By Longtong Ibrahim Kaduna (Nigeria) – Chairman of the Beach Volleyball Committee of the Nigerian Volleyball Federation, Musa Nimrod has appealed to Northern Nigerian governors to support and bring in the Almajiris into sport activities, saying, it is one of the major tools that can be used to build them up.
Nimrod made the appeal at the closing ceremony of the maiden edition of the North-west zone Under-19 volleyball championship in Kaduna.
He said, when those Almajiri children are picked from the highways into sports, there will be development.
He cited example of 10 players from Kaduna that will represent Nigeria at the junior championship of hockey, saying some of them were picked from the Almajiri level – “Presently, the boys are happy, because they are no more on the street and are going to represent Nigeria.
“We want to bring them into tennis, volley ball, and handball in Kaduna. Let’s do it, not only in the northwest zone, but in the country as a whole,” he posited.
He said, the federation of volleyball believes in grass roots sports development, because the senior players are aging and there was need to hunt for young talents that can take over from them.
“I want to also assure you that the indoor volleyball will be rejuvenated and then, we will bring back the olden days of volleyball where it competes with football like what it use to be in the 70s and 80s,” he noted.
In his remarks, Northwest Zonal coordinator, Federal Ministry of youths, Bode Durotoye, said the competition has brought out new players that can be used for the future of volleyball in the country.
“We are trying to develop them early so that they can be good players and represent Nigeria in future; the future of the northwest zone is very bright and we hope to develop ourselves very well.” He said.
Twelve teams from the Zone participated in the competition; Seven (7) male and five female teams including Nigeria Army Academy team (Male and Female), Zaria.
Kaduna State emerged winner in the male category and Sokoto state in the female category.
Mr. Nasir Ahmed El-rufa’i begged for our four years mandate to return Kaduna to its great days. He hemmed a sexy motto “LETS MAKE KADUNA GREAT AGAIN. A confluence of a roof-hitting propaganda, fate, and mandate fatigue to PDP successfully peddled their political ship to the dock on 11th April 2015.
From 29th May 2015 to day, far reaching actions have been taken to accelerate Kaduna to its former greatness. The streets were mopped up off hawkers, almajiris, and beggars. No gainsaying that great cities can’t be loitered with such and allied nuisances.
Pressing the process further, experts were mobilized from other states to provide super technocratic expertise in running the agenda designed to lift Kaduna to its former greatness. Along with this, reforms were introduced to slim the large bureaucracy through a multiple layered screening processes.
Furthermore, a religious censorship bill was sent to Kaduna State House of Assembly (KSHA) to stop religious leaders from noise pollution and preaching of libration theology. Evangelists aspiring to stage crusades in the state must secure preaching permits – which has a price attached to it. Another clever way of enlarging the revenue base of the state.
His best agenda in making Kaduna Great came in education sector – especially the first tier of education (Primary Education). He introduced a school feeding programme that is gulping 1.8b a month. The food is to boost enrollment and nutritional needs of the pupils.
BOOM! BOOM!! BOOM!!!
Since turning around education can’t go without a conducive learning environment – especially infrastructure, the action governor of Kaduna State Mr. El-rufa’i constructed 34 toilets in a school of 3 blocks of classrooms. Wise man, right? This must be Harvard’s style of improving education.
However, there is synergy between the food he offers and the number of toilets per pupils. Mr. El-rufa’i has a world record of having more toilets than classrooms in a school. This has already created a place for itself in the Guinness Book of Records. This is the zenith of wisdom of a first class material and a graduate of Kennedy school of government.
KADUNA IS GETTING GREAT AGAIN INDEED. What a hell is happening with guys promising to make their states or countries great again? Remember somebody in USA trying to make America great again? El-Rufa’i ala Trump!
Iliya Kure Kaduna (Nigeria) — Thousands of Nigériens residing in Nigeria on sunday voted in second round of their country’s presidential election in various cities of Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and Lagos among others.
The general election was conducted on 21st of February. A total of 15 candidates contested for the presidency with incumbent President Mahamadou Issoufou running for a second term.
