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Tag: Kano

  • Kano plans to construct centre for Maitama Sule

    Kano State Government, yesterday in Kano, unfolded plans for the construction of Yusuf Maitama Sule Center for the Advancement of Democratic Politics and Good Governance.

    While presenting the report of the Committee, set up by the task force, the Chairman of the Committee, Professor Attahiru Jega explained that the centre, would comprise a museum, royal regalia, international market, including main center.

    In a statement, Governor Ganduje Director-General, Media and Communications Ameen Yassar, said: “This project will be built along the Emir’s palace road, on the Danmasani’s/Alhaji Babayaro’s personal houses, about 26 – 28 neighboring house to be acquired by the state government and the British Council Building, respectively,” he announced.

    Jega, represented by Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, added that the project would include a road network that would benefit the neighborhood, adding that when completed, in two years time, it would not only adore the area, but also be a source of pride, a centre of excellence, research, education, training in traditional crafts and market.

  • Unpaid Pensions: 900 Nigeria Airways retirees die

    Unpaid Pensions: 900 Nigeria Airways retirees die

    Kano-A member of the Ministerial Committee on the verification of payment of retired Nigeria Airways workers ,Captain Shu’aibu Alfa, revealed yesterday that that 900 retirees have so far died nationwide since 2004.

    Alfa, who is the Supervisor, Kano Verification Centre, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano that there are three centres where the ongoing verification exercise for the Nigeria Airways retirees are being conducted.

    He said during the 15 years, no fewer than 900 of the retirees died, while the medical cases of some of them became worse, homes were broken and some were in situations beyond human imagination.

    Read Also: Group seeks presidential pardon for Kanu, IPOB

    “The verification exercise has been going on very well, we made sure retirees were former staff of Nigeria Airways and we have their records,” he said.

    “We ask questions and when they are certified, we clear them to start the verification process.

    “In the verification team, we have people from the Ministry of Aviation, Ministry of Finance, Accountant General’s Office, Head of Service, EFCC, ICPC, PITAD and we also have our representatives on each desk,” Alfa said.

    Alfa, who was the Secretary, Nigeria Airways Pilots Association, commended President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Aviation and the Minister of Transportation, for approving the payment of their long awaited entitlement.

    He also commended the support of the traditional rulers, religious leaders, political leaders and many other well-meaning Nigerians.

    He appealed to the retirees to exercise patience during the exercise, as the committee was doing everything to ensure they were promptly screened.

     

     

  • N900m money laundering: Shekarau back in Court

    The Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Thursday adjourned the case of alleged money laundering against former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau.

    Shekarau was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside former external affairs minister Aminu Wali and one Mansur Ahmad on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N950 million.

    When the case came up for hearing, the Judge, Justice Lewis Allagoa, who was just assumed duty at the Court, adjourned the trial till Nov. 19, 20, and 21, 2018.

    The judge replaced Justice Zainab Bage who was transferred.

    Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Johnson Ojogbane, had earlier told the court that the defendants, between March 26 and 27, 2015, conspired among themselves and received the said amount without going through financial institutions.

    He said that the money was issued to the defendants by the Peoples Democratic Party and former petroleum minister Diezani Allison-Madueke.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act 2011 as amended and punishable under section 16 (2)(b) of the same Act and Section 15(1) of money laundering Act.

    Read Also: Shekarau, Gaya, Jibril win Kano senatorial seats

    The trio had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    Before the adjournment, the defense counsel, Mr Jibrin Okutekpa (SAN) prayed that the court to extend the bail granted to his clients by the former judge in line with Section 163 of the Criminal Justice Act 2015.

    The judge acceded to the request to extend the bail before adjourning to Nov. 19, 201 and 21 for continuation of the trial.

    NAN recalls that Bage had granted the defendants bail in the sum of N100 million each with two reliable sureties in like sum.

