By Edith Ike-Eboh

By Abbas Bamalli

The Senator representing Kano Central, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, on Sunday inaugurated the construction of a road network linking three communities in Madobi Local Government Area of Kano State.

Shekarau said that the construction of the road at Kauran Mata community was to ease the hardship faced by residents plying the road.

He explained that the 1.5 kilometre road was under his constituency project captured in the 2020 budget.

Shekarau said that N200 million was earmarked in the budget for the project.

This is one of the so many projects we have in the pipeline, very soon in the next one or two months, we are hoping that the government will start the release of funds for the 2021 budget for our constituency projects.

The contractor has given the period of about 12 months for the completion of the project, and he has assured that he is going to complete it even before then, he said.

Shekarau also announced plan to establish a Quranic college in memory of his late grandfather, who was an Islamic scholar.

He said the college, which would be constructed in phases, would be a boarding school.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Stella Kabruk

The Kaduna State chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), on Sunday, announced plans to hold its sports festival annually to get the desired results at national sports competitions.

The NMA Vice-Chairman in the state, Dr Nasiru Saheed, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) shortly after the associations sports festival in Kaduna.

We intend to make the sports festival an annual event. That is how we can make impact and get the desired results.

I am happy to see doctors from all the 23 local government areas of the state coming together to show interest in sports. This is a sign of unity.

The event has been on hold for a while because the position of Director of Sports had been vacant and we just had someone occupying it, he said.

According to him, this years event is part of efforts to resuscitate the games, ahead of the national festival, scheduled for February 2022 in the state.

All the winners of the event will represent us during the upcoming national event here in our state, he said.

Saheed encouraged other medical doctors to engage themselves in sporting activities to ensure healthy living.

I want to encourage other doctors, who have yet to engage themselves in sporting events, to do so by joining us.

To be a better doctor, you need to involve in sports and physical fitness. It is important for ones health.

We should be practising what we preach to patients by actively getting involved in sports, the NMA vice-chairman said.

NAN reports that Zaria zone won the football competition after security a 4-1 victory over Kaduna zone.

In basketball, Kaduna zone beats its Zaria counterpart by 59-50 points to win the trophy, while in Badminton female category, Drs Amina Jelili and Oluwarotimi Oluwabumi, both from Zaria zone won gold and silver respectively.

Similarly, while Dr Solomon A. Labaran from Kaduna zone clinched the gold medal, Dr Abdulsalam Abdulrazaq from Zaria zone picked the silver medal.

At the end of the two-day event, Zaria emerged the overall winner, with three gold medals and three silver medals, while Kaduna wontwo gold medals and two silver medals. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kemi Akintokun

The Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association (NBSA), on Sunday, said that nine teams would participate in its upcoming National U-12 and U-15 Softball Championships in Badagry, Lagos.

The associations Secretary, Kehinde Laniyan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the championships would hold from April 20 to April 25, at Ibereko barracks in Badagry.

According to him, the teams are made up of six U-12 and three U-15.

Laniyan said that the championship, which would be hosted by Badagry Angels Little League Club, would feature NAOWA Hitters U-12 team,Kwara Sliders U-12 team and Sabo Wuse U-12 team.

Others are: Oluyole Plate Burners U-12 and U-15 teams, Adekalu Bulls U-12 and U-15 teams and Badagry Angels U-12 and U-15 teams.

The event will feature nine teams and it will help to hone the skills of budding talents in the game.

We are happy to have the competition back and this is one of our major developmental programmes for young players to grow and advance in the sport.

Accommodation and feeding will be provided for all registered clubs and only players, who have 12 and 15 as at April 2021 will be eligible to participate, while those who do not fall into these categories will be disqualified, he said.

Laniyan added that NBSA would have Obiakpan John as the chief umpire for the championship.

The chief umpire for the championship has over 20 years experience in the game and has officiated high profile games in the country.

He is known for having passion for the game and he is working selflessly for the development of the sport through impartial officiating, he said.

Laniyan stated that adequate measures had been put in place to ensure that all COVID-19 guidelines were strictly observed during the competition.

NAN reports that NBSA is a recognised body under the World Baseball Softball Confederation, African Baseball and Softball Association, Little League International and Nigerian Olympic Committee. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Kevin Okunzuwa

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has assured of his administrations plans to maintain the facilities being used for hosting the ongoing 20National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged Edo 2020.

Obaseki this said on Sunday when he teed-off the Edo 2020 golf tournament in Benin, the state capital.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obaseki was joined by his Deputy, Mr Philip Shaibu, Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, representative of President of Nigerian Golf Federation, Thaddeus Wilmen, and other golfers.

Addressing newsmen after teeing-off the tournament, Obaseki said: The purpose of the National Sports Festival is to bring men and women together in the spirit of oneness and unity, so that they can have a common purpose.

Our country needs healing, unity and sense of purpose, and that is why we are hosting the sports festival.

It is not necessary that we host and win. For us, we know wehave all it takes but as sports men and women, we will let excellence prevail, he added.

On the maintenance of the sports facilities in the state, which he described as world-class, Obaseki said: There are tremendous changes in Edo today as regards how we maintain the structures and institutions.

It has to do with the people, with capacity building and making sure you have the right processes and procedures.

Through the ongoing hiring and recruitment in the state public and civil service, we are going to put in place, not only the right people but also, the right systems and institutions to sustain what we are doing.

I am assuring the people of the state that the facilities will be kept well. They are owned by you and, therefore, we must have systems in place to ensure that they are maintained.

Obaseki added that it would not be his responsibility alone, but that of the entire people of the state to ensure the facilities were maintained.

We will put in place a system that will ensure that they are maintained, he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ishaq Zaki

The Zamfara Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) says it plans to distribute 130 trucks of assorted food items to the less privileged in the state, ahead of Ramadan fast.

Former Gov. Abdulaziz Yari and state APC leader said this at a ceremony to commence the distribution of the items in Gusau on Sunday.

Yari, represented by Sen. Kabiru Marafa(APC-Zamfara) said the items included 54 trucks of 50 kg bags of rice, 32 trucks of 50 kg bags of sugar, 22 trucks of maize and 22 trucks of millet.

He said the items would be distributed across the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

Each of the 13 LGAs will receive five trucks comprising of two trucks of rice, one truck of sugar, one truck of millet and one truck of maize.

While Gusau LGA will receive 10 trucks making a total of 75 trailers, he said.

Yari said the remaining 55 trucks would be distributed to orphans, people with special needs, security agencies, musicians, journalists and social media frontiers.

According to him, other beneficiaries include party executives and elders.

The items were provided by the party considering the current inflation in prices of food items in the country.

We thank the party leadership in the state and members of the party especially with the recent reconciliation, he said.

Sen.Abba Aji, who represented APC National Secretariat, commended the state leaders for the gesture.

I commend Yari and Marafa for their determination and reconciliation for the interest of the party, he said.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Mercy Obojeghren

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, declared the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Jude Ogbimi, winner of Saturdays by-election in Isoko North State Constituency of Delta.

The Returning Officer for the election, Christopher Onosemuode, declared the result atOzoro in Isoko council area.

Onosemuode, of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, said Ogbimi scored 29,421 votes to defeat eight other candidates in the by-election.

Hesaid that the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Emmanuel Tabuko, scored 2,543 votes to place second, while Agose Ogagaoghene of Action Democratic Party (ADP), came third with 66 votes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that11 political parties participated in the by-election, occasioned by the death of a former House of Assembly Majority Leader, Mr Tim Owhefere.

In his reaction, Ogbimi expressed gratitude to God and the people of the constituency for his victory at the poll, assuring that he would give his constituents the good representation they truly deserved.

He commended Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for his support and commitment to the development of state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Ugonne Uzoma

Governors of the South East states have resolved to maintain a joint security outfit for the code named Ebube Agu (Wonderful Tiger).

The governors made the resolution in a communique during the first south east security summit held in Owerri on Sunday.

The communique was presented by Chief Dave Umahi, Chairman of the South East Governors Conference and Ebonyi governor,

The governors conference said the joint security outfit would have its headquarters in Enugu to coordinate the vigilance groups in the zone.

They also resolved to set up a committee comprising security personnel, government officials and other relevant stakeholders to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the joint security platform.

During the meeting, the governors also condemned terrorism and banditry in every part of Nigeria particularly in the south east where some security formations were destroyed.

