Governorship Election: Nigerian Police Restrict Movements In Bayelsa And Kogi States

By

-

04/12/2015

By Longtong Ibrahim
Kaduna (Nigeria) — Inspector General (IG) of Nigeria Police, Solomon Arase has ordered the restriction of movement against Saturday, day of the governorship election in Bayelsa state and supplementary election in Kogi.

A statement by Police spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole noted that the restriction is part of strategies designed to prevent electoral fraud and violence, thus ensuring a hitch-free governorship elections.

It stated that, the restriction of movements within the boundaries of Bayelsa would take effect from 6.00am to 6.00pm, while that of Kogi State is intra-city vehicular movement in areas where the supplementary election will be conducted from 6.00am to 6.00pm.

“However, persons on essential duties such as Ambulance service providers, INEC officials’ on-duty, security men, accredited election monitors/observers, accredited journalists, etc are not affected by this order.”

The statement further implored the general public for an understanding and cooperation towards the enforcement of the order: “the Force notes that the order is informed by the need to forestall plans by criminal elements to undermine the electoral process as gathered through intelligence reports.”

Arase however, called on travellers who would ply the affected routes to take alternative routes to their destinations within the hours of restriction, as security officers on duty at strategic points will subject motorists and other travellers plying the affected routes to civil and meticulous security search.

He also assured the electorates of a secure and enabling environment to exercise their franchise, while warning all security officers to refrain from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election, as only security personnel specially assigned for election duties must be seen within and around the election designated places.

Nigerian Governors Deny Plans Of Salary Cut

By

Africaprimenews

-

04/12/2015

0

Abuja (Nigeria) — Governor Abdul’aziz Yari of Zamfara State, who is also Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) Thursday denied plans by state governors to stop payment of N18,000 minimum wage to civil servants.

The governors had last month indicated interest to cut down salaries of workers, or reduce staff strength due to revenue shortfall, but the workers union have vowed a total shutdown of government, if the governors go ahead with their plans.

He told journalists, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja that the governors were only concerned with the poor state of the economy and how they could seek alternative ways to cushion the effects of the dwindling oil revenues, arising from low price of crude at the international market.

“All through in the decision we never said that we are going to stop the payment of N18,000 minimum wage but we are looking at the situation in the country and in the global economy.”

“What we said is that when the National Assembly enacted the law of paying N18,000 minimum wage, then oil was about $118 per barrel and today where we are, oil is $41 per barrel.”

“Let me make it very clear to Nigerians, Governor’s Forum is not the enemy of labour in any way.”

He said the governors have only raised the concern that if the states continue with the current situation, they would in the near future find it difficult to meet up with their financial obligations.

“So, if it continues like that, definitely we will find it difficult to continue. We have to sit down with the labour and see how we can review, either continue or downsizing or what we are going to do.”

“We want to find a solution because we have to be realistic that we have so many things to touch.

“There is infrastructure deficit, there is need for security, there are other things like social lives of our people and nation as a state,” he added.

Yari lamented that the receipt from federation account alone was not enough to meet numerous demands, saying some people received N400 million, N500 million, others received N55 million, two digits.

“We are telling the public that we are planning to sit down with the President and his team and the state governors as a team and the experts to come out with the way forward and how we are going to handle the poor state of the economy in the country.

“Therefore we are saying that we should tighten our belts. Something definitely, we should sit down and come out of it to find a way we are going to do it realistically or otherwise.”

He tasked voters in Bayelsa and Kogi states to come out en mass and vote, adding that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.

“people should turn out en masse and vote to do their own constitutional or legitimate rights to choose their leadership.

“As the president is saying that he wants to leave the legacy of a good election because he was one of the beneficiaries of a good election.

So, it is no longer going to be business as usual where the security will be the people to do the election, but rather to safeguard the interest of the public. ” Yari said.

