Niger State nigerstateonline.com Mar08-News

The Niger government has approved the release of N300 million as counterpart fund for the implementation of conditional cash transfer (CCT), a pilot poverty eradication scheme in the rural area. The scheme which was launched in Erena, Lakpma Local Government Area, is intended to address extreme poverty and unemployment among rural dwellers.

PROPERTIES worth millions of naira were at the weekend destroyed by irate youths in Wushishi and Gurara local governments of Niger State following a crisis which sparked off after last week's state congresses by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Several notable politicians including the former Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Shem Zagbayi Nuhu and the Special Adviser to Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, Alhaji Abdulkardir Umar narrowly escaped death with their cars and valuables burnt to ashes.

While Kano State Chairman of Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Zakka L. Nyam was attacked yesterday by angry youths of the demolished Evangelical Churches of West Africa (ECWA) Church, Irate youths in Wushishi and Gurara Local Government areas of Niger State also burnt down property in protest against the outcome of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) council elections in the two areas.

Like a dying patient requiring urgent medical treatment by the best of experts to come back alive, so is the Federal Government believed to have invested about $16billion in the nation’s ailing power sector to resuscitate it and ensure Nigerians have uninterrupted electricity supply to power their businesses, industries, hospitals, schools, banks and homes with the overall obvious impact of reviving a dead economy.

Senator Idris Ibrahim, 65, was buried yesterday in Minna, Niger State in accordance with Islamic injuction.
Former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), the Niger State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ibeto, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, and his deputy, Ibrahim Mantu, were at the palace of the Emir of Minna to commiserate with him.

The House of Representatives is not in a hurry to dissolve its committees, House Speaker, Dimeji Bankole has said. Bankole dropped this hint while fielding questions from journalists in Minna, Niger State, saying he was aware of the requests by his colleagues to dissolve the committees.
“The call is natural. It is a natural thing for them to call for the dissolution of the committees by the members.

Following the handing over of the Suleja Field Base in Niger State to the state government by the Federal Government, about 118 civil servants residing in the base are appealing to the authorities to consider their predicament and relocate them to another place or allow them buy the houses, despite being exempted from monetization policy.

While expressing appreciation on behalf of other awardees for the honour bestowed on them by the association, the Niger State “Chief Servant”, Governor Babangida, described the award as a celebration of service. He stressed the need to continue to support the university and appealed to the Alumni members to assist the institution in all ways possible so that it can focus on research and teaching, adding that it is the responsibility of the alumni to also ensure that the university instills in its students character and integrity.

Dr. Babangida Aliyu, governor of Niger State, is not the typical state chief executive Nigerians have been used to. Apart from dropping the fanciful title of His Excellency for the less glamorous title of Chief Servant of his state, the governor has re-enforce his belief in service to the people. The former Permanent Secretary in the federal civil service is bent on transforming the fortune of Niger State and its people for the better and would not mind ruffling some feathers in the state to achieve this.

Former Niger State governor, Alhaji Abdulkhadir Kure, has lost in his bid to stop the judicial commission of inquiry set up by the state government from sitting. The present administration in the state set up the panel, headed by Justice Aliyu Maiyaki, to look into contracts awarded by Alhaji Kure’s eight years regime in the state.

AHEAD the March 29 date for the conduct of local council elections in Niger State, the state Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu has declared that he would invoke the full wrath of the law on anybody sponsoring or perpetuating violence and electoral malpractices during the grassroots elections.

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has promised to employ graduates irrespective of their disciplines in a bid to wipe out unemployment in the state. Aliyu made this known while speaking at an interactive session with the World Bank officials in Minna. The governor said graduate unemployment in the state had assumed a disturbing trend which required a holistic approach and drastic action.

A former gubernatorial aspirant of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger state, Alhaji Abubakar Azozo, has been arrested by the Police over alleged involvement in a recent political violence in Gurara Local Government of the state as a result of the PDP congress election's results.

One of the problems militating against the development of most states of the federation is the issue of abandoned projects. Dipo Laleye reports on the panel of enquiry investigating contractors of abandoned projects in Niger State. When Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu set up a judicial commission of inquiry to look into contracts awarded by the past civilian administration of former Governor Abdulkhadir Kure between May 1999 and December 2007, observers within and outside the state were sceptical about the motive of the government and what the panel would achieve.

Reactions yesterday trailed the emergence of Prince Vincent Ogbulafor as National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the end of the party's National Convention that was held at the Eagle square, Abuja. Speaking at the at the end of the exercise, Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, said: "Certainly I don't like the process of the convention, I wish it was more democratic because we want to ensure the growth of democracy in our country." Appreciating the exercise, Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, said: "The emergence of a consensus candidate for the PDP Chairmanship is a very good decision for the party and it would help move the party forward."

