Connect with us

News from Niger State

Double jeopardy as Niger Emirate rejects banished Kogi monarchs

Published

on

Gov Yahaya Bello

***Ask gov Bello to resolve political issues with them

Niger State Emirate Council the supposed host for the three banished monarchs in Kogi State, has observed that their dethronement was orchestrated by political reasons hence the emirate cannot accept them on exile.
The council admonished outgoing gov Bello to settle the political differences he had with them.
This is coming after all the ruling Houses and three surviving kingmakers of Igu and Koton-Karfe Kingdom have rejected the deposition of
His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdulrazaq IsahKoto, the Ohimege-Igu, Koton-Karfe, recently by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
They described the action as a sacrilege on the Igu traditional institution

At a Press Conference held at the NUJ press center in Utako, Abuja on Sunday, the representative of the eight ruling houses and spokesperson Alhaji Kolo Yakubu Ameh said the purported Coronation of another person as Ohimege will not stand.
He called on the government of Kogi State to as a matter of urgencybreverse the purported deposition of Alhaji Abdulrasaq Gambo Sani Isakato.
Ameh added that the deposition of the reverred king was politically motivated saying that the coronation and installation of the Ohimege which took place 11 years ago was a cultural tradition not political.

It was gathered that the three deposed monarchs were yet to arrive exile in Niger, a week after they were removed from office as traditional rulers. 

Monarchs who were dethroned are, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isah Koto, the Ohimege-Igu of Koton-Karfe who is the Chairman, Lokoja/Kogi Local Government Area Traditional Council. He was sent on exile to Rijau Local Government Council of Niger State.

The traditional ruler of Ogori-Magogo, His Royal Highness, Sam Bola Ojoa was deposed and exiled to Salka Emirate Council in Magama Local Government Council of Niger State.

While the traditional ruler of Ihima, His Royal Highness, Samuel Adayi Onimisi was removed from throne and sent on exile to Lavun in Doko Local Government Council of Niger State.

Our correspondent who visited the various emirate councils to confirm the arrival of the banished Kings on Wednesday discovered that they were yet to arrive their different emirate locations, as it was further gathered that the Niger State Emirate Council has rejected their exile to Niger.

A source within the palace of Etsu Nupe who spoke based on anonymity said feelers indicates that there is no place for any of the dethroned monarch in any emirate council in Niger.
He claimed that the Etsu Nupe would not subscribe to political mudslinging that led to the removal and exile of the three monarchs to Niger State.

According to him, the Emirate was yet to receive any official letter from Kogi State government in respect of the exiled Kings to the State, but said, when such letter comes, the Emirate was ready to reply and make a copy available to journalists.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News from Niger State

Niger Senator, Stakeholders Commend Works Ministe for Minna-Suleja Road Contract Revocation

Published

on

By

Sani Musa

Senator Mohammed Sani Musa of Niger East Senatorial District has praised the decision of Works Minister David Umahi to revoke the stalled contract for the dualization of the 83-kilometer Minna-Suleja road, calling the move a “long-overdue intervention” in Niger State.

In a statement released Monday in Minna, Senator Musa highlighted that the contract, initially awarded in 2010 to Salini Nigeria Construction Company, had seen minimal progress despite the road’s deteriorating condition, which has led to frequent accidents and fatalities. According to Musa, Umahi’s decision offers renewed hope to the people of Niger State and showcases the minister’s commitment to fulfilling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s National Road Master Plan under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The Minister has taken a decisive step to address an urgent issue that has troubled the people of Niger State for over a decade,” Musa stated. “This revocation represents a commitment to ensure effective project delivery for the benefit of our communities.”

Senator Musa, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, noted that Minister Umahi recently convened a meeting with key stakeholders in Abuja to discuss challenges impeding 10 federal road projects across Niger State. During the meeting, former Niger State Governor Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago presented updates on each project, highlighting specific delays and the need for improved contractor performance.

Musa commended Minister Umahi’s firm stance on accountability, stating that the minister reprimanded underperforming contractors and staff within the ministry. Umahi reportedly warned that anyone found hindering project progress would face disciplinary action, including possible referrals to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In a proactive response, Minister Umahi ordered the redesign and re-awarding of the Suleja-Lambatta-Minna road (Phases 1 & 2) and directed the contractor for the Bida-Lapai-Lambatta road to immediately resume work from the Bida-Lapai axis. Additionally, the minister committed to securing more funds for the Mokwa-Makera-Tegina road project in the 2025 budget.

Other local leaders, including APC chieftain and former Niger State Commissioner for Information Jonathan Vatsa, applauded President Tinubu’s administration for prioritizing infrastructure needs in the state. Vatsa contrasted this approach with the previous administration, stating that “despite strong support for President Buhari, Niger State saw little progress in essential areas like road development. President Tinubu’s actions are giving us hope.”