Nigeria: NSCDC Arrests Eight Filling Station Managers, Two Tankers Over Fuel Diversion

By

Africaprimenews

-

03/12/2015

0

By Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – Nigeria Security & Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Kaduna State Command has arrested eight filling stations Managers, and also sized two tankers for illegal diversion of petroleum product in the state metropolis.

NSCDC State Commandant, Modu Bunu made this known while briefing journalists on the operational activities of the Command in Kaduna, North-west Nigeria.

He said the managers arrested were believed to be among saboteurs who are frustrating government’s efforts by selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) above approved pump price of N87 per liter; adding that, the command in collaboration with Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) are embarking on monitoring of distribution exercise of petroleum installations in various distribution outlets, so as to address the current fuel scarcity among other challenges in the petroleum sector.

“In view of the biting fuel scarcity leading to long queues across the Nation and the urgent need to end it, the Kaduna Command of NSCDC has stepped out measures to check-mate petroleum dealers who indulge in selling over the approved pump price to black-marketers beyond official hours which is from 0600hrs to 2000hrs,” he noted.

Bunu pointed out that, the suspects (managers of filling stations) have been released on bail after signing an undertaking, but further investigation would be carried out on the issue.

On the seized tankers with Registration Numbers: ZAR 84 XR and ZAR 85 XR, containing suspected fuel, the Commandant said investigation has confirmed that the tankers belonged to an oil magnate in Warri, Delta State – meant to be taken to Kano, but wondered why it was being diverted to another company (name withheld) in Kaduna metropolis before it was intercepted by NSCDC surveillance team.

He also noted that, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has requested the NSCDC to support it in enforcing that sales of petroleum product is restricted from 6.00am to 8.00pm pending an improvement in the situation which has caused untold hardship on Nigerians.

Harmattan: Nigerian Pastor Donate Blankets, Head Warmers To IDPs

By

Africaprimenews

-

03/12/2015

0

By Iliya Kure

Kaduna (Nigeria) — A Nigerian Cleric, Pastor Yohanna Buru has distributed over 100 cold protective items comprising of blankets, socks, head warmers, hand Gloves and sweaters to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). This is to help cover themselves against the harmattan cold gradually setting in.

Pastor Buru who distributed the items in Badarawa, Hayin Keke and Barakallahu communities of Kaduna, called for more support to those in the IDPs saying “during our visit to some of the refugees at their various places, we discovered that, some women have delivered babies, but lack food to eat.”

He stressed the need for Nigerians to be their brothers’ keepers, especially to the homeless, who spend the night in the open, with nothing to cover themselves from the current harsh weather.

Pastor Buru also expressed worry that harmattan comes with associated respiratory diseases, saying, already “some of their children are faced with many health challenges.”

Some of the beneficiaries of the gesture expressed appreciation and thanked Pastor Buru for the donation.

Hajiya Mariya Mohammad, who is one of the women beneficiaries, also called for more assistance, “as most of us hardly eat food twice a day.”

Jega, Oloyede, 12 Others For Wole Soyinka Awards

By

Africaprimenews

-

03/12/2015

0

By Iliya Kure

Kaduna (Nigeria) — Immediate past Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, who played an outstanding role in the success of the 2015 elections, and a veteran broadcaster, Bimbo Oloyede, will receive Anti-Corruption Defender Award, and Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence, respectively.

The Award would be presented to them on Wednesday in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria by Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, alongside 12 other recipients of its 10th annual Award for Investigative Reporting.

In a statement, Coordinator of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, Motunrayo Alaka said, Jega appreciated his choice for the award saying, “Such an honour from a Centre named after the great and revered Wole Soyinka is of considerable significance.”

The statement further said, on her part, Oloyede, a veteran broadcaster wrote, “From my interaction with the Centre, it is clear that a lot of good work is being done to uplift our craft…nothing would give me more pleasure than to accept the Centre’s kind recognition and honour.”

