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Tag: Niger

  • Nigeria, Niger sign MOU on border security

    Nigeria and the authorities of Niger Republic have entered into an understanding to enhance border security in line with ECOWS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.

    The understanding was reached yesterday in Abuja during a high-level meeting between the  Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, and the visiting Nigerien Minister of Interior, Mr. Soly Amaodou.

    When operational, it would enable the border security agents of both countries to work jointly at common border points and flanks of both countries to not only ensure enhanced intelligence sharing but also help to mitigate irregular migration.

    A statement, issued yesterday by the NIS spokesman, Sunday James, and made available to The Nation, said: “The understanding will also allow for joint deployment of border officials of both countries to specific irregular routes/points in both countries to ensure that irregular migrants are discouraged from embarking on hazardous journeys through the Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea,

    “Create a platform for sensitization of citizens of the two countries on the need for them to always possess valid travel documents and avoid the use of irregular routes  when  crossing national frontiers in line with ECOWAS Protocol.

    “The partnership is part of efforts by the two neighbouring countries to combat the increasing cases of irregular migration of youths of both countries which unfortunately has led to the death of many along the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean corridors.

    “The Nigerien Minister of Interior was accompanied on the trip to Nigeria by Mr. Biko Ibrahim and Mahamar L Garba as well as Mr. Issaakou Abdou of the Nigerien Embassy in Nigeria.”

  • Election 2019: APC Chieftain urges youths to obtain PVC

    Alhaji Suleiman Umar, Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), Niger, has called on eligible Nigerian youths to take the advantage of the ongoing voter registration to get themselves registered.

    Umar made the call in an interview with the News men on Tuesday in Minna.

    He said that the desire of Nigerians to have responsible and responsive leaders depend on the ability of the youths to participate effectively in the electoral processes.

    According to him, to have a voice that matters as a Nigerian in 2019, you need to get a Permanent Voter Card ( PVC ).

    “It is only by obtaining your PCV that you can vote for your preferred candidates.

    He also urged Nigerians who have earlier registered and yet to obtain their PVCs to do that as soon as possible.

    Read Also: APC ‘won’t discuss tenure elongation at today’s NEC meeting’

    He described the PVC as the power of the electorate to elect credible leaders that would ensure good democratic governance.

    He said that failure of eligible residents to register was a disservice to the nation.

    He advised political leaders to embrace the principles of political tolerance and understanding among their followers.

    According to him, politicians must embrace peace and unity as well as preaching on political tolerance and better understanding among our followers.

    NAN

  • Niger governor signs budget

    Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello has signed the 2018 appropriation billon of N134.28 into law.

    The budget is N6.27 billion larger than the initial N128 billion sent to the House of Assembly.

    “We have deliberately tagged it “The People’s Budget” because our administration aims at deploying resources to those projects that have greater impact on our people, using our shared vision with unlimited opportunities,” the governor said.

    Bello, however, feared that the passage of the 2018 budget may affect the road construction components of the fiscal law.

    “We have lost almost three months in the year, we have already had the first rains in Minna and the lateness in the budget’s passage will have affect our road projects because of the rains,” he noted.

  • Ex-Governor Aliyu allegedly embezzled N5.9b pension fund, says Niger

    NIGER State has alleged that former Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu looted N5.9 billion pension funds belonging to the state workers.

    Deputy Governor Ahmed Mohamed Ketso, who broke the news to reporters, said the alleged figure was discovered by a committee set up by the state government to look into the 7.5 per cent contributory pension contributed by workers.

    He said the committee had verified the allegation “and it was discovered that the money was siphoned”.

    Ketso, who was referring to Aliyu’s alleged statement at a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) rally in Paiko that those decamping to All Progressives Congress (APC) were looters, said: “Unfortunately for the former governor, these people served under his administration. So, if those decamping are looters, then that means he is the chief looter”.

    He added that the state would resuscitate both old and new cases it discovered against those who allegedly mismanaged the state’s finances in the past, stressing that the former governor should be ready to answer some questions from security agencies and anti-corruption agencies.

