Author: Iliya Rita

Shiroro hydro-power station distributes food items to IDPs

Food
By Rita Iliya
Minna June 12, 2024 (NAN) The North-South Power Foundation (NSPF), has distributed food items to Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) in Munya and Shiroro Local Government Areas of Niger.

Mr Hassan Abdullahi, Consultant on Corporate Social Responsibility with NSP, presented the food items to the IDPs on behalf of the company.

The presentation of the items for IDPs in Sarkin-pawa, Chibani and Dangunu was successfully conducted at Dandaudu-Mararaba primary school.

Also, the presentation of the items at Gwada, Kuta and Zumba was done at central primary school.

Abdullahi said the gesture was part of NSP’s corporate social responsibility to enable the people displaced by insecurity from  its host communities to celebrate the upcoming Sallah with relative ease.

He listed the items to include; 200 bags of 25kg rice, 200 bags of 25kg beans, 10 bags of 50kg garri and 80 cartons of Kings vegetable oil.

Others were 80 cartons of King’s red oil, 20 cartons of maggi cubes, 20 cartons of tomato sachet,10 bags of 50kg dangote salt and 5 bags of 50kg dangote sugar.

He called for collective efforts from government at all levels in addressing the plight of the IDPs, lamenting that the sanitary situation in the camps was unhealthy.

Also, Mr Samson Esumeh, Public Relations Officer of NSP, said the food items were emergency intervention due to increased population in IDPs camps recently.

He said NSP had sunk 36 boreholes, rehabilitated schools, constructed primary health centres as well as sponsored the surgery for more than 100 people from the host communities from January to date.

Malam Yusuf Bala, the Coordinator in Kuta IDP camp, who received the items on behalf of the IDPs, said women and children were most affected and the situation in the camp was sympathetic.

He commended NSP for its continuous support and called on government at all levels to intensify efforts to assist the victims of banditry especially with food, shelter and medical care.

Malam Zakari Umaru, Director, Administration in Shiroro, thanked NSP for the gesture, saying the council was challenged with inadequate funds to handle the situation alone.

Ibrahim Rabiu, one of the victims from Bassa, alleged that the terrorist slaughtered more than 30 people on Thursday in four communities, burnt houses and food stuff.

“They slaughtered only men both young and old and spared the women, while on Monday, four of our people that went back to get food for us were all slaughtered.

“All we want is for the government to provide security for us to go back home, we need to go and take care of our farm lands because we have already planted some crops,” he urged. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

Livestock
By Rita Iliya
Minna, June 11, 2024 (NAN) Niger Government says plans are underway to partner with the southwestern states on livestock production and supply to the states.

Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger said this when he received a team on assessment of Livestock Productivity and Resilience Project (L-PRES) implementation in Minna on Tuesday.

Bago, represented by Alh. Abubakar Usman, Secretary to Niger Government, said that the state plans to build an abattoir in Jebba and Mokwa as hub for livestock production for the western states.

He said that the southwestern states such as Lagos, Oyo, Ogun and Osun would be the market for the already prepared meats.

“Niger is taking its rightful place as a food producer for Nigeria and beyond using its arable land. We realised the need to use our assets to move ahead.

“We have embarked on gigantic agriculture projects because agriculture is the only way out, so we need World Bank support for that,” he said.

The governor commended the World Bank for the various intervention programmes in the state and pledged to provide necessary support to the team while on assessment tour.

Earlier, Malam Sanusi Abubakar, National Project Coordinator, L-PRES, said the team was in the state to access the level of implementation of the project and review the 2024 annual work plan.

He said that the L-PRES project commenced six years ago to strengthen the livelihood of people affected by farmer/herders conflict in some parts of the country.

In his remarks, Mr Mami Ija, Commissioner for Livestock in Niger, said the L-PRES project was aimed at improving livestock productivity.

He said it was also to enhance resilience and promote commercialisation of animal health nutrition.

Ija explained that the project seeks to contribute to poverty reduction, enhance food security and sustainable agriculture development in participating states.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that L-PRES is a six year project with development objective to improve livestock productivity, resilience and commercialisation of selected value chains.

It’s also aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to imminent crisis situations. (NAN)

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Edited by Chidi Opara / Isaac Ukpoju

Miners

By Rita Iliya

Minna, June 7, 2024 (NAN) Residents of Galadima-Kogo, have appealed to the Federal Government to deploy modern equipment for the rescue of miners trapped in a pit in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a mining site collapsed on Monday in Galadima- kogo village, Shiroro Council Area of Niger, killing one person and trapping several others.

Mr Wasiu Abiodun, spokesperson of the  Police Command in Niger, confirmed that 20 people were initially trapped in the mining pit but six had been rescued alive.

Some of the residents of  the area in separate interview with NAN on Friday expressed worry over the pace of the rescue operation.

Abubakar Sani, said that the pace of the rescue operation was slow because of the obsolete equipment being used.

“When we noticed that the equipment being used to dig the ground were not effective, we had to mobilise local miners to use their local tools to dig the ground.

“The pit is very deep, in fact it is as deep as three electricity poles and the area is rocky.

“The soil is soft due to rainfall, so in order to avert another disaster, the locals were asked to stop the rescue operation,” he said.

He called on the Federal Government to deploy specialised equipment to the mining site, saying that some of the trapped miners might still be alive.

Another resident, Samson Felix, said that government should always match words with actions by deploying experts and  specialised equipment to rescue the  trapped miners.

He disclosed that his friend is one of trapped miners, adding that consistent bandit attacks pushed most of them to engage in mining activities.

“Many of our people, out of fear, can no longer go to farm because bandits don’t allow us to farm anymore; they attack us daily on our farmlands.

