according UNICEF towards the success of its interventions and support programmes in the state.

    NAN

  • Ganduje: Court fixes December 6 for judgment

    A Kano High Court has fixed Thursday, December 6 to rule on whether the state House of Assembly has the power to investigate the bribery allegation against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

    The National Coordinator of “Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria’’, an NGO, Mr Mohammed Zubair had filed a suit challenging the court’s constitutional right to investigate the bribery allegation.

    When the case came up for hearing on Wednesday, counsel to the Kano state House of Assembly, Mohammed Waziri argued that the Assembly had the power to investigate any person including the governor for the purpose of making laws and checking corruption.

    Read Also:Court remands fake army Colonel

    He said even though the governor had immunity but it is not against the investigation to be conducted by the House.

    Waziri, therefore, prayed the court to dismiss the application filed by the counsel to the plaintiff due to the fact that it was trying to usurp powers given to the House by the constitution.

    However, in his argument, counsel to the plaintiff, Nuraini Jimoh said the House had the power to investigate the governor in view of the fact that it would conduct the investigation in order to expose corruption specifically mentioned by the constitution.

    “What the House is investigating is no doubt a crime against the governor. But by doing so, they are exercising their powers to expose corruption,’’ he said.

    In his submission, the third defendant, who is also the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Muktar maintained that the House had no power to conduct criminal investigation against the governor.

    According to him, the state Assembly has no trained experts or investigators to conduct the investigation, and as such assignment should be referred to the police or any relevant agencies.

    “The House has no capacity to conduct criminal investigation and it will be to the detriment of the person being investigated because they lack the capacity to conduct the investigation,” he said.

    In his ruling after listening to the argument of both parties, the presiding Judge, Justice, A. T. Badamasi fixed Thursday, December 6 for judgment on whether the state Assembly had the power to carry out the investigation or not.

    NAN

  • FG targets 30% in renewable energy mix by 2030 — Fashola

    In a bid to diversify its energy sources and optimise other assets for power production, Nigeria is targeting 30 per cent of its energy needs from renewable by 2030

    Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, made the assertion in a keynote address at the 2018 pre-conference workshop of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos on Monday.

    Fashola said that the current component of grid power consists mainly of gas-fired power (85%) and hydropower (15%), there was the need to produce an energy mix that targets a 30 per cent component of renewable energy out of the gross energy produced by 2030.

    “Let me be clear and unequivocal by saying upfront that our commitment as a nation and government to pursue renewable and low carbon energy at low cost is clear, firm and unshaking.

    “But this is not all. It is a commitment driven by necessity, contract and policy,” he said.

    The minister said that government had also matched its intent with actions such as signing 14 solar power purchase agreement (PPAs) with 14 developers with the potential to deliver over 1,000 MW of solar power.

    “In addition to the necessity to diversify our energy sources from gas and provide some energy security, we are also driven to pursue renewable energy by contract,” he said.

    He said that Africa must intensify efforts at improving transmission grid for renewable energy to be effectively developed on the continent.

    Fashola said that Nigeria as a committed member of the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS, has adopted several international treaties and policies which promote the use of renewable energy.

    This, he said, was in line with the national vision to provide incremental power, and then steady and uninterrupted power.

    The minister said that the Federal Government recently approved an integrated energy mix targets under Electricity Vision 30:30:30 which targets generation of 30 GW in 2030, with 30 per cent from renewable energy sources.

    “Africa has trillions of standard cubic feet of natural gas reserves, billions of barrels of crude oil reserves and billions of tonnes of coal,” he said

    Read Also: Nine varsities to get solar plant, says Fashola

    The minister said that government had completed arrangements to concession six hydro dams to private operators under build, operate and transfer (BOT) scheme.

    He said the step was aimed at energising educational institutions and markets in the country.

    Fashola said: “These are government-led initiatives based on the rural electrification plan approved by the president in 2016 to provide access to power for rural dwellers and vulnerable members of our society.

    “We proposed to use six small hydro-dams that had been abandoned for decades, Federal Government owned universities and some markets as anchors.

    “Apart from the universities, where government is directly funding the intervention, the markets are being privately funded.

    “There are currently 15 markets under contemplation with Ariaria, Sabon Gari and Sura markets in Aba, Kano and Lagos respectively as flagships.”

    Fashola said that government was planning to concession six hydro dams to private operators to build, operate, and transfer.

    “Our thinking is simple. While the whole value chain and power privatization gradually evolves, it is possible to create oases of success by showing to our children that they can have reliable power while in school.

    “If that is a reason to get children to school and keep them there, certainly, no good business can oppose this.

    “Indeed, it seems to me sensible to expect that the future of today’s business and even government rests solely on the quality of education that the current generations of students get.

    “As for the markets, the 37,000 shops in Ariaria, about 13,000 in Sabon Gari, and about 1,000 in Sura represent SMEs, where the majority of our people earn a living,’’ he said.

    Dr Andrew Ejayeriese, the President of NAPE, said that Nigeria was the largest economy in Africa and the 22nd globally, adding that it was projected that the economy could rise through the world ranking to top 10 in 2050 with a projected GDP of 46.4 trillion dollars.

    Ejayeriese said that to achieve that, however, diversification of the economy from over-dependence on crude oil was required.

    According to him, though fossil fuels currently dominate the power sector, their share of the energy generation market is expected to decline to 57 per cent by 2035.

    “With the rapid growth of renewable energy which accounts for 4 per cent of energy demand today (excluding large-0scale hydroelectricity).

    “By 2030, that could grow to about 14 per cent which is an exceptional rate of growth for the energy industry,” he said.

    He said that the pre-conference workshop was a forum where energy professionals, associates researchers, producers, suppliers, policy markers, financial experts, investors, consumers and others stakeholders discussed the contemporary challenges and available opportunities related to the increasing national and international demand for energy.

    The three-day NAPE international conference and exhibition which began on Tuesday witnessed about 1,500 participants.

    NAN

  • Bribery saga:Whistle-blower to appear before Committee

    The whistle-blower and witness in the $5m bribery allegation against the Kano state Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has given conditions to be physically  present and testify before the a seven–man Kano state House of Assembly investigative Committee.

    The conditions were given in a three page letter written on his behalf by his Counsel, Sa’idu Muhammad Tudunwada &Co dated November 4, 2018.

    Among the six conditions to be fulfilled is the physical presence of the Governor before the committee, not by proxy in tandem with transparency.

    After other conditions are met ,the panel shall convene a joint session comprising of the Governor, Jaafar Jaafar, the witness and Sheik Aminu Daurawa.

    The letter signed by Barr. Saeed Muhammad T/Wada and addressed to the investigative committee Chairman requested that all the video clips already in circulation shall be submitted to two Cinematographers and video imaging experts for analysis and reports.

    One of the expert should be an expatriate who shall be invited into Nigeria through the embassy of his country of residence whilst the second expert shall be an officer serving with the Department Of State Services (DSS).

    It also demands for the sitting be restricted to limited persons and that the witness should be allowed to wear mask, bear pseudo name and receive protection from authorities for himself , family and business undertaking.

    The Nation recalls that despite a court order issued last Monday 5th November by Justice A.T Badamosi directing the investigative committee to maintain status quo ante, the committee addressed a news conference on Tuesday, agreed to appear  before the court on Monday 12 November,2018.

    The committee said  the order was misunderstood as it did not ordered it to stop the investigation but rather maintain status quo.

  • Time bomb

    An alarm has been raised about the time bomb that is seriously ticking in Kano State. About 500,000 children under the age of five are chronically malnourished. This was made known at the Dietary Diversification Project supported by UNICEF, in the state’s government house.

    UNICEF’s field officer in Katsina, ZohraNissi, confirmed that Nigeria has the second highest number of malnourished children in the world. In Nigeria, 37% of children or six million are stunted (chronically malnourished or low height for age), more than half severely. About 18% suffer from wasting (acutely malnourished or low weight for height), half of them severely. Another 29% of children are underweight (both acutely and chronically malnourished and low weight for age), almost half severely.

    Read also: Malnutrition: Silently killing Nigerian children

    Here then is the tragedy of a nation. Children are like seeds being planted by a nation to germinate and bear fruits and continue with human existence. However, if in Kano State alone, about 500,000 under-fives are acutely malnourished, it literally translates to seeds planted and not nourished to grow. A malnourished under-five population should be treated as an emergency because the future population is withering away and there are no substitutes to children.

    The question the Kano State government should be asking is, why and how did this tragedy get to this level? How is a state that is largely agrarian, known for the commercial livestock business, a huge part of which involves cattle-rearing from where milk comes have such a huge population of undernourished babies? It is almost laughable that the state has to organise an ad-hoc Dietary Diversification Project with the Community Management for Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) to educate parents and care-givers on nutrition and the importance of breastfeeding and ready-to-use-therapeutic foods.

    Children are supposed to be born and nurtured by well informed and educated adults who would in turn deploy their knowledge in raising such children to be of optimal use and productivity to themselves, their communities and the nation. An informed parent knows about nutrition and its benefits. Growing children need all the nutrients for physical growth and brain development.

    Breast milk provides a baby’s nutritional needs for the first one year before cereal can be introduced.  But the mother has to equally be informed and well fed to produce enough milk. After one year, additional calories are needed from cereal and fat. Toddlers need about four cups of cow milk per day or Vitamin D supplements for calcium which helps in brain development.

    Kano State and indeed the whole country is so endowed with all the food needed to nourish our children from one to five years that is the most critical formative period of any child physically and mentally. What has created this army of chronically malnourished children is traceable to ignorance and illiteracy mainly on the part of mothers who are naturally the caregivers.

