Inside Arewa News: January 2017

Monday, 23 January 2017

Photos: Amina Mohammed Visits Kamuku National Park In Kaduna

Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed also visited Kamuku National Park, Birmin Gwari in Kaduna State on their way to Niger State today.

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Umaru Musa Yar’Ádua University, Katsina, denied discriminating against Christian students

The authorities of the Umaru Yar’Ádua University, Katsina, have denied discriminating against Christian students in the approval granted a students religious association to operate on its campus.
The Acting Dean of Student Affairs of the University, Sulaiman Kankara, had in January 17 memo informed students of a new guideline for the registration of clubs and associations in the institution.
In the circular, Dr.

Kankara indicated that participation in clubs and associations, including departmental ones, were strictly optional and that no student should be compelled to pay dues. He also outlawed the formation of tribal and local government associations in the university.
But the controversial part of the memo which made the document to go viral was the dean’s pronouncement that the “Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) is the only religious association allowed to operate on campus.”
After the memo was shared on social media, the university came under ferocious attacks from many Nigerians, with some commentators saying the guideline was part of government’s plot to Islamise Nigeria.
But when contacted on Sunday morning, Dr. Kankara said that aspect of the guideline was actually targeted at Islamic groups which were beginning to mushroom on campus, creating division among students of the same faith.
The dean said, “Actually there is one misconception in the memo. But the fact of the matter is that in Umaru Yar’Ádua University, there is no association known as Christian Students Association.
“There is one religious association and subsidiary Islamic students associations like the Tijjanniya Students Movement in Nigeria, Academic Forum of Islamic Movement in Nigeria and many associations like that.

“They are Islamic students association. So what we want is to have a single union which will be the mouthpiece of muslim students and that is the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria. “It has nothing to do with any Christian group because up till now, I have not received any application requesting registration of Christian Students Society. “And once they do that, we are ready to register them. Even as at last week, we said the two religious group to be recognised by the university will be the Muslim one and one from Christian side. “Up till now we are to receive any application for the registration of any Christian association in the university from any group.”

Why I joined APC — Ken Nnamani

Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, has disclosed that he joined the All Progressives Congress, APC, because the party is incumbent. Nnamani spoke even as the former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, said he has no apology joining the APC. Nnamani and Nwobodo spoke, yesterday, at their country home, Amaechi Awkunawu, when they formerly registered as members of the APC.

Nnamani said APC is not yet the best of a political party and requires some “panel beating” but insisted that it is the best for him, at least for now. Senator Nwobodo in his account said APC cannot be complete without the prominence of the South-East, noting that Nigeria is a tripod and the South-East is one of the three legs. He said:

“The problem with Nigeria is that people did things with impunity. Though it may look difficult to be in APC in Igboland but I know what to tell my people because I have never disappointed them. I never got appointment from PDP even as a founder. Looters came and drove all of us away.“I belonged to a party that brought about the death of Savanna Bank but things will change for good. I have no regret joining APC because all my progressive friends are there".

Vanguard

We’ve Lost 6,000 Cows In Southern Kaduna —Miyetti Allah

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) has said its members lost no fewer than 6,000 cows to crisis in Southern Kaduna in the last few years.

Speaking at a news conference organised onbehalf of the Kaduna State and Zone 3 chapters of MACBAN, on Saturday, the state secretary of the association, Musa Mohammed Gambo, maintained that the Fulani were also victims of the violence. According to him, the crisis in the area claimed the lives of many of his kinsmen.He alleged that the recent crisis was ignited by some religious leaders who were enemiesof peace“How can we be involved in the killing of our brothers, whom our great grandparents have lived with and with whom we are living with our children and wives?“Unfortunately, we have been accused of being the perpetrators of the crisis, and even some are saying that Miyetti Allah will carry out reprisals. At no time did we issue any such irresponsible article to any media.“As a peace-loving association, which has contributed immensely to the peace and reconciliation efforts not only in southern Kaduna but also in the entire country, we will never descend so low as to advocate crisis,” Gambo said.Meanwhile, the Jema’a Emirate Council in Kaduna State has said that the emir of Jema’a, Alhaji Muhammad Isah II, was attacked by some disgruntled youths at Samaru Kataf in Zango Kataf.The council was reacting to the denial of the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) in some media outlets that the emir was not attacked.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, the deputy Chief Imam of Jema’a Central Mosque, Alhaji Kabir Kassim, alleged that on January 17, 2017, after attending a security meeting in Kaduna, the emir’s convoy was attacked by some armed youths and that three vehicles were destroyed.