“To sustain ourselves, some of our people decided to go into mining since the bandits are focused on farmers and not miners,”he said.

According to him, the use of excavator for rescue operation was not advisable as it may cause injuries to the trapped victims.

Contacted, Malam Habibu Wushishi, Director Media and Strategy, Niger Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, said the locals were asked to stop rescue operation to avert another disaster.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa / Isaac Ukpoju

Strike: Labour records 100% compliance in Niger

Strike

By Rita Iliya

Minna, June 3, 2024 (NAN) Mr. Ibrahim Gana, Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Niger, on Monday said the union recorded 100 per cent success compliance with the ongoing  strike over the minimum wage in the state.

He said this in an interview with newsmen shortly after monitoring the level of compliance in Minna, the state capital.

Gana said that unlike in the past, the officials of the organised labour did not struggle with workers in their offices this time around.

“This is a fantastic strike we have ever had, the level of compliance is 100 per cent, we didn’t struggle with people in their offices this time around.

“Just a circular that workers should comply with national directive of both NLC and TUC and virtually everywhere we have gone we have 100 per cent compliance.

He said that the level of compliance indicates that workers were beginning to listen to the labour leaders and also understanding the yearnings of the union in the country.

The chairman said both Federal and state organisations observed total compliance, adding that the strike would continue until the union received further directives from its national body.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that parts of organisations shut down by NLC included the Minna General Hospital, Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, Federal Inland Revenue and the state High Court.

Other places visited by the union officials were the Niger state House of Assembly, the state Secretariat, office of the Secretary to the Niger Government and office of the Deputy Governor.

NAN recalls that NLC had on June 1, announced nationwide strike commencing on June 3, following the tripartite committee’s failure to reach an agreement on a new minimum wage for workers.

In addition, unions are protesting against recent hikes in electricity tariffs, which they said had placed an undue burden on workers and consumers across the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Joseph Edeh

IBB lauds NIPR management for upholding mission, vision of Institute

Commendation

By Rita Iliya

Minna, June 2, 2024 (NAN) Former Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, has commended the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) for upholding the mission and vision of establishing the Institute by his defunct administration.

Babangida stated this when he received the members of NIPR led by its National President, Dr Ike Neliaku, on a courtesy in his residence  in Minna on Saturday.

The visit was part of the activities lined up to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the institute.

Babangida explained that NIPR was the only institute that had brought its wisdom to bear in the affairs of the nation.

“I have always believed that we have to write a new narrative for this great country, I want to commend NIPR for trying to provide a better society for all.

“The institute’s strength has gone high, as time goes by, our society will be a place that everybody will be proud to belong,” he said.

According to him, wherever he goes, he always advocates that other countries should copy what NIPR is doing.

Babangida congratulated the institute for being steadfast in implementing what the country expected from them to do, adding that he was proud that NIPR was living to expectations.

Earlier,  Neiliaku said the visit was part of the activities to mark the 60th anniversary of the institute that was established in 1963,

He added that IBB gave the institute a law which had become the strongest enforcement in public relations all over the world 34 years ago.

“The child you gave to us 34 years ago became 60 years old in 2023, but because of the general elections, we couldn’t celebrate last year and I will like to inform you that your efforts and sacrifice are not in vain,” he said.

The NIPR boss said that the institute had initiated the ‘Rebirth Nigeria’, in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Neliaku said that the programme was established on four pillars of  citizens’ education, value reorientation, promotion of made- in- Nigeria goods and services as well as the promotion of service delivery.

He disclosed that the institute was establishing a University of Public Relations and Leadership in Nasarawa State and had already gotten support from the state government.

In the same vein, the members had earlier visited the Emir of Minna, Dr Farouk Bahago, to solicit for the royal father’s support, adding that the institute attached greater importance to the traditional institutions.

Responding, Bahago thanked the institute for recognising the traditional institutions and the vital roles they play in the country.

Also, Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger has applauded the foresight of Babangida in signing the 1990 Decree that gave birth to the Chartered of Nigeria Institute of Public Relations NIPR in the country.

Bago, represented by Alhaji Abubakar Salisu, Head of Service, appealed to NIPR to support the ‘New Niger Agenda’ that cuts across infrastructural development, provision of security and agricultural revolution for food security.

Also, the Minister of Information, Allaji Mohammed Idris, represented by Jibrin Ndace, Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), said he aligned with the vision of the institute in shaping the society.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the activities for the 60th anniversary commenced with a road walk and planting of sixty trees at the three arms zone in Minna.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Mohammed Baba Busu/Bashir Rabe Mani

NYSC embarks on monthly environmental sanitation in Niger

Sanitation
By Rita Iliya
Minna, June 1, 2024 (NAN) The National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), in Niger has embarked on monthly environmental sanitation to ensure a sustainable and healthy environment for residents.

Mrs Olayinka Abdulwahab, Coordinator of NYSC in Niger, disclosed this at the launch of the sanitation in Kpakungu community in Minna on Saturday.

She explained that during the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD) in communities, the scheme realised that most ill health cases treated were due to poor environmental sanitation.

“Due to our experience during our HIRD initiative programme, the management of NYSC introduced the environment sanitation based on what was observed.

“Some of the diseases treated were caused by lack of people not maintaining good hygiene, so we will be doing this sanitation monthly to spur people to also keep their environment clean,” she said.

Abdulwahab added that the environmental sanitation would help reduce diseases caused by poor sanitation in communities across the state.

According to her, the sanitation has been approved by the director general of NYSC as a pay back to the society on the need for people to clean their environment.

She called on residents to maintain good sanitation and take care of their health, adding that the sanitation was ongoing simutensouly across local governments areas of the state.

The NYSC coordinator appreciated the Niger government for its support to the scheme and ensuring welfare of corps member posted to the state. (NAN)
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Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz