The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger State

  • Niger legislators kick over extension of HOS tenure

    There was a mild drama in the Niger State House of Assembly on Wednesday when member representing Bida 2 constituency, Mohammed Haruna, walked out during a debate questioning Governor Sani Bello’s authority to extend the tenure of the Head of Service (HOS).

    Haruna had protested over the matter of urgent public importance raised by Minority Leader, Ahmad Bello, which noted it was unconstitutional for Bello to extend the tenure of the HOS who had passed retirement age.

    The matter of public importance had queried the extension of Alhaji Sule Yabagi, who attained the compulsory retirement age of 60 years, saying there was no place in the constitution that gave the governor the right to extend the tenure.

    Harun had cautioned legislators not to be at loggerheads with the executive saying, “there is no need for us to quarrel with the Executive at this time.”

    He said the motion was politically-motivated and aimed at dividing the House, alleging the mover had no evidence to support it.

    Haruna urged the lawmakers to conduct internal investigations on why the governor extended the tenure of the HOS before inviting the Secretary to the State Government and Attorney General to appear before plenary.

    When the motion was thrown for debate, the legislators disagreed with Haruna, who walked out realising he had no support of his colleagues.

    The Minority leader, who raised the motion, stressed the needs to protect and defend the constitution, adding that the legislators will not sit “and watch someone use our laws as Nollywood and Kannywood.

    He argued there was no provision in the constitution that gave the governor the power to extend the tenure of the HOS, stating “we should not be seen stepping on the laws on ground.”

    Madaki Bosso of Bosso constituency insisted on the supremacy of the constitution, saying the HOS ceases to be a civil servant from January 15.

    Read Also: Niger Assembly passes state contributory healthcare bill

    Bosso noted if the extension was allowed, it will set a bad precedence for the civil service in the state.

    “In the letter being sent to the Head of Service and signed by the Governor, it did not state what part of the constitution that empowered the governor to take out the action.

    “It gives serious concern. A study of the constitution shows that no section gave the governor the power to extend the tenure,” he argued.

  • Bello, Nasko shun Niger governorship debate

    Niger State Governor Abubakar Bello and his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart Alhaji Umar Nasko on Tuesday shunned a debate organised by the Niger state Coalition of  Business and Professional Association (NICOBPA).

    Neither of them attended or sent a representative. They also didn’t send apologies for their absence.

    Bello, who was in attendance at the 2019 Army Day Celebration held at the 123 Parade Ground, was expected to attend the debate after the event.

    But he shunned the debate, which held at Idrisu Legbo Kutigi Conference Centre directly opposite the Niger state Government House.

    But the governorship candidates of African Democratic Congress (ADC) Dr. Ibrahim Mani; Honorable Isah Kawu of the All Democratic Party (ADP); Dr. Joshua Bawa of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Alhaji Yahaya Daudu of  the People Redemption Party (PRP) attended the debate.

    Kawu said his party would embark in politics without bitterness, highlighting his major priorities will be on education and empowerment of Women, youths and the civil servants.

    Mani said his administration would focus on empowerment of youths, saying he would encourage youths to begin snake- farming, which he believed is profitable because lot of industries are looking for snake farms to get venom for their anti-venom drugs.

    Read Also: Why we dumped Atiku, PDP – Bello

    Bawa said he would make the state a tourist destination, focus on teachers’ empowerment and create an enabling environment for investors to invest in.

    Daudu said he will improve on the education of the people and improve on health especially in the rural areas.

    The Chairman NICOBPA, Alhaji Mohammed Lawal, said the debate was to give the people a feel of what the governorship candidates have and interact with the public.

    He stated a lot of the people do not know most of the candidates except those of the APC and PDP, adding the forum will give the people the opportunity to know who their candidates are.

  • NLC seeks prosecution of parents, guardians of street children

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Niger state on Saturday called on the state government to prosecute parents and guardians of street children for child abuse offences.

    Its Chairman, Mr Idris Ndako, made the call in an interview with our reporter in Minna.

    Ndako said that such step if taken, would serve as deterrent to parents and guardians who abuse children in any form.

    The NLC chair called for a law that would be binding on all defaulters, noting that a lot of children had lost their destinies due to street begging.

