The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Minna

  • MINNA: A blend of colonial relics and modern architecture

    MINNA: A blend of colonial relics and modern architecture

    Until 1976, Minna was just a serene railway town with only one major road passing through it. The creation of Niger State and the emergence of the town as the capital city of the new state changed the fortune and status of the town. Its transformation from a linear settlement to a city of global reckoning is fascinating. Today the road networks that link the fast growing city is better seen than imagined.

    Being a railway town of over a century standing, the homestead of the Gbagyi people of Niger State has played host to many people from different walks of life. The convergence of people of different socio-cultural backgrounds on the ancient city has tremendously influenced its growth and development.

    Minna is a highly cosmopolitan community with people of different religious backgrounds peacefully co-habiting. Unlike typical northern cities, Minna’s religious tolerance is exhibited by the existence of worship centres of the two major religions without either being restricted to a section of the city. The Central Mosque in the heart of the city is a beautiful architectural masterpiece. So also does the array of exotic church buildings on Bosso Road add a lot of beauty to the landscape.

    From the ancient Angwar Daji, Limawa, Kongila, Abayi and Saiko quarters, the city has spread to Chanchaga, Tunga-goro, Sango, Kafin-Tella, Tunga, Kpagunku, Soje, Barikin Sale, Bosso, Tundun Fulani and Maikunkule areas. Yet these are not part of the new areas that are springing up.

    In spite of this expansion, however, Minna remains a blend of colonial relics and modern architecture. Dotted with some colonial edifices, especially at the railway station quarters, the city prides itself with as the host of the first locomotive engine to the Northern Nigeria: the Wushishi I Trampway. A trip to Minna is not complete without a visit to the railway station where the 113 year old locomotive steam engine, an engineering masterpiece, is on display.

    Minna is the home town and birth place of two illustrious former military leaders of the country. The residence of the only military President in the chequered history of the country and the self acclaimed “Evil Genius”, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, and that of the immediate past military head of state, Gen. Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, are a Mecca of sort to visitors.

    Minna city is credited with nurturing other prominent Nigerians like a former President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, now a senator of the Federal Republic, Senator Smart Adeyemi, and popular former Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) newcaster, Mr. Cyril Stober.

    While the capital city of the nation’s Power State boasts over 100 years of existence, the transformation it has witnessed in the last seven years has made it the envy of all. Before now Minna, could easily be taken for a local government headquarters. But a deliberate beautification and radical transformation programme put in place by the state government paid off with the city wearing a new look. This transformation of Minna, the political and administrative hub of Niger State, is in fulfilment of Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu’s administration’s vision of being among the top three most developed state capitals in the country by 2020.

    In pursuit of this vision, government embarked on the renovation, expansion and re-construction of city roads, beautification of roundabouts in the city and installation of traffic lights at strategic junctions to ease free flow of traffic and reduce accidents. Solar-powered street lights were also installed on major roads. Indeed Minna is a town to behold at night. The glittering streetlights add colour, beauty and meaning to the night life of the city, which hitherto was comatose.

    As the town wears a new look, the seat of government is not left out. The one-block Governor’s Office has since been transformed to befit the status of the capital city of the Power State. Unlike the former office complex, virtually all offices in the Government House has been transformed with a new 1,000-seater conference hall and a well furnished cabinet conference room. The Government House is indeed a beautiful place to behold.

    The state Ministry of Environment, Parks and Gardens, through its ‘Green the Niger’ and ‘Clean and Green Niger’ initiatives, has continued to make the city not only clean but green. The alluring and beautiful Murtala Mohammed Garden and Park along Bosso Road, the Democracy Park in Keteren Gwari and the Magatakarda Park at Tunga area of the city have provided families and visitors to the ancient Gbagyi city with relaxation points.

    A new City tower, shopping mall and the complex of the mega sales outlet, Shoprite, currently been constructed at the old central market of the city will further add beauty to the city.