  • Video clip: Kano Govt. refutes bribery allegation

    Kano state government has denied allegations in a  video footage portraying Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje involved in an inappropriate conduct.
    In a statement signed by the state Commissioner of Information, Youths and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, the government  said, “the Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice is challenging the implausible and eccentric posting of the cloned video that went viral in a court of law considering the gravity of the caricature, which indicates the extent to which mischievous elements can go to discredit public figures by wielding non-existent scandals against them.
    ” A mere observation of the cloned video clearly shows that the video is doctored and disjointed with no material facts or evidence to prove the allegations, other than a callous attempt to tarnish the hard earned image of the office and the person of the Governor.
    “The Governor of Kano State wishes to once again emphatically debunk the allegation of receiving gratification of $5Million or any amount whatsoever from any person or body.
    ” It is important to draw the attention of the general public to the fact that the alleger is a serial blackmailer and extorter. We are also aware that the hidden motive is to reduce the popularity of the Governor and consequently affect the anticipated quantum of APC votes from Kano in the 2019 general elections.
    “While the state government is taking the legal action, we wish to assure the good people of Kano that His Excellency will remain focus and continue with laudable programmes that will add value to the lives of the people of Kano State. We also call on the general public, especially members of the APC to remain calm and always be law abiding.”

  • Midnight Raids: Reps ask Customs to return seized Rice

    The House of Representatives on Thursday told the Nigerian Customs Service to return the large quantity of rice they carted away from Kofar Ruwa and Sigha markets in Kano.

    The rice was allegedly seized alongside other essential commodities in midnight raids by men of the Customs.

    The House also resolved to constitute an ad hoc committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the invasion and reasons behind the carting away the magnitude of rice from the two markets in Kano.

    The resolution was sequel to a motion by a member, Aliyu Madaki titled: “The illegal seizure of rice and the brazen abuse of law by the officers of the Nigeria Customs Service at Kano Markets.”

    Read Also; Two docked for allegedly assaulting police officers

    While moving the motion, Madaki said that the “Customs carted away thousands of bags of rice from the Kofar Ruwa market and in the open shared to themselves and other security operatives in the operation.

    ” Aware that the Customs again invaded the Singha market in the dead of the night and carted away with over 10 trailers loaded with rice and other essential food commodities. ”

    The lawmaker expressed concern that the operations of the men and officer’s of the Customs Service has affected the growth of business in Kano and by implication Nigeria economy.

  • Living Faith Church rehabilitates road in Kano

    The Living Faith Church in Kano has inaugurated a one-kilometre link roads rehabilitated by the church in Nomansland axis of Sabon Gari, in Fagge Local Government Area of the state, to ease traffic congestion.

    Speaking during the commissioning of the rehabilitated road, the Resident Pastor, Pastor Agi Emmanuel, said the gesture was done as part of the Church’s Social Responsibility initiative, and as well to commemorate the 58th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria.

    According to him, “the project is also part of constant contributions of the Christian community to the growth and development of Kano state.”

    He added that, “the Church is also commissioning the road as little contribution to national development as she joins well-meaning Nigerians to commemorate the nation’s 58th independence anniversary.

    “With the rehabilitation and construction of drainage patterns, the road network which linked Iroko Avenue, Kwoi Close and Nguru Roads in Nomansland would relieve the pains and hardship residents and commuters mostly encounter, especially, during raining season.”

    Pastor Agi emphasized that the Corporate Social Responsibility and community services embarked by the Church are evident in the areas of education, health and other social welfare packages to indigenous people.

    According to him, ” it is my pleasure to restate my commitment and that of the members of the Living Faith Church Kano, to continually advocate for and support all round advancement of the state especially in infrastructure as these would not only improve on the overall standard of living of the people but also place Kano state as a developed commercial nerve center of the northern Nigeria.”

    Speaking on behalf of the state government, Senior Special Adviser to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje on Inter-Community Relations (Igbo), Mr. Lynous Okoroje hailed the Church for complementing government efforts in the area of infrastructural development.

    Okoroje used the occasion to reassure the people of the area of government’s determination to rehabilitate critical road networks in Sabon Gari area, citing the on-going Sabon Gari flyover which he said would be completed before the end of 2018.

