The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger

  • Senator hails Fed Govt on second Niger Bridge

    The Senator representing Anambra North, Mrs. Margery Chuba-Okadigbo, has lauded the Federal Government for the commencement of work on the Second Niger Bridge.

    Senator Okadigbo said she was elated and full of gratitude with the news that the Federal Government has given “Letter of Intent” to Julius Berger to begin initial work on the strategic bridge.

    The lawmaker added that it was a thing of delight to her constituents that Julius Berger has mobilised to site to commence preliminary work on the bridge.

    Senator Okadigbo who stated this in a letter of appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan, said the bridge will catalyse greater socio-economic activities and commercial benefits to Nigerians when completed.

     

  • ‘Niger spent N7.2B on fertilisers in six years’

    The Niger State Government bought and distributed fertilisers worth over N7.2 billion in the last six years, it has been learnt.

    It has also begun the distribution of 6,000 metric tonnes of the commodity for the current farming season.

    The Commissioner for Agriculture, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, addressed reporters in Minna, the state capital, on the activities of the ministry.

    He said this year’s fertilisers cost N7.9 million.

    The distribution of the commodity by the state government at a subsidised rate, Matane said, was to complement Federal Government’s Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme (e-wallet scheme) for this year’s farming season.

    According to him, under the state government, fertiliser intervention farmers are to buy a bag of SSP fertiliser at 50 per cent subsidy for N3,000 while NPK and Urea varieties go for N4,000 each.

    The commissioner also said another 130,662 bags of NPK and Urea were distributed to farmers under e-wallet scheme at 50 per cent subsidy.

     

  • Northern Govs donate N100m to families of slain security agents

    Northern Govs donate N100m to families of slain security agents

    The Northern Governors Forum (NGF) on Thursday donated N100 million to widows of  security men killed recently at Alakio in Nasarawa State by suspected cultists.

    Chairman of the forum, Dr. Babangida Aliyu of Niger, announced the donation at the Government House, Lafia

    The Niger governor led his counterparts from Jigawa, Kaduna and Katsina States to commiserate with the families of the slain officers, government and people of Nasarawa State over the incident.

    “We are in the state to condole with and express our support to our counterpart in the quest to find the killers of the security operatives who died on active service.

    “There is no state in the country that is not presently experiencing one form of security challenge or the other.

    “What happened in Nasarawa is pathetic because those that were chosen to protect the citizens were the ones attacked.

    “In other countries, no one dare kill anyone with authority and go scot free. When nations allow that to happen, then, they are questioning the foundation of governance, “ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted governor Aliyu as saying during the visit.

    He commended the governor for setting up a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the killings.

     

  • Niger Assembly summons SURE-P chief

    After over a year of the introduction of the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P), the Niger State House of Assembly has summon its Director-General, Malam Hassan Nuhu, to appear before it for non-implementation of the programme in the state.

    The directive came on the heels of a motion on matter of urgent public importance by Shehu Pawa, representing Kontagora I.

    The lawmaker complained that the directorate, which is saddled with the implementation of SURE-P in the state, had failed to deliver on its mandate.

    Pawa noted that despite the budgetary allocation for the programme, the directorate had not been doing anything.

    He argued that the programme, which was set up to cushion the effect of the partial removal of fuel subsidy and using the proceeds for job creation among the unemployed youths and to meet other infrastructural and social deficiencies, had not taken off in Niger State.

    Pawa wondered why the directorate, which is the brainchild of the state government and headed by the DG, has not had any laudable programme for the teeming youths in the state.

    He said the SURE-P chief be summoned to explain the inactivity of the directorate in the state.

  • Northern governors, elders rally behind Niger governor

    Northern governors, elders rally behind Niger governor

    Following plot to remove Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu, no fewer than 10 Northern governors and leaders have mobilised support against moves to destabilize the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF).

    They have vowed to prevent forces in the Presidency and some elements within the NSGF from unseating Babangida.

    A split has also occurred within the rank of the governors leading to the resurgence of Muslim-Christian or Hausa-Fulani/ Minority sentiments.

    The Northern governors are expected to meet on Thursday in Kaduna with plans by some forces in the Presidency to ask Aliyu to step aside.

