Local

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Kaduna State House of Assembly on Wednesday repealed the laws that established the Zaria Metropolitan Authority, Kafanchan Municipal Authority and the Kaduna Capital Territory Authority in 2021.

The Speaker, Dahiru Liman, passed the bill for a law to repeal the law after the Chairman, the Joint Committee on the three authorities’ law and judicial law presented a report to the house.

The Daily reality reports that Mahmud Lawal, Ali Kalat and Auwal Muhammad presented a report for a bill to repeal Zaria, Kafanchan and Kaduna Capital Territory Authorities, respectively.

The house also repealed the law establishing the Fire and Public Safety Law No.20 of 2018 and enacted the Kaduna State Fire and Public Safety Law, of 2024.

The law was enacted after the chairman of the Joint Committee on Security and Intelligence and Judiciary, Munirat Suleiman, presented a report on the bill to the house.

Mahmud Lawal, a member representing Zaria City Constituency and the chairman of the joint committee of Zaria Metropolitan Authority and judiciary, said the repeal was necessary and timely.

“With the recent judgement by the Supreme Court and going through the provisions of our constitution, which stipulated the functions of local governments in Nigeria.

“We come to realise that the existence of the metropolitan authorities is not possible if we go by the functions of the local governments.

“Most of the activities of the metropolitan authorities by the law is supposed to be carried out by the local government functions,” he said.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Kano State Public Complaint and Anticorruption Commission (PCACC) has summoned dealers of flour at Singer market and the chairman, Association of Master Bakers & Caterers of Nigeria, over the hike in the price of bread.

The Daily Reality reports that the commission received a series of complaints from the public regarding the current bread price despite the stable price of flour in the market.

In a letter signed by the commission Chairman, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, the commission invoked its powers under Section 9 and 15 of the Kano State Public Complaint and Anticorruption Commission Law 2008 (as amended) to investigate the matter.

The commission has also invited the flour dealers and the chairman and executive members of the Association of Master Baker’s & Caterers of Nigeria to hear their side of the story, in accordance with Section 31 of the commission’s enabling law 2008 (as amended).

By Uzair Adam Imam

A Kano High Court has adjourned the fundamental rights suit filed by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and seven others against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) due to the commission’s failure to file necessary responses.

The applicants, including NNPP, Dr. Ajuji Ahmed, Dipo Olayanku, Ahmed Balewa, Chief Clement Anele, Lady Folashade Aliu, Eng. Buba Galadima, and Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, are seeking to stop the EFCC from arresting them.

At the hearing, EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Idris Ibrahim-Haruna, requested an adjournment, citing the need to file responses.

Despite being served with court processes on June 10, 2024, the EFCC had failed to file responses within the allotted five-day period.

Justice Yusuf Ubale granted the adjournment and scheduled a new hearing date for October 24, ordering the EFCC to file their responses before then. This development comes after the court previously granted an interim order stopping the EFCC from arresting Kwankwaso and the other applicants.

By Anwar Usman

Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, has expressed concern over the rising cases of out-of-school children, poverty and other socioeconomic problems in the North, stating that the region was on the verge of collapsing if the leaders do not come together to find solutions to the challenges.

Sani raised the alarm during a courtesy visit by the National Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Mamman Usman to Kaduna State.

He said, “This new executive committee has emerged at a time of great challenges. We are confronted with difficult developmental and security questions. Criminal elements have been laying siege to communities in the North and reversing our progress on multiple fronts. Our development deficits are scary and require urgent attention.

“In 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Bureau of Statistics launched its most extensive measure of multidimensional poverty. The survey revealed that 63% of persons living within Nigeria (that is about 133 million people) are multi-dimensionally poor. 65% of the poor (that is 86 million people) live in the North, while 35% (nearly 47 million) live in the South.

He further states that, “The North is not succeeding in any in the area of Education. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) puts the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria at 18.3 million. Of this outrageous number of out-of-school children, about 70% are in the North of Nigeria. This is quite disturbing and must worry all of us who still care for the North and Nigeria in general.“

As I mentioned earlier, insecurity in the North has retarded developments in the critical sectors. a lot of farmers cannot access their farms. Food insecurity now confronts us directly. Child and maternal mortality are on the increase. Our infrastructure has decayed. The moves to address our infrastructural deficits are equally threatened by insecurity.

“For the North and move decisively to change these negative development indices. Unfortunately, what we see in the North is the promotion of toxic politics, opposition for opposition’s sake, and “pull him down syndrome.

“We indulge in endless blame games, devoid of attempts at soul searching or introspection. We have failed to ask ourselves some vital questions. Where did the rain start beating the North? Who are those complicit in the underdevelopment of the North?

“The Arewa Consultative Forum has a major role to play in building this required consensus for the best approach to tackle the multifaceted challenges facing Northern Nigeria. ACF must make efforts to refocus the attention of our people. Let us de-emphasise politics and focus on development. Let us gear our efforts towards overcoming the threats with all the energy we can muster”.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A tragic incident occurred in Asakio’s main market on Monday afternoon as an old building collapsed, resulting in the deaths of three individuals.

The victims, identified as two women and a child, hailed from the Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. 

The collapse caused immediate chaos, halting all commercial activities within the market.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with frantic rescue efforts underway to locate survivors trapped under the debris. 

Emergency responders were able to rescue two other individuals from the wreckage.

The injured were promptly taken to a nearby hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment. 

The disaster has sent shockwaves through the local community, leaving residents in mourning.

