The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Katsina State

  • Buhari directs army to tackle insecurity

    President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Nigerian army and other security agencies to tackle growing insecurity challenges facing the country and fight insurgency

    The President gave the directive on Saturday while addressing the troops fighting insurgency in the forests of Zamfara, Kaduna and some parts of Katsina states, at Umar Musa Yar’Adua Airport in Katsina state shortly before leaving the state for Abuja after celebrating Eid el Kabir at his home town in Daura.

    He further tasked the troops to deal with any armed robber, cattle rustler and bandit as ruthlessly as humanly possible, reminding them that the present administration had at inception pledged to provide security, enhance the economy and fight corruption

    He told the troops that he was pleased with their performance adding that Nigerians deserved to live in peace.

    He said ‘’60% of the population are under 30 years and could not secure jobs after their education, my government have started addressing unemployment through several programmes’’.

    He however commended the troops for their display of gallantry in the field of operations in Zamfara, Kaduna and some parts of Katsina state.

    Read Also: 2019: Buhari ‘ll win, says campaign group

    While urging them not to spare any cattle rustler, armed robber or bandit, President Buhari assured to be a worthy commander in

    The President was seen off at Umar Musa Airport by the Katsina state Governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari in company of his Deputy, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, as well as other government officials.

    The Nation recalled that the President had been in the state in the past 6 days where he had celebrated the Eid el Kabir and public holidays in his Daura hometown

    The President has equally been busy receiving visitors including APC Governors, Ministers, Members of the states and National Assembly, whom he had re-assured that the party will retain the government at the center come 2019 despite the myriads of political and social challenges facing the country

     

  • Katsina charges students to be good ambassadors

    The Katsina state government has charge students from the state who were on International exchange program to be good ambassadors of the state, Nigeria and the African continent.

    The Commissioner for Education Prof. Badamasi Lawal Charanchi gave the charge while bidding farewell to three Secondary School Candidates travelling to the United States of America for this year’s International Exchange programme under the Katsina State/USA sponsored annual Kennedy Lugar’s Youth Exchange and Study (YES)  programme.

    A press release which was signed by the Public Relations Officer, of the Ministry of Education, Salisu Lawal Kerau, said the Education Commissioner further appreciated the efforts of the Masari led administration for sponsoring the Students and as well sustaining the programme in the State.

    The Commissioner who was represented by the Director Planning Research and Statistics, Alhaji Kabir Lawal Ruma and other Directors said so far 12 students have benefitted from the programme and that the impact of the programme have begun yielding positive results as all the first set of Students who returned have performed wonderfully in their final year examinations and were since got admitted into various Universities with one of them reading Medicine.

    She further added that two of the Students have gained another scholarship courtesy of the programme.

    Read Also: Igbo in Katsina greet Kalu on turbaning

    Principals and Parents of the affected Students also attended the occasion and offered advice and goodwill messages to the Students.

    The occasion also received three other Students who returned from the programme last months with the certificates they obtained in the US.

    This year’s Candidates include: Aliyu Sani Nadada,  Shafaatu Aminu Danmusa Abdulssalam Lawal Alhassan,while the returning students are:-Sadiya Hamis, Mubarak Lawal Yantaba and  Maryam Yusuf, all from Katsina state

  • Nigerians appreciating our social intervention programmes – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that it is heart-warming that more Nigerians are appreciative of the implementation of policies and projects of the Federal Government aimed at improving the standard of living in the country.

    He made the remark while receiving the leadership of Kano Traders Association led by Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Sani, Chairman of Kanti Kwari Traders Association on Friday in Daura, Katsina State.

    Read Also:Sultan to Nigerians: choose your leaders wisely

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President pledged that his administration will not relent in doing the needful to create jobs, expand trade and encourage greater productivity.

    He told members of the business community that under the Government Enterprises and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) and the CBN Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP), more traders and farmers have expanded their trade and increased food production.

    He said that while the GEEP provides free interest loans to farmers, the N40 billion ABP targets rice farmers across the country to boost their production.

    According to the President, some of the policies and projects were misconstrued by some critics at the beginning of this administration but with steady and rigorous implementation they have realized that these interventions are very beneficial for the development of the country.

    The President promised to look into the concerns of the traders on the GEEP programme as well as the influx and dominance of foreigners in the retail sector.

