Mai Mala, Prof Zulum take over as Kanen-Borno governors

As published by The Nation

Alhaji Mai Mala Buni and Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum along with their deputy governor have been sworn – in as new executive governor’s of Yobe and Borno States respectively.
In Yobe State, the event was done at the Banquet Hall of the Government House Damaturu.

READ ALSO: Breaking: Umahi sworn in for second term

The oath was administered by Justice Garba Musa Nabaruma, the Chief Judge of Yobe State.
In Borno State, the event was held at the massive Ramat Square amidst hundreds of thousands of supporters with heavy security.

Details later

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Gov. Gaidam dissolves cabinet ahead of tenure expiration tomorrow …says he has made Yobe a better place

Gov. Gaidam dissolves cabinet ahead of tenure expiration tomorrow

…says he has made Yobe a better place

The farewell Exco chaired by Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam.

Outgoing Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has dissolved the state Executive Council as his tenure winds up tomorrow.

The Governor who made the dissolution today after a valedictory council meeting and thanked all member of the executive council for their contribution to the success of his administration  

Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam in his address boasted that he has made Yobe a better place for everyone to live in than he met it.

Below is the full text of his address:
“I have a great pleasure to warmly welcome you to the valedictory session of the State Executive Council. As you are no doubt aware, the tenure of the present administration will end on Wednesday, 29th May 2019. This last Executive Council session, therefore, is an historic occasion for all of us.
“ I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate and congratulate each member who has had the privilege to serve on the Council at various times from 2009 to date on our achievements. The big successes which our tenure recorded was a result of hard work, commitment, sacrifice and patience. For a better appreciation of the services we rendered to make our people’s life better, permit me at this point to reflect on the journey so far.

“ A little over ten years ago when this administration came on board, the State was characterized by poor infrastructural facilities. These include inadequate township and intra state roads, dilapidated educational and health structures, inadequate water supply, low agricultural productivity as well as institutional decay in governance. In order to turn around the situation, we embarked on far reaching policies, programmes and reforms. Our guiding principles were good governance, accountability, transparency and value for money spent on the provision of services. In a matter of hours, our tenure will be over, but we can look back with satisfaction and smile because a lot of things had happened. The State University we established has been described as the fastest growing institution in Northern Nigeria. The State of Emergency we declared on health has transformed the sector and attracted commendations and awards. Yobe is gradually being transformed into a medical tourism haven.

“Recently, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) released a report which indicated that due to our realistic budget, Yobe is one of the eight solvent States and in fact the only State that can fund 2019 budget from combined Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations for 2017 and 2018. Furthermore, the National Bureau for Statistics report for 2017 indicated that Yobe has achieved over 75% coverage of the State in provision and improvement of potable water supply. Ours is one of the few administrations in the country which succeeded in cutting its coat according to its size. We were workers friendly because we paid salaries, pensions and gratuities as and when due. We are leaving a clean slate in this respect. It is also a matter of pride that all our policies, projects and programmes, most of which have been completed were executed without recourse to domestic or external loans.

Some members of Yobe Exco meeting earlier today.

“One of the imperatives of Government is to protect lives and property of its citizens. It is this area that posed the greatest challenge to our administration. The Boko Haram insurgency especially during the period 2011 – 2014 resulted in loss of numerous lives and destruction of properties. We rose to the occasion by assisting security agencies and complementing the efforts of the Federal Government. As we come to the end of our tenure, all but one of the abducted Dapchi Secondary School girls have been freed. We have also reconstructed a number of public structures destroyed by the insurgents. We are leaving Yobe that is relatively peaceful. We are leaving the stage optimistic that we have raised the stakes of governance to a high pedestal that never will the people accept a reversal of gains made and back to the old order of doing things.

“As I indicated earlier, today we are not sad but rather smiling that we were part of all that I have enumerated. As members of the outgoing State Executive Council, you should hold your head high that you are part of the present administration which has recorded all these tremendous achievements. I thank you most sincerely for serving on the Council and wish you success in all your future endeavours.

“Thank you. May the Almighty Allah (SWT) bless you and our State”.

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North Central accounts for highest Open Defecation zone in Nigeria – UNICEF

North Central accounts for highest Open Defecation zone in Nigeria – UNICEF

The North Central Nigeria is currently top in Open Defecation across all geopolitical zones in the country with 53.9% according to a study conducted by UNICEF.