Kebbi State Pensioners Agree To Collect 60% Their Entitlements – Alhaji Usman Dan Gwari

Pensioners in Kebbi State have agreed to accept the payment of 60 per cent of their entitlements in line with the proposal of the state government. Alhaji Usman Dan-Gwari, the state chairman, association of pensioners, who spoke to newsmen made the disclosure in Birnin Kebbi yesterday.

Dan-Gwari said that his members had just concluded special prayers for divine intervention over delay in the payment of their pensions. He said that pensioners who had been screened would benefit from the payment, while the subsequent payment would be made for the remaining members after verification.

The chairman said that the decision to reject the payment of the pension in phases initially was sequel to the non-conclusion of the verification.He urged the state government and its agents to ensure prompt conclusion of the exercise. Dan-Gwari said that the ministry of Finance has commenced payment to those that have been verified, appealing to those that were yet to be paid to remain calm.

Fuel Scarcity: Sokoto state government to revoke C of O of filling stations hoarding fuel ---Tambuwal

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said the government will revoke the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of any filling station that is found to be hoarding fuel in order to create artificial scarcity or is selling above official rate.

He said the government, along with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), will set up a joint task force to move round filling stations to ascertain their compliance with laid down rules and regulations guiding their operations.

The Governor’s threat followed the excruciating fuel scarcity bedeviling Sokoto town and environs which has been lingering for over two weeks.

Speaking when he inspected sale of fuel at some filling stations in Sokoto Sunday, Tambuwal said government will not fold its arms and watch unscrupulous marketers hold the people to ransom.

He said the supply of the commodity from the Nigeria national Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) has not altered, as such, no one should create artificial scarcity to burden the people.

The Governor, who was accompanied by the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Salihu Maidaji, urged all those hoarding the commodity to quickly open their stations.

“The committee will go round, and any filling station found hoarding fuel will face the full wrath of the law,” Tambuwal added.

The Governor commended the management of one of the filling stations visited, SAK Petroleum, for discharging the commodity promptly and at official price.

FG accesses $67m World Bank loan to develop Hadejia Dam in Jigawa

Senator Ubale Shittu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Water Resources, on Sunday said the Federal Government has accessed a $67 million World Bank loan to rehabilitate Hadejia Valley Dam in Jigawa.
Shittu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in in Dutse that $60 million would be used to rehabilitate and expand the dam by 1,000 hectares.
He said that the remaining $7million dollars would be spent on dredging of the river from Tiga Dam in Kano State to Koli in Kirikasama Local Government Area of Jigawa.
According to him, the contract for the project would be awarded next month while work is expected to commence by the end of first quarter.

Shittu, representing Jigawa North-East, said that the project would boost irrigation, water supply and fish farming in the area, when completed.
The Senator also told NAN that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration inherited N88 billion liabilities from ongoing dam projects across the country.
He said that the liabilities were indicated in the audit report of the Ministry of Water Resources made available to his committee.
He said that the projects, at various stages of completion, were awarded by previous administrations.
According to him, 25 per cent of such ongoing projects had been injected into 2017 budget presented to the National Assembly.
The Chairman emphasized the present administration’s commitment to the development of dams across the country to boost agriculture. (NAN)

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Sunday, 22 January 2017

IGP Deploys Helicopters, 300 Policemen To Escort Passengers On Kaduna-Abuja

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has ordered the deployment of three helicopters to carry out aerial surveillance of the Abuja-Kaduna highway.
The action followed the closure of the Abuja airport and the diversion of planes to the Kaduna airport.
The police boss also directed that 300 personnel be on duty on the road to escort and protect air passengers from Kaduna to the Federal Capital Territory.
The Force spokesman, Donald Awunah, who disclosed this to our correspondent on Friday, explained that the new security arrangement was meant to complement ‘Operation Maximum Security’ which was in place on the highway.

