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Tag: Niger State

  • Seven ladies die from generator fumes in Niger state saloon

    Seven ladies die from generator fumes in Niger state saloon

    Seven ladies have died in Niger State from suspected generator fumes, the Niger State Police Command said on Saturday.

    The tragedy happened at Rijau town, headquarters of Rijau Local Government Area of the state on Friday night.

    Mr Adamu Usman, Commissioner of Police told the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Minna, that Alhaji Mohammed Bello, the district head of Rijau reported the incident at Rijau, Divisional police office.

    Usman, said on July 31, at about 0815 hours one Alhaji Mohammed Bello reported that he discovered seven female bodies inside Afrash Beauty Saloon located along Bawa Rijau road.

    “Primary investigation revealed that the ladies slept inside the saloon shop with the generator on.

    “We have successfully removed the corpses to General Hospital Tunga Magaji for autopsy, while the case is under investigation”,Usman said.

    The Commissioner of police advised residents to always adopt proactive security measures while using generators to aviod unnecessary loss of lives and property.

  • Police uncover Almajirai torture centre in Niger State

    Police uncover Almajirai torture centre in Niger State

    A centre where the almajirai are reportedly tortured in dehumanising conditions has been discovered in Niger State.

    Fifteen of the almajirai were rescued, some of them with scars, and some in shackles.

    The centre located in Anguwan Gwari Suleja was conceived as an Islamic school. Some of the pupils are as young as five years.

    Different iron tools reportedly used to carry out torture were discovered by the police who visited the facility following complaints by residents of the area.

    The operator of the centre, Umar Ahmed, 46, was arrested.

    Police spokesman Abiodun Wasiu said three chains were recovered from the torture centre, adding that the 15 persons rescued were handed over to the Niger State Child Rights Agency, while the operator of the centre would soon be arraigned in court.

  • Niger Govts meets Fulani herdsmen, seeks support for modern animal husbandry

    Niger Govts meets Fulani herdsmen, seeks support for modern animal husbandry

    As part of efforts at developing the Bobi Grazing Reserve in Mariga Local Government area of Niger State, the State Government has organized a stakeholders meeting with the Fulani Herdsmen within the Reserve.

    The meeting which aimed at educating the Herdsmen on the need for their maximum support and participation in the Modern Animal Husbandry, was presided over by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries.

    The Commissioner, Ministry for Livestock and Fisheries, Haruna Nuhu Dukku says Government desires unrelented commitment from the Herders to ensure production of high quality dairy, as failure to meet up with the required quantity will not be tolerated.

    Haruna Nuhu Dukku assures that basic social aminities such as health care services, education, market among others will be provided in the Reserve while youths and women in the Reserve will also be empowered with skills to better their lives.

    The commissioner added that the Fulanis outside the Reserve will be profiled before being accepted into the reserve and all settlers in the reserve must have a national identity card for security purpose, pointing out that at the moment, there are about 300 security personnel both within and outside the Reserve comprising of Mobile Police and Men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    He further explains that Government has identified One Hundred youths in the Reserve who will soon be trained and equiped to compliment the conventional security agents, even as the Government has received a nod from the military for support.

    Also speaking at the meeting, the Emir of Muri, Taraba State, Alhaji Tafida Abbas who is the Consultant in the development of the Reserve said Modern Animal Husbandry is the way to go in order to curb incessant Farmers/Herders crisis.

    He revealed that on completion of the perimeter fencing of the 31,000 hectare Reserve, the security challenges such as cattle rustling and kidnappings will be addressed.

    Earlier,, Permanent Secretary Livestock, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Jonathan Wasa maintained that the success and development of the Grazing Reserve is hinged on the level of support from the Fulani Herders within the Reserve, adding that Government is profiling the number of cattle in the Reserve to keep record.

    Some residents of the reserve including Sarkin Fulani in the Reserve, Alhaji Bello Taloye in their remarks expressed concerns over the state of security at the reserve but however pledged their support and maximum corporation to the development of the Reserve.

    Various activities were ongoing at the Reserve by different companies to include foliage cultivation, sinking of boreholes, work on the dam amongst others.

