News

By Ukasha Rabiu Magama

In a bid to prevent pre and post-election unrest across Toro and Bauchi during the oncoming elections in Nigeria, Toro Uplift Association commences a sensitisation program across various secondary schools in Bauchi state.

The sensitisation program, which will commence on Monday, 13 February 2023 and end on Thursday, 23 February 2023, has been disclosed by the Union’s chairman Abdulfatah Mu’azu while addressing some susceptible youths in Toro last Wednesday on the consequence of political thuggery.

Abdulfatah said the sensitisation journey, which will be embarked on in three selected secondary schools across the state’s towns, is aimed at discouraging pre and post-election violence in the forthcoming poll.

He, however, admonished the susceptible youths to disassociate themselves from unprofitable politicians who may hire them to disrupt the smooth conduct of elections for selfish interests.

In their respective comments, some of the susceptible youths, Shamsudden Umar and Nabil Saleh, paid allegiance to Toro Uplift and thanked the union for considering them despite their situation and promised not to engage in any political violence no matter the amount of money one will offer them during the election period. 

In his remark, the association’s secretary Umar Muhammad Sani said the Toro Uplift would not fold its hands to allow selfish politicians to use youths to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the exercise. He, however, charges that susceptible youths report any suspicious politicians whose target is to use them as thugs.

He further called on the principals of various secondary schools across the state to give the Toro Uplift Association maximum cooperation to have a smooth sensitisation exercise so that entire societies will be benefited from the program’s outcome. 

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has directed that all universities in the country be shut down in order for students to exercise their franchise in the 2023 general election.  

The Deputy Executive Secretary of the Commission, Chris Maiyaki, issued the directives in a letter dated February 3 and addressed to universities’ vice-chancellors and directors.

According to the letter, the security of staff, students and the universities’ properties during the general elections is the reason for the closure. 

Mr Maiyaki also stated that the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, gave the directive following consultation with relevant security agencies.

Part of the letter reads: “As Vice-Chancellors of all Universities and Director/Chief Executive of Inter-University Centres are quite aware the 2023 General Elections have been scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 25, 2023, for the Presidential and National Assembly, and Saturday, March 11, 2023, for Gubernatorial and State Assembly, respectively.

“In view of the foregoing and concerns expressed on the security of staff, students and properties of our respective institutions, the Honourable Minister of Education, Mal. Adama Adamu has, following extensive consultations with the relevant security agencies, directed that all Universities and Inter-University Centres be shut down, and academic activities be suspended between February 22 and March 14, 2023.

By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq

Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El- Rufai on Tuesday called on the people of Kaduna to ignore calls for massive protests amidst currency swap debacle.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, Gov. El-Rufa’i said “the government is aware that certain individuals and groups have made plans to organize massive protests, seizing on the acute shortage of cash and attendant hardships faced by citizens”.

He further said “The Kaduna State Government wishes to appeal for caution and vigilance by all citizens, amidst the prevailing situation arising from the ongoing cash swap and currency redesign policy.

“Citizens are reminded that care must be taken not to play into the plans of devious elements seeking to create crisis in this crucial period. Citizens are thus advised to ignore these calls for massive protests in the interest of public security”.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

A commercial bank in Nigeria, Sterling Bank, has announced that all bank fund transfer services will be offered for free for seventeen days.

This is coming amidst the tough time customers are passing through when withdrawing and depositing money, using online banking, and other financial activities due to the CBN’s new naira note policy that placed many restrictions.

In an email Sterling Bank sent to its customers, it says, “We at Sterling understand the difficult times many of our customers are facing. In light of this, all our fund transfer services will be offered Free of Charge to all personal account customers from February 6, 2023, till February 18, 2023.

“Additionally, we are also pleased to announce that we will be issuing free Debit Cards to all interested customers. This will provide you with a convenient and secure way to make purchases and carry out transactions. You can order your cards directly on OneBank (Download the latest version on your phone’s App Store or simply go to sterling/OneBank)”.

By Muhammadu Sabiu 

Over 1,200 people were killed, and nearly 3,000 were injured when an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale rocked Turkey and Syria.

Local media stated that the earthquake occurred close to the border between the two countries.

Millions of people in the two affected countries, including Israel and Lebanon, were startled from their beds, according to a Monday report by the New York Times.

The Aleppo, Hama, Tartus, and Latakia districts have so far reported 237 casualties, according to the Syrian Health Ministry.

Lebanon and Cyprus were also affected by the strong earthquake that struck at 4:17 a.m. near the Turkish city of Gaziantep at a depth of 17.9 km.

The 10 cities of Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras, Hatay, Osmaniye, Adiyaman, Malatya, Sanliurfa, Adana, Diyarbakir, and Kilis were reportedly damaged, according to a statement to the media by Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu.

The Minister said at least 23 fatalities were recorded in the Malatya province, which is northeast of Gaziantep, while 17 fatalities were reported in Sanliurfa, which is in the east, and the remaining fatalities were reported in Diyarbakir and Osmaniye.

According to Xinhua news agency Ahmad Damiriyeh, Syria’s Deputy Minister of Health, general emergency preparations have been implemented for the affected districts, and private institutions have been instructed to accept all injured patients.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Governor of Jigawa State, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, has approved the appointment of Haneem Muhammad Sanusi as the new Emir of Dutse.

Governor Badaru’s approval was sequel to the recommendation of the Dutse Emirates kingmakers.

