The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger

  • FMBN spends N1.4b on housing units in Niger

    The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has disclosed that N1.4 billion have been expended for the development of 379 housing units in Niger State just as the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Alhaji Mustapha Baba Shehuri, said the nation needs 17 million houses to meet up with the challenge of housing deficit.

    The Minister who stated this at the commissioning of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and Sea Mountain 133 Housing Estate in Minna, Niger state said that with the need of 720, 000 housing units per annum, the annual aggregate production of 100 housing units is not tenable to meet the huge gap of housing in the nation.

    “The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing will continue to strive to ensure that the challenges of housing deficit in Nigeria which has been put at 16 to 17 million units is surmountable.

    “With a population of about 200 million that is growing at an average rate of three per cent per annum couple with an annual rural urban migration rate of over 5 per cent, Nigeria is said to be in need of about 720, 000 housing units per annum. Currently, the annual aggregate production is about 100,000 housing units, thereby leaving a huge gap.”

    The Minister said that the Ministry’s plan to build mass housing units in every state of the federation for public workers annually over the next three years has reached an advanced stage of implementation.

    He further said that National Housing Models have been designed and approved for each geo-political zone while commending the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria for its efforts in stepping up to the challenge of housing deficit.

    In his address, the Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Richard Esin said the estate which comprises of 51 units of three bedroom bungalows and 82 units of two bedroom bungalows costs N5 million for two bedroom semi-detached bungalows and N7 million for 3 bedroom fully detached bungalow.

    According to him, FMBN has invested N1.4 billion for the development of 379 housing units in Niger state emphazing on its mandate to provide Nigerians access to mortgage finance at affordable rates to enable them own houses of their own.

    Esin then appealed to the Niger state government to resume remittance of workers contribution to the National Housing Fund to enable them access the National Housing Fund mortgage loans.

  • Niger politician jailed for child trafficking

    Niger’s appeals court has sentenced an exiled former presidential candidate to one year in prison for child trafficking, the final ruling in a long-running case that his lawyers have dismissed as politically motivated.

    Hama Amadou, the main challenger to President Mahamadou Issoufou in the 2016 presidential election, has been living in France since last year when he left Niger for health reasons just days before a run-off.

    He has repeatedly denied charges that he and his wife were part of a plot, including several others, to falsely claim the parenthood of around 30 children from neighbouring Nigeria who were to be sold on to wealthy couples in Niger.

    The verdict was read in the absence of Amadou’s lawyers, who had boycotted the trial in protest.

    The case was initially dropped by a Niger court in 2015, but was reinstated by the appeals court later in the year.

    Issoufou took power in April 2011, and has worked closely with Western nations to boost security in the vast, arid Sahel region where Islamist militants are intensifying their insurgency.

     

  • Niger renames school after Irish principal who served for 50 years

    Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has approved the renaming of Government Secondary School (GSS) Minna to O’Connell Secondary School, to honor the school’s first Principal, Reverend Father Jeremiah O’Connell.

    The iconic Irishman, who is 85 years, will be exiting as the principal of the school after serving humanity for more than 50 years.

    GSS Minna was established in 1965 as Fatima Co-educational Secondary School, before it was taken over and renamed by government in 1973.

    Rev. Father O’Connell became the school’s principal in 1967, retiring this year.

    Receiving O’Connell in company with the President, Mr. Godwin Ashituabe, and some members of the Fatima Old Students Association (FOSA) at the Government House in Minna, Bello eulogised the principal, assuring him that his enduring legacies would be sustained long after he was gone.

    “We would try our best to see that what you have built remains, that I can assure you. Father O’Connell, you would surely be missed. I wish we could all fly to Ireland to escort you and make sure you get home safe, but I believe you are in God’s hand and you’ll be well by His grace.

    “On behalf of Niger State and Nigeria at large, let me thank you for your effort. There is nothing more we can do than to pray for you, at this age I don’t think you need anything else, but prayers. I wish you well,” he said.

    The Governor also approved the request by Father O’Connell Foundation (FOSA) to sponsor a grand reception in honour of the retiree this month.  He also assured that the government would not only support FOSA, but also assist in redeeming the pledges made by people at its launch.

    Earlier, the President of FOSA, Mr. Godwin Ashituabe, said members were at the State House to represent Father O’Connell, who is taking a well-deserved bow after 50 meritorious years of service to humanity as a school principal.