The miserable wife chapter five (Final)

Friday 20th January 2017
23:00 hours
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Some six months after Ahmad and I had been communicating vis phone calls, he came to Nigeria for a visit. Though he had family in town, he decided to put up in a hotel for security and some privacy reasons as he explained to me when we met. I did not visit him at the hotel to avoid suspicions from my husband. You see, though he was hardly around, my husband kept tabs on me and monitored my movements. I found out some years back when one of his staff, whom I had done a favor for confessed to me.

It seemed Alhaji did not trust anyone including me, his wife. And this was the same man who went all over the place with his secretary Lateefa who doubled as his mistress. I had heard about the affair and a few others he had had since our marriage but for the sake of peace and my mother's counsel, I had ignored them.

The Irrigation test farms installed by the Borno State Governor Hon Kashim Shettima keeps last year for the purpose of testing and improving crop varieties both cultivated and not normally cultivated in Borno State has already started yielding results and keeps breaking the jinx.
The Farms, were situated at the Njimtilo Town, outskirts of Maiduguri the Borno state capital and supervised by the ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Borno State. Many crops such as Onions, Irish Potatoes, Tomatoes, Pepper, Garlic and Carrots, were placed on test, and thankfully keeps giving more positive and encauraging results.

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima has received Minister of Health, Prof. Issiac Adewole who arrived Maiduguri on Friday with his team on a 2 day working visit.
The Governor expressed his appreciation to the Minister, his team, and the Federal Government in general for all their efforts as he assured them of the support from the State Government at all times.
"On behalf of the government and people of Borno State, we wish to welcome you. Be rest assured that we will give your team all the necessary support and coorperation towards accomplishing our goals.

The Sen Ahmed Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told
federal lawmakers formerly in PDP, but now defected to All Progressives Congress (APC) that they will pay the price for their unwise political decisions.
Makarfi, who stated this at the PDP caucus meeting held in Abuja, further stressed that the PDP would reclaim all the seats occupied by its former members who moved to other parties.
Recall that Sen Nelson Effiong, representing Akwa Ibom South, on Thursday defected to the APC. Last year, Senators, Joshua Dariye and Yele Omogunwa, from Plateau and Ondo States respectively also defected to the APC.
When asked however Makarfi said “For those, who are running helter skelter, for one reason or the other to say they are cross carpeting.

Benue State Governor appeals to the people of Agatu to forgive and allow Fulani who were born in the land to return

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has appealed to the people of Agatu to give peace a chance and cohabit with indigenous Fulani herdsmen as brothers, as was the case in the past. Ortom made the appeal on Wednesday, during a visit with his Nassarawa State counterpart, Tanko Umaru Al-Makura, to Agatu local government area with their security councils in effort to implement peace initiatives that would ensure the security of lives and property in the area.

The governors spoke at Obagaji, headquarters of the council, during a peace meeting initiated by the two state governments to find a lasting solution to the crisis in the area. In his address, Governor Ortom lamented what he described as the massive and unprecedented destruction of Agatu and killings by herdsmen but said there was no alternative to peace for development and progress to take place.

He urged Agatu people to forgive and allow the Fulanis who were born in the land to return saying the Bible admonishes that vengeance belonged to God. The Governor stated that his kinsmen were similarly killed and property including his ancestral home destroyed by the herdsmen but that they have since forgiven them and moved on.

The Kwara Government has introduced a bi-monthly Health Outreach programme called Igbomina Mobile Clinic Project.
The government announced that the programme would commence on Saturday, Jan. 21, in six communities of Ifelodun local government areas of the state.
According to a statement issued in Ilorin on Thursday by Mr Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, the Project Secretary, the communities to be covered are Ahun, Omugo, Ajegunle, Irabon, Owa-Kajola and Okeoyan.
Oyin-Zubair revealed that three service centres had been designated at Ahun, Irabon and Owa-Kajola towns, respectively, for the conveniences of the people within and around those communities, including farm settlements.

Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, has launched the 2017 mass animal vaccination, targeting 2.42 million livestock across the 17 local government areas of the state.
Flagging off the exercise in Babangida the headquarters of Tarmuwa Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, Governor Gaidam said that the exercise was aimed at checking cross boundary diseases across the state and beyond.
Represented by the state’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Mr Mustapha Gajerima, the Governor explained that with the dwindling revenue from the oil sector, the government needed to focus more on agriculture and livestock production.
With such vaccination, he was hopeful that the health of the people would further improve.
Governor Gaidam, who called for harmonious relationship between farmers and grazers, commended the Yobe Livestock Development Programme for mobilising the required animals for the exercise.
The programme manager, Dr. Mustapha Geidam, disclosed that 900 herds of cattle and other livestock were vaccinated at the launch, aimed at controlling outbreaks of animal diseases across Yobe State, northeast Nigeria.

Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, said inability of Federal Government to generate enough revenue to meet its obligation left it with no choice than to borrow to finance critical projects.
The minister said this on Thursday in Abuja while speaking at the 14th Daily Trust Dialogue which had “Beyond recession: Towards a Resilient Economy” as theme.
She said that with a huge monthly personnel expenditure of N210 billion and debt service burden of N120 billion, it was difficult to generate enough revenue to meet the obligations and fund capital projects.
While many people have faulted the borrowing plan of the government which seeks to borrow 29.9 billion dollars from foreign sources, Adeosun said Nigeria must get the loan if it must survive the economic crisis.

Farmers in Kano state have produced 1.6 million tonnes of rice in 2016 as against the 692,481 tonnes produced in 2015, the state Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has said.
Ganduje announced this at Kano Seed Processing Centre, Kadawa in Garun Malam local government area during an interacting session with farmers on loan recovery of the Central Bank of Nigeria/Bank of Agriculture/Kano state Rice Anchor-Borrowers Programme.
The governor said the increase might not be unconnected with the state government’s renewed interest in agriculture, as part of efforts to diversify the local economy.
He said: “Wheat production in the state increased from 9.5 million tonnes in 2015 to 17.7 million tonnes in 2016, showing a swell of 84 percent.”
He revealed that the bumper harvest recorded last year in Kano showed a significant increase in the production of other commodities like maize, millet, groundnut and cow peas, expressing that with the government’s commitment, barring unanticipated developments, the output would be multiplied this year.

The Presidency has said leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) Ibrahim Zakzaky cannot be released from detention in public interest and security concerns.
A top Presidency official, who did not want to be named, disclosed this to State House correspondents yesterday.
According to him, the issue of the release of Zakzaky is not exclusively legal as it has security and public interest as against individual interest undertone.
Outlining what he called the obstacles to Zakzaky’s release, the official said: “The major constitutional policy objective of government as stated in section 14 (2) (b) is public and not individual security.
“The issue of the release of Zakzaky is not exclusively legal. It has security and public interest as against individual interest undertone.

Photos:Yobe Govt distributes job creation facilities, cash, to over 400 youth

The Yobe State Government and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) office of the Presidency have empowered 300 Yobe youths who were trained in various trade crafts and skills with the tools they need to set up their own businesses and support themselves and their families.
The 300 beneficiaries were drawn from Gulani, Fune, Nangere, Jakusko, Yusufari and Yunusari local government areas.
The training of the youths was technically facilitated by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and funded jointly by the Yobe State Government and the SDGs.
In a ceremony at Government House Damaturu today, the youths received various tools and cash stipends from H.E Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam, who urged them not to sell away the items but use them to establish small businesses and support themselves going forward.
Tools provided include those for carpentry, electrical installations and electronic repairs, furniture making, plumbing, fish farming, and hair salon operations, amongst others.
The ceremony also saw the distribution of other froms of support to victims of Boko Haram insurgency by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has solicited support of the Federal Government in areas of solid minerals development and tourism to increase the state’s revenue base.
Governor Ahmed made this request in IIorin when he received members of the Presidential Committee on Revenue Mobilisation for Natural Resources and Ecological Fund led by Dr Rafiq Ogunbambi at his office.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Abdulwahab Oba, the governor, described the FG’s interventions in solid minerals and ecological fund as a welcome development.
The governor called on the Federal Government to come to the assistance of the state in addressing its environmental challenges, adding that the state would be exceptionally willing to build a stronger partnership with the revenue mobilisation and fiscal allocation commission, to take advantage of various opportunities with a view of improving the state’s economy.

