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Tag: Niger

  • Immigration recruitment: 3 applicants die in Niger

    Three of the over 11,000 candidates for the aptitude test for recruitment  into the Nigeria Immigration Service were on Saturday feared dead in Minna, Niger State capital.

    They died  following a stampede during accreditation and clearance of candidates to enter into the examination hall.

    Situation got out of the control of Immigration personnel as the applicants overwhelmed the officials supervising  the exercise forcing one of the officers to open tear gas and in the process seven persons collapsed and were rushed to the hospital where three persons gave up the ghost.

    Trouble started when the applicants became unruly as they complained of  the slow pace of the accreditation the Chief examiner from the headquarters of the service whom we gathered insisted to call names of the candidates based on the serial numbers of the application forms but did not go down well with the candidates.

    This development precipitated a rowdy session as most candidates who were on a queue became apprehensive and complained that the line, which was over a kilometre was not moving as anticipated.

    One of the victims that was rushed to Minna General Hospital was in a critical condition while the  other three injured victims are said to have been stable but quarantined from the public and the media.

    Efforts to get details about the victims were fruitless as the hospital authority and staff refused to comment based on security directive.

    But a medical personnel confirmed that three of the seven injured persons were dead, one in critical condition while the other three are in stable condition.

    He further said that the bodies of those who died have been deposited at the mortuary .

    But the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Ibrahim Sule said only two of the applicants dead. According to him, “one female was reported dead on arrival at the hospital and the other male applicant died at Minna General Hospital.‬”

    ‪He also said that four other males were equally treated and discharged, while seven other females applicants are currently receiving treatment for their injuries at the hospital.‬

    The Niger State Controller of Immigration Service, Ezekiel S. Kaura confirmed that 11,000 candidates sat for the recruitment examination in Minna centre but said that five collapsed as a result stampeded and were rushed to the hospital.

  • Misery in Niger over okada ban

    Misery in Niger over okada ban

    On January 2, Niger State government banned commercial motorcycles, popularly called okada, as a means of public transportation. They were barred in major cities, including Minna, the state capital.

    This was part of the implementation of the new traffic law, which people have tagged “Governor Babangida Aliyu’s New Year gift”.

    Nobody envisaged the degree of suffering and the multiple adverse effects the ban would have on the lifestyle and economic well-being of residents of the city.

    This law, residents say, has brought indescribable hardship on the people as it restricted their movements, forced people in the hinterland of the city to trek long distances before accessing any of the buses or tricycles (Keken Talba) and crippled businesses.

    As government had canvassed, the ban was not a sort of punitive measure on the people. Rather, it argued, it was a measure aimed at curbing various forms of vices allegedly carried out by operators of motor cycles.

    The state government was not unmindful of the pains the ban had inflicted on the citizens. It was in this light that government rolled out some vehicles and tricycles recently.

    The flooding of the city with 1,000 units of tricycle popularly called as Keken Talba, 12 units of 100-seater BRT buses and eight units of 18-seater buses by the state government was expected to cushion the adverse effects of the ban.

    Initial confusion that greeted the ban forced the government to declare that the ban was total with the exception of registered privately-owned motorcycles.

    But at that, owners of private motorcycles have some hurdles to cross before their motor cycles could be on the road. Aside from registering the bikes, they are not allowed to carry anybody not even their spouse or child. The bikes are expected to be used only by the owners.

    Since the enforcement of the ban, there has been a pot pourri of reactions. Pains, sorrow and frustrations are features of the city. The complaints are chiefly over gross inadequacy of the tricycles, arbitrary charges by Keken Talba operators, inability of the tricycles to convey passengers to the hinterland of the city and refusal of the tricycle operators to ply remote and new.

    Though the tricycles, taxis and BRT buses were on the road, especially along the major routes, there are still large number of people at various junctions, streets and road sides waiting endlessly to be taken to their various destinations.

    Women, especially pregnant ones, nursing mothers and children are the worst hit. They are always seen at bus stops on the streets of Minna waiting patiently for Keken Talba under the unfriendly harsh harmattan weather. Majority of the residents have resorted to trekking to save time.

    Mohammed Yabagi, a civil servant who lives in Gbaiko area of the city and works at the state Secretariat in Tunga, a distance of about 15 kilometres, expressed disgust over the ban.

    He said: “I had to trek from my house in Gbaiko to Dusen Kura area before I could get Keken Talba. I also had to trek back home as tricycle operators are not willing to go into my area and any of them that agrees to go always mention throat-cutting price as his charge. By the time I got to the office in the morning, I got fagged out and at home I had to massage my legs and muscles because of the pains I experience.

    “A colleague said he had to board three tricycles to get to the office. Things have not been easy for us at all, especially those of us that don’t have cars. The ban is not fair. If the government did not have enough tricycles, they shouldn’t have banned bikes.”

    Hajiya Memuna Dada gets to Kure Market (the township market) where she sells vegetables late every day since the ban came into force.

    “I have to trek from Tayi to Bosso Road and in most cases taxis from Bosso and even the few Keken Talba are always filled before they get to Bahago Secondary School, the nearest place where I can get tricycle or car.

    “We have to wait endlessly to get transported to Obasanjo Shopping Complex or Mobil, before we get connected to the market. There is no direct means of transportation, unlike when okada was in operation. There is no day I don’t get to market late,” the mother of four lamented.

    If the new law has dealt hardship on the people within its first two weeks Malam Ahmed Ibrahim, a school teacher of Saiko quarters predicted more hard time when schools resume.