    Ketso said: “The former governor had made it clear and known that PDP members are looters. We want to inform the security agencies, EFCC and court of competent jurisdiction about this utterance…

    “There are some existing cases that the former governor is facing and we have new ones. The former governor should be ready to answer some questions.”

    The deputy governor said anyone found guilty of looting public fund among those who decamped to APC would face the law, stressing that the ruling party would not shield anyone.

    “Whosoever is found guilty, whether defector or not, the law will take its due course. APC will not shield anybody coming to the party.

    “APC is seen as a party that is admired and we believe that the defectors are good people, who came to support us and it cannot be proper to call them looters until the court determines that. It should be noted that we never said the defectors are looters, the former governor whom they served under said they are looters,” the deputy governor said.

  • NULGE decries slow action on Autonomy Bill

    …knocks Imo Assembly for voting against Bill

    The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has lampooned House of Assemblies in the Southeast zone over their indifference in handling the Local Government Autonomy Bill.

    He noted that while other states like Kwara, Benue, Niger, Plateau, Bauchi, Cross River, Bayelsa and Ogun states have voted for Local Government autonomy, the states in the Southeast are yet to conduct public hearing.

    The Union also knocked the Imo State Assembly for voting against the Bill, describing the decision by the lawmakers as unfortunate.

    NULGE also lampooned the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha for not “equally putting his best to ensure the passage of the Bill”.

    Addressing newsmen at the NULGE Secretariat in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the National Auditor of the Union, Comrade Ayuba Shamdung Jepla, said that four states in the Southeast zone were just preparing to conduct public hearing on the bill.

    He accused the lawmakers of being insensitive to the plight of the people at the grassroots, who he said are the direct beneficiaries of the Local Government Autonomous Bill.

    Jepla also dismissed the earlier reason given by the Imo State House of Assembly for none passage of the bill, stating that “the defense was a mockery of the well-intended aim and objectives of the National Assembly with regards to Local Government Autonomous Bill”.

    According to him, “the Union unequivocally condemns the none passage of the Local Government Autonomous Bill by the Imo State House of Assembly as it is not only retrogressive, undemocratic but a calculated plan to enthrone abject poverty and misery in the third tier of government”.

    The Union however appreciated the State House of Assemblies that voted in favour of the bill, describing them as “partners in progress”.

  • Navy pledges support to Niger on security

    The Nigerian Navy says it will assist the Niger Government in tackling transnational crimes in Shagunu community of Borgu Local Government Area of the state.

    Commodore Olu Bankole, the Command Operations Officer, who led a delegation to the state, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen shortly after he held a closed-door meeting with Gov. Abubakar Bello in Minna on Monday.

    Bankole said the assistance was based on the request of the governor to the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, to assist the state to provide security in the area due to its proximity to Kainji.

    He said that a Navy Secondary School would be established to add leverage to the people with interest to join the Nigerian Navy and serve as surveillance in the state.

    He said that the school would serve as an occasional base to provide security in the area, especially maritime security.

    “We are here based on the directives of the Chief of Naval Staff to have a look at the place and advise on how the Navy can start a base, particularly in Shagunu in Borgu.

    “Navy is keen on establishing a base in the area because there is need to provide security in the area,” he said.

    The command operations officer said the presence of maritime security in the area would improve social-economic activities and improve security as the area was a gateway to other three countries.

    He said that the school would commence as soon as infrastructure was developed and put in place.

    NAN

  • Niger judicial officers get N30m wardrobe allowance

    The Niger State government has released N30 million as wardrobe allowances for its Magistrates and Judges.

    This, it said, is to avert an imminent strike. It promised to meet other demands soon.

    The Magistrates and Sharia Court Judges last week gave a 21-day ultimatum for the government to meet their demands.

    The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Nasara Danmalam, stated this yesterday during the meeting of Chairmen and Secretaries of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in the North Central Zone of Minna.

    According to him, the government has discussed with the Police Commissioner, who has agreed that security personnel would be given to the Magistrates and Judges.

    Danmallam said the money will be disbursed this week, stressing that the government will attend to the problems facing the judiciary promptly.

    He hoped that the officials would see the government’s sincerity through these steps and not go on strike.