    Now we are seeing the effects of illiteracy, especially of the girl child, the effects of child marriages because a child cannot effectively raise another. The effects of unchecked religious and cultural practices like the almajiri system of sending out children and depending on clerics for guidance and nurture. An unchecked population growth not matched with development, good health and education would always have the poor and uninformed having more children than they can cater for.

    Given that children are the future of any country, Kano State and all other states in the nation must plan better for the children; ad hoc seminars and talk shops cannot solve the malnutrition epidemic in a country that is currently the poverty capital of the world. Good and functional education, health and provision of relevant infrastructure could form the foundation upon which the effects of this very high malnutrition statistics amongst children in Kano and other states can be addressed decisively. Short and medium term plans must urgently be put in place for the developmental side effect of mentally retarded and physically weak children that survive the menace to be averted.

    Ideas rule the world and it is only a healthy and sound mind that can compete.

     

  • Jubilation in Kano over N30, 000 minimum wage

    It was jubilation galore for workers at the Katsina Road secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the ancient city of Kano on Tuesday, following the recommendation of the payment of N30, 000 minimum wage, after meeting of the tripartite Committee in Abuja that led to the immediate suspension of the proposed nation-wide strike.

    The Kano chapter leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the United Labour Congress (ULC) gathered at the secretariat where they urged workers in the ancient commercial city to go back to work as they await timely enactment and implementation of the proposed N30, 000 minimum wage.

    Addressing a Press Conference at the secretariat, NLC chairman in the state, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, noted that the struggle was not yet over as he prayed for speedy implementation of the new minimum wage, so as to put smiles on workers faces.

    According to him, “there are still several bridges to cross before the new minimum wage becomes law and implemented. It is our collective commitment and dedication that has made the progress so far possible.

    “We need to stand ready in a state of full mobilization in case future action becomes necessary to push for the timely enactment and implementation of the new minimum wage. As such, I therefore call on all our members to immediately report back to their duty posts.”

    Minjibir commended the national leaderships of NLC, TUC and ULC, “for standing firm on the decision of the Central Working Committee and their resilience to protect the interest of Nigerian workers, especially at this trying period.

    “We appreciate equally, our partners in the struggle—the Civil Society Organizations, student unions, Keke NAPEP associations, market men and women, our labour veterans, security agencies, members of the Press, religious leaders and all well-meaning members of the public who identified with us during the struggle.”

  • Alleged Bribery: Court stops kano Assembly from investigating Ganduje

    A Kano High Court sitting in Kano has ordered the Kano state House of Assembly to stop the investigation of bribery allegation leveled against Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje by the publisher of an online news platform, Daily Nigeria, alleging that he collected $5 million bribe from contractors in video clips released by the online news platform.

    In Suit No. K/497/2018 instituted by Bar. Muhammad Zubair, National Coordinator of Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria against the Kano state House of Assembly, Hon. Baffa Babba Dab Agundi and other members of the seven-man Investigative Committee and Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice of Kano state, the presiding Judge, Justice A.T. Badamasi issued an Interim Injunction, restraining the Kano state House of Assembly Seven-man Investigative Committee from further investigation of the said bribery allegation.

    According to the Judge, “upon carefully run through the Ex-parte application dated 5th day of November, 2018 filed by Counsel for the plaintiff/applicant accompanied by a 23 paragraphs affidavit duly deposed to by Muhammad Zubair, a legal practitioner as well as the written address in support of Application thereto:

    “And after hearing Mr. Nuraini Jimoh Esq. (with him A.N.Ahmad Esq) Counsel for the applicant. The application is hereby granted in the following manner:

    “The Respondents should be served before the close of work today (5 November). Accelerated hearing is hereby ordered and the respondents are given four days to respond to this application after service.

    “Parties should maintain status quo ante pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice.”

    The Judge, however, adjourned the matter to Monday, 12 November, 2018 for hearing.

    Speaking to Reporters at the NUJ Press Centre, the plaintiff who is also the National Coordinator of Lawyers for Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria, Bar. Zubair said that, “we followed with keen interest the investigation being carried out by a seven-man Committee of the Kano state House of Assembly.

    “We followed the issue and analyzed the provision of the law; we came to the conclusion that the House of Assembly have no right or constitutional backing to investigate the said bribery allegation. We believe it is an illegal action.

    Read Also: EFCC re-arraigns Ladoja for diverting public funds

    “As a pro-democracy group, we served the Kano state House of Assembly a letter on the 24th of October and gave them 24 hours ultimatum to stop the investigation, but the House leadership did not reply our letter. They did not invite us to hear from us. The House has a legal department which ought to have looked at our letter, rather they ignored us.

    “Having followed what has happened, we felt that the Kano state House of Assembly did not heed to our advice. So, we decided to go to Court where we believe we can get justice. Already, we have served the three parties involved in the case; and the Court has ordered them to maintain the status quo ante pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice.”