  • Boy to get penis transplant in Niger

    Nine-month-old Buhari Muhammad, whose genital was cut off by his step-mother in June 2016, would undergo his next surgery when he reaches puberty.

    Muhammad had his first corrective surgery at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Bida, Niger, in February.

    Mr Suleiman Makusidi, the Head of Medical Unit of the state Child Rights Protection Agency, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Tuesday that the next surgery would be a penis transplant.

    “When the boy reaches puberty and when blood has started flowing through his penis, a transplant will be carried out; the transplant will be carried out either in Nigeria or abroad.

    “The corrective surgery that was done in February was to reopen the hole that was created for the boy to pass urine after it was discovered that the hole was closing back.

    “ The urinary passage, which was created like that of the female, is a temporary one to enable him pass urine.’’

    “The state government is making arrangements on how to bring medical experts to examine the boy and see if the transplant can be done in Nigeria.

    “If not, we will look at other options like South Africa or the U.S.

    “We are hoping that the transplant will be successful and that it will help his reproductive system because his testicles were cut off alongside his penis; only one testicle was left,” he said.

    According to Makusidi, Muhammad will use his penis effectively after a successful transplant.

    The Director-General of the agency, Hajiya Mairam Kolo, said the agency was partnering with the Community Training and Empowerment Project, a United Kingdom based NGO, to fast track the transplant process.

    “The agency is working toward the final operation.

    “The matter is a very sensitive one and there should not be mistake; the transplant will be carried out by experts in that field,’’ she said.

    NAN recalls that Muhammad’s genital was cut off by his 17-year-old step mother, Bara’atu Muhammad, when the boy was barely a month old.

    The incident occurred in Dafe community in Shiroro Local Government area of Niger in June 2016.

    The step-mother had confessed that she took the action because she was jealous and she also wanted to get back at the victim’s mother whom she claimed was always insulting her.

    Bara’atu was subsequently remanded in Minna Prison

    The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, told NAN that the suspect was still in Minna Prison, pending the conclusion of investigations.

    According to him, under the Police Criminal Law, the suspect is an adult who is above seven years and therefore can be tried for the offence.

  • ‘Niger Governor surrounded by people who feed him with lies’

    ‘Niger Governor surrounded by people who feed him with lies’

    The Chairman of Niger state Science and Technical Schools Board, Alhaji Abubakar Katcha has resigned his appointment alleging that “people in the system are not being truthful to themselves.”
    According to him, it is difficult to operate under darkness and frustration adding that all his efforts to reposition the board is being sabotaged.
    Katcha said that the Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has good intention for the board, but he is surrounded by people who always feed him with wrong information and do not wish him or the state well.
    In a letter informing the public of his resignation, he said, “The appointment which was given to me by Mr. Governor on 20th December 2016 was actually in good faith but I resigned on the 7th Febuary, 2017 based on reasons beyond not control.”

    ” When people in the system are not being truthful to themselves, the only solution for any man of integrity after series of efforts to put things right failed, is to resign because it will be difficult to operate under darkness and fraustration, the end will be no success.
    “Mr. Governor has good intention for the board but he is surrounded by people that always feed him with wrong information but do not wish him or the state well, they always pretend to be good people but for their own selfish interest. These people do not want the Governor to succeed.”
    The former Chairman lamented that the cabals around the governor always block honest and truthful persons from getting free access to him.

    “Before my appointment, no access to him on on one and as a Chairman of the Board, no access to him even once. For that reason, I deemed it fit and tendered my resignation to him and not to be a party of what is happening.”
    He appreciated the governor for the opportunity given to him to render his service, but said ” unfortunately, I cannot continue.”

  • ‘Our president is sick, everything in us as a nation is sick’

    ‘Our president is sick, everything in us as a nation is sick’

    The Forum of Chief Imams of all Juma’at  mosques in the 25 Local Government Areas of Niger state converged at Minna central mosque on Saturday for special prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that prayers were also offered for the development and progress of the nation at the session.

    “Our president is sick, everything in us as a nation is sick. All that is expected of us is to include him in our daily prayers,”Sheik Ibrahim Fari, Chairman of the forum, told NAN.

    He said that the prayers were aimed at supporting the prayers of all Nigerians asking God to restore the president’s good health.

    “The entire nation needs him to accomplish his mission of re-positioning the country towards ending corruption in our lives.

    “Corruption has been the major factor responsible for our collective setback.

    “This gathering is very important to ask Allah to strengthen the current administration in it’s efforts at ending the senseless killings of innocent Nigerians especially in the Northeast and North central.