    Speaking earlier, Sani had commended the President for reviving the $2.8 billon Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, which was abandoned by the previous administration due to corruption and mismanagement.

    The market leader also applauded the Buhari administration for the ongoing works at river ports in Baro, Niger State, Lokoja, Kogi State and Oguta in Imo State which were abandoned for about a decade but will now be completed before May 2019.

    ‘‘It is also another gesture of Mr. President in fulfilling his promise to end fuel problem in Nigeria by signing the Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of a new 150,000 barrels per day refinery in Katsina State,’’ Sani said.

  • Lalong, Shittu, Kalu meet Buhari in Daura

    Plateau State Governor, Solomon Lalong, Communication Minister, Adebayo Shittu and former Abia state Governor, Dr. Orji -Uzor Kalu, Wednesday in Daura , Katsina state, held  a closed door meeting which lasted for more than 30 minutes, with President Muhammadu Buhari at his country home.

    The meeting was held shortly after Kalu was conferred with a chieftaincy title “Danbaiwan Hausa”, meaning: ‘Gifted son of Hausa Land’ by the Emir of Daura, Dr. Farouq Umar Farouq.

    Read Also:2019: Saraki, Kwankwaso, Tambuwal, others can’t stop Buhari

    Both Plateau state Governor and the Communication minister were among the dignitaries who accompanied the former Abia Governor to the Emir’s palace for the conferment of the title at a turbanning ceremony held earlier

    The trio, shortly after the event, left for President Buhari’s residence.

    They were ushered in to see the President at about 2.40 p. m. The Plateau Governor was the first to depart the residence at 3.30p.m while Kalu and Shittu followed suit five minutes thereafter.

    Shittu however told journalists that they were at President’s residence to “pay obeisance”.

    He said” We were here to pay obeisance .You know the President recently returned from medical trip abroad, and were unable to see him because soon after the security meeting on Monday he left for Daura’’

    “Contrary to the claim by his detractors that he is not fit to run a second time, the President is not only fit to trek 800 meters as reported by the media, he is fit mentally and physically to continue to pilot the affairs of our great country even for the next four years after 2019 elections.”

    Shittu said he attended Kalu’s event to reciprocate his kindness and liberal attitude to all Nigerians irrespective of tribes or religions.

    He blamed the Ibos for ‘’ostracizing’’ themselves from mainstream Nigerian political life, urging them to queue behind Buhari this time around

    Earlier, the Emir had said, during the event, that Kalu was conferred with the title because of his contribution to the unity of Nigeria and his (Kalu) love for President Buhari’s administration and championing his reelection bid.

  • Buhari leaves for Daura

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday left Abuja for his hometown, Daura in Katsina State.

    Buhari, who returned to Abuja from London on Saturday after 10-day working holiday, is to observe the Eid-el-Kabir sallah in his hometown.

    Read Also: Buhari,  service chiefs meet in Aso Rock

    His convoy left the forecourt of the State House, Abuja around 3.06 p.m

    Before embarking on the trip to Daura, the President presided over the Security Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

  • Police nabs five rapists, two drug pushers in Katsina

    The Katsina state command of the Nigerian Police Force on Saturday announced the arrest of 5 serial rapists and 2 drug pushers that have been terrorizing the state for quite some time now

    The State Commissioner for Police, Mohammed Wakili, who made the above disclosure during a press briefing on the activities of the command at the command headquarter said those arrested to include Sani Haruna aged 30yrs and Nura Ibrahim aged 26yrs both of Unguwar Gambo village, Malumfashi LGA who conspired and raped a 9yr old girl, and as a result, she sustained serious injuries on her private. The Victim was rushed to General Hospital, Malumfashi for treatment.

    Other rapists as reported by the Police were Abdulrashid Dalha aged 55yrs of Unguwar Dajin Mare village, Dandume LGA who lured an 8yr old girl into an uncompleted building and had an unlawful carnal knowledge of her and Abdullahi Sani aged 25yrs of Unguwar Namama village; Dandume LGA, who followed and raped a 7yr old girl, who went into a nearby farm to cut grasses for domestic animals.

    Also Jabiru Ahmed aged 25yrs of Dutsen-Reme village; Bakori LGA of Katsina who lured and had an unlawful carnal knowledge of a 4yr old girl inside his room at Dutsen-Reme village, Bakari LGA was also arrested

    In a related development, the Police also announced the arrest of 2 notorious drug peddlers and the recovery of 79 bottles of cough syrups following a tip off, and in the process arrested Hassan Muhammad, aged 22yrs, of Dandume and Umar Yusuf, aged 23yrs, of Layout Quarters, in the state capital respectively.

