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Tag: niger

  • FG defends $1.959bn rail construction project Nigeria to Niger Republic

    FG defends $1.959bn rail construction project Nigeria to Niger Republic

    The Federal Government says it approves the extension of rail construction from Lagos-Kano-Katsina to Marradi in Niger Republic for economic and commercial benefits.
    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave the explanation on Friday when he featured on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) live programme, “Good Morning Nigeria.”
    The programme focussed on “Nigeria at 60: Matters Arising.”
    Specifically,the Minister said the rail extension is intended for Nigeria to take economic advantages of import and export of Niger Republic, Chad and Burkina Fasso which are landlocked countries.
    Mohammed said contrary to the disinformation by some commentators on the rail extension project, the decision was taken in the economic interest of the country.
    Recall that some Nigerians have queried the rationale behind Nigeria borrowing so much to fund the infrastructure of a neighbouring country.
    The Minister, however explained: “I think there have been a lot of disinformation and total lack of information over that linking of Lagos, Kano, Katsina railway to Marradi”
    “The wisdom behind it is that Niger, Chad Burkina fasso are all landlocked meaning that they do not have access to sea.
    “What this means is that most of their imports and exports have to go through neighbouring countries’ sea ports like Cotonou in Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana.
    Because we do not have a road infrastructure that will encourage Niger republic to use our seaports, we believe that we will be able to take over their imports and exports with the rail linkage.
    “The simple reason, therefore is to strengthen the economy of Nigeria,” he said.
    Mohammed explained further: “For now, Niger Republic used seaport of Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana and the exporters go through the stress, challenges and time of being on the road from Cotonue, Lome or Accra to their country.
    “But when you look at the distance by rail by the time we link them from Katsina to Marradi, it will be easier for us to take over the business.
    “There is nothing like territorial expansion, it is purely economic,we are taking advantage of proximity and efficiency of rail system”.
    The Minister further explained that the distance from Jibia the Nigeria border town with Niger Republic to Marradi is a few kilometre and there is existing business relations between the people at both border town’s.
    He admonished critics of government policies and decisions to always seek clarifications before going to town to misinform the public.
    Mohammed equally said that government will keep engaging in more conversation to enlighten the public on its policies, programmes and decisions.
    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Federal Executive Council on Sept. 23 approved over 1.959 billion dollar for the construction of the rail line from Kano to Marradi in Niger Republic.
    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who disclosed this to State House correspondents said the rail line designed to take off from Dutse in Jigawa, Katsina and Jibia will terminate in Marradi.
  • Niger uncovers 2,286 primary school teachers with fake certificates

    Niger uncovers 2,286 primary school teachers with fake certificates

    The 2020 Staff Audit Committee constituted by the Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), on Monday said that no fewer than 2,286 primary school teachers were using questionable certificates.
    Alhaji Ayuba Katako, Central Chairman of the Committee, made this known during the presentation of the 2020 Staff Audit report to the board’s management of NSUBEB in Minna.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the board’s management had in June set up a six-man committee to audit both teaching and non-teaching staff members of NSUBEB across the 25 Local Government Areas of the state.
    Katako said that there were 28,058 staff in the primary schools across the state, adding that 26,00 7 of them were screened, out of which 23,721 were cleared and fit to work with SUBEB.
    He noted that 2,286 of these primary school teachers were using questionable certificates as some of them could not read and write.
    “When they heard that screening was going on they just came to clear themselves and they are on the payroll.
    “Some of them went to roadside business centres to print out certificates and we could not ascertain their authenticity,” he said.
    He disclosed that most of these certificates were reading National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna and did not resemble the actual certificates issued by NTI.
    Katako, however, noted that the committee also discovered pending promotion of teachers, and in Zone A, teachers with PhD were the ones teaching in classrooms while those with Masters were the ones in the office.
    Responding, Dr Adamu Isah, the state Chairman of SUBEB, commended the committee for conducting the exercise effectively, and said that the board would follow due diligence of civil service rules to take decision on those found wanting.
    He added that any teacher who could neither write nor read would be disengaged as teachers and engaged in another field.
    “These people will be engaged as cleaners, nannies and some at local government offices in accordance with their capacities,” he said.
    Isah noted that they would get in touch with the institutions issuing those certificates to confirm their authenticity and anyone whose certificate was not authentic would have the appointment terminated.
    He, however, gave assurance that the report of the committee would be implemented.
    Also, Alhaji Kabiru Abbas, Board Member II, commended the committee and said that the report “brings an end to all allegations and insinuations from the public”.

