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Tag: Kaduna

  • NAF denies attacking villagers in Kaduna

    NAF denies attacking villagers in Kaduna

    The Nigerian Air Force, has dismissed claims that its aircraft accidentally bombed some villagers in Kaduna State.

    The Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, dismissed the report in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

    Gabkwet said that the NAF had not carried out any air operations within Kaduna State and environs in the last 24 hours.

    He added that the NAF is not the only organisation operating combat armed drones in the North Western region of Nigeria.

    “The news making the rounds alleging that Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft accidentally killed innocent civilians in Kaduna is false.

    “It is also important to ensure that due diligence is always exhausted by the media before going to press with unverified and unconfirmed reports,” he said.

  • NDLEA arrests 90 suspects, dismantles 13 illicit drug joints in Kaduna

    NDLEA arrests 90 suspects, dismantles 13 illicit drug joints in Kaduna

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kaduna State Command, says its operatives have arrested 90 suspects and dismantled 13 illicit drug joints in Kaduna.

    The NDLEA’s state Commander, Mr Samaila Danmallam, said on Sunday, that the arrest and the dismantling of illicit drug joints were made in the month of November.

    Danmallam also disclosed that within the month, 478.038 kilogrammes of various illicit substances were seized.

    According to him, among the 90 suspects arrested, 85 are males while five are females.

    He said the command’s drug demand reduction efforts had continued with various advocacy and sensitisation programmes across the state.

    Danmallam said this was to enlighten the citizenry on the ills of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

    The commander urged parents to always be watchful of their wards at all times.

    Danmallam also appealed for useful and timely information for proactive measures, urging that the fight against illicit drug  trafficking and consumption should be a collective responsibility.

     

  • Jobberman provides 1,200 jobs to young persons in Kaduna

    Jobberman provides 1,200 jobs to young persons in Kaduna

    An online recruitment platform, Jobberman said it has made provision for 1,200 job opportunities for young persons in Kaduna at the career fair opened on Thursday.

    Ahmed Alaga, Programme Manager Partnership, Jobberman Nigeria, made the disclosure in an interview after the fair.

    “We are trying to breach the gap between employers and employees by setting up a career fair to expose these young people to employers within Kaduna State.

    “It is our desire that young people interact and that’s because we do know that getting their CVs to these organization can be hectic.

    “To curb that, we have invited these companies to come and give these young people opportunities first hand without even knocking at their doors,”he said.

    Alaga said that about 50 employers would be taking a minimum of two candidates each which would give 100 or more people jobs at the fair.

    He added that some partners that were willing to scale up were looking for 1000 people which would make a total of about 1200 job opportunities for Kaduna youth.

    Alag explained that Jobberman was targeting to train 2 million people by the year 2024 in seven states including Kaduna and place about 450,000 young people .

    The programme manager stated that out of the 2 million targeted, 1.3 million were trained while 336,000 young people had been placed in dignified work out of the 450,000 targeted.

    “We truly understand that as many jobs as there may be most young people are not qualified to take even the little jobs.

    “As a result of that, our mandate is to provide soft skills to young people across the country, “he said

    The career fair declared opened by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, was organised in partnership with the state government and MasterCard Foundation.

  • Israel-Hamas: Two killed as security operatives, Shittes protesters clash in Kaduna

    Israel-Hamas: Two killed as security operatives, Shittes protesters clash in Kaduna

    Two persons were killed in Kaduna state on Thursday during the clash of the operatives of the Nigerian police force and the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as Shittes, over a protest on the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian war.

    It was gathered that trouble started following the alleged killing of two passers-by as security operatives trying to disperse the IMN members who were holding a procession along Waff Road in the Kaduna metropolis.

    According to an eye witness, the Shittes held banners with the photograph of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky,and  were marching towards the office of the National Human Rights Commission to submit a letter in support of the people of Gaza in Palestine when they were resisted by security operatives, and during the process, a commercial motorcyclist and another passer-by were reportedly killed.

    Reacting to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mansir Hassan, blamed the IMN members for the crisis, accusing them of killing an innocent motorcycle operator, Sani Aliyu.

    Hassan noted that the Shittes had unlawfully blocked the road during a protest, and refused motorists from passing.

    He said upon the arrival of policemen to the scene, the Shittes who were armed with dangerous weapons including locally made guns, catapults, and arrows, opened fire on the police.

    The police spokesman stated that two policemen were injured by the rampaging Shitte members who also shot a 40-year-old motorcycle operator, Sani Aliyu to death.

    Hassan further disclosed that an investigation into the incident has commenced with a view to arresting and prosecuting those behind the crisis.

  • Kaduna cleric seeks early payment of fares towards better 2024 Hajj operations

    Kaduna cleric seeks early payment of fares towards better 2024 Hajj operations

    The Chief Imam of Baba Trader Juma’at Mosque, Tudun-Wada Zaria, Sheikh Adamu-Shu’aibu Adamu, has advised intending pilgrims from Kaduna State to urgently deposit their fares for the forthcoming Hajj exercise.

    He made the call during a sensitization lecture organized at the Mosque in Zaria on Saturday.

    The imam said that depositing the hajj fare before the end of December would help the authorities to make adequate preparations for a hitch-free hajj exercise.

    He re-echoed the pronouncement by the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency that any intending pilgrim who does not pay the hajj fare before the end of December may miss 2024 hajj exercise.

    He emphasized the need for the intending pilgrims to pay their money through the approved authority.

    The imam, therefore, highlighted the need for Muslims to devote themselves to constant prayers to seek Allah’s intervention in ending the socio-economic challenges in some parts of the country.

    Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Agency recently conducted an enlightenment campaign seeking the support of Imams and Islamic scholars to educate the public towards a successful 2024 hajj exercise.

  • Kaduna LG removes council chairman over alleged gross misconduct

    Kaduna LG removes council chairman over alleged gross misconduct

    Nine out of 10 councillors in Kaura Local Council of Kaduna State have removed the council Chairman, Mr Mathias Siman, from office for alleged gross misconduct.

    The removal was conducted through the process of impeachment, following a motion moved by Zachariah Achi, (Bandon ward) and seconded by Fidelis Kukwui (Zankang ward), which accused the chairman of misappropriation and negligence.

    The chairman was also accused of awarding contracts to his private firm, contravening the Procnurement Act, conduct of public officials and due process.

    Moving the motion at the plenary within the legislative chamber on Tuesday, Achi accused Siman of awarding contracts for capital and ecological projects worth N153m to his personal company, SMK Nigeria Limited.

    He explained that the development was a gross violation of section 48 of Local Government Administration Law of 2018 and the Kaduna State Public Procurement Law 2016.

    He added that some of the contracts had been fully paid for with nothing on ground to show, while others were executed far below standard and some others exhorbitantly inflated.

    The Speaker of the legislaptive council, Stephen Atuk, pronounced that “Mr Siman Mathias stands impeached as from Tuesday 31st October, 2023”.

    He said the resolution was reached out of the collective desire of members of legislative arm to secure the future of the local government for generations yet unborn.

    He added that the legislature would not fold its arms watching the chairman running the council as a personal enterprise without recourse to due process.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Siman was suspended by the State House of Assembly on July 31, following accusations of gross misconduct relating to award of contracts.

    Reacting to the development, Siman denied the allegations against him and explained that the legislative council never gave him the chance opportunity to defend himself.

    “I was not served with an impeachment notice, neither was I called to defend my self,” he stated

    He, however, said he had accepted the decision in good fate and would move on with his life.

    “These people are my brothers and I leave everything to God. I won’t go to court.

    “We just have to be patient with one another in this life,” he added

  • Financial autonomy: Workers shutdown Kaduna Assembly, begin indefinite strike

    Financial autonomy: Workers shutdown Kaduna Assembly, begin indefinite strike

    Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria PASSAN, Kaduna State Chapter, has joined it’s counterpart across the nation to begin an indefinite strike over financial autonomy.

    The Chairman of the Union, Abdulrasheed Abarshi asserted this while briefing newsmen Monday, 30th October, in Kaduna.

    Abarshi said the strike was necessary for the progress of the country and that of the legislative workers of the state assembly across the nation.