Niger State Governor, Dr Babangida Aliyu, yesterday alleged his predecessor, Abdulkadir Kure, of awarding contracts verbally, without documentations. He said his administration inherited N23 billion debt from the Kure administration, and was able to verify only N13 billion of it.

Niger State Governor, Dr.Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu has said that the state would spend N1.6 billion on poverty alleviation annually as intervention measure to reduce un-employment. Dr. Aliyu made the revelation at the 'Jamaa Forum' in New Bussa, Borgu Local Government area. He noted that each of the 274 wards in the state is to receive a monthly sum of N500 thousand for disbursement as poverty alleviation to indigent persons.

Governor Aliyu spoke on Monday as Senator Nuhu Aliyu (PDP, Niger North) unveiled an annual poverty alleviation programme and established a foundation to cater to the needs of indigents within his senatorial district. The twin programmes were unveiled in New Bussa, Borgu Local Government Area, just as Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State at the occasion declared free education up to the secondary school level for indigenes and non-indigenes attending public schools in Niger State. “When I took over, NECO refused to release the results of Niger State because about one-third of the pupils did not pay and I discovered that it was because they could not pay! So, I paid for the one-third and they released the results. The total that I am paying for WAEC and NECO this year (2008) is N300 million. We said there is no need for saying you are an indigene, you are not an indigene,’’ Governor Aliyu said at the occasion.

The Niger State panel of Inquiry in Minna ordered the arrest of the managing director of a Jos- based contracting firm, Rishabel Interior, for failure to honour its summons. Alhaji Babangida Suleiman, was summoned to appear before the panel twice to give evidence regarding a N10.5 million contract given to the company. The contract was for the supply of 1,000 double bunk beds to Niger State ministry of education. The contract was awarded in 2000 of which N8 million was paid as part payment. The contract was among the failed contracts being investigated by the panel as the company failed to supply the items. Testifying before the panel earlier, commissioner for education, Alhaji Abubakar Daja said since the N8 million was paid to the contractor, the items were neither supplied nor did the contractor show up for any explanation.

FORMER goverrnor of Niger State, Alhaji Abdulkhadir Kure and his successor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, have been reconciled by two former heads of state. The duo had been at daggers drawn since June last year over allegations levelled agianst the Kure administration by his successor. The feud developed into a situation that supporters of the two leaders were not seing eye to eye. According to Nigerian Tribune findings, while the Kure camp accused his successor of deliberately running down the former governor, the Aliyu camp distanced itself from such accusation, but instead, said the supporters of the former governor were behind the crisis. Dr. Aliyu had, at a public function, accused the elite of the state of showing lack of interest in settling the dispute whereas the former heads of state had been reconciling feuding politicians from other states of the federation.

Niger State Governor, Mu’Azu Babangida Aliyu, yesterday said he did not impose any of the 25 local government chairmen elected Saturday, as that would have led to crisis in the state.
Aliyu told newsmen that he deliberately refused to visit different polling boots, apart from the one where he cast his vote, because he did not want to give room to trouble makers to cash in and foment trouble. He said he was willing to work with all the chairmen elected, because what he was interested in was results that would be felt by the people, and warned the newly elected chairmen that they will be held responsible for poor performance in their local government areas.

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Niger State has alleged plans by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to rig the forthcoming local government election in Niger State. This is just as the Niger State police assured of adequate security during the poll.

TWO former heads of state, General Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, have intervened in the on-going “war” between the immediate past governor of Niger State, Alhaji AbdulKadir Kure and his successor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu. The disagreement, which started moments after the present administration took over the mantle of leadership in May 2007, finally blew into the open when Aliyu inaugurated a judicial panel of enquiry to probe the eight-year administration of his predecessor. The ex-governor and his successor had been invited separately and sometimes together by some elders of the state to broker peace but the truce bid always failed.
Our correspondent reliably gathered that the two former heads of state had to take this final step in order to save the state from further embarrassment.

Niger State Government has declared free education in all public primary and Secondary Schools in the state. Commissioner for education, Hajiya Asmau Usman, announced this in Minna at a press briefing at the end of the state executive council meeting. Usman explained that free education for the girl-child which was introduced in the state in January this year, has now been expanded to cover boys in both primary and secondary schools throughout the state. She stated that the programme is non-discriminatory, as both indigenes and non-indigenes would benefit from the free education. According to her, it would cost the state government about N951 million yearly to implement the free education programme. The commissioner explained that under the programme, pupils and students would be entitled to free meals, free uniforms, free text and exercise books. Usman said the government has concluded arrangements to set-up adult literacy centre to tackle the high level of illiteracy in the state. She stated that top government functionaries including the state governor have agreed to make contributions towards the success of the programme.

