The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nasarawa State

  •  Two suspects arrested over alleged robbery of bishop

    The Nasarawa State Police command has arrested two men, Mohammed Abdullahi and Abdullahi Ibrahim, for allegedly robbing the Anglican Bishop of Nasarawa Diocese, Rev. Miller Maza.

    Maza was robbed alongside 17 other clergymen on JAN. 27.

    The Spokesman of the command, Mr Kennedy Idirisu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lafia that the suspects were arrested at a military check along the Keffi-Gitata highway.

    He said the suspects were arrested while driving a Toyota Highlander jeep belonging to the bishop.

    Kennedy said that the suspects and four others still at large had on Jan. 27 robbed the bishop and other clergymen at about 3 a.m. at Star Guest House in New Karu, Nasarawa State where they lodged.

    He said the suspected armed robbers dispossessed the clergymen of their valuables, including cash, mobile phones and the vehicle.

    The spokesman said that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were taking the vehicle to Kaduna State for sale before luck ran out on them.

    According to Idrisu, the suspects have confessed to the crime and have given useful information to the police regarding their operations along the Mararaba-Karu highway.

    He said that the police were on the trail of the fleeing suspects, noting that the suspects would soon be prosecuted.

    Idrisu also disclosed that one of the suspects had been arrested for a similar crime last year and was granted bail by a court

  • Al-Makura sacks 10 Commissioners, redeploys two others

    Al-Makura sacks 10 Commissioners, redeploys two others

    Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Tuesday sacked 10 commissioners and redeployed two others.

    A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, indicated that six commissioners were retained, two of which were redeployed to other ministries.

    Those retained at their beats included Yusuf Shehu-Usman, justice; Dr. Daniel Iya, health; Sunny Agassi, lands and Mr Gabriel Aka’aka, environment.

    The commissioners redeployed are Aliyu Tijani from local government and chieftaincy affairs to education, while Haruna Osegba moves from commerce and industry to local government and chieftaincy affairs.

    Already, the governor has forwarded the names of new nominees to the State House of Assembly for confirmation to replace those axed.

  • Karu International Market will soon be commissioned

    Karu International Market will soon be commissioned

    The Karu International Market in Nasarawa State will soon be commissioned to boost economic activities and create jobs, Mr Haruna Iliya, the Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, has announced.

    Iliya told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Lafia that the market would shore up the state’s revenue base, reduce indolence among the youth and improve sales opportunities for rural farmers.

    He, however, dismissed allegations that government was charging “very heavily” for the 5,000 shops at the market.

    “Generally, I think the shops are the cheapest in the state. We charge N10,000 per year, for a square meter; so, a nine square meter shop is only N90,000 per annum.

    “The cost depends on the square meter. A big shop with all facilities in Karu International market does not cost more than N40,000. Small shops are far less.

    “The cost is not exorbitant, it is only that people will definitely complain. But you can cross check.”

    He said that government was constructing markets across the state as part of its social responsibility to the citizens.

    “It is not necessarily about money. We only want to boost the economy of the state and create business opportunities for more people,” he said.

  • Wife seeks divorce over `sex starvation’

    A 20-year-old woman, Mrs. Salamatu Haruna, on Wednesday asked a Mararaba Upper Area Court, Nasarawa State, to dissolve her one-year-old marriage with Mr.   Bello Musa, on grounds of `sex starvation.’

    She told the court that the “husband no longer cares nor sleeps with her again.’’

    Salamatu accused her husband of “denying her sex and exhibiting unstable attitude.’’

    Salamatu also told the court that she is Musa’s second wife and married to him since January 2016, in accordance with Islamic law and customs.

    She said that she was not getting the necessary satisfaction as he failed to perform his duties as a man since after September 2016.

    “I want this honourable court to dissolve this marriage because I am not happy in the marriage.

    “The last time he slept with me was after the 2016 sallah period, and since then he has not touched me.

    “Even when he comes around the house after a long while, it is usually in an odd hour with numerous excuses, and leaves before the early morning prayer.

    “Whenever he leaves that early, I usually do not know where he goes, even though he claims to be a mason,” she said.

    Salamatu prayed the court to grant her request, as she had made effort to persuade her husband to grant her local divorce to no avail.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the respondent was not in court even though he was served hearing notice.

    The judge, Mr Ibrahim Shekarau, adjourned the case till Feb. 7, to give the couple more time to settle out of court.

  • Man gets wheelchair, cash from peace corps

    Man gets wheelchair, cash from peace corps

    The Nigeria Peace Corps (NPC), Nasarawa State Command, has donated a wheelchair to, Mr Peter Abashi, who fell down from electrical pole in Wakama Area.

    The Corps also donated N100, 000 on Jan. 1, for his medical check up.

    Mr Bala Joshua, the state Commandant of the corps, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Wakama, Akun Development Area of the state on Monday.