    “We are here today to embark on an indefinite strike over financial autonomy of state houses of assemblies.

    “Financial Autonomy will promote accountability, transparency and good governance for dividend of democracy to be achieved at all level.

    “In 2021, we took action by embarking on series of strikes, then we suspended on 28th July 2021 when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the then minister for Labour and employment, representative of the governor’s forum and the representative of speaker’s forum.I want the public to know that all the agreement contained in the MoU has not been fulfilled.

    Abarshi said they want the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure looking towards the implementation of the legislative salary structure Conless be implemented, just as he laments that their outfit allowance has not been paid for over 3 years.

    “But it will interest the public to know that allowances of all members of the state assembly has been paid, why can’t they pay our own when we are the engine room of these members, we have been patient enough.”

    He however, called on the state Governor, Uba Sani to listen to them by paying them their 3 years allowances just as he promised to implement that of their counterparts, the doctors.

     

     

  • JUST IN: Former SGF Adamu Fika dies at 90

    JUST IN: Former SGF Adamu Fika dies at 90

    Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Malam Dr. Adamu Fika (Wazirin Fika), has passed away.

    Fika died mid-flight at on Tuesday while returning from a London hospital to Kaduna, where he had been receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

    Funeral prayers will be held at the Sultan Bello Mosque in Kaduna on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.

    Fika was born in Fika, present-day Yobe State, in 1933. He had an illustrious civil service career, holding several significant positions, including Permanent Secretary of various federal ministries, such as Internal Affairs, Commerce, and Communications.

    He also served as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation and made invaluable contributions to the development of Nigeria.

    Fika was also the Pro-chancellor and chairman of the Governing Council of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria and the chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF).

    He received numerous honours and awards for his exceptional service, including the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) by the Federal Government in 1992.

     

  • Just In: Female Corps member stabbed to death

    Just In: Female Corps member stabbed to death

    A female member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Grace Chalya Silas, has been murdered by yet-to-be-identified assailants in Kaduna State.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the incident

    According to the PPRO, the deceased was having an early morning exercise when some hoodlums ambushed her with the intention to steal her phone on Thursday.

    He said, “She was stabbed by some elements while she was doing her body exercise along GRA road in Barnawa this morning.

    “The suspects who were on a bike, stopped and wanted to snatch her phone. While they were struggling to snatch the phone, one of the suspects used a sharp knife and stabbed her.

    “When the police received the information, she was quickly rushed to Harmony Hospital, where she was later confirmed dead by the doctors”.

    The PPRO noted that the Commissioner of Police, CP Musa Yusuf Garba, has directed a thorough investigation into the incident.

    He added that the Command would do everything within its power to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

  • Reps investigate abandoned N74.649bn project

    Reps investigate abandoned N74.649bn project

    The House of Representative has mandated its Committee on Works to investigate the release and utilisation of funds approved for construction of the Kaduna Eastern Bypass from 2017 to date.

    The resolution followed a motion by Rep. Hussaini Jalo (PDP-Kaduna) at plenary, in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Jalo said the 48-kilometer Kaduna Eastern Bypass was to connect Kaduna metropolis with the Federal Capital Territory and 11 other states.

    He explained that contract for the road was initially awarded in 2002 to an indigenous firm at the cost of N16 billion, but was abandoned.

    The Rep member said that the Federal Government reactivated the project in 2017 and upscaled the cost to N38.19 billion, with a completion deadline of 2021.

    He added that in 2019, the Federal Executive Council approved N36.459 billion as augmentation to the earlier cost for the contract, thereby bringing the total cost to N74.649 billion.

    Jalo said that after the train attack of March 2022, the contractor suspended work on the first section of the road citing security threats.

    He said in spite of the huge funds dedicated to the construction of the road and the improvement of security in the area, the project has remained abandoned.

    He urged the House to investigate the matter and prompt the Federal Ministry of Works to ensure the completion of the Kaduna Eastern bypass project.

    The House mandated its works committee to ensure that all factors frustrating the completion of the project were resolved and the project completed within the shortest time.

    The committee was given six weeks to report back to the House for further legislative action.