Month: November 2021

By Uzair Adam Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates the leader of Nigerian Muslim Ummah and chairman of Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar (III), as he marks 15 years on the throne.

The statement signed Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Malam Garba Shehu, disclosed this, describing the Sultan as a “peacebuilder and a true embodiment of commitment to service”.

The statement also added, “Sultan Sa’ad has remained a leader who dedicated his life to the welfare of the people.”

“Greetings to His Eminence, the Sultan on his 15th year on the throne of his fathers. On behalf of my family and I, the government and the people of Nigeria, I wish you many more years in the position and working tirelessly to promote inter-religious and inter-communal harmony throughout the federation.

“It is very reassuring to have such leadership at these challenging times. My prayers are for your long and healthy life,” said the president.

In recent months, no romantic Hausa song has captured the public attention as FANAN. However, the song’s movie was premiered on Friday, October 29, 2021, in Platinum Cinema (a newly inaugurated multiplex cinema in Kano).

The film opened to full halls across the new cinema and grossed approximately ₦1.25 million on its opening day, setting the record of being the first Hausa film to get this in one cinema. This remarkable success can undoubtedly be attributed to the popularity of the Fanan song and the distinctive marketing strategy adopted by its executive producer, Mansurah Isah, in promoting the film. But does it, on itself, merit this immense success? I watched it on Sunday, and here is my review.

Plot:

Fanan is a family drama that tells the story of an obedient wife, Fanan (Sabeera), and her husband, Kamilu (Yakubu Muhammad), a private company employee. The couple lives peacefully together with their only daughter Amira (Iman Sani Danja).

Later, their life is disrupted when Kamilu begins to maltreat Fanan and eventually divorces her after starting an affair with a wealthy woman, Madam Jessica (Rahama M.K). Jessica promises to marry him and facilitate his promotion to the rank of manager in another big company. However, she ditches him afterwards without fulfilling any of her promises.

Kamilu then tries to restore his marriage with Fanan, but his attempt proves in vain. Fanan is beyond his reach as she is now married to a business mogul, Alhaji Sammani (Sani Danja), whom she meets through his son, Fahad (Khalifa Sani Danja), a schoolmate of her daughter. Therefore, the jealous Kamilu filed a lawsuit against Fanan, seeking the return of his daughter (Amira) to him. However, he eventually drops the case after the girl narrates the insult he inflicted upon her and her mother while they were together during the court hearing.

Critique:

The film doesn’t entirely disappoint, but it’s not unique in any way. Both its artistic and technical aspects are only average. The story is predictable, and there are many gaps in the screenplay. For example, when Kamilu leaves his job, Madam Jessica doesn’t facilitate his new job application. Yet, he’s shown to have a connection with the company where she works. Again, Alhaji Sammani’s family background and how he ends up being single remains a mystery.

The interspersing of the title song also throws a spanner in the film. Fanan and Alhaji Sammani performed it before their marriage. Considering its lyrics, however, it would’ve had a better impact if performed after the wedding.

Regarding the cast, Yakubu Muhammad is the life of the movie because his performance stands out. Next to him are Rahama Mk and Sabeera. The latter is, particularly, for her good look. But while Sani Danja’s role deserves notice, his children, Iman and Khalifa, need to hone their skills as actors.

Finally, the fact that Fanan is a huge success doesn’t mean it succeeded on its own merits. It rides only on the popularity of its song and the hype around it. I rate it 2/5.

Habibu Maaruf Abdu wrote from Kano, Nigeria. He can be contacted via habibumaaruf11@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Nigerian Hunters Council (NHC), under the leadership of its Commander-General, Joshua Osatimehin, has sought government’s recognition as official security agency to enable them fighting bandits and banditry in the country.

Osatimehin disclosed this yesterday, Monday, at Abuja, at the end of a five-day capacity training for over 7000 personnel of the NHC on corporate safety and conservation.

He also added that they their personnel are now very committed towards fighting bandits, kidnappers and other forms of criminality in the society.

Meanwhile, Osatimehin also appealed to the National Assembly to ensure that the Nigerian Hunters Council bill 2020 becomes a law with immediately.

“We have our headquarters and offices in the 36 states of the federation. What we want the government to do is to recognise hunters as a security agency in Nigeria. If this can be recognised by an enabling law, crimes and criminality will be drastically reduced in Nigeria.”

“The bill has passed first and second reading and the public hearing at the senate, any moment from now we expect it to be passed into law and we will not relax until government gives us the enabling law.

“When you aspire to acquire what you desire you don’t need to retire but you `refire’,’’ he added.

By Uzair Adam Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that 1.5 trillion dollars is the cumulative estimated amount needed by the country over a ten-year period, to achieve an appreciable level of the National Infrastructure Stock.

President Buhari gave the figure on Tuesday, 2nd November 2021, in Glasgow at a COP 26 high-level side event on improving global infrastructure hosted by President Joe Biden of the United States, EU Commission President, Von Der Leyen and the UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

The statement signed Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, malam Garba Shehu disclosed this, adding that: ‘‘Nigeria is ready for your investments in infrastructural development in the country.

‘‘My administration has established a clear legal and regulatory framework for private financing of infrastructure to establish a standard process, especially on the monitoring and evaluation process. We look forward to working with you in this regard.”

President Buhari also declared that his administration had taken infrastructure expansion in Nigeria seriously, conscious of the fact that new investments in critical sectors of the economy would aid lifting 100 million Nigerians from poverty by 2030.

‘‘There is a nexus between infrastructural development and the overall economic development of a nation.

