Tag: Niger State

  • Niger State can feed Nigeria, not Ukraine – Obi

    Niger State can feed Nigeria, not Ukraine – Obi

    The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi has said Niger State alone can feed Nigeria and not a war-torn country like Ukraine

    He insisted Ukraine has no reason to give Nigeria grains.

    Obi disclosed in Abuja on Tuesday while reacting to his award as the ‘Leadership Politician of the Year 2023’ at the annual Leadership Conference and Awards.

    “We have no reasons to be poor. Poverty should never be part of our lives especially in the North,” Obi said, adding that with over 7,442,00 square meters of land, Nigeria can feed Africa.

    “Ukraine has no reason to give us grain. Niger State can feed Nigeria, Africa with over 73, 000 square meters of land.

    “The two biggest states in the North-East, Borno with over 70,000 square metres of land and Taraba, are four times the size of Belgium that is exporting food. There is so much we can do in the country if we have the right leadership.

    “The more you remove people out of poverty, the more you have fewer criminals,” Obi pointed out.

  • APC wins Niger House of Assembly by-election

    APC wins Niger House of Assembly by-election

    Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s by-election for Lavun constituency in the Niger House of Assembly, Mr Jibrin Ndagi-Babba has won the election.

    He polled 21,393 votes to defeat Mr Baba Yusuf-Dabban of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 20,802 votes.

    The Returning Officer, Prof Emmanuel Raymond of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, announced the results on Sunday in Lavun.

    “I, Prof Emmanuel Raymond, certify that I am the Returning Officer for the Lavun State Constituency re-run election in Niger held on Feb. 3.

    “That Jibrin Ndagi-Babba of the APC, having satisfied the requirements of the law by securing 21,393 votes, I hereby declare him the winner,’’ he said.

    Prof. Raymond said the Action Alliance (AA), scored two votes; the African Democratic Congress (ADC), scored 24 votes, while Action Democratic Party (ADP), scored 87 votes.

    All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 32 votes; Action Peoples Party (APP) scored four votes; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) scored 855 votes, while the National Rescue Party (NRP) scored 30 votes.

    The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) scored 27 votes; Social Democratic Party (SDP) scored 21 votes, while Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) scored six votes, he added.

    The returning officer also declared that the total valid votes at the election numbered 43,464; rejected votes were 846, while total votes cast were 44,310.

    At the 2023 general elections, Yusuf-Dabban of the PDP won the election with more than 18,000 votes and a margin of 1,580 votes between him and Ndagi-Babba of the APC who scored 17,000 votes.

    Some irregularities led to the cancellation of the election in 32 polling units having more than 18,000 registered voters.

    Ndagi-Babba consequently filed a law suit to challenge the PDP candidate’s victory.

    On Nov. 24, 2023 the Appeal Court upheld the judgment of the tribunal directing a rerun in nine registration areas across 32 polling units in the constituency.

  • FG, Niger Govt. restate commitment to drive down food inflation

    FG, Niger Govt. restate commitment to drive down food inflation

    The Federal Government and Niger Government have reiterated commitment to ensuring food security and driving down food inflation.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari and Gov.  Mohammed Bago of Niger stated this when Bago visited Kyari on Friday in Abuja.

    Kyari said that Bago’s visit was an attestation to the strong alliance and synergy the ministry is motivated to build between the federal and state governments  to ensure food security and agricultural growth in Nigeria.

    ”  I would like to affirm our sincere optimism for possibilities ahead as we significantly deploy the lessons learnt from the first phase of the Dry Season Food Production.

    ”With the largest landmass in the country, abundant water resources and vast arable land, Niger  easily offers itself for massive agricultural production.

    ”We recognize that fundamental governance issues as elsewhere is to translate these agricultural potentials into sustainable reality.

    “It is for this reason that we at the ministry of Agriculture have consistently canvassed partnership and collaboration between the Federal and State Governments.

    ”We believe that a firm handshake between the two tiers of government at the minimum, should produce salutary result in our quest for food security and attendant value chain benefits,” he said.

