The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger State

  • N1.7bn to be invested in arts, crafts development in Niger State-BOI

    N1.7bn to be invested in arts, crafts development in Niger State-BOI

    N1.7 billion has been earmarked for the development of modern arts and crafts in Niger State. This is to be done by The Bank of Industry (BOI) .

    Mr Emmanuel Zhiri, the Acting Executive Director, Council for Arts and Culture.told journalists in Minna on Tuesday that the gesture was aimed at boosting tourism in the state.

    “Our efforts in the development of arts and crafts in Niger State has attracted the BOI to collaborate with the state government.

    “As I am speaking to you now, BOI has set aside N1.7 billion for the development of arts and crafts in Niger State.’’

    Zhiri said that the development of the arts and crafts sector would be a collaborative effort among the BOI, state government and other private partners.

    He explained that the fund would be used to establish arts and crafts industry for cotton, ceramics, brass and glass work and also to train the needed manpower.

    Zhiri said that 25, 000 artisans would be trained under the programme, adding that 1,000 artisans would be selected from each of the 25 local government areas in the state.

    According to him, 200 trainees would be sent to Kenya based on their performances for further training, adding that they would, in turn, train others on their return.

    Zhiri said that some states had begun arrangements with the state council for arts and crafts to train their artisans.

    “Some of them want us to train artisans in the making of ceramics.’’

    He appealed to the government to renovate the arts theatre, to enable the council to revive live theatre performances for fun seekers and tourists.

  • Motor park clash: Police arrest two suspects in Minna

    Motor park clash: Police arrest two suspects in Minna

    The Police in Niger state  have arrested two suspects in connection with a misunderstanding between two transport unions at the Abdulsalam Abubakar Motor Park, Minna.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the squabble, which Occurred on Oct.22, resulted to the death of one person.

    The fight happened between members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and their counterparts of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria.

    The Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, ASP Bala Elkaina, confirmed the arrest in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Minna.

    Bala said investigation into the fracas had commenced, and that the command would ensure diligent prosecution of the culprits. 

  • 11 Women, two others die in Niger boat mishaps

    Eleven women and two men drowned in a two separate boat mishaps in Magama local government area of Niger state.

    The incident involving the women occurred on Wednesday morning in River Kontagora while the victims were on their way to their farms in a nearby community.

    Six of the women were rescued after the mishap while as at Friday morning, the bodies of eight of the drowned women have been found with three others still missing.

    Among the dead were married women and underage girls. The boat was said to have capsized due to tidal waves.

    The Kontagora River had over flooded its bank following a heavy down pour the previous night, resulting in the tragedy.

    Divers from the Niger state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA)  were the ones who found the drowned bodies as officials from the agency are still looking for the other bodies.

    The Director General of NSEMA, Ahmed Ibrahim Inga who confirmed the incident said the accident was involving women going to the farm.

    He said that rescue operation is still ongoing and that the agency will speak to the media immediately after the rescue operation is completed.

    In a related development, two other people have also been confirmed dead in a boat mishap at New Busa, in Borgu Local Government of the State.

    Inga said that the victims died last week when they were travelling in the waterways from one part of the Council Area to another.

    The state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has sent a word of condolence to the affected family.

  • NECO/WAEC withholds Niger state results

    NECO/WAEC withholds Niger state results

    The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) have refused to release the 2016 SSCE results of candidates in public secondary schools in Niger state due to the non-payment of examination fees by the state government.

    The Nation gathered that the Niger state government is owing both examination bodies to the tune of N700 million.

    Investigation shows that WAEC is being owned over N400 million while NECO is being owned over N200 million.

    WAEC released its results for the May/June Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) a month ago while NECO released its June/July SSCE results last week.

    The agony of the students is that they have up till 12 noon on Friday to uphold their results for admission into various tertiary institutions in the country.

    The students who were seen in most cyber cafes in the state have been complaining bitterly on their inability to access their results which may lead to denial of admission this year.

    The examination bodies have insisted that they will not release the results until payment is made by the state government.

    However, a Source close to the state government disclosed that the Acting Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Ketso have directed that part of the debts be settled before 12 noon Wednesday to enable the results to be released.

    Ketso was said to have directed that N200 million be paid to WAEC while N100 million should be paid to NECO as the examination bodies are being assured of the payment soonest.

    The Source further disclosed that the default in payment on the part of the government was due to financial constraint especially as the state government had promised to pay the examination fees of the students.

    Confirming this in a telephone chat with our Correspondent, the state Commissioner of Education, Hajiya Fatima Magudu said that the students will start accessing their results very soon.

    She said that the issue about the payment is being resolved as government is putting in its best to address the situation.

    “The students will start accessing their results very soon, before friday. The issue about the payment is being resolved.”