    He said: “Though government has provided buses and designated some for school children before the ban, the fact is that these buses were not enough. Most students still come to school on okada and now that they have been banned, I am afraid we are in for a big problem.

    “The fact is that the few students that have returned to school are coming late.  Some of them said the buses dedicated to them are being used to convey people.”

    If people are complaining of inadequate tricycles or buses, Hajiya Ramatu Moh’d Naibi fondly called Hajiya Nnawo Mai Tuwo is counting her losses. Her popular “Tuwo- Mia Wake” eatery along Yoruba Road in the heart of the city is now a ghost of itself. Her patrons, who are mainly okada riders, have deserted her eatery following the ban.

    In the past, motorists had to go on snail-speed meandering long queues of okada packed on both sides of the road every afternoon when commercial motorcyclists struggled for space to park their bikes when patronising Hajiya Nnawo’s eatery.

    But today, the over 20-year-old outlet is a shadow of itself and Hajiya Nnawo was quick to blame her misfortune on the okada ban.

    “The ban has killed my business. Okada riders account for well over 95 per cent of my patrons. Before the ban, I used to prepare and sell between six and seven giant sized pots of Tuwo before 4:00 p.m. daily but these days, we struggle to sell one pot.

    “Before now, the seven people I engaged to serve were grossly inadequate, now the two girls serving for me are under- utilised. The ban was without human face. I’m sure many other food vendors like me are feeling the pinch,” Hajiya Nnawo said.

    The case of Mr. Calistus Nwadialo, a motorcycle dealer would have been like Hajiya Nnawo’s. He was lucky to find places to push his stock to. By middle of December last year, he took delivery of three truck-loads of motorcycles of different sizes. Initially, he thought government will extend the January 2 date but when it became glaring that government was resolute in its decision, he had to find a way of disposing the consignment. He was lucky he did.

    “I would have gone under but I had to quickly distribute my stock to Bida, Suleja and Kontagora. Though this was at an extra cost, I thank God I was able to recoup my investment.

    “Thank God we had another outlet of selling the motorcycles. This is how we have been able to survive the ban. I had over 500 motorcycles when the law came into force. I thank God we sold over 300 in Kebbi State through my Kontagora outlet.”

    The ban has also resulted in new tricycle sellers springing up in the town. Within the first two weeks of the ban on okada, private tricycle sellers had opened shops along Bosso Road, Kateregi Road and Western Bye-Pass to meet the shortfall in the 1,000 tricycles provided by government.

    It is also all smiles for tricycles operators in the town. They are making good fortune, as they cash in on the shortage to maximise profit. No wonder the officials of the Amalgamated Associations of Commercial Motorcycle Owners of Nigeria (ACOMOROAN), penultimate Monday, praised government for the ban.

    Speaking through its state Chairman Alhaji Musa Ishyaku during a “thank you” solidarity visit to the governor at the Government House, Minna the association pledged its loyalty to the governor for the step taken, adding that the ban on okada has brought sanity to public transportation in the state capital and reduced accidents.

    Despite the hues and cries by the people, the state Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu vowed not to rescind his decision on the ban he placed on operators of commercial motorcycles.

    He assured the people that adequate arrangements had been made to cushion the effects of the ban, even as he added that the people would get used to it with time.

  • 9 policemen dismissed in Niger

    Niger State Police command dismissed nine policemen from service for various disciplinary offences last year, the State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Diseye Desire Nsirim has disclosed.

    Ten men including an Inspector were also  were rewarded with a Commissioner of Police Commendation and Award for their dedication to duty and display of gallantry.

    The Commissioner disclosed these yesterday in Minna when briefing newsmen on the activities of the Command in 2013.

    Though the Commissioner did not give details of their offences she only said the dismissal of the policemen was to serve as a caution to others who intended to ply the same path.

    She also said that the reward of other men was essentially designed to spur others to perform better in 2014, as she assured officers and men of the command of prompt and regular reward for hard work.

    Giving a review of 2013 activities by the Command, Nsirim said murder and culpable homicide increased by 32 per cent from 50 cases in 2012 to 84 cases in 2013 while armed robbery activities deceased by 25 per cent, from 50 in 2012 to 36 in 2013 and cases of rape and indecent assault also reduced by 24 per cent.

    She also disclosed that the Command arrested 1,925 suspects in 746 raids adding that 1,876 suspects were convicted in the court.

    Commending her officers and men for the achievements recorded, the Commissioner attributed the drastic reduction of crime to its barest minimum to strategies put in place by the Command to curb the menace of miscreants.

    Some of the strategies according to her include, “constant raids of criminal hideouts and black spots, training and retraining of policemen, police community partnership via community policing, zero tolerance to corruption amongst members of the force, intelligence gathering and visible policing.”
    END

  • We are suffering, Niger Deltans tell governors

    We are suffering, Niger Deltans tell governors

     As four of six Niger Delta governors gear up for the last year of their tenure, a team of Niger Delta Report reporters went round the states to seek the peoples’ expectation from their governors. Reports by Shola O’Neil, Precious Dikewoha, Nicholas Kalu, Kazeem Ibrahim, Mike Odiegwu, Osagie Otabor and Aiwerie Okungbowa.

