Author: Victor Gai

A section of the media and especially the social media has been inundated with scary rumours and controversies over Governor Darius Ishaku’s prolonged stay away from Taraba state. His absence has sent tongues wagging in the state and beyond with some alleging that he is ill and needed to hand over office to his deputy, the ever loyal Engr. Haruna Manu. It was like the more he stayed away from the state, the more these rumours brewed which forced the government to clear the air. Governor Ishaku’s last official function on Taraba soil was the presentation of the 2019 budget…

The 3050 megawatts capacity Mambilla Hydroelectric power project in Taraba state, which had remained moribund since 1972, could not take off mainly due to lack of the political will by successive administrations as well as some legal concerns. This was disclosed by the Special Assistant to the Minister of Power, Aaron Artimas, in an exclusive interview with News Chronicle. According to Artimas, past administrations were lacking the political will to execute so many projects they initiated including the Mambilla Hydroelectric project and that President Buhari heeded to the call of Nigerians for power supply. “…We know that there have been…

A proposal to alleviate the pain of being a Bengals and Browns fan has gone up in smoke. Being a fan of the NFL’s franchises in Cincinnati and Cleveland does not meet the condition requirements to purchase medical marijuana, an Ohio medical board committee ruled Wednesday. The panel that met in Columbus turned down several petitions regarding conditions that could help Ohio residents take advantage of a 2016 law that allowed them to buy marijuana medicinally. In December, Cincinnati resident Vincent Morano being a “Browns/Bengals fan” was among the multiple petitions filed, according to documents released by the state’s medical…

Former senator representing Kaduna South in the National Assembly, Sen. Shehu Sani has reacted over the gruesome murder of a family of 16 in Kaduna by armed bandits on Wednesday, describing it as “tragic and condemnable”. In a tweet he shared on twitter, Shehu stated that, “the report that bandits locked , burned and roasted 16 people alive in Giwa LG, Kaduna state is tragic and condenmable. We live in times of perpetual fear and serial mourning. The nation is tragically in a ceaseless funeral; as the tears of one family dries up, that of another gushes”. Bakali village of…

UNITED NATIONS, New York – Around the world, Valentine’s Day is celebrated as a time of joy and romance. Yet for millions, fairy tales of love and marriage are just that – fiction. Hundreds of millions of women and girls alive today were married off while still children. Many were exposed to violence, forced from school and pushed into premature parenthood. Child marriage is a tragedy for the individuals it ensnares – often the most vulnerable, impoverished and marginalized girls. But it is also bad for communities and societies as a whole, locking child brides and their families in a…

The Nigeria Police, Plateau State command, with the help of hunters and local vigilantes, have killed one kidnapper and recovered several weapons, even as it was able to arrest armed robbers in Jos. This was disclosed during a press briefing by the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, Isaac Akinmoyede, at the Command on Wednesday. According to Akinmoyede, “on 11/02/2020 at about 0700hrs, one Rev. Ganko Istafanus ‘m’ of COCIN RCC Shimankar Village, Shendam LGA of Plateau State, reported at the Shendam Divisional Police Headquarters that on the same date at about 0530hrs, unknown gunmen entered his residence and kidnapped…

A report released in 2019 by the International Crisis Group (ICR), has revealed that the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a splinter group of the dreaded Boko Haram group, had exploited most poorly governed territories in the north east of Nigeria to take a foothold of communities. The report therefore advised state authorities on what it must do to remedy the situation and avert a situation where the insurgent group will gain confidence with the people. According to the report titled: ‘Facing the challenge of the Islamic State in West Africa Province’, observed that, “The Islamic State in West…

The African Development Bank (http://www.AfDB.org/), the United Nations, and the African Union on Saturday acknowledged the significant progress made in implementing Agenda 2063 and urged African countries to go further to fast-track economic transformation. The press release made available to News Chronicle, was dated February 10 and signed by Emeka Anuforo of the Communication and External Relations department of the African Development Bank. According to the release, the call was made on Saturday at the launch of the first report on the implementation of Agenda 2063 ahead of the 33rd African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. The report provides an…

The Senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District, Ignatius Longjan is dead. According to one of his aides who preferred anonymity because “the family is yet to issue an official statement to that effect”, said the senator died in Jos, the Plateau State capital following a short period of ill-health. The late Ignatius Longjan who is a former Deputy Governor to former Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State was a career diplomat before his foray into the political arena. Before serving as the deputy governor, Longjan served as the Chief of Staff to Governor Jang between 2007 to 2011. He was…

This is not the best of times for Nigerians in the hands of the deadly Islamic terrorist group-Boko Haram in the North-East, armed bandits in the North-West, Fulani herders in the North-Central, militants in the South-South, kidnappers in the South-East and parts of the north and secessionists in the South-East. The country can be said to be in a state of war and if drastic measures are not taken, it can plunge the entire nation and the sub-region into a catastrophe. However, of all the security threats mentioned, the one that poses an existential threat to the country and which…