    The Nation reports that before the intervention of the Church, roads leading to the Church headquarters in Nomansland was left in bad shape as a result of pot holes and lack of proper drainage system.

  • Kano to harvest three million tonnes of rice

    About three million tonnes of rice will be harvested by Kano State this year, Deputy Governor Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, has said.

    Gawuna made this known to reporters while taking stock of achivements of the Ministry of Agriculture.

    Gawuna, who oversees the ministry, said the state has been recording huge increase in rice and other grains’ harvests since 2015.

    According to him, despite enormous challenges affecting agricultural development, in terms of mechanisation and technology, the Ganduje administration has reduced rice import, thereby saving billions of naira yearly.

    “From the time His Excellency Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje assumed office in 2015, there is significant increase every year in whatever we harvest in the state.

    Gawuna said: ”For example, in 2015, we harvested about 690,000 tonnes of rice, in 2016, we harvested 1.5 millions tonnes; in 2017 we harvested over two millions tonnes of rice and, definitely, this year, we are far a head of what we have done in 2017, harvesting to about three million tonnes of rice,“ he said.

    Various efforts, he said, were being made to produce qualitative and affordable fertiliser by reviving the state Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO), which suffered neglect during the previous administrations.

     

  • Kano Senatorial aspirant backs out of race

    Donate campaign structure to Buhari, Ganduje

    One of the aspirants for the Kano Central Senatorial district, Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed popularly known as Lado has withdrawn from the Senatorial race and donate his campaign structure to President Muhammadu Buhari and the state governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

    In a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja, the former lawmaker said he was withdrawing from the race based on the intervention of the state governor and as a mark of respect for the governor.

    Former Kano state Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau who recently returned to the party is believed to be the party’s candidate for the Senatorial ticket and will not slug it out with Hajia Laila Buhari for the ticket.

    Mohammed said “I also wish to use this opportunity to announce the donation of my campaign structure, including personnel, 25 vehicles and other facilities for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and other elective offices of our great party, the APC ahead of 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: Kano guber primaries: Ganduje secure 2.7M votes

    “I therefore appeal to my teeming supporters who felt aggrieved by my decision to withdraw to take the new development in good faith, strongly believing that it is Allah that gives power to whom He pleases.

    “As Muslims, we are fully aware of the fact that respect for elders is akin to respect for Almighty Allah. With this in mind, I owe gratitude and appreciation to our governor who has always regarded me as a son and therefore advised that I should put aside my senatorial aspiration in order to present an undivided front in preparation for the ever sensitive upcoming elections in  Kano State.

    “I also wish to extend my appreciation to the people of my constituency,  Kano Central Senatorial Zone and the state at large for the love and support they have given me; their support is well appreciated.

    “I am also indebted to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State under the leadership of Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas for their wise counsel in times of need. My political aspiration is for the sake of our people and the unity in our party is always sacrosanct. Directors and Coordinators of my campaign organization also deserve mention for their untiring support.”

  • Comedy show to kick off nationwide auditions

    The 9ja Got Comedy show, organized by My Events International, announced on Friday that it is set to kick off nationwide auditions for its comedy show in Abuja on November 19th and end in Lagos on December 3rd.

    The auditions are to take place in six states/cities: Abuja, Kano, Jos, Enugu, and Port Harcourt, and Lagos, the finalists  will slug it out at the grand finale in Abuja on the 18th-20th January 2019.

    The group said this at a media conference which held at Abuja on Friday September 28.

    The group also urged aspiring comedians to come out and take place in the movement, which they guaranteed will be a stepping stone to fame and recognition.

    Read Also:Why we’re organising mainland Family Comedy Show

    The Head of 9ja Got Comedy project, Tony Loudvoice, described the comedy event as “an edutainment project designed to educate, entertain, and discover people through the instrument of comedy.”

    He also explained the importance of the event and the entertainment industry to the GDP of the nation.

    “Comedy is one of the strong pillars of the entertainment industry in Nigeria, which has exponentially made the industry the second largest contributor to our GDP.