The Kano State Government has earmarked over N200 million in the recently approved 2017 budget to boost rice farming in the state.
Mohammed Garba, the Commissioner of Information, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kano.
He said this was part of the state government’s efforts to boost the agricultural sector in the state to complement President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to reduce over dependence on crude oil.
“Rice and wheat farmers were given N150 million loan in 2016 to boost production in the Sector, while in 2017 we are planning to increase the loan.
“All necessary measures will be taken to ensure that the ordinary farmers in the state benefit more from the gesture,” the commissioner said.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has impounded a N948million aircraft allegedly linked with a former governor of Borno State who is under investigation.
The aircraft was seized on Monday at the Maiduguri International Airport.
Anti-graft agencies have also placed two other private jets under surveillance at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
The grounding of the three aircraft is part of the ongoing investigation which traced some looted funds by some former political office holders to the purchase of private jets.
It was learnt that a Dornier aircraft 328 linked with the former governor had been earlier impounded, but it resumed operations without EFCC’s clearance.
Upon sighting the aircraft in Maiduguri on Monday, after months of watch-listing, EFCC detectives swooped on the crew and seized it.
The plane is marked N805PG and 5NBMH. It allegedly belongs to Skybird Air.
Detectives have interrogated the suspected beneficial owner of the jet, Mr. Samuel Ayodele, the Managing Director of Skybird.

Nigerian military jet killed 53 humanitarian aid workers and internally displaced persons, injuring 100 others when it accidentally bombed an IDPs camp in Rann, Borno state yesterday.

Military officials and rescue workers said the incident occurred when an Air Force fighter jet erroneously fired at civilians and troops in the IDPs camp located at Kala Balge local government area of the state.

The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Lucky Irabor confirmed during a press conference that some locals were killed in the cause of the operations in Kala Balge.

Borno government on Tuesday, ordered all hospitals and health agency to standby to provide emergency medical response to victims of Rann attack by Nigeria’s Air Force jet.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), reports that the army’s fighter jet had misfired during an operation in Kala Balge, killing civilians and humanitarian aid workers.
However, The Governor’s spokesman, Isa Gusau, in an email to journalists in Maiduguri, said that Governor Shettima received the news with very deep concern.
Isah said “Following the unfortunate situation at Rann in Kala-Balge local government area of ‎Borno State, Governor Kashim Shettima has since ordered the State Ministry of Health to set up an emergency with all medical hospitals under the State Government located in Maiduguri. This includes the State Specialist Hospital.

BringBackOurGirls Group arrives adamawa on guided tour

The BringBackOurGirls Group and a Federal Government delegation are in the North East to witness efforts by the military to rescue the remaining abducted Chibok School girls.
Before they left the Abuja airport, there was a mild drama as the group insisted that the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed boards the same aircraft with the BBOG delegation.
The initial plan was for the BBOG delegation to be conveyed to Yola alongside some journalists while the Minister will join another aircraft.
But that was turned down at the airport tarmac by the BBOG delegation, who insisted that none of their member will board the flight if the Minister is not joining them.

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Monday, 16 January 2017

Villagers apprehend 12 year old third suicide bomber that tried attack University of Maiduguri

A 12 year old female suicide bomber was apprehended by residents of Bara Karaya village in Borno state as she made attempts to attack University of Maiduguri earlier today. This was after two suicide bombers, one of them a 7 year old boy, attacked the University killing 4 persons including a professor
“At about 8:00am a third female suicide bomber of about 12yrs with IED strapped to her body, was intercepted at Bara Karaya village behind University of Maiduguri, in Muna Garage general area”a statement by Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Victor Isuku states. The suicide bomber was later gunned down by the military while the IED strapped on her detonated.

The Nigerian Air Force on Monday said its fighter jets struck Boko Haram new hideout about one nautical mile south of Tumbum Rego in northern Borno.

A statement from Air Force spokesman Group Captain Ayodele Famuyiwa said the NAF fighter jets and helicopter gunship assaulted the location in a coordinated day and night operation following Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).

Prof. Abubakar Njodi, the Vice Chancellor, University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), says the university will not close in spite Monday’s bomb blast by Boko Haram insurgents that killed a professor and four others.
Njodi spoke on Monday in Maiduguri, when Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole of the Nigerian Army paid him a sympathy visit.
“I can convince the senate, the management and the university community to close the school to save lives.
“But if we do that, we are not helping because we have to give the security our maximum support and our support is not to join them in the battle field.
“If we run away, that means there is nobody they should be fighting for. We should stay and resolve it, after all the war is about us, western education.”

