The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger

  • 357 people receive free surgical operations in Niger

    A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), the Sani-Bello Foundation has performed free surgical operations for 357 patients suffering from various types of sicknesses in Niger state.

    The sicknesses operated on include appendicitis, goitre, fibroid, lumps, hernia, hydrocele amongst others.

    The exercise, which was conducted in collaboration with Graceland Healthcare Development Foundation, took place in Kontagora General Hospital and drew a large crowd, as people from neighbouring states, including Kebbi, Sokoto, Kwara and FCT came to take advantage of it.

    Addressing the patients before the commencement of the surgical operations, the Director General of the Sani Bello Foundation, Mr. Zakari Ikani said the surgical operation is free because the foundation wishes to ease the pains of the masses, adding that it is to enable those without the means to pay for surgical operation get the chance to be operated upon.

    He stated that all the patients will undergo various tests to identify their illness, before the proper operations commence, explaining that the surgical operations and tests will be funded by the Chairman of the Foundation, Colonel Sani Bello (rtd) and Graceland Healthcare Foundation.  He stressed that “nobody will be made to pay any amount before he or she will be operated upon.”

    The Vice Chairman of Sani Bello Foundation, Alhaji Usman Sani Bello prayed for a successful surgical operation. He added that the foundation intends to extend the free surgical operations to other local government areas in the state and other states across the country.

    He further emphasised that the outreach has nothing to do with politics or religious connotations and that helping and reaching out to the masses is what the Sani Bello Foundation was established for.

    The Team Leader of Graceland Healthcare Development Foundation, Dr. Thot and the Project Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed assured people that the outreach will be successful with their cooperation.

  • 3,405 Hajj pilgrims leave from Niger

    Three thousand, four hundred and five pilgrims, as well as officials from Niger State, yesterday left the Minna International Airport to Saudi Arabia.

    Governor Abubakar Sani Bello enjoined the pilgrims, the last batch, to avoid acts capable of tarnishing the country’s image, especially trafficking in drugs and kolanuts.

    “You must be warned of the stringent Saudi Arabia laws. You must adhere strictly to the laid down rules and regulation while in the holy land; avoid anything inimical or detrimental to the collective aspirations of our state and country,” he said.

    Bello enjoined them to pray for the peace and socio-economic progress of the state and country.

    “Nigeria is going through challenges; I enjoin you to pray for the peace and socio-economic progress of Niger state and Nigeria.

    ‘’You must dedicate the period to prayers for yourself, your family, community, state and Nigeria,” he added.

  • 7-day ultimatum for Illegal firearms owners in Niger

    Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has lamented the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the rural communities in the state.

    Consequently, the Governor has given a seven-day ultimatum to individuals or group of people in possession of illegal firearms in the state to surrender them to the appropriate authority.

    According to Bello, unlike in the past when gun running was only limited to the metropolitan cities, villages in the state now have cases of gun running.

    In a state broadcast on the recent security challenges in some communities of Bosso local government area of the state, the Governor warned of grave consequences for failure to surrender such illegal firearms stressing that the state will not be safe haven for criminals.

    He bemoaned the invasion of some villages in the state by cattle rustlers, kidnappers, banditry, armed robbers and other nefarious activities being committed by criminally minded persons.

    “We must rise now to fight this menace. To achieve this task successfully, we must pay attention to what happens in our homes, villages and communities. We must make security of our environment our business by reporting any suspicious movement or activities around us to security agencies”, he said.

    On the military/communal clash, he said that the government have set up a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to look into the cause of the clash and how to prevent a reoccurance.

    He maintained that the sad incident of the clash was not a true reflection of what the people and the state were known for.

    The Governor further stated that the restriction of motorcycle movement from 7pm to 6am in the state capital and major cities in the state is still enforce until further notice adding that he has directed for stop and search operation as a result of the prevailing security challenges in state of recent.

    He urged the people to bear with the attendant discomfort they will be subjected to as the decision to introduce these measures were taken in the interest of all.

    “The sad and emerging violent culture in our various communities is not a true reflection of who we are or what we stand for, and belief in as a people. We cannot at this crucial point in our development as a state allow minor differences that can be mutually discussed and resolved to bring us to daggers drawn at one another”, he said.

    He commended the role played by the Emir of Minna, Alh. Umar Faruk Bahago for ensuring that peace returned back to the communities and has also directed Niger State Emergency Maintenance Agency (NSEMA) to provide relief materials to the affected families of the injured and displaced persons.

