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Tag: Kano State

  • BREAKING: Dominic Oneya, ex-Military Governor of Kano is dead

    BREAKING: Dominic Oneya, ex-Military Governor of Kano is dead

    Brigadier-General Dominic Obukadata Oneya, who was Military Governor of Kano State during the military regime of General Sani Abacha, is dead.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Oneya was military Governor of Kano from August 1996 to August 1998 during the military regime of General Abacha.

    He was also Administrator of Benue State from August 1998 to May 1999 during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, handing over power to the elected Executive Governor, George Akume on 29 May 1999.

    The death of Oneya, who later became Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association (NFF), was disclosed by Abubakar Aminu Ibrahim, SSA to the Kano State Governor on Social Media,.

    Oneya was Governor of Kano State when the present Governor HE Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was Commissioner of Works and Senator Malam Ibrahim Shekarau was Permanent Secretary (AGS) at the time.

    Oneya was born on 26 May 1948 in Apapa Local Government Area of Lagos state. His family is Urhobo. His origin is Agbarho, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State.

    He attended the Baptist Academy, Yaba, Lagos (1962–1967), then enlisted in the Nigerian Defence Academy in May 1969, earning a commission in the Infantry Corps in September 1971.

    Oneya attended the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) (1977–1980), earning B.Sc degree in physical education.

    He attended the Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna (1983–1984) and the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College, Kingston, Ontario, Canada (1987–1988).

    Command positions during his military career include Adjutant of 31 Infantry Battalion (1971–1972), Instructor at 4 Division Training School (1972–1973) and Instructor at Nigerian Army Military Training College, Jaji (1975–1977).

    As a Staff Officer from 1977 he served at Army Headquarters Lagos and in operations with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (1980–1981).

    He was Commandant of the Nigerian Army Physical Training School, Zaria (1985–1987), Directing Staff, Command and Staff College, Jaji (1987–1989) and Directing Staff, Ghana Armed Forces College Teshe, Ghana (1989–1991).

    He was appointed Commander, 82 Motorized Infantry Brigade, Kano (1993–1995), Commander, 16 Battalion, Nigerian ECOMOG Contingent in Liberia and then Director of administration, Training and Doctrine Command (1995-July 1996).[2]

    On 22 August 1996, General Sani Abacha appointed him Administrator of Kano State, Nigeria and later deployed to Benue State during the transitional regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar, handing over to the elected executive governor George Akume on 29 May 1999.

    He retired from Military service on a rank of Brigadier General and he was subsequently appointed Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association on 17th January 2000.

    TNG reports Oneya died on Thursday at his home in Effurun GRA, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State at the age of 73.

  • Flood kills 26, destroy 1,000 houses in Kano State

    Flood kills 26, destroy 1,000 houses in Kano State

    The Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said on Friday that flood killed 26 people and destroyed over 1,000 houses in four Local Government Areas of the state from April to date.

    The Executive Secretary, Kano SEMA, Dr Saleh Jili, who confirmed the figures in an interview in Kano, said that 50 other persons sustained injuries due to the the flood and windstorm.

    According to him, the affected local government areas are Bunkure, Minjibir, Tarauni and Doguwa.

    He said that the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had earlier predicted that there would be flooding in 25 local government areas of the state this year.

    The SEMA boss said the agency had visited the affected areas to sympathise with the victims on behalf of state government and distributed relief materials to them to alleviate their suffering.

    “The items distributed included bags of cement, bags of rice, maize, millet, roofing sheets and toiletries,’’ he said.

    The executive secretary, however, commended Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje and the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Muntari Ishaq, for supporting the agency.

    He called on donor agencies and wealthy individuals to assist in supporting the victims.

    “Our economy is down due to COVID-19; the government cannot do it alone,’’ he said.

    Jili also called on those living close to rivers and ponds in the state to vacate the areas for one to two months period.

    “If the rivers and ponds are over filled with water, please vacate your houses,’’ the SEMA boss advised.

