The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kano

  • Plane catches fire at Kano Airport

    A turkish plane caught fire during fuelling at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

    It was gathered that the incident occurred at 11 pm.

    The Airport authorities were mobilised to the site and the aircraft was towed away.

    A source said the fuel tanker was partly razed and the aircraft “slightly damaged”.

    The source said: “It was God who saved the aircraft. Men of the Airport Fire  Service mobilised to the scene immediately.

    “The good thing was that the fuelling was through a tanker, which partially caught fire but the fire was promptly put out, if it was underground fuelling, it would have been a disaster.”

  • Kano recruits 998 teachers

    To improve the quality of education, the Kano state government has recruited 998 school teachers.

    Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has distributed letters of appointment to the newly-employed teachers in Kano.

    They are among the 8,000 indigenes employed in the last three years.

    Kwankwaso explained that of the 998 employees, 500 would man 300 modern physics, chemistry and biology laboratories, as well as the 100 computer centres and libraries in secondary schools.

    He said 364 others are to teach in 44 Schools for Arabic Studies, while the remaining 134 have been posted to 22 technical schools.

    The governor charged them to be committed to their jobs to move the state forward.

    Praising the government for engaging the youths, the United States of American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, said education and employment are important to them.

    The state commissioner of Education, Tajuddeen Gambo, said the determination of the present administration’s policy on education is yielding positive results, adding that this would surely improve teaching and learning in state schools.

    Two of the employees, Abubakar Abdullahi and Fauziyya Shehu Ahmad, thanked the government for the offer, assuring that they would work beyond expectation.

     

  • Accident mystery: Car somersaults, lands on three vehicles

    Accident mystery: Car somersaults, lands on three vehicles

    A Honda CRV car somersaulted several times on Burma Road in Sabon Gari area of Kano and mysteriously ended up atop three vehicles parked in front of a residential building.

    The road mishap occurred between 11-12 mid night on Monday, while most of the residents were about to go to bed and had already parked their vehicles after a hard day’s job.

    However, it is still a mystery that the driver of the ill-fated driver escaped with only a minor injury, but his vehicle was extensively damaged.

    Shortly after the accident, the bewildered driver told residents at the scene of the crash that all he could recall or remember was that “I saw a herd of sheep crossing the road and in an attempt to avoid them, I veered off the road and my vehicle somersaulted several times and ended atop three parked vehicles.

    ”I saw an animal, which looks like an elephant, including lions and other species of other animals crossing the road and in attempt to avoid them, I became confused while they were crossing the road at such an odd hour between 11-12 pm while on my way home. Before I could realize what was happening, I just heard a loud voice and later found myself atop the roof of my CRV car.”

    According to a witness, the driver of the CRV Honda car said while on his way home, he got a phone call that his children were crying inside the house because his wife was not at home and he locked-up the children inside the house.

    Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and police officers have since inspected the scene of the crash and towed the damaged vehicles to their station for further investigation.

  • Kano relishes lawmaker’s gesture

    The classroom blocks he built have brought run-down schools back to life. Water is available in many communities, thanks to him. To the less privileged, he has brought hope. That is why Kano North senatorial district adores Senate Chief Whip, Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo.

    A resident of the area, Malam Hamisu said, “for us in Kano North Senatorial District, Senator Gwarzo remain irreplaceable because he is a caring and loving father of all. In fact, there is no community in this Senatorial District that has not benefited from Senator Gwarzo’s benevolence,” he said, adding that Senator Gwarzo’s excellent performance has become the reason why people of the district, irrespective of party affiliation, insisted that he must continue to represent them since 1999.

    By the execution of numerous laudable projects, Senator Gwarzo, according to the people of his District, has positively touched the lives of the less privileged in the district. He has installed over 400 water hand-pumps, as well as sunk solar-powered boreholes spread across the 13 local overnment areas of the district, just as he has built not less than 200 classroom blocks and a college for girls in Gwarzo town.