    Godwin Ariwadu

    I want the government to create an atmosphere of peace in the state by using the spirit of 2014 to set up a peace reconciliation committee. As I am talking to you now, many youths are preparing for war this year through the advice of their godfathers. Already the politicians who are meant to be their role models are fighting one another because of 2015 election. So if we don’t use this year to make peace with one another, the crisis we saw last year may be little of what we may witness this year.

    Mrs. Kat Amadi (Trader)

    I want government to focus attention on fixing bad roads in Port Harcourt. Though the governor has tried in the area of road construction but that is not enough, there are many roads in bad shape – Nkpor, Rumuorlumini roads and the rest in Ikwerre ethnic nationality. If the governor who is our brother cannot come to our rescue this year who knows if the person that will take over from him will consider our plight.

    Endurance Ofurum

    I want the government of Rivers State to decongest Port Harcourt by relocating some of the ministries to areas like Ogoni, Degema and Igwuruta. This will help to minimize congestion and control population in Port Harcourt city and also stabilize house rent by making it affordable to low income earners.

    Elder Chidi Wihioka, politician

    2013 happened to be the year evil men wanted to take over the government of Rivers State but God disproved their plans. More militants came back to Port Harcourt last year to terrorize the people of Rivers State.  The year 2014 we believe will usher in more dividend of democracy through our great party APC.  And it will also be the year that Rivers people will stand against injustice and impunity. On the area of education more opportunity will be given to Rivers People through scholarship and other training especially the youths.

    Chikodi David Dike, former LGA committee boss

    It is a year to consolidate on the ongoing projects and other programmes initiated by Governor Chibuike Amaechi.  God will use Governor Amaechi to touch lives in 2014.  There is no community or Local Government in Rivers State that has not benefited from one   project or the other. For example, if you go to Ogbogoro, Ozuoba and other communities in Obio/Akpor you will see projects being executed by this administration.  2014 will be a year for the consolidation of those projects.

    Mike Elechi, retired Perm Sec

    This year 2014 we must pay attention to agriculture, I have always been an advocate that what the government announces every year as a budget for agriculture is just a paper work.  The theory cannot work; the budget government declared every year serve for a particular purpose which is not for the interest of the people.  Government knows those who can do well in the area of agriculture but they don’t partner with them, if government is serious in agriculture the entrepreneur must be empowered.
    The interest rate at the bank is high and an entrepreneur is not ready to pay 25 percent interest to bank because government has failed on their responsibility to empower and partner with the entrepreneur. For instance,   our soil is not productive, we expected the government to assist the farmers on the area of oil test and seedling instead of giving cash that may not be use for the purpose of which the money was given to them. So this year I want the government to be more proactive in the area of Agriculture.

    Chief Sir Raymond Chidah, Businessman

    I want the government to focus on service delivery.  We have all disappointed the society including the APC and PDP; the people have nothing to eat this year especially in Rivers State.  There was no money; some people even borrow to celebrate Xmas and New Year. The worst thing is that contracts were being awarded to non-indigene in the state. It is unfortunate that two Ikwerre men are fighting themselves.

    Micheal Ugwari, Student

    This year we are expecting that the government will focus on making the Local Government more accountable to the people. We know that for the few months now the state has not received an allocation from the Federal Government but we want the rural areas to feel the impact of the government. People are suffering nothing is happing at the locality.

    Dr Etim Okon Edet, Paramount Ruler of Bakassi

    For me the resettlement of my people is the most urgent thing that I need now. I don’t know whether people know that lives of people are involved in this thing. It’s like Nigeria has neglected its obligation and you know that know Nigeria willingly ceded that area, so I don’t know why it cannot in the same way resettle the people, so they can have a sense of livelihood.

    Samuel Una, a farmer in Yala LGA

    The governor should help us
    with roads in our area. There
    is a road that leads from Yahe to Benue state, it passes through Ukelle. The whole of Ukelle community we don’t have any road. We produce a lot of a lot like rice, cassava, yams but cannot transport them because the roads are bad and it is increasing poverty. We have few bore holes but they are not enough. We also need water. Here people still drink from ponds. We need pipe borne water. We also need a little empowerment at least for people to do farm work. We need loans and grants from government.

    Chinedu Okafor, Businessman

    The only thing I am begging the governor this year to do is to ensure the Calabar-Itu road is fixed. We all know that that road is the main nerve of this city and the terrible state it is in now is costing us a lot in terms of business. They say it is a Federal Road and that they should wait for the federal government, but it is like living in a house and you are waiting for the landlord to come and fix your toilet when he is not willing. Governor Imoke is going to be leaving soon and I believe if he can achieve that one thing, he would have engraved his name in gold in the hearts of Cross Riverians for a long time.

    Eyo Nsa-Itam, Chairman, C’Rivers NUT

    The government should re-introduce rural allowances and tax rebates for teachers. This would go a long way to motivate the teachers. The rural allowances and other allowances that the teachers were enjoying were removed. So many schools renovated without enough students. Despite financial constraints build more schools. The most important issue is the welfare of teachers. The working condition of the teacher is the learning condition of the student. If the teachers are happy, the children would also be happy.

    Esther Effanga, a nursing mother

    The most important thing the governor should make sure happens this year is the proper enforcement of free healthcare for pregnant women and children under five years. They have been telling us and people all over the country believe that this is the situation here in the state. But we who are supposed to be benefiting from this are not. We still pay for various charges in the hospital for ourselves and our babies. I don’t know if maybe the money goes to the pockets of the hospital workers or whatever. The only thing that is free is the registration. We pay for tests and in most cases, the equipment are not available so we have to do tests outside. The doctors prescribe drugs for us and we go outside and buy them. Ordinarily everything should be free, but I can tell you it is not.

