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Tag: UMAR BAGO

  • Governor Bago Declares 3-Day Public Holiday To Distribute FG Palliatives 

    Governor Bago Declares 3-Day Public Holiday To Distribute FG Palliatives 

    Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago has declared Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week as public holidays to allow for the effective distribution of palliatives to residents across all the 25 Local Government Areas of the State.
    Speaking at a press conference at Government House, Minna, the governor announced that the state had supplemented the N5 billion palliative fund from the federal government with an additional N250 million.
    Below are the highlights of the modalities adopted for distribution:
    All the Wards in Suleja, Chanchaga, Bida and Kontagora Local Governments are to have N20 million per ward.
    All the Wards in the remaining 21 Local Government Areas of the State will get 10 million Naira each.
    Traditional Institutions to get N80 million.
    Internally Displaced Persons to get N75 million.
    Logistics and Organized Labour, to gulp N110 million
    Political parties to get N150 million.
    All the money is to hit the Local Government council Account by Monday next week.
    The cash will be injected into the local markets in the state.
    Five trucks of Rice will be distributed to each Ward of the 25 Local Government Areas.
    40,000 bags of Maize is still anticipated from the Federal government and the state government will add 10,000 bags to make it 50,000 bags for distribution to all the polling units across the state.
    The governor said the state and local governments will repay 58 per cent of the N5 billion in 20 months, while the federal government covers the remaining 42 per cent. Local committees, including former and current public office holders, will oversee the distribution process.
    Local Government and Ward Committees are to decide what food items to buy depending on the needs of their people.
    Standing Committees comprising Former and serving public office holders are to ensure effective and efficient distribution of the palliatives in their respective Constituencies.
    Also to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal, Governor Umaru Bago disclosed some steps taken by the state government to ease movement of goods and services .
    200 CNG Luxurious Buses will be made available to provide free public transportation to all students and pupils in public schools.
    Civil Servants will also benefit at a discounted rate .
    100 of the Buses are to ply the Suleja to Abuja axis.
    50 Buses to ply Minna and 50 to other Local Government Areas.
    Directives have been given to the Ministries of Lands and Agriculture to provide 10,000 hectares of arable land in every Local Government.
    By December 2023, 250,000 arable lands should be cleared to boost national policy on food security.
    Farm Machinery to be provided
    500,000 youths are to be employed in the pilot scheme in Agricultural activities.
    400,000 women are to be employed as pickers of Shea nuts.
    On Education;
    Payment of bursary to students is to be revived.
    Governor Umaru Bago used the medium to appeal to Nigerlites to be patient as his administration remains committed to serving them better.
    He however warned that anyone who is found wanting in the distribution of the palliatives will be jailed to serve as a deterrent to others.
  • Protesters Shot Dead In Niger State

    Protesters Shot Dead In Niger State

    The victims were said to have been killed while security operatives were struggling to dislodge a group of protesters who mounted barricade on a section of Abuja-Kaduna highway.

    At least six people have been reportedly killed while some sustained injuries in the ongoing #ENDBADGOVERNANCE protest in Suleja, Niger State.
    The victims were said to have been killed while security operatives were struggling to dislodge a group of protesters who mounted barricade on a section of Abuja-Kaduna highway.
    Daily Trust had reported how passengers and motorists were trapped on the road for hours.
    Some policemen who were around the barricade could not control the youths who outnumbered them.
    However, a reinforcement team was sent to the scene where pandemonium occurred.
    Among those killed was said to be Yahaya Nda Isah, a resident of Hassan Dalatu Road, Suleja, who was hit by a stray bullet.
    The bullet reportedly hit Isa on his bike in front of the Suleja Police ‘A’ division where protesters had assembled.
    A nephew of the deceased told Daily Trust that his uncle was on his bike when the bullet fired to disperse the protesters hit him on his chest and he died on the spot.
    “He was my uncle. He was not even protesting. He was passing in front of the Police ‘A’ division where some people were protesting when stray Bullet hit him on his chest and he died. As I speak with you, I am in his house alongside other mourners. It’s unfortunate”, he said.
    Another victim was simply identified as Mallam Abu also said died on the spot.
    One of the residents who did not want his name mentioned told Daily Trust that 3 other people were shot at the same scene while 2 others were shot at the Suleja Junction on Abuja-Kaduna road but could not confirm if other victims were dead.
    Another resident who said his shop was not far from the Suleja Police “A” division said he had to close to run for his life.
    “We heard people shouting and gunshots were heard for about 20 minutes at Emir Roundabout. The situation in Suleja is ugly”, Bala Abdullahi, another resident.
    Spokesperson of the Niger State Police Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said some hoodlums also attempted to set the Tafa LGA ablaze but they were dispersed by security operatives.
    “The miscreants attempted to set the Tafa LGA ablaze, they were dispersed by the Police and military. Kaduna road and toll gate was cleared”, he said.
    When contacted over the phone, Wasiu Abiodun, Police Public Relations Officer in Niger, said, “Let me verify and get back to you.”
    However, he had not sent his response as of the time of filing this report.