News

News

Kano State Government reiterates its commitment to health sector 

26 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmed

 

Kano State government has approved the establishment of the School of Post Basic Ophthalmic Nursing this afternoon at the opening declaration of the 34th annual National Scientific Delegate Conference and Free Eye Care Services organised by the Nigeria Ophthalmic Nurses Association (NONA) held at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano State.

The Governor of the stage, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje emphasized his administration’s commitment towards revamping the health sector.

In his statement ”our administration has been according priority attention to the health care delivery because the growth and development of any nation is tied to sound health. In order to make this effort actualized, we allocated 15% of the 2021 budget to the health sector of kano State, this is in line with the Abuja declaration; and are envisaging higher in the next fiscal year”.

Dr Ganduje, ably represented by his Deputy Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, said that in recognition of the significance of eye care services for human development, the state government has approved the establishment of the School of Post Basic Ophthalmic Nursing at Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano.

The theme of the conference is “Exploring Global Advancement And Innovation In Ophthalmic Nursing”. The Governor, while describing it as apt, said he feels the theme emanated from the desire to review the performance of the noble profession of ophthalmic nursing in order to enhance maximum efficiency and productivity.

In their separate remarks, the National President of the Nigeria Ophthalmic Nurses Association and his Kano State counterparts, Stephen Lamiya and Saleh Iliyasu Dan Hassan, respectively, said the occasion serves as the culmination of an enormous collective effort of various stakeholders from local, state and national level of ophthalmic Nurses and ophthalmologist which began in November 2020.

They further said considering the fact that the eye is a fragile and very sensitive organ of the body which requires very cautious attention, there is an alignment with the chosen theme of 2021 World Dight Day “Love Your Eyes”, hence called on all ophthalmic Nurses to rededicate their services to the profession and the country.

Others who spoke during the occasion included the Commissioner Of Health Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, the Chief Medical Director of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Prof. Abdurrahman Sheshe and Dr Ado Shehu Ringim from Maryam Abacha American University.
News

Buhari flies to Saudi Arabia for investment submit

25 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Uzair Adam Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari will leave for Saudi Arabia Monday, October 25, 2021, to take part in the 5th edition of the flagship investment event by business executives from Nigeria.

This was contained in a release issued on Sunday by the presidential media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, adding that the aim of the conference is to discuss issues on the future of investments across the globe.

However, Buhari is said to be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ibrahim Pantami; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb Zubairu Dada; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva; National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen Babagana Monguno; Director-General of National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar and other public officeholders.

On the other hand, the conference will also host participants from private sectors like Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Tope Shonubi, Wale Tinubu, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Hassan Usman, Omoboyode Olusanya, Abubakar Suleiman, Herbert Wigwe and Leo Stan Ekeh.

Shehu added that, after the conference, Buhari will perform a lesser Hajj before returning to the country on Friday.

News

Buhari unveils eNaira Monday

24 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Muhammad Sabiu

President Muhammadu will tomorrow Monday unveil the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBD), also known as eNaira, at the State House in Abuja.

Nigeria’s apex bank, in a statement by its spokesperson, Osita Nwasinobi, said this is part of the efforts to ease financial transactions among Nigerians

“The launch of the eNaira is a culmination of several years of research work by the Central Bank of Nigeria in advancing the boundaries of [the] payments system in order to make financial transactions easier and seamless for every strata of the society.

“Following a series of engagements with relevant stakeholders including the banking community, fintech operators, merchants, and indeed, a cross-section of Nigerians, the CBN designed the digital currency, which shall be activated on Monday, October 25, 2021.

“The eNaira, therefore, marks a major step forward in the evolution of money and the CBN is committed to ensuring that the eNaira, like the physical Naira, is accessible by everyone.

“Given that the eNaira is a journey, the unveiling marks the first step in that journey, which will continue with a series of further modifications, capabilities, and enhancements to the platforms,” Mr Nwasinobi said in the statement.

Recall that the launch of the eNaira was early on announced to be held on October 1, but the bank later rescheduled it, citing events to be observed in the celebration of the country’s independence as the reason.
News

Tension in Zamfara NYSC camp as bandits abduct prospective corps members

23 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Muhammad Sabiu

Reports coming from Zamfara State in north-western Nigeria have indicated that some prospective corps members have on Tuesday been kidnapped on their way to the NYSC orientation camp in the Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.
The incident has gripped tension among corps members at the orientation camp in the state despite the police appeal for calm, assuring that “a joint search and rescue operation is ongoing to ensure [the] safe rescue of Corp members along [with] other abducted victims.”
Police spokesperson, Muhammad Shehu confirmed the abduction in a statement made available to reporters.
Some reports have it that there are still other 6 corps members that are missing as of the time of filing this report.
Below is the statement from Zamfara Police spokesperson:
Report received by the Zamfara State Police Command from the State NYSC Coordinator indicated that, two (2) Prospective NYSC Corp Members deployed from Benue State to Kebbi and Sokoto States were among the victims of abduction along Tsafe – Gusau Road on Tuesday 19th October, 2021 at about 2230 hours.
The report was received early today when the Commissioner of Police, CP Ayuba N. Elkanah psc+ visited the Orientation Camp at Tsafe to assess the existing security emplacement at the orientation camp with a view to ensuring safety and security of the Corp Members.
It would be recalled that on 19th October, 2021, at about 2230 hours, a Vehicle with Reg. Number GBK 339 ZY was blocked by armed bandits while travelling from Benue to Sokoto State at near Wanzamai Village in Tsafe LGA. As a result, passengers whose identity (were) unknown, were abducted.
 