    He further urged residents of the state to clear the drains in front of their houses to prevent flooding.

    “I urge those who are not yet affected by the flood to do everything possible to prevent it by clearing their drainages, collecing refuge and taking it to the appropriate place,’’ he said.

    Jili added that the agency would not relent in its effort to ensure protection of lives and properties.

  • Ganduje pardons 136 inmates

    Ganduje pardons 136 inmates

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, on Tuesday, pardoned 136 inmates as part of measures to decongest the correctional centres in the state.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Malam Abba Anwar, disclosed this in a statement he issued in Kano.

    Anwar stated that the governor took the decision when he visited Goron-dutse Medium Correctional Centre on Tuesday.

    “You are Nigerians who deserved to be taken care of and that is why we are here today to celebrate with you this great Eid-el-Kabir, by pardoning some of you,” he said.

    “We are also here to see how you are feeling and to share the joyous moment with you.

    “We want those of you who repented to promise us not to go back to your previous nefarious acts,” the governor was quoted as saying.

    Anwar said that some of the inmates were pardoned either due to ill-health or have stayed longer than necessary.

    He noted that others were there because they were unable to pay the fines slapped on them.

    “The pardoning exercise is in compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to decongest correctional centres across the country,” he quoted Ganduje as saying.

    In his remarks, the Controller, Kano Correctional Centres, Sulaiman T. Sulaiman, commended the governor for being humane by relating with inmates.

    “I have worked for 30 years in many states. I have never seen a state governor who cares very much about the plight of inmates in our correctional centres as Gov Ganduje,” he said.

    Sulaiman thanked the governor for giving inmates cattle and rams to celebrate the Eid el Kabir.

    Anwar said the governor gave N5,000 to each pardoned inmate as transport fare to their destination.

  • Assembly suspends Chairman of Kano Anti-Corruption Commission

    Assembly suspends Chairman of Kano Anti-Corruption Commission

    Kano State House of Assembly, has suspended the Chairman of the state Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission, Muhuyi Rimingado for one month, for breech of law.

    This followed the adoption of a motion by House Leader, Labaran Abdul-Madari during Monday’s plenary.

    The motion was based on a petition against him by the office of the state Accountant General after he rejected a chief accountant posted to the commission by the office.

    The petition alleged that the chairman appointed a grade level four office to serve as the accountant of the commission contrary to the law.

    After series of deliberations, the House resolved to suspend the chairman for a period of one month to allow for a thorough investigation on the matter.

    The lawmakers also formed an ad hoc committee under the chairmanship of Chairman, House Committee on Public Complain, Malam Umar Gama to investigate the matter.

    Other members were Malam Lawan Shehu, Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Mr Salisu Doguwa, Chairman, House Committee on Public Account, Mr Magaji Zarewa, Chairman, House Committee Chairman on Finance and Mr Sale Marke, Chairman, House Committee on Hajj.

    The Committee also has Deputy Director, Legal services as its Secretary and Secretary, Public Account Committee as Co-Secretary.

    The committee was to report back in two weeks.

  • More governors joining APC soon – Gov. Ganduje

    More governors joining APC soon – Gov. Ganduje

    Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State says more governors elected under other political parties platforms have expressed willingness to defect to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ganduje said this when he received members of APC membership registration/revalidation appeals committee, led by Alhaji Faruk Aliyu on a courtesy visit at Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.

    This is contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Abba Anwar on Sunday in Kano.

    Ganduje said that the party was making arrangements to receive the governors who would defeat to APC for a greater Nigeria.

    He said the APC membership registration/ revalidation was a great success.

    “As far as we are concerned nobody was marginalised in the exercise. For your information, there are indications that more governors are coming to our great party, the APC, from other places. Our internal democracy is waxing stronger day by day.

    “I want use this opportunity to congratulate you for getting us more entrants into our party. We thank you for the good exercise conducted. This makes our party to wax stronger and improve internal democracy,” he said.

