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Category: Yobe Update

  • Yobe Govt opens tenders for solid minerals development

    Yobe Govt opens tenders for solid minerals development

    The Yobe government on Monday opened tenders for consultancy services for the development of a comprehensive roadmap on the state’s solid minerals sector.

    Alhaji Kaigama Umar, the state Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Tourism and Solid Minerals declared the bidding open in Damaturu.

    Uma said the tender which was advertised on The Nations and Daily Independent newspapers had commenced from January 13 in line with the Procurement Act.

    The commissioner listed Ahila Technology Ltd, I Focus Consultant Ltd, Dotnet Technologies Ltd, Pathing-Ways Mapping Ltd and MaxlockNig and Partners Ltd as the only companies that indicated interest and submitted their bids.

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    Umar said that the state was rich in solid minerals but like most states  relied on federal allocations which made it difficult to achieve its goals.

    He said to address the issue, the state aimed to generate local resources to complement federal allocations.

    The commissioner said that the submitted documents would be reviewed by the technical section and then forwarded to the Bureau for Public Procurement for final evaluation.

    He added that firms would be evaluated based on their financial capability, technical expertise and past experience among other.

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    Malam Hamza Saidu, the Managing Director of Yobe State Investment Company Limited, said that the state was currently focusing on developing its solid minerals sector to provide employment, increase revenue, and establish itself as a key player in Nigeria’s solid minerals industry.

    “The state government has records of mineral resources like limestone, gypsum, iron ore, and others. But seeks to update its data on chemical composition, industrial applications, and production reports to attract partnerships and investments,” he said.

    Mr Joel Duku of Maxlock Nig, who spoke on behalf of other companies commended the Yobe government for adhering to the Procurement Act, describing the process as a best practice adopted globally.

  • Bomb explosion rocks Yobe market

    Bomb explosion rocks Yobe market

    An explosion, suspected to be caused by a planted Improvised Explosive Device, has occurred at the popular Buni Yadi market in Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

    Channels Television reported that a resident of Buni, Ali Hassan said that the incident happened at around 12.30pm on Friday, injuring a girl.

    The name of the girl and her current state of health has yet to be known

    The spokesman of the Sector 2 Joint Task Force Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Muhammad Shehu also confirmed the incident, saying another IED planted in the market was discovered and successfully defused by the Army.

    He further explained the only victim of the explosion, is currently receiving treatment at one of the health facilities in Buni Yadi.

    He stressed the incident was a planted IED and not a suicide bombing incident.

    Buni Yadi, located 54 kilometres from Damaturu, the state capital, was the most severely affected local government area in Yobe State during the two years it was under Boko Haram insurgent control.

  • Emir of Tikau, Muhammadu Abubakar Ibn-Grema, dies at 70

    Emir of Tikau, Muhammadu Abubakar Ibn-Grema, dies at 70

    The Emir of Tikau in Yobe, Muhammadu Abubakar Ibn-Grema, is dead.

    The emir’s younger brother, Abubakar Talba, confirmed the death in an interview with journalists in Damaturu on Saturday.

    Mr Talba, a prince of the Tikau Emirate Council, said the emir died in Potiskum at about 4:00 p.m. on Friday.

    “ Yes, I can confirm to you that the emir died after a brief illness. He was over 70 years old at the time of his death,” he said.

    The prince said the deceased, a first-class chief, would be buried by 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, according to Islamic rites.

    Mr Ibn-Grema, whose palace is located in Nangere Local Government Area, was the paramount ruler of the Karekare people.

    He was installed as emir on July 25, 2001, and spent 23 years on the throne before his demise. 

  • Yobe State Declares Work-Free Day To Mourn Ex Governor

    Yobe State Declares Work-Free Day To Mourn Ex Governor

    Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni has declared Wednesday, February 7, 2024, as a work-free day.

    The declaration aims to facilitate a three-day prayer session for the late former governor, Sen. Bukar Abba Ibrahim, who passed away in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

    Governor Buni, emphasizing the significance of this period, urged the state’s residents to utilize the day in offering prayers for the peaceful repose of Sen. Ibrahim’s soul. 

    The three-day prayer sessions are scheduled to take place at the Government House Mosque in Damaturu.

    Yobe State Government has officially taken charge of the funeral and condolence rites, demonstrating a commitment to honoring the memory of the departed leader. 

    Governor Buni, accompanied by government officials and the late governor’s family, has been graciously receiving condolences from well-wishers within and beyond the state at the Government House, Damaturu.

  • Former Yobe Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim is Dead

    Former Yobe Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim is Dead

    It has been confirmed that the former Yobe State Governor, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim has passed away, aged 73 years.

    The announcement came through the official social platform of Gujba Emirate Council and was later corroborated by a reliable source within the Emirate.

    Senator Ibrahim, a seasoned politician born in October 1950, served two terms as Yobe State Governor, from January 1992 to November 1993, and later from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007.

