Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline Construction To Begin Soon, Says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari with some world leaders at the 5th Summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on November 29, 2019.

President Muhammadu Buhari says the Federal Government will soon commence the construction of the 600-kilometre Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline.

Addressing the 5th Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit on Friday in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, he noted that the project would ease the movement of gas from the Southern part of the country to the North.

The President disclosed that the viability of extending the gas pipeline to North Africa was also under consideration.

He described the theme of the Summit, ‘Natural Gas – Energy for Sustainable Development’ as most appropriate, saying the one-day meeting was “taking place at a critical juncture as global energy supply is transitioning from hydrocarbons to renewables.”

The Energy Deficit

“The Paris Accord of 2015 signalled the first major global commitment to a deliberate effort on this inevitable transition,” President Buhari said, stressing that “Nigeria is proud to be one of the first signatories” to the historic agreement.

He further explained why Nigeria and GECF members were focusing on gas development.

“We are mindful of the energy deficit in the developing world especially, here in Africa where we have nearly 600 million people without access to modern energy,” the President was quoted as saying in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

He added, “As responsible leaders, it is our duty to preserve the environment not only for the present but for future generations.

“We can achieve this balance between our energy deficit and environmental preservation needs by developing and deploying new technologies. Although classified as fossil fuel, natural gas is a viable solution to both our energy and environmental challenges.”

President Buhari noted further that “natural gas has the added advantage of availability and affordability,” stressing that, “to fully leverage this potential, nations need to pool resources to put up trans-border and trans-regional energy infrastructure.”

According to him, Nigeria has led the way by the construction of the West Africa Gas Pipeline which runs through four West African countries.

The President commended the foresight of the founding fathers of the GECF in promoting natural gas in the global energy mix.

The summit was declared open by the host and Equatorial Guinea’s President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

President Mbasogo, in his remarks, called on members of the GECF to continue to work in harmony towards the realisation of the objectives of the multinational organisation.

Police Arrest 39 Suspected Kidnappers, Other Criminals In Kaduna

The Police in Kaduna state have arrested thirty-nine suspected criminals for allegedly committing various offences ranging from kidnapping, armed robbery, banditry, internet fraud and other related crimes in various parts of the state.

Addressing journalists during the parade of the suspects at the Kaduna state police command headquarters, spokesman of the command, DSP Yakubu Sabo, says their arrest was successfully carried out through coordinated raiding of criminal hideouts by Operatives of the IGP’s Special Tactical Squad (STS) and the Command’s Intelligence Response Team as well as active Community Engagement Initiative in line with the Inspector General of Police mandate on Community Policing.

He says that some of the suspects escaped from Taraba state to hide in Kaduna state after carrying out several kidnappings in the northeastern state.

He further discloses that several dangerous weapons including 10 AK47 Rifles, four Pump Action, two Locally Made Pistols, one Locally Made Gun, 154 live Ammunitions, seventeen Cartridges, four stolen vehicles, and other exhibits were recovered from the suspects during the operations.

Sabo also explains that some of the suspects have confessed to series of kidnappings within and outside the State including the killing of Police Personnel and two other victims at Kangimi village after collecting millions of naira as ransom.

While he admits that the Kaduna State Police Command like other Commands across the country has some peculiar security challenges amongst which are; armed banditry, Cattle rustling, Kidnapping, Armed Robbery and other violent crimes against law-abiding citizens of the state, the spokesman, however, states that the command has succeeded in reducing such crimes on major highways, urban areas and villages to a large extent..

Track up- Yakubu Sabo, Spokesman of Kaduna state police command..

Plans Concluded To Begin Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Pipeline Project – NNPC

A file photo of NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr Mele Kyari.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has concluded plans for the commencement of work on the Abuja-Kaduna- Kano pipeline project, popularly known as AKK Project.

A statement by NNPC’s acting Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr Samson Makoji, noted that the project would be executed in collaboration with China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Company Limited (CPPECL) and Brantex Consortium.