    “We continue to say that youths are the leaders of tomorrow, but that is only true if they are given the basic training as children.

    “These children are seen begging for food on a daily basis; their identity is plastic plates with rope tied around their necks.

    Read Also: 2019: no minimum wage, no elections, NLC declares

    “They are usually in worn-out, filthy clothes.

    “Niger state government should promulgate a law against the trafficking of male children from the neighbouring states in the name of acquiring Islamic knowledge, only for them to end up as child beggars.

    “It is a fact that every child has the right to learn in any part the country and the world at large, but it has to be the responsibility of parents or funding organisations if on scholarship.

    “Underage children cannot be patrolling our streets begging for money and food, when they are supposed to be learning in a formal school system and government just looks away,” he said.

    According to Ndako, an average Islamic teacher does not have food to give to the teeming pupils under his tutelage and is, therefore, left with no choice than to allow them go begging for their daily up-keep.

    “This is child labour and government should do the needful on this matter to save the children and the society,” he stated.

    NAN

  • Atiku blames APC for joblessness, insecurity

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has attributed the spate of insecurity in the country to failure of government to provide jobs for the youth population.

    Speaking at the party’s campaign rally in Minna, Niger State on Wednesday, Atiku said if voted into power, the PDP government will provide the needed jobs that would tame the menace of insecurity.

    Atiku said, “So, this is a promise and a commitment I am making on behalf of PDP if you vote for PDP. I want to commit to you that if you vote for PDP, the insecurity which they have not been able to control, we shall control it.

    “They have been unable to control insecurity because they have been unable to provide jobs and businesses for the people. So by the time we provide jobs and businesses for our young men and women, you will hear less crime and less insecurity.

    “So, I want to promise you on behalf of our great party to sack the All Progressives Congress (APC) government and let us send them packing. Like I used to say, Buhari must go. APC must go”.

    The PDP presidential candidate blamed the ruling APC for the social and economic ills plaguing the country, stressing that the ruling party has reneged on all its campaign promises to the Nigerian people.

    “In 2015, they came to tell us that PDP did not do anything. We should change. And we changed. And they promised to fight corruption, to improve our economy and also to secure our country. Have they achieved anyone of these three?

    “When they came in, there was insecurity only in the North East. Today, there is insecurity in North West and North Central. And we have lost more lives at any other time in the history of this country in peaceful times. They have failed as far as security is concerned.

    “When it comes to the issue of economy, we have lost more jobs; over 10 million jobs, to the extent that Nigeria has been declared the headquarters of poverty in the world. This is a record.

    “Have they fulfilled that promise? Now I want to promise you that if you vote PDP, we will restore the jobs that had been lost. You either get a job or get a business to do”, Atiku added.

    Read Also: Tinubu blasts PDP, Atiku

    Also speaking at the rally, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukolan Saraki, restated the resolve of the PDP to run issue based campaign.

    Saraki, who is the Director General of the PDP presidential campaign, maintained that the 2019 elections would be a referendum on the APC administration, which he described as a total failure.

    Saraki said, “A government that has been with us for three and half years and it promised us three things and we are going to decide as Nigerians. If they have performed, they can continue, if they have not performed, they must pack and go home.

    “They came on security, there was problem in the North East and they said they can provide security solution. Today isn’t the security situation worse?

    “There is no security in North Central, North West. There is security problem everywhere. Before, they said they will provide three million jobs for the youth. Today, more than 10 million youths have lost their jobs, have they perform? No.

    “They came they said they would bring food to our people, today Nigeria is the capital of hunger in the entire world, have they performed?

    “They said they will fight corruption, today there is corruption in the country, no be so? They have failed on these things and that is why they must leave and let us bring a man that has experience; that knows how to create jobs, that knows how to bring food to all of us”.

    The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus who was also at the rally, berated President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.

    According to him, the President and his party have been creating “mistaken impression” of being popular with Nigerians, whereas the hand writing on the wall indicates that the people have rejected them.

    Describing the APC as a drowning party, the chairman said the Buhari administration has been struggling to give artificial relevance to its image by trying to lure people and create some photoshop to give impression of a non-existent relevance and popularity.

