Niger State nigerstateonline.com May08-News

THE nation’s newspapers reported the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in some parts of the North, recently. The reports claimed that many Nigerians’ lives were put at great risk as a result of the disease’s outbreak and several others could be affected. In the reports, Kebbi State was said to have recorded many cases of CSM, claiming the life of a student with several others receiving treatment in the hospitals. The situation in Niger State was worse. Nine persons were reported dead while many others were in the hospitals battling for their lives.

The Niger State police command on Friday paraded two men for allegedly attempting to forge last year’s NECO senior secondary school examination results. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Richard Oguche, said the suspects were staff of Ikeje community college in Olamoboro Local Government Area of Kogi. He said one of the suspects, identified as Ameh had, on April 21, illegally gained entry into the computer section of NECO annex office, in Minna.

Dipo Laleye writes on the challenges before the Northern Governors’ Forum under the leadership of Niger State governor, Dr. Muazu Aliyu.
Recently, governors in the Northern part of the country met at the Arewa House, Kaduna, Kaduna State, where they took far reaching decisions that will not only touch on the lives of the people in the region but propel to greatness the entire region.

Niger State Government has advised the All Nigeria People Party (ANPP) gubernatorial candidate in the April 19, 2007 election, Barrister David Umar to desist from inciting the people against the present administration in the state..... The commissioner added that, "while we agree that opposition provides a forum for constructive criticisms, most especially in our state where we all have a stake, we should not degenerate to the level of inciting the people against a legitimately constituted government".

The administration of the Governor Mu’Azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has indicated its determination to position the state among the three best state economies in Nigeria by the year 2020. Aliyu who made this known in his address on the occasion of the Niger State Special Day at the recently concluded 19th Enugu International Trade Fair held at the Trade Fair Complex on Abakaliki Road, Enugu, stated that this was done by introducing a new economic agenda for the state with the public private partnership (PPP) initiative as the thrust.

NOT less than 147 people in Niger State have died in the last two months as a result of attacks of measles and chicken pox. Over 1, 400 others are still critically ill at various hospitals in the state as a result of the attack. Most of those involved are children between one and 15 years, while in some isolated cases, adults are also affected. The measles and chicken pox outbreak, according to investigations, is more pronounced in Mashegu Rijau and Magama Local Government Areas. According to findings, much pressure is already being put on the health facilities in the state as a result of the large number of people seeking medical attention.

How did the journey to Niger State Government House began?
I was interested in contesting for the governorship post as far back as 1999, then it was zoned out of my zone. I kept quiet in 2003. Maybe for some reasons of performance, there were hues and cries. People tried to cry out for a better bargain. My mind was concentrated on my job as a civil servant. My prayers started from then up till 2007, asking God to make me Head of Service of the Federation. After the elections of 2003, we met with the political leader of our state in Mecca. I asked whether I would be in the plan for succession. He informed me that his plans did not include me. So, I kept off.

Minna zonal command of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) has intercepted 10 cartons of drugs illegally smuggled into the country. Mr. S. Iheanacho, the zonal controller of the NWS in Niger State made this known to leadership he said that the truck carrying the drugs was intercepted on the Minna-Suleja road. He said that the drugs were hidden in 60 bags of rice and 70 bails of imported second hand clothes in the trailer. Iheanacho assured that his men would continue to check to curb the activities of smugglers.

With the wave of democracy sweeping across Nigeria once again in 1999, and more fundamentally since 2003, efforts have been made towards institutional development aimed at laying political foundation for Nigeria to realize its potentials. Basic freedoms in the form of political and civil rights, whether sincere or otherwise, at least appear to have featured predominantly in these efforts. Little or no attention is however being given to economic, social and cultural rights so well encapsulated in several international and regional instruments to which Nigeria is signatory.