    Other projects initiated and executed by the lawmaker, adjudged to be the longest serving senator in his constituency from 1999 to date, include water supply to Janguza Jumaat mosque, including Bukavu barracks.

    Also, Senator Gwarzo has established a foundation in his constituency, which provides free healthcare medical services, as well as the sponsorship of football tournaments and the construction of feeder roads to link remote villages within his constituency.

    To ensure hitch-free potable water supply to all residents of his constituency, Senator Gwarzo constructed earth dams, including community halls, built in Gwarzo, Shanono, and Danbatta which has the capacity to accommodate not less than 500 people, just as he also initiated the construction of Kunchi-Lamba-Kazaure Federal road project. Already, Senator Gwarzo has commenced preparations for both the fasting and Sallah periods, as he has concluded arrangements to hold meetings with party leaders, stakeholders and members and will during the meeting unfold his plans to distribute rams and Sallah gifts to members of his constituency to mark the festive period.

    In his capacity as a party leader, Senator Gwarzo during festive periods, distributes foodstuff, comprising millet, bags of rice, textile materials (Sheda) to both men and women, as well as cows and rams to communities and at the conclusion of the fasting period, he breaks fast with his constituent members. In his determination to add value to the quality of life in rural communities in his constituency, Senator Gwarzo embarked on rural electrification projects, particularly in areas like, Dunawa town in Mokoda Local Government Area, electrification of Dambatta to Masallachi in Dambatta Local Government Area, Gwanda village in Dambatta and Dukawa viallage also in Dambatta Local Government Area.

    Other areas that benefited from the rural electrification projects include Maiganji village, Tsaraka village, including 15 other villages and towns, all which are located in Dambatta, Gabasawa, Tsanyawa LGA, Bichi Rimin Gado and Kunchi Local Government Areas. For the sustenance of power supply, Senator Gwarzo also sponsored the construction of 33/11 KVA transmission line from Kkankia to Bichi Local Government Area, just as he also embarked on Solar street illumination projects, covering 11 Local government Areas, among which are Getso town in Gwarzo Local Government Area and Shanono town in Shanono Local Government Area.

    For the stable supply of potable water for both human and animal consumption, Senator Gwarzo also embarked on motorised borehole projects, providing water to towns like, Dawakin Tofa, to Butu Butu in Rimin Gado Local Government Area, as well as in Bagwai and Dogo towns in Makoda Local Government Areas. Apart from that, Senator Gwarzo, who has the interest of the less privileged at heart also embarked on solar powered boreholes and constructed such boreholes in U/Gara, Gabasawa Local Government Areas, including 58 other Local Government Areas, as well as initiation of irrigation projects, especially meant for dry season farming to ensure an all-year round provision of water for the health growth of vegetables and assorted crops for human consumption.

    Also, Senator Gwarzo embarked on similar projects, like hand pump borehole water supply, covering so many local government areas, just as he also embarked on road construction/Rehabilitation projects to ensure easy accessibility to towns and villages within Kano North Senatorial District. And to ensure a healthy society, Senator Gwarzo also embarked on the construction of not less than 23 Health centres, prominent among which are Makoda Health Centre, Shuwaki Health Centre, Dumbulim Health Centre in Tsanyawa among others scattered across 23 locations for easy accessibility fo healthcare facility for a health living.

    In order to teach members of his immediate constituency how to fish but not to providing them with fish all of the time, Senator Gwarzo embarked on the construction of less than 31 conducive classroom blocks for pupils and students, so as to learn how to fish, so as to desist from depending on Government for their basic needs and become self-sufficient.

    Some of the projects Gwarzo initiated and sponsored are the construction of classroom blocks in Gabasawa, Dambatta, Makoda, Kunchi, Tsanyawa, Bichi, Bagwai and Shanono.

    Others are in Gwarzo, Kabo, Rimin Gado, Tofa and Dawakin Tofa, as well as the construction of Girls Science College in Gwarzo, including the provision of solar street lights, small Earth’s Dam construction, as well as feeder roads within the vicinity of the Kano North West Senatorial District. Based on his impressive performance, members of his constituency have been and still clamouring for him to contest and continue in 2015, promising that they will collectively cast their votes for him to ensure continuity in the Senate, so as to continue to adequately represent their interest.

    Members of his constituency have been and still commending his efforts in ensuring their welfare, pointing out that not too long ago, Senator Gwarzo in his magnanimity shared so many cows to various communities, with which to mark one of the Sallah festivity.

    Within the last four years, Senator Gwarzo has spent not less than N5 billion in the execution of various human-oriented projects for members of his immediate constituency and beyond.

    For the people of Kano North Senatorial District, Senator Gwarzo has consistently impacted positively on their lives, an indication that whoever challenges him in 2015 may have a tough fight.

  • ‘Unserious’ teachers may go in Kano

    The Kano State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has threatened to sack unserious primary school teachers.

    The Chairman of the board, Alhaji Wada Zakari, issued the threat when he paid an unscheduled visit to Kofar Naisa Primary school in Kano yesterday.

    He said the board would not fold its arms and allow “some unserious” teachers sabotage the State Government’s effort toward improving the quality of education in the state.

    Zakari, who frowned at the attitude of some truant teachers, directed the Education Secretary of Gwale Local Government Education Authority to query 55 teachers of Kofar Naisa and Yan’awaki Primary Schools who were absent during the visit.

    He warned that any teacher, who failed to give satisfactory reasons for his or her absence, would face disciplinary action. Zakari enjoined school inspectors to rise up to their responsibilities by ensuring that teachers come to work regularly and close at the scheduled time.

  • 10-yr-old averts massive explosions in Kano

    The Kano State Police Command yesterday uncovered 13 high-calibre improvised explosive devices (IEDs) at Sauna Fafunga in Dakata area of Nasarawa Local Government Area.

    Suspected terrorists who had parked an ox-blood Starlet car near a Juma’at mosque at about 2 pm, were said to have primed the IEDs, waiting for the Juma’at prayer to commence before carrying out their dastardly act.

    It was gathered that a 10-year-old boy had notified the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Dakata, Superintendent Sani Ahmed, that he suspected a rickety car parked by the side of the mosque.

    On getting the information, the DPO immediately contacted the police headquarters at Bompai for prompt response by the anti-bomb squad which came on time to save the situation.

    The incident occurred five days after a bomb exploded at the School of Hygiene within the metropolis, killing seven people and injuring 20.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adenrele Shinaba, while speaking to reporters at the Bompai headquarters of the command, said the terrorists had planned to detonate the bomb by remote control immediately after Juma’at prayers.

    He described the IEDs as high calibre ones, noting that “if they had succeeded, the whole area would have gone down and the sound alone would have shook the foundation of Kano.”

    According to him, the explosion would have been devastating and many lives would have been lost.

    He said: “Today, being Friday, at a place called Sauna Fafunga in Dakata area; we got information that we should come and see a vehicle that was parked within the vicinity of a Juma’at mosque.

    “Our anti-bomb team responded promptly. On searching the vehicle, we discovered high-calibre IEDs, about 13 in number, which can ruin a whole village.

    “We asked people to leave the area and when we detonated one of them, it shook the majority of the buildings around the area. In fact, one of the buildings had a big crack as a result of that.

    “The IEDs had the capacity to pull down all the structures around that area.

    “We also discovered ammunition. Their intention was to stay around and shoot people who could escape the explosion.

    “I am an advocate of community policing, and I appreciate the support we have been receiving from members of the public.

    “We appreciate the people of Kano and we urge them to continue to support us with useful information. We promise never to disclose the identity of anyone who brings information to us.

    “We also urge residents to remain security-conscious at all times.”