“From now henceforth, traditional and community leaders will be held responsible for any break down of law and order in their domain”. This warning was given by Gov. Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State during the Coronation and Presentation of Staff of office to 3 traditional rulers at Shendam Mini Stadium in Shendam LGA of Plateau state. The 3 traditional leaders upgraded and presented with the staff of office by the governor are their Royal Highnesses Miskoom David Isa Longban-Long Dorok, the second class staff of office, The Long Derteng, Miskoom Thomas Yunkwap with third class, and Long Jaktoe, Miskoom…

TROOPS of the Nigerian Army under Operation Lafiyà Dole have handed over to the Borno state government,158 sheep and goats, as well as 14 cows recovered from Boko Haram insurgents during a clearing operation along Maiduguri – Dalwa axis in Konduga local government area of Borno state. At a brief ceremony at the handing over of the  livestock to the Borno state government at Molai Super Camp, Maiduguri, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Abdul Ibrahim, said: “We are here to handover 158 sheep and goats and 14 cows recovered by our troops along…

As part of multidimensional efforts to address the scourge of unemployment in Borno State, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has visited the headquarters of the National Directorate of Employment, NDE, in Abuja, in search of training opportunities available for the teeming unemployed youths in the state. NDE’s Director-General, Dr. Nasiru Ladan Argungu, overwhelmed with joy, said Zulum was the first northern Governor to visit the directorate’s headquarters and for that, he has priority attention for Borno State in addition to security challenges that confer a comparative advantage on the state. Governor Zulum said, addressing the problem of mass unemployment looks promising…

The newly appointed commissioners in Kogi state have been warned to desist from any forms of tribalism and sectionalism in the discharge of their official duties and that whoever was caught in the act would be shown the way out. Governor Yahaya Bello gave the warning while swearing-in commissioners at the Glass House of Lugard House, Lokoja on Wednesday. Bello said the new commissioners were found worthy in learning and character, while those retained were worthy of a second chance. He urged them to be accessible to the people both at constituencies and office. “Reach out, be accessible, approachable and…

Of the 3,597 graduands of the forthcoming 37th funders day and 29th convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology Minna, only 57 candidates graduated with first class. This was disclosed by the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Abdulahi Bala,  during the pre-convocation press briefing. Prof. Bala said the total number of graduands of undergraduate programmes is 3,597. This according to him, comprises 57 First class, 926 Second Class Upper, 1733 Second Class Lower, 836 Third Class, and 45 Pass degrees. The total number is made up of graduands from both the University and affiliated institutions. He said the highlight…

Following the presidential order to use air power against bandits in Niger state, Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello, has procured 12 Hilux Vans and 120 motorcycles to the four worse hit local governments in the state which include Rafi, Munya, Shiroro, and Mariga Local government. Addressing journalists along with all the service chiefs in the state, the governor said “It is out of place to address the press on security plans but we need to do it to bridge the gaps between people and the government. We have to re-strategize our plans because all our plans are already before the…

Following the incessant killing of Plateau natives and the recent killing of 13 others in Bokkos LGA of the state by suspected herdsmen, Gov. Simon Lalong has directed the Commissioner of Police to get the Fulani leaders to produce the perpetrators as they are not ‘spirits’. In a press statement by the Director of Press Affairs to the Governor, Makut Simon Macham, described the governor’s reaction to the issue when he hosted stakeholders at the Government House Jos, including the Fulani community where he insisted that the perpetrators must be fished out immediately. According to the statement, the governor “expressed…

The Plateau state command of the Nigeria Police Force is “soliciting for vital Information that will aide the Police in arresting whosoever is involved in the attack” on Kwatas village of Bokkos LGA, “where 13 persons lost their lives while 5 persons were critically injured and receiving treatment at the General Hospital Bokkos”. In a press statement dated 27/1/2020 and signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Ubah Gabriel Ogaba, says, “immediately the Command received the information, the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, CP Isaac Akinmoyede, swung into action by deploying detectives, conventional policemen, and PMF personnel…

Fourteen persons were reportedly killed with several others injured when suspected Fulani herdsmen attack Kwatas community in Bokkos LGA in Plateau state on Sunday evening. While speaking with News Chronicle on phone, a resident who did not want his name mentioned, revealed that “Fulani people went to Kwatas and killed 14 people. It happened in the evening around 6-7 pm. The injured are in the hospital”. According to him, the attackers had escaped when the community members mobilized to defend themselves. He also stated that the market has been suspended in the area and that security agents have taken control.…

A total of fifteen rooms which include stores and residential apartments were on Saturday night destroyed by fire in Jenta Adamu ward of Jos North LGA. According to a victim, Timlok Nimkur, although no life was lost, domestic items like refrigerators, mattresses, chairs, food items as well as a store with published books were all destroyed. Also, a newly married couple lost all they got from the unfortunate incident. It was learned the fire started at about 7 pm when power was restored. “We saw smoke at the time power was restored. We didn’t know where it was coming from.…