    He said it is a fact that the agricultural sector in Niger  had witnessed outstanding accomplishments since the inception of Bago’s administration.

    Kyari said Niger had  rolled out Agricultural input support to farmers, including the dry season farming that commenced some days ago.

    He said the State also distributed assorted fertilizer to farmers across the Local Government in the state.

    ” Consistent with these trajectories, it can be said  that Niger has assumed an enviable forefront position in the Renewed Hope for Food Security Agenda of President Tinubu,” he said.

    ” Furthermore, I would like to reiterate that the Ministry is fully aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

    ” We are poised to implement our programmes in line with his vision for the agricultural sector.

    “We are determined to driving agricultural transformation, enhancing productivity and ensuring that our farmers have the necessary support to thrive.

    ” Our goal also includes ensuring food security and driving down food inflation,” he said.

    Earlier, Bago said that the State had attracted investment in agricultural mechanisation and technology in the last six months.

    Bago said that his visit was to further aligned with Tinubu’s commitment to food security as a major priority.

    ” We’ve invested so much in irrigation, now,  we’re deploying irrigation pumps, some of them are renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions,” he said.

  • Tension high as boat conveying 100 passengers capsizes in Niger

    Tension high as boat conveying 100 passengers capsizes in Niger

    The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) says it has received a report of a boat mishap which occurred in Borgu Local Government area of the State.

    Director-General of the agency, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, disclosed this in a statement in Minna on Monday.

    He stated that the incident happened on Monday afternoon, adding that the boat took off from Dugga Mashaya in Dugga ward heading towards Wara market in Kebbi State.

    Baba-Arah noted that the boat was conveying passengers estimated to be around 100 including goods, grains and other valuables.

    According to him, the agency is yet to ascertain the number of deaths and survivors.

    He said search and rescue operations were ongoing by local divers, the agency desk officers and local government officials.

  • Niger Govt dismisses report on ban of alcohol

    Niger Govt dismisses report on ban of alcohol

    The Niger State Government has denied stories making the round in social media networks over alleged ban of alcohol.

    This was contained in a statement issued by the state government stating that:

    “The attention of the Niger State Government has been drawn to a report making the rounds of some blogs claiming that the Niger State Government, through the state’s Liquor and Licensing Board, has prohibited the sale of alcohol in nine Local Government Areas of the state, including Suleja.

    “We wish to state categorically that His Excellency, Farmer Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, who has been busy initiating and overseeing many people-centered projects across the state, never issued such a directive.

    “The liquor and Licensing board is yet to be constituted by the governor; as such, no directive of this kind can come from a board yet to be formed.

    “In light of the above, His Excellency, the Farmer Governor, has directed security agents to arrest the self-appointed Secretary of this board by name Mohammed Ibrahim, and to understand the motives of the imposter and the reasons behind the pronouncement.

    “We invite the good public and our friends in the media to ignore any such pronouncements and to, henceforth, seek clarification from known government officials who are authorized to speak for the state and government.

  • Niger Govt declares 7-day holiday for workers

    Niger Govt declares 7-day holiday for workers

    Gov. Mohammed Bago of Niger has approved a seven-day public holiday for workers to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

    This is contained in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Bologi Ibrahim on Thursday in Minna.
    Ibrahim said that the holiday would begin on Friday, Dec. 22 and end on Jan.1.

    ”The holiday will start from Dec. 22, 2023 to Jan. 1, 2024,” he said.

    He stated that food stuff would be given to government officials for onward distribution to the less privileged in their localities and wards.

    “Don’t stay in Minna, go and share foods with the poor people in your local government areas and wards,” Ibrahim quoted Bago as saying.

  • Gov Bago bars Niger civil servants from wearing babanriga, kaftans

    Gov Bago bars Niger civil servants from wearing babanriga, kaftans

    Governor Umaru Bago of Niger State has barred civil servants in the State from wearing native attire, kaftans and Babanriga to offices.

    According to Governor Bago, civil servants in Niger must stop wearing native attire, kaftans and Babanriga to offices from Monday to Thursday.