The Commissioner of Police while responding, informed the Coordinator that the Command has commenced investigation into the incident with a view to establishing the actual number of Corp Members involved in the abduction.
Similarly, a joint search and rescue operation is ongoing to ensure safe rescue of Corp members along other abducted victims.
The CP, in his address to the Prospective Corp Members, assures them of more Police commitment to safeguard their lives, and enjoins them to be security conscious of themselves.
News

Our varsities don’t deserve another strike – Buhari pleads to ASUU

23 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Uzair Adam Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to embrace peace, stating that Nigerian universities have had enough strikes.

Buhari, who was representated by Professor Ingnatuis Onimawo, made the plea on Saturday, 23-10-2021 as he was delivering a speech at a convocation ceremony in the University of Ilorin.

The president also stated that the dialogue is always better than the conflict as no any gain ever driven from crisis.

However, he added that a lot of time had been wasted as a result of Corona virus pandemic, thereby saying the university system cannot afford to withstand any crisis now.

  1. The president was quoted saying: “Let me also use this opportunity to appeal to members of ASUU to embrace peace. They should realise that dialogue is always better than conflict. No one gains from crisis. While government alone cannot solve all challenges facing a society, this administration is willing to listen to complaints and alternative points of views to managing a situation.”

“The university system cannot withstand any crisis now considering the time it had lost to Coronavirus pandemic,” he said.

Speaking on the issue of Corona virus, the president said: “I expect our universities to conduct researches targeted at discovering an antidote to it. Universities are expected to focus their research on challenges facing our societies and find practical solutions within the context of national development.”

“I therefore challenge the Universities to give their best in the fight against this common and unrelenting enemy of humanity. I enjoin our researchers to collaborate among themselves and look forward to bringing an effective solution to this medical challenge.”

“The nation expects University of Ilorin to play a leading role in the research efforts to develop Covid 19 in Nigeria.

“The nation expects nothing less from the Nigerian University system”, he added.

News

Nigerian gov’t confirms death of Albarnawi’s successor

22 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Muhammad Sabiu

The National Security Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, General Babagana Mungono, has confirmed Thursday that Malam Bako, the top Boko Haram commander, who recently took over the leadership of the deadly Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) from the late Abu Mus’ab Albarnawi, has been killed.

General Mungono, who spoke to journalists at the State House, stated that the military had launched an attack on the insurgents “two days ago”, which led to the elimination of the commander.

Mungono was quoted as saying, “Two days ago, the man who succeeded him, one Malam Bako, one of the prominent leaders of the Shura Council of the Islamic State of West African Province, was also taken out.

“They are also contending with leadership crisis. You know these things are also accompanied with inherent issues of trust, conflicts, mutual suspicion and other things.

He added that the efforts of the military are really making an impact in the fight against terrorists.

“So, the operations being conducted by the armed forces in the Northern parts of the country put a lot of pressure on the Islamic State of West African Province, Boko Haram and also the tangential group known as Islamic State in the Greatest Sahara,” he said.
News

Kebbi gov’t confirms release of 30 abducted students

21 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Muhammad Sabiu

The Kebbi State Government has on Thursday confirmed the release of about 30 students of the Federal Government College, Yauri, who were in June abducted by the terrorists operating in northwest Nigeria.

The confirmation came in a statement made available to journalists by Yahaya Sarki, the spokesperson to Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State.

Recall that even as of the time of the abduction, the exact number of the kidnapped students was unknown. This makes it impossible for the government to confirm the number of students still in captivity after the release of the said 30.

Confirming the release, Mr Sarki wrote, “Today Thursday, the 21st of October, 2021 thirty (30) students of the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri have arrived Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital following their release, while efforts are still continuing to secure the release of the remaining.”

He added that the students would “undergo medical screening and support while being reunited with their families.”

Although, unlike other northwestern states that have perpetually been suffering from kidnappings and killings by terrorists, Kebbi State also faces the same menace.
News

Police apprehend man for allegedly raping two women in Ondo

19 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Muhammad Sabiu

A 23-year-old Okada man has been apprehended by the police in Ondo State for allegedly raping two women.

Parading the suspect at the police headquarters in Akure, Ondo State capital, on Tuesday, the state’s police public relations officer DSP Odunlami Funmilayo said the suspect was nabbed after intelligence reports reached the police.

The DSP was quoted as saying, “On Oct. 17, at about 1300hrs, Omogunwa (suspect) conveyed a 35-year-old victim at Elebisere road en route Karo camp, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo state, where he brutalised, raped, robbed and left her to die.