The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari, according to the statement gave this indication when he received the President of CPPECL, Sun Quanjun, and the head of the Brantex Consortium on Wednesday at the NNPC Towers in Abuja.

Kyari stated that the AKK project was key to resolving the power deficit challenge of the country, stressing that NNPC was ready to give all necessary support to CPPECL and Brantex Consortium to deliver the project within time and within budget.

He explained that the AKK project was very important to the nation and urged the China Pipeline Company to use it as a platform for other bigger opportunities in the oil and gas industry pipeline projects.

The NNPC boss said, “We think you can deliver on the AKK project. If you execute the AKK project, we will also support your company to grow her imprint in Nigeria.

“I assure you that this partnership will be beneficial to us all and deliver value for the Nigerian people.”

Earlier, Mr Quanjun said his company and Brantex Consortium were prepared to deliver on the AKK project, stressing that it would deploy its new pipeline technology system capable of guaranteeing the integrity of the project for several decades to come.

He added that his company would also establish a training facility in Nigeria that would help in the training and retraining of its employees here.

The CPPECL President also gave assurance that his company had one of the best pipeline training centres in China.

Kaduna Govt To Demolish Houses Under High Tension Lines

The Kaduna State government has concluded plans to demolish all illegal buildings erected under electricity high tension lines at Barkallahu community in Igabi Local Government Area of the state.

This followed the issuance of a seven-day notice to the occupants of affected structures by the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA).

In a copy of the eviction notice dated November 5, 2019, and obtained by Channels Television, KASUPDA based its action on the state’s 1958 Township Building Rules and Environmental Protection Law of 2010.

The notice warned that violators of the eviction order would be dealt with.

The Director-General of KASUPDA, Ismaila Dikko, also confirmed the planned demolition of the buildings numbering over 200 to Channels Television.

He explained that the government’s decision to demolish the illegal structures in Barkallahu community was to prevent disaster and restore the city’s original masterplan.

Dikko added that those with legal land titles have been compensated.

He, therefore, asked the occupants of the illegal structures to vacate the area within the stipulated period or have them pulled down.

Upon receiving the notice, some of the residents have begun to move out of their belonging from their homes while others have decided to remain there.

They claimed that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which was constructing new transmission lines, promised to pay them compensation or provide them with alternative land to build their new houses.

They condemned the proposed demolition of their houses and staged a peaceful protest against the government’s decision.

They also called on the government to provide them alternative land or give them more time to move out of the area.

The aggrieved residents took their protest to the Kaduna State office of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to seek its intervention in the matter.

Experts say the required setback for buildings from the centre-line of overhead wires and horizontal distance between such buildings is at least six metres for 11KV wire lines while the recommended distance for 33KV wire lines is nine metres.

Lecturers’ Abduction: Kaduna Poly Rector Seeks Joint Action Against Kidnappers

The Rector of Kaduna Polytechnic, Professor Idris Bugaje, has called for a joint action to tackle the rate of kidnapping in the state.

Professor Bugaje made the call in a statement by his special adviser on media, Bala Aliyu, following the abduction and subsequent release of two lecturers in the state.

The two lecturers, Dr Umar Chinoko and Adamu Chinoko, both brothers from Kebbi state, regained their freedom on Sunday, six days after they were abducted in the Mahuta area of Kaduna metropolis.

Professor Bugaje stressed the need for synergy and inter-agency cooperation among institutions, security agencies, and the public in the fight against criminality.

He also appealed to the security agencies to redouble their efforts to rid the society of all forms of criminal elements.

The rector commended the security agencies in the state for their roles in ensuring the release of two abducted lecturers of Kaduna Polytechnic and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

He acknowledged the pressure of security operatives against the kidnappers that eventually led to the release of the lecturers.

Professor Bugaje also commended the state government and the Federal Government for putting mechanisms in place to check the menace of kidnapping and banditry in Kaduna and other parts of the country.