    Ogban Ebock

    We expect that the governor rounds up all the projects he has embarked on. We also expect he should midwife a new government to come and take over and continue the good works he is doing.

    Florence Ogar, nurse

    The government is doing well in the primary and secondary health sector, but lacks adequate manpower to effectively run the health sector. Some health centres that need about 50 workers, they have just 10 to 15. There are so many well trained health workers in the state. They should be employed so that the old and able hands would be able to bring them up, so that when the older ones retire, the younger ones can take over effectively.

    Victor Iyanam, former Commissioner for Justice

    The government should focus on uncompleted project especially the 20th Anniversary hospital because that was the only Akpabio’s initiative.  That hospital project should be completed, the Tropicana project should be completed as originally conceived and then there are so many road projects especially in Oro Nation. Right now, erosion has cut off part of Oro on the federal road. Just like the government was doing federal road elsewhere they should go and complete the one in Oro Nation. The governor is not contesting any election in 2015. So there is no reason why we should fall under no governance because of election.

    Clifford Thomas, A’Ibom CLO chair

    The development of human capacity development and improvement in the welfare of the people should be the area of focus for the government in 2014. When the governor promised 31 industries we thought it was a good idea. Now the people need jobs that will put food on their table. The infrastructure is there but it cannot transform to food. There is poverty and hunger in the land and the disparity between the rich and the poor is so wide. Government should do everything possible to stop capital flight. As it is today, more than 3.6million Akwa Ibom people are unemployed.

    Akanimo Edet (civil servant)

    We want the governor to
    complete some of the
    projects initiated by his administration and also guarantee the citizenry a stable political atmosphere as we move to the election year.”

    Tony Osauzo (Journalist)

    The governor should complete all on-going projects and engage in new ones according to available funds. Roads within the metropolis must be given priority in 2014.

    Kola Edokpaiyi, Activist

    What we are expecting from the state governor in 2014 is to complete all on-going projects before embarking on new ones. The central hospital, a lot of roads are yet to be completed. The governor should complete them. There is high unemployment rate in the state. Oshiomhole should address unemployment and create jobs. Insecurity is another area of concern.

    Oviawe Erhabor, Lawyer

    He must fulfil his campaign promises by making poverty history. Oshiomhole should work the talk. This is not the time for noise making. We must see evidence of what they have done. For the past one year, nothing was done in the state. The government must be responsible and accountable to the people. He must resume work at all facet of lives. There should be access to justice. 2014 will be a year of happiness if all things are done well. The government should invest massively in agriculture. Buildings have been done in schools. It is now time to employ quality teachers.

    Alagoa Morris, Human rights activist

    Commuters who ply the waterways regularly and whose work, business and livelihood depend on the creeks/ rivers are in constant fear now owing to the activities of sea pirates. Just as the Special State Security outfit code-named Operation Doo Akpoo is strategically position on land within the State capital and other communities, a marine division should also be created to adequately patrol and be strategically positioned to contain the menace of armed robbers in the rivers and creeks. This would also assist in reducing the criminal act of kidnapping in the state.

    Bright Igrubia, NYC chair

    We expect government to come out with the second phase of renunciation exercise which is rehabilitation exercise. The law which was passed and assented to by Governor Seriake Dickson in Section 3 (6) talks about rehabilitation through the Department of Social Affairs.
    Then, the Soghai students are back and need start-up packages where they can create value and add wealth and become economic change agent within the Bayelsa clime. Top on the agenda for 2014 is job creation.

    Seyifa Thomas, Yenagoa

    The government must direct its energy in creating jobs. There are many graduates in the state without jobs. There will be no sustainable security without first creating employments for youths.  Also the government should invest in building public relaxation centres for people in the state and for tourists. People should have options of where to go and relax whenever they feel like going out. Unlike other states, the only relaxation centres in Yenagoa, the state capital, are eateries.

    Torki Dauseye

    The government should try and complete the ongoing projects. Another thing that is very important is the budget implementation report. Last year the government did many projects but we did not have the budget implementation report.
    Some projects are overlapping. So we don’t know which budget is funding which project. We didn’t know the total budget used for overhead and how much was used for infrastructure. We need a budget implementation report and Auditor-General report so that we know how much is expended.

    Somina Johnbull, lawyer

    I expect the governor to main
    tain his focus and complete most
    of the projects he had embarked on in many sectors. He should complete and consolidate such projects. I have not been able to pinpoint any area of fiscal indiscipline. People are simply complaining that there is no money to share. We hope the governor continue to ensure prudent management of the state’s resources.

    Elizabeth Egbe, Coordinator, National Anti-Corruption Volunteer Corp

    We want all ongoing road objects completed in 2014. We should also have access to quality healthcare, educational services and to participate in budget processes. The government should improve transport system for riverine people and give welfare packages for fishermen who have been neglected. The government should also ensure speedy passage of the Child Rights Act.

    Chief Steve Sokoh

    We in Udu Kingdom are suffering, but there is light at the end of the tunnel because we can see the fingerprints of the Governor coming back to develop Udu. My wish is that 2014 will be better than 2013.
    I want to single out infrastructure ,roads to be precise. The ongoing Delta Leisure Resorts, Oleri, Udu is presently incapacitated, because nothing is actually happening there now. If the project is revived it will have a multiplier effect in Udu Kingdom and Delta State at large. Work on the beautification on the median of the DSC expressway leading to the resort is epileptic. I want the type of infrastructure being enjoyed by the people of Uvwie, Effurun, and Warri South to spread to Udu. I know Dr Uduaghan has the heart to do it.”