    For the inhabitants of the city, a clean environment is a task that must be ensured. The Niger State Environmental Protection Agency (NISEPA) ensures environmental sanitation through proper and efficient waste management, regular refuse collection and disposal, effective vegetation control structure, frequent sanitation and awareness and the introduction of Environmental Vanguards at the ward levels where ward heads, councillors, religious leaders, women and youths regularly monitor their communities.

    The recently launched vehicle litter bags to reduce the indiscriminate flying off of litters from moving vehicles in the state capital has further enhanced the cleanliness of the roads around the city. Adjudged one of the cleanest cities in the country, Minna has been recognised globally as one of the most livable cities in the world. The urban renewal programmes of successive administrations have improved the environmental status of the ancient city and enhanced its facelift.

    Kudos should go to the Niger State Urban Development Board for keeping faith with its primary assignment of strict adherence to the master plan of the city. The board has over the years taken actions to correct and restore the distorted Minna master plan, which includes the removal of all illegal structures and the relocation of artisans like mechanics and welders and other road side traders to appropriate location on the outskirts of city.

    A city acclaimed to be one of the most peaceful in the country is rich in Gbagyi culture. The magnificent U. K Bello Arts Theatre Centre, a replica of the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, situated in the heart of the city, has been the rallying point for cultural activities.

    Though a civil service state capital, the city has in recent time become choice destination for international, national and regional conferences, workshops, seminars and trainings. This explained why the hospitality industry is thriving. The state of the art Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre built directly opposite the Government House has been the toast of many notable event planners, corporate bodies and governmental agencies. This Mallam Danladi Ndayebo, the Commissioner for Information and Communication Strategy, attributed to the serenity of the city and a deliberately planned conducive and secured environment.

    According to Ndayebo, “our success story in this area has been mainly a product of conscious planning and huge investment on security, which in return has made Minna and indeed Niger State the destination and host of many international and national events, conferences and seminars.”

  • Lobi beat Plateau Utd on penalties in Minna

    Lobi Stars who were beaten in the semi-final of last season’s Federation Cup have also cruised to the quarter-final by eliminating Plateau United on penalties after the regulation time ended 1-1 at the Bako Kotangora Stadium in Minna.

    Moses Udoh proved to be hero after he netted his last spot kick from which Plateau United were unable to convert theirs.

    The Makurdi sides beat Niger Tornadoes’ feeders and Yarmalight in the Round of 64 and 32 respectively. They have played up to the last eight of the Federation Cup in the last three seasons.

  • Nigeria gets carbon nanoparticles

    The Federal University of Technology, Minna, STEP-B Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology has recorded a research breakthrough with the production of the country’s first carbon nanoparticles.

    The research was conducted through the use of one of the centre’s state-of-the-art-equipment called Catalytic Vapour Deposition Rector (CVD) at the Bosso Campus by some postgraduate students.

    The Coordinator of the research team, who is also the Deputy Dean, School of Engineering & Engineering Technology, Dr. Abdulkareem Saka, said  the researchers developed their catalyst to produce the carbon nanoparticles of two grams within 45 minutes of production at the first attempt.

    The don added that the production would go a long way in assisting drugs delivery, fuel cell technology, solar energy development, new high performance material, improved molecular sieve as well as various bio-medical genetics and electronic advancement.

    He said the nanoparticles will also be used for waste-water treatment, forming metal composite and developing solar cells.

     

     

  • Don urges cutting edge research

    Don urges cutting edge research

    Worried by the rising state of poor research output across the country, the immediate past Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, has called on Nigerian universities to embark on cutting edge research for solving immediate problems facing the nation.

    He made the remark during a public lecture entitled: Fostering university- industry linkages in Nigerian universities: The RMRDC experience held at the Caverton Lecture Theatre of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

    Prof Onwualu said every university should maintain a research grant scheme, equip laboratories and have a functional university research committee and establishment of university-industry linkage office to be manned by competitive staff.

    He said such office should consult with different faculties and assist staff in conducting regular training and seminars.

    Prof Onwualu urged the government to formulate and implement appropriate policies to facilitate university-industry linkage, stressing that the recently approved Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology should be implemented with adequate funding.