    His political journey continued with distinction as he assumed the role of Senator for Yobe East Senatorial District, a position he held from June 2007 to June 2019.

    The late statesman took his final bow at Medina Hospital after battling an undisclosed illness. The nation mourns the loss of a stalwart in Nigerian politics, recognizing Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim’s enduring commitment to public service and his significant impact on the nation’s political landscape.

  • Police Intercepts Vehicle Loaded with Political Thugs in Yobe

    Police Intercepts Vehicle Loaded with Political Thugs in Yobe

    The Yobe State Police Command says, working in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, it has interpreted an 18-seater bus boarded with political thugs in Gashua Local Government Area on mission to arrive at Damaturu to disrupt the electoral process.

    DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Yobe Police Command, Damaturu revealed in a statement made available to Nigerian Anchor in Damaturu.

    According to him “On 3rd February 2024 at about 0700hrs Military Checkpoint intercepted the bus while conveying thugs to Damaturu Metropolitan Council to cause mayhem in the electoral process but made their Waterloo, the police took them into custody for a district investigation and subsequent prosecution.

    The following are some of the suspects arrested: Abu Bakar Garba Bololo, aged 25, Habu Mato, aged 35, Suleman Musa, aged 50, Yusuf Danjuma, aged 33, Abdullahi Haruna, aged 45. Others are Zanab Mohammed, aged 25 of Unguwan Lawan and Rachael Bitrus, aged 23 and seven other syndicate members of Jakusko and Gashua LGA”.

    “The suspects claimed they were recruited to serve as agents of one of the opposition parties.

    Meanwhile, the investigation is swift to unravel the criminal implications of the matter”.

    “In this regard, the Commissioner of police in the state, Garba Ahmed, reiterated the commitment of the Police and sister Security Agencies to ensure the security and safety of the electorate and relative peace enjoyed in the State. 

    “However, calls on the good members of the public to remain resolute and shun violence, thuggery as security is firm to act on any untoward deviation”.

  • Buni sworn-in as Yobe Gov, pledges to serve with dignity, honour

    Alhaji Mai Mala Buni was, on Monday, inaugurated as the fourth democratically-elected governor of Yobe, with a pledge that he would serve the state with dignity and honour.

    Speaking at the inauguration in Damaturu on Monday, Buni thanked the people of the state for finding him worthy of being re-elected for a second term in office.

    “We are indeed very grateful. I extend hands of fellowship to all and sundry to join us in the task of building our dear state.

    “It is a duty we must discharge with dignity and honour. We are first and foremost collective stakeholders, dedicated to making Yobe State peaceful and prosperous, irrespective of any differences,” he said.

    The governor noted that his first tenure had recorded tremendous success in security, health care, agriculture, commerce, infrastructure, mass housing, water resources, environment, governance, mineral resources, law and order, public service reform and ease of doing business.

    He listed some of the achievements to include: resettling of persons displaced by Boko Haram, rehabilitation of all schools destroyed by the insurgents and rehabilitation and upgrade of 138 primary health care centres.

    Others, he said, were the establishment of livestock development centres in three senatorial districts, completion of three modern markets, construction of 2,500 housing units and enactment of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, among others.

    The governor paid special tribute to former President Muhammadu Buhari for his ‘enormous support’ to the state and wished him well in his future endeavours.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, Jagoran Talakawa, occupies a special place in my heart and the hearts of all Yobeans. We thank Allah the Almighty for enabling him to complete his eight-year tenure peacefully and strongly.

    “Allah endowed him with excellent health to the pleasure of his teeming well-wishers. Alhamdulillah. His administration had invested in the largest infrastructural development and had restored the integrity and dignity of all Nigerians.

    “I enjoyed a special relationship with President Buhari. I consulted him regularly for fatherly advice and will continue to do so.

    “As the president retires to Daura and into the hall of elder statesmen, I wish him Allah’s blessings, excellent health and happy retirement,” he said.

    Buni congratulated President Bola Tinubu and Vice- President Kashim Shettima for their election and inauguration, assuring them of his maximum cooperation.

    “President Tinubu deserved to be elected, more than any of the presidential candidates, given that he was at the forefront of restoring democracy in Nigeria.

    “On behalf of the good people of Yobe State, I assure him and the vice-president of our commitment and support in the onerous task ahead,” he said. 

  • May 29: Gov Buni pardons 115 inmates

    As part of activities lined up for his inauguration on Monday, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has granted pardons to 115 inmates serving different jail terms in the state.

    Addressing the inmates in Potiskum on Saturday, a former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in the state, Saleh Samanja, disclosed that their fines ranging from N10,000 to N500,000 had been settled by the Yobe State Government.

    Samanja charged them to ensure they went back to school or learnt trades, saying their characters were found satisfactory while serving.

    The inmates incarcerated across three correctional centres in Potiskum, Nguru and Gashua, included two females and 113 males between the ages of 20 and 40 years.