    “The introduction of 9ja got comedy is going to add another landmark to this blossoming industry through its untapped strategy.

    “This platform will undoubtedly change the narratives in the comedy business and create greater platforms for the upcoming youngsters in a very entertaining way.

    “We want to impact the nation by creating jobs, unifying diverse people, making quality talent discoveries, and creating media content for the big screens.”

    The Managing Director, My Events Intl. Africa, Miebaka Adoki, implored the leaders in the entertainment industry and Nigerians to support the comedy industry.

    “One of the major things Nigeria is known for in the international community is entertainment. It makes us thrive in the Intl community. We need to work on entertainment.

    “We want to bring new people into the arena of comedy. Comedy is so impactful and therapeutic.

    “We want to bring about the new AYs, the new Basketmouths, and the new Alibabas. We have the talent in this country.

    “Cities of Dubai have set up a Ministry of happiness. Happiness is not a commodity. You cannot purchase it. They know the importance of such a virtue.”

  • Kano: PDP Kwankwasiya faction elects Yusuf guber candidate

    Over, 4,000 members of the Kwankwasiyya faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano have elected a former Commissioner of Works and Housing in Kano, Abba Kabiru Yusuf as the gubernatorial candidate of the party.

    Yusuf, a son in law to former Kano Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was elected at the primaries, which held as early as 1 am on Tuesday, at Lugard House, the Kwankwasiyya Headquarters in the state in the midst of all the party  major stakeholders outside the Kwankwasiyya faction.

    Announcing the outcome of the result, the Returning officer and Chairman of the Electoral Working Committee of the PDP, Dr Ezego Emeka Onuoha (Justice of Peace), commended the party members for peaceful conduct of the Primaries.

    ”Number of accredited Delegates, 4,130; nominated aspirants, Abba K. Yusuf, 2,400. And by the power bestowed on the Committee of which I am the Chairman, we hereby declare Abba K. Yusuf, as the candidate to fly the flag of the PDP and to be the Governor of this state in 2019.”

    In his remarks, Yusuf, not only appreciated his supporters but promised to work for the development of the State when he becomes governor.

    ”Let me seize this opportunity to thank Almighty Allah for giving us the opportunity to be able to participate in this Gubernatorial Primary election. We want to assure you that we would not let you down. We would bring you closer, to our chest  by the time we go into the Government House, Insha Allah.”

    The Police Command in the State had earlier prevented the Kwankwasiyya faction of the PDP from conducting their primaries and barricaded the venue of the primary, citing court orders on the PDP leadership tussle in the state.

    In APC, having defied an initial peace pact, signed last month, the Senor Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, on House of Representatives Matters, Abdulrahaman Kawu Sumaila and the Senator, representing Kano South, Senator Kabiru Gaya, have signed another peace pact ahead of Tuesday’s  APC’s Senatorial Primaries in Kano State.

    The signing took place on Monday during a close-door meeting, with Security Chiefs in the State, including the Director of Department of State Services DSS, and the Army Commandant after both politicians were summoned by the State Police Command, following a clash of the supporters of the two politicians on Sunday .

    Speaking shortly, after the meeting, Kano State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Yusuf, said Senator Gaya and Sumaila had promised to talk to their supporters to embrace peace and conduct themselves properly, while maintaining law and order during today’s  APC’s Senatorial Primaries.

    Speaking ahead of today’s Senatorial Primary elections of the APC, an aspirant of the North Senatorial Seat, Engineer Abdullahi Tijjani Mohammed Gwarzo, has withdrawn from the race.

    Briefing newsmen in Kano, Gwarzo said his decision to withdraw from the race followed an intervention by the State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the Commissioner for Local Government,  Murtala  Sule Garo, to reconcile him with the incumbent Senator of the zone, Senator Barau Jibrin.

    According to Gwarzo, who was a former Deputy Governor of Kano State, his withdrawal was also influenced by interest toward the APC success and the development of Kano North in particular.

    Gwarzo’s withdrawal therefore leaves, Senator Barau Jibrin, as the only contender for Kano North Senatorial District.