A Nigerian born American Security expert, Anthony Gasby Ayoh, has offered a solution to the ever-increasing security challenge in the country. He has tasked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government and the nation’s service chiefs to come up with new strategies to tackle insecurity in the country, urging security chiefs and community leaders to focus on information gathering. Ayoh, who spoke in an interview with journalists on Friday stressed the importance of having an effective international collaboration as part of efforts to combat terrorism and kidnapping in the country. He listed 24 hours security guard services, security consulting in terrorism…

A 24-year-old man has lost his life, following the outbreak of LASSA fever in Borno state while three others suspected to be infected with the virus are currently undergoing intensive investigation in the rapid response medical facility in the state capital. Commissioner of Health, Dr. Salisu Kwaya-Bura, disclosed this Thursday at a press conference in Maiduguri. He hinted that since the first case of Lassa fever was recorded through a German woman in Lassa community of Askira Uba Local Government Area of the state in 1969, where the disease got its name, that was the second outbreak to be recorded…

ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Nigerian Government to intensify its fight against corruption through stiffer punishment for looters and the inclusion of citizens in the fight against corruption. The Country Director of the antipoverty organization, Ene Obi in a statement made available to journalists in Lokoja at the weekend said “While it appears that the Nigerian Government is doing so much in fighting corruption, the just-released Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2019 has contradicted the assumption that we are excelling in the fight against corruption. We do agree that the CPI report annually is based on perception, however, perception also…

After gaining victory at the Supreme Court, Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has urged supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to shun violence and exhibit a high sense of maturity during the January 25 re-run and supplementary elections in Sokoto.  The Governor disclosed this in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Muhammad Bello, in Abuja on Friday. The governor had earlier appealed for support at the Giginya Memorial Stadium, Sokoto, when he endorsed the party’s candidates for the Sokoto North and South Federal Constituency rerun election and supplementary election for State House of Assembly, on…

Eight passengers abducted on Wednesday afternoon along Kaduna-Zaria highway have been rescued by the police. Also rescued were three workers of Airtel Communications Company abducted on Tuesday, and nine others kidnapped on Jan. 14 when bandits attacked the convoy of the Emir of Potiskum. The police, however, said in Wednesday’s attack,  two of the bandits were shot dead and all the eight abducted passengers rescued. The victims, according to the Kaduna state police command spokesman, Yakubu Sabo, were traveling to Abuja from Kano when their Sharon vehicle was forced to stop by the bandits. According to Sabo, the police responded…

Doubts FGs resolve to fight terrorism Member representing Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam in the House of Representatives, Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, has described the recent execution of Daciya Ropvil Dalep, a 200 level student of the University of Maiduguri, as “devilish” and wondered if the efforts the Federal government has put in place to curb terrorism was yielding results. The lawmaker made this statement on Thursday at a press conference in Jos on the recent execution of the student and the state of insecurity in the nation. “We woke up in the morning of Tuesday, 21st January 2020 to the…

Member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, has said the government must identify the source of funding and Boko Haram and how they obtain their firearms if it must win the war against the deadly group. Gagdi made this position on Thursday at a press conference he organized in Jos following the eventual killing of his constituent, Daciya Ropvil Dalep, a 200 level student of the University of Maiduguri, who was abducted recently. He said: “Federal government must widen its intelligence network to identify the source of funding of the activities of the insurgents, the source of their…

The deadly Boko Haram terrorist group are “looking out for Christian citizens of Plateau state to kill”, and more citizens are at risk of such targeted killings if something urgent is not done, so says Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Member representing Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke at the House of Representatives, while reacting to the recent gruesome murder of his constituent, Daciya Ropvil Dalep by the group. In a press conference in Jos on Thursday, Gagdi stated that: “since the insurgents have made it categorically clear that they are looking out for Christian citizens of Plateau State to kill, the last could not have been…

The Taraba State House of Assembly passed the State 2020 budget estimate of N215.6bn into law. Taraba Governor, Darius Ishaku had on December 19, 2019, presented a budget estimate of N213.6bn to the House for consideration and passage. But the House, during its budget consideration, jacked up the budget up by N2bn, bringing the budget to N215.6bn. Speaking to journalists after the passage, the Speaker, Joseph Albasu-Kunini commended members for the timely passage of the budget. According to him, the increase of N2bn in the budget was based on the new Value Added Tax (VAT) from 5 to 7.5 percent.…

Preparations for the takeoff of the faculties of Engineering and Medicine at the Nasarawa State University (NSUK) Keffi have reached an advanced stage. The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen after receiving equipment donated by the De-Lorenzo University in Italy, which was facilitated by the Executive Vice Chairman of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Prof. Muhammed Sani Haruna in Keffi during the week. He assured that before the end of the year, an advertisement for the recruitment of academic and non-academic staff would be placed in order…