    Bago added that any officer who fails to comply with the directive will be dismissed from the service.

    The Governor gave the order during the presentation of land development and preparation equipment at the Brains and Hammers Rice City in Wushishi Local Government Area of the State on Saturday.

    According to him, all English attire is permissible going forward.

    “From Monday, we will issue an order preventing civil servants from wearing kaftan and Babanriga to work between Monday and Thursday. No Babanriga, No Kaftan, we are here to work.

    “Anybody who wants to wear Babanriga should resign. We are also going to engage in serious farming activities going forward,” Bago said.

  • Shun social vices, cyber crimes, Gov. Bago advises corps members

    Shun social vices, cyber crimes, Gov. Bago advises corps members

    Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger, on Tuesday, advised corps members to shun social vices and avoid all forms of cybercrimes.

    Bago gave the advice at the closing of the 2023 Batch C, Stream 1 orientation course in Paiko Local Government Area of the state.

    The governor, represented by the Head of Service, Alhaji Abubakar Salisu, urged the corps members to be disciplined and avoid being lured into degrading acts capable of harming them.

    “My dear compatriots, I advise you to integrate into the cultures and traditions of your host communities for a seamless service year,” he said.

    Bago implored them to key into his administration’s ‘Green Economy and Sustainable Development’ project to raise the living standard of the people of the state.

    Earlier in address of welcome, the NYSC Coordinator in the state, Mrs Abdulwahab Olayinka, urged the corps members to accept their postings in good faith and be patriotic in their places of primary assignments.

    She also advised them against meddling in the local politics of their host communities, adding that they should rather undertake personal community development projects to uplift the living standard of their host communities.

    Olayinka appealed to organisations to accept corps members posted to them and make provision for their welfare.

  • 9 bodies recovered from Niger boat mishap

    9 bodies recovered from Niger boat mishap

    The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has said that nine bodies were recovered from a boat mishap that occurred in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.

    The Head of Relief and Rehabilitation in NSEMA, Alhaji Salihu Garba, disclosed this in Minna on Sunday.

    Recall that ten persons were confirmed dead in a boat mishap that occurred on Thursday, November 16.

    The victims, mostly traders, were reportedly conveying goods from Zongoru Community of Bassa Ward to Gijiwa, ahead of Friday market in Kuta, headquarters of Shiroro LGA, when the tragic incident happened.

    At least 34 persons were said to be on board of which 10 allegedly lost their lives, while 22 were reportedly rescued by local divers.

    Garba gave the names of the deceased to include Farida Muntari, Sharhabila Sagir, Bubakar Sadiq, Na’ima Ibrahim, Amina, Safaratu Ibrahim, Sadiq Ibrahim and Rafiya Yakubu.

    He said that the agency had yet to identify two of the deceased persons, adding that all the deceased were from Zangoro.

    He further said that there were 24 males and female adults and 10 male and female children in the boat when it capized.

    Garba also said that a search operation was ongoing to recover the remaining bodies.

  • Police confirm killing of FUT lecturer in Niger

    Police confirm killing of FUT lecturer in Niger

    The Police  command in Niger has confirmed the killing of Dr Funmilola Adefolalu, a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna by suspected assailant.

    This is contained in a statement by the command`s spokesman, DSP Wasiu Abiodun on Monday in Minna.

    Abiodun said the victim was killed in her residence at Gbaiko area of Minna on Sunday.

    “On Oct. 29,  at about 1000hrs, some friends of  Dr Funmilola Adefolalu, a lecturer at “FUT Minna visited her residence in Gbaiko Area of Minna due to their inability to get her on phone.

    “Unfortunately on getting to the house, the visitors met her lying in a pool of her own blood with marks of injury on her body,”he said.

    He said that two knives with blood stain suspected to have been used to stab her by unknown persons were recovered from the scene.

    The spokesman said that the body was taken to the Ibrahim Babangida Specialist Hospital, Minna where she was confirmed dead.

    He said that the police have commenced investigation into the incident.