Security Operatives Arrest Four Shiites Members In Kaduna

A combined team of the Nigerian police, Army and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Kaduna state have arrested four members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria(IMN) during their violent protest in Zaria.

A statement from the Kaduna State Police Command Public relations officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo, says the suspects are currently undergoing interrogation and will be prosecuted accordingly on completion of an investigation.

Earlier in the day, the Police operatives in Kaduna dispersed members of shiites from staging a protest in the state capital and Zaria.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Yakubu Sabo who confirmed the situation in a statement on Thursday said, members of the outlawed group were sighted at the Central area of Kaduna Metropolis and the police operatives promptly responded and dispersed them from staging the protest.

According to him, the IMN members on sighting security agents, mixed with the mass population of men and women who were doing their legitimate businesses within the market area.

Police Arrest Sharia Court Judge, Others For Allegedly Conducting ‘Illegal’ Marriage

The Police in Kaduna State have arrested the judge of Sharia Court of Magajingari division in Kaduna North Local government area of Kaduna state, Murtala Nasir.

The judge was arrested for allegedly conducting an illegal marriage between the daughter of former Chairman of Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited, Sani Dauda and one Abdullahi Kaluma.

Father of the bride, Sani Dauda was also arrested alongside his son, Shehu Dauda.

He was detained at the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) office of the Kaduna Police command for giving out his daughter, Nasiba Dauda in a wedding ceremony that took place on Saturday, November 9, 2019.

Dauda and his son were arrested on Monday and are being detained at the SARS office of Kaduna State police command two days after the marriage ceremony.

Although the police authorities in Kaduna State are yet to give reasons for the arrest of the three men, counsel to the suspects, Maxwell Kyon told journalists that their arrest was allegedly masterminded by the former husband of Nasiba Dauda, one Abubakar Musa Abubakar who claims to be a close associate of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

Lyon explained that the marriage between Nasiba and her former husband officially collapsed in January 2018, which informed her decision to enter into a new marriage with her new husband, on Saturday.

Nasiba’s ex-husband, Abubakar Musa Abubakar through his counsel, Rilwanu Umar, however debunked the claim. He described the new marriage as illegal and a criminal breach of contract.

According to Rilwanu, there was a subsisting judgement from an upper Sharia court in Kawo area of Kaduna North Local Government Area dated February 20, 2018 which set aside the judgement of the Tudun Wada Sharia court that dissolved the marriage on January 5, 2018.

He therefore, described Nasiba Dauda’s second marriage as illegal and amounts to a criminal offence since the matter is still pending in court at the Sharia Court of Appeal.

Meanwhile, there was pandemonium and anxiety in the Kaduna State capital on Wednesday morning when policemen blocked major roads in the city following rumours that supporters of Sani Dauda were planning for a protest to demand his immediate release.

This led to a heavy traffic jam on the major roads and streets that lasted for several hours.

Gunmen Reportedly Abduct Two Lecturers In Kaduna

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have reportedly abducted two lecturers in Kaduna State.

The incident was said to have occurred last week in Mahuta community of Igabi Local Government Area of the state.

Although the Kaduna State Police Command has yet to confirm the incident, both victims are brothers from the Zuru Emirate of Kebbi State.

A spokesman for the Kebbi State Indigenes Association in Kaduna State, Garba Muhammad, confirmed the kidnap to Channels Television on Monday.

He gave the names of the two abducted lecturers as Dr Adamu Chinoko of the Department of Agriculture at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Dr Umar Chinoko of the Department of Microbiology at the Kaduna Polytechnic.

According to Garba, Adamu was the first to be kidnapped by the gunmen on Thursday last week who later demanded N2 million ransom and motorcycle.

He explained that the victim’s brother, Umar who went to deliver the ransom to the kidnappers on Sunday, was later held back by the bandits who demanded N5 million ransom for their release.

Garba said the families of the victims have contacted the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Police Command about the incident, with a view to rescuing them.