    Secondus said instead of licking the wound of its shattered image, arising from an obvious squandered goodwill, the APC has embarked on rumour peddling and buying off some PDP leaders.

    The PDP chair said that its laughable that even with the glaring incompetence of the APC administration in the last 42 months, which he said, has left the country in a comatose state.

    “Nigerians have been watching regrettably, a President and his party, that cannot embark on campaign because he has nothing to showcase.

    “Having failed to find a performing APC governor to flaunt, the party and the President allow themselves some name dropping and rumour peddling on bogus achievements”, Secondus said.

    Other party chieftains at the rally included the immediate past governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu; his counterpart from Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Taraki; PDP governorship candidate in Niger State, Umar Mohammed Nasko; Senate Minority Whip, Phillip Aduda and many others.

  • Defectors are Irrevelevant to us – Niger PDP chairman

    The Chairman of the Niger state People’s Democratic Party, Barrister Tanko Beji has described the defection moves by some PDP chieftains to the APC as good riddance saying they are irrelevant to PDP.

    According to him, PDP is better off with them leaving the party saying that their defection has revealed that they were moles in the party who had been selling the party out.

    During the week, four PDP bigwigs defected to the APC, they included the former PDP Chairman, Abdulrahman Enagi, two governorship aspirants, Mohammed Baka and Sudan Hannafi and the Treasurer, Ibeto.

    Fielding questions from Journalists in Minna regarding the recent defections in the party, Beji said that the PDP is not in any way moved or concerned about the moves as no gap has been created in the cause of the defection.

    “Who are you talking about? These people have no substance, to us, they only have one vote. On our side, where we lost one, we gained over 100 back. There is nothing new on defection. It is part and parcel of politics.

    Read Also: PDP shopping for excuses for failure, says VON DG

    “We are better off without them. It finally shows that the moles are finding themselves out, it revealed that all these while, they had their interest elsewhere and because they did not get the position they aspired for, they decided to go.

    “Let them go. It is good riddance to their bad rubbish. When the former PDP Chairman defected, we received over 100 youths from his village and when Hannafi defected, we received crowd of APC members in Kontagora.

    “They are Abuja politicians. We are not concerned with Abuja politicians which is who they are. We are not moved. We have better things to concentrate on.

    The PDP Chairman further disclosed that the party would soon begin its local government campaign tour.

     

     

  • 5,500 people treated for cataract, other eye problems in Niger

    Niger state government has treated over 5,500 people from the three senatorial districts for cataract and other eye problems

    Speaking at the end of the free camp for treatment of eye problems in Kontagora, the state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello said that 1500 people were operated for cataract cases, 4,000 others were treated for various eye diseases while 1500 glasses were given out.
    He lamented that there is a backlog of cataract cases in the country which is unacceptable adding that every naira spent in vision restoration or curing blindness is likely to generate four times return in economic gain.
    Bello said the free eye camp is for the benefit of the people which is the reason why it is spread across the three senatorial zones in the state.
    The Commissioner of Health, Dr. Mustapha Jibril said the project which is in conjunction with the Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria and the Federal government aim at providing free eye surgeries to 10,000 Nigerians suffering from cataract and cannot afford the cost of treatment.

    Read Also: 28 lives lost in 3 boat mishaps in Niger

    He noted that the eyes are the most important sense organs in the body adding that the state intend to clear the backlog of cataract cases adding that more free eye camps would be organized in the future.
    Jibril said that the ultimate goal of the state government is to strengthen the health system to enable every person living in the state to be able to access quality and affordable care whenever and wherever the need arises.
    He then noted that the state had made appreciable progress across several health system performance indicators.

  • 28 lives lost in three boat mishap in Niger

    The Niger state Commissioner of Transport, Engineer Ibrahim Panti has disclosed that 28 lives were lost in three boat mishaps in the state.

    Just as he said that 3000 life jackets have been purchased to be used by boat travelers in a bid to reduce casualties recorded during boat mishaps.

    The Commissioner said that from 2019, the state government would make it compulsory for the use of the life jackets by water travelers.

    “As part of efforts to reduce casualties during boat mishaps, 3,000 life jackets were purchased and launched for use by boat travelers. Wearing of such life saving gear would soon become compulsory for all water travelers.”

