El-Rufa’I installs Khalifa Sanusi II as KASU Chancellor
By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq
Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa’i and the Visitor to the Kaduna State University (KASU) has installed Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Chancellor of the University.
The installation was done at the University’s 4th convocation ceremony at the Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufa’i Lecture Auditorium at the university campus in Unguwar Rimi, Kaduna.
Army condemns dehumanisation of NYSC member in viral video
By Hussaina Ahmed Sufyan
The video that went viral on the internet during the early hours of Thursday left the Nigerian Army in disarray and Nigerians in shock. The video showed a female Nigerian Youth Service Corp Member (NYSC) identified as Ezeiruaku Ifeyinws Fidelia being molested by an officer named Lt. Chika Viola Anele.
An unidentified onlooker recorded the dehumanising act and shared it online. In it, we see the officer pouring on the Corps member an unknown substance.
It is said that there was an argument between the duo which led to the officer punishing the Corps member. The incident happened in 13 Brigade Calabar, Cross River State.
The Nigerian Army, however, released a statement condemning the act.
In a statement, the Director of Public Relations under the Nigerian Army, Cross River State, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu condemned the act and tagged it “unprofessional”. While being apologetic, he also stated that Lt. Anele had been sanctioned.
“The Nigerian Army, therefore, condemns in strong terms this act of gross misconduct. Undoubtedly, the officer’s actions have caused the NA embarrassment and is highly regrettable. This unfortunate act of indiscipline does not in any way represent the Nigerian Army and will not be confined in its entirety.”
“The NA wishes to tender an apology to the victim, her family members, friends, National Youth Service Corps and to Nigerians in general for the unwholesome treatment melted out to the corps member”.
Many Christian universities operate illegally – NUC report
As the National Universities Commission (NUC) names 67 illegal universities in Nigeria, The Daily Reality found out that there are many Christian universities that fall under the illegal list.
The NUC has published a list of 67 illegal universities in Nigeria. AbatiMedia reported that “the Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed signed a public notice on the NUC website.”
The names include those claiming to be affiliates of foreign universities in the country.
In the list (below), institutions that have ‘other campuses’ are indicated with “others”; those ‘operating anywhere in Nigeria’ have “anywhere” as suffixes.
1. University of Accountancy and Management Studies
2. Christians of Charity American University of Science and Technology, Nkpor, Anambra (& others)
3. University of Industry, Yaba, Lagos (& others)
4. University of Applied Sciences and Management, Port Novo, Republic of Benin (& others)
5. Blacksmith University, Awka (& others)
6. Volta University College, Volta Region, Ghana (& others)
7. Royal University, Izhia in Abakaliki, Ebonyi (& others)
8. Atlanta University, Anyigba, Kogi (& others)
9. United Christian University, Macotis campus, Imo (& others)
10. United Nigeria University College, Okija Anambra (& others)
11. Samuel Ahmadu University, Makurdi, Benue (& others)
12. UNESCO University, Ndoni, Rivers (& others)
13. Saint Augustine’s University of Technology, Jos, Plateau (& others)
14. The International University, Missouri USA, Kano and Lagos (& others)
15. Collumbus University, UK (anywhere)
16. Tiu International University, UK (anywhere)
17. Pebbles University, UK (anywhere)
18. London External Studies, UK (anywhere)
19. Pilgrims University (anywhere)
20. Lobi Business School, Makurdi, Benue (& others)
21. West African Christian University (anywhere)
22. Bolta University College, Aba (& others)
23. JBC Seminary Inc. (Wukari Jubilee University) – Kaduna illegal campus
24. Western University, Esie, Kwara (& others)
25. St. Andrews University College, Abuja (& others)
26. EC-Council USA, Ikeja, Lagos Study Centre
27. Atlas University, Ikot Udoso Uko in Uyo, Akwa Ibom (& others)
28. Concept College/Universities (London) Ilorin (& others)
29. Halifax Gateway University, Ikeja (& others)
30. Kingdom of Christ University, Abuja (& others)
31. Acada University, Akinlalu, Oyo (& others)
32. Filfom University, Mbaise, Imo (& others)
33. Houdegbe North American University campuses in Nigeria
34. Atlantic Intercontinental University, Okija, Anambra
35. Open International University, Akure
36. Middle Belt University (North Central University) Otukpo
37. Lead Way University, Ugheli, Delta
38. Metro University, Dutse/Bwari Abuja
39. Southend University, Ngwuro Egeru (Afam) Ndoki, Rivers
40. Olympic University, Nsukka, Enugu
41. Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Abuja
42. Temple University, Abuja
43. Irish University Business School, London (anywhere)
44. National University of Technology, Lafia, Nasarawa
45. University of Accountancy and Management Studies, Mowe
46. University of Education, Wenneba, Ghana (anywhere)
47. Cape Coast University, Ghana (anywhere)
48. African University Cooperative Development (AUCD) Cotonou, Benin Republic
49. Pacific Western University, Denver – Colorado, Owerri
50. Evangel University of America and Chudick Management Academic, Lagos
51. Enugu State University of Science and Technology (Gboko campus)
52. Career Light Resources Centre, Jos.
53. University of West Africa, Kwali, Abuja
54. Coastal University, Iba Oku, Akwa Ibom
55. Kaduna Business School, Kaduna
56. Royal University of Theology, Minna, Niger
57. West African Union University, in collaboration with International Professional College of Administration, Science and Technology (anywhere)
58. Gospel Missionary Foundation (GMF), Theological University, Egbe Ikotun, Lagos
The NUC confirmed that others are undergoing further investigations/court actions in a bid to prosecute the proprietors and recover illegal fees/charges
1. National University of Nigeria, Keffi, Nasarawa
2. North Central University, Otukpo, Benue
3. Christ Alive Christian Seminary and University, Enugu
4. Richmond Open University, Arochukwu, Abia
5. West Coast University, Umuahia
6. Saint Clements University, Iyin Ekiti
7. Volta University College, Aba, Abia
8. Illegal Satellite Campuses of Ambrose Alli University
9. L.I.F.E. Leadership University, Benin, Edo
Three suspected abductors of Bethel Baptist students apprehended
By Muhammad Sabiu
Police in Kaduna State have apprehended three suspects who were alleged to have abducted 136 of Bethel Baptist School, Kaduna.
The suspects were identified as Adamu Bello, Isiaku Lawal and Muazu Abubakar.
The trio told journalists in Abuja on Thursday, that 25 of them perpetrated the kidnap, and that their desperate need for money made them carry out the act.
“Twenty-five of us carried out the operation. We kidnapped 136 students and I got N100,000 share from the money (ransom),” one of the suspects was quoted as saying.
However, there is still no detailed information on how they carried out the kidnap and how they were eventually arrested.
The police paraded them in Abuja at the headquarters of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
Osinbajo commissions Kasuwan Magani Modern Market in Kaduna
By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq
The Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has commissioned the newly constructed Kasuwan Magani Modern Market in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Speaking at the commissioning, Governor Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufa’i said the Kaduna State Government partnered with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to deliver the project. He further stated that the Kaduna State Government’s post-conflict assessment after the October 2018 crisis in Kasuwan Magani included a resolve to address the question of markets.
In his remarks, Prof. Osinbajo commended the administration of Governor El-Rufa’i and reiterated that the Federal Government will keep supporting and encouraging investment-centric efforts by providing a stable business environment, providing infrastructure, and ensuring security.
Open letter to Kano State governor on possible Coronavirus outbreak in Kwari market
Dear Sir,
This is to draw your attention and that of NCDC to the ongoing controversy over the cluttering of Kwari Market. We hope you will temper the issue with compassion and shrewdness befitting your sage, administrative excellence and political dexterity. Sir, if you solemnly declared that Kano will become a megacity in the very near future, which you did as reported on Blueprint Newspaper, August 21, 2020, why do you now allow our markets, especially Kwari to be congested? You made the declaration “on the eve of the Kano Economic and Investment Summit (KanInvest) which held in May, 2017, where stakeholders and bigwigs in the business sector converged to share ideas concerning issues affecting the economy, especially as it concerns Kano state”. There you rightly observed that the crowded population of Kano of about 20 million people will multiply in 5 years time. With Coronavirus threatening our lives, now is the time to decongest the city or else risk spreading the virus like wildfire.
In the process of affirming your declaration, you continue with the construction of the new Economic City of Kano located at Dangwauro Town along Kano -Zaria federal highway. However, your construction of a mall at the popular Kantin Kwari textile market named ‘Yan Tebura Mall has opened a dangerous door of congesting the market. What follows the mall are structures being erected on Taambo and Bayajidda Streets in the market. Unfortunately they are becoming a greater bone of contention because they stand on the way and so will endanger our hygiene, your excellency. After the recent rainfalls in Kano, the market was always flooded as the main waterways there happen to be on these streets. With the buildings being erected on them, the ancient market is seriously damaged, congested and so the megacity target is defeated.
Moreover, the damage brought about by the new buildings includes blockage of the former known 16 entries to the market which were serving as good ventilation and escape exits in case of a stampede. Still, the structures have saturated almost all the streets in the market, whereas the frontage of every shop is also “officially” being choked with iron stalls which would lead to disaffection, disharmony and clashes between the shop owners and stallers. To make matters worse, the installers of these iron stalls are damaging some newly tarred roads as they fix the stalls on the edge of the roads to larger part of the roadside drainage. Therefore, as the whole pathways are narrowed to almost nothing, people have to be squeezing around, highly vulnerable to Coronavirus infection.
These problems are not far from the government’s sidelining of the market people in the activities of the market, especially on strategies to improve the government’s revenue. This way, the outsiders brought in to supervise and advise on such affairs, as in the case of an administrator appointed from the head of service, come to enrich themselves only at the expense of anything good in the market. They never protect the interests of the market but theirs and sometimes end up starting a fire of enmity among business friends. It is a wonder how an outsider could tell an owner of a house where roofing leaks. Instead of looking at what is good for the market, those people look at what could bring them money no matter how damaging they appear to the good people of Kano. In that respect, owners of shops have to pay 200 thousand Naira to buy their shop front if they do not want that iron stall stationed there for sale.
Worse still, over five thousand labourers stand the risk of losing their livelihood if the contentious buildings continue. As a politician who is committed to forestall the increasing poverty-induced insecurity in the State, we are sure that you would not take this risk. Notwithstanding, the already erected structures have no accessibly enough toilets as those available are far upstairs and so women customers going to the market suffer super shame when they want to ease themselves in the centre of a Shari’a compliant state, under you, Khadimul Islam. In case of a fire accident like that of Sabon Gari Market, God forbid, the large fire fighting vehicles that need room for manoeuvre would never get entry as the ways are now being blocked. So against this background, all concerned persons in the market say no to the project and even go to court.
Following on from that, the State High Court, on 12th August, presided by Justice Suleiman Baba Namallam, has restrained the Government of Kano State from blocking or erecting structures at any part of Taambu and Bayajidda Streets at the popular market, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. Nonetheless, It has never been our intention, your excellency, to be at loggerheads with your government over this issue. We are only after decongesting the market especially to observe the Coronavirus protocol; to help the government, on the other hand, in spacing the already jam-packed market in preparation to reaching the megacity status and to target the recent Federal Government’s campaign of “Ease of Doing Business”.
Nevertheless, Your excellency, we appreciate your effort towards making Kano a megacity as you ease traffic congestion by finishing the construction of the Sabon Gari axis 2km bridge inland flyover (named after the Kano business mogul Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata) along Murtala Muhammad Way, which is the longest in West Africa; the Sharada/Panshekara Junction Underpass; the Bukavu Barracks underpass; the Underpass, Flyover and Roundabout at Dangi road connecting Zaria road-Zoo road and Silver Jubilee road as well as the now-under construction Hotoro NNPC (Muhammadu Buhari) bridge among others. These justify your administration’s commitment to the safe development of the sprawling city of Kano. In spite of that, we also need our existing markets to be spacious, uncrowded and comfortable so as to have good standards of health and hygiene regulations, especially Covid-19 protocol.
It is our fervent hope that Kano will continue to benefit from the wealth of your immense administrative experience and astuteness in politics, especially in this much worrying matter. Show the world that you are an ace politician, agreeable to the yearnings and aspirations of your people by justifying the confidence collectively reposed on your administration and unselfish persona.
We pray that may Allah Subhanahu wata’ala strengthen your resolve in elevating the status of Kano to compete with other megacities around the world. May you be successful in your future political endeavour. May Kano remain peaceful forever! Amin thumma Amin!
Yours,
Concerned Citizens!