I Am Working For APC’s Victory In Kogi Governorship Election, Says El-Rufai

Ahead of this Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi state, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state says he is working hard to ensure the second term re-election of Yahaya Bello as governor of the state.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his special Adviser on Media and Communication, Muyiwa Adekeye, El Rufai who is also chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC) Campaign Council of Kogi state, dismisses the purported rumour being attributed to him that he has backed-out from his role to ensure the victory of Yahaya Bello in the forthcoming poll.

El Rufai said he gives his best to all his assignments, adding that the Kogi election will not be different.

According to the statement, El Rufai along with other members of the campaign council, ‘’will be on the ground in Kogi this week as the APC works for another democratic mandate.

The statement further dismisses the fake quote ascribed to El Rufai as ‘’ a despicable fabrication, concocted and motivated by the desperation of the PDP..’’

‘’The people of Kogi State will make their free choice at the ballot. Therefore, every political actor has a duty to ensure that the voters act on the basis of accurate information, not lies and fake news.,’’ the statement advised.

Adekeye pointed out that ‘’APC will continue to campaign to persuade the people of Kogi State to renew the mandate they gave our party four years ago. That is the focus of the Malam Nasir El-Rufai and the members of APC Campaign Council.’’

Appeal Court Affirms El-Rufai’s Election As Kaduna Governor

A file photo of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Photo: Twitter

The Court of Appeal sitting in Kaduna State has upheld the election of Mr Nasir El-Rufai as the duly elected governor of the state.

In a unanimous judgement delivered by a three-man panel of judges led by Justice Olumuyiwa Aburu on Thursday, the appellate court upheld the judgement of the Election Petitions Tribunal which affirmed Governor El-Rufai of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the winner of the election.

The Tribunal had dismissed the petition of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Isah Ashiru, in the March 9 poll for lacking in merit.

The PDP and its candidate had filed a petition before the Tribunal and asked it to declare Ashiru as the winner of the election, having scored the highest number of votes cast.

But the Tribunal ruled that the petitioner was unable to provide substantial evidence to prove his allegations.

It also noted that the petitioner did not present any factual evidence to prove the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wrong in returning El-Rufai as duly elected.

The Tribunal had, however, dismissed the petitioner’s suit challenging the governorship election for lacking in merit.

Unhappy with the judgment, the PDP and its candidate filed a petition at the appellate court, asking it to dismiss the lower court’s judgment and declare them the rightful winner of the election.

The appeal court, after looking into the prayers sought by the appellants, dismissed the petition for lacking in merit and also affirmed El-Rufai as the duly elected governor of the state.

The upper court aligned itself with the Tribunal’s judgment which held that the PDP candidate was unable to prove his allegations of massive rigging and other electoral irregularities against the governor.

In their reactions, the Counsel to PDP, Eli Mutum, said they would study the judgement to decide the next action to take while Governor El-Rufai’s counsel, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, described the judgement as a victory for democracy.

I See Myself As Superstar Who Has Broken The Jinx – Yahaya Makaho, Visually Impaired Singer

Yahaya Usman, popularly called Yahaya Makaho, a blind singer who rose from being a street beggar to a famously known singer in northern Nigeria,spends time with some of his fans while wearing his trademark sunglasses in Kaduna, Nigeria, on September 25, 2019. PHOTO: Kola Sulaimon / AFP

Yahaya Makaho feels his way to the microphone before launching into a song for his new album at a recording studio in the northern city of Kaduna.

Blind since early childhood, the singer has overcome obstacles that often crush the dreams of disabled people in this region and risen from street beggar to star.

In the last four years his songs and music videos have become hits among the roughly 80 million Hausa-speaking Nigerians and broader West Africa.

“I see myself as a superstar who has broken the jinx associated with physical disabilities,” Makaho, 37, told AFP, wearing his trademark sunglasses.