AFRICA PRIME NEWS reporter in Kaduna, northwest nigeria, who visited Tudun Wada LEA primary school, the poling station in Kaduna, says voters from all the 23 local government areas of the state and neighbouring states trooped-in as early as 6am to cast their votes.
Our reporter observed that the election was peaceful and that there were no complaints, as needed electoral materials were provided on time to make every eligible voter cast their vote according to the rules and regulation guiding the conduct of the election.
A voter, Jibril Garba, who expressed satisfaction with the arrangement, saying he voted without a hitch, thanking Nigerian government for the security provided, “we casted our vote in Nigeria as if we are in our country Niger Republic, this is due to the friendly relationship between the two countries.”
He told AFRICA PRIME NEWS “I spoke with other citizens in Lagos and Kano who confirmed to me that the elections were also peaceful in their places.
“You know this is the second round of the presidential election to arrive at a winner, by now, whoever God wants have already polled the required votes.”
Secretary General, Niger Republic Community in Nigeria, Sidilghabit Ahmed Tarwaq, in an interview said, “we are grateful with the large number of voters that came out to vote today. We have over 670 registered voters in Kaduna that were expected to come and cast their vote”
Sidilgabit said, there are 11,000 registered voters across Nigeria and are all expected to cast their vote today, “this is the first of its kind in the history of our great country, and for the first time thousands of Niger Republic citizens are voting in another country.”
Sidilgabit expressed satisfaction with the support received from Nigerian security who assisted to ensure a peaceful election process.
In Kano, Chairman of the Niger Republic Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) Kano Zone, Iliyasu Sumaila, said 745 registered eligible voters were expected to vote in Kano in the run-off election.
“The election has commenced by 8am and is expected to end by 7pm. The Commission had taken all the necessary measures to ensure a hitch-free election in the across the country”.
Nigeria says journalists working in the country should have nothing to fear from the Buhari government while discharging their duties.
Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said this on Sunday in a panel discussion at the 2016 Annual Congress of the International Press Institute (IPI) in Doha, Qatar.
”Under this dispensation, we have never even contemplated stifling the freedom of the media not to talk of hounding them to death,”
”Not a single journalist is in detention in Nigeria today. The government of the day is not a threat to the media, and it is not about to stifle press freedom or deny anyone his or her constitutionally guaranteed rights,” he said at the session, devoted to a debate on the implementation of the document on the ”International Declaration On The Protection of Journalists”’, which was presented at the Congress.
Mohammed said having identified lack of communication and mutual suspicion as part of the reasons for regular frictions between the government and the media in Nigeria, he had taken measures to enhance communication and also reduce suspicion between the two.
”These (measures) include strengthening the rapport between the government and the media, which I have done by meeting with the major stakeholders in the media industry, and setting up a committee between the media and the security/intelligence agencies to deepen communication and understanding,” he said.
The Minister also said while the government has ensured the protection of the premises of vulnerable media establishments when required to do so, that does not affect the independence of such organisations.
On the role of governments which regularly target journalists for their work, he said ”the state which ought to protect life should not be the one to snuff it out.”
Mohammed stressed the need for capacity building for media practitioners as a way of enhancing the performance of their duties, saying the local chapters of the IPI and other media organizations have a role to play in this regard.
Kaduna (Nigeria) — A Kaduna High Court presided by Justice Hannatu A.L. Balogun has granted residents of Gbagyi Villa in Kaduna metropolis, northwest Nigeria, an order of injunction, restraining Governor Nasir El-Rufai of the State, and four others from interfering with the possession, use and occupation of the properties in issue, and from carrying out any demolition of the properties of the community pending determination of notice.
The Injunction order sought to stop “the State Government, the Attorney General of the state, Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA), respectively as respondents, either by themselves or through their employees, staff, servants, agents, proxies or whosoever, from demolishing or destroying the applicants’ buildings.”
In the suit no: KDH/KAD/218/2016 dated 17/3/16 and filed by Messrs J.A.Achimugu and 1.Joshua J. Nyam, 2.Mr Chriastian Ojole,3.Alex Abedo (Suing for themselves and on behalf of All the property Owners at Gbagyi Villa Village, Kaduna, Kaduna State (PLAINTIFFS/APPLICANT). The court affirmed that it found merit in the said Exparte Motion and accordingly granted the relief sought.
Consequently, an Interim Order of Injunction was granted restraining the respondent in terms of the relief sought pending the determination of the Motion on Notice made together and to be served on the Respondents.
Kaduna State Urban and Property Development Agency (KAPSUDA), had earlier marked houses in the area for demolition within 21 days, for what it calls, not obtaining permit from the agency before erecting such structures.
In a notice to the community it says “the agency would… demolish the illegal structure at your expense in accordance with section 48(2) of the aforementioned laws.” the letter states.
El-Rufai is known with the policy of demolition of houses; he demolished hundreds of houses and structures in Abuja while a Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. He also demolished houses last year in Zaria and Kaduna shortly he became Governor of the State.
As FCT Minister, he disregarded many court orders restraining him from demolition of houses – he had gone free with that. As a governor with immunity no one is sure he will obey the court order.
Meanwhile, residents of the Gbagyi Villa Thursday protested the KASUPDA decision to demolish over 3000 houses in the area. The residents and owners of the houses came out with their wives and children chanting songs with placards reading, “El-Rufai, is this the change you promised us?, “Don’t make us destitute in our father’s land, stop demolition, “El-Rufai, don’t turn Gbagyi Villa to war zone” “El-Rufai we want infrastructures not demolition” among several others.
Addressing journalists, Chairman of the Gbagyi community, Chris Obodumu, said contrary to KASUPDA’s claim, houses in the area were built after obtaining valid permit.
He noted that Gbagyi Villa has more than 3000 fully developed modern housing units, 40 churches and about 3500 inhabitants, adding that the area is a mini Nigeria where all ethnic and religious groups are represented.
He said, as law abiding, peace – seeking and responsible citizens, the affected residents are ready to dialogue with the State Governor, “The residents of Gbagyi Villa are calling on his excellency, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to please come and talk to us.
“We are calling on the governor to visit our community, come and inspect the physical facts on the ground.
“By the time you visit us, we believe that you will agree with us that Gbagyi Villa deserves protection, not destruction.
“We are also appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to impress it on the government of Kaduna State the need for a change of heart.
“We call on all advocates of justice, peace, fairness and human rights to join us in our quest for the preservation of our community.
“The peace loving people of Gbagyi Villa community are calling on the El-Rufai government to have recourse and take into cognisance the resolve of the white paper committee of the Yakowa’s administration and also the order given by the former Governor Yero to demolish only that portion of land inside the polytechnic fence encroached upon by some unknown persons. This order excludes the demolition of gbagyi villa” Obodumu said.
Prior to the protest, spokesman of the Governor, Samuel Aruwan went on State radio appealing to Kaduna people not to join the protest to cause security breach in the State.
Aruwan said, government was only recovering land illegally acquired by people in the affected area, noting that the exercise was not targetted at anyone.
Lai Mohammed, Nigeria's Minister of Information and Culture
Nigeria and the Doha-based international broadcaster Al Jazeera are to collaborate in the area of capacity building for journalists in the government-owned media organizations, especially the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
This followed a request made by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to Al Jazeera to collaborate with the Ministry of Information and Culture in its efforts to restructure the NTA and other publicly-funded media establishments to enhance their performance.
He said the collaboration could be in the areas of capacity building as well as exchange of programmes and personnel.
”Our plan is to reposition the public media organizations to make them effective and competitive, irrespective of which government is in power,” Mohammed said during a meeting with the Acting Director General of Al Jazeera, Dr. Mostafa Souag, in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday.
”For a long time, government media organizations have lost their independence and credibility. I want to restore the glory and credibility of the publicly-owned media organizations,” he said.
The Minister also called for a ‘special relationship’ between Al Jazeera and the Nigerian Government in the coverage of the key policy areas of this Administration – the fight against corruption and terrorism as well as the efforts to revamp the economy.
He assured Al Jazeera that the present Administration in Nigeria ”is an extremely open government” and that the organization would not have any problem doing its work in the country.
Responding, the Acting Director General of Al Jazeera hailed Nigeria for providing a conducive environment for the media to carry out its duties.
”Despite a lot of conflict and tension, you have managed to create a conducive environment for the media. This is very important for us in the media and we hope to see more freedom and more protection for the media,” he said.
Dr. Souag said Al Jazeera is willing to cooperate with the ministry in the area of training, adding: ”Our training centre is one of the most professional in every aspect of the media, We are more than happy to work with you.”
The Minister is in Qatar to attend the 2016 Annual Congress of the International Press institute (IPI), which is due to open later on Saturday.
Nigerian Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) has strongly condemned the recent inclusion of Nigeria in the Saudi Arabia-led coalition against terrorism. The action according to them was a clear negation of the rights of Nigerians, as well as a lack of regard for the views of non-Muslim Nigerians who took part in bringing the new administration into power. NCEF Chairman, Solomon Asemota while addressing newsmen in Abuja, said, “Including Nigeria in the Saudi Arabia Military coalition of Muslims/Arab nations would appear that the foreign policy thrust of the current administration is to make Nigeria a satellite state of Saudi Arabia.” He also said, the inclusion of Nigeria in the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), as well as its recent inclusion in the Saudi-led coalition was an attempt by Muslim leaders to dominate the country, with the teachings of Islam. “Any nation in which Islamists believe that they are sufficiently strong to exercise influence rarely experiences peace. “Mr. President should kindly remember that over 50 per cent non-Muslims of Nigeria did not vote for the nation to become Sharia compliant. “While Islam is a religion; Islamism, otherwise called political Islam, is a set of ideologies that hold that Islam is not a religion, but a political system meant to dominate the environment in which it is practised,” NCEF noted. The group said some policies and decisions of the Buhari government has given Nigerians cause for concern. While positing that the Buhari’s policies and decision has given Nigerians cause for concern, The group also stated that, “N900 billion was released as bailout to states without appropriation. International commitments are being made without recourse to the National Assembly. “Attempt to fund deficit in the 2016 budget through issuance of Sukkuk loan which is a Sharia compliant loan”. The NCEF expressed dismay at what it described as the Federal Government’s inaction to the carnage and destruction perpetrated by the Fulani Herdsmen. “According to media reports over 300 Nigerians were allegedly massacred by the Fulani Herdsmen. Till today, there has been no prosecution of any of them,” it stated. The NCEF also decried the decision of government to establish grazing reserves across the nation, saying the proposal is a deceptive attempt to appropriate the land of indigenous ethnic groups for Fulani Herdsmen to spread terror across the nation. It called on the government to convene a Council of State meeting to enable past presidents of Nigeria assess the developments in the country, and make suggestions that will lead to the creation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission – a commission which should follow an enactment of law, among other things, study the problem of terror in Nigeria and ensure the prosecution of culprits.
The Christian body also frowned at decision of Kaduna State government to enact a law banning religious preaching, which contravenes section 38(1) of Nigeria’s 1999 constitution.
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Ahead of the Easter Celebration, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State in North-west Nigeria has advised residents of the state to be at alert and remain security conscious.
A statement by his Spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, noted that, in the light of the successes the Nigerian military is recording in the North-East, terrorists may be contemplating attacks on soft targets in murderous desperation, hence, residents are advised to remain vigilant and comply with security procedures as they go about their lawful businesses.
The state government also tasked residents to report any suspicious persons/activities around them to the security agencies; giving the state’s security hotlines as: 08081708671, 08064810676 and 08050366625.
“Churches and Mosques shall continue to maintain necessary security measures, especially on major days of worship and congregation, particularly on Sundays and Fridays.
“The authorities responsible for places of mass gatherings such as markets, shopping malls and parks are also directed to step up security, while visitors to such places should be vigilantly careful and cooperate with the security procedures,” the statement points out.