    Chief David Ohwoekevwo, President-General, Agbarha-Otor

    Our community lacks a hospital and good network of motorable roads despite its contribution to national development as a major oil producing community. We feel marginalised; people are not benefitting from many government policies. I have to appreciate Governor Uduaghan for all he has been doing. In spite of the quantum of oil produced, Agbarha has no hospital whereas communities that are not up to Agbarha in size and population have .The hospital project approved before the exit of ex-Governor Felix Ibru has not gone 60% completion. One expects that projects like that should be completed and commissioned for the use of the community. Also many of our sons and daughters are graduates and they are unemployed They have resorted to riding Okada. Government should focus on employment this year. So that those people whose parents borrowed money to see through their education will relieve their parents of suffering. The government policy of automatic employment for first class graduate is not working because I have young graduates with first class degrees who have applied for job but he was not even invited for an interview. I want to believe that government is playing politics with this policy. Our roads should be well tarred so that the scourge of rural-urban migration will be reduced and also enhance the socio-economic life of the people”.

    Oghenejabor Ikimi, activist

    Deltans must join hands
    with government to fight
    official corruption and poverty in our polity as government alone cannot do it. Deltans must learn to expose corrupt leaders rather than worshipping them, this is because for every money looted, wasted  or mismanaged by public office holder and is allowed to go unpunished, same translates  into poverty, decay in public infrastructure, insecurity, massive unemployment. In addition, the Federal Government must as a priority strengthen and reposition the EFCC and ICPC and the Code of Conduct Bureau respectively for greater efficiency in 2014.

    Austin Eboh, Stanley Mukoro, civil servant

    Eboh said the Delta State Government should as a matter of urgency conduct the council poll as the subsisting transition committees have overstayed their relevance. This has made the conduct of the local government elections an urgent matter that cannot be delayed any further.
    Stanley Mukoro , a civil servant, could not agree less: Deltans have eagerly looked forward to the conduct of the local government elections, but that has not materialized. So we can only hope and expect that that should be a major priority to the State government.
    Also a speedy completion of all on-going projects especially roads and creation of jobs, particularly for the youths of this State are some of the expectation of Deltans in this New Year.”

  • Niger Delta group urges northern youths to embrace peace

    A youth advocacy group, Niger Delta Organisation for Sustainable Development, has urged youths in some parts of the North to drop their arms and join hands to work towards the development of the country.

    The group’s National President, Dogubo Mologe, in a New Year message, urged Northern youths to emulate the Niger Delta youths who after some period of agitation, embraced peace and are now contributing positively to national development.

    Mologe also urged youths across the Niger Delta to guard against being used by selfish politicians to cause a breach of the peace in the New Year.

    Mologe said, as future leaders, youths should not be involved in counter-productive acts, but be more reasonable and responsible in all their actions.

    He urged them to stand solidly behind President Goodluck Jonathan who, according to him, holds the youths in high esteem. He said this has been demonstrated by his appointment of several youths into sensitive positions in his administration.

    Mologe urged them to give peace a chance so that all parts of the country can be developed for the enhancement of the standard of living of all Nigerians.

     

     

  • Woman dies in governor’s office

    Havoc struck today when a 46 year old woman, identified as Hajiya Belkisu Mahmoud suddenly slumped and died in the office of the Niger state governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.

    It was gathered that the woman a mother of three had waited several hours to see the governor but was denied access to see the governor who was said to have a lot of files to treat due to the New Year break but shortly after she was ushered into the governor’s office that she slump.

    Source in the governor’s office who spoke in confidence said the woman who was suspected to be asthmatic was immediately rushed to the Minna General Hospital where Doctor confirmed her dead.

    Our source said that the woman who was on a private visit  was delayed in the waiting hall because her name was not on the approved protocol list of those to see the governor, but being a former staff officer (SO) in the Deputy Governor’s office.

    There is no official statement from the government as at the time of filing this report but the governor was said to have hurriedly left office after the incident.

    Doctors at the Minna General Hospital also refused to comment on the incident as they all kept sealed lips and avoided efforts to get them to comment.

  • Niger enforces ban on Okada

    Niger enforces ban on Okada

    Commuters in Minna, the Niger State capital, were yesterday stranded, following the enforcement of the ban on commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that most residents had a difficult time getting the buses and tricycles provided by the government.

    The vehicles charged between N30 and N50 per drop, which most of the residents said were affordable.

    Malam Haruna Shehu, a businessman, complained that the vehicles provided were not adequate.

    “Even though the fares are cheap, since morning I have seen just a few buses.

    “I don’t think that is enough to cater for the teeming population, who depend on Okada,” he said.

    Another resident, Reng Ali, said with the new development, he now had to trek far to get a tricycle to take him to work daily.

    “The problem with the ban is that these buses and tricycles don’t ply every route like the Okada does.

    Another commuter, Kehinde Abdulsalam, said:”I didn’t have it easy today, but I cannot go on complaining because it would not change anything, sometimes we have to make sacrifices.”

    It was observed that security personnel were out on major roads arresting defaulters of the ban.

  • Tackling shelter challenge in Niger

    Tackling shelter challenge in Niger

    Then Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu entered into a contract agreement with the people of Niger State in 2007 he made a commitment to address the deficiency in the housing sector, hence his administration over the years has made huge investments in the construction of decent and affordable houses.

