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Tag: Niger

  • Urbanisation: Niger, UN-Habitat sign MoU

    An eight-man delegation from Niger State, led by the Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Isa Ladan, has paid a visit to United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) head office in Nairobi, Kenya.

    During the visit,  the delegation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UN-Habitat to implement the New Urban Agenda. The ceremony was witnessed by the Nigerian Ambassador to Kenya, Sheidu Omeiza Momoh.

    The parties agreed to foster cooperation through the following projects: a Niger State Urban Development Policy (based on the National Urban Development Policy); development of an integrated development plan for Minna and Suleja; development of a plan for a new smart town in Sutleja; provision of technical support to the state on various issues and development of a public space surrounding River Iku in Sutleja.

    “Today marks a very important milestone in the effort of my administration to lay a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the state and for creating compact, connected, socially inclusive and self-sustaining towns and cities, through this technical urban assistance programme between UN-Habitat and Niger State,” said Ladan.

    He extended his appreciation to UN-Habitat for securing a grant from the South Korean government to develop the state urban policy.

    In a statement, UN-Habitat Executive Director, Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, noted that the new collaboration would ensure the opportunities available in Niger State in terms of land area, power generation, agriculture and proximity to the nation’s capital, Abuja, are maximised. She further commended the state for taking the lead in enacting a sub-national urban policy. She also highlighted the Federal Government’s support in helping to develop the “Africa Common Position on Habitat III”. Both speeches were followed by the signing ceremony at 11am (Nairobi time).

    Prior to the signing, the delegation made a detailed presentation where it expanded on its urban challenges and opportunities inviting UN-Habitat’s expertise to assist. Several bilateral meetings with the delegation were also held.

    The visit ended with the delegation visiting Nairobi County’s Ministry of Land & Urban Planning and the administration’s headquarters at Konza Techno City to learn from good practices in governance and smart city planning.

  • I have no regret cutting off my cousin’s manhood – suspect

    I have no regret cutting off my cousin’s manhood – suspect

    A 25 year old man,  Aliyu Mohammadu has cut off his cousin’s  manhood after accusing him of stealing his N3, 500 in Niger state.
    Mohammadu who reside in Babana Borgu in New Bussa local government area of Niger state, claimed he caught his cousin,  Ibrahim taking the money from his room and ran away.
    Confessing to the crime,  the suspect said that he has no regret over what happened, threatening more harm if his money is not given to him.
     ” What I need is my N3,500, otherwise I am going to do more harm in the family. I have two wives and two children to cater for, I need my money to look after them.”
    It was learnt that Mohammadu and Ibrahim have not been in good terms and when he confronted the victim over the missing money,  he denied taking his money.
    “And when I confronted him on his way to farm, he told me to go and look for where I kept my money, insisting that I should not disturb him again about the money.  I got annoyed and attacked him with my cutlass which resulted cutting off his manhood.
    “My cousin was rude to me after he made away with my N3,500, he fought me, that was why I cut off genital organ leaving him in pool of blood,” he explained.
    The Niger state Police Public Relations Officer, Peter Sunday said the suspect was arrested for cutting off his cousin’s manhood by the operatives  in New Bussa Division.
    Sunday however said that Ibrahim was rushed to a specialist hospital in Ilorin, kwara State for treatment and he is currently undergoing treatment.
  • Umaru tackles Bello on incessant travels abroad

    Umaru tackles Bello on incessant travels abroad

    ….Says ‘I Will Not Keep Quiet’

     

    The Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District, Senator David Umaru has tackle the Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sanitation Bello over his frequent trips abroad while the economy and security of the state is deteriorating.

    He described the reasons given by the governor for his trips as unreasonable saying he is always in pursuit of ‘phantom agreements and MOUs’.

    In a press statement titled, “When Silence is No Longer Golden… A Must Read for All APC Wailers”, the Senator asked, ‘Why Should I Keep Quiet? ‘

    He said that he have been told to shut up but he cannot keep quiet as the past and recent developments in the state do not seem pleasant enough to afford the luxury of such passive disposition.

    He alledged that billions of naira accrue to the state monthly is being squandered with reckless profligacy stating that the leadership has demonstrated its incapacity to use the resources to bring relief to the suffering of the people.

    Umaru also said that the APC administration in the state has virtually nothing tangible to show for the billions of bailout funds, budget support funds and Paris club refunds that had accrued to the stat stating there has not been any visible development projects in the state tied to the funds collected.

