TheNewsGuru

Tag: Niger State

  • Niger State gov’t to confront child, forced Labour

    Niger State gov’t to confront child, forced Labour

    The Niger State Government has reiterated its commitment to protecting the dignity of children through elimination of child and forced labour across the state.

    The Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Mineral Resources, Alhaji Abubakar Idris stated this during a meeting with the officials of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and a team of Non Governmental Organizatios (NGOs) at the Ministry’s headquarters in Minna recently.

    The Permanent Secretary who received the team discussed on the forthcoming flag-off programme of Child Labour Elimination beneficiaries in Shiroro and Suleja Local Government Areas.

    He said the exposure of children to forced labour and other dangerous activities was a call for concern and totally unacceptable emphasising that the Government under the leadership of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello was poised to supporting programmes aimed at curbing the challenge.

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    Just In: Bandits allegedly kill soldiers at military check point at Zuma Rock in Niger state

    He directed the team to forward an Executive Summary of the intervention programmes adding that it was important for the development partners to articulate a defined role the government would play in the oncoming programmes with a view to adding to the number of Beneficiaries from the starter packs.

    Earlier, the leader of the team and Controller Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Niger State office,Inuwa Yakubu said they were at Ministry to intimate the Permanent Secretary on the ongoing intervention programmes on Elimination of Child Labour and to seek the state government participation in the forthcoming empowerment of trainees as well as explore areas of further collaboration.

    He disclosed that the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Federal Ministry of Labour was set to flag-off distribution of starter packs to trainees in various skills including tailoring, hairdressing, barbing among others in the state.

    The Controller further informed the Permanent Secretary that ILO programme interventions in the state started in 2019 and will end in April, 2023 and therefore, called on the state to take ownership of the Programme to ensure its sustainability.

    Representative of Raise Foundation, Mr. Okama Moses said Accelerating action for the elimination of child labour in supply chains in Africa (ACCEL AFRICA) is a Dutch’s funded project adding that the programme started with the distribution of Back-to-School kits,where 500 children were presented with customized school bags, books among others and enrolled in schools under Shiroro and Suleja LGAs.

    Mr. Moses disclosed that arrangement has been concluded to further empower 500 parents and youth on the 14th and 15th September and therefore, stressed the need to take ownership of the project and ensure its sustainability in the state.

    It will be recalled that, the ACCEL Africa Project is focused on the elimination of all forms of child labour and forced labour from Nigeria particularly Niger State, from its Artisanal Gold Mining, where the practice is most prevalent.

  • N1.3bn debt: AEDC disconnects Niger Govt House, hospitals

    N1.3bn debt: AEDC disconnects Niger Govt House, hospitals

    Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has disconnected Niger Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies over accumulated unpaid electricity bills totaling N1.3 billion.

    House, the state Secretariat, hospitals and other public institutions over accumulated unpaid electricity bills totaling N1.3 billion.

    The AEDC Public Relations Officer in the state, Mohammed Pele told NAN in Minna on Friday that the Government House and hospitals were also disconnected.

    Pele said one week notice was given to the state government to settle its accumulated bill. but failed to meet its obligation.

    He explained that the state House of Assembly had four months ago intervened between the company and the government and an agreement was reached for the government to settle 80 per cent of the debt.

    “Till date there was no any commitment from the state government.

    “We took the action after being pushed to the wall by the state government for not keeping its words after the intervention of the state Assembly four months ago,” Pele said.

    The AEDC spokesman, however, explained that the government had in the last three months been paying N74 million monthly of its current bill, adding that the N1.3 billion was unpaid bills that accumulated before now.

    “We don’t have any option than to disconnect their services and concentrate on our teaming loyal consumers in and outside the metropolis.”

    Pele lauded consumers for ensuring prompt payments of their electricity bills, adding that the company had added seven transformers and spent over N500 million to improve power supply.

    Other public institutions affected by the  disconnection include the state Water Board, schooos, all General hospitals, office of the Secretary to the State Government and that of the Head of Service, among others.

    Meanwhile, the development has led to rise in the cost of water in Minna by 50 per cent, as water vendors now collect N300 as against N600 for a truck of 10 jerry cans of water.

    When contacted, the Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Matane said that he was on his way to Kontagora for an official function and was not aware of the disconnection.

  • 2023: APC promises to place more priority on workers’ welfare in Niger

    2023: APC promises to place more priority on workers’ welfare in Niger

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has promised to continue to prioritise workers’ welfare in Niger State if elected in the 2023 governorship poll.

    Mr Yabuku Garba, the state deputy governorship candidate of the party, said this in an interview with newsmen in Minna on Wednesday.

    Garba, also the Chairman of the Niger Council of NLC, said there was much work to be done in the area of workers’ welfare such as payment of salaries and delayed payment of gratuity of those who retired.

    “As someone who understands and feels the plight of civil servants, we will ensure that all these issues are resolved especially issues of promotion, training and retraining of civil servants.

    “This is because civil servants are the engine room of any government and if neglected their impact will not be felt. I will ensure that civil servants have their pride place in the scheme of things for socio-economic growth and development,” he said.