08067444787
Five years of mental restructuring
By Sulaiman Maijama’a
In this life, there exist folks endowed with a God-given passion for propelling the progress of others. They drive pleasure in nurturing younger ones by shaping and improving their cognitive ability, making them emboldened to face the realities of life early, to navigate their way to the promised land and get rid of the traps of the terrain. To call these people mentors, in my view, they are underrated. They are God-sent and, therefore, worthy of being celebrated. If Allah, the Almighty, wishes you good, He makes you come across them, thereby opening a new page in your life.
Every successful person, I believe, has a story of someone to tell. My story will be incomplete without mentioning Malam Abdul Ahmad Burra, a teacher-turned-mentor whose seminal ideas instilled in us are inspirational and fruitful. My five years encounter with him opened a fresh perspective in my life. I believe, in the process of my narration, words will fail me. I may not put it as perfectly as it is, but my oratorically more skilful friends can best tell the story.
I did not know Abdul Ahmad Burra before 2016. In late 2016, however, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi recruited new teachers cut across respective departments of the institution. Malam Abdul was among the lecturers recruited in the Mass Communication department. During a sessional break a few weeks to the completion of our Industrial Attachment and so, immediately we resumed ND Two, we had a good fortune to have been the first set of students he taught.
His first impression in the class spelt the type of person he is; a down-to-earth, serious-minded person with a wealth of experience within and outside academia. This imbued in us, sense of determination, commitment and perseverance to pursue our lofty dreams to the best of our ability. Shortly after that, he introduced to us a new method of teaching with which we were not familiar. Every week before the commencement of his lectures, he would challenge the class to bring updates of topical issues in the country. If you told the story, he would annihilate you with a barrage of follow-up questions as if you were giving analysis on CNN. This made our class always keep abreast of happenings in the country, and before we knew it, we became so conversant with National Discourse.
I was almost always the student who updated the class, and that is how Malam Abdul discovered me. Our relationship, therefore, grew and blossomed into a brotherhood. A couple of weeks after taking a semester examination, Malam called and issued me a list of about seven students, including myself, and asked me to summon them.
“A glad tidings to you”, he said, “you are the best students who scored ‘A’ in my course’ “. He offered us pieces of golden advice and motivated us to maintain the speed. Later, when he realised that my CGPA was moving with Distinction, he became a driving force, propelling and challenging me to ensure that I graduated with it. In 2017 when we graduated, as our final result was about to be released, he was the one who excitingly broke the news that I graduated top of my class with Distinction. Thanks to Allah to whom I owe it and the encouragement of Malam Abdul!
After my graduation in 2017, Abdul did not leave me alone; he instructed that I should not, in all conscience, waste a year at home, should apply for a university immediately. I intended to apply to ABU, Zaria. Going by my preference for language comprehension, I wanted to switch to BA English. However, Malam Abdul protested that Mass Communication was the best destination for me. He further suggested that I go to Bayero University, Kano (BUK), for the institution has the best communication department, professors and facilities. In order not to put all our eggs in one basket and end up losing, my friend Shamsudeen Musa and I came up with two plans: to make two separate applications, one for BUK and the other for ABU, Zaria. We did.
Meanwhile, generous Malam Abdul Burra went from Bauchi to Kano to ensure that we secured the BUK admission that year. While waiting for the admission, he suggested that I start volunteer work with any of the radio stations in Bauchi to be well-grounded in the practical aspect of Journalism. When I told him that I did not have a connection with any of the stations, he took me to Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC), which made the process possible for me to work. The first report I presented to the Editor was given a headline. My reader will guess, with more than scientific precision, how excited I was. I worked with the BRC for almost a year.
In the same vein, one evening in early 2018, this idol invited me to his house for a fruitful discussion. He told me that since I had the upper hand in broadcast practice, and being an intelligent boy, according to him, I would make a good writer, and so, he wanted me to put my hand in the writing business so that I would be multiskilled. I was too young and inexperienced but, he encouraged me that whether I “write right” or otherwise, it is a learning process, which with practise would eventually lead to close perfection. I heeded the advice; began to write since then. Should I live without writing now, I would feel incomplete. The impact it has had on me today is immeasurable. To whom the credit goes?