    On industries operating in Nigeria, he urged them to emulate their foreign counterparts by establishing laboratories and workshops on university campuses or Industrial Parks for them to use the facilities for commercial work, and research oriented projects.

    Prof Onwualu said the economic problems confronting Nigeria could be solved through judicious application of science, technology and innovation.

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof Musbau Adewumi Akanji, who was represented by the Deputy VC (Academic), Prof Abdullahi Bala, said entrepreneurship was an important component of development in any community. He urged graduates of the university to be job creators than seekers.

    Prof Onwualu donated books on various fields of research to the university library.

  • Day-old babies dumped in Minna

    Two babies, suspected to be day-old, were discovered in a suburb of Minna, Niger State, in the last four days.

    The first baby was dumped at a refuse site in Maitumbi while the other was dumped under a bridge in Rafin- Yasain in Bosso.

    An eyewitness said the second baby might have been dumped alive as the body was discovered by a passer-by yesterday.

    He said: “We suspect that the baby must have been dumped on Sunday and he may have died overnight because the place it was dumped was far from the village.”

    Confirming the development, police spokesman Richard Adamu Oguche said the police received the report in the morning and drafted men to evacuate the body.

    According to him, “we are investigating, no arrest has been made , we took the body to the hospital before handing it over to the men of the State Environmental Protection Agency; we are still awaiting result of the medical examination.”

  • Day old babies dumped in Minna

    Two babies suspected to be day old each were found dumped in suburbs of Minna, the capital city of Niger State within the last four days.

    The first was dumped at refuse dump site in Maitumbi area of the city while another baby boy was yesterday dumped under bridge in Rafin- Yasain in Bosso a suburb of the state Capital.

    It was gathered that the latest baby was dumped under a bridge linking the area with Maikunkele after the Western Bye pass Junction.

    Eye witness who spoke in confidence said the baby might have been dumped alive but later gave up as the body was discovered by a passer yesterday morning.

    “We strongly suspect that the baby must have been dumped Sunday night and he might have died over night because the place it was dumped was far from the village that the cry of the baby could be heard,” the witness disclosed.

    Confirming the development,Niger state Police command’s spokesman Richard Adamu Oguche said the police received the report early in the morning and drafted men to evacuate the body.

    He Police are investigating the trend as he lamented that two babies were dumped within the state capital . Minna less than a week.

    According to him ” we are investigating , no arrest has been made , we took the baby dead body to hospital for medical examination before handing over it to the men of the Niger state environmental protection for Burial, we are still awaiting the result of the medical examinations”

  • ASUU: FUT Minna calls off govt bluff

    …insists on the strike

    Members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna yesterday called off the bluff of federal government vowing not to suspend the five month old strike or sign the register opened for them by the institution.

    The University authority had Monday opened a register for academic staff of the institution to sign in the office of the Registrar in compliant with the federal government directive.

    The management in a statement issued on Monday said, “Following the directive by the Supervising Minister of Education, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike with the Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities on Friday, November 29, 2013 and his directive that universities should resume on or before Wednesday, December 4, 2013, the university has opened a register in the Office of the Registrar for all Academic staff to sign in their names on resumption of duty with effect from Monday, December 2, 2013”.

    But the ASUU congress of the institution yesterday unanimously resolved not to have anything to do with the register opened by the institution until the federal government implement the 2009 agreement it had with the union.

    Addressing newsmen after the congress, the branch Chairman, Dr. Abdulfatai Jimoh said, “FUT Minna branch of ASUU today Monday December 2013 at the end of our congress resolved that we are 100 per cent in support of the decision of ASUU NEC and in support of the four conditions as contented in the letter sent by NEC to the President Goodluck Jonathan. We resolved not to suspend strike unless the conditions are met”.

    He said the threat of mass sack by the federal government was laughable stressing that the union was not making any new demand outside the 2009 agreement as government claimed.

    “It is shocking that a democratic government would issue threats of mass sack like this. It is laughable, the congress is not worried or bothered about the threat. The Minister is not our employer so he cannot sack us.

