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Tag: Niger

  • 3 die in road accident in Niger — Police

    3 die in road accident in Niger — Police

    The Police Command in Niger has confirmed the death of three persons in an accident that occurred along Gurata village along Minna – Bida road , Bosso Local Government Area on Friday.
    Mr Adamu Usman, state’s Commissioner of Police, told the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Minna that nine other people sustained various degrees of injuries.

    Usman said that the accident, which occurred at about 21:30 hours, involving an articulated vehicle loaded with rice and people, was heading to Lagos from Kano.
    “Three persons died on the spot while nine others who sustained various degrees of injuries were evacuated to General Hospital, Minna for treatment.
    ” We have since commenced investigation and warned truck drivers to desist from carrying people in truck as such vehicles are not for passengers.
    “Its a lone accident but the truck was filled with passengers, in addition to the rice it carries resulting to the accident,” Usman said. (NAN)

  • Niger to join oil-producing states in Nigeria  

    Niger to join oil-producing states in Nigeria  

    Niger State will soon joined oil-producing states as the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said it has commenced oil exploration activities in the Bida Basin.

    This involved  eight local governments in the  state, just as it assured  that the progress being recorded in an ongoing exploration of inland basins by the Corporation is capable of growing nation’s reserve to 40 billion barrels by the year 2023.

    Group Managing Director (GMD)of the Corporation,  Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari  revealed  this on Wednesday during a visit to Governor Abubakar Sani Bello  to unveil the 2D seismic data acquisition in the Bida – Sokoto basin.

    The GMD was represented by NNPC Group General Manager Frontier Exploration Services, Abdullahi Bomai.

    The  GMD said an in-depth geological and geochemical studies showed that there are strong hydrocarbon-bearing indicators that have been confirmed as oil and gas-bearing formations in the eight local governments which extends to two other local governments in Kwara and 1 in Kogi states.

    He said, “further exploration activities based on the need for exploration in the Bida Basin, NNPC management has graciously approved the award of contract to Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL) and their alliance partners (BGP/CNPC International Nigeria limited to embark on immediate Seismic Data Acquisition to further unravel the presence of hydrocarbons in the Bida Basin. We are indeed delighted for the opportunity of today’s visit to inform you of the activities of NNPC/FES and also to solicit for your support”.

    According to Kyari, significant progress is being made in the ongoing exploration of inland basins, with a realistic and achievable target of growing the nation’s reserve to 40 million by year 2023 adding that “today we are glad to inform you of the commencement of hydrocarbon exploration in the sedimentary section of Niger state”.

    He solicited for the support, cooperation and participation of the state and local governments, traditional rulers and community leaders towards achieving the national mandate, adding that the deployment of light and heavy machineries will soon commence in the state.

    He listed the local government areas where exploration activities will commence to include Mokwa, Lavun, Gbako, Bida, Katcha, Agaie, Edati and Lapai, adding that in the course of conducting these operations, a lot of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers will be engaged.

    In his remarks, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello said expressed happiness over the realization of the project, stressing the need for the Corporation to pay adequate compensation to the people who would be affected by the exportation.

    He said, “we are all excited over the good news of the oil exploration. As you know, research in the development of the Bida Basin has been on for some times. We are however happy that the NNPC is seeing to the success of the project. We are hopeful that Niger state will join the oil producing states”.

    He said his administration will work with NNPC to ensure that communities are carried along and to compensate adequately communities which are going to be affected the oil exploration activities.

     

  • Troops rescue 7 kidnapped victims in Niger – DHQ

    Troops rescue 7 kidnapped victims in Niger – DHQ

    Troops of 31 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, under Operation Whirl Stroke, on Saturday, rescued seven kidnapped victims after an encounter with bandits at Dogon Gona Forest area of Niger State.

    The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Enenche said that the troops rescued the victims while on a mop-up operation within the area.

    He said the victims were abandoned by the bandits after a fierce battle encounter, adding that they were said to have been kidnapped on March 27 and taken to an unknown destination.