Mar 20, 2008 (Leadership/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- NO MATCHES FOUND. | news | PowerRating | PR Charts -- Senator Zaynab Kure, who represents Niger South senatorial district in the Senate, is a member of Capital Markets, Women and Youths Committees in the upper legislative chamber. She advocates the revival of agriculture to provide raw materials for the industrialisation of the North and the country in general. She wants northern men to allow their women to participate in public life and business as a way of strengthening the country. The Hydro Electricity Producing Areas (HYPADEC) Bill, which is before the National Assembly, will be beneficial to the people of the zone when passed, she says. She also states that there is no personal difference between the former governor of Niger State (her husband) and the Chief Servant, Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu. She was at the just concluded conference on de-industrialisation of the North, organised by LEADERSHIP, where she spoke with BEN ADOGA. Excerpts:

Three governors as well as a former minister of Finance during the late General Sani Abacha era are billed to testify before the House of Representatives Committee on Power and Steel today. Mohammed Danjuma Goje of Gombe State, Namadi Sambo of Kaduna and Dr Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu will face the House committee over $16b spent in the power sector without commensurate results by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Governors Olusegun Agagu, Liyel Imoke, Gabriel Suswan, Mr Danbaba Danfulani Suntai and Babatunde Fashola have so far testified. Danjuma Goje was Minister of State for Power from 1999 to 2001. He is expected to testify on contracts awarded for the rehabilitation of thermal power stations when he was minister. Babangida Aliyu is expected to give a situation report on the three hydro-power stations in Niger State.

An unacceptable level of cynicism and distrust now underpins the relationship between the citizenry and the political class to the extent that the average citizen is quick to affirm his loss of faith in government in any platform of social discourse. The reason(s) for this frosty relationship are more than twofold but mainly include the scandalous failure of public servants to offer real leadership at all levels and the unacceptable arrogance of this elite group to come to terms with the reality of the gradual meltdown of government and widening disconnect between the leader and the led.

The Niger State government has expressed concern over the non-accreditation of its tertiary health institutions after 32 years of their existence. The institutions, according to the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Isah Vatsa, are the School of Midwifery in Minna, School of Health Technology, Tunga Magajiya, School of Nursing, Bida and School of Health Technology, Minna.

As the expression of interest for the novel Football Challenge with Fash take upward swing, no fewer than four state governors have endorsed the TV reality show supported by Oceanic Bank International Plc. One of the governors Alhaji Aliyu Babangida of Niger State speaking to the Football Challenge team comprising of Ambassador John Fashanu and Mr. Charles Mekwunye, executive director, Oceanic Bank who visited him in Minna, described the football reality show as a new concept in corporate social responsibility (CSR). Babangida pledged to buy as many football challenge scratch cards as possible for distribution among youths in the state. He invited the Football Challenge team for a second meeting to fashion out how to move the game of football forward in his state.

No fewer than 21 convicts at the Suleja Prisons in Niger State on Friday got their freedom following the prompt intervention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The inmates were convicted for minor offences and given an option of fine but were unable to pay. About N103,000 was spent for the payment of the fines of the 21 inmates following the visit to the prison by officials of the NHRC led by the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Mrs Kehinde F. Ajoni. Ajoni expressed concern over the state of the prison which was constructed in 1944, saying that out of the 259 inmates in the prison custody, over 80 percent of them are still awaiting trial.

The executive secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Mrs. Keinde Ajoni, has described the state of the Suleja prisons in Niger State as pitiable. Investigations revealed that the prisons lack basic facilities like water supply and some of the buildings are not fit for human habitation. Mrs. Ajoni made this confession when she announced the payment of fines on behalf of 21 convicts of the prison, jailed for their inability to pay fines.

For septuagenarian, Idris Abubakar, life itself is a wheel that moves with time. And that, perhaps, explains his split image which changes in line with his momentary desire. But after being caught red-handed in possession of two sophisticated rifles, Abubakar sang discordant tunes in police custody, while explaining how he came about the deadly weapons. Described as an Imam by the police, he, however, says he is not fit to wear the toga of a pure and sinless religious leader. Rather, he claimed to be an Arabic teacher, a vocation he enjoyed while it lasted several years ago before becoming a hunter. Sadly, either by sheer ill-luck or fate, that transformation has put him into deep trouble.