The United States has sent more than 30 troops to central Niger to help train local forces to fight militants, state TV and security sources said on Friday.
Niger is in the middle of a desert corridor between Mali’s lawless north and Libya’s barren south used by militants, including some with ties to al Qaeda, Reuters reported.
State television said that U.S ambassador Eunice Reddick visited the troops earlier on Friday at the base in Agadez, a gateway city to the desert north.
“Training began in mid-October in Agadez with more than 30 American instructors who will train more than 100 of our soldiers,” said a Niger military source.
The mission is the latest sign of closer military cooperation between the two countries following the donation of two U.S military aircraft in late October.
Washington is seeking to tackle militants in the Sahel-Sahara band as well as Boko Haram fighters further south while minimising expensive, long-term troop commitments.
Former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu has mourned the death of the Emir of Borgu in Niger State,Alhaji Haliru Dantoro Kitoro III [Mai Borgu ), who died on Friday.
In a statement by his Media Office, Tinubu said he received news of the death of the Emir with shock, disbelief and great sadness.
” It is a bit upsetting that the Emir passed away less than 48 hours after I visited him and witnessed how close he was to full recovery. He was full of life, jovial and eager to return to Nigeria over the weekend .
“I feel a profound sense of personal loss on the sudden passing away of my royal father, a friend, brother and above all a confidant and supporter,” Tinubu stated.
He said Alhaji Kitoro’s death is most painful coming at such a critical time when Nigeria was in dire need of his forthrightness and wisdom.
” He was a man who loved Nigeria truly. His patriotism was never in question. His loyalty was never in doubt. Nigeria for him was a nation of promise with diverse people bound together in one fate. He did not just dream of a totally united nation in word and deed, he worked tirelessly,day and night to seek to build bridges where there was none and to unite friends and foes.
“He was a people’s person and everywhere in Nigeria for him was home.He was highly progressive in his orientation and practice.”
The statement reads:
“I received with shock, disbelief and great sadness the death of the Emir of Borgu in Niger State, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro Kitoro III [Mai Borgu]. It is a upsetting that the Emir passed away less than 48 hours after I visited him and witnessed how close he was to full recovery. He was full of life, jovial and eager to return to Nigeria this weekend. I feel a profound sense of personal loss on the sudden passing away of my royal father, a friend, brother and above all a confidant and supporter.
“His death is most painful coming at such a critical time when Nigeria was in dire need of his forthrightness and wisdom. He was a man who loved Nigeria truly. His patriotism was never in question. His loyalty was never in doubt. Nigeria for him was a nation of promise with diverse people bound together in one fate. He did not just dream of a totally united nation in word and deed; he worked tirelessly, day and night to seek to build bridges where there were none and to unite friends and foes. He was a people’s person and everywhere in Nigeria for him was home. He was highly progressive in his orientation and practice.
“Whenever the history of this epoch is written, he will be reserved several pages for his sacrifice for Nigeria, his love for country and its people and his unmatchable contribution to building a better and just society. Through his career as a public servant, a Senator and later a prominent royal father, Alhaji Haliru Dantoro, Kittoro III made sacrifices and contributed immensely to nation building. He will not be forgotten because his likes are rare.
“I came to know him very personally before he turbaned me the Jagaban of Borgu Kingdom. But thereafter, we became brothers, just like family. He never left me alone and I never left him alone either. We shared a common bond. A common patriotic desire to see Nigeria rise up to her full potentials. We were fired up in our belief that though the journey to nation hood may be long and tortuous , Nigeria had what it takes to attain greatness. We both shared the responsibility of contributing our time, resources and intellect to these onerous task.
“He was a major team player in the struggle for the new political dispensation we now enjoy in Nigeria today. He died a fulfilled man even though he went away early. I condole with President Muhammadu Buhari, who has also lost a friend and brother and the people of Nigeria. Also my condolences to his fellow Emirs and Obas.
“ Above all, I condole with his family and relatives. Also with his friends across the length and breadth of this country. May Allah grant his soul eternal peace.”
Wife of Niger State governor Dr Amina Abubakar Bello has urged women to constantly examine themselves in order to detect any onset of breast cancer and nip it in the bud.