Eight principal officers and five former state governors were among 37 senators an-nounced yesterday by the Senate , as members of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review (JCCR). Also in the committee are, Senators Osita Izunaso ( Imo State ), Effiog Dickson Bob ( Akwa-Ibom State ), Heineken October Lokpobiri ( Bayelsa State ), Patrick Osakwe ( Delta State ), Ehigie Edobor Uzamere ( Edo State ) and Lee Maeba ( Rivers State ). Also in the committee are, Senators Osita Izunaso ( Imo State ), Effiog Dickson Bob ( Akwa-Ibom State ), Heineken October Lokpobiri ( Bayelsa State ), Patrick Osakwe ( Delta State ), Ehigie Edobor Uzamere ( Edo State ) and Lee Maeba ( Rivers State ). The remaining members are Senators Gada Abubakar Umar (Sokoto), Muhammed Adamu Bello ( Kano State ), Tawar Umbi Wada ( Gombe State ), Joel Danlami Ikenya ( Taraba State ) Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan ( Yobe State ), Suleiman Nazif ( Bauchi State ) Smart Adeyemi ( Kogi State ), Gbemisola Saraki ( Kwara State ), Awaisu Kuta ( Niger State ), Gyang Dalyop Dantong ( Plateau State ), Abubakar Sodangi ( Nasarawa State ), Adamu Sidi Ali (FCT).

In a bid to ensure that the citizens of Niger State are empowered with IT knowledge and skills needed to face the 21st knowledge economy, Nigerian foremost local PCs assembly, Brian Integrated Systems Limited has signed Memorandum of Understanding, (MOU) with the Niger State Government on a computer ownership scheme that will benefit its civil servants.

Governor Muazu Aliyu of Niger State has directed local government councils in the state to operate the presidential system of government in accordance with the law passed by the state House of Assembly a few years ago. The governor gave the directives in Minna yesterday while swearing-in the newly elected chairmen of the councils in the state. Aliyu expressed dismay that the past local government administration in the state could not practice the presidential system of government as passed by the Assembly in 2000, insisting that the present councils will have to operate by the law which he said has not been repealed. The governor promised to ensure that local government councils get their statutory allocations in accordance with the law to enhance the development of the rural areas of the state. While charging the new chairmen to be transparent and honest in the administration of the councils, the governor also implored them to live above board and avoid flamboyant lifestyle in the midst of the people who are in poverty.

Niger State Governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu has condemned the wholesome adoption of democracy from the developed world , saying the best way for Nigerians to reap the dividends of our nascent democracy is by domesticating it,taking into cognizance the peculiarities of the country 's socio-cultural beliefs . Speaking as a guest lecturer at the foundation day ceremony of Igbinedion University , Okada in Edo state over the weekend, the Niger state Governor advocated a unit based development where the people in the grassroots would be involved in deciding what development projects they want rather than allow politicians to decide for them.

The Niger State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ibeto, has returned N25 million to the coffers of the government, an official said. Alhaji Isa Adamu, the Secretary of the State’s Pilgrims Board, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Minna that the amount was part of the N400 million for the 2007/2008 Hajj contingency fund. Adamu said the deputy governor, who was the leader of the state delegation to the Hajj operation, returned the money in line with government’s policy. He commended the deputy governor for the commitment to service and concern for the rule of the law as demonstrated by the return of the unspent funds.

Leadership (Abuja) By Shuaib Shuaib
In what could be seen as a publicity stunt to promote the viability of Niger State as a tourist destination, Governor Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu will today climb up Zuma Rock in Suleja in the presence of the media. The govenor will attempt this fitness test to conquer one of his state's most notable landmarks located at Suleja at 9.am. Governor Aliyu had previously promised to make Niger State a tourist attraction and as such has invested in developing infrastructure and uplifting landmarks around the state.

South Korean farmers in collaboration with the Niger state Government have concluded arrangements to invest $2.5 million on rice production in the state. The permanent secretary Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Health, Engr. Abdullahi Aliyu, disclosed this in Minna yesterday at a press briefing on the state government’s intervention programmes on rice production, marketing and processing.

