The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Suleiman Abubakar

  • Gunmen abduct four women

    Gunmen on Wednesday attacked vehicles along the Akwanga-Akwanga-Keffi Expressway, kidnapping four women.

    Yahanasu, wife of the Chairman of Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nasarawa State Council, Suleiman Abubakar, was among those kidnapped.

    Abubakar told reporters that the incident occurred around 7pm on Gudi-Garaku Road in Akwanga Local Government.

    He said the gunmen shot at the union bus they were travelling in from Keffi, where his wife had gone to register at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp.

    Read also: Gunmen attack journalist, abduct wife, three others in Nasarawa

    Abubakar said the bus ran into a ditch after it was shot at, which gave the gunmen the opportunity to abduct his wife, the wife of a former state assembly member, who was on the bus as well as two other women from another vehicle.

    Police spokesman Samaila Usman, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP),  said the command had mobilised officers to rescue the victims.

     

  • Gunmen kidnap four women in Nasarawa

    Gunmen on Wednesday attacked vehicles along the busy Akwanga-Keffi expressway, kidnapping four women in the process.

    Chairman of Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists in Nasarawa State, Suleiman Abubakar’s wife, Yahanasu Abubakar, was among those kidnapped.

    Suleiman told newsmen that the incident happened around 7:00pm along Gudi-Garaku road in Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.

    READ ALSO: Police arrest kidnapping syndicate, recover AK 47 in Katsina

    According to him, the gunmen shot at the union bus they were travelling in from Keffi, where his wife had gone to register at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp.

    He said the bus ran into a ditch after it was shot at which gave the gunmen the opportunity to abduct his wife, the wife of a former Assembly member, who was also on the bus as well as two other women from another vehicle.

    ASP Samaila Usman, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, said the command had mobilised officers to the area to search and rescue the abducted women.

  • Nasarawa: Abductors demand N5m for journalist’s wife release

    Suleiman Abubakar, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Chairman Correspondents’ chapel, Nasarawa State has said that the gunmen, who attacked him and abducted his wife, Yahanasu  demanded for N5 million for her release.

    Abubakar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lafia that the abductors had on Wednesday evening attacked him, his wife and three other women.

    He said he narrowly escaped from the bus while the abductors went with his wife and the other victims.

    He said the women were abducted by the gunmen, following attack on Gudi-Garaku Road in Akwanga Local Government Area of the state on their way to Lafia, the state capital.

    According to Abubakar, the assailants shot at the union’s bus conveying himself and the victims from Keffi, where his wife had gone to register at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp, at about 7p.m.

    “They called me this morning demanding for N5 million in order to secure the release of my wife, however, I told them that I can only afford N50,000 and they said I was not serious.

    “They also allowed my wife to speak with me on the phone to ascertain that she was alright, “he said.

    “The bus ran into a ditch after being shot at while the gunmen swooped on us but I escaped while they took my wife and the other women.

    “One of the women is a wife of a former State House of Assembly member who they offered free ride.

    Meanwhile, ASP Samaila Usman, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Police Command in the state, said that the command was working assiduously to secure the release of the victims unhurt.

  • Gunmen attack journalist, abduct wife, three others in Nasarawa

    Gunmen on Wednesday attacked Suleiman Abubakar, Chairman of Correspondents’ chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Nasarawa state and abducted his wife, Yahanasu Abubakar.

    Suleiman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident happened at about 7 p.m. along Gudi-Garaku road in Akwanga Local Government Area of the state.

    According to Suleiman, the gunmen shot at the union bus they were travelling in from Keffi, where his wife went to register at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp.

    Read also: ‘No plan to amend Constitution to keep Buhari beyond 2023’

    He said the bus ran into a ditch after being shot at while the gunmen swooped on them, took his wife, the wife of a former state assembly member, who they gave a lift as well as two other women from another vehicle during the attack.

    Meanwhile, ASP Samaila Usman, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, said the command had mobilised officers to the area to search and rescue the abducted women. (NAN)

  • 40 electricity transformers vandalised in Nasarawa in 10 months – AEDC

    40 electricity transformers vandalised in Nasarawa in 10 months – AEDC

    Mr Ameen Shakur, Nasarawa State Regional Manager, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company ( AEDC ) says that no less than 40 transformers are vandalised in Lafia, capital of Nasarawa state since January.

    Shakur disclosed this on Wednesday when the executive and members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ) Nasarawa State Council visited the company in Keffi.

    He decried the high rate of vandalism of electricity installations in the state, adding that the menace was impeding AEDC’s efforts in delivering effective service to the people of the state.

    “We have recorded over 40 transformers being vandalised since January in Lafia alone and that is what is happening all over the state.

    “It is high time customers took ownership of the equipment because they are located within their areas and are serving them.

    “There is nothing wrong with customers asking questions when they see suspicious persons around electricity installations,” Shakur said.

    According to him, a 500 KVA transformer costs N4.5 million, aside cables and other accessories.

    “It is imperative for the customers to know that the installations first belong to them, although being the company property, thus the need to protect them should be paramount.”

    He said the cost of replacing the vandalised substations was huge and appealed to customers to bear with the company

    The state regional manager assured them that the company was addressing the problem gradually due to the number of cases involved.

    Earlier, Suleiman Abubakar, Chairman of the Chapel appealed to the company to improve on its services in the state to meet the demands of the customers.

    Abubakar called for the provision of prepaid meters to address over billing and non-payment of electricity bills.

    NAN

  • Nasarawa: 60% of LG workers get paid for nothing

    Nasarawa: 60% of LG workers get paid for nothing

    Nasarawa State Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,  Mr Haruna Osegba, says more than 60 per cent of local government workers in the state  are receiving salaries for doing nothing.

    “We have discovered that over 60 percent of staff at the local government levels are not going to work, but only come to receive salary at the end of the month,’’ he told newsmen on Tuesday in Lafia.

    Osegbe who met with members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state, said the government had established a machinery to check the situation.

    The commissioner said the government was worried that the salaries of local government workers were being paid in piecemeal in the last one year even though most of the workers do not even go to work.

    “We have put machinery in motion to check this trend and anyone found culpable would face serious disciplinary action,” he added.

    Osegba assured that the ministry would promote “all dedicated local government workers to boost their morale.’’

    He said that the state Local Government Service Commission had conducted a screening of genuine local council workers and would release the list of those cleared soon.

    The commissioner further assured that the government was doing its best to restore full salary payment to all local government workers as at when due.

    Earlier, Chairman of the chapel, Suleiman Abubakar, urged the commissioner to ensure that local government workers receive their full salaries, to enable them meet their daily obligations.

  • “Fayose’s statement a misguided utterance”

    “Fayose’s statement a misguided utterance”

    Former Minister of National Planning under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Suleiman Abubakar, has scolded the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose over his comments that President Muhammadu Buhari was turning Nigeria to an Islamic state.

    It would be recalled that Fayose alleged that the trip by President Buhari and five governors to Saudi Arabia was an attempt to transform Nigeria into an Islamic nation.

    The former minister condemned the statement saying: “It should be seen as a misguided utterances and not a true reflection of the perceptions of most members of our party.”

    Abubakar, who said this in a statement noted that Fayose’s statement is “not only capable of heighten the centrifugal tendencies in our country, but could be counter-productive to the reform agenda been driven by some patriotic elements in our party.

    “The mere visit by the President and some government functionaries is not enough to suggest an attempt to Islamise the nation.

    “Any divisive statement from any leader of our party is condemnable and not in the best interest of Nigeria,” he maintained.

  • Jonathan warns against formation of parallel government

    Jonathan warns against formation of parallel government

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday warned against the establishment of a parallel government by the incoming administration before May 29.

    The Minister of National Planning, Suleiman Abubakar, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Jonathan, insisted that Jonathan is still in charge till May 29.

    Speaking as a member of the Transition Committee, he said the Jonathan administration is not comfortable with some terms of reference of the incoming government’s transition committee, which tend to create a parallel government.

    To this end, he said that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) have been directed to follow the terms of reference of the present government and not those of the incoming administration.

    He also claimed that the magnanimity of President Jonathan does not amount to cowardice.

    The minister also urged members of the Council to continue to do their work without any intimidation.

    He said: “I’m speaking as member and chairman of sub-committee of transition committee. Council discussed the state of the transition programme and as chairman of sub-committee of transition committee, we were asked to update council on the progress report.

    “We did receive from the in-coming government transition committee some terms of reference which we looked at critically. And ‎council did agree that the Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan remains the current President of this country.

    “The incoming government should avoid creating a parallel government while the government is still on. We take exceptions to some utterances to some of the terms of reference that look as if the current government is being stampeded or intimidated.”

    Continuing, he said: “Council frowned at ‎most of the statements, most of the provisions and council members are advised to work in line with the terms of reference of the current government.

     

    “Council members are also told that the terms of reference as formatted by our transition committee should be strictly complied with.

    “When the incoming government take over government they can come out with their programmes, they can come out with their own ‎agenda, they can decide to come out with policies with the way they feel like.

    “This government remains resolute to the various programmes and projects ‎it is pursuing and the government will continue to do that until the morning of May 29.”

    He said the Council also enjoined members to be steadfast and come out with programmes, projects to be commissioned, and those that need to be inspected.

     

  • Jonathan nominates Chidoka as minister

    Jonathan nominates Chidoka as minister

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday nominated the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Mr. Osita Chidoka as a minister.

    Chidoka is expected to represent Anambra State in the Federal Executive Council after screening and confirmation by the Senate.

    Also nominated is Mr. Suleiman Abubakar to represent Kwara State.