    “Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religious  and political differences, should come together and pray for our leaders,” Sheik Ibrahim stated.

     

  • Niger governor decries dirty hospitals

    Niger governor decries dirty hospitals

    Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has decried the unhygienic state of some hospitals.

    The governor spoke when he paid an unscheduled visit to Shehu Shagari Hospital, Nasko, where he was greeted with an unkept environment.

    He said: “I am disappointed with the level of hygiene in this hospital. If the consulting room is this bad, I do not want to go round the hospital because I do not want to see more frustrating things.

    “If a doctor’s consulting room can be left unkempt, with cobwebs and dirty toilet, I wonder how the entire hospital will look like. I am disappointed with what I am seeing now. Only God knows how the wards will look like.

    “If this hospital belongs to any of the doctors, will they allow it be in this unkempt state?

    “It is high time public servants know that the system of governance has changed. There is no room for indolence. This administration has zero tolerance for indolent workers”.

    The governor then directed the Commissioner for Health and Hospital Services, Dr. Mustapha Jibril, to look into the hospital to ensure proper maintenance of the facility.

    Bello also hinted that his administration has no plan to shut down the School of Nursing in Bida. He was shocked at the rumours alleging that the government intends to close down the school to establish a similar one in Kontagora.

    “Nobody can close the School of Nursing, Bida; only God can. The schools in Bida and Minna are not enough. We should have more schools to produce more nurses and midwives for our hospitals.

    “How can one contemplate closing the school when we are short of nurses? We should be careful with the messages we send or spread. Those spreading this rumour are not lovers of the state,” Bello added.

    He promised that his administration will rehabilitate the school, noting that the delay was due to some technicalities which will be resolved soon.

  • Bida Poly gets NBTE’s accreditation for 15 courses

    Bida Poly gets NBTE’s accreditation for 15 courses

    The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)  has accredited 15 courses, offered at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida in Niger.

    The Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Abubakar Dzukogi, made the disclosure on Tuesday in an interview in Bida.

    He said the accredited courses include Building Technology, Quantity Surveying and Survey Geo-Informatics.

    Others are Agricultural and Bio-Environmental Engineering Technology and Soil and Water Engineering.

    Also approved are Public Administration, Chemical Engineering Technology and Science Laboratory Technology.

    The rector said that the accredited courses would be due for re-accreditation in September, 2021.

     

  • Niger to build N29m parks

    Niger State is planning to build trailer parks in five of its communities.

    The Director General of the state Public Private Partnership Agency, Alhaji Isah Abdulkadir disclosed this during a capacity building seminar for Fadama III Staff in Minna, the state capital, saying the trailer parks will gulp N29 million.

    He said that the trailer parks will be built in Suleja, Mokwa, Makera,Lambata and Tegina to ease traffic on the road.

    The DG said that the Memoradum of Understanding has been signed and that work will soon start, adding that the parks will be completed before the end of the year.

    Abdulkadir who asserted that public private partnership is working in the state said that other intervention to develop the state is being taken through PPP.

    Speaking on the Minna City Centre which have been abandoned for years, he said that revival efforts are on ground to ensure the center is completed. “The Minna City Center have some technical issues which are undergoing some discussions on how to utilize it.”

    The Fadama state Project Coordinator, Mr Aliyu Usman Kutigi, an engineer, stressed the need to encourage private sector participation in a bid to manage scarce resources available in the sector.

    He further said that 8,000 farmers are being mobilised for the 2017 wet farming cultivation as Fadama is promoting all the year round farming.

    Picture the aesthetics the parks will introduce to the state. It will mop up much of the traffic congestion and disorder in Niger, which other states will like to copy.

  • Niger declares week-long prayer for Buhari

    The Niger State Government has dedicated a week for special prayer and fasting for the good health of President Muhammadu Buhari who is presently on a medical leave in London.
    Residents of the state have therefore been urged to engage in the prayer and fasting which is to start on Monday till March 5.

    The Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa in a statement said that though every indication showed that the President is doing well in his medical but there was need for prayers for him as the father of the nation.

    “ As a government we are praying and we urge all Nigerlites to use the next one week starting today and ending on the 5th of march 2017 to pray for Mr President’s good health and the health of all as he leads the nation through the path of greatness”

    He said that the prayer is required from the generality of the people of the state irrespective of their religious or any affiliation, because President Muhamnadu Buhari success and good health is for Nigerians as he has dedicated himself to the service of humanity diligently and with fear of God .