  • Killing of soldiers on duty unacceptable- Buratai

    Killing of soldiers on duty unacceptable- Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has described the killing of some soldiers and airmen on lawful duty in Bosso, Niger State, by suspected gun runners as unacceptable.

    Speaking with newsmen on Tuesday shortly after addressing personnel at the 332 Artilery Regiment in Shendam, Buratai, however, said the incident would not deter the military from carrying out its lawful duties.

    “What happened in Bosso is highly unfortunate,’’ he said, noting that the troops were on a mission to recover arms hid in communities in the area when they were ambushed and killed.

    “But instead of them – gun runners to be law abiding, they took the law into their hands and attack the troops.

    “We have the mandate to bring the situation under control, we are working with the police to make sure that we keep our society free of criminalities,’’ the chief of army staff said.

    It will be recalled that the army in a statement on Saturday said that eight of its soldiers and two airmen were ambushed and killed in Bosso during raid on hideout of suspected gun runners.

    Spokesman of the army, Col. Sani Usman, however, said the military killed eight of the suspected bandits and arrest 57 others.

    On his visit to the regiment and other military formations in the state, Buratai said it was “routine’’ and to find out challenges of the troops in order to address them.

    “If you are not on ground to see them and know what their challenges are, you will not be able to appreciate and address them,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the chief of army staff announced the promotion of a Gunner in the regiment, Dantani Ibrahim, to Lace Corporal, for his bravery, dedication and hard work.

    Buratai, who later addressed wives of soldiers at the regiment, promised to give their welfare a top priority, adding that children of soldiers, who died in line of duty would be sponsored even up to university level.

    He also said that any of those children, who so desire to get enlisted into any of the military services would be given priority.

  • Five dead as Army/Villagers clash in Niger

    Eight persons died and two others were seriously injured in a clash between some military personnel and villagers in Kpaidna village in the Bosso local government area of Niger state.

    The two injured persons were alleged to be army personnel while the identities of the deceased were yet to be known as at the time of filing this report.

    The incident which occurred at about 1.30am on Thursday morning began when the villagers mistook a team of soldiers and Nigeria Air force personnel who were in the village on official operation as armed Fulani herdsmen.

    Information from the Assistant Director Army Public Relations, Major Njideka Agwu disclosed that the military team was in the village because intelligence reports claimed that some arms and ammunition were hidden in some houses in the community.

    As soon as the military team entered the villages, the villagers who have been warned of Fulani herdsmen invasion attacked the team, a situation which led to the death of the five people and injury to the two others.

    Four of the vehicles belonging to the army were burnt by the villagers.

    The Assistant Director, Army Public Relations in Niger state, Major Njideka Agwu confirmed the story adding that the number of casualty is yet unknown.

    “We heard that there were arms and ammunition in that village, so the military team went for cordon and search.

    “Unfortunately, the villagers opened fire on the team. The number of casualty is unknown now because the information is still sketchy”.

    The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana further explained that the incident was a military operation which went awry adding that the Police is not involved in it.

    Elkana then disclosed that one of the two soldiers injured have been admitted at the Police clinic while the other was receiving treatment at the Minna General hospital.

    Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello have directed a full scale investigation to be done regarding the clash giving the army 24 hours to get back to him with their report.

    Bello who was clearly displeased about the high casualty rate condemned the clash adding that both sides should have exercised restraint.

  • Power: Senator seeks special consideration for Niger state

    The senator representing Niger South in the National Assembly, Mustapha Sani Mohammed, has called for special treatment and consideration to be given to Niger state in the allocation of power to the state.

    Expressing dismay over the state of total electricity blackout in in the state, the Senator called for the implementation and full take-off of the Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC).

    He supported the Governor’s demand for 13 per cent derivation allocation of electricity to the state adding that it will go a long way in addressing the incessant power blackout in the state.

    In a statement signed by the Senator, he described the governor’s demand as “judicious” said this is necessary especially when power used in the country is being sourced from the state.

    “Niger state is the country’s source of power. Shiroro, Jebba and Kainji dams, where power is being generated for the country, are all located in the state, hence it is with utmost dismay that, all over the years, that no special treatment or consideration is given to the state both in terms of allocation of power from the national grid and in terms of power revenue.

    “13 percent derivation is being enjoyed by the Niger Delta region because of the challenges meted on the people and the environment by oil exploration; that is fully judicious, but if the same treatment isn’t given to Niger state in terms of power, justice isn’t served, for many Niger’s communities, too, are endangered, constrained and disadvantaged because of power generation.

    “It is against the backdrop of this that I declare my support for my Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello’s recent demand that 13 percent of the power generated in the country be given to the state beside its normal share.”

