The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kano

  • Kano police smash robbery gang, recover N2.65m

    It was one robbery adventure that went awry for a three-man armed robbery gang in Kano following their arrest by the police on Friday after they had operated at a filling station and carted away the sum of N2.65 million.

    The accomplice who gave information to the gang is an elder brother to one of the robbers.

    The stolen money, which was recovered by the police, was the day’s proceeds from the company’s filling station located at Tundun Wada, about 120 kilometres to the state capital.

    The suspects are helping the police in their investigation, while the company’s station manager has been declared wanted for complicity in the botched robbery attempt.

    Idris said two automatic pistols were recovered from the suspects whose arrest in the Falgore forest was facilitated by the assistance of local hunters in Kwanar Dangora.

    Police gave the names of the arrested suspects as Monday Joseph (20) and Simon Chile Adamu (22), both from Benue State.

    A police officer while giving insight into how the alleged robbers were arrested said, “After carrying out their operation, the suspects sped off in a Golf car with their loot, but luck ran out on them when policemen on their trail mobilised local hunters to go after them. Sensing that the game was up for them, they abandoned their Golf car and dashed into the bush.

    “The police, members of the community, vigilante groups and hunters, spread into the bush, which led to the arrest of the suspects around the area. After on the spot search, the stolen N2.65m was recovered intact. Also recovered were two pistols and the stolen phones.”

    “Investigation further revealed that it was one Muktar Adamu from Ankpa, Kogi State, who is an employee of the filling station and elder brother of one of the arrested suspects, was the person who organised and invited the robbers at the time sales of the day had been counted and was about being taken to bank.”

  • Suicide bombers hit telecom facilities in Kano

    Suicide bombers hit telecom facilities in Kano

    Suicide bombers on Saturday attack telecom facilities in the commercial city of Kano.

    Report says a suicide bomber drove an explosion-laden car into the Airtel offices in Mallam Kato Square in Kano and detonated it early on Saturday.

    The report added that the Improvised Explosive Device also exploded at an MTN phone switch centre in Mai Mailari area of the city.

    The number of victims has not been ascertained at the time of this report, but an unconfirmed report says four people were killed in the blasts.

    The spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, Yushau Shuaibu, confirmed the separate attacks in a text message.

    “NEMA has confirmed attacks on Telcom masts belonging to Airtel and MTN at Old Parade Ground and Malali Road respectively in Kano Municipality today.”

    He said security had been tightened in the affected areas.

    Details later…

     

  • Kano DPR closes 10 petrol stations

    The Kano office of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has sealed and sanctioned 10 petrol stations in Kano and Jigawa states for selling petrol above the government-approved N97 per litre pump price.

    Its Operations Controller, Alhaji Sayyadi Suleiman Abubakar, said this would sanitise the operations of filling stations in both states during the Yuletide period.

    Abubakar said petroleum product marketers have started importing diesel and kerosine from neighbouring Niger Republic into Nigeria.

    He explained that this is because they are deregulated products while petrol has not been approved for importation.

    According to him, the DPR has also begun intensive surveillance on the distribution of petroleum products to ensure that long queues, particularly during the Christmas and New Year period, disappear.

    He said the department plans to ensure that the products get to the consumers without stress.

    Abubakar added that the DPR office in the state had sent warning letters to suspected racketeers while the others were reprimanded.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Kano earmarks N8.2billion on projects  

    Kano State government has set aside about N8.2 billion for the execution of several developmental projects across the state. Out of this amount, N5.33 billion will be spent in the renovation, fencing and provision furniture for schools in the state, the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Yusuf Bello Dambatta, has revealed.

    According to the Commissioner, this is part of the resolutions reached during the state weekly executive council meeting held at the government house, Kano. He added that the council granted approval to the state Ministry of Education to utilise the 2012 UBE matching grant for projects in the education sector, in the tune of N1.7 billion.

    Also the council consented to build 100 teachers’ houses in some selected schools at the cost of N339. 8 million, while the Ministry of Education was given approval for the utilisation of N24.4 million 2011 UBEC funds for the purchase of education materials and equipment.

    Alhaji Yusuf Dambatta added that N214.3 million was set aside for projects aimed at improving water supply in Kano metropolis and N18 million for drilling of 12 motorised boreholes in some women centres in the state.

    Other projects approved by the council are the construction of a new Zoo at Bagauda at the cost of N182.9 million, rehabilitation of vandalised electricity networks across the state, N70 million for furnishing of 26 new magistrate courts, N50.0 million as well as equipping of Kano Dental Centre and rehabilitation of the Eye clinic at Murtala Muhammed General Hospital at the total cost of about N74.7 million.

  • Fresh blast wounds two in Kano

    Another early morning explosion on Wednesday injured two persons at Zoo Road in Kano metropolis.

    A resident of the area, who pleaded anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Kano that the bomb exploded on the road at about 7.30 a.m.

    He said that after the incident, two unidentified persons who sustained injuries were rushed to the hospital in a Fire Service ambulance for medical attention.

    “I saw two persons being conveyed to hospital in an ambulance belonging to the state Fire Service,” he said.

    As at the time of filing this report, members of the Joint Security Task-Force had cordoned off the area.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kano State, Mr. Magaji Majiya, confirmed the incident.

    He said the bomb, which was in a small can was planted on the road and that it exploded around 7.30 a.m. on Wednesday.

    ‘’Nobody was injured and no damage was caused to any property,” Majiya said.

    NAN recalls that three persons on Monday sustained serious injuries in an early morning bomb blast at Kantin Kwari junction in Kano metropolis.

     

  • Three injured in Kano blast

    Three persons, including a traffic warden, were critically injured in an early morning bomb blast at Kantin Kwari junction near the famous Kantin Kware Textile Market in Kano.