    Joshua also donated N25, 000 to Mr Nicolas Abashi, elder brother to Peter to pay his children school fees.

    Nicolas children could not further their education due to the money he spent on his younger brother Peter.

    The commandant said the corps assisted in securing the release of six inmates in Wamba Prison by paying their fines and donated N10,000 for the upkeep of other inmates.

    Joshua called on the inmates to be an agent of change and urged them to be law abiding while in the prison and after.

    He assured of more support to the sick ones, the inmates and the orphans among other less privileged persons, and called on spirited individuals to aid the inmates.

    Responding, Nicolas thanked the Corps for its support and pray God to reward them abundantly.

    He appealed to spirited individuals to come to their aid, adding that life was no longer easy for them.

    Those released from Wamba Prisons were Alex Sunday, John Peter, Abdullahi Umar, Ewuga Yahaya, Ogochukwu Sunday and Monday Zaka.

    The Corps on Jan.1 secured the release of five inmates in Lafia Prison and donated N200,000 to the sick and orphans.

  • FMC Keffi confirms Lassa fever case

    FMC Keffi confirms Lassa fever case

    Dr Giyan Joshua-Ndom, the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa state, has confirmed that a patient at the centre was suffering from a disease suspected to be Lassa fever.

    Joshua-Ndom told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the centre had reported the matter to the Ministry of Health as well as the Centre for Diseases Control, Abuja.

    “It is true that a suspected case of Lassa fever had been discovered at the centre with a male patient being its victim.

    “But, I want to use this medium to appeal to patients and members of the public to remain calm as necessary steps had been taken to avert the spread of the virus.

    “The patient with the suspected case of Lassa fever had been separated from other patients and we are on top of the situation to curtail the spread of the disease,” he said

    The medical director reaffirmed the commitment of the centre to continue with projects that had a direct bearing on the lives of doctors, other staff and Nigerians at large.

  • NYSC: Zainab Isah is new coordinator for Nasarawa

    NYSC: Zainab Isah is new coordinator for Nasarawa

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has appointed Mrs Zainab Isah as its new coordinator in Nasarawa State.

    A statement by the NYSC said that Isah took over from Mrs Habiba Bappah, who has been transferred to its headquarters in Abuja.

    Until her new appointment, Isah was a Deputy Director, Planning, Research and Statistics at the NYSC headquarters in Abuja.

    The new state coordinator, who had resumed duty, solicited the cooperation of the people of Nasarawa State to enable her succeed in her new assignment, the statement said.

  • Nasarawa revokes 36 SUBEB contracts

    Nasarawa revokes 36 SUBEB contracts

    Nasarawa State Government has revoked 36 ongoing contacts, awarded by the  State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for flouting contractual agreements.

    Mr Yakubu Ubangari, Executive Secretary of SUBEB, told newsmen on Friday in Lafia, that the revoked projects were located across all the 13 local government areas of the state.

    According to him, the state government, through the board revoked the contracts after serving the contractors with several notices of warning to adhere strictly to the terms of the agreement.

    “We served the defaulting contractors with several notices of warning to resume work at the site and continue their work but they failed to resume,“ he said.

    He said that the projects were at different levels of completion, ranging from 30 per cent to 80 per cent.

    “This decision also entails that the defaulters would have to refund the monies already paid to them from the board for those projects as soon as possible,” Ubangari said.

    He said that the state governor recently paid  N4.3 billion to Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) as its counterpart fund for four years starting from 2012.

    Ubangari said the state assessed N8.6 billion from UBEB to implement projects aimed at meeting the objectives of basic education in the state.

    “The process is already on, and in no distant time we shall commence the award of contracts,” he said.

    He explained that as part of the board’s 2017 plan, it would give priority to manpower development by building the capacity of teachers and other members of staff for better service delivery.

  • Nasarawa receives refund from Paris club

    Nasarawa receives refund from Paris club

    Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Wednesday acknowledged that the state had received the sum of N8.4bn as the refund from the over-deduction from the Paris Club loan.

    Al-Makura acknowledged this while receiving the report of the Tripartite Committee involving the State Government, organised labour and the Federal Ministry of Labour and productivity in Lafia on Wednesday.
    The committee was inaugurated on Sept. 1, to resolve the lingering crisis between the government and organised labour in the state over issues of salary and other entitlements.
    He explained that the N5.4 billion of the money was for the state while local government areas got N3 billion.
    According to Al-Makura, 50 per cent of the refund would be dedicated to the payment of staff salaries as directed by the Federal Government.
    The governor said that in accordance with the directive, N2.7billion would be used to augment salaries and pension of workers and pensioners owing to the dwindling allocation.
    He expressed hope that the financial situation of the country and of the state improved in the coming year.
    Al-Makura, therefore, urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the present administration as better days lie ahead.