    Ganduje who commended the committee for a job well-done, said APC was ready to register new members, no matter their position or opinions about them.

    “If some people feel they are marginalised in the exercise, our doors are still opened.

    “I understand that there is no single petition from Kano forwarded to your committee. So even if somebody comes with a petition please tell that person to come and get registered,” he said.

    Aliyu thanked the governor for receiving members of the committee.

    He commended the governor for his effort in managing the affairs of the party in the state effectively.

    “Your Excellency, we are very grateful for all your efforts in seeing that our great party moves to the next level,” he said.

  • 64 injured in Kano petrol tanker explosion – Official

    64 injured in Kano petrol tanker explosion – Official

    No fewer than 64 persons were reported to have sustained various degrees of injuries as a petrol tanker exploded on Saturday in Kano.

    The incidence happened at the Al-ihsan filling station at Sharada in Kano Municipal Area of Kano State.

    Malam Saminu Abdullahi, spokesman of the Kano Fire Service, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday in Kano.

    Abdullahi said out of the injured victims, eight fire service personnel were involved, adding that no live was lost.

    “On receiving a distress call from one Malam Umar Shuai’bu and Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) at about 04:20p.m that there was a tanker that has caught fire in Sharada, we quickly dispatched our personnel and vehicle to the scene of the incident at about 04:24p.m to rescue the victims”.

    He said that the tanker was offloading petroleum products at the filling station when the incident occurred.

    “The victims were taken to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital and Nassarawa Hospital,” he said.

    He appealed to the public to always call the fire service immediately they encounter any fire incident.

  • Kano State orders schools resumption

    Kano State orders schools resumption

    Kano State government directed on Sunday that pupils and students should return to school on Monday, May 17 since the Eid el-Fitri holiday is over.

    The directive did not cover the 36 boarding schools government ordered closed early in the year on security grounds.

    Commissioner for Education, Malam Muhammad Sanusi-Kiru said in a statement issued by the ministry’s spokesman, Mr Aliyu Yusuf, that defaulting pupils and students would be sanctioned.

    Sanusi-Kiru added that the ministry had made adequate arrangements for monitoring to ensure compliance.

    He warned that government would not fold its arms and look the other way while students and parents chose the day convenient for the children to return to school.

    “All boarding school students are to return to their schools on Sunday May 16, while Day schools students are to return to their schools on May 17,’’ the commissioner was quoted as saying.

    “Government is committing lots of resources to facilitate good learning and teaching environment.

    “There is, therefore, the need for a reciprocating gesture by parents and students to return to school on stipulated dates,’’ the commissioner stressed.

  • 13 suspected Boko Haram terrorists nabbed in Kano – Army

    13 suspected Boko Haram terrorists nabbed in Kano – Army

    The Nigerian Army says troops of 3 Brigade Kano have arrested 13 suspected Boko Haram terrorists on Saturday.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Yerima, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Yerima said the suspected terrorists were arrested around Filin Lazio in Hotoro area of Kano, following a successful operation.

    He said that the ongoing operation was predicated on the need to apprehend criminals who might want to hibernate in any part of Kano State.

    “The general public especially residents of Filin Lazio Hotoro, are enjoined to go about their lawful businesses as security forces are on top of the situation.

    “The Nigerian Army wishes to use this medium to appeal to the peace loving people of Kano state to maintain high level of vigilance and continue to report suspected movement of strange individuals or groups in their environment to the relevant security agencies for prompt action,” he said.

  • Tinubu joins Gov Ganduje to support Kano woman who lost her legs in course of duty

    Tinubu joins Gov Ganduje to support Kano woman who lost her legs in course of duty

    National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has joined Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to support a Kano woman who lost her legs in course of duty.

    Tinubu pledged support to the Kano State woman, named Khadijah Umar at an award night to mark the 2021 May Day organised by the Kano State Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Saturday in Kano.