    “There are procedure for engaging and disengaging staff in the university. The Minister needs to be enlightened on the manner universities are run”, Jimoh said.

    The ASUU boss then appealed to parents and students to bear with the union, maintaining that the union was sincere in its struggle for the revitalisation of the education and that once they receive the reply to their letter sent to President Jonathan, they would act on it immediately.

    Jimoh then called on the federal government to take the part of honour by meeting its obligation as contained in the 2009 agreement, as according to him, “ASUU has done its bit”.

    Visit to the two campuses of the institution by our correspondent revealed that lecture halls, studios, laboratories and workshops were still under lock and keys. It was also gathered that no academic staff has signed the register opened as at the close of work yesterday.

    The acting Registrar of the institution, Malam Garba Abdullahi in a telephone interview, confirmed opening register but said it was too early to assess the level of compliance by the striking lecturers.

  • Man remanded for ‘murder’

    Magistrate’s Court in Minna, Niger State, has ordered that a 24-year-old farmer, Danladi Abubakar, be remanded in prison for allegedly beheading an 11-month-old baby.

    Abubakar, who is facing a one-count charge of culpable homicide punishable under Section 222 of the Penal Code, was alleged to have sneaked into the baby’s room and stole the tot before beheading it.

    The accused told the court that he was contracted by a man in Bida for N20,000.

    The incident at Fujeregi in Gbako Local Government Area, caused the community to raise a search team, which was unsuccessful.

    It was gathered that the people resorted to prayers, which they believed led the accused to make a confession.

    The incident was reported to the police and the accused was charged to court, where he pleaded guilty.

    The Magistrate, Maryam Ladidi King, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody, pending the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    No date has been fixed for hearing.

  • Police arrests student for severing girlfriend’s head

    Police in Minna, Niger State capital, are to unravel what would have caused a young man Godwin Idoko a 500 level student of Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna from gruesomely murdering his girlfriend by slaughtering her on New Year’s day.

    The loverboy was alleged to have severed the head of his visiting girlfriend who was simply called Hannatu after three days of habouring her at his residence in Rafin Yasi, Bosso on the outskirt of Minna.

    It was gathered that some suspicious neighbours of Idoko discovered the dastardly act following his sudden disappearance from the house after an agonising female voice cried from his room.

    A neighbour who spoke in confidence told our Correspondent that the suspect had brought in his victim on Sunday, December 30 and were indoors throughout into the New Year until Idoko carried out the dastardly act.

    According to our source, ‘’The two have locked themselves up since Sunday when Godwin brought the girl he simply called Hannatu but our (neighbours) attention was drawn to Idoko’s room when we heard the screaming and agonising cry of the girl.

    We became more suspicious when after the cry Idoko rushed out of the house with a bag

    ‘’The sudden calm and the suspicious dashing out of Idoko without his companion made us to approach and forcefully open his door and what we found was the lifeless and headless body of the girl in her own pool of blood in Idoko’s room.’’

    Another early caller to the scene noted that the precision at which the victim was beheaded showed that the suspect must have killed his victim for ritual.

    ‘’If you see how he neatly severed the head from the body, you will be forced to conclude that the suspect did it with high degree of expertise and the act was for ritual,’’ our source stated.

    Shocked by their findings, neighbours rushed to report the incident to the police and a manhunt was launched for the runaway lover boy.

    It was later gathered that the head of Hannatu was found in an uncompleted building in the neighbourhood before the suspect was apprehended and handed over to the police.

    Confirming the dastard killing, Niger State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Pius Edobor, a deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said the victim has been in their custody for further investigation. According to him, ‘’The suspect is with us and he has confessed committing the offence, but we (Police) are yet to establish the motive of the killing.’’

    Refusing to give details of their preliminary findings, Edobor said, ‘’I don’t want to preempt the ongoing investigations. We are looking into many angles to the crime. Investigations will reveal if the suspect killed the girl for ritual or whatever circumstances led to the act.’’

    Edobor also said that the university authority has been notified to enable police ascertain the suspect’s status.

    The body of Hannatu has been deposited at Minna General Hospital mortuary.