  • Gov. Bello donates N20m to Bida market fire victims

    Gov. Bello donates N20m to Bida market fire victims

    Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger on Thursday donated N20 million to victims of Bida Market fire, to cushion their losses.

    Our reporter, recalled that a night fire had destroyed over 600 shops in the market on March 1.

    “We thank God that no life was lost during the incident, but again, properties worth millions of naira were destroyed.

    “As government, we cannot bring back what has been lost, but it is time for us to look inward to know the actual cause of the fire and avoid future occurrence.

    “We will further look inward to see the assistance government can give and we pray for God to help those who lost their goods and property to regain them in a short time,” he said during a condolence visit in Bida.

    He directed the state Emergency Management Agency to undertake proper assessment of the situation with a view to providing the victims with more support.

    The governor said a fire engine would be stationed permanently at the market, for prompt intervention in case of disaster.

    Bello advised people of the area to be law abiding and desist from act capable of disrupting the peace.

    Read Also: Niger Assembly Frowns at Bogus N156.3M Spending

    Responding, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar commended the governor for the donation and assured that the money would be distributed to actual victims.

    He said that the local assessment committee would work with that of the state government to determine the cause of the fire, quantum of losses recorded and recommend ways to avert future occurrence.

    The monarch advised the state government to remodel the market to meet global standard.

    Malam Mohammed Audu, one of the victims, commended the governor for the donation, but called for more support to victims “whose businesses have been crippled as a result of the fire.”

    “I lost everything in my shop during the fire and that shop was my source of living, I don’t know where to start from, I need government assistance to set up a new business,” he said in an interview with our reporter.

    NAN

  • Niger: Customs collects N146m revenue in February – Comptroller

    Niger: Customs collects N146m revenue in February – Comptroller

    The Nigeria Customs Service ( NCS ), Niger Area Command, said on Wednesday that it collected N146 million as internally generated revenue in February.

    Mr Benjamin Binga, the Command’s Comptroller, gave the figure in an interview with our reporter in Minna.

    The command, which comprised Niger, Kwara and Kogi, has N3.4 billion revenue target for the year, as directed by the customs headquarters.

    Binga said that the command had taken concrete working measures to ensure the realisation of increased revenue.

    According to him, adequate security measures have been adopted by the command, to block the smuggling of goods into the country through the area.

    “We have identified all the smugglers’ routes and have deployed competent officers to fight the menace to a standstill.”

    Binga solicited the support of traditional rulers, especially those at border posts, in assisting officers manning the areas with relevant information, to discourage smuggling.

    He also appealed for more working support from stakeholders, including members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW ), in sharing information on smugglers’ activities.

    NAN

  • NHP: Niger pledges additional 150 hectares of land

    NHP: Niger pledges additional 150 hectares of land

    The Niger Government has pledged to give additional 150 hectares of land to support the second phase of the Federal Government’s National Housing Programme ( NHP ) in the state.

    Mr Kudu Aliyu, Director, Public Building, Niger State Ministry of Works, made the pledge on Wednesday when some officials of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing visited the NHP site in Minna.

    Aliyu commended the level of work done so far at the housing construction project site, adding that the programme was paramount for national development.

    “The state government is pleased with the ongoing housing construction, most of the structures are completed, some are in plaster finishing while some are completely roofed.

    “We are ready to donate between 150 to 200 hectares of land for the second phase of the programme,” he said.

    The project, which is 70 per cent completed, is located at ‘Three Arms Zone,’ Eastern Bypass, Metumbi Area, Niger.

    Hajiya Habiba Ahmed, General Manager, Niger State Urban Development Board ( NSUDB ), also assured the officials that the state government would be ready and glad to give out additional land for a second phase of the project due to its benefits.

    According to her, in acquiring land, the state government always considers compensation because one cannot take away people’s land meant for their livelihood without compensating them.

    She noted that the state government donated the present land free of any encumbrance, adding that the land was initially acquired by the state government and compensations were paid to the customary people.

    She explained that the state government endorsed the NHP as a laudable project hence it ceded its acquired land to the Federal Government to execute the project.

    The NHP is a vision of the Federal Government and anchored by the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in collaboration with the 36 state governments.

    NAN