“The suspect along the way, diverted into a bush, attacked and raped the victim, having tied her to a tree and thereafter punctured her eyes with his motorcycle key”.

She added that the suspect also robbed his second victim after raping her.

She confirmed, “The suspect using same modus operandi, before he was arrested, robbed and raped a 45-year-old woman on March 28, along Owobanbo road.

“The suspect after beating the suspect into a coma, raped her, inflicted injuries on her body and also robbed her of N112,000.

DSP Funmilayo also confirmed that the suspect had admitted committing the crimes he was accused of and that he would be charged to court.
News

No Maulud procession in Plateau this year—Troops

19 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Muhammad Sabiu

 

The troops saddled with the responsibility of maintaining peace and order due to the fragile peace in Plateau State have declared that there would be no Maulud procession across the state this year.

The Troops, also codenamed as Operation Safe Heaven, have in a statement signed by their spokesperson, Major Ishaku Takwa, said they had been directed “to ensure that no group organises any form of procession during the period of the Maulud.”

According to the statement, “Operation Safe Haven has noted the arrangement by some Muslim Youths on the Plateau to hold a procession to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) on Tuesday, 19 October 2021.

“Information received also indicated that the procession is organised without the knowledge of Jamaatul Nasir Islam (JNI), security agencies and the Plateau state government.

Nevertheless, the troops indicated that “While felicitating with the entire Muslim ummah on the birth of Prophet Muhammad SAW (PBUH) and recognising the right to such processions under different circumstances, it is, however, expedient to state that the fragile peace on the Plateau does not present a conducive atmosphere for any form of procession at the moment.

“Further to this, Operation Safe Haven, therefore, wishes to draw the attention of the youths and members of the public on the ban of any kind of protest and procession in force in the state.

“The Military task force encourages Muslim faithfuls to observe the Maulud without any form of procession.

“The Commander, Operation Safe Haven, Major General Ibrahim Ali has directed troops to ensure that no group organises any form of procession during the period of the Maulud.”

Recall that there were in recent months a series of ethno-religious violent attacks and reprisals that led to the death of many and many others sustained injuries.
News

NAPTAN rejects teacher-service elongation, stipends for students

18 October 2021 Admin 0 Comments

By Uzair Adam Imam

The National Association of Parents/Teachers of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has rejected the federal government policies on education, particularly the elongation of service years and payment of stipends to students reading education in higher institutions.

The association added that the government should implement the minimum wage of N30,000 to workers first, which is considered more important than the stipends.

Recently, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, announced the payment of N75,000 per semester for every student of public universities studying education programmes and N50,000 for students of colleges of education.

Dr Ekundayo Ademola, the National Publicity Secretary of NAPTAN, made the information available to reporters on Sunday, warning the federal government of Nigeria not to politicize education.

However, Ademola described the new policy of salary scale for teachers and the elongation of years of service from 60 to 65 years as a Greek gift.

He added that the promise made by the federal government is nothing but deceit: “We think that the promise by the government that has refused to diligently implement N30 minimum wage to increase salary for teachers is nothing but deceit.

“If one may ask, how many states are, in truth paying N30,000 Minimum Wage to workers? Asking the state to start paying with a special scale to teachers, when minimum wage of N30,000 is not dutifully given to them, will lead to industrial unrest.

“We demand that federal government and states should pay N30,000 minimum wage to teachers first before considering special scale for teachers.”

“Elongation of service year from 60 to 65 years is also odd, in a situation the country is presently is. Many educated graduates are seeking unemployment. Keeping those that are supposed to rest in service till 65 is nothing but a misplaced priority. Instead of doing that, FG and states must gear efforts towards timely payment of retirement benefits to teachers. If that is done, many of them will prefer to go on retirement even before reaching 60 years, knowing full well that their benefits would be paid.

“We also consider payment of N75, 000 and N50,000 to students reading education in University and NCE as ill-conceived and quite uncalled for. This amount is even bigger than the minimum wage. Before coming up with this idea, is the FG aware that the number of students studying education-related courses is in multiple thousand?

“Also, after being paid in school, do we have job placements waiting for them? Is there a plan for several unemployed graduates and NCE holders that read education-related courses? Many Nigerians that had passed through the Npower programme and worked in schools, are now back on the streets looking for jobs.”

The association also called upon the government to have a special package for teachers working in the rural areas that are facing security challenges.

“We also advise the government to have a special package for teachers working in the rural areas and areas facing security challenges.”

In Case You Missed It

Opinion Politics

FCT election low voter turnout: The need for a post-mortem analysis

25 February 2026 Admin 0 Comments
National News

Tinubu tasks new acting IGP Disu with restoring national security

25 February 2026 Admin 0 Comments
National News

New IGP Disu vows end to police impunity, promises respect for human rights

25 February 2026 Admin 0 Comments
News

Singer Market Fire: Kano sets up panel to disburse N8bn support

25 February 2026 Admin 0 Comments