    “Following interrogation after a successful rescue operation, the Village Head of Madaki confirmed that the victims were natives of Roro Village of Shiroro Local Government Area.

    “The victims would soon be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further necessary action.

    “In a related development, troops of 31 Artillery Brigade on April 11, engaged bandits in a gun duel at Kontokoro Village while on clearance operation,” he said.

    According to Enenche, the operation led to the neutralisation of several bandits, while some escaped with gunshot wounds.

    He said the nation’s Armed Forces would continue to solicit for timely and credible information from the public for the enhancement of its operations.

  • Insecurity: Niger stops dialogue with bandits, to evolve new strategies

    Insecurity: Niger stops dialogue with bandits, to evolve new strategies

    The Niger Government said it would no longer  dialogue with bandits terrorising the state, but would evolve new strategies to bring to end their activities.
    A statement issued on Thursday in Minna,by Mrs Mary Berje,  Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, quoted Gov. Abubakar Bello,  as making the statement  when he received DIG AbdulMajid Ali and Mr Hosea Katma, AIG, Zone 7, at  Government House, Minna.
    Bello described as most embarrassing the persistent attacks by the bandits, adding that it was time to take the fight to them.
    He condemned in strongest terms the recent killings of security agents at Galadiman Kogo in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state, describing the loss bandits as painful and unacceptable.
    The governor said although reports about the unfortunate attack was unclear, the masterminds of the heinous crime would not go unpunished.
    He said that his government would do everything lawfully possible to bring the bandits to justice and mitigate against future occurrences.
    “We are working together with governors of other North-West states. Security agencies are making progress in tracking and identifying the locations of the criminals and very soon, such locations will be verified and attacked,” Bello said.
    The governor commended the support and collaboration of the local communities in the renewed efforts to defeat the bandits in the state, adding that the recent measures taken by the governors would bring an end to the menace.
    He commiserated with the Nigerian Army, the Police and families of officers who lost their lives on the unfortunate incident and prayed God to grant the souls of the deceased eternal rest.
    Earlier, Ali, who described the killings of the soldiers as unfortunate, said their visit to the state was to have first-hand information on the attack on the officers, which led to loss of several lives.

  • Minimum wage: Organised labour in Niger to begin strike Feb. 4

    Minimum wage: Organised labour in Niger to begin strike Feb. 4

    Organised labour in Niger state on Monday, directed workers to embark on an indefinite strike from February 4, over non implementation of the new national minimum wage and other entitlements.
    The directive was contained in statement jointly signed by Mr Yakubu Garba, chairman Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterparts Yunusa Tanimu and made available to newsmen in Minna.
    According to the statement, organized labour in the state had met at an emergency joint State Executive Council (SEC) on Jan. 29 to resolve on a notice of 21 days ultimatum of strike action issued to the government on Jan. 3, 2020.
    “In compliance with the resolutions reached at the emergency joint State Executive Council (SEC) meeting of Niger state organised labour held at Labour House on Wednesday; 29th January, 2020.
    “We write to formally inform you that all civil servants in Niger state are by be this notice directed to proceed on an indefinite strike action with effect from midnight February 4, 2020, ” it read.
    The statement said the strike would be comprehensive shall remain in force till the state government “demonstrate a clear and adequate commitment” to tackling lingering issues bothering on workers’ welfare.
    Part of the demands of labour included the immediate implementation of the N30,000 National Minimum wage, it’s consequential adjustment and accrued arrears to all categories of workers both at the state and local government levels.
    They are also calling for the immediate resumption of payment of outstanding annual leave grant for 2019 to deserving workers at both state and local government level as well as a clear commitment from the state government on pension policy in the interest of workers.
    Efforts by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to get the reaction of state Head of Service, Hajiya Salamatu Abubakar on the matter was not successful as she was not in the office and her mobile telephone line was not going through.
    Meanwhile, at the time of filling this Mr Yakubu Garba, chairman NLC in the state told NAN that the organised labour was open and willing to meet with the government. (NAN)