    The target is to build 10,000 units of buildings of different structures and sizes in various cities and towns in the state. If achieved Aliyu’s administration would have set the record of constructing the highest number of housing units since 1976 the state was created. He would have helped to reduce the 16 million housing deficit nationwide.

    To achieve this tall dream in the face of limited resources and many sectors begging for similar government intervention, Aliyu adopted the option of Public Private Partnership (PPP) to drive and finance the various estates across the nooks and crannies of the state.

    Under the arrangement private concerns (developers) are to raise funds for the construction of the housing units while the state government’s equity contributions in the estates were the provision of the lands as well as basic infrastructure at the sites. This was to guarantee reduction in the unit price of the houses so that they could be affordable to the citizens.

    Government kick-started the massive housing construction with the already commissioned 500 units at Muhammed Inua Wushishi Housing estate, in Minna, the state capital. Similar estates were started same time in Bida and Kontagora, but they ran into hitches but work has resumed there also.

    Another N1.66 billion 500 units of two and three bedrooms bungalows Talba HousIng Estate in Minna are almost ready for occupation.

    Works have also reached an advanced stage on the largest of all the housing projects in the state. The 300 hectares Minna Airport City Estate at Maikukele, a surbub of the state capital. This estate is to house 1,231 units of two, three and four bedrooms detached buildings. Federal government also planned to complement state government’s efforts by constructing additional 1,000 units at the Airport City Estate.

    The proximity of Suleja to Federal Capital Territory and the attendant demand for decent housing due to in-flux of people from Abuja to the town madeAliyu’s government to commence work on a 500 units housing estate as a deliberate policy to reducing the pressure on the housing facilities in the town.

    Aside from these, each of the 25 local government councils is to construct a minimum of 50 units before the end of 2014.

    Reacting to progress made so far on the various estates, the State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Dr. Peter Sariki said government was committed to delivering the houses before the expiration of its term.

    The Talba housing estate which ought to have been completed through PPP ran into hitches, this Sariki sqid compelled the state government to release N200 million for its take off. Government decision paid off, has over 350 of the units are nowcompleted while work is at advance stage on the remaining units.

    The state Commissioner for Lands and Housing further said that because of the strategic location of the estate virtually all the housing units are already subscribed.

    Construction at the Airport city in Minna was the envy of all the estates. The aesthetics of the structures is the unique selling point. 150 prototype units of the 1231 bungalows were ready for occupation.

    Shedding light on the financial involvement of the government in the PPP arrangement for the estate, the General Manager of the state Housing Corporation, Mohammed Baba Adamu said the state government would inject N2billion to provide infrastructures within the N4 billion estate.

    Adamu said interested buyers of houses at the Airport City Estate will pay N4 million for two bedrooms, N6.5 million for three bedrooms and N7.5 million for four bedroom flats.

    Situation report at the Aliyu Makama Housing Estate in Bida indicates that the 254 units’ estate has attained over 60 per cent level of completion and representative of the private developer, Engineer Amaechi Morris said the project would be delivered by the end of next month.

    According to the developer the N900 million estate is made up of 100 three bedrooms bungalows and 154 two-bedroom semi detached bungalows would be sold at N4.8 million and N3.6 million for each unit of three and two bedroom apartments.

    The Colonel Sani Bello Housing Estate in Kontagora constructed at the cost of N800 million has attained 70 per cent level of completion and is also to be delivered same time with the estate in Bida. The estate consist of 100 3-bedroom bungalow and 150 2-bedroom semi detached apartments. Each 3-bedroom would cost N4.5 million while the 2-bedroom is N4 million.

    Commissioner for Land and Housing stated that the housing policy of the administration was a clear demonstration of its responsiveness to the needs and aspirations of the people.

    The elated Sariki further said that Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement was now working in the state especially in the housing sector adding that the housing estates at Bida and Kontagora were products of such initiative.

     

  • Niger’s N6b bond headache

    Niger’s N6b bond headache

    When Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu approached the capital market to raise N6billion for infrastructural development in the face of limited resources, many people were sceptical while some never gave the move any chance of achieving the desired objective. A segment of the citizenry even saw the move as another deliberate plan to leave a huge liability for future administrations.

    Then the governor and his economic team who were anxious for development frantically advanced reasons why the state should source for other means, other than the funds from federal allocation to provide basic infrastructure. Aliyu had assured the state that repayment of the bond would be dispensed with before the expiration of his administration.

    Despite the initial opposition to the bond, Aliyu found favour in the sight of the State House of Assembly. The lawmakers were fascinated by the burning desire of the Executive arm to fast-track development, despite paucity of funds to meet up the pressing demands of development in the state. Thus the approval for the N6 billion bond was secured.

    The money was said to have been used to construct the Babanna–Loma road – a stretch of about 150 kilometres road linking Benin Republic, first constructed in the first Republic by Sir Ahmadu Bello’s administration but left in a deplorable and embarrassing condition; five township roads in Minna the state capital, the road leading to the popular Gurara falls, off Minna –Suleja road as well as Mokwa –Rabba road among others.

    The judicious utilisation of the N6 billion bond according to the state Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Mahmud Kpako Bello, whose Ministry piloted the acquisition of the facility, saw to the completion of all but one of the roads. The contractor handling Mokwa-Rabba road was said to have been deficient leading to its re-award recently.