    Read Also: ‘Nigeria has highest capex on crude’

    Panti further said that 4000 coded reflective jackets has also been purchased for commercial motorcycle riders saying an ultimatum has been given to motorcycle riders in Minna metropolis regarding the use of the reflective jackets.

    “The Ministry procured 4000 coded reflective jackets for easy identification of commercial motorcycle riders and to improve safety of lives especially at night.

    “This is the only alternative to identify the genuine motorcycle riders in the state as majority of these riders are not from the state. We have issued an ultimatum that in 2019, if a motorcycle riders do not wear reflective jacket, they will not ride their bikes in the state capital.”

    Panti also disclosed that a 12 seater watercraft with 7.5 horse power engine have been purchased for surveillance, rescue and patrol on case of any eventuality in the waterways.

    He said that plans are at an advanced stage to establish Motor Vehicle Administration Agency as a one stop center for motorcycle administration, traffic regulation and traffic rented revenue generation.

     

  • Suspected bandits kill two, kidnap 15

    Suspected bandits at Mangwaro, a border town between Kaduna and Niger states, have killed two persons.

    They kidnapped 15 people, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    It was gathered that the abducted victims are from Niger State. Ten are from Gwada in Shiroro Local Government and five are from Munya Local Government.

    A source said they were returning from Kaduna State when they were kidnapped.

    Read also: Salesman ‘dupes’ customer of $37,896

    Niger State Information and Strategy Commissioner Alhaji Danjuma Sallau confirmed the incident in Minna.

    Sallau, from Munya Local Government, however said all is calm, as the government has deployed security agents in the area.

    He said: “Army, Police, Civil Defence and vigilance group personnel have been drafted to the area to ensure peace.”

    The commissioner said the government was working with the security agencies to rescue the victims.

    Police spokesman Mohammed Abubakar confirmed that the incident occurred at Mangwaro, a border town between Kaduna and Niger states.

  • Armed bandits strikes in Niger border town

    Fifteen persons have been kidnapped and two others killed by unknown armed bandits at Mangwaro,a boundary with Kaduna and Niger state, The Nation learnt on Wednesday. 

    All the kidnapped victims are from Niger state, 10 are from Gwada in Shiroro local government area and 5 from Munya local government area of the state.  
    It was learnt that they were returning from Kaduna state when they were kidnapped.
    The Niger state Commissioner of Information and Strategy Alh Danjuma Sallau confirmed the incident to newsmen in Minna.
    Sallau who hails from Munya local government area however said that all is calm as government has deployed security agents to the area to maintain normalcy as panic and tension filled the town when the news of the kidnap filtered in.
    “A combined team of security agencies of d Army Police Civil Defence and Local Vigilante have been drafted to the area to enforce peace”, the Commissioner said.
    He said that the government is working together with the security agencies to figure out how to  release the kidnapped victims from their abductors.
    The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Abubakar confirmed that the incident occurred at Mangwaro neighboring town of Kaduna and Niger state.

  • Police arrest suspected armed robbers on Xmas eve

    Fifteen persons have been kidnapped and two others killed by unknown armed bandits at Mangwaro,a boundary with Kaduna and Niger state, The Nation learnt on Wednesday.

    All the kidnapped victims are from Niger state, 10 are from Gwada in Shiroro local government area and 5 from Munya local government area of the state.

    It was learnt that they were returning from Kaduna state when they were kidnapped.

    The Niger state Commissioner of Information and Strategy Alh Danjuma Sallau confirmed the incident to newsmen in Minna.

    Read Also: Four policemen arrested for ‘robbery’

    Sallau who hails from Munya local government area however said that all is calm as government has deployed security agents to the area to maintain normalcy as panic and tension filled the town when the news of the kidnap filtered in.

    “A combined team of security agencies of d Army Police Civil Defence and Local Vigilante have been drafted to the area to enforce peace”, the Commissioner said.

    He said that the government is working together with the security agencies to figure out how to  release the kidnapped victims from their abductors.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Abubakar confirmed that the incident occurred at Mangwaro neighboring town of Kaduna and Niger state.