  • Covid-19: Niger Govt. says movement remains prohibited

    Covid-19: Niger Govt. says movement remains prohibited

    The Niger State Government on Sunday reiterated its order on the ban of movement inside and outside the state, to curb the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the State.

    In a statement issued on Sunday, Mr Ahmed Matane, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), and Chairman, Niger State Task Force on COVID-19, said that movement around border areas remained restricted and monitored, except for those on essential services.

    “Public and private schools, as well as tertiary institutions remain closed, while social activities that involve more than 20 persons stand prohibited,’’ Matane said.

    He further explained that those eligible for entry into the state would be examined and screened thoroughly by medical personnel.

    The SSG announced that wearing of face masks in public places in the state was now mandatory.

    “Wearing of face masks by residents of the state is very important. It is for personal protection and to prevent the spread of the virus and other related ailments”, he said.

    Matane, however, said that those on essential services, such as food vendors, water vendors, supermarkets, kiosk owners and farmers, were allowed to operate on the condition that they observed all precautionary measures.

    “Anyone caught violating the directives on social distancing, wearing of face mask and others, would be prosecuted by a mobile court,” he added.

    According to Matane, from time to time, the government will review the directives with a view to reducing the hardships being experienced by people as a result of the lockdown necessitated by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

    Matane said that the state’s task force was working closely with all relevant stakeholders, to ensure effective containment of the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

  • COVID-19: Niger SSG turns back trailer load of people from Lagos [Photo]

    COVID-19: Niger SSG turns back trailer load of people from Lagos [Photo]

    A trailer load of people from Lagos State was on Wednesday ordered to return by Secretary to the Niger State Government (SSG) Ahmed Matane.

    According to a report by The Nation, the truck was stopped by security operatives at Gidan Kwano, Niger State.

    The driver explained they were coming from Lagos and going to Kano.

    But the security official called the SSG, who also chairs the State Task Force on COVID-19, to seek permission to allow them to pass through the state.

    Matane arrived on the scene, and ordered security personnel to escort the trailer back to where it came from.

    He stressed there was no waiver for any truck not carrying food items, fuel or other essential products, to enter the state following the lockdown.

    An eyewitness said the truck had been covered with tarpaulin, adding that while some boys were on top of the truck, others were under the covering.

    The SSG emphasised that the state was determined not to allow anyone to cross its boundary.

    The 24-hour restriction order in Niger entered its third day yesterday and there had been total compliance and enforcement since the lockdown began.

  • APC’s Bello wins 24 of 25 LGs in Niger guber elections

    APC’s Bello wins 24 of 25 LGs in Niger guber elections

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Niger, Gov. Abubakar Bello has won in 24 out of the 25 Local Government Areas in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

    The results are collated by INEC in Minna by the collation officer for the state, Prof. Angela Miri, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University Lokoja, Kogi.

    Dr Jacob Tsado of FUT Minna collation officerfor Agaie Local Government Area announced that Bello as polling 19,295 votes while Umar Nasko of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got 16,903 votes in the area.

    Prof. O. Emmanuel of Federal University of Technology Minna, collation officer for Mashegu LGA announced that Bello got 18,102 votes while Nasko scored 10,988 votes in the area.

    Prof. Bisi Ayanwale of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, who is also the collation officer for Mariga LGA said Bello scored 17,890 while Nasko scored 13,433 votes.

    Prof. Tolu Ayaji of FUT Minna, who is also the collation officer for Magama LGA sais Bello scored 20,546 while Umar Nasko of PDP scored 17,633 votes.

    Dr Ladi Yunusa of FUT Minna, collation officer for Burgu LGA announcwd th Bello scored 25,111 votes in the area while Nasko scored 7,206 votes.

    Prof. Likita Tanko of FUT Minna and collation officer for Suleja announced that Bello scored 19,105 votes in the area while Nasko scored 14,975 votes.

    Prof. Mohammed Abdullahi of FUT Minna, collation officer for Bida LGA announced that Bello scored 21,493 while Nasko scored 11,212 votes.