    Members of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organisation who were present at the event pledged to support Khadijah Umar with modern artificial limbs on behalf of Tinubu, 2023 presidential hopeful.

    Umar, who had been working as a temporary staff member for the past 15 years at Hotoro Health Care Clinic, lost her legs in the course of duty.

    Governor Ganduje also presented a letter of permanent and pensionable appointment to Khadijah Umar at the event.

    Speaking at the event, Ganduje said henceforth, teachers and lecturers working with the state owned institutions of learning will be retiring on attaining 65 years.

    “The Federal Government has since approved this for teachers and lecturers working in its institutions, hence, teachers in Kano State are also not left behind.

    “Therefore, our teachers and lecturers as from now on will start to enjoy such retirement age from 60-65, and years of service from 35-40 as the federal workers are enjoying,” the governor said.

    According to Ganduje, the state government has introduced so many policies aimed at improving the welfare of its workers.

    He added, “We have introduced a contributory health scheme for workers in the state and their families to have the cheapest health services.

    “I am happy that with your co-operation, today we have the best contributory health scheme in Nigeria.

    “We are also collaborating with the private organisations in the state to see how they can benefit from such schemes aimed at strengthening the policy.’’

    The governor also said that the state government had introduced a health trust fund where five per cent of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and one per cent from the earnings of local governments would be contributed.

    “And that will provide health services to our workers and the people of Kano State.’’

    Ganduje added that the state government would serve as a guarantor for civil servants working in the state who would be willing to access loan facilities from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    He also said that his administration had introduced free and compulsory primary to secondary schools education.

    “Through that, our workers will not have to pinch from their salaries to pay school fees for their children.” he said.

    Ganduje said that one important thing done in the state was ensuring peace and stability, security for workers, the citizens and everybody.

    He said with that in place, the state would continue to be a place where everybody could flourish in harmony.

    Earlier, Mr Kabir Minjibir, the Chairman of Kano State chapter of the NLC, said the awardees were honoured for their hard work and adherence to the Civil Service rules.

    He said that the NLC found it necessary to honour not only civil servants who were dedicated and committed to their duties, but also workers from the private sector.

    “The NLC is giving certificates of excellence to those that deserved to be honoured while some of them will go home with cash gifts ranging from N50,000 to N100,000 each.” he said.

    Minjibir also lauded the Ganduje–led administration for effective security management in the state.

    He said that had brought about minimal cases of banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.

    He also commended the governor for efficient management of the first and second waves of COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

    “The governor has been up-to-date in the payment of salaries and pensions in the state, despite the economic turbulence being experienced in the country until recently when the economic situation began to bite harder,” the chairman said.

    Minjibir, however, described the theme of the 2021 May Day celebration: ‘COVID-19 Pandemic, Social and Economic Crisis: Challenges for Decent Jobs and People’s Welfare”, as a symbol for continued struggle for the survival under the current economic hardship.

    The chairman charged workers to continue to put in their best while discharging their duties.

  • Security threat: Kano govt. directs closure of Bagauda Technical College

    Security threat: Kano govt. directs closure of Bagauda Technical College

    Kano State Government has directed the immediate closure of Bagauda Technical College, located along Kano-Jos road, following security report.

    This was announced in a statement issued to newsmen on Monday in Kano, by the Public Relations Officer, Kano State Ministry of Education, Mr Aliyu Yusuf.

    Yusuf said the closure of the college in Bebeji Local Government Area was announced by the Commissioner of Education, Malam Sanusi Sa’id-Kiru.

    “The closure of the College was necessary following a disturbing security report and the need to protect lives of the students, teachers and other staff of the college.

    “Therefore, i urge parents to immediately evacuate their children from the College and wait for further directives,” it said.

    Yusuf said the commissioner used the opportunity to express the state government’s appreciation to parents and guardians for their support and cooperation to its policies and directives especially on security related matters.