Late 2018, when the BUK Direct entry admission list for the Faculty of Communication was out, to our great excitement, only my friend Shamsudeen and I, whom Malam Abdul worked for, made to the list in the whole Bauchi State. Upon informing him, his excitement defied expression. Having faith and confidence in us, a further challenge he put on us to go to BUK and made him proud. Did I have any excuse to relent? I felt the urge and thirst for learning to justify the confidence Malam reposed in me. I worked harder and expanded my reading time because I thought that anything less than First Class would be a disappointment to him.
Four semesters down the line, Alhamdulillah! With all sense of humility, I made First Class in Two semesters. Two semesters to my graduation now, I feel obliged to pen down this tribute in acknowledgement of the tremendous impact his mentorship has had on me.
I would not do justice to myself if I did not mention that Malam Abdul facilitated me ways to work for financial earnings at different points in time. For example, during the 2019 election, he engaged me in a particular assignment. My budget for that year was, therefore, increased!
May the light in him continue to flicker, ameen.
Maijama’a wrote from the Faculty of Communication, BUK. He can be reached via sulaimanmaija@gmail.com.
El-Rufa’i, Sanusi, others attend 6th KADINVEST
By Sumayyah Auwal Ishaq
The 6th edition of the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KADINVEST) has commenced this morning in Kaduna with Governor Nasiru Ahmad, El-Rufa’i, Minister of Water Resources, Eng. Sulaiman Hussain Adamu, Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, among others, in attendance.
The theme of this year’s summit is “Towards a Knowledge-based Economy”. The Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo, SAN, will serve as Special Guest while His Highness, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, serves as the Guest Speaker. Other speakers will include Prof. Celestine Monga and Prof. Benedict Oyeh Oramah.
Mob torch Sokoto commissioner’s residence over incessant bandits’ attacks
By Muhammad Sabiu
An angry mob have set ablaze the residence of Sokoto State Commissioner for Careers and Security Matters, Garba Moyi, in Isa Local Government Area.
According to reports, the incident, which occurred Monday evening, led to the vandalisation of vehicles of a traditional ruler who was also accused of abandoning his people.
ASP Sanusi Abubakar, the Sokoto Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), who confirmed the incident, stated that“no life was involved, and as soon as the investigation is completed, the details will be made known to the public.”
He added that people of the area should remain calm and advised them to cooperate with security agencies in maintaining peace and order.
Also, a Sokoto resident, identified as Abubakar Isa, also confirmed the incident. He said the mob were angry at the Commissioner due to bandits’ incessant attacks.
He was quoted as saying, “Some of them even believe that the commissioner has abandoned his own people. The attacks are becoming rampant these days, despite the efforts they said they are making to address it. There is no day that a person is not kidnapped or killed in Isa or Sabon Birni.”
Phone snatching exacerbates in Kano
By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmed
Kano is one of the states that records fewer security challenges in the northwestern part of Nigeria. The relative security in the state is an indication that not all northern states experience insecurity like the current happenings of kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery, as seen in Kaduna, Zamfara and Katsina. However, this calm is coming to an end considering the most recent menace of stabbings in the state.
Recently, people have been victims of phone snatching in Kano. This has become general mayhem in the state in that people do not take out their gadgets when going out on night strolls, and for some students, no more night out strolls anymore.
This problem is gradually becoming a national one. Families continue to bereave as their loved ones are brought to their end in their pool of blood due shed by snatchers of phones, laptops, wallets and other portable valuables.
According to the Daily Post, on July 4, 2021, an event occurred at the bridge undergoing construction close to Kantin Kwari market. The phone snatching brought about the death of a man called Umar Muhammad, staff at the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.
The most recent victim was Muhammad Sulaiman, a newly-wed schoolteacher stabbed to death in front of his wife around the Sharada industrial area on September 20, 2021.
These happenings continue to occur despite the various safety measure of the government, such as Karota agents, vigilante groups, others. Thus, people wonder what these security personnel do daily.
Phone snatching is usually carried out at night and around isolated pathways. In rare cases, it happens in broad daylight. The crimes occur in places like under the bridges, lone paths that lead out of POS points, ATM stations, children parks, corners of streets and even on roads without lamp-lights.
For the above reasons, security experts suggest some preventive measures that include:
When walking, stay very conscious of who is trailing you and of the environment around you. During this period, one needs to be very aware of who is behind, beside or ahead of them. Often, when at a crowded place, crime culprits hardly succeed or they get apprehended for it.
Another precautionary measure is to have an alternative phone which is very cheap and look simple.