Senator Musa acknowledged the strong leadership of Governor Umar Bago, who, along with the state’s federal representatives, has worked closely with the Federal Ministry of Works to ensure that federal road projects in Niger are prioritized and meet quality standards. Musa concluded by urging the people of Niger State to support these developments, which he described as a turning point for road infrastructure in the region.

Continue Reading

News from Niger State

Bago asks FG to revoke Minna-Suleja road contract over poor performance

Published

on

By

Mohammed Umar Bago

***says contractor lacks capacity

From John Adams, Minna

Niger state Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago has urged the Federal Government to revoke the contract for the Suleja-Minna road awarded to Salini Nigeria Limited since 2010, saying that the contractor lacks the necessary capacity to undertake the project.
The governor made the call in Minna on Wednesday during a Town Hall Meeting/Stakeholders Engagement on the construction of the 125KM:3- Lanes Single Carriage (Niger State Component) of the 1,068KM Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
The Governor while addressing the gathering explained that the call to terminate the contract had become expedien as it is clear that the company, Salini Nigeria Limited does not have the capacity to execute the road project effectively.
He observed that after 14 years the 83km road contract was awarded, only about 35 percent of the job has been achieved hence he demanded that the contract be terminated.
According to the governor, “I will look at this company in the face and say, Salini has failed, and the company doesn’t have the capacity.
We are calling on the Minister to revoke the contract and award it to Hi-Tech Construction Company or CCECC to handle, just like the way the Abuja-Kano road was revoked from Julius Berger recently”.
He also used the occasion to appeal to the federal government to refund monies invested by the Niger state Government to rehabilitate federal roads in the state, adding that “We have put in the State’s resources into the federal government roads project in Niger state and we are asking for refund. We did it because we have the same aspirations and dream with the federal government”.
Earlier, the Minister of Works, Senator Engr. Nweze David Umahi decried the poor state of federal roads in the state as well as others across the nation, saying that
“Many of these federal projects were awarded dating back to 2010 and have remained incomplete and abandoned by successive administrations”
On the Minna-Suleja road, the minister threatened to take a decisive action against the contractor handling the road project because of the obvious reason that it lacked the capacity to execute the work.
“The company cannot continue to collect money from the federal government for over 10 years without executing the project. I was initially told that work on Minna-Suleja road has reached 86℅.
“However, when I traveled on the road to Minna, I noticed nothing has been done, yet the contractor keeps collecting money on it”, he stated.
“The Bida-Lapai-Lambata Road is still at 64% completion despite awarding the contract over a decade ago.
“Presently, quality infrastructure and timely project completion are priorities for both state and federal stakeholders”.
Speaking on the importance of the stakeholders meeting, which focused on constructing the 125-kilometer, three-lane, single-carriageway Niger State segment of the larger 1,068-kilometer Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, the minister said, “The Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway is a federal road that will pass through several states, including Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Ogun, Oyo, and Lagos, with 125 kilometers of the highway to be constructed in Niger State”.
Furthermore, various stakeholders who spoke during the town hall meeting on behalf of the communities affected by the Niger state component of the Sokoto-Badagry road project called on the federal government to ensure that compensations are duly paid to the people while pledging their support for the success of the project.

Continue Reading

News from Niger State

NECO Refutes Social Media Claims, Confirms Full Payment to External Examiners

Published

on

By

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has countered reports circulating on social media alleging that it owes allowances to 72,138 external examiners who worked on the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
NECO’s Acting Director of Information, Mallam Azeez Sani, in a statement issued in Minna on Wednesday clarified that the council has fully settled all outstanding payments to examiners as of Wednesday, November 13, 2024.

Mallam Sani explained that the payment process, which began on October 4, 2024, required meticulous reconciliation to prevent errors and delays. He noted that some examiners had initially submitted incorrect bank details, causing minor delays that were quickly resolved.
In addition, the council pointed out that “it was discovered in the process that some Examiners submitted incorrect bank details, which the Council has reconciled with the affected examiners.
All 24 banks involved in the payment process have now been cleared.
The statement added that “NECO has completed the payment of the examiners allowances as at today Wednesday 13th November, 2024 according to the payment plan of the Council”.
Mallam Azeez therefore described as incorrect and false insinuation in the social media that the Council has deliberately refused to pay Examiners engaged in the conduct of the 2024 SSCE Internal their allowance.
“The Management advice that any person(s) engaged by the Council should seek clarification/explanation from it, on matters oblivious to them before resorting to the Media
“NECO wishes to reassure its esteemed Examiners and other ad-hoc Staff that the Council cherishes their invaluable contributions to the effective conduct of its examination and will therefore not take their renumeration for granted”.
It could be recalled that some social media platform had alleged that the examinations body was indebted to 72,138 Examiners that were engaged as ad-hoc Staff in the just released 2024 School-based Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for the payment of their allowance.

Mallam Sani reassured NECO’s commitment to timely and respectful payment practices for all its ad-hoc staff, emphasizing the council’s appreciation for their essential role in the successful administration of the examination.

.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 National Update