    Prof. Usman of the FUT Minna, collation officer for Agwara LGA announced Bello as having scored 11,236 while Nasko scored 5,365 votes.

    Prof. Abdullahi Muktar, FUT Minna, and collation officer for Lapai LGA announced Bello to have scored 24,724 while Nasko scored 10,599 votes.

    Dr Labake Fadike of FUT Minna, collation officer for Shiroro LGA announced Bello as scoring 28,285 votes while Nasko scored 16,438 votes.

    Prof. Ibrahim Lankan of Ibrahim Babangida University Lapai, returning officer for Mokwa LGA announced Bello to have scored 26,679 while Nasko scored 13,155 votes.

    Result of Kontagora Local Government Area is being awaited.

    Already, the results from 13 local government areas had been released with the APC winning all.

     

  • Vandalism compromises FG’s efforts toward 30% broadband penetration – NCC

    Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned against vandalism of telecommunication infrastructure, stressing that the act is compromising Federal Government’s efforts toward achieving 30 per cent broadband penetration in 2018.

    Miss Helen Obi, the commission’s Head of Zonal Operations in Niger, said this at a one-day sensitisation programme on “Protection of Telecommunication Infrastructure” on Thursday.

    According to her, telecom infrastructure serve all citizens and should be owned collectively and everyone should work against its vandalism so that it can serve the purpose for which it is meant.

    She said “we are here to sensitise the people as stakeholders not only as consumers, including local governments and agencies of Federal Government on the need to protect telecom infrastructure.

    “This is actually key to the 8-point agenda of the NCC Chief Executive, Prof. Umar Danbatta, to ensuring quality service and broadband penetration.

    “This is because tampering with these infrastructure compromises the efforts of government to meet the 30 per cent broadband penetration target for 2018.”

    She said that so far, NCC had achieved 22 per cent broadband penetration and hoped to reach 30 per cent target.

    Dr Lawal Bello of the Department of Technical Standards and Network Integrity (TSNI) of the commission, said that the industry had continued to lose huge sums of money as a result of vandalism of telecom infrastructure.

    He said that the spate of destruction of telecom infrastructure across the country had slowed down the growth of services.

    Bello outlined some of the challenges facing the sector as willful damage of telecom infrastructure to extort money from service providers, and local communities or individuals barring technical staff of service providers from installing equipment or carrying out repair on existing systems.

    He added that diesel theft and digging up of cables for sale were also among the problems.

    The TSNI official said that NCC had been using various avenues such as the Consumer Outreach Programme, the Telecom Consumer Parliament to sensitise people and to educate them about the dangers associated with vandalism of such infrastructure.

    He called for speedy passing of the bill of Telecom Infrastructure and the need to declare it a national asset.

    Bello added that the protection of telecom infrastructure was not only NCC’s responsibility or that of security agencies, but of all patriotic citizens.

    Mr Abubakar Salisu, the Permanent Secretary, Human Resources, Office of the Head of Service in Niger, urged the commission to give incentives to states that have less cases of vandalism.

    According to him, incentives will encourage states to do more and make others to follow.

    NCC statistics shows that Niger has the least occurrence of telecommunication infrastructure vandalism.

    During the sensitisation programme, telecom users were given opportunity to ask questions and lay their complains, which the commission pledged to look into.

    In attendance were security agencies, community members and telecom operators and associations.

     

  • Niger Govt. to spend N50bn on water

    Niger State Government said on Wednesday that it would spend over N50 billion on the reticulation of Minna, Suleja, Bida and Kontagora water works.

    Gov. Abubakar Bello told newsmen in Minna that the state government would go into Public Private Partnership (PPP) to ensure adequate water supply in major towns in the state.

    Recall that the state government had in 2016, declared a state of emergency on the water sector starting with Chanchaga water works.

    Bello said that the government had spent N2 billion on the purchase of 60 water pumps and other equipment from Germany for Chanchaga water works.

    He added that government would go into partnership with investors to instal pumps, water meter and other relevant accessories across the major towns to enhance water supply.