One out of 25 women is liable to have breast cancer and one way to stop the disease is to create awareness on it.
This was one of the objectives of a free breast cancer screening programme organised in the state by Dr. Bello.
According to her, creating awareness for detection is one of the ways to prevent this growing scourge amongst women as she said that the more people are aware of this disease, the better the chances of women surviving from the disease.
Speaking at the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign organised by the Fifth Chukker Polo Country Club in Minna to mark the Breast Cancer Day which is celebrated every October, the Governor’s Wife called on women in the state to ensure regular check up to curtail the menace of breast cancer lamenting that the type of cancer experienced in the country is preventive and every woman needs to do regular check up to ascertain whether they have breast cancer or not.
She said that the awareness will cut across every part of the state as the state government is set to establish a primary healthcare center in each ward across the state to provide monthly breast cancer screening, especially to women in the rural areas.
“What Niger State is trying to do is to make sure that every ward in the state have a primary healthcare center that will provide 24 hour service including the preventive measures as well as therapeutic measures.
“To sustain it, we will begin a breast screening programme across the state through the primary healthcare centers where free breast cancer screening will be done once a month.”
Dr. Bello who is also a Fifth Chukker Breast Cancer Awareness Ambassador urged women to embrace preventive measures as cancer treatment is astronomical advising women to carry out their self examination two days before or two days after their menstruation period.
“The cost of treatment is astronomical; this is why emphasis is being laid on prevention. We have few cancer centres in the country that can deal with the treatment of cancer. Niger State is one of the states that do not have access to cancer centers. We send cancer cases outside the state. That is why we plan to increase the prevention so that the cost of treatment is reduced.”
She also advised the people to calling to do away with every misconception and minx about breast cancer and its causes adding that women need to desist from going to chemists when they notice something wrong in their breast adding that they should go to General Hospitals as chances of them being mismanaged is less there.
Delivering a lecture on breast cancer detection and prevention, Dr. Femi Olaleye of Optimal Health Care Foundation said that because cancer is a cellular tissue in the body that have forgotten to die, women must embrace early detection by doing self examination and or go for check-up.
He stressed that it is important for women to know their glands and ducts as breast cancer starts small and if it is not detected early can lead to death.
Olaleye stated the risks involved in getting cancer stating that women with family history of cancer is at a higher risk of coming down with the disease adding that lack of testing also contributes as self examination will save the life of every woman.
“Only 20 per cent of lumps in breast is cancerous. After the self examination, the mammogram is taken to know if the lumps are cancerous or not.”
He expressed sadness that women who die from breast cancer would not have died if there was early detection adding that breast cancer campaign should not be done every october but it should be a daily campaign.
In her address, the Director of Business Development, Fifth Chukker Polo Country Club, Kaduna, Terri Brennan stated that awareness and education is the key tp early detection adding that everyone needs to be an ambassador of breast cancer to raise awareness of the scourge every day.
She said that the discussion about breast cancer should not only be limited to women alone adding that it should be a topic that is not hidden and people should be comfortable to discuss it.
During the programme, there was question and answer session where Doctor Olaleye and the governor’s wife proffered answers to those who asked questions; the women were also taught to self examine themselves before experts examined them.
About 300 women were screened for breast cancer during the programme.
The Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, has promised to promote soccer in the state-owned schools by establishing football academy. The governor made this known at the Government House in Minna while speaking to reporters on his two-week trip abroad.
According to Governor Bello, the academy would serve as a platform for grooming talents who would represent the country in major sport competitions.
He said while he was away in United Kingdom (UK), he had meeting with the Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi, during which he struck an agreement with the footballer to develop an academy in the state.
The governor also assured that his administration would work round the clock to improve the lots of every citizen of the state, adding that the state-owned schools would witness establishment of soccer academy.
The state coordinator of Abulolo Support Group, Hon Mohammed Mambo, expressed the group’s readiness to support the governor’s initiative. He said the group would also continue to collaborate with all non-governmental organisations (NGO) in the state to ensure the Bello administration achieve its aims.
Mambo said: “We felt it is very important for us to receive our governor based on the tremendous contributions he has been giving to the state. We would bring all NGOs together with a common zeal towards achieving success and the interest of the common man.”
Mambo urged residents to support the government to fulfill its promises.
Three Batch ‘C’ members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in Niger State have been given the state Merit Honours Award.
The three honorees were Bamigbe Michael Semako, Ogujiuba Nancy and Daniel Nsibiet Emmanuel.
The state government also declared its commitment to support Corps members in their careers especially in skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.
The state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello who stated this at the passing-out parade of the 2014 Batch ‘C’ Corps members in the Bako Kontagora Stadium, Minna called on the corps members to contribute to nation building projects, adding that his administration is ready to support them.
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Shehu Umar Danyaya called on the passing out corp members to enroll in youths and women empowerment schemes in the state to enable them become creator of jobs.
The state NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Bolade Loto in her address said that out of the 2002 Corps members deployed to Niger state, three Corps members absconded from the scheme, seven had their service year extended while one corp member died during the course of the service year.
Congratulating the passing out corp members, Loto commended them for their various projects in their host communities urging them to explore the skills they have acquired during their training to excel in their future endeavors.
“To my outgoing Corps members, I say a big congratulation to you all. I sincerely look forward to your being successful entrepreneurs by virtue of the vigorous training you acquired through the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme during your service year.”
The recipients of the merit honors award were grateful for the recognition as they told the Nation that they appreciated the support of NYSC in the state and the state government towards actualising their dreams.
Crude as their methods are, women rice processors in Kwakuti, a sleepy community in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, still manage to turn out up to two trailer-loads every month.
Now things can only get better because the state government has trained no fewer than 50 of the women to be more efficient and productive.
The government is seeking to reduce the stress associated with the exercise and position the state as the largest producer of rice in the country.
This is particularly important in view of government determination to make the country self sufficient in rice production and reduce the reliance on importation. It is estimated that the country spends about N12 billion annually in rice importation.
Realising that the state has the potentials of being the largest producer of rice in the country in view of its rich terrain, the Niger state government recently trained about 50 women in the community on ways of processing rice in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
During the training, which lasted for five days, the women were taught how to form and manage cluster-groups and rice value chain development. They were equally groomed in value development at each processing stage and what value addition needed at each stage.
That was not all. They were also taught business management and marketing as the organisers looked at the four P’s and proper book keeping as it deals with keeping of the stock such as the raw materials and the finished goods. In addition, they also taught how to properly cost their products. Interestingly, from the interaction with the women, it was discovered that the women (who were also the marketers) were either over costing, overpricing and under-pricing their products.
Focusing on the product development, the organizers taught them to bag the rice instead of selling in ‘module’ which is their preferred measurement; the women were also taught them on how to properly boil the rice, sieve the paddy, par boil it and dry it while keeping stones away from the rice. A rice cluster with the capacity to take two machines was built for the women, designed to have two rice mill and one destoner. Also, the women were taught to organised themselves into cooperative that will put them in the right position to getting government aid.
Dr. Abdumalik Ndaki, one of the consultants involved in the training, told The Nation that rice is one of the key product where the state have a comparative advantage. The other products include: yam, cassava, cowpea, groundnut and sheabutter. On the choice of Kwakuti, he disclosed that when a need assessment was carried out in Kwakuti, it was discovered that in spite of the potentials of the area I. Rice production, there were no rice farmers in the community, adding that only three farmers were found in the town with farmlands that were not up to half an hectare.
Ndagi who is the Director General of Niger State Industrial Parks Development Agency said the state government has spent over N20 million on the development of the Kwakuti rice project adding that similar programme are ongoing in Bida, Lapai, and Badegi areas of the state. He explained that the state government is working to add value, modernize them and make them better adding that the government pays its counterpart fund to ensure that the state stays top in the agricultural sector.
Ndagi was confident that when the project is fully implemented, there would be more than enough rice paddy from Kwakuti, adding that with two trailer loads of rice to process every month, Kwakuti rice would be a force to reckon with in the near future. He assured that UNDP and the state government would continue to work round the clock to better the lots of rice farmers in the state.