Yahaya Usman, popularly called Yahaya Makaho, a blind singer who rose from being a street beggar to a famously known singer in northern Nigeria, sings while wearing his trademark sunglasses in Kaduna, Nigeria, on September 25, 2019. PHOTO: KOLA SULAIMON / AFP

“I have punctured the stereotype people have that once you are blind all you can do is take a bowl and go begging for alms on the streets.”

Life can be tough in northern Nigeria, where poverty rates and unemployment are high — and for blind people the options are usually severely limited.

Makaho — a nickname meaning “blind man” in Hausa under which the singer is widely known — has had to come a long way to record his 370 singles and three albums.

He lost his sight to measles at the age of three and was eventually sent away from his rural village to an Islamic school after doctors failed to heal him.

There he was told that begging was his best chance to make ends meet after he tried his hand at small odd-jobs and petty trading.

“It hurt me to be always asking people for money. Begging kills the spirit and I decided to become a singer,” he said.

“I didn’t know I had singing talent, I just wanted to do something meaningful with my life and the idea of being a singer just popped up.”

‘Singer with a difference’

It has not been a smooth rise since that decision.

Makaho faced years of discrimination and discouragement before a wealthy fan decided to fund a recording session in 2016.

The singer has carved out a niche by focusing on the pressing problems that confront his fans in their daily lives.

With his soft voice he croons his way through lyrics that tackle ills such as begging, drug abuse and corruption.

“Yahaya Makaho is a singer with a difference,” said Ahmad Bello, a music critic and linguist at Bayero University in the city of Kano.

“People love his songs not just for the beats but primarily for the messages embedded in them which touch on burning social issues.”

Dwelling on sensitive subjects has proved problematic on occasion.

Makaho upset some in northern Nigeria’s blind community after he wrote two singles that criticised the widespread practice of street begging — often the only means of earning an income for the visually impaired.

“They ostracised me for exposing the ills of begging in my two tracks and dubbed me an enemy,” he said.

Makaho managed to resolve the conflict and has now established a foundation that provides school tuition, uniforms and brail books to help disabled youths get an education.

The singer’s fortune has soared and he now provides a comfortable life for his family.

He has made the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and hopes to be able to build a recording studio of his own.

And as he racks up hit after hit, his success is providing an inspiration for blind people in his home region struggling to fulfil their potential.

“I’m fascinated by his songs which I find very pleasing,” said Hamisu Mohammed, who lives at a colony for blind people in Kaduna.

“Whenever I listen to Yahaya’s song being played on the radio I feel a sense of pride that he is one of us, the blind.”

Appeal Court Sacks Senate Spokesman, Adeyeye

Adeyeye To Dump PDP, Blames Fayose For Loss At Primary — File photo

The Kaduna Division of the Court of Appeal has nullified the election of spokesman of the Senate, Senator Dayo Adeyeye.

The Appellate Court subsequently upheld the tribunal judgment which declared Senator Biodun Olujimi and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party as winner of the Ekiti South Senatorial election held on February 23.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Dayo Adeyeye of the All Progressive Congress as winner of the February 23 , 2019 National Assembly election , but Mrs Olujimi challenged the result at the tribunal on the grounds that she scored the highest number of votes cast.

In her petition, Senator Olujimi asked the tribunal to nullify Adeyeye’s victory on the grounds that the election was marred by massive irregularities .

In her written address, the petitioner claimed that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Acts, having been allegedly fraught with all manners of irregularities. The tribunal in its judgment nullified elections in some polling units and declared Mrs Olujimi the authentic winner of the polls.

Dissatisfied with the tribunal judgment, both Adeyeye and His party, APC filed a petition at the court of appeal asking it to set aside the ruling of the lower court.

However, while delivering a unanimous judgement on Wednesday in Kaduna state, , Justice Uzor Anyanwu upheld the judgment of the tribunal and ordered INEC to issue fresh certificate of return to Senator Biodun Olujimi.

Tag: Kaduna