The report has indicated that, out of 47 million Nigerians that defecate in open places, 16 million of such people are living in the North Central part of Nigeria.

The report also added that 1 in 4 persons in Nigeria defecates in the open while 1 in 2 person of those that defecates in open places come from North Central Nigeria.

Another zone with high rate of open defecation that ranks second to North -Central in Open Defecation is the South West Zone which according to the study has a population of 28.0% that practice open defecation.

High populations of about 22.4% in the South- West are also engaged in Open Defecation practices, while the North East and North West have a total of 21.8% and 10.3% respectively.

The South -South according to the study has the least percentage of people practicing Open Defecation with just 17.9%.

UNICEF has also explained that there are Health Economic and Social implications of Open Defecation on the population of a country, stressing that Open Defecation leads to poor health, low productivity, low economy, social stigma and exposure to danger.

According to UNICEF, an estimated 122,000 Nigerians including   87,000 children under the ages of five die of diarrhea  as a result of unwholesome hygiene practices that are preventable. These diseases cause absenteeism in school and work places and either taking sick people to hospital or taking time to heal before resuming work.

UNICEF study has also indicated that open defecation is a third contributor of 1% fall in the GDP of Nigeria among other poor hygiene practices. It also exposes children especially female children to rape and other dangers like snake bites, just like social stigma associated with loss of dignity in some community as a result of open defecation.

Disturbed by the huge health implication and its economic burden on families across the country, UNICEF with the support of European Union and UKAid in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a campaign against open defecation in the country.

Tagged: ‘Clean Nigeria; Use a Toilet’, the campaign is targeted at reversing the old practice of defecating in open places instead of using a controlled and improved system of toilets that in the long term reduce the health risks with incidences of diseases such as diarrhea and vomiting among children and adults  in our communities.

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Senate presidency: Gov. Gaidam intensifies lobby for Sen Lawan, meets north west governors

Senate presidency: Gov. Gaidam intensifies lobby for Sen Lawan, meets north west governors

Yobe State Governor,  Ibrahim Gaidam has taken the lobby for the senate presidency of Dr. Ahmed Lawan to north-west Governors.

Gaidam  at separate  meeting visited  Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano and Mohamed Badaru of Jigawa State according to Abdullahi Bego, the spokesman of Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam on his facebook wall.

the post also indicated that the outgoing Yobe Governor was in company of his successor, the  Governor-Elect Mai Mala Buni and the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawal.

"The delegation met first with Gov Ganduje before heading to Dutse town to meet with Governor Abubakar Badaru.

"The trio will also meet with the governors of Katsina and Kebbi States later in the day", the post indicated.

ImpactOnlineNigeria reports that the ruling APC has tipped the  Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan as the candidate for president of the ninth senate.

There are however other candidates like former senate leader Ali Ndume from Borno State and Sen Danjuma Goje, one time governor of Gombe State.

Both Ndume and Goje have refused to succumb to the arrangement of the party to present Sen Lawan as the sole candidate for the plumb job as they have maintained their campaigns to lead the 9th senate come June this year.

The visit of Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam will be as serious addition to Sen. Lawan's advantage as the senators from the zone have already endorsed him for the job.

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Army shuts down fuel supply in Geidam …action grounds business

Army shuts down fuel supply in Geidam

…action grounds business

A FILLING STATION IN YOBE STATE

All fuel supply channels in Geidam town, north east of Yobe State have been shut down by military authorities, ImpactOnlinenNigeria has gathered.

The order which came last last ordered all petrol marketers in the town not to open their fuel stations this morning.

One of the marketers in the town, Audu Mohammed, the manager of Rahama Filling Station in Geidam disclosed that, the order came to them around 9.30pm last night directing them to keep their fuel stations closed this morning from the public.

He disclosed that no reason was  given for the action of the military.

Mohammed  informed that residents cannot take their children to school, just as local businesses have also been grounded as a result of the cut in fuel supply in the town.

Another resident Adams Yunusa told ImpactOnlineNigeria that  residents have resulted to drinking shallow borehole hitherto used for irrigation farming in the area

He added that decent water in the town now cost N300 per 12  jerrycans of water as against N150.