    “Why should I keep quiet when the state of affairs in Niger State has in recent times become worrisome to the extent that some of us involved directly or indirectly in governance under the ruling APC can no longer pretend that all is well. My concern over the plummeting political and socio-economic condition in the state has become more desperate for the obvious fact that I had played a leading role in the campaign that gave power to our party in the 2015 election.

    “How can I keep quiet when it is a known fact that I went to every nook and cranny, particularly in Niger East Senatorial District, soliciting for votes based on the conviction that if voted into office our government would bring succour to our suffering people in line with its slogan of change but unfortunately, two years after our victory, that conviction is fast fading and becoming a mirage as our people continue to wallow in hardship occasioned by lack of basic and essential amenities as a result of the administration’s failure to direct available huge financial resources to the benefit and development of the state.

    “Why should I keep quiet when as much as one would have wanted to stay aloof and maintain “dignified” silence, past and recent developments in our beloved state do not seem pleasant enough to afford the luxury of such passive disposition. Available records have shown that billions of naira accrue to the state monthly but same is squandered with reckless profligacy. The Leadership has demonstrated its incapacity to use our resources to bring relief to our suffering people.

    “The Leadership continues to exhibit serious inadequacy, lack of honesty, lack of accountability, lack of transparency and prudence in the management of the huge amounts coming from federal allocations and special interventions by the Presidency to the state over the years. In essence, this APC administration has virtually nothing tangible to show for the billions of bailout funds, budget support funds and Paris club refunds that had accrued to the state. I am also aware that Mr. Governor has within the year or so approached the state House of Assembly twice or thereabout for legislative approvals to access more funds running into billions of naira but there has not been any visible development project(s) in the state tied to these funds.

    “I am told to shut up but I cannot keep quiet while under our watch billions of naira meant for payment of pensioners is alleged to be heartlessly diverted? Why should I not speak out when the government I campaigned to install has continued to be insensitive to the plight of our pensioners through dubious manipulation of pension reform matters thereby jeopardising the already impoverished state of our retirees.”

    Senator Umaru further stated that that the inattention of the governor to security have led to the increase in crimes in local government areas across the state.

    “Again, why should I keep quiet when the security situation in the state has degenerated to the level that several villages have been sacked by criminals and kidnappers while the government remains clueless and insensitive to the plight of the affected communities in complete abdication of it’s constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property of its citizens.

    “As I speak to you Tsohon Kabulu, Bakin Nyanyi, Rigogo, Fwapeyi among other Communities in Munya LGA have been dislodged by the criminals who have killed 4 persons and kidnapped 10 others. Why shouldn’t I speak out when the Governor is preoccupied with undertaking trips abroad in pursuit of phantom agreements, MOUs rather than being around to attend to the serious security challenges rocking the state.

    “There are several other similar security issues on which the government inaction is evident and they include the Fulani herders/farmers clashes in many parts of the state where scores of people are being killed; The Ebota village incident in Mokwa LGA where over 23 villagers were mercilessly massacred by Fulani assailants and this is still fresh in our memories; the wanton and senseless murder of a woman in Pandogari, Rafi LGA; the Lambata/Izom cattle market clashes and serious kidnappings, armed robbery and rape incidents in Gurara LGA; the Kaffin-Koro communal clashes, and the Kidnappings, rape, armed robbery in Ishau, Paikoro LGA, the Suleja church attacks etc. All these are begging for government attention.

    “In the light of the security challenges confronting us, I cannot keep quiet. I urge the State Government to deploy the huge security votes at its disposal to provide logistics and support to the security agencies in the state to enhance the performance of their duties.

    “Finally, let it be known that I speak out because the resources accruing to our State is our commonwealth and does not belong to any one family and their friends. I will not keep quiet for the sake of our suffering jobless young people, women and children and our future generation. “

  • Bello to corpers: You are safe in Niger

    Bello to corpers: You are safe in Niger

    Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has pledged to provide adequate security and ensure welfare of corps members posted to the various Local Government Areas in the state.

    He said this during the closing ceremony of the 2017 Batch “B’’ corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Paiko on Monday.

    Bello, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, advised corps members to continue to play vital roles in the area of education, health care, agriculture and rural development.

    He enjoined them to be committed to their work, adding that government would strengthen awards to recognise distinguished corps members.

    The governor, however, appealed to employers to accept corps members posted to their organisations.

    Read also: NYSC DG warns corps members against night parties, indecent dressing

    In her remarks, Mrs Theresa Arokoyo, the NYSC Coordinator in Niger, commended the State Government for the provision of drugs to facilitate the smooth running of the camp clinic.

