The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger State

  • Saraki decries Niger lead poisoning

    Saraki decries Niger lead poisoning

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday  decried the outbreak of lead poisoning in Rafin Local Government area of Niger State.

    The lead poisoning was attributed to small scale or artisanal mining of gold in the area.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Sanni Onogu, said that Saraki spoke when the representatives of Doctors Without Borders led by Dr. Simba Tirima paid him a courtesy call in Abuja.

    It said that Saraki described the development as unfortunate especially as the incident in Niger State occurred at a time the nation is yet to recover from the ravages of a similar incident in Bagega, Zamfara State where over 400 children were affected in 2013.

    It said that Saraki lamented that 28 children had already died as a result of the lead poisoning  in Rafin Local Government of Niger State and called on the Ministry of Solid Minerals to be proactive in tackling the incidence so as to safeguard the health of the people living in the area especially, children.

    It quoted Saraki to have assured that th Senate would work with the various stakeholders to ensure that all funds made available are utilized for proper remediation of the affected communities and the treatment of children already affected by lead poisoning.

    Saraki said: “I want to assure you that this National Assembly will make this issue a matter of great urgency to ensure that all that was made available for the remediation that needs to be done either through the funds of the ecological agency or through the 2016 budget, is done not only to address the case in Niger State but also we must be proactive and there must be a level of funding available for this.

    “This cannot happen in any developed society today. We need to begin to also identify areas in this country where gold mining is resulting to lead poisoning. Like he (Tirima) said we cannot stop the miners because as a result of poverty, this is their only source of income to survive.

    “It is our duty to improve and make mining safer. I think it is important also that the Ministry of Solid Minerals takes quick and proactive actions in addressing the issue of lead poisoning.

    “The state government has a role to play as well. We must get the government of Niger State and Rafin Local Government involved. They should play their own role in educating the stakeholders there to understand why they must stop their mining activities.

    “Really, we must ensure that this does not repeat itself in this country. It is very unfair to the citizens, most especially the children that are affected. We will take it up from here to ensure that prompt action is taken, so we can quickly address the issue and treat those that were affected.”

    It said that the representative of the Doctors Without Borders, Dr. Simba Tirima, commended the Senate President for his efforts towards curtailing the lead poisoning incidence in Bagega, Zamfara State in 2013 when he was the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology in the 7th Senate.

    Tirima said: “Without His Excellency really, the funds that were allocated for that project would not have been released. But he personally went to Bagega to visit the people that were affected. I am very happy to report that Bagega is doing very well.

    “The kids who are on treatment are being discharged because there has been a lot of improvement and the treatment is going on very well through  Doctors Without Borders.

    “We want to thank you for your support in dealing with such a serious issue of lead poisoning which primarily attacks the very thing that makes us human and that is its impact on our brains especially poor children who are the future of this country. We thank you for your continued support,” he said.

  • Niger: Bello condoles with victims of fire disaster

    Niger: Bello condoles with victims of fire disaster

    Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger has condoled with victims of the fire disaster that claimed several lives and property in Jatai Maitumbi of Bosso local government areas of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports on Monday that the incident occurred on Feb. 20 at about 3.30 a.m. when a high tension electric cable fell on residential houses.

    The inferno occasioned by the accident killed a Ward Head, his son and a Police Inspector in the community.

    NAN also reports that several houses were razed by the fire.

    Bello, who sympathised with the victims, said a committee would be set up to investigate the cause of the disaster.

    He directed Mr. Akubuko Mazi, Deputy Regional Manager, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), to formally report the incident to the government.

    “The loss is very difficult to understand. I urged you to write a report to your Head Office, stating exactly what happened while we wait for response.

    “As a government we will give our assistance to the families of the deceased,” he said.

    One of the victims, Mr. Audu Tanko, whose house was razed by fire, told NAN that “I was in the market when my wife called me that my house was on fire.

    “I quickly rushed back home only to see my house on fire.