    The NLC chairman gave assurance that if elected into office, the administration would make the state an economically viable one by addressing the security challenges bedevilling some parts of the state.

    “The emergence of Mr Umar Bago as the governorship candidate of APC and my selection as his running mate came with so much excitement and expectations from the public.

    “There are so many feelings and expectations from people to see how the narration of government will change in the state especially in areas of security and economy revalidation.

    “APC have a manifesto and should be driven guide for us to achieve the vision and mission for Niger to tune a greater hook of economy but that cannot be achieved without security.

    “So I believe as a responsible party and as a government if we become, security is our priority and by the grace of God, we will overcome the menace, therefore, I call on residents to support us with prayers because governance is inclusive and not about one person,” he said.

    Garba called on the electorate to obtain their Permanent Voter Card (PVCs) and come out in mass to vote for the right candidates that would pilot the affairs of the state.

    Bago had in July unveiled Garba as his running mate for the 2023 governorship election in the state.

  • BREAKING: FIRS Director, Mohammadu Lawal shot dead

    BREAKING: FIRS Director, Mohammadu Lawal shot dead

    A Director with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Alhaji Mohammadu Kudu Lawal has been killed by suspected gunmen.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Lawal was shot dead on his way to Abuja, the federal capital territory (FCT) on Sunday 7 August 2022.

    The FIRS Director was shot dead while another staff of FIRS who was travelling with him sustained injuries as a result of the attack that happened in Saminaka village of Lapai Local Government Area (LGA) in Niger State.

    It was gathered that Lawal, an indigene of Lafiagi in Kwara State, ran into the gunmen who rained bullets on the Hilux vehicle he was travelling in.

    Until his death, he was the State Coordinator for Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara States.

  • Just In: Bandits allegedly kill soldiers at military check point at Zuma Rock in Niger state

    Just In: Bandits allegedly kill soldiers at military check point at Zuma Rock in Niger state

     

    Bandits on Thursday allegedly attacked a military checkpoint close to Zuma rock, a border between Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    Witnesses said the check point was close to Madalla town, close to Zuba, along the Abuja-Kaduna express way.

    It was gathered that the bandits were seen at 6.15pm on Thursday and opened fire on the troops, killing some.

    The attackers continued to shoot before heading towards the Kaduna axis of the expressway.

  • Army confirms ambush, death of personnel in Niger

    Army confirms ambush, death of personnel in Niger

    The Nigerian Army has confirmed that its troops deployed in Shiroro area of Niger were ambushed while on a mission to deal with bandits’ attack on miners in the area.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement on Thursday said the a number of personnel paid the supreme price in the ambush that occurred on Wednesday.

    Nwachukwu said the troops had on Wednesday responded to a distress call of bandits attack on people operating a mining site.

    He said the troops ran into an ambush staged by the criminal elements on their way to the location losing a number of personnel in fierce firefight that ensued.

    According to him, the location has been reinforced and troops are on the trail of the criminals with some already neutralised.

    He said the GOC of 1 Division had moved to the location to take charge of the follow on operations.

    Nwachukwu said urged well meaning Nigerians to exercise some restraint in posting images emanating from attacks on personnel as some video clips had emanated from the incident.

    He urged those posting such to be mindful that our brothers and sisters who might have lost their breadwinners deserved to be properly notified and not to get such information via the media.

    “We mention this, mindful of the inalienable rights of citizens to use the social media which is respected.

    “It is also necessary to clarify that activities of the criminals was not on any critical national asset or infrastructure.

    “Furthermore, the Nigerian army calls on all Nigerians to continue to support the efforts of their military personnel who continue to confront the enemies of our dear nation,” he urged.

  • Unknown gunmen abduct 2 farmers in Niger state

    Unknown gunmen abduct 2 farmers in Niger state

    The Niger State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of two residents of Doma village by gunmen in Lapai Local Government Area of the state.

    The Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in Minna on Saturday.

    According to Abiodun, on June 22, suspected kidnappers abducted two victims from Duma village, Lapai while working in a farm and took them into the forest in Rafin-Daji, Abaji area.

    ”Unfortunately, Police tactical team with some vigilante members who were on rescue operation, engaged the kidnappers while one of the vigilante members lost his life”, he said.

    He said that the Police teams were on the trail of the hoodlums to apprehend them.

    Abiodun therefore appealed to residents, especially rural dwellers, to remain calm as Police and other security agencies would not relent in the ongoing fight against banditry.

    He further called for support for security agencies by giving intelligence information that could aid in apprehending criminal elements in the state.

    He urged residents not to relent to report any person or group of persons with gunshot injuries to the nearest security outfit for necessary action.

  • Senate alerts military to terrorists’ enclaves in Kwara, Niger States

    Senate alerts military to terrorists’ enclaves in Kwara, Niger States

    The Senate has identified terrorists’ enclaves in communities within three local government areas of Kwara and Niger States, respectively.

    Accordingly, the chamber, on Tuesday, urged the Military to carry out a comprehensive onslaught of bandits and criminal elements within Kainji Lake National Park and the identified communities.

    The names of communities given by the chamber include Kaiama, Karonzi-Yashikira in Baruten local government, and Wawa and Babanna areas in Niger State.