  • 1000 women get Niger governor’s wife’s N12m grant

    1000 women get Niger governor’s wife’s N12m grant

    The wife of Niger State governor, Dr. Amina Sani-Bello has given out cheques totalling over N12m in grants to 1000 women from 18 local government areas of the state.

    Giving out the cheques to the beneficiaries in Minna, the state capital, Dr. Sani-Bello said she hoped the grant will reposition their businesses.

    According to her, 60 women cooperatives with a membership of between 15 and 20 women from 18 local government areas will get between N200,000 and N300,000 to improve their businesses, adding that the other local government areas will be captured in the next programme.

    The governor’s wife stated that the grant disbursement which is the maiden edition from her non-governmental organisation is aimed at complimenting government’s effort in fighting poverty and empowering women and youths in the state.

    She also expressed her determination in reducing maternal mortality rate in the state, lamenting that the state has the highest mortality rate in North-Central area of the country.

    She added that her NGO is working at ensuring free treatment and medication for women in the state.

    Dr Sani-Bello urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the opportunity and not use the money for other trivial things.

    Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Roseline Abara commended the governor’s wife and advised the beneficiaries to judiciously utilise the monies given to them as there will be proper monitoring and supervision.

    She, however, urged women to form and or join cooperative societies because it will easily pave way for support from the government and organisations.

    The state Coordinator, Niger State FADAMA Coordination Office, Mr Aliyu Usman Kutigi, an engineer, said that now is the time that all hands need to be on deck nationally to tackle the issue of unemployment and creation of wealth particularly for women and youths.

    He commended the effort of the governor’s wife in not only empowering the women but giving them the finances to enable them calling on other NGOs, institutions and organisations in the state to partner in the noble venture of job creation of youths and women to minimise youth restiveness in the state and the nation.

    Kutigi assured the governor’s wife of his agency’s continuous support to enable her achieve her goal and objectives of her foundation.

    The beneficiaries in turns appreciated the grant given to them by Dr. Bello as they promised to give back to the foundation to enable other people benefit.

  • Niger set up committee to investigate military/villagers clash

    Niger set up committee to investigate military/villagers clash

    Niger State government has condemned the military/villagers’ clash which occurred in the early hours of Thursday in Kpaidna, Lunko, Kopa and environ villages in Bosso Local Government Area of the state that left lots of civilian and military casualties.

    The government after an emergency state security council meeting directed an extensive investigation into the remote and immediate cause of the unfortunate incident, with the aim of coming up with a permanent solution to forestall future occurrences.

    To this end, a three-man committee has been constituted by the security council, headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), to look into the incident and report back to the government within 24 hours.

    Residents of the affected villages, community leaders, party chieftains, religious leaders and political office holders in the area have been urged to embrace peace and assist the committee, by proffering suggestions that will bring a lasting solution and guarantee an enduring peace in the area and the state at large.

    The council while commiserating with the families of those who lost their lives, appealed to the military to ensure strict adherence to rules of engagement, assuring them that the government is working towards recovering the rifles that went missing during unfortunate incident.

    Although the council said normalcy has returned to the affected area, villagers in Kpaidna and its neighbouring villages have fled the communities and have refused to return.

    This, according to some of the villagers, is due to the fear of retaliated attack from the military, especially as the missing rifles are yet to be recovered.

    Most of them said they will not return until the missing arms are found and there is no more military presence in the communities.

    The state government has, however, called on members of the public to go after their lawful duties and avoid engaging in any act capable of breaching peace of the state, stating that any suspicious person or movement should be reported to the appropriate authorities.

    The government however maintained that it will not condone any act of lawlessness, avoidable loss of lives and destruction of properties under any form or disguise, while assuring every Nigerlite of its commitment and determination to protect and defend their rights, lives and properties.

  • 300 to benefit from Niger empowerment scheme

    300 to benefit from Niger empowerment scheme

    To tackle unemployment in Niger, the state government plans to empower youths and women under its Agri-prenuer Empowerment Programme.

    Three hundred youths and women are to benefit from the scheme this year. The project is a joint effort between state and Federal Government, under the National FADAMA “Support for Youth and Women Programme”.

    Under the arrangement, the youth and women will be given intensive training in agricultural enterprise of their choice, with emphasis on crop farming, especially rice and sorghum.

    Kicking-off the scheme in Konta-gora, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello presented starter-pack seeds to 66 youths who were trained in agricultural enterprise.

    Presenting N100,000 cheque to each beneficiary under the first phase of the scheme, Sani urged them to ensure judicious use of the package as well as the skills acquired from the training for development of the agricultural sector and betterment of the society.