    She appealed to employers to create an enabling environment for corps members to excel in their places of primary assignments rather than rejecting them.

    Arokoyo urged corps members to be good ambassadors of the scheme and practice all they have learnt during the three weeks orientation course in the camp.

    NAN

  • Suspected kidnappers, armed robbery gang arrested by police in Niger

    Suspected kidnappers, armed robbery gang arrested by police in Niger

    The Nigeria Police Force has arrested 28 suspects for alleged kidnapping, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger.

    The suspects are: Yusuf Adamu, gang leader, Bello Salisu, Jafar Salisu, Hamza Usman, Mohammed Abdullahi, Umar Ibrahim, Jibrin Adamu, Abdullahi Abubakar, Ismail Mammam, Usman Adamu and Ibrahim Shehu.

    Others are: Hassan Salisu, Stephen Dung, Datchun Chodi, Fom Haruna, Yakubu Chollom, Mike Aboy, Nehemiah Duniya,Augustine Pam, Yusuf Boyi, Elijah Pam, Abdullahi Ibrahim, David Andy, Muazu Useni, Usman Shaibu, Olawale Ariyo, Daudu Garba and Aliyu Bahago.

    The Force spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

    He said that items recovered from the suspects include: KIA Saloon Lift up Car, Mercedez Benz Saloon Car, two AK47 Rifles, three English Pump Action Guns, one Revolver English Pistol and one Beretta English Pistol.

    Others are: one Single Barrel Gun, 133 AK47 Ammunitions, 50 Live Cartridges, 20 pistols Beretta, four Pairs of suspected fake military uniform, three different suspected fake army ranks of Major, Sergeant and Staff Sergeant.

    He said that the arrest followed a coordinated operations by the Special Tactical Squad within one week.

    Moshood said that the suspects used different fake vehicle number plates to beat security checks on the highways.

    He said that the number plates comprised of that of the Army, Ministry of Defence and the Federal Government.

    The spokesman said that five victims were rescued from the hideouts of the suspects during the operation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Force had on July 25 commenced ‘Operation Absolute Sanity’ on Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

    NAN also reports that the operations were to complement the ongoing Joint Police and Military operations on the route.

    On July 31 and Aug. 3, the police also arrested 31 and 40 suspects at Katari and Rijana areas respectively, along the Kaduna-Abuja road.

  • Polio: UNICEF immunizes 2m children in four states

    Polio: UNICEF immunizes 2m children in four states

    The Global Affairs Canada (GAC) in conjunction with UNICEF said it immunized more than two million children in rural communities of Jigawa, Niger, Taraba and Zamfara states in the past one year.
    Dr. Esther Obinya, a UNICEF health specialist and the National Coordinator of the Hard To Reach (HTR) project, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jalingo on Saturday, that the initiative of reaching rural communities with vaccines was recording a lot of success.
    She disclosed that the HTR project was able to reach more than 900,000 pregnant women in the four states with ante-natal and post-natal services and commodities within the period.
    Obinya stated that the HTR, which is aimed at eradicating polio and strengthening health care in remote communities, is enjoying support from the federal, state and local governments in all the four high-risk states where the project is ongoing.
    She disclosed that more than 3,000 settlements had been visited at least three times since the project began in March 2016.
    She identified security breach occasioned by the frequent communal clashes, hazardous terrains, political interference and getting the right technical personnel, especially, Nurse-Midwives as the major challenges of the project.
    The Bill and Melinda-Gates foundation had carried out similar exercises in Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Bauchi, Katsina, and Kano with very good results, she said.
    Obinya, who was in Taraba to supervise the Quarter 3, 2017 Review Meeting of GAC/HTR for Jigawa, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara states, also called on the benefiting states to work assiduously to sustain the project which would end in December 2018.
    Delegates from the four states had earlier undertaken field trips to some Hard to Reach communities in Ardo-Kola and Jalingo Local Government.
    NAN recalls that the World Health Assembly had in 2012 asked the World Health Organisation to formulate a programme that would eradicate polio worldwide when it was discovered that Nigeria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan had remained the three most endemic countries that were left with polio.
  • VAIDS: FG recruits 2190 tax officers – Adeosun

    VAIDS: FG recruits 2190 tax officers – Adeosun

    The Federal Government has recruited and trained 2,190 Community Tax Liaison Officers (CTLOs) under the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), says the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun.

    Adeosun, in a statement by her Special Adviser, Media and Communications, Mr Oluyinka Akintunde, said that 1,710 CTLOs had already been deployed to 33 states, out of the number recruited and trained.