    Mohammed then called on the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to expediently fix the fault causing total blackout in Niger state calling on the people of the state to eschew violence as a result of the blackout, as the governor and other stakeholders are leaving no stone unturned to see that power becomes normal.

    It would be recalled that Sani Bello demanded that 13 percent of power be given to Niger state beside its normal share from the national grid during a stakeholders’ meeting held as a result of almost total blackout that is being witnessed in the state for almost three months.

  • Lagos, Niger mull partnership on agriculture

    Lagos, Niger mull partnership on agriculture

    The Lagos State Government on Wednesday kick-started discussions on partnership for the development of agricultural commodity value chain with Niger State aimed at ensuring food security and job creation for the two States and the country at large.

    The partnership, which is the second of its kind that the Lagos State Government under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is entering, was said to be directed at considerably boosting the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of not just the two States, but the the country.

    Addressing journalists after paying a courtesy visit on Governor Ambode at the Lagos House in Ikeja, Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, said the discussion basically centered on how to explore the comparative advantage of the two States to the benefit of Lagos and Nigeria.

    He said: “It was a private discussion. It was just to say hello to him (Governor Ambode) and we did not discuss much. Part of our conversation, we discussed agriculture and we specifically discussed how we can partner with Lagos State to support agriculture to the benefit of Lagos State and Nigeria at large.”

    It was gathered that discussion on the partnership is still at the preliminary stage, while more would be revealed on modalities as to how things will pan out as regard the partnership going forward.

    Governor Ambode had earlier entered into partnership with Kebbi State also on development of agricultural commodity value chain. The agreement, aside being aimed at the production of 70 per cent of Nigeria’s rice requirements annually, also principally centres on boosting the production of wheat, ground nut, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, cows among others.

    He said: “This relationship is visionary and it is also a pointer to the fact that the two states have decided to openly support the vision of Mr. President, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “The change mantra which President Buhari has been preaching is what this whole relationship is all about that we must look inward. We must start to reintegrate our economy in such a manner that we must not continue to import what we can produce and we must create a value chain where we have comparative advantage to do so,” Ambode had said.

  • Death Sentence for Cattle Rustlers in Niger

    In a bid to address the recent rise in cattle rustling and kidnapping in Niger state, the State House of Assembly have passed a law to criminalize the offences of kidnapping and cattle rustling.

    According to the law, armed cattle rustlers will be sentenced to death while kidnappers will be sentenced to life imprisonment while.

    At its sitting Thursday, the Speaker of the House, Honorable Ahmed Madafa said that with the law, the menace of kidnapping and cattle rustling in the state will be reduced and the people will be discouraged from engaging in the act.

    The bill was adopted after a report by the Committee on Security headed by the deputy Speaker, Honorable Hussaini Ibrahim.

    According to the bill, any offender who is being armed with offensive weapon or in company of any person so armed attacks or uses any personal violence to anybody, the person shall be liable on conviction to be sentenced to death.

    It was also stated that whoever forcefully takes over, deprives or unlawfully converts any cattle from the owner or rearer to his benefit will be said to have committed the offence of cattle rustling.

    Meanwhile, anyone who aids, abets or facilitates any act of kidnapping will be sentenced to 20 years imprisonment while anyone who arranges for self-kidnap will be sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Honorable Hussaini Ibrahim said that offenders will also forfeit their entire properties unless he proves that the properties are not proceeds of any crime committed by him.

  • Death Sentence For Cattle Rustlers in Niger

    In a bid to address the recent rise in cattle rustling and kidnapping in Niger state, the State House of Assembly have passed a law to criminalize the offences of kidnapping and cattle rustling.

    According to the law, armed cattle rustlers will be sentenced to death while kidnappers will be sentenced to life imprisonment while.

    At its sitting yesterday, the Speaker of the House, Honorable Ahmed Madafa said that with the law, the menace of kidnapping and cattle rustling in the state will be reduced and the people will be discouraged from engaging in the act.

    The bill was adopted after a report by the Committee on Security headed by the deputy Speaker, Honorable Hussaini Ibrahim.

    According to the bill, any offender who is being armed with offensive weapon or in company of any person so armed attacks or uses any personal violence to anybody, the person shall be liable on conviction to be sentenced to death.

    It was also stated that whoever forcefully takes over, deprives or unlawfully converts any cattle from the owner or rearer to his benefit will be said to have committed the offence of cattle rustling.

    Meanwhile, anyone who aids, abets or facilitates any act of kidnapping will be sentenced to 20 years imprisonment while anyone who arranges for self kidnap will be sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Honorable Hussaini Ibrahim said that offenders will also forfeit their entire properties unless he proves that the properties are not proceeds of any crime committed by him.