    “I am informed that this programme through FADAMA Project intervention intended to empower 300 youths to become Agri-prenuer, in addition to 10,000 direct beneficiary farmers under the Third National FADAMA Development Programme Additional Financing.

    “I am highly passionate about the issue of unemployment and our government is putting machinery on ground, particularly under the agricultural sector to address the subject matter in earnest,” the governor stated.

    He praised the initiative of the organisers for their concern for youth and women, calling on other non- governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations to partner the state in agricultural regeneration and community empowerment.

    National FADAMA Project Coordinator, Mr. Tayo Adewumi,             commended the state FADAMA office for being a pacesetter in the implementation of the fifth component of the programme, ‘Support for Youth and Women’.

    Adewumi, who was represented by Dr. Gbenga Arokoyo, lauded the state for being the first to start the implementation of FADAMA III Additional Financing Programme and for establishing Agricultural Equipment Hiring Centre.

    The state FADAMA Project Coordinator,Aliyu Usman Kutigi said the training, which is in phases, is being conducted with Bako Ranch Limited Kontagora.

  • Catholic priest opens hospital in Niger

    The Parish Priest of St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Paiko-Minna, Niger State, Rev Christian Levi Achinivu has established a Specialist Hospital in the state.

    Achinivu, who spoke in Minna, the Niger State capital, bemoaned the loss of lives due to inadequate fund to travel abroad for treatment.

    He said the hospital was part of his contribution to humanity, adding that Indian specialists were employed to attend to patients.

    “My journey of helping the sick has led to the establishment of a specialist hospital, ‘Fada Paiko Specialist Hospital’. I have employed Indian doctors to treat people because I have special passion for the sick to be healed,” he said.

    Departments in the hospital include cardiology/cardiothoracic, nephrology/urology, gastroenterology, medical and surgical, spinal cord issues and oncology (cancer).

  • Reprisal attack leaves four dead in Niger

    A reprisal attack between Fulani and farmers in Barakuta, Bosso Local Government of Niger State, has left four people dead and many injured.

    Four cars, 17 motorcycles and several houses were burnt in the attack.

    Investigation showed that the crises began last Thursday when some Fulani killed a Gwari man for preventing them from raping a girl during Sallah.

    Police spokesman Bala Elkana confirmed the incident. He said four people died while several houses and valuables were burnt.

    Elkana said police and military joint forces have been deployed to the village to control the situation. He urged the people to remain calm, as security agencies are on top of the situation.

  • Four killed in reprisal attack

    A reprisal attack between Fulanis and farmers have left four people dead and many others injured in Barakuta village in Bosso local government of Niger state.
    Many houses, four cars and 17 motorcycles were burnt during the attack.
    Investigation revealed that the crises began last Thursday when Fulanis killed a Gwari man who prevented them from raping a girl during the sallah celebration.
    In a revenge attack, the Gwaris gathered together and killed some fulanis which led to the reprisal attack on the villagers.
    The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Bala Elkana confirmed the incident saying that four people died during the attack while many houses and valuables were burnt down.
    Elkana stated that police and military joint forces have been deployed to the village to bring the situation under control.
    He urged the people of the community should remained calm as security agencies were on top of the situation.

  • First Lady feeds the needy in Niger

    First Lady feeds the needy in Niger

    Wife of Niger State Governor, Dr. Amina Abubakar has distributed food items to the less privileged, including people living with disability, widows and the vulnerable in the state.

    She said that the food items were donated by the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari to alleviate the suffering of the less privileged.

    The food items included 1000 bags of rice, 1000 gallons of vegetable oil, 1000 cartons of tomato paste, 1000 cartons of specially packaged garri and 1000 cartons of custard which will be distributed among the 25 local government areas in the state.

    The governor’s wife appreciated the wife of the President for taking interest in the condition of the less privileged, widows and the physically challenged individuals in the state adding that this gesture will go a long way in helping the beneficiaries.

    “This donation is made in the spirit of the Ramadan fast as the President’s wife contributes her quota towards alleviating the suffering of the less privileged.”

    She appealed to the people to support the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration especially in his fight against corruption, job creation and youth empowerment.

    “It is true that although you might be going through some form of hardship right now, we need to preserve a little more because if we exercise patience with the government, very soon, we will all see the dividends of the change that we have been anticipating because sustainable change is truly a gradual process.”

    Bello also encouraged individuals in the society to develop the spirit of giving urging them not to look at the quantity of the items but the spirit behind the gesture.