"MOST of us writing from the North are rarely accorded recognition as our counterparts in the other parts of the country.” said a female Hausa-Fulani writer. “It is probably because some of us prefer to write in our indigenous language and rarely communicate in English to gain larger audience,” another female writer from the region added with almost a sense of resentment. Indeed, it was like a renaissance of sort last week when writers from across the nineteen states of the northern region converged on Minna, Niger State capital, to redefine what they described as the “valuable place of creative writing” as it affects the northern part of the country.

By Muazu Babangida Aliyu
Distinguished scholars, today’s event is indeed a historic opportunity for me to share my views and experience with you with a view to stimulating our collective thinking on how we can evolve and sustain a credible development process in Nigeria through participatory democracy. I believe for us to achieve that, we should look at such variables as transparency, accountability, leadership and good governance. This may require us to enlighten, educate and mobilize the common people, for everybody to understand their role and place in the community, and to understand what to expect and what is expected of them.

The Minister of Sports and Chairman of Nigerian Sports Commission, Alhaji Abdulrahman Gimba, and the former National Vice-Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Abubakar Magaji, on Thursday appeared before the Niger State Judicial Service Commission of Inquiry over malpractices relating to the awards and execution of contracts under the immediate past administration of Alhaji Abdulkhadir Kure. The Niger State Government led by Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, it will be recalled, constituted the commission to probe the immediate past administration awards and execution of contracts from May 1999 to May 2007. Gimba’s summon by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry sitting in Minna was over the N230m loan obtained from Nigerian Agricultural Development Bank for the purchase of tractors and fertilisers during the immediate past administration. Summit Chamber, a legal firm, in which the minister was a principal partner, was the legal consultant to the state government when the arrangement for the granting of the loans from the bank was being made.

The Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of Zuma rock into a world class tourist destination. The contract, which has been awarded to a United States based company, is expected to gulp $800m, divided into two parts. The first phase of the project will gulp $300m while about $500m is expected to be sunk into the project at completion. The breakdown of the agreement showed that the state government would provide infrastructure such as land, road and light. The funding for the project, according to the governor, will be sourced from the private sector. Aliyu, however, said that the developer would have the right of occupancy of the project when completed.

Many investors are daily seeking to explore the abundant investment potentials in Niger State , especially the tourism potentials of Zuma Rock. Last Wednesday, one of the investors, Coastline Energy Services Limited led others to the Zuma Rock, Suleija to sign a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with the Niger State government to make the highly imposing rock a tourist haven.

AS part of efforts to diversify its economy as well as explore the abundant tourism potential in the state, the Niger State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of Zuma rock into a world class tourist destination. The contract, which has been awarded to a United States-based company, Texas Pacific Construction Ltd., is expected to take about N34 billion (about $300 million) in the first phase while an estimated sum of $500 million is expected to be spent on the project at completion. In the agreement, the state government would provide infrastructure such as land, road and light required for the project while the funding would be sourced from the private sector.

The emergency of Dr. Babangida Aliyu as governor of Niger State has been described as the best thing that has ever happened to the state since its creation in 1976. National deputy youth leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Garba Umaru, who stated this in an interview with our correspondent in Minna, said since its creation, Niger State had never had such a visionary leader like it has now.

Former civillian president, Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Shagari, and two former ministers, Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi and Alhaji Maitama Sule, yesterday called for an overhaul of the present political system and urgent national re-orientation. Shagari, who spoke as special guest at the one-day sysmposium jointly organised by National Orientation Agency and the Niger State government in Minna, on the Servant Leadership concept, as propagated by President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, said it has become very necessary for Nigerians to imbibe the philosophy of discipline and hardwork in our national life. He lamented the level of decadence in the society, especially corruption, poor infrastructure and lack of respect and regard for one another, adding that he believed strongly that the Yar'Adua administration can achieve success in the implementation of the seven-point economic agenda, if it is pursued with great commitment and focus.