  • Tragedy as tanker explosion destroys houses, shops in Niger

    Tragedy as tanker explosion destroys houses, shops in Niger

    A tanker filled with petrol has exploded after colliding with a trailer destroying houses, cars and properties.

    The sad occurrence happened around 11pm on Sunday.

    As at Monday morning, details of the losses were yet to be known

    The trailer and tanker collided causing the trailer to fall down and catch fire immediately.

    Several houses, shops and cars were burnt before the fire service was called from Suleja to put the fire under control.

    The Federal Road Service Corps (FRSC) has placed the probable cause of the crash to loss of control by the vehicles.

    The casualty figures were also yet to be ascertained.

    Details shortly…

  • Gunmen invade Niger community, kill 14

    Gunmen invade Niger community, kill 14

    The Niger State Police Command confirmed the killing of 14 persons by armed unknown gunmen at Ukuru village of Mariga Local Government Area of the state.

    ASP Wasiu Abiodun, the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), made this known in a statement on Wednesday.

    Abiodun, said on August 12, at about 15:30 hours, information revealed that suspected unknown armed gunmen invaded Ukuru village in Mariga Local Government Area and were shooting indiscriminately and several cattle were rustling away.

    He said that as a result of the incident, about 14 people lost their lives and 5 five others sustained various degree of injuries.

    The injured victims were taken to Mariga General hospital hospital for treatment.

    Abiodun, explained that already Policemen and local vigilante have been mobilised to the area and normalcy has been restored.

  • Why Nigeria exports electricity to foreign countries – Presidency

    The Presidency on Tuesday explained Nigeria entered electricity power export agreements with some of her neighbouring countries so that they would not build dams on the path of River Niger.

    Nigeria is in bilateral agreements with Republic of Togo, Benin Republic and Niger Republic, causing Nigeria to sell electricity power to the countries.

    River Niger courses through these countries.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the Presidency also said the total indebtedness of Niger to Nigeria is $ 16 million, while Benin owes $ four million.

    The statement also added the actual cost of electricity generated within 2018-2019 by all the electricity generation companies in Nigeria was about N1.2 trillion ($4 billion).

    The statement was reacting to a new report by a national newspaper, alleging the trio of Togo, Benin and Niger owed a debt in power purchase to Nigeria to the tune of $81.48 billion while most parts of Nigeria are in darkness.

    Describing the report as hyperbolic and terribly misleading, the Presidency said that apart from the fact the figure quoted was far from accurate, out-dated and not reflective of the current reality, the overall cost of power generated and sold by Nigeria in the period covered by report was not anywhere close to what was mentioned by the paper.

    According to the statement: “Power exported to Niger, Benin and Togo based on Multilateral Energy Sales Agreement with the Government of Nigeria is on the basis that they would not dam the waters that feed our major power plants in Kainji, Shiroro and Jebba.

    “As of the last review in 2019, the amount of indebtedness to all three customers stood at $69 million, subsequent upon which several payments were made to NBET. Much of this has been repaid by the debtor nations.

    “As of today, Niger owes only $16 million and Benin, USD $ million, adding up to the Naira equivalent of about N1.2bn.

    “The essence of said bilateral agreements, by which we give them power and they do not build dams on the River Niger means that Nigeria and her brotherly neighbours had avoided the unfolding situation of the Nile River between the sovereign states of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.”

  • Sad! 60-year-old raped in Niger

    Sad! 60-year-old raped in Niger

    A man has been arrested in Niger State for stealing into a 60-year-old woman’s apartment while she was asleep, and raping her.

     

    Sani Garba, 32, committed the offence in Kuspa area of Suleja Local Government Area of the state, police said.

     

    The 60-year-old reported the assault and the suspect, who lives in the same community as his victim, was picked up.

     

    One John Adamu, 23, was also arrested for raping a seven-year-old girl in Ungwan Nasarawa area of Kontagora Local Government Area of the state.

     

    Police spokesman Abiodun Wasiu said the defendants would soon be arraigned in court.

     

    A lawmaker representing Ipokia-Idiroko constituency in the Ogun House of Assembly, Mrs Sikiratu Ajibola, has prescribed life imprisonment for rapists.