    Investigation by our correspondent showed that Aliyu’s sins border on non-recognition of Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang as the chairman of the Nigeria governors Forum (NGF) by most Northern governors and why power should shift to the North in 2015.

    It was learnt that forces within the Presidency believe that Aliyu was allegedly behind Jang’s loss to Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    The same forces were also said to be unhappy with Babangida’s disclosure that President Goodluck Jonathan signed a pact with PDP governors to serve one term in office.

    A reliable source said: “Ahead of the NSGF meeting on Thursday, horse-trading has started with Northern governors and key leaders in the region questioning the recourse to muzzling down of governors by some forces in the Presidency.

    “Aliyu is being blamed for supporting Amaechi. The forces against the Niger State governor alleged that he came up with a wining formula for Amaechi by prevailing on governors Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) to step down for Jang seen as a weak candidate.

    “They are also seeking Aliyu’s removal for demanding power shift to the North in 2015. Some Northern governors are of the opinion that it will be in the interest of the North to stand by Aliyu.

    “In one of the strategic meetings last night in Abuja, no fewer than 10 out of 19 governors have rallied round Aliyu since the winner will emerge through simple majority.

    “Pro-Aliyu governors are trying to ensure that those loyal to the forces in the presidency do not have the figure to remove Aliyu.

    Another source said: “The NSGF politics is becoming a Muslim-Christian/Hausa-Fulani/Minority politics. This is why some elders have decided to prevail on Northern governors to back Aliyu and save the region from being turned into another theatre of war.”

     

  • Niger CPC seeks jail for electoral chief

    The Niger State Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has called for the imprisonment of Alhaji Mohammed Danlami Abubakar, the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC), for allegedly disobeying court order.

    In a statement in Minna, the state capital, by the state Chairman of the party, Malam Umar Shuaibu, the CPC alleged that the NSIEC Chairman and the electoral body failed to conduct by-election into two wards in Chanchaga Local Government Area, despite several court orders on the matter.

    The party recalled that its candidates in the two wards were leading in the number of votes recorded in the September 29, 2012 by-election.

    It alleged that the electoral body declared that the election was inconclusive because of the results of two polling units in the two wards.

    CPC said this was an attempt to subvert the imminent victory of its councillorship candidates.

    Shuaibu said the party went to court, challenging NSIEC’s decision and that the court directed another by-election.

    He said: “For more than eight months, neither the winner nor the new date for another election in the polling units has been announced.”

    The party said it approached the Appellate Division of the High Court of Niger State and that a Form 48 was issued to Abubakar on November 3, last year, ordering him to conduct the by-election.

    The notice stated that “unless you obey the Order of the Court forthwith, as contained in the Judgment of this Honourable Court, commanding you to conduct a councillorship by-election in Limawa ‘A’ Ward, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison”.

    The same Order was also made for Nasarawa ‘B’ Ward. Six months after the service of the notice, the by-election is yet to be conducted.

    But NSIEC Chairman Mohammed Danlami Abubakar said lack of funds hindered the conduct of by-election in the two wards.

    He said: “Äs soon as approval for the release of the fund was made by the state government, the by-election would be conducted, as directed.”

  • Gunmen kill police Inspector in Niger

    The Niger State Police Command at the weekend arrested over 50 suspects at Barkin Gada in Mashegu Local Government of the state following the killing of an Inspector by some gunmen suspected to be robbers.

    The gunmen reportedly opened fire on a police patrol team and killed the Inspector, who led the team.

    The killer was said to have taken away the police officer’s rifle.

    It was learnt that the incident occurred at 9pm at the boundary village between Rafi and Mashegu Local Government on Friday when the policemen were on night patrol.

    A source in the village, who spoke in confidence, explained that the gunmen were trekking among the villages and took the patrol men by surprise.

    The source said the gunmen opened fire on the policemen, apparently targeting the Inspector.

    It was also learnt that other members of the patrol team took cover and fired back at the gunmen, who escaped with injury.

    A police source said the state command had ordered the patrol team to monitor the area following persistent robbery attacks on the spot.

    Irked by the killing of the Inspector, Police Commissioner Desire Nsirim ordered an immediate manhunt of the gunmen, which led to the arrest of over 50 suspects from the village.

    Police spokesman, Richard Oguche, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), confirmed the killing of the Inspector to some armed men.