    Read Also: Drug peddlers, others busted in Katsina

    The Police boss further revealed the arrest of a notorious syndicate of cattle rustlers at Batsari LGA of Katsina state.

    He said ‘’the cattle rustlers arrested include: Zaharadin Rabiu aged 21yrs of Dumburum village, Zamfara state, Nura Musa, aged 31yrs and Jamilu Gambo aged 30yrs, all of Jibia LGA of Katsina state’’.

    ‘’They  were apprehended when they crossed the border from Zamfara and Katsina state with three (3) rustled cows belonging to one Lawal Abubakar of Bungudu LGA of Zamfara state’’.

    A notorious fraudster: Steven Yakubu aged 67yrs, of Old Legislative Quarters, GRA Quarters, who has been parading himself as a retired Brigade RSM of the Nigerian Army was arrested when he defrauded one Benshima B. Nguesku ‘m’ of GRA Quarters of the sum of Seven hundred and forty thousand (N740, 000:00K) with a pretext to secure them job vacancies in Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Custom Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps was equally arrested and the suspect confessed to the crime.

    The commissioner further vowed that the police will not relent until they rid the state off criminal activities

  • Masari wants state civil servants to sit up in their duties

    Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina state, decried the performance of the state civil servants saying they are lazy and that some section of the state civil service particularly those in the middle and the senior cadre are not cooperating with the state government

    The Governor who made the observation while swearing in the newly appointed state head of service, Alhaji Idris Usman Tuni, 65, at Government house in Katsina, said his government does not believe in tampering with the tenure of civil servants or removing them from office based on Political leanings, affection or ill will.

    He further reminded the civil servants that they have a lot of catch up to do to improve themselves through acquisition of knowledge to compete especially at the national level

    He said  “It is not our intention to remove and sack any one because government is a continuum and also an institution which may have work left undone for another incoming government’’

    Read Also: Masari seeks support for security agencies

    ‘’Even political appointees whose tenure is terminal we did not remove. we have done so much for the civil service and with all sense of humility, we have done more than any civilian government for the civil service, first by removing tenureship and having to work with 3 heads of service in the past three years’’

    ‘’No one can compete with us on the number of staff we have developed and on the level of civil service reforms we have carried out’’

    Masari further tasked the new head of service to embark on retraining of the civil servants especially across the various levels and not particularly by taking them outside the state or country, so that they can learn from each other especially newly recruited graduates and professionals

    He said ‘’Civil servants should keep faith with this government and not idling away precious hours through gossiping at the roadsides’’

  • Man defies his Six year daughter in Niger

    …Blames Wife

    A 30 year old man, Basiru Audu have been arrested for defiling his six year old daughter blaming the incident on the his wife for her frequent travelling which keeps him sexually unsatisfied.

    According to Audu, his wife travels a lot and he had to sleep with his daughter when the urge to have sex became very strong.

    “I blame my wife for not being around when I need sex, she travels a lot and that was why I  have to sleep with my daughter. What a shameful thing I have done.

    “That night I was having a burning sensation to have sex and since my wife was not around I have no option than to sleep with my daughter to ease off tension ”

    The Nation learnt that the wife frequently travels for business transactions and the incident occurred when the suspect’s wife travelled to their home town in Daura, Katsina state when he committed the wicked act.

    Read Also: Nigeria’s inflation drops to 11.23%

    It was revealed that the suspect sneaked into the children’s room and had sex with her and the suspense also confessed that he had been having sex with underage girls before he raped his own daughter.

    Audu was reported to the police by a concerned neighbour who noticed the daughter walking abnormally and when she was asked what was the matter, the little girl said,  ‘Daddy put something inside my wee-wee. ”

    The Suspect said he regretted the incident pleading for forgiveness stating that he is ready to beat the consequences of his act.

    “I have done an abominable thing that Allah will not forgive me, I hope my wife and my children will find a place in their hearts to forgive me, it is unfortunate.”

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Abubakar described the incident as unfortunate saying, “When a father decides to sleep with his biological daughter. I think the world is coming to an end.”

    He said the matter would be charged to court after investigation is concluded.