    She said that their task was to raise awareness about the scheme and taxation in general.

    She said that the CTLOs were currently operating in Adamawa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Kaduna, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun and Oyo states among others.

    Adeosun said there was no hiding place for tax evaders residing in Nigeria or abroad, noting that the Federal Government had put in place a data mining mechanism to fish out evaders.

    “The unique cooperation between the various arms of Federal Government, state governments and foreign governments has provided an unprecedented level of data that allows the Nigerian Government to profile taxpayers accurately.

    “We are now able to identify those whose lifestyle and assets are not consistent with their declared income.

    “A lot of data mining is going on daily, both locally and internationally, on property ownership and other items. Data is an extremely powerful tool that is now being utilized.

    “For instance, we have reviewed all companies that received major payments from the Federal Government in the last 5 years and found that even those who made money from government, under-declared,” she said.

    Adeosun said that the tax compliance team had looked at import records and compared the value of goods imported to the tax declarations of the importers, but the discovery was worrisome as “the variance was disturbingly wide”.

    “On personal income taxes, we reviewed property and company ownership as well as registration of high value assets and foreign exchange allocations, which gives us a sense of the lifestyles of the persons.

    “But again, we found major non-compliance. In some cases, people declared as little as N10 million as income but purchased expensive property overseas and in Nigeria.

    “They also registered high specification vehicles and funded luxurious personal events costing multiples of the declared income,” she said.

    Adeosun said that now, with the centralisation of data under Project Lighthouse within the Federal Ministry of Finance, a major tax loophole has been plugged.

    She reiterated the willingness of the Federal Government to prosecute tax evaders after the tax amnesty period had elapsed.

    Adeosun also said that the Federal Government had compiled a list of 500 prominent Nigerians with property and trusts abroad, to determine their tax compliance status.

    The 500 prominent Nigerians, according to her, will receive their letters beginning from Monday, asking them to take advantage of the tax amnesty to regularise their tax status and avoid prosecution and fines.

    VAIDS, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the State Tax Authorities, is a revolutionary programme that provides tax defaulters a nine-month opportunity to voluntarily and truthfully declare previously untaxed assets and incomes.

    The tax amnesty period is expected to lapse on March 31, 2018.

    Job creation is one of the spin-offs of the VAIDS initiative, with the scheme expected to create 7,500 opportunities for Nigerians as CTLOs through the N-Power scheme of the Federal Government.

     

  • NIPC to partner Niger on development of Tourism, Agriculture

    NIPC to partner Niger on development of Tourism, Agriculture

    The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission ( NIPC ) on Thursday said it would partner the Niger State Government to attract investors into tourism and agricultural sectors of the state

    Ms Yewande Sadiku, the Chief Executive Officer of NIPC, said this when Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger visited the commission in Abuja.

    Sadiku said that the commission would support the state government in profiling investment opportunities that would attract foreign investors to the state.

    According to her, the commission was building a platform for capacity building and profiling investment opportunities; starting with a tool that would help in profiling small and medium scale enterprises (SMES).

    “We are profiling investment opportunities in a way that will be easy to market.

    “By doing this, such profiling will help investors identify specific opportunities. We are happy to work with whatever team you designated first to profile.

    “We have adequate information on different types of profiling that can be used as teasers for our engagement with investors,” she said.

    She noted that the platform would help states with investment projects to market their products.

    Sadiku said that Niger had the potential to feed Nigeria and West Africa if attention were given to key sectors such as infrastructure development in agriculture and tourism.

    She said that the development of infrastructure would help the state close some of the challenges it might face in terms of competitiveness of manufactured goods.

    “Nigeria has three hydro-electric dams located in Niger and power is the foundation for industrial development.

    “Niger is one of the 36 states that is unique due to its proximity to Abuja, this means that the state is already close to the market.
    .
    “We are delighted to work with you in terms of marketing projects and profiling,” she said.

    Earlier, Gov. Bello had solicited the support of the commission in profiling and carrying out feasibility studies on agriculture and tourism sectors in the state to attract global investors.

    He said that the state had structures such as the Baro Port, tourist sites and agriculture potential that had not been adequately harnessed due to lack of proper profiling and feasibility studies.

    “We have tourist sites and agriculture potentials which many investors have shown interest to develop; but we need profiling on these key sectors for foreign investors to know what Niger State can offer them,” he said.

    Bello, however, noted that such potential if properly harnessed would have more impact and generate more revenue and jobs for the people of the state and the country at large.