According to a statement made available to journalists on Sunday, three persons contested for the royal seat. However, the seven kingmakers had unanimously voted for Sanusi’s emergence.

The new Emir succeeded his father, Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi who passed away in an Abuja hospital last week.

By Aisar Fagge

The Management of Khadija University Majia has appointed Professor Umar Muhammad Sani Indabawa as the new Acting Vice Chancellor of the university.

A statement issued by Kabiru Zubairu, the Information and Protocol Officer (IPO) of the university, relayed the news to journalists on Saturday.

The statement said Professor Umar’s appointment was a result of voluntary resignation of Professor Hassana Sani Darma on 24th of January, 2023.

It added, “This is to inform the university community and the general public that, The Chairman Board of Trustees of Khadija University Majia, His Royal Highness, The Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu (CON), has approved the appointment of Professor Umar Muhammad Sani Indabawa as Acting Vice Chancellor of Khadija University Majia with effect from 1st February, 2023.

“Professor Umar’s appointment was a result of voluntary resignation of Professor Hassana Sani Darma on 24th of January, 2023.

“Before his appointment, Professor Umar Muhammad Sani Indabawa, was the immediate former Coordinator, Police Academy, Wudil and also a Professor of Chemistry.

“On behalf of the university community, we wish to sincerely congratulate Professor Umar Muhammad Sani Indabawa for his appointment,” the statement concluded.

By Ahmad Deedat Zakari

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government as regards the hardship caused by the new currency redesign.  

Mr Obi made the appeal in the early hours of Sunday in a tweet via his official Twitter handle.

The redesign of Nigeria’s currency has enthroned scarcity of Naira notes and caused severe hardship to Nigerians who are unable to get cash to carry out their daily transactions. 

Mr Obi, while pleading with Nigerians, said currency redesign is not peculiar to Nigeria, and it comes with long-term economic advantages despite the initial inconveniences. 

He tweeted: “The currency redesign is not peculiar to Nigeria. It is an exercise that comes with some inconvenience and pain, but it has significant long-term economic and social benefits. Even though there are improvements that can be made, I urge Nigerians to bear with the CBN and Federal Government with the hope that the general populace and Nigeria will harvest the gains that will come with the reforms.”

By Muhammadu Sabiu

The manager of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) branch in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, was detained on suspicion of interfering with the dispensing of cash to customers through Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

According to a statement made on Friday by Azuka Ogugua, the ICPC’s spokeswoman, the cash bundles were deposited into the ATMs while still wrapped, and as a result, they could not be disbursed through the machines.

She said, “The ICPC Compliance Team in Osogbo has busted an FCMB in Osogbo, Osun State, where some ATMs were loaded with cash with their wrappers un-removed, thus preventing the cash from being dispensed.

“The Team therefore directed that the wrappers be removed, and the cash loaded properly.

“However, when a follow-up visit was undertaken the following day to ascertain the level of compliance, the Team discovered that one of the ATMs was still loaded with the wrappers un-removed. The Operation Manager of the Bank was arrested and taken in for questioning.”

The ICPC added that the individuals who were detained are providing the Commission with information to aid investigations and dismantle any organised crime groups engaged in the hoarding or sale of the altered notes.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Darul Erkam Foundation has fully sponsored three indigenous students of Kano state for undergraduate studies in Istanbul, Türkiye.

Aliyu Yusuf, the Director Public Enlightenment, Ministry of Education Kano State, disclosed this in a statement Friday.

Yusuf said the youths were sponsored following their outstanding performance in the just concluded Reading Competition of the Biography of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

He added in the statement, “The 3 sponsored students are Muhammad Nasiru Dantiye from Asal College, Fadima Musa Haruna from Kuntau Academy and Al-Amin Sani from Governor’s college.

“In addition to their sponsorship, Muhammad Nasiru Dantiye, who emerged as the overall winner of the reading competition, got a Prize of N700,000 and a Trophy, Fatima Musa Haruna received N650,000 and a Trophy for emerging in the 2nd position, while Al-Amin Sani who emerged the 3rd position received N600,000 and a Trophy.

“Speaking during the presentation of the awards at the coronation Hall of the state government House, Kano, the Commissioner of Education, Rt Hon. Ya’u Abdullahi Yan’shana expressed gratitude to Darul-Erkam Foundation for the kind gesture.

“The Commissioner noted with great pleasure the various humanitarian activities been rendered not only in Kano but in other states by the Darul-Erkam Foundation, saying only Allah the most gracious can reward them.

“Rt. Hon Yan’shana said he was much happier than any one of you here because this achievement has been recorded during my stewardship as the Commissioner of Education” 

“While congratulating the sponsored students for the height they have attained, he urged them to be good ambassadors of the state and their parents when they found themselves in Istanbul.

“To other participants of the reading competition who also revised different consolation prizes and medals, the Commissioner said they should not be reluctant as more opportunities are coming to their way, stressing that all of them should put into practice what they have read in the Biography of our Noble Prophet.

“In their separate remarks, the Chairmen of Murat Huda Vendigar Vafki Foundation and that of Darul-Erkam Foundation disclosed that the reading competition was part of the Humanitarian activities of the foundations aimed at boosting the reading culture of the participants as well as inculcating the practices of the life of the Prophet Muhammad SAW in their day to day activities.

“During the award presentations, all the participants were given a medal and cash prizes ranging from N5,000 to N200,000 depending on their performance,” the statement concluded.