He said: “We recently held a meeting with major stakeholders in agriculture in the state last week. So we are charting a way out to be able to help rice processors in the state.”
SIR: Recently, the Peoples Democratic Party in Niger State, through its chairman, Barrister Tanko Beji was in the media accusing the All Progressive Congress-led government of too much lamentation. The accusation was sequel to the state broadcast by the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, in which he revealed how billions of naira was looted by the last PDP administration.
Again, the same PDP was quoted to have said that the current APC administration in Niger State does not have its own original agenda because most of the projects done so far were started by the last PDP administration.
I wasn’t surprised with such accusations. They may do so to keep their party alive in the political arena, but that is not how to criticize.
To start with, completing the abandoned projects saves the state from waste of limited resources. This is one area I have commended the present government in the state.
In his recent broadcast, Governor Bello unveiled his key four areas of focus – education, agriculture, and health as well as youth empowerment. The only thing he failed to include is security. Security is the driving force of all other sectors. Now especially, that Nigeria is faced with the challenge of insecurity, security issue ought to top the agenda of every government – local, state or federal. Without peace of mind, nothing concrete would be accomplished.
No one can dispute the fact that the governor has identified key areas of development. Agricultural sector has long been neglected in Nigeria as a whole. It is no longer ideal for Nigeria to continue to rely on oil and gas as sources of budget. Oil and gas sector does not have the everlasting potentials the agricultural sector has. In this regard, Niger State is blessed with fertile land which when harnessed would create direct and indirect jobs for teeming population. I think this is what governor is trying to do.
Education and health sectors as included in his agenda are also crucial for socio-economic development. While health has been described as ‘wealth’, education equips citizens with necessary skills for self and societal development. It is as a result of poor educational system that we are having illiterate certified citizens who think they know but know nothing. Literate critics holistically examine the steps of the government and offer ways for them to triumph.
Overdependence on white colar jobs has become as serious challenge in our country because governments have failed to develop other sectors such as agricultural sector. Empowering citizens to be self reliant through agriculture will go a long way in reducing poverty, hunger and social vices mostly caused as a result of joblessness. When citizens are maximally empowered as Governor Bello intends to do, it will also boost the state revenue.
What is required of the government now is to show commitment to the realization of these four key agendas. To accomplish this, serious and qualified individuals must be appointed into key positions to help drive the train. Government should also partner relevant investors who would have the interest of the state at heart. And for the citizens, they need understanding, co-operation and support. Anything short of these would hinder the entire progress of the government plans. Let’s allow the time to move a bit before criticisms creep in.
A crocodile was found alive in the Niger State Presidential Suite in Minna where the Finance committee investigating the finances of the immediate past government in the state has been sitting.
The crocodile was discovered under a car of a guest lodging in the suite by some security men who came with another guest.
The discovery caused panic among workers at the secretariat of the finance committee, the housekeepers and cooks as they were unable to continue with their work.
The security men were able to catch the crocodile and took it away while the staff were calmed down and assured that it was not a usual incident .
The incident was confirmed by the Chief Press Secretary to Niger state Governor, Dr. Ibraheem Dooba who said that it was very unusual for a crocodile to be found in the Presidential suite as the area is not the kind of environment that a crocodile can be found.
The crisis rocking the Niger Delta Students’ Union Government (NIDSUG) may have taken a new dimension, following the accusation against an official of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who allegedly ‘financed’ the union president’s impeachment. EMMANUEL AHANONU reports.
The last may not have been heard of the Niger Delta Students’ Union Government (NIDSUG) crisis, which culminated into the purported impeachment of its president, Obada Akpomiemie. Four weeks after parliament members of the union allegedly removed Obada, what transpired behind the scene has started to emerge.
•Obada
Some members of the union have alleged that the parliament’s members were induced to unseat the embattled president. A special assistant to the chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was alleged to have “financed” the impeachment.
To justify the impeachment, it was learnt that some members of the union executive and parliament were asked to write petition against Obada, following his rift with the NDDC official (name withheld) at the inauguration of NDDC Hostel at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) in Abia State.