    He said the slain policeman’s gun was taken away by the gunmen.

    Oguche added that some suspects have been arrested and taken to the State Central Investigation Department (SCID) for investigation.

  • UN adopts Nigeria’s model for post conflict nations

    The United Nations has adopted Nigeria’s Technical Aid Corps (TAC) scheme as a model for post conflict reconstruction in countries emerging from conflicts.

    The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 11, Dr. Nurudeen Mohammed, disclosed this on Wednesday in a chat with the Western Europe Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in London.

    It would be recalled that the TAC scheme was established by the Federal Government in 1987 to assist states in Africa, Caribbean and specific regions in their social-economic development effort through the participation of Nigeria experts in various fields of human endeavour.

    Mohammed, who spoke against the backdrop of Nigeria’s engagement in South Sudan, said both countries were in partnership under the TAC agreement to provide technical assistance in health services and other areas.

    He also said that government under its economic diplomacy was also encouraging the private sector to invest in South Sudan.

    “Nigerians operating businesses within and outside the country are engaged in small, medium and large scale, sometimes the President includes the private sector in his delegation during his state visits to countries abroad.

    “Where ever you see the President and foreign ministers, the aim is to increase the profile of Nigeria, and to protect the interest of Nigerians including those of would be investors, so government is giving full backing to the private sector to invest in South Sudan,’’ Dr. Mohammed told NAN.

    NAN reports that the TAC Scheme is an alternative to direct financial aid to African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries by sharing Nigerian’s know-how and expertise with them on the basis of their assessed and perceived needs.

    It also serves as a critical vehicle for Mutual Corporation and understanding between Nigeria and the recipient countries.

    Some of the beneficiaries of the scheme include The Gambia, Senegal, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Ethiopia, Niger and Benin Republic.

     

  • Nigerian Air Force plane crashes in Niger

    Nigerian Air Force plane crashes in Niger

    Two Nigerian Air Force pilots died yesterday in Niamey, Niger Republic as the Alpha combat jet they were flying crashed at Dargol village, about 60 kilometres west of Niamey.

    The jet, which crashed at 1.05 pm, was not on combat mission, Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, said in a statement.

    According to the Defence spokesman, the aircraft was one of the fighter jets deployed on the ongoing military operations in the crisis-ridden Mali.

    The statement said: “A Nigerian Air Force Alpha Jet aircraft on a non-combatant mission crashed today at Dargol Village at about 1305hours (1.05pm), 60Km West of Niamey.

    “The two pilots on board the fighter jet also died. The Alpha Jet aircraft is one of the four based in Niamey, Niger Republic as part of Africa-led Support Mission in Mali.

    “Investigation has commenced to unravel the circumstances that led to the accident. Further details on the crash will be made known as soon as the families of the deceased pilots are informed”.

    Chaibou Massalatchi, the head of Niamey’s airport, said the plane took off to do a reconnaissance mission.

    The Nigerian military is taking part in the regional effort to support France’s operation in northern Mali.

    France launched the military operation in January to oust al-Qaida-linked jihadists from power in northern Mali.

    Some 6,000 troops from neighboring countries including Nigeria and Niger have been taking part, though Chad has said it’s withdrawing its nearly 2,000 soldiers.

     

  • Niger 2015: Waiting for Muhammed Babangida

    Niger 2015: Waiting for Muhammed Babangida

    A waiting game is ongoing in Niger State as we speak. The wait, reliable sources claim, is not about anything or anybody other than Alhaji Muhammed Babangida, son of former military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. The rumour mill has been agog for a while now that the young Babangida is interested in vying for the governorship seat of the state. The seat it was gathered has been zoned by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to the northern senatorial district where the Babangidas hail from.

    Perhaps to send out early signals of his seriousness, souvenirs and posters of Muhammed recently flooded various parts of the state. With this, it became more obvious that the Babangidas are not joking after all.

    That started the waiting game. There are indications that two groups of waiters are involved. While there are those waiting for Muhammed to publicly declare his intention for them to jump in the wagon of support and solidarity for him, there are also those waiting to tell him to his face that he is not fit to govern the north central state.

    The two groups sure have their reasons but these reasons may not be known to all until Babangida opens up.