Bauchi State Government in conjunction with military formations in the state realised N4.3 million during the armed forces remembering week, according to the governor, Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar.
Abubakar, disclosed this at the 33 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, Bauchi, while speaking to newsmen on the activities of the week on Saturday.
The governor was, however, represented by Commissioner for Religious
Abubakar said that the money would be used to better the lives of families of fallen heroes and legionnaires in the state.
He said that special Friday services had been held to be followed by Sunday service, for the souls of the fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for the country.
The governor prayed God to forgive the fallen heroes and did so for President Muhammadu Buhari, to enable him move the country forward.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that it is looking into the petition requesting the anticorruption body to “urgently begin a thorough, transparent and effective investigation into allegation that N500 million Safe School funds for Chibok girls, commissioned by former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to rebuild the Government Girls School in Chibok, is missing and cannot be accounted for.”
The petition 27 December 2016 was sent to the EFCC Chair Ibrahim Mustafa Magu by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
This development was disclosed today by SERAP senior staff attorney Timothy Adewale.
Adewale said: “We have received confirmation from the EFCC that the body is looking into our petition. The EFCC has also expressed its determination to diligently investigate the allegation of the missing N500 million Safe School funds for Chibok girls, and sought additional information from SERAP.”

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will commence the 2016 Batch B Stream II orientation for prospective corps members on Jan. 24.

The NYSC made this known in its official website on Monday, adding that the orientation would end on Feb. 13.

It said that the on-line printing of call-up letters by stream II prospective corps members would commence on Jan. 19.

According to the website, delivery and collection of call-up letters to Institutions by prospective corps members who did not pay will start on Jan. 20, 2017. (NAN)

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Sunday, 15 January 2017

UNFPA partners Kano, Emirate Council to end early marriage

A new deal is being worked out towards ending child marriage in the country, as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Kano State Government and the Emirate Council in the state have come together to push for its legislation.
Already, the Kano State government and the Kano Emirate Council have set up committees to fine-tune legislations that would make it criminal for anybody in the state to marry a girl below the age of 18.
The state governor, Umar Ganduje, said the move would ensure that girls achieve their full academic potentials and are protected from challenges that come with early marriage.
He spoke at a meeting with Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, who was in the state as part of advocacy to end early marriage and end the scourge of fistula, yesterday.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) said on Saturday lauded a Borno-based firm, Confer Cleaning and Hygiene Services Company, for engaging youths as sanitation vanguards.
Alhaji Garba Abari, Director-General of the agency, made the commendation in Maiduguri during the flagging of Borno chapter of “Change Begins with Me” campaign and the inauguration of 1,000 sanitation vanguards.
Abari said that the current administration was determined to partner with the private sector to achieve desired goals and objectives, adding that the vanguards would enhance cleanliness in the state.
“The Change begins with me campaign is a programme for all Nigerians and the private sector has a role to play in ensuring attitudinal change of every Nigerian, especially now.

As part of the clearance operations of remnants and fleeing Boko Haram terrorists in the north east, troops have continuously been carrying out raids, patrols and cordon operations.
It is in that regards that troops of 112 Task Force Battalion, 22 Brigade, Nigerian Army on Operation LAFIYA DOLE, conducted joint operations with vigilantes and civilian JTF in suspected Boko Haram terrorists hide outs in their area of responsibility.

Within the last two days, they have carried out quite a number of patrols and clearance operations in various villages and towns in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State.
On Thursday 13th January 2017, with the assistance of some local vigilantes and civilian JTF, the troops carried out fighting patrols and clearance operations in Awada and Sinbaya villages.
During the operations, the troops met stiff resistance towards Sinbaya from suspected Boko Haram terrorists in which they neutralized 8 terrorists.

A former governor of Jigawa state, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has said that the 2019 general elections will be different from what happened in 2015.
Lamido said several people won the election in 2015 because the electorates were ‘deceived,’ adding that with what is happening in the country, the pattern of voting in 2019 will change.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain also said that the leadership tussle between Sen. Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi and Se. Ali Modu Sheriff would soon be resolved.
Speaking through his spokesman, Adamu Mohammed Usman, the former Jigawa state governor, Lamido, said as someone who has been in politics for several decades, if his party give him the ticket, there will be changes in the pattern of voting comes 2019.