  • Buhari welcomes moves to import crude from Niger Republic

    …Nigeria, Niger sign MoU

     

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday hailed the move by Nigeria to export crude oil from Niger Republic.

    He also welcomed the setting up of a refinery in Katsina state that will make use of “stranded crude” from Niger Republic.

    The two countries on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Read Also:APC threatens expulsion for ministers who disobey Buhari

    At the ceremony, President Buhari thanked the Niger delegation for considering Nigeria as a partner on what he observed as a mutually beneficial strategic initiative.

    According to him, Nigeria and Niger have had excellent relations for several decades as neighbours sharing a long border with common cultural and historical ties.

    Nigeria, he said, sees the cooperation on crude oil export from the Republic of Niger and construction of refinery facilities in Katsina State as a “win – win” for both nations.

    He said: “The initiative will not only provide a reliable market for the stranded crude from the Niger Republic but will also provide petroleum products for Nigeria, as it aggressively pursues its aspiration on petroleum product self-sufficiency.

    “In addition, it is my hope that the current frontier exploration efforts in the Northern part of the country (Chad Basin, Gongola Basin, Sokoto Basin, Bida Basin and Benue trough) will also result in the provision of additional hydrocarbon inflow to the corridors of the proposed pipeline and a potential refinery around Kaduna axis.

    “I am happy that several productive engagements held between the Nigerian and Nigerien authorities have resulted in the positive agreements to progress with activities on this important project.

    “This project will be private sector driven with the full support of the governments of both countries and I am happy to understand that several expressions of interest from prospective investors are already being received,” he said.

    He also announced the setting up of a steering committee to be chaired by the Nigerian Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachiku, while the alternate chairman is the Nigerien Minister of Petroleum, to provide strategic leadership, direction and governance oversight for the project.

    He also said that a Senior level Joint Technical Team has been selected based on competence to develop the implementation roadmap and strategy on both the refinery and pipeline projects.

    He said that the team will be led by Nigeria’s Engineer Rabiu Suleiman supported by the DG Hydrocarbon of Niger Republic.

    Buhari said he expected that by December 2018, the group will come up with a detailed roadmap and guideline leading to actual execution of the projects.

    He directed that the detailed roadmap should cover the following: Bankable feasibility studies for both the Refinery and pipeline projects; Optimal project site, pipeline routes and details; Security plan and selected consortia of investors for both the refinery and pipeline projects.

    The President assured of Nigeria’s commitment to pursuing “this partnership with vigour and determination.”

    In his address at the occasion, Kachiku said Buhari has personally driven the initiative, which he said was propelled by the sole desire to create a more favourable investment opportunity in Nigeria’s downstream sector and encourage cross border economic development.

    The occasion was witnessed by the President of Niger Republic, Issoufou Mahammadou.

    Speaking on when the refinery will start, an oil and gas investor, Ibrahim Zakari said “I think the two presidents have already mentioned everything. It is going to be private driven by investors-100 percent private driven   .We are one of the investors who are willing to invest almost 2bn dollars.

    “The funds are coming from abroad, us, Canada, India and the middle east. It’s going to be a 50 thousand barrel refinery then we will scale it up to 100 thousand with the crude coming from Niger Republic.

    On the time frame, he said “It will take 3-5 years to complete the refinery, it’s a Modular refinery. It will create 2500 direct employment and over 10 thousand indirect employment.  It will cover not only Katsina and the North but the whole of Nigeria.”

  • Coomassie: Obaseki commiserates with Katsina Govt, family

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has condoled with the government and people of Katsina State over the passing of former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie, who passed on last Thursday, after a protracted illness.

    In a statement, Obaseki said that Coomassie’s death was a loss to Nigeria, the Arewa Consultative Forum, which he chairs, as well as his family.

    “I condole with the Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari and the people of the state over the passing of former IGP, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie. The former IGP served Nigeria gallantly and worked for the progress of the country as evidenced in the various assignments he held,” he said.

    Read Also: Obaseki condemns killings of policemen in Edo

    He added that the death occurred when Nigeria needed the wisdom of her senior citizens in resolving challenges facing the country, noting that late Coomassie’s strong influence was also felt in his position as the chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum.

    He added, “We are consoled that he was a courageous Nigerian and one who worked for the good of the country.”

    Late Alhaji Coomassie until his death held the traditional title as Sardaunan Katsina.