    The huge success recorded with the N6billion informed the state government’s move for a N30 billion bond to open up more roads and also construct a bridge across River Kaduna in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state, a project first muted about two decades ago.

    The N30 billion bond shelf approval was made and the facility arranged to be released in tranches. The state government in the 2012 fiscal projection took N9 billion from the lot for the construction, re-construction and rehabilitation of some of the roads spread across the three geo-political zones of the state.

    Under this facility, a new road from Maitumbi –Maikunkele was opened up thereby creating another bye–pass within the suburb of the state capital. Other roads are Rijau-Dukku road and dualisation of New Market- Bahago Roundabout, among others.

    With most of the projects on the N9 billion bond nearing completion, the stage is set for another tranche of N6 billion.

    On the standard of the projects, Bello faulted government critics, saying, “all the projects are being monitored closely by the stakeholders including the all necessary security firms and institutions involved in the issuing of the bond. Mind you, many checks and balances were embedded in the bond, no party in the bond can compromise standard or quality.

    “Legbo Kutigi Road in Minna, one of the five township roads captured in the N6 billion bond, was in bad shape before the intervention and the smooth road we have now from Radio Niger Junction to Banana House is from the bond. The same goes for other roads under the bond.”

    Basking on the success of the bonded projects, Bello referred critics to visit the Gurara Falls. “You need to visit Gurara Falls and see the road that leads to the fall. The hitherto bad road now attracts more tourists from within and outside the state to the fall site courtesy of the bond.

    “The fact is, we have judiciously used funds from bond to open up Niger State. We never had functional and motorable road network like this since the creation of the state. We have opened up the state and government will use the remaining bond to open more communities,” Bello asserted.

    Satisfied with the two earlier facilities, the Finance Commissioner disclosed that the state will further access additional N6 billion from the N21 billion remaining out of the N30 billion shelf approval earlier secured.

    Like any other human endeavour, the project recorded some challenges as some contractors reneged on their terms of agreement and have shown lack of capacity to execute their jobs.

    Bello recalled the recent revocation of the contract for the construction of the N1.5billion bridge across the River Kaduna at Shiroro being executed under the N9 billion bond for non-performance by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructural Development.

    He said that 14 months after the contract was awarded and the construction firm received a mobilisation fee of N364 million, only 9.2 percent of the job had been done.

    Though critics of government remained undaunted, decision to go for the bond and the attendant physical development of the state continue to elicit public comments.

    Mallam Idiris Jikantoro, a resident of Babanna praised the government for the construction of Babanna-Loma Road. “For years, people of Babanna and environs have been cut out of the state. It takes three to four hours to make the less than 150 kilometre journey,” he said.

    For Ibrahim Musa, “It is better for the state to collect loans or whatever it is to develop the state and put in place structures that we can see physically rather than for them to tell us they collected loans to do things that we cannot see but are busy enriching themselves.

    “It is even okay since they have decided to develop the state if every administration had taken this same step, I am sure Niger State would have gone past where it is now.”

    He argued that the acquisition of the bond generated criticism because this means of raising funds is novel to the people of the state. “We are equally aware that most states do secure these bonds. That is why they are having rapid development there.

    “Imagine Lagos State with a huge Internally Generated Revenue still acquires bond for developmental purposes. So why will Niger State that can hardly pay its staff salaries with both its Federal Allocation and IGR not seek bond?” Musa queried.

    The fact remains that the state has witnessed tremendous improvement in its road network and this Bello said was made possible via the bonds secured so far.

     

  • Niger: Zoning and the battle for Aliyu’s job

    Niger: Zoning and the battle for Aliyu’s job

    Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports on the quest for the chief executive seat in Niger State ahead 2015

    In 1998, the three senatorial districts in Niger State agreed to put in place a zoning formula to be adhered to in determining who becomes governor of the state. Consequently, all three zones unanimously agreed that the Niger South Senatorial District should produce the governor in 1999.

    That decision to concede the governorship ticket to the Nupe speaking area of the state in 1998, according to reliable sources, was taken in realisation of the fact that at the time, the zone was yet to produce a chief executive since the creation of the state in 1976.

    The result of this agreement was the emergence of Alhaji Abdukadir Kure, an engineer and retired civil servant and former Director, Engineering Services, Federal Capital Development Authority, as the Executive Governor of Niger State in 1999. Kure ruled the state for eight years as he got re-elected in 2003.

    In 2007, with the three zones having had a shot each at the governorship and in line with the 1998 zoning agreement, the three zones conceded the governorship slot to Niger East Senatorial District. The decision, sources said, was based on the fact that the zone was the first to produce a civilian governor for the state.

    The favoured zone, made up of three Emirate Councils, namely Suleja, Minna and Kagara, now had no fewer than ten eligible aspirants who battled one another for the plum job.

    The only aspirant to show interest from outside the Eastern zone, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) gubernatorial candidate in 2003, Engineer Mustapha Bello, who hails from Niger North Zone, was talked out of the race by founding fathers of the zoning agreement.

    At the end of proceeding in May 2007, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu from the Eastern Senatorial District emerged as the governor of the state. He too got mandates to rule the state for eight years following his re-election in 2011.

    2015 and the zoning issue

    As the date for the 2015 governorship draws nearer with Governor Aliyu ineligible for another term, political circles in the state have been agog with news of several aspirants getting ready to do battle for the plum job.