Over twenty business communities have been invited to participate in breakfast business roundtable on the “Niger State Carnival” tag “Niger Carnival May 24 – 25, 2008. This was stated by the commissioner of commerce, industries, tourism and co-operative, Honourable Umar Nasko, (Yariman Nasko), who was represented, by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Engineer Musa Hassan, at a press briefing in t he ministry. He said the carnival was organized by the public – private partnership with the state government with the sole aim of promoting and creating awareness on the state local arts, mineral resources and economic potentials of the whole State.

Niger State government has awarded contracts worth over N790 million for the re- construction of two roads in the state. The state commissioner for information and communication, Alhaji Ahmed Adamu Kagara disclosed this in Minna at the weekend while addressing journalists on the outcome of the state executive council meeting.

Texas Pacific Construction Limited, a US company will be committing about N3 billion in the first phase of tourism infrastructural development projects in Niger State. The initial investment would be used for the development of facilities such as a water park, cable car connecting Zuma Rock to other two rocks within the earmarked site, a 200-room hotel, an amphi-theatre and a solar energy plant that would power the facilities. Disclosing this at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Niger State Government and the company, Babangida Aliyu, the state governor said the company’s initial investment was part of its commitment towards the realisation and implementation of the state’s tourism master plan expected to gulp over N150 billion. Aliyu noted that the project which has 30-month duration, was private sector driven with no direct state investment apart from land and infrastructure as its equity

The contractors handling the conversion of Zuma Rock into a tourist haven by equipping it with world-class facilities have disclosed that the sum of $1 billion has been set aside for the commencement of the first phase of the construction work. Towards this, the company has solicited the support of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) towards making the project a befitting tourist attraction in the world. The managing director of the company, Texas Pacific limited, a subsidiary of Coastline Group, Mr. Tom Patterson, made this known when a visiting delegation of the company paid a working visit to the corporation to solicit support and cooperation towards making the project a befitting tourist haven. He disclosed that the company is set to build a resource centre on the rock which will cost over $1 billion with the aim of constructing classical restaurants, retreat and business suites on the rock. The managing director, who further said the rock has been zoomed with a satellite, revealed that this has enabled them to understand fully all that is required and also enabled them know the problems involved. He however said the dream of turning the rock into an attraction for tourists from all over the world to visit is very possible and towards achieving this, the company is going to construct a Disney kind of amusement park, water park, amphi theatre and an African village. And all these will have the diverse Nigerian cultures showcased in them.

The Federal Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the South Korean Government through its agency, the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), for the establishment of a rice-processing complex in Bida, Niger State. The MoU is coming as the Federal Government has also announced some policies, which it said will “re-engineer” the agriculture sector and ensure food security in the country

he Niger State government is to spend the sum of N5.8 million in the rehabilitation of its existing irrigation schemes across the state. This was disclosed by the state commissioner for agriculture and animal health, Alhaji Yusuf Muhammad Gunu, yesterday in minna, while declaring open a two-week training workshop on intensive vegetable production, at the Maisube farms.

Niger State government has released about N2.3 billion to the 25 local government areas in the state to enable them embark on development projects. The state commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Abdul Bawa, disclosed this in Minna on Monday in an interview, shortly after the inauguration of the committee on project monitoring at the local government level. Bawa explained that after the deduction of salaries and other statutory obligations, the local government areas would be left with about N2 billion for project execution. He said funds would be disbursed promptly to the local governments to fast-track development at the grassroots. The commissioner disclosed that the N500,000 monthly allocation for ward development, was only disbursed once because only seven local government areas were able to make judicious use of the fund. Speaking earlier at the inauguration of the local government project monitoring committee, Bawa explained that the decision was informed by the desire of the present administration in the state to transform the rural areas into a model for other states to emulate.