Mohammed Audu disclosed  that their union is trying to meet with the military leadership in the town to iron out what is the problem as not reason was given for the closure.

The spokesman of Sector II Operation Lafiya Dole, Lt. Njoka Irabor denied knowledge of the development but promised to investigate the matter and get back with useful information when contacted.

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Zainab returns to Nigeria after false drug arrest in S/Arabia

Zainab returns to Nigeria after false drug arrest in S/Arabia

Zainab Aliyu,22 has finally touched home soil after  been arrested and detained by Saudi Authorities following  a  frame-up by a monstrous drug cartel at Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, Nigeria.

Zainab Aliyu, a  student of the Maitama Sule University in Kano, had travelled to Saudi Arabia for lesser hajj alongside her mother and sister when her arrest was effected by Saudi security.

She was arrested at the Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina, Saudi Arabia in December 2018 following some planted tramadol, a banned drug was allegedly found in her bag.


ImpactOnlineNigeria monitored her return on NTA saw that Zainab arrived in Nigeria through the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano on Monday in the company of Ibrahim Abubakar, another Nigerian accused of the same crime.

She was also sighted in warm hugs and pictures  with  friends and family members at the arrival lounge of the airport. 

ImpactOnlineNigeria reports that Zainab release was facilitated by the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Justice after public outcry over her innocence in the crime she was alleged to have commited.

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Boko Haram: Army, vigilante rescue 29 women, 25 children in Borno

Boko Haram: Army, vigilante  rescue 29 women, 25 children in Borno

..arrests police sergeant with ammunition

 

Some rescued children

Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole with the support of  Local Vigilantes  have rescued 29 women and 25 children from the jaws  of Boko Haram in Borno State.

The Acting Director Army Public Relations Colonel SAGIR MUSA in a statement explained that the rescue is the direct gains of  a clearance operation carried out by troops of 22 Brigade, Operation Lafiya Dole at Ma’allasuwa and Yaga-Munye Villages in Borno State.

The Statement added that some group of Boko Haram terrorists took to their heels and  abandoned their camp at Zari-Kasake and Jumachere villages in Damasak in Mobbar Local Government area of Bonro State.

Col. Sagir also disclosed that luck ran out of a mobile police sergeant, Markus John as he was  nabbed by security at the Njimtilo Check-point along Damaturu-Maiduguri road in possession of illegal ammunition.

 The Statement reads:

“Troops of 22 Brigade, Operation LAFIYA DOLE in collaboration with local vigilantes have continued moving into the hinterland on clearance operation to destroy Boko Haram terrorists. Consequently, on the 11th of May 2019, troops effectively cleared Ma'allasuwa and Yaga - Munye villages in Borno State. No encounter with Boko Haram terrorists was made as they run away before troops' arrival leaving behind 54 suspected kidnapped victims. Out of the number, 29 are grown up women and 25 are children of various ages and sex. They have all been rescued.

“Similarly, at Zari - Kasake and Jumachere villages in Damasak general area of Mobbar Local Government Area of Borno State, troops of 145 Battalion Operation LAFIYA DOLE on clearance operation discovered and destroyed two Boko Haram terrorists' logistics vehicles. Deserted BHTs make up shift accommodation was also destroyed.

“Additionally, Mopol Sergeant Markus John - Personal Number - PNo 383106 was arrested at Njimtilo check point along Maiduguri - Damaturu road in possession of 2 magazines, 146 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition and one round of Anti Aircraft Gun concealed in his bag while on transit to Lagos State,” the statement said.

some rescued women.

The Statement also recalled that “on the 10th of May 2019, troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE in conjunction with the Nigerian Police, arrested 14NA7113208 Private Paul Ojochegbe and 12NA672586 Lance Corporal Oko Eke in possession of one disassembled AK 47 Rifle at the same N'jimtilo check point”.

The Statement enjoined the cooperation of the general public, just as the Army promised to be committed to the fight to flush out criminal elements in all parts of the country.

 “Nigerian Army will remain resolute in ending terrorism and other forms of insecurities across the country, and reiterate its appeal to the public to continue to provide useful information about suspicious movement of terrorists/criminals wherever they are seen hibernating in Nigeria,” the statement explained.

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