    Expectedly, there are talks about the 1998 zoning agreement. But unlike in 2007 when all stakeholders allegedly agreed it should be adhered to, there are indications that some forces are working for the abolition of the agreement.

    Even as Aliyu and the leadership of the ruling party say zoning in the PDP for the 2015 governorship election “is sacrosanct and binding in the selection and fielding of candidates,’ some members of the party are kicking against the decision with a number of them ready to enter the governorship race in defiance to the agreement.

    Speaking during the week when the Emir of Minna, Alhaji Umar Faruk, paid him a visit to mark the Eid- el-Kabir celebrations, the governor advised those faulting the zoning arrangement to put the peace and stability of the state ahead of their personal interests.

    He said that the PDP would adhere to the zoning policy during the selection process for the 2015 election in the state because it had ensured balancing and stability in political arrangement since 1999. He vowed to resist any attempt to change it.

    The governor said that those clamouring for non-adherence to the zoning policy for 2015, were doing so for their ethnic and selfish interests.

    The Nation learnt that some politicians from Niger South Senatorial District, relying on the numerical strength of the zone, are poised to disregard the political arrangement of rotating the governorship seats among the three senatorial districts of Niger South, Niger East and Niger North.

    To give bite to this suspicion, the former gubernatorial candidate of the defunct Social Democratic Party [SDP] in Niger State, Dr Mustapha Abdulsalam, from Lapai in the Southern Senatorial District, made known his intention to contest the PDP governorship primaries.

    He even inaugurated an Advisory Stakeholders’ Committee with the argument that the ‘gentleman’ arrangement of the PDP was neither in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria nor that of the party.

    He stated, “I’m in the race to serve the people of Niger State and irrespective of the zoning, I’m coming out for the primary election’’.

    According to him, the leadership of the party in the state should throw open the primaries of the party for members to pick the flag bearer of the party in the coming elections in the state.

    He added “after all, the so-called zoning or gentleman arrangement was not followed by the national body of the party”.

    The speculated entry of Muhammed Babangida, son of former military ruler, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, into the race is another indication of attempts to dump the zoning arrangement. Earlier in 2011, Muhammed was one aspirant who made a show of wanting to contest against Aliyu’s re-election.

    Although the Babangida’s ancestral home is in Wushishi, many believe they are more at home in Minna than anywhere else. Thus, his aspiration is seen as an attempt by some politicians in the eastern senatorial district to make another dash for the governorship at the expense of the northern senatorial district favoured by the zoning formula.

    Already, Governor Aliyu has berated the activities of those trying to lure Mohammed Babangida to contest. He described them as political jobbers.

    Aliyu, who chided his critics from Wushishi, stated that Mohammed is from Niger East whereas the governorship position has been zoned to Niger North ahead of 2015 elections. He said the campaign for Mohammed Babangida was inconsequential.

    Contenders from the north

    One of the leading candidates for the state’s governorship elections in 2015 is its Deputy Governor, Honourable Ahmed Musa Ibeto, who is from the northern senatorial zone of the state. A former member of the House of Representatives and one time chief of protocol in the state, he, is seen as the senatorial districts leading public office holder.

    Apart from Ibeto, other notable aspirants from the Kontagora axis of the state include Muazu Mohammed Bawa, the state’s Commissioner of Finance and Abubakar Sani Bello (Habu), former Commissioner of Commerce and son of retired Colonel Sani Bello and son-in-law of former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

    Others said to be keenly interested in taking over from Aliyu in 2015 are Aminu Yusuf, the secretary of the state’s PDP and Mustapha Bello, former Minister of Commerce, younger brother of Col Bello and current Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council.

    Also said to be warming up for the contest are Ibrahim Ahmed Matani, a former head of service and currently Commissioner of Agriculture, three time senator, former DIG Nuhu Aliyu and Abubakar Sa’idu, chairman of Wushishi Local Government and son-in-law of state’s governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu.

    All the above named aspirants, save for Abubakar Sani Bello, are jostling for the governorship ticket of the ruling PDP. The large number of PDP aspirants, pundits say, is based on the belief in some political circles that Niger State will remain in the hands of the ruling party beyond 2015.

    The APC challenge

    But there are strong indications that victory in the 2015 electoral battle may not be PDP’s for the asking. The rising profile of the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state is one reason why observers of the politics of Niger State are cautious in determining how the election will go.

    Also, for years now, Kontagora, the zone expected to produce the next governor of the state going by the zoning arrangement, has been an opposition territory. Currently led by an opposition senator, the zone in 2011, voted massively for the Congress for Progressive Change in the general election.

    With the merger of progressive parties into the APC, pundits are of the opinion that the PDP will be given a run for its money by the opposition party in 2015. Already, an array of aspirants are jostling to fly the banner of the party in the struggle for who succeeds Aliyu.

    Among those said to be gunning for the ticket for now are Ibrahim Musa, the zone’s senator, Ibrahim Bako Shettima from Bida, the Congress for Progressive Change’s (CPC’s) governorship candidate in the 2011 elections, David Umaru from Minna, the All Nigeria Peoples Party’s governorship candidate in 2007 and 2011, and Bello Jr. from Kontagora.

    Bello Jr. defected to the CPC before the APC merger, following his falling out a long time ago with the state governor over issues of policy.

    Because Zones A and B have had their turn in governing the state, many strategists favour Bello Jr. as the man that may emerge as APC’s flag bearer in the state should the party decide to abide by the zoning arrangement of 1998.

    The permutations are still an ongoing game.