Daily Post reports that the incident has had a profound impact on the people of Asakio, highlighting the urgent need for building safety inspections and regulations in the area.

By Uzair Adam Imam

A windstorm in Sokoto State, Nigeria, has displaced at least 50 households in the Shagari and Wamakko local government areas.

The Director of Disaster Management, Umar Isa, confirmed that some victims have lost their homes entirely and are now staying with relatives or in temporary accommodations.

According to Isa, the ministry had contacted the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) over the issue.

He also noted that there were no reports of flooding in the state, despite predictions that some areas would experience flooding.

The state government has been conducting awareness campaigns to prevent flooding in prone areas.

The windstorm has caused significant damage, and the affected households are in need of assistance.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted thunderstorms and rains from Sunday to Tuesday across the country.

According to NiMet’s weather outlook, thunderstorms are expected on Sunday with rains over parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Kebbi, Kaduna, Gombe, and Yobe States during the morning hours.

Later in the day, thunderstorms are expected over the entire northern region, with rains over the North Central region in the morning hours and moderate thunderstorms with rains over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Benue, and Kogi states.

The agency also predicted morning thunderstorms on Monday with rains over parts of Kebbi, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kaduna, Borno, Taraba, and Katsina States.

Moderate thunderstorms are expected later in the day over parts of Jigawa, Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto, Borno, Zamfara, Yobe, Adamawa, and Katsina States.

Rains are also expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory and Plateau states during the morning hours.

On Tuesday, morning thunderstorms are predicted with rains over parts of Yobe, Adamawa, Borno, and Taraba States.

Thunderstorms are expected over the entire northern region later in the day, with rains over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Niger, and Kwara states with cloudy skies over the remaining states during the morning hours.

NiMet advised the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur.

The agency also advised residents to avoid flood-prone areas as high likelihood of urban flooding in major cities could occur due to downpours.

By Uzair Adam, Anwar Usman and Anas Abbas

Malam Aisar Fagge, a renowned media personality, has urged journalists to prioritize what is best for their audience during reportage to avoid chaos and unnecessary tensions.

Fagge, who is also a lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Kano State Polytechnic, made this call during a one-day workshop held at the NUJ Secretariat, Kano state on Saturday.

As the discussant, Fagge lamented the tendency of journalists to focus on negative stories, emphasizing that not all truths are publishable.

He cautioned that journalists should consider their religious and cultural values and only report what is significant and does not conflict with those values.

“Journalists should know that even if something is true, it is not all truths that should be reported, as we have publishable and unpublishable truth,” he said.

He also called on journalists to consider the interests of the owners of their organizations, stating, “However, you need to also consider the interest of the owners of your organisation so that it will not affect you.”

Additionally, Fagge stressed the significance of following up on events, as they can provide valuable insights and information for reporting.

“Journalists should be following such events as they will help them significantly,” he added.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Dr Bala Muhammad, a university lecturer and veteran journalist, has urged media house owners to pay journalists a good salary to prevent them from accepting bribes.

He made this call during a one-day workshop on ethics in journalism organized by the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) in collaboration with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Dr Muhammad, who teaches at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), emphasized that fair compensation is essential to curb the menace of bribe-taking in journalism.

He cited his personal experience of receiving a significant salary increase when he joined the BBC in 1996, which made him less susceptible to external influences.

He encouraged media house owners to emulate international media organizations like BBC, CNN, DW and VOA, which prioritize fair compensation for their journalists.

Dr. Muhammad noted that accepting money from external sources can compromise a journalist’s integrity and lead to unethical reporting.

He shared an anecdote about 15 journalists who Voice of America sacked for accepting an honorarium after an interview.

Despite receiving a monthly salary of $5,000 each, they were dismissed for compromising their ethical standards.

The Daily Reality reports that salary issues are a significant problem in the journalism industry, with some media organizations failing to provide adequate compensation, leading journalists to seek alternative sources of income, including “brown envelopes”.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), Nigeria Office, Kano, organized a one-day workshop to combat unethical reporting narratives in the state.

The workshop, held on Saturday, focused on the ethics of journalism and was themed “Guide to Best Islamic Practices.”

The event was in collaboration with the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Kano state chapter and took place at the NUJ Secretariat in Kano.

Dr. Bala Muhammad, a veteran journalist and lecturer at Bayero University’s Department of Mass Communication, emphasized the significance of the workshop.

He urged journalists to adhere to ethical reporting, reminding them that they will be accountable to Allah for the information they disseminate.

Dr. Ibrahim Siraj, a senior lecturer at Bayero University’s Department of Mass Communication, presented a paper titled “Ethics of Journalism.”

He stressed the need for professional reporting and defined ethics as “forms of behavior and conduct that are socially correct based on the core values cherished and upheld by society.”

Dr. Siraj criticized biased reporting, particularly in the western media, and lamented that the failure to follow ethical journalism practices would lead to a “mess” in the profession.

He also specifically criticized a recent report by Sahara Reporters on the Hisbah controversy regarding LGBT, describing it as “unjournalistic.”

Dr. Siraj emphasized the importance of truthfulness, fairness, credibility, and objectiveness in reporting, adding that religious and political inclinations should not influence journalists’ reports.

The NUJ President, Comrade Abbas Ibrahim, commended IIIT for collaborating with them to host the workshop, which was attended by journalists from various media organizations in the state and journalism students from Bayero University, Kano state polytechnic, and Aminu Kano College of Islamic and Legal Studies.