    “I remember when officials of Power Holding Company came to connect high tension lines to Gurusu village. I explained to them that it was risky to connect high tension lines on top the wires that connect my house.

    “But they refused to adhere to what I told them. Look at the damages their carelessness has caused. They have left I and my family homeless,” he said.

    NAN also gathered that the deceased Police Inspector, Mr. Abu Gani, is survived by his wife and five children, while the Ward Head, Alhaji Tanko Saidu, left behind four wives and 27 children.

  • ‎Boko Haram: Kabiru Sokoto accuses FG of frustrating his appeal

    ‎Boko Haram: Kabiru Sokoto accuses FG of frustrating his appeal

    Convicted Boko Haram member, Kabiru Umar (also known as Kabiru Sokoto) has accused agents of the Federal Government of frustrating his efforts to appeal his conviction and sentence.

    Sokoto was on December 20, 2013 sentenced to life imprisonment by Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja in connection with 2011 Christmas day bomb blast that killed about 44 persons and wounded 75 others at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State.

    Justice Ademola had, in his judgment, held that he was satisfied that the Federal Government, successfully established the culpability of the convict beyond every reasonable doubt, noting that Umar had in two earlier separate confessional statements, admitted that he had prior knowledge of the attack.

    The judge noted that Sokoto never showed any remorse for his actions throughout the trial, and described him (Sokoto) as “a pathological liar with no regards for the truth.”

    Dissatisfied, Sokoto filed a notice of appeal before the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

    In a fresh motion on notice filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja by his lawyer, Sheriff Okoh, Sokoto alleged the Comptroller of Prisons and his men have made it impossible to access his lawyer, to enable him perfect his appeal process.

    The motion, which has The Comptroller General of Prisons (CGP) and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as respondents, Sokoto, now being held at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, Lagos, wants an order compelling the respondents to allow him access to his lawyer.

    He also seeks a declaration that the respondents’s alleged decision to deny him access to his lawyer was a violation of his right to fair hearing, right to counsel and access to justice.

    In a supporting affidavit deposed to by Okoh, it was alleged that the several applications to the CGP by Sokoto’s lawyer for opportunity to see him had always been turned down.

    “We have made several person contacts with the 1st defendant (CGP), his men: S. N. Nwanchukwu (PSO), E. O. Ogundele) DCG) among others, at the Nigeria Prisons headquarters, Abuja in a bid to persuade them to permit us to see the applicant, but they kept making us indulge in fruitless returns for approvals from the 2nd respondent (AGF) that has not come for over two years.

    “Wherefore, we verily believe that their actions are aimed at ensuring that the applicant’s appeal of his conviction and sentence continues to be frustrated in perpetuity.

    “The applicant’s appeal before the Court of Appeal is being delayed as a result of the conduct of the 1st respondent and men under his command and supervision,” Okoh said.

    Thursday, when the case was called, the trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba observed that there was no evidence in court’s file that the respondents were served with processes (court documents) in the case.

    He directed the applicant’s lawyer to ensure service of the processes on the respondents and return on February 4 for the hearing of the motion.

     

     

  • Niger: NDLEA arrests 286 suspects, seizes hard drugs

    Niger: NDLEA arrests 286 suspects, seizes hard drugs

    A seizure of 1,614.529 kg of various hard drugs and arrest of 286 suspects was made by the Niger State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) between January 2015 and January 2016, the State Commander, Mr. Joseph Iweanjuwa has disclosed.

    Addressing newsmen in his office Wednesday, Iweanjuwa said the command convicted 66 offenders, 87 youths were counseled and rehabilitated while 8,400 ml of cough syrup with codeine was mopped up to prevent abuse.

    “A breakdown of the drug seizures in 2015 are; 1,320 kg of dried weeds suspected to be Cannabis Sativa, 44.27kg of Diazepam Tablets, 161.21 kg of Tramadol Tablets, 32.37 kg of Extol-5, 3.038kg of Rohypnol, 14.66kg of Nitrazepam and 0.0014kg of Cocaine”, the Commander said.

    Iweanjuwa also disclosed that 12,000 tonnes of seized drugs are ready for destruction stating that the command is waiting for the permission of the court to carry out the exercise.

    He lamented the increase of young women in the state who are involved in the abuse of cough syrup with codeine stating that this drug is gradually taking the place of alcohol in the state.

    The NDLEA Boss pointed out that the agency needs to recruit more hands to beef up its manpower stressing that all hands must be on deck to stop drug abuse in the nation as drug problem is not the responsibility and duty of government and NDLEA alone.

  • Niger LG chairmen-elect get certificates

    The Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) has presented certificates of return to the 24 local government chairmen who won last Saturday’s election.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won all the chairmanship seats in the 24 councils where elections held.

    At the certificate presentation event on Tuesday, the Chairman of NSIEC, Alhaji Mohammad Abubakar, urged the new chairmen to be good ambassadors of their people and the entire state in the discharge of their duties.

    He said “the Saturday election was adjudged free and fair by observers and other stakeholders who monitored it. This is a sign that the people have given you their trust.

    “I urge you to continue to put the interest of the people at heart and satisfy their desire for change and development.’’

    Alhaji Yusuf Inuwa, the Chairman-elect for Chanchaga Local Government, commended the Commission for the free and fair election, adding that the people would be well represented.

    He added that “during my campaign, I promised the ward that produced the highest number of votes in Minna South a one-kilometre road construction.”

  • Yuletide: 5000 Policemen deployed to Niger

    Yuletide: 5000 Policemen deployed to Niger

    No fewer than 5000 Police officers and men from the Niger State Police Command would be deployed during the Christmas celebration, the state Commissioner of Police, Abubakar Marafa has disclosed.

    According to him, these policemen would be deployed to places of worship, markets and recreation centers in the state.

    Speaking to newsmen in Minna Tuesday, the Commissioner of Police said patrol and surveillance activities are being intensified for the safety of the lives and property of people in Niger state throughout the festive season.

    Marafa who spoke on the activities of the police in the state said that they are currently winning the war against criminals and their activities adding that cattle rustling, youth gangsterism, kidnapping and highway robbery have been reduced to the barest minimum.

    He said that 1,986 suspects were arrested for major crimes in the state while 889 cattle, 114 sheep and goats and 14 donkeys were recovered from cattle rustlers in 2015.

  • Tribunal affirms election of Niger lawmaker

    Tribunal affirms election of Niger lawmaker

    The National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Minna, Niger State, on Thursday upheld the election of Alhaji Lado Abdullahi, the member representing Suleja, Gurara, Tafa Federal Constituency.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lado’s election was challenged by Mr. Mukhtar Ahmed of the PDP on the grounds that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate was not qualified to contest the March 28 elections.

    The petitioner alleged that Lado did not possess the minimum educational qualification as stipulated by law and had forged the certificates he presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the election.‎

    Delivering judgement after reviewing evidences adduced by parties in the matter, Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Olatunde Oshodi, ‎dismissed the petition for lack of merit.

    He ordered the petitioner to pay the sum of N100, 000 to each of the respondents.

    Reacting to the verdict, counsel to the petitioner, Mohammed Mohammed, told newsmen that they would study the judgment and decide on the next line of action.

    “Well, we are going to review the judgment of the tribunal and advise our client accordingly,” he said.

  • Flood sacks 33 villages in Niger

    Thirty three riverine villages in Lapai Local Government area of Niger State have been sacked by flood from Rivers Niger and Kogi.

    Fifteen of the affected villages are currently submerged by the flood, displacing residents of the villages while the access roads to 18 other villages have been washed off by the flood. Inhabitants of the worst hit villages are currently camping at Primary Schools in Arah and Dere villages under deplorable living conditions.

    Domestic animals and multi-million Naira properties,which include residential buildings, schools, places of worship and vast farmland have been destroyed and washed away by the flood.

    House of Representatives member representing Agaie/Lapai Federal constituency, Hon. Mohammed Abdulkadir Mahamud and his State House of Assembly counterpart for Lapai constituency, Hon. Adamu Hassan Abugi who paid a fact-finding visit to the affected areas on Sunday expressed concern for the victims.

    The two legislators who are indigenes of the area assured the affected communities of state government determination to alleviate their sufferings by relocating them upland of banks of the two major rivers.

    Addressing the displaced persons at Dere Primary School, Hon. Mahmud said the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello promised to come to the aid of the affected communities following a preliminary report sent to him.

    “We have spoken to the governor of the degree of devastation caused by the flood and he (governor) has promised to come to our aid with a view to relocating our people upland. And I know that the governor will not disappoint us,” the lawmaker assured his people.

    He also called for the take off of the Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) in order to address the annual flooding of the area.

    “It is high time for states under HYPPADEC to come toigether and ensure the takeoff of the Commission, so that lasting solution could be found to this perennial flooding and protect our people from suffering annually as a result of flood,” Mahmud appealed.

    Earlier the village head of Dere, Alhaji Idris Dere who recounted their losses said this year’s flooding was more devastating and called on the three tiers of government to come to their aid.

  • Why we have not probed Aliyu – Bello

    Why we have not probed Aliyu – Bello

    Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has assured the people of the state his administration is not insensitive to the call for public probe of the immediate past administration of Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.

    He said his administration has opted for the most effective and cost efficient way to bring plunders of public funds to book.

    The governor gave this reason in Minna, in a state wide broadcast to mark his administration 100 days in office.

    According to him, “the call from certain quarters to institute Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe the immediate past administration has not fallen unto deaf ears. However, my position and indeed that of our party the APC is to meticulously and professionally review the activities of the past administration”.

    He however said that the Financial Management Committee set by his administration to look at all major financial transactions of the State and Local Governments from May 2007 to May 2015 has made substantial progress and the findings are quite revealing.

    He said, “Interim report by the committee revealed some despicable patterns such as breach of due process and inflated contracts, non-compliance with financial guideline, huge cash withdrawals by government officials, private individuals and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) officials and members.”

    The governor then assured that as soon as the Committee finalizes its work, the full findings will be made public and handed over to the Security Agencies for necessary action taken against those culpable

    Short of saying that the probe has commenced, the governor said the exercise will be devoid of the drama that characterized the past exercise in the state.

  • Niger declares curfew in Paiko as religious clash claims one

    Niger declares curfew in Paiko as religious clash claims one

    The Niger Government has declared curfew in Paiko Local Government Area of the state following a violent clash between Hausa and Gwari youths that left one person dead.

    This is contained in a statement signed on Saturday by Dr Ibraheem Dooba, Chief Press Secretary to the state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello.

    “In view of the unfortunate violence in Paiko, the Niger State Government has declared curfew in Paiko town from 10 p.m to 4 a.m until further notice.

    “ To keep the peace, the people are advised not to violate the curfew, anybody who does would face appropriate consequences for their infraction, ‘’ the statement said.

    The statement urged the citizens to be law abiding, eschew violence and demonstrate the abiding peace for which the state was known for.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) check in Paiko on Saturday revealed that aside the one person that was confirmed dead, many people were injured as cars and buildings were also destroyed.

    NAN gathered from a reliable source in Paiko, who spoke on condition of anonymity, that the fight was an aftermath of the battle over the appointment of the deputy Imam for the Paiko central mosque.

    He told NAN that the protest by a group representing the Gwari community led to the violent clash.

    He, however, said in the ensued encounter one of the boys lost his life.

    The Niger Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Bala Elkana, who confirmed the clash and death of one person, told newsmen that it has anything to do with the tussle over leadership of the central mosque.

    Elkana, however, said he was yet to get details of the report from Paiko to enable him brief newsmen properly.