Nigerian journalists have come under fire recently after being labelled lazy. A Nigerian journalist and former stringer/reporter at Reuters, Sumner Shagari Sambo, has shared pictures to show that not all journalist are lazy and have never been to war zones. He shared the pictures on his Facebook page and wrote;
I hate it it when some people think that all Nigerian journalists are lazy and have never been war reporters before.Social media should not give you a license to denigrate your fellow hardworking citizens. There is nothing the global TV networks have done or are doing that we haven't or cannot do.

In continuous efforts to rebuild the northeast region, Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has presented some building materials and food items to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in Yobe state.
The items are also to be shared to other vulnerable groups in the insecurity prone north east state, to help cushion the hardships being faced.
Materials presented include: wood, facing boards, batting, as well as tying iron, ceilings, roofing sheets, nails, as well as several food items.
Presenting the materials to the Yobe state Government, the first lady represented by the Borno state Commissioner of Women Affairs Mrs Yabawa Kolo, said the Mrs Buhari, is always “saddened by the touching situation of vulnerable groups in the society, hence the need for the assistance”.

The miserable wife chapter three

Read previous episodes here 2,1

Friday 13^th January 2017

21:00 hours

By the time I met Alhaji Abduullah, he already had eight children- four daughters and four sons. He had two wives, in which none of them he said lived with him.

"The eldest stays abroad most of the time, while the younger one has her own place in town," he told me".

At the time, I wondered why he chose to live like a bachelor instead of having at least one of his wives with him. It was much later that I found out the reason.

Soon, I wrote my final papers and graduated. For the NYSC, I was posted to Kano, to serve in Fagge town which was a surprise to me as I thought I would serve in another state, having lived in Kano most of my life. My mother wanted me to change the posting so I could be in the city of Kano but I refused. It was my first time, apart from school I would be away from home, totally on my own and I liked the feeling of independence it gave me. I however, visited home regularly to check on her and my siblings.

MY NAME IS FIDDAUSI MUSA. I AM 28 YEARS OLD. I WAS MARRIED TO MUSA SULEIMAN FOR 3 YEARS. I AM FROM KADUNA STATE. I AM A MICROBIOLOGIST AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY DIVORCE DIARIES WITH YOU.
My husband Musa was already married when I met him. He had been married for 16 years to his first wife and they had 4 kids (2 boys and 2 girls). I was just 19 years old then and he had just turned 50. At first I laughed off his advances because I did not imagine ever being married to someone that much older. Honestly I just wanted to chop his money and run like most of my mates were wont to do. I had someone else that I loved… I had a chewing gum boyfriend called Nasir (Nas-King) and I loved him dearly even though I knew the relationship wasn’t going anywhere. You know that kind of love that has a hold on you and you can’t let go even though you know it will not lead you anywhere worthwhile.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, yesterday, decorated the Force Public Relations Officer, Don Awunah and eight other senior police officers who were recently promoted to their next ranks.
A breakdown of the decoration shows that four deputy Commissioners Of Police (DCPs) were promoted to the rank of Ag. Commissioners of police (CP), one was promoted from the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) to DCP, three to the rank of ACP and one to the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP).
The lucky officers are; Ag. CP Bello Ahmed, Ag. CP Don Awunah, Ag. CP Afeez Inuwa, Ag. CP Garuba Umar, Ag. DCP Abu Sanni, ACP Ibrahim Adamu Bakore, ACP Kolo Yusuf, ACP Abba Kyari and SP Abdulkareem Abdullahi.

From Law to politics and now to the Aviation Industry. How did you find yourself ‘flying in the air’?
Everything has a reason. When I decided to read law I was hoping that my children will take after me. My dream was to leave a very big Law library so that when I go, the Na’Allah practice will continue. I have three children only; two males and one female. It appeared to me that their interest was in flying. I said good, if that is what they want, I will encourage them to fly. But since I have a dream of keeping the family name alive even when I’m in my grave, I felt I now have a responsibility to equally join them in what they want to make out of their lives. Since they chose flying, I felt I had to fly too. So I diverted my energy into establishing a flying club.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday, kick started the programme to achieve Zero Hunger in Nigeria by 2030.
The programme commences in 4 pilot states including Benue, Ebonyi, Ogun and Sokoto states respectively.
Speaking in his remarks at the launch of Nigeria Zero Hunger Strategy in Abuja, Obasanjo who is the Chairman of the Zero Hunger Forum said “the Zero Hunger Strategic Review was not an attempt to change any government policies”.

