Ministerial Scorecard: Coalition Scores Minister of Steel Development, FCT Others High

By Abdul Alabi

As part of efforts to appraise the current administration as it marks one year in office, Concerned Northern Forum (CNF), has scored the Minister of Steel Development as well as his counterparts in the ministries of Federal Capital Territory, Works and Interior high for their commitment and dedication towards the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.

 The coalition, comprising of more than 73 CSOs with millions of members is a prominent civil society organisation with a focus on the development of Northern Nigeria.

Addressing a press conference at Arewa House in Kaduna on Sunday,  the coalition's national vice chairman, Concerned Northern Forum Comrade Muhammad Aminu Abbas,  congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his impactful one year in office and hailed his indefatigable Ministers whose performance thrilled and gave Nigerians hope for a better Nigeria.

Excerpts, "today, we are gathered to celebrate and congratulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR on his impactful one year in office and also to run a scorecard on some performing Ministers towards decorating the most outstanding stewards in the current cabinet who have flown high the banner of Mr. President's Renewed Hope Agenda. This is our modest way of encouraging Nigerians to imbibe the virtue of hard work and excellence.

"Having done our due diligence and evaluated all the Ministers under the administration in the period under review, we have identified true patriots who have served President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and indeed Nigerians as excellent Ministers and worthy ambassadors of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). Based on our scorecard, the following Ministers have made it on our elite list of top performers. They are;  H.E. Nyesom Wike, who as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has revolutionized the provision of infrastructure and land administration in the FCT within a short period of time in office. 

"Equally deserving of accolades is H.E. Engr. Dave Umahi, Minister of Works whose giant strides in road construction including the legacy Lagos to Calabar coastal highway and Badagry to Sokoto highway as well as the ingenious use of cement for construction has drastically cut down the cost of road construction and reduced pressure on our foreign exchange. Another top performer deserving of mention is Hon. Bunmi T. Ojo, whose Interior Ministry employed innovative technology and cost saving means to clear the backlog of passport application, ushering in an era of instant passport application and collection. 

The Coalition's spotlight was however, on the Minister of Steel Development, Hon. Prince Shuaibu Audu whom they described as "a youth like us, a rare breed who has demonstrated enormous capacity in the Ministry of Steel Development and has more than all the other Ministers pioneered policies and projects which have the potential for the industrialization and rapid economic development of the nation".

While appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for deploying technical parameters to measure the performance of all ministries using key indicators, an initiative championed by the office of Hadiza Bala Usman, the Coalition maintained that even though Government has done well, the people who are  direct beneficiaries of these policies are equally in a position to give their perspective on the performance of Ministers and their ministries and hence their spotlight of the Honourable Minister of Steel Development.

"It is on this note that we  have decided pick Hon. Prince Shuaibu Audu as our star performer amongst all the Ministers and to make our position known on the historic developments in the steel sector within the last one year and also bear witness to the fact that the Minister has performed excellently well and even beyond the expectations of Nigerians as he strives to revive the  hitherto moribund steel sector including the comatose Ajaokuta Steel Complex.

"In line with the vision and blueprint of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR who is determined to stir Nigeria on the path of economic recovery and growth, the Minister has already taken steps to explore the possibility of securing up to $5 million funding from the World Bank to finance the 10-year roadmap for the steel and metals sector. This creative solutions gives hope to a sector that was unproductive due to negligence and lack of credible administrators and technocrats.

"Already, talks have been completed with Russia's TyazhPromExport (TPE) Consortium, the original equipment manufacturers and developers of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) with a view to exploring options available for reviving the company. This collaboration and partnership equally is also likely to attract an additional $2 billion for the revamping of Ajaokuta Steel Company. The Honorable Minister is also at the concluding stages of raising ₦35 billion (over $25 million) from local financiers for the revival of the Light Steel Mill (LSM) at Ajaokuta".

The Coalition also mentioned "plans towards the establishment of a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) park at the Ajaokuta Steel Complex in order to tap into the ₦100 billion fund set-up by the federal government, as a major step to bringing back to life, the economically viable industry as well as the reviving of steel facilities and research centres in Jos, Plateau State and the National Steel Raw Materials Agency, Kaduna". 

The Coalition finally thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing a promising young man who has not just performed credibly but has become a reference point to what youths can do if given the opportunity and assured Mr. President of their continued loyalty since his administration has proven to be progressive and youth centred, especially in the areas of industrialization and job creation.

"As critical stakeholders and youths who are actively involved in the political and social development of our communities, we have great confidence in this administration's capacity to create jobs and end youth unemployment and are assuring Mr. President of our continued loyalty provided Prince Shuaibu Audu remains in his cabinet. His sterling performance holds promise for other youths in successive administrations", the statement concluded.

Appoint new humanitarian minister to ease our suffering, PWDs, CSOs beg Tinubu

 

by Abdul Alabi 

Persons living  With Disabilities,(PWDs) have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint a new Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation  to ease their suffering and improve their living conditions. 

They argued that since the Ministry has been without a Minister, Government is failing in providing basic succour to the less privileged.

They urged the president to appoint a dedicated person that can better understand and advocate for their needs.

Speaking at a press conference organized by the Coalition of Nigerian Civil Society Organizations in  collaboration with the PWDs at Arewa House in kaduna, Chairman Northern Youth Disability Forum, Muhammad Musa Zaria, said the person of choice to replace the former  Minister of Humanitarian Affairs must be someone who recognizes the ongoing struggles of PWDs and the need for focused governmental support to enhance their quality of life.

They urged president Tinubu to  consider filling the vacuum created with the suspension of former minister Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, by appointing Halimat Adenike Tejuosho as the new Minister of the ministry. They believe Tejuosho’s appointment will enable Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda especially in the area of poverty alleviation.

 According to Zaria, "It goes without saying that since the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has been without a Minister, Government is failing in providing basic succour to the less