‘‘On my assumption of office in 2015, Nigeria faced a huge infrastructure deficit and the total National Infrastructure Stock was estimated at 35% of our Gross Domestic Product.

‘‘In solving these problems, we embarked on a massive infrastructure expansion programme in the areas of Health care, Education, Transportation, Manufacturing, Energy, Housing, Agriculture, and Water Resources.

The President welcomed the G7 countries for its ground-breaking plan to mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars of infrastructure investment for low – and middle-income countries.

He noted that the: “Build Back Better World” plan, an initiative of the G7 countries, is expected to be a values-driven, high-standard, and transparent infrastructure partnership.

‘‘It is our fervent hope and expectations that this plan will be pursued to its logical conclusion in order to bridge the infrastructural gap between the North and South,’’ he said.

The President also used the occasion to outline the principles, values and standards Nigeria would like to see from infrastructure initiatives and the challenges the country has faced in partnering with donors on infrastructure development.

By Muhammad Sabiu

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmad

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced its target to raise the annual allocation to the National Research Fund (NRF) from N8.5 billion in 2021 to N10 billion in 2022, during a virtual meeting on the marking of the International Open Access Week October which holds October 25th – 31st, Nairobi, Kenya.

TETFund executive secretary, Professor Suleiman Bogoro, stated this for the theme “Democratisation of Higher Education in Nigeria through Open Access.” A meeting co-hosted by the Fund and the Training Centre in Communication, Nairobi.

According to the TETFund boss, following the agency’s proposal, the Board of Trustees’ had in 2019 graciously approved N5 billion for NRF, which was raised to N7.5 billion in 2020 and N8.5 billion in 2021.

“Over the last two and half years now, we have raised funds available for research. There are two categories; institution-based and National Research Fund.

“The institution based has a ceiling of N3,600 US dollars and it is mainly for basic research while the higher ceiling grant of about 92 – 93,000 US dollars is the National Research Fund aimed at promoting applied research. To this extent, in 2019 I made it a case to the Board of Trustees of TETFund to increase the threshold.”

“It used to be a kind of seed money. Seed money of N4 billion for eight years but from the year 2019 to last year and this year, 2021, we have increased it to N5 billion annually. Last year we increased it from N5 billion to N7.5 billion and this year it is N8.5 billion; and we are hoping in 2022 it will move to N 10 billion.”

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmad

The embattled Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Abok Ayuba, and some members of his group have been arrested within the vicinity of the State Assembly in Jos, at about 3:15 pm on November 1, after laying siege in the State Assembly from dawn.

The State Police Commissioner, Edward Egbuka and some key officials of the different security outfits in the State, ushered them into Hilux vans while taking them away.

Abok was whisked away through the back gate of the State Assembly shortly after security agents bombarded the peaceful protesters and journalists with tear gas and sporadic gunshots to disperse them.

Although the House members said they were not told where they were being taken to as Abok kept shouting, “I cannot say if I am under arrest at this moment,” but it was gathered that they were taken to Abuja.

At the time of this report, security agents who had besieged the premises had withdrawn, leaving few personnel loitering around the vicinity while the teary-eyed youths reappear in groups discussing the development.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Reference to the present situation of unemployment that lingers for a very long time in the state, the Kano State House of Assembly has called on the executive arm to compel private sectors to employ a certain percentage of people to reduce the menace.

A member from Takai Local Government, Alhaji Musa Ali Kachako, raised the motion, adding that: “There is an urgent need for speedy adoption of the House resolutions on the matter to ensure strict compliance by private companies and organizations.”

However, he further stated that the call has become imperative given the attitude of our private organizations in the state, such as banks and telecommunication companies, in meeting up with the federal government’s directives of employing members of host communities as staff.

Kachako also expressed his grievances, thereby pleading for the government’s intervention to tackle the lingering issue of unemployment in the state.

After careful deliberation, the House has decided to constitute an eight-member committee to thoroughly look into the matter and report back for necessary legislative action within three months.

By Uzair Adam Imam

While commiserating with the recent attack which claimed the lives of two members of the Joint Task Force and one police officer by bandits in Zamfara, the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ahmed Abubakar Audi, has advocated for a new approach to putting an end to banditry in the country.

A statement signed by the Director of Public Relations of the Corps, Olusola Odumosu, disclosed this, adding that the attack, which happened in Shinkafi, along Kauran Namoda road in Zamfara State, is not only condemnable but callous, despicable and inhuman.

While reacting to the incident, however, Audi appealed to the public members to be vigilant, security conscious, and promptly assist security agencies with credible information that will help them put the lingering issue of insecurity to an end.

He also ascertained that Corps would not rest in their efforts until they eradicate banditry, kidnapping and insurgency, among others, through concerted efforts of well-trained personnel, the introduction of more training programs and innovative strategies.

Moreover, Audi commiserated with the families and friends of those who had lost their loved ones in the bloody attack.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Youth Leader-elect, Prince Muhammed Kadade Suleiman, said that they will work assiduously to return PDP to Aso Rock in the forthcoming election of 2023.

Kadade declared this in a statement issued in Kaduna, adding that “Under the leadership of our newly-elected Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, myself and other elected members of the National Working Committee (NWC), we will work assiduously to return PDP to Aso Rock in 2023.”

He added that they are well aware of the challenges currently bedeviling the youths in the country as a result of bad leadership of the APC government.

Kadade also stated that his emergence as the youth leader is a demonstration of the party’s youth inclusiveness, adding that: “Whether you voted for me or not, whether you supported me or not, I want to assure you that this is a victory not just for me, but for the entire PDP and the youth of Nigeria.”

However, Kaded also said he will be open to all, for advice, contributions and support in discharging his functions.