The National Peace Committee chaired by former Head of State, General Abdusalami Abubakar, has appealed to all aggrieved parties affected in the violent attacks in Southern Kaduna, North West Nigeria, to sheathe their swords and tolerate each other for the interest of peace in the state.
General Abubakar made the appeal when he led other members of the committee to a meeting with Governor Nasir El-Rufai at the Government House, in Kaduna.
While expressing concern about the killing of innocent people in Southern Kaduna by suspected herdsmen, the Committee warned religious, political and traditional rulers against making inflammatory statements that would worsen the situation.

Hadi Sirika: No going back on closure of Abuja Airport and Kaduna is the best option

Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Serika yesterday told Senators that the Nnmadi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja must be closed for six weeks to repair its runway, saying all necessary arrangements have been completed.
The Senate had on Tuesday summoned Sirika along with other Ministers over the move by the Federal government to close the Abuja International Airport in March and divert flights to Kaduna. Briefing the Senate yesterday, Sirika said Kaduna airport was the best option and assured the Senators of the safety and security of passengers.

“The entire architecture of the runway from bottom to top has collapsed. It is totally unsafe to continue to use the runway. The action we have taken is the best, right and in the interest of Nigerians,”he said. Sirika who was grilled for about three hours by the Senators said the closure of the airport would only last for six weeks and repairs of the 3,600 metres runway would take six months. Faulting the claim that no airport has ever been closed for runway repairs, Sirika said the Port Harcourt International Airport was shutdown for two and a half years during the last administration.

Before selecting Kaduna for the flights diversion, Sirika said all the necessary options were weighed but that the airport was picked because of its proximity and facilities. He said the terminal of the Kaduna airport that is being repaired would be completed by next month. Assuring passengers of their safety, he said more security personnel and road safety officials would be deployed to Kaduna - Abuja road, saying helicopters would be used for aerial patrol by the police. “We will provide train service, buses and helicopter to be paid by government to passengers, “he said and that Kaduna road would be fixed before the diversion of flights.

When the Senate President, Bukola Saraki asked him whether there are no other options, he said, “ the other options are (1) to close the airport by 12midnight and open it by 6.am (2),divide the runway into parts. But in our opinion all these options will not work. We have to do the right thing.“ As far as we are concerned, the runway has failed and the best option is to close it for six weeks. I’m an Aviator and I know what it takes to close an airport,”he said.
On the cost of the repairs, he said it would cost N5.8billion and that N1.2billion was budgeted for it in 2015 by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. He said the balance of N4.6billion would be factored into this year’s budget. Asked on the cost of movement of flights to Kaduna, he said he does not know the exact amount.

Daily Trust

My emergence as Senate Leader is an act of God, as he called on his colleagues to cooperate with him — Lawan

The new Senate Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe North), said yesterday, that with his emergence on Tuesday, the animosity which had characterized the 8th Senate, which was inaugurated June 9, 2015 has been nipped in the bud.
Lawan noted that the atmosphere was tensed soon after the emergence of Dr Bukola Saraki as President of the Senate when members of the Senators Unity Forum, SUF, alleged injustice and felt that things must be put in their proper perspective, adding that now that there was compliance, there will be unity and peace in the Senate where the lawmakers will now focus on real legislative activities.

He said: “The 8th Senate started on a shaky foundation. This Senate will end on a solid, stable and successful foundation. On the part of the SUF, we were never personal, we only felt that what ought to have been done was not done and if there is compliance now, there will be no animosity.”
Addressing journalists, Lawan, who disclosed that he had no knowledge of his party and Senate decision to replace him with the immediate past Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, said what took place was an act of God, just as he called on his colleagues to cooperate with him in his new assignment to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
He further called on his colleagues on the need for collaboration to make life better for Nigerians by improving on security and ensuring economic growth.

The Senate had on Tuesday adopted the change in the leadership of the APC in the red chambers as it affirmed the replacement of Senator Ndume with Senator Lawan as the Senate Majority Leader.

Vanguard

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