     

  • Jumia expands operations to Kano as it turns two

    Jumia, Nigeria’s first and largest online retailer, celebrates two years of delivering smiles and empowering Nigerians. Jumia has pioneered e-commerce in Nigeria and has attracted global recognition to the industry in Nigeria, which has also attracted huge foreign direct investment into the country leading to a rise in the industry’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP, with further prospects to emerge within the e-commerce sector in the coming years.

    Jumia rounded off a stellar year in 2013, by winning the best new retailer at the World Retail Awards, the first time any African retailer has won an award at this prestigious event.

    In a statement, the co-CEO Jumia Nigeria Nicolas Martin said Jumia Nigeria, which began two years ago has created an avenue for customers to shop online at ease with convenience on delivery.

    Martin who said the company is planning to open a Kano office, said the theme for Jumia’s anniversary as it turns two is “Empowering Nigerians.” According to him, with the e-commerce technology space growing so fast, we have seen many ways Jumia has impacted Nigeria’s technological landscape.

    “We have created over 1,000 jobs with an average age of 27, while also empowering them to become entrepreneurs, by constantly equipping them with the right tools and training through the recent launch of our Jumia Academy. Jumia is also supporting manufacturers of ‘Made in Nigeria products’ as well as other SME’s through the introduction of the Jumia marketplace, helping them reach out to their target audience and increase sales significantly. Most importantly for us at Jumia is the utmost need to empower our customers through providing them with an organised retail structure backed by world class customer service which was inexistent in Nigeria till the arrival of Jumia,” he added.

  • Breaking: Explosion in Kano

    An explosion has been reported on Sunday night  in the Sabon gari area of Kano city.

    The explosion at a popular drinking joint was said to have occurred about 9.30pm.

    Details later

  • Kano commits N100bn to road projects

    KANO State Government at the weekend said it had committed more than N100 billion on the construction and rehabilitation of some roads in Kano metropolis in last three years.

    Alhaji Mohammed Yahaya, Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Kano.

    “The state government has constructed about 20-30 different roads and in addition to four new major ones that are being constructed in the city centre.

    “Some of the roads have been completed while others are still ongoing and will be completed before the end of this year,” he said.

    Yahaya said the new roads, which included the five kilometres road in each of the 44 local government areas of the state, would also be completed before the end of 2014.

    “The roads are dual carriage way with street lights and they have a total distance of over 150 kilometres from Kano to Kaduna,’’

    He assured that all the road projects would be completed before the expiration of the tenure of the administration in May 2014.

    He disclosed that the state government had recently set up a task force to ensure that the projects were completed on schedule and in accordance with specifications.

    Yahaya said the construction of the two major parking lots for articulated vehicles at Gundutse and Dawanau was also on course as the state government had already paid compensation to land owners.

    “Because of the enormity of the projects, the World Bank has agreed to come in and provide some technical advice on how best the projects can be done.

    “They have already mobilised to site and by early next week, works will commence’’, he said.

    He said work at the three new cities of Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandirawo had reached between 70 and 90 per cent completion stages.

    “The state government has created over 13,500 new plots that will be allocated to people with 50 per cent to be given to the original owners,’ he said.

  • Six die at wedding reception

    There was tragedy at a wedding reception in Kano when six young men between the ages of 19 and 25 drugged themselves to death.

    The incident occurred at Naibawa Quarters at the wedding reception of Tijani Usman and Hafsat Ibrahim.

    The celebration turned sour as the young men took dangerous stimulants to express their joy on their friend’s marriage.

    An eyewitness said: “All was going well as everyone was in a happy mood. There was enough to eat and drink. Invited guests were in high spirits, but little did we know that the young men had engaged themselves in drug-taking competition, which later resulted in their death. It was a tragic experience that would take time to get off the memory of those who witnessed it.”

    The police arrested the groom as the case is under investigation.

    Police spokesman Magaji Majia said: “Nobody reported this incident to us but we were able to get information from residents and we swung into action and subsequently arrested Tijani Usman, the groom, who is currently being questioned.”

    The bodies have been buried, according to Islamic rites.