The process was, however, described as “kangaroo panel” by state coordinators of the union, who said Obada remained the president. They said the Senate President, Chimdi Obiarandu, did not have the right to preside over the parliament sitting, because his election was declared inconclusive.
Obada said his disagreement with the NDDC official led to the crisis. He said: “The problem started when I complained about action of some people, who are preventing us from meeting the NDDC chairman, Sir Bassey Dan Abia. Each time we wrote to the NDDC boss, one of his Special Assistant would throw the letter into a trash bin. He has been feeding his boss with wrong information about our union.
“We saw a good platform at MOUAU to tell the NDDC boss of our plight. But, when the official sensed I would expose him, he altered the programme agenda and removed the item reserved for students’ opinion. So, we embarked on a protest to draw Dan Abia’s and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s attention to the alteration, which the Special Assistant saw as an affront and swore to deal with me.”
His opposition to NDDC’s inconsistencies, Obada said, led to the inducement of the parliament members to disorganise the union.
The co-ordinator of the union in Rivers State, Maxwell Othemidia, a final year Chemistry Education student of Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), said the impeachment of Obada was null and void, saying there was no sitting.
Asked if he was aware of the parliament members’ inducement, Maxwell said: “When you see a bird dancing at the middle of road, its drummer is close-by.”
Chimdi denied any inducement, saying Obada’s impeachment followed a petition by members of the union. He said some of the parliament members were being owed their sitting allowance, adding nobody gave them money to impeach the president.
Genesis Jeremiah, the union’s pioneer president, said NIDSUG’s problem started and ended with the union’s complaint against NDDC. He said the NDDC official met with the parliament members at LandMark Hotel five days after Obada led a protest at MOUAU to contrive the president’s impeachment.
Genesis, who claimed to be at the meeting, said: “When I barged into their secret meeting, I saw the NDDC official giving members of the parliament instructions. He was surprised to see me with others. I confronted him on why he wanted to cause crisis in the NIDSUG, he replied that members of the union were having a meeting and he decided to greet them,” Genesis said.
The Vice President, Bariture Mgbee, corroborated Chimdi’s position, saying Obada was invited to answer allegations against him but said the president did not show up.
Juliet Manyo, treasurer of the union, said: “I am ashamed of the ongoing crisis. Some so-called students’ leaders have been compromised by politicians to kill the union. I was offered a bribe but I declined, because I was not elected to destabilise the union. They are victimising Obada because he is fighting for the interest of all Niger Delta students.”
The union Clerk, Chinenye Aniogwu, a student of Delta State University (DELSU), also accused the NDDC official of intimidating the union leaders. “It is clear that they want to intimidate our members with their sudden wealth; we cannot be intimidated,” she said.
Niger State Head of Service (HOS) Mohammed Maude Lapai has said the government is working towards mainstreaming gender and social issues into its policy planning and budget.
He said the state had 36 per cent of women in positions as permanent secretaries and directors, adding that the government was working to surpass the 35 per cent of women who would be given appointive positions.
Speaking at a training workshop on Gender Policy Analysis and Training of Staff on Gender Mainstreaming in Minna, the HOS said there were nine women permanent secretaries of 25 permanent secretaries in the civil service, which showed that women possessed the professional and intellectual ability to perform administrative duties.
Lapai, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Hajiya Maimuna Abdullahi, said the essence of governance was to ensure the fundamental rights of every human being, urging governments to explore the MDGs goal of women empowerment.
He said equality of opportunities between women and men should be such that both gender were given equal rights and entitlements to human, social, economic and cultural development, adding that they should have equal voice in civil and political life.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaju Shehu Umar Danyaya, said a society could not be established if more than 50 per cent of its population were neglected.
He said although the state had been capturing gender and social inclusion issues, efforts needed to be intensified in gender and social inclusion issues, adding that the vision of the Governor Abubakar Sani Bello administration included gender inclusion at all levels of government.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Rachael Yisa, said the only way to correct the scourge and end poverty was to provide women with equal opportunities as men, noting that until government stepped in to empower women and provide them with equal opportunities, the country would not develop.