The Centre will also host a public viewing of a documentary, entitled ‘Report Women: The Untold Stories of Girls and Women in Nigeria’ on Thursday 10 December, 2015 by 12:30pm at the Silver Bird Galleria in the Ikeja Mall, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. This would be in commemoration of the 2015 human rights day, as well as campaign to end every form of violence against girls and women.

Professor Wole Soyinka is expected to deliver this year’s keynote address.

The programme which is free and open to the public, is supported by Chevron and the Netherlands Embassy.

Nigeria: A Northern State Appropriates N171.7 Billion In 2016 Budget

By

Africaprimenews

-

02/12/2015

0

By Mohammad Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) — Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, northwest Nigeria, Monday proposed a budget of N171.7 Billion to the State House of Assembly, with N109.3b going to capital expenditure, while N62.4bn to recurrent expenditure.

“Budget of Sacrifice, Restoration and Change,” the Governor said “aimed at making the state great again.”

The breakdown shows that Economic Sector, Agriculture & Forestry have N5,577,475,527.60, Commerce, Industry And Tourism Got
N1,336,000,000.00, while Works, Housing And Transport, have
N31,352,898,071.95.

Others include Education With 27,548,679,874.23 , Health
6,661,683,063.73 and Social Development got 461,551,200.00 .

“The budget proposals restore the minimum of 60:40 ratio in favour of capital expenditure. This is in keeping with our agenda to expand access to Education, Healthcare, Jobs and Security.

“Our investments in infrastructure and interventions in school feeding, planting of economic trees, and waste collection, are expected to create 200,000 direct and indirect jobs amongst youths, women and other vulnerable groups.

“Following the town hall meeting and other public consultations, we have revised upwards the capital estimates to accommodate projects like the reconstruction of the collapsed dam in Birnin-Gwari, clearance of inherited arrears on Zaria Water project and construction of access roads that will bring the Kagoro Hills tourism project closer to realisation.

“the 2016 revenue and expenditure estimates add up to N171.7 billion, comprising N109.3bn (64%) capital and N62.4 (36%) recurrent components. Our fiscal assumptions are based on a conservative benchmark crude oil price, at about US $39.50 per barrel.

“Any excess revenues arising from oil price appreciation will be saved and accounted fully to this Honourable House for supplementary appropriation if needed, as required by the Constitution before spending.

“With your accelerated passage of our fiscal responsibility, land administration and tax reform bills into law this year, we intend in 2016 to grow internally generated revenue such that it attains parity with federal statutory allocations. Our intention is to be paying all public service salaries from IGR by the end of 2016.”

El-rufai also said his administration will construct a 90 kilometres ring road that will link eastern end western sectors of the state metropolis and decongest the township roads.

The Governor said the road project which is intended to pass behind Rigasa to Millennium City is going to be a Public, Private Partnership, on which discussion had reached advanced stage.

El-Rufai equally disclosed that, a total of N30 million has been set aside in the proposed budget for the establishment of Kaduna Sports Academy along Kaduna-Abuja Road.

“Kaduna Ring Road is a 90km toll road that will link the Eastern and Western sectors of Kaduna from behind Rigasa and across River Kaduna beyond Millennium City.

“The project is intended to be a PPP and discussions have advanced with domestic and international firms to begin construction in 2016. The amount in the budget is for feasibility studies and engineering designs plus equity contribution for the project’s take-off.

“In order to provide avenues to engage our youths and develop talent in sports, we plan to establish a Sports Academy in the State. Already, the site for the Academy has been identified along Kaduna-Abuja Road. A provision of N30,000,000 has been made in the 2016 budget for planning and preliminary design of the Academy;

“On water, with N11.4bn for Zaria Water project arrears and current payments, waterworks rehabilitation projects in Ikara, Kafanchan, Kagoro, Kaduna, Kwoi, Manchok, Saminaka, the old Zaria plant and the ABU Samaru waterworks.

Nigerian Police Warn Group Against Threat To Public Peace

By

Africaprimenews

-

02/12/2015

0

By Longtong Ibrahim

Kaduna (Nigeria) – Inspector General (IG) of Nigeria Police, Solomon Arase has warned activists of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in the South-eastern part of Nigeria to desist from acts that threaten National security and public peace or face the wrath of the law.