    NAN

  • Staff verification saves Niger N216bn

    Staff verification saves Niger N216bn

    The Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), Niger State Chapter, on Wednesday said that the verification exercise for civil servants had saved the state government about N216 billion.

    Alhaji Idris Ndako, the state NLC Chairman, disclosed this at the presentation of the report of the verification exercise to Gov. Abubakar Bello in Minna.

    The state government had on July 15 embarked on staff verification to determine the number of civil servants in its employment.

    Ndako said that irregularities such as salary padding, double salary, over payment and undue allowances were discovered during the verification exercise.

    He said that the culprits were made to refund such monies to the central account of the state Ministry of Finance and receipts were issued.

    According to him, accounts belonging to dead persons, retirees, absconders and workers that did not come for verification remained active on the salary platform until they were suspended.

    The NLC chairman said that the verification exercise succeeded in strengthening the employment records and bio data of the state workforce.

    “To a large extent, the exercise has sanitised and blocked potentials for leakages in the system. These components were hitherto porous, a situation that gave room for fraudulent practices.

    “With the above in place and consolidated, the system is made self-checking and any attempt of fraud will be easily identified and tracked,” he said.

    Responding, Bello called for continuous working relationship between the organised labour and government to improve the welfare of civil service in the state.

    He said that a study of the new system would be carried out with a view to better the standard of living of civil servants in the state.

    He appealed to workers at the state and local government levels and organised labour to work for the progress and development of the state in order to bequeath a workable legacy for generations yet unborn.
    .
    “We should wish for the progress and development of Niger State. We will all want to see a better Niger State tomorrow and to leave a system that is workable for the future generations.

    “I want to believe that no one of you here wants to leave problems for the future generations. We should be able to lay a platform so that when they come they will have better quality life.

    “I pray that in the future we will see a manageable workforce of about 29, 000 at the state level and 60,000 at the local government level.

    “By this, we will be able to pay our workers all their allowances and improve their standard of living so that we can get a quality civil service,” Bello said.

    He commended the NLC leadership for partnering with government in the conduct of the exercise.

    NAN

  • IFAD distributes N8.6m rice processing equipment to farmers

    IFAD distributes N8.6m rice processing equipment to farmers

    The International Fund for Agricultural Development ( IFAD ) – Value Chain Development Programme ( VCDP ) on Tuesday distributed rice processing equipment worth N8.6 million to five women farmers groups in Niger.

    The State Programme Coordinator ( SPC ), Dr. Mathew Ahmed, while distributing the equipment to the farmers in Minna on Tuesday, said the measure would go a long way in creating jobs.

    According to him, it will also ensure that local rice farmers produce the crop in line with international best practices.

    “We are here today to distribute rice processing machines to our farmers to enable them produce rice that will compete favourably with the foreign rice.

    “Many of the foreign rice we eat today in Nigeria are not better than our local rice because they are expired but our local rice is fresh.

    Read also: Edo, Delta, Cross River fish farmers get equipment

    “Some of the foreign rice we eat constitute health hazards, hence the need for VCDP to ensure food security,’’ he said.

    The equipment distributed included five rice de-stoners, 10 rice parboilers, and 46 manual sprayers.

    The coordinator said IFAD-VCDP would subsidise the cost of the equipment.

    He explained that the groups selected from the five participating local government areas in the VCDP applied for the equipment.

    The local governments include Bida, Wushishi, Kontagora, Shiroro and Katcha.

    He said that aside training the farmers in mechanised farming in the value chain, the programme also trained them in using first-bottom approach to parboil rice.

    “We are presently working with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC ) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria ( SON ) to make sure that our farmers adhere to international best practices that will make their product accepted across the globe,’’ he said.

    He said that there were 13,000 farmers participating in rice and cassava value chain in the state.

    In her remarks, Dr Amina Bello, wife of the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello commended IFAD-VCDP, saying that it had added value to the state’s agriculture drive.

    She was represented by Mrs Kaltume Rufai, the Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    Bello urged the beneficiaries to utilise the equipment to ensure success of the programme.

    Responding on behalf of one of the beneficiary groups,  Hajiya Hadiza Yunusa, Chairman, Nufawamasu Gumi Rice Producers Association, Bida said that before the coming of IFAD-VCDP the colour of their rice was not attractive and contained impurities.

    Yunusa said that the VCDP had trained them on modern ways of cultivating, processing and marketing rice.

    “Now we sell our rice and cassava to other West African countries, our customers even book in advance,’’ Yunusa said.

    NAN