     

    “Enough is enough,” she told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday. “We can no longer fold our arms as women; rapists must be taught a lesson in a very hard way.

     

    “This devilish acts, most times, result into psychological trauma to the victims. Some of them even attempt suicide.”

     

     

     

     

  • NNPC commences Oil Exploration in Niger

    NNPC commences Oil Exploration in Niger

    The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has commenced oil exploration activities in the Bida Basin in Niger State.

    Group Managing Director (GMD) of the corporation, Mr Mele Kolo Kyari, revealed this on Wednesday during a visit to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello to unveil the 2D seismic data acquisition in the Bida – Sokoto basin.

    The exploration will involved eight local governments in the state. He said further that the progress being recorded in an ongoing exploration of inland basins by the corporation was capable of growing Nigeria’s crude reserves to 40 billion barrels by the year 2023.

    Represented by NNPC Group General Manager Frontier Exploration Services, Mr Abdullahi Bomai, he said in-depth geological and geochemical studies showed that there are strong hydrocarbon-bearing indicators that have been confirmed as oil and gas-bearing formations in the eight local governments which extends to two other local governments in Kwara and another in Kogi states.

    “Further exploration activities based on the need for exploration in the Bida Basin, NNPC management has graciously approved the award of contract to Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL) and their alliance partners (BGP/CNPC International Nigeria limited to embark on immediate Seismic Data Acquisition to further unravel the presence of hydrocarbons in the Bida Basin.

    “We are indeed delighted for the opportunity of today’s visit to inform you of the activities of NNPC/FES and also to solicit for your support,” the GMD said.

    According to Mr Kyari, significant progress is being made in the ongoing exploration of inland basins, with a realistic and achievable target of growing the nation’s reserve to 40 million in the next three years.

    He solicited the support, cooperation and participation of the state and local governments, traditional rulers and community leaders towards achieving the national mandate, adding that the deployment of light and heavy machinery will soon commence in the state.

    He listed the local government areas where exploration activities will commence to include Mokwa, Lavun, Gbako, Bida, Katcha, Agaie, Edati and Lapai, adding that in the course of conducting these operations, a lot of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers will be engaged.

    The Governor of Niger State, Mr Abubakar Sani Bello, in his remarks, expressed happiness over the realization of the project, stressing the need for the oil agency to pay adequate compensation to the people who would be affected by the exportation.

    He said, “We are all excited over the good news of the oil exploration. As you know, research in the development of the Bida Basin has been on for some times.

    “We are however happy that the NNPC is seeing to the success of the project. We are hopeful that Niger state will join the oil producing states.”

    He said his administration will work with NNPC to ensure that communities are carried along and to compensate adequately communities which are going to be affected the oil exploration activities.

  • COVID-19: Niger confirms 10 positive cases out of 235 investigated so far

    Governor Abubakar Sani of Niger State has revealed that so far ten (10) persons have been confirmed positive for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) out of 202 samples collected and tested.
    Governor Sani Bello said this at a briefing with newsmen after a meeting with the committee of the COVID-19 Task Force in the State at the Government House, Minna.
    Meanwhile, Niger State has lost a Professor of Veterinary medicine., Professor Bello Agaie of the USMANU Danfodiyo University to COVID-19.
    Governor SANI Bello who announced this sympathized with the family, Usmanu Danfodiyo University and friends of Prof Bello Muhammadu Agaie who died as a result of contracting COVID-19 in Sokoto.
    He prayed that Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljannatu Firdausi.
  • Soon-to-wed couple abducted in Niger church

    Soon-to-wed couple abducted in Niger church

    Unknown armed men have kidnapped an about-to-wed couple in Tegina Kabata in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.

    The couple were undergoing a wedding solemnisation in a church in the community when the gunmen invaded the church and whisked them and others away.

    This was revealed at a press conference by a group, Concerned Shiroro Youths in Minna.

    The youths further revealed that the bandits also attacked guests of a wedding Fatiha in Rumache community, adding that a large number of people were kidnapped while the locals were robbed of their possessions.

    Co-convener of the organisation, Bello Ibrahim said that in the simultaneous attacks that occurred last week, various casualties were recorded with five people killed while many others sustained various degrees of injuries.