A Statement by the Force spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole, explained that the IG gave the warning following observations by the Police leadership of the increasing resort to acts of brigandage by the groups; describing them as “sets of misguided individuals” hiding under the group to threaten national security and public peace.

It added that, “The latest manifestation of this threat is the attempt to blockade the Onitsha end of Niger Bridge on 1^st December, 2015, an action that caused major hardship to innocent and law abiding motorists, and citizens.

The act also occasioned serious dislocation of business activities.

“The increasing resort to acts of brigandage of this nature is pointing to a clear attempt by the brains behind these protests to test the will of security agencies to restore order and guarantee internal cohesion.”

It further noted that, the Nigeria Police would continue to uphold its statutory mandate of restoring and maintaining law, public order, and protection of lives and property; adding that, it shall be fully executed in the overriding interests of the nation and vast majority of citizens and residents of the South Eastern part of the country.

The Inspector-General of Police has also directed the mobilization and deployment of Police Mobile Force (PMF) across the country to reinforce security in the State Commands that MASSOB and IPOB are currently attempting to utilize as launching pad for their sinister intentions.

“The Assistant Inspectors – General of Police Zone 5, (Benin); Zone 6, (Calabar) and Zone 9 (Umuahia) as well as all Commissioners of Police in the affected States in the South East and neighboring States have also been directed to henceforth maximally exercise their statutory Mandate in relation to prevention and disruption of any gathering that threatens public order and national cohesion.

Any person or group of persons so arrested in furtherance to the enforcement of this order will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” it pointed out.

It also called on parents to call their wards to order as the patience of the Force is being stretched to the limit – affirming that, no individual or group interest can override the interest of the nation.

Start-ups: Kaduna Sets Up Promotion Agency, Partners BOI

By

Africaprimenews

-

30/11/2015

0

Iliya Kure
Kaduna (Nigeria) — Kaduna State Government has announced an initiative to drive a job creation agenda and establish itself as a business-friendly state. The state is to establish an investment promotion agency and begin a programme to support start-ups.

A statement by Spokesman of the State Governor, Samuel Aruwan said initiative is among decisions taken at the weekly meeting of the Kaduna State Executive Council.

Aruwan disclosed that the Executive Council has approved a bill to set up the Kaduna State Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA).

“The Council noted that the APC national manifesto commits the government to creating an enabling environment for job creation with the private sector being supported to be the major employers of labour.

“The Council also acknowledged that the Restoration Programme of the Kaduna State APC specifically recommended that an investment promotion agency be created to promote and facilitate investments, as well as a serving as a one-stop shop to assist businesses to obtain all the approvals and permits they require.

“The Council therefore mandated KADIPA to actively seek and create opportunities for increased private sector investments, and serve as a catalyst and originator for viable ideas and projects. Projects originated by KADIPA will be implemented by the relevant ministry or agency.

“To encourage self-employment through entrepreneurship and creativity, the state is to commence implementation of the Kaduna Start-up and Entrepreneurship Programme (KADSTEP). Council welcomed KADSTEP as a practical approach to developing entrepreneurs through capacity building and access to funding to generate jobs. The programme is designed to help in the establishment or expansion of 3,500 to 4,000 businesses across the state, which in turn should employ a minimum of 20,000 youths.

“KADSTEP is a partnership between the Kaduna State Government, the Bank of Industry and the Kaduna Business School (KBS). KBS will train potential entrepreneurs, and help them to develop bankable business plans which the BOI will fund to a maximum of N3m per business using the N1 billion the bank and the government have jointly set aside to support micro and small businesses in the state.” The statement reads.

Africa Prime News

Africa Prime News

Africa Prime News

Africa Prime News

Currency Exchange Rates

Africa Prime News

About us

Company

The latest

Subscribe