The governors expressed support to the federal government efforts in tackling security challenges in the country.

They also resolved to pool their resources as one united zone to fight crime and terrorism in the zone.

They stressed the need to galvanise all relevant stakeholders, bureaucrats and political class to provide support to security agencies in order to achieve their goals.

They also banned open grazing and urged the security agencies to enforce the ban in the states.

They, however, called for peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders to enable them to succeed in the fight against criminality.

The meeting was attended by Governors Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Willie Obiano of Anambra, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu and Hope Uzodinma of Imo as well as heads of various security agencies in the zone. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Moses Omorogieva

The Police have arrested two women suspected to have hands in the death of a 64-year-old Osita Anwuanwu at Arida area of Ikotun in Lagos State.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Lagos State command, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday.

Adejobi stated that the incident happened on April 8, at about 8.45 p.m.

He said the daughter of the deceased, one Linda Anwuanwu, of Temitope Street, off Governors Road, Ikotun, Lagos reported the case to the Police at Ikotun Division.

He said that the complainant claimed in her reports that she was informed that her father was lying down in a bar at Arida after he had a misunderstanding with the two suspects.

The Police at Ikotun Division raced to the scene and rushed the deceased to the General Hospital, Igando, where he was certified dead.

Preliminary investigation by the Police shows that the deceased had gone to check his lady friend, (one of the suspects), who he had not seen for some times, at the second suspects bar.

There, the deceased engaged the duo in a hot argument and physical assault before he slumped, the statement read.

The two suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for proper investigation.

Similarly, Adejobi said the Police operatives attached to Ikorodu Division arrested a 50-year-old man over the sudden death of his girlfriend, one Enobong Udoh, 38.

He said the incident happened on April 11 at about 10:45 a.m.

The spokesman stated that one Blessing Pius of No. 46, Adegboruwa Street, Igbogbo, Ikorodu, reported to the Police that the deceased was found dead in her house.

He said upon the report, the Police invited the deceaseds boyfriend for interrogation, where he allegedly confessed that the deceased was pregnant.

Adejobi said the suspected boyfriend claimed that his late lover informed him of being pregnant since February.

The suspect claimed he was in her lovers house on April 10 to check on her at about 5:14 p.m. when the deceased informed him that she had terminated the pregnancy.

The statements and utterances of the suspect revealed that he has some questions to answer.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered that the suspect be transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

By Abbas Bamalli

A total of 704 people from the 34 local government areas of Kano State selected to serve under the community policing initiative, have completed their training.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the squad, trained at the Police College Kaduna, consists of 15 people from each of the 44 local government areas.

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje on Sunday commissioned the personnel in Kano and congratulated them forsuccessfully completing the training.

He urged them to use what they learned to improve security in their localities.

We do appreciate your instructors in Kaduna who endure to help you, and from the report we had, they said you behaved very well.

And you did very well, and they are expecting you to do more now that you are working for the society.

There is no doubt that security is a serious challenge in Nigeria, and Kano State is not spared in that.

Therefore, we have designed a number of programmes and projects to ensure that our state is secured.

We have to thank God for protecting us and for making us one of the safest and most peaceful state in the federation.

We have to continue praying to God and at the same time we have to follow our own policies that are meant to protect our people, he said.

Ganduje said community policing has become part of the countrys security architecture, adding that his government had taken the initiative seriously.

Security is the business of everybody, it is not only the business of police or other security agents, and that is what we meant by community policing.

So, we congratulate you, and now you are going into full community policing in Kano State.

We have already informed you of the structure of community policing; we have a village committee headed by the most senior village head, we have the ward committee headed by the most senior village head of that ward.

We also have the local government committee, headed by the district head and then the Emirate committee headed by the respective emirs of those emirates.

And we have the state committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government.

We assure that there would be a flow of security information, a flow of intelligence from one level to another.

The governor also pledged to provide necessary assistance to ensure the success of the initiative.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Shuaib Ismail-Dikko, said community policing involves collaboration between communities and police to tackle security problems as they emerged.

He recalled that the governor had recently commissioned 100 special police constabularies deployed to traffic control duties.

The police commissioner appreciated the state government for its various interventions, including the provision of logistics, equipment and CCTV cameras to beef up security in the state. (NAN)

Source: NAN News