    These formed part of resolutions reached by the Senate after it considered a motion on the “worsening insecurity in Kainji Lake National Park and existential threat to communities in Kaima, Baruten and Borgu Local Government in Kwara and Miger States.”

    The motion was sponsored by Senator Sadiq Sulieman Umar (Kwara North), and Co-sponsored by the Deputy Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North).

    In his presentation,  Senator Umar noted that, “kidnapping and other forms of criminality is becoming a recurrent decimal in communities close to Kainji Lake National Park particularly Nanu. Nuku, Woro, Kale in Kaiama and Yashikira in Baruten local Government of Kwara State and some part of Borgu Local Government in Niger State.

    “This has led to people living in perpetual fear of either being kidnapped and or Killed by kidnappers suspected to be armed bandits;

    “Further notes that Kainji Lake National Park covers an area of about 5,341km square with deep forest Vegetation. This park which is reserved for tourism is becoming fort-filed in harboring bandits and other forms of criminals;

    “Also notes that park rangers meant to man this park could no longer protect the forest reserve as they have lost control of the park to terrorist;

    “Worried that people living in these communities are predominantly farmers and their means of livelihood is threatened by the activities of these criminals as many are leaving their villages and farms to seek refuge in the towns that will soon be threatened as well if nothing is done about this insecurity situation. In fact, some communities have started paying the criminals some sort of tax to be allowed to stay safe;

    “Aware that the first incident occurred in year 2008 which led to the death of several Local Vigilante group members in an attempt to dislodge these criminals from the Kainji Lake National Park;

    “Also aware that there is a Forward Operating Base (FOB) established immediately after the first attacks and subsequent approval for the establishment of Military barrack in the local government, but these attacks keeps on happening with reckless abandon; and

    “Cognizant that in this year 2022 alone, several cases of kidnapping were reported in villages like Nanu, Nuku, Woro, and so on with several people reported dead. Others who returned were released after the payment of millions of Naira.”

    The Senate, in its resolutions, mandated the Committees on Defence; Finance and National Planning to jointly inter-face with the Ministry of Defence to determine status of the establishment and funding of Army Barrack in Kaiama and Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Babanna in Kwara and Niger States, respectively.

    It urged the military authorities to carry out a comprehensive onslaught on bandits and other criminal elements within Kainji Lake National Park, especially Kaiama, Karonzi -Yashikira in Baruten local government, and Wawa and Babanna areas in Niger state.

    The chamber also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to victims in the affected communities.

  • Abducted wife of Niger APC chairman rescued by police in Borno

    Abducted wife of Niger APC chairman rescued by police in Borno

    The Borno Police Command says its operatives have rescued Habiba Baffa, the abducted wife of Usman Baffa, Chairman, All Progressives Congress, (APC), Magama Local Government chapter in Niger.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Abdu Umar, confirmed the rescue while handing over the victim to her family in Maiduguri on Thursday.

    Umar said that Mrs Baffa was abducted from her home in the Tunga area of Minna, the state capital, on Sunday.

    Umar said: ”The attention of men of the command was drawn on Wednesday, at about 1400hrs, by the Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, a woman named Habiba Baffa, was found in Kano motor park.”

    He said that she was rescued and brought to the command, adding ”during profiling, it was discovered that she was abducted by four unknown gunmen to an unknown destination only to find herself in Borno”.

    Umar said that the husband was contacted through the help of the victim where he came from Niger to reunite with his wife.

    Narrating her ordeal, Habiba told newsmen that the gunmen stormed her home at about 5 a.m. and asked where her husband was.

    She said they also requested a huge amount of money which she gave them.

    “They later asked me to enter their vehicle and took me away. I only woke up to find out that I was in Borno,” she said.

    On his part, Baffa thanked God that his wife was rescued and lauded the Nigerian Police Force for their efforts.

    He said: “The kidnap was targeted at me, but since they could not find me, they took my wife.

    “Honestly, I could not sleep or eat, I was very traumatised. I cannot imagine being without my wife,” he said.

  • Primary Election: Bandits kill three PDP delegates in Niger state

    About three out of the 13 delegates from Mariga Local government Areas of Niger State have been reportedly killed by bandits.

    The delegates who had showed face for the governorship primaries of the People’s Democartic Party in Niger state were murdered on Wednesday evening.

    It was gathered  that the incident occurred between Mariga and Tegina and the three persons were shot dead on the spot in an ambush laid by the Bandits

    PDP had postponed the primaries after noticing some inadequacies in the delegates list provided by the party, some of the aspirants had protested against using the list,

    They had claimed that the delegates list was doctored.

    Meanwhile, the delegates who already gathered at the venue left for Mariga  but were ambushed by bandits and three of them were killed.

    The victims were two women and a male, whose identities were not revealed.

    The Chairman of the State electoral panel and Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State Mr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo who made the disclosure at the state party secretariat described the incident as sad.

    Ewhrudjakpo also asked all the aspirants for the replacement of the three deceased delegates, which they agreed to after a brief discussion.

    He afterwards, ordered a minute of silence be observed for the deceaseds’.