    “When we took over the government, we met a dilapidated water infrastructure — water pipes were broken down beyond repairs, the engines were not functioning; virtually everything was in bad shape.

    “We started with Chanchaga water works; we constructed access roads, purchased new equipment and repaired broken water pipes and engines.

    “We couldn’t fold our hands to watch our people continue to suffer for water; that was why we declared a state of emergency on water sector and I can say that we have recorded quite a success in water supply.

    “Even though major cities in the state still do not have adequate water supply, we have taken a holistic approach and doing everything possible to ensure adequate water supply.

    “We are going into partnership with investors through PPP to instal water pumps and water meters in the major cities. This is the only way can ensure regular water supply.”

    The governor called for positive attitudinal change towards maintenance of government property.

    He noted that negative attitude constituted a major problem hindering the development of the state.

    The governor appealed to the media as partners in progress, to continue to support the government by publicising its programmes.

     

  • Niger State has capacity to feed Africa – Osinbajo

    The Acting President Yemi Osinbajo says that Niger has the capacity to produce assorted food crops that will feed the African continent.

    Osinbajo said this when he declared open a two-day Niger State Economic Submit with the theme “Impact Investment for Advancing Agricultural Economy and Innovation” in Minna.

    The conference, which attracted economic experts, industrialists and manufacturers as well as some state governors across the country, was organised to attract investors in various fields to boost the state’s economy.

    He commended Gov. Abubakar Bello for organising the conference, noting that it would assist in attracting various investors, especially in the agricultural sector.

    The acting president called on state governments to assist farmers with alternative sources of power, to enable them to process and preserve their farm produce.

    He said that the Federal Government was ready to partner with state governments willing to rehabilitate federal infrastructure in their areas.

    “Niger State Government is collaborating with the Federal Government to complete Baro Port, ” the acting president said.

    Osinbajo said that such projects would create an enabling environment for business activities to thrive in the national economy.

    He said that Niger was hosting three major hydro dams, adding that renewable energy was the way forward to increase the capacity of villagers and farmers for agricultural investment.

    Osinbajo said there was also the need to improve on roads infrastructure for enhanced agricultural development in the state.

    Earlier, Bello said that the state had large deposits of natural resources ranging from hydro carbon at the Bida Basin, gold, copper, tin, iron ore, tantalite, Kaoline and clay.

    He said the potentials in the mining sector were wholly untapped and open for investment.

    Similarly, there abounds tourism potential such as the Zuma Rock, Bark Empire Hills, Nagwamatse Well, Mongo Park Cenotaph and Gurara Waterfalls.

    The governor explained that already, the state government had developed a road map on some cardinal investment potentials in the state such as Banana free trade zone, Garam industrial park, Baron Port and Suleja New Smart City.

     

    (NAN)

  • Update: Suleja flood death toll rises to 13, eight bodies recovered

    Update: Suleja flood death toll rises to 13, eight bodies recovered

    The number of people who died in the Suleja flood has risen to thirteen persons.

    TheNewsguru.com gathered that four persons were unconscious and receiving treatment at Suleja General Hospital, after seven houses at Nasarawa area of Suleja were submerged in flood caused by torrential rainfall in the area.

    According to an eyewitness account, a man named Abubakar Saraki who is the head of a household of seven survived the incidence but lost six children.

    The head of the household of seven, Abubakar Saraki, survived; but his six children died.

    Checks revealed that Saraki could not rescue his last child who died along with others due to the heavy rains that started at 8pm on Saturday and continued unabated.

    Meanwhile, the Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim Ahmed Inga, said out of the 11 that died in the Suleja flood disaster, eight bodies have been recovered .

    Inga said four areas in suleja was badly affected by the last Saturday flood in Suleja.

    He said 90 houses were destroyed, and no fewer than 500 people were displaced; adding that there is the possibility of using primary schools in the area as temporary camps for survivors.

    Asked how many farmlands were destroyed, the DG said the agency had yet to take the inventory until securing a camp for those affected is completed.

    Inga said, “Niger State government is doing its best to reach out to those affected. First and foremost, we must provide shelter immediately and other things will follow.”