    “In these simultaneous attacks, casualties were recorded as no fewer than five people were killed and many sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries, herds of cattle rustled and other valuables carted away.

    “Also, on April 12, 2020, Rumache community was attacked in broad daylight during which a large number of people who converged for the wedding Fatiha were kidnapped and many locals robbed.

    “Still on that fateful day, they carried out a similar heinous operation and kidnapped the village head (Dakachi) of Tegina Kabata and an about-to-be wedded couple who were in a nearby church undergoing wedding solemnisation.

    “As I address you, all the referenced people are still in the kidnappers’ den while negotiations for their release are ongoing. At Ajatai in Kwaki/Chukuba Ward of the local government, the story is the same as the criminals stormed the village in the same period under review in broad daylight and unleashed mayhem on unsuspecting locals.”

    The youths gave the state government two weeks to address the insecurity challenges bedevilling the local government.

    “Consequently, the following are our prayers: establishment of a military base in the affected domain, establishment of forest guards/rangers to effectively man our forest and check criminal hideouts, provision of adequate logistics to the few officers currently deployed to troubled areas.

    “An all-inclusive approach in areas of intelligence gathering and community policing, urgent need to deploy more military and para-military personnel, as present realities suggest the personnel on the ground are grossly inadequate, provision of adequate relief materials to displaced persons.

    “Other prayers are aggressive enlightenment campaign for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) on the dangers of COVID-19, restoration of sustainable security and peace in all the affected communities within the shortest period of time, empowerment as well as the incorporation of vigilantes and local hunters into the security architecture in the state.

    “We also need the deployment of relevant apparatus to protect the displaced persons from the risk of getting infected with Coronavirus, the government should not close down the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Bosso and other similar camps until security and safety are optimally restored in the troubled areas.

    “May we state emphatically that in the next two weeks, if something tangible is not urgently and holistically done by government to address these insecurity challenges, the Concerned Shiroro Youths shall be left with no option than mobilising our people to henceforth abdicate from any civic responsibilities.”

     

  • COVID-19: Motorists defy intra-state and inter-state ban in Niger

    COVID-19: Motorists defy intra-state and inter-state ban in Niger

    Commercial vehicles plying routes within Niger and motorists on transit to other states have defied restriction of movement order by the state government to curtail the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) check in Minna on Saturday reveals that many commercial vehicles resisted the order which started on March 28.

    NAN reports that the vehicles apprehended by the task force on the restriction order include articulated vehicle, motorcycles, cars and buses.

    Malam Yusuf Mohammed, a commercial driver, who was apprehended by the task force, said he was going to Lambata from Kontagora.

    Mohammed, who overloaded the car with goods and commuters, also had four passengers at the back seat and two in the front seat including himself making seven.

    NAN reports that the government recommended that such cars should carry three persons including the driver, making four.

    He said that he was aware of the restriction order but went ahead to defy it to make money.

    Mohammed said that the Kontagora branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) were he registered has not sensitised members on the number of passengers that the vehicle can carry per trip.

    Also, Alhaji Ali Danzaki, an articulated vehicle driver, said he was conveying dry fish from Zuru in Kebbi to Onitsha in Anambra.

    Danzaki pleaded with the task force to let him go, saying that he was aware of the restriction but had a breakdown on the way.

    He argued that the fish was part of food allowed by government under the restriction order.

    Similarly, Mr Onyinyechi Ahube, said he was going to the Chanchaga water works to fetch water.

    Ahube, who was aware of the situation said that there was no water in his area in Chanchaga.

    Malam Useni Usman, treasurer, branch III NURTW, Minna said that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) sensitised their members over the COVID-19 at the Abdulsalami Abubakar motor park in Minna on Friday.

    Usman said that the NSCDC told members on the need to respect government order to stay at home from 10am to 8pm daily toward curtailing the spread of the pandemic.

    He said that members from the branch of the union had since complied with the government order restricting movement.

    Efforts by NAN to speak with the leader of the task force was not successful as he declined comment and refused to give his name.

    NAN recalls that Dr Mohammed Sidi, the state commissioner for Health, had announced government decision to restrict movement of people within the state including those on transit from March 28 as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

    Sidi said that members of the task force had been deployed to Magama, Mokwa, Suleja, Lapai and Rafi Local Government Areas that share boundaries with Kebbi, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara states and Abuja.