    A witness to the explosion, who preferred anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Kano that the bomb went off around 8.45 a.m. on Monday.

    It was suspected to have been planted near the traffic junction.

    “The incident happened when most of the people were still at home, otherwise many people, especially traders would have lost their lives,” the witness said.

    It was gathered that soon after the blast, the Joint Task Force operatives arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Majiya, confirmed the incident.

    He said the bomb was planted near the Eid praying ground very close to the Kantin Kware junction in the metropolis.

    He said the incident happened around 8.30 a.m. and that three persons sustained injuries.

     

  • Gates, Dangote foundations join Kano to fight polio

    The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation yesterday in Kano signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kano State Government and the Dangote Foundation to eradicate polio.

    The MoU is a three-year collaboration to improve immunisation and primary health care in the state.

    Its objective is to attain 80 per cent coverage of polio immunisation with basic vaccines by 2015.

    Kano has one of the lowest routine immunisation coverage rates in Nigeria. It reaches less than 40 per cent of children with life-saving vaccines.

    The foundations will work with the government to provide operations and management support to the newly established Kano State Primary Healthcare Board and accelerate routine immunisation across the state.

    Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso said: “We welcome the support Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who donated N600million to support the programme, as well as the Gates Foundation for their commitment to saving the lives of children through the partnership.

    The governor urged the Interim Management Committee of the 44 local governments to increase their efforts in the routine immunisation of children so that polio can be stamped out of Kano.

    Dangote said: “Now is the time for Nigerians to come together to strengthen the quality of our health systems. Routine immunisation is the fundamental cornerstone of every primary healthcare system.

    “All children should have access to vaccination, which has been shown to be one of the most effective investments for a healthy and productive life.”

    The Chief Executive Officer of the Bill Gates Foundation, Mr Jeff Raikes, said: “It is essential that states like Kano improve the levels of routine immunisation and save children’s lives from measles, tetanus and whooping cough to eradicate polio once and for all.

    “Nigeria, with the help of its partners, is implementing new approaches to improve routine immunisation to reach the most remote and vulnerable children.”

    The Executive Secretary of the National Primary Healthcare and Development Agency Dr Ado Mohammed said the agency would support programme with vaccines.

  • Council warns against sell of sub-standard goods in Kano

     

    The Chairman, Consumer Protection Council in Kano State, Alhaji Nuhu Bello, has warned supermarket owners against selling of sub-standard goods to consumers.

    Bello gave the warning at a stakeholders meeting held in his office in Kano on Saturday.

    According to him, the supermarket owners have key role to play in stopping the sale of smuggled, expired and sub-standard goods to the citizenry.

    “We want to inform you that we are set to visit any supermarket at any given time to inspect your goods.

    “We will not hesitate in taking action against anyone found selling sub-standard goods,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the CPC chief as saying on the issue.

    He said that the council had so far uncovered several items that were either pirated or smuggled into the state.

     

     

  • Kano to spend N750m on boreholes, public toilets

    Kano to spend N750m on boreholes, public toilets

    Kano State government has awarded contract worth N754.8 million for the construction of 74 solar powered boreholes and public conveniences in 38 local government areas in the state.

    The state Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Alhaji Garba Durbunde, disclosed this at the signing of the contract in Kano last week.

    Durbunde said the projects would be jointly financed by the state government and the benefitting local governments.

    He said that out of the total contract sum, the borehole construction project would gulp N407 million while the provision of VIP latrines would consume N338.8 million.

    According to him, the solar powered boreholes and VIP latrines will be provided at some designated rural markets in the 38 local government areas of the state.

    “The contract just signed between RUWASA as client and Messer Virgin Field Nigeria Limited as contractors, symbolises yet another state government’s commitment to extend the dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of the people particularly the rural dwellers.’’

    The commissioner said that the decision to embark on the project was borne out of the government’s desire to check open defecation and ensure healthy environment at market places.

    Durbunde urged the contractor to ensure speedy completion of the projects in order to meet the deadline.

    The commissioner also called on the benefitting communities to give the contractor the necessary support and cooperation to ensure its timely completion.

  • Kano kicks against state police, rotational presidency

    Kano indigenes yesterday voted against agitations for state creation, state police and rotational presidency at the public hearing of the Constitution Review Committee in various constituencies.

    Most participants argued that those were not the main problems with Nigeria.

    They also insisted most of the issues the National Assembly is considering for amendments are against the interest of northerners.

    On new states, most of the people who spoke to our correspondent were of the view that Nigeria’s problem was beyond state creation.

    They said there were more pressing and disturbing issues affecting the nation, stressing that state police cannot address the current security challenge especially in the North.

    Ahmad Tijjani, one of the participants, said: “State police would only add salt to the injury that we are faced with in terms of security. We are therefore not in support of the idea. And Nigeria is not ripe for such or similar arrangements.”

    Mustapha Sheriff believed that rotational presidency was undemocratic and do not allow electorates to make their choice. Their political choices were misguided and would not achieve anything, so long as presidency would continue to be shared among the zones.

    Honourable Farouq Lawan’s Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency witnessed heavy presence of armed mobile policemen.

    This followed allegation by a section that most of the participants were not from the constituency.

    The member representing Gwale Federal Constituency, Hon. Bashir Galandanci, was allegedly attacked by an angry mob.

    It was learnt Galandanci arrived to a hostile crowd chanting slogans suggesting his rejection.

    Some of the slogans also demonstrated opposition to the Constitutional Review project.

    Eyewitness account hinted the lawmaker was molested almost to the point of going into coma before intervention by good Samaritans.

    Lawan, former House Committee Chairman on Subsidy Removal, however, was overwhelmingly received in Bagwai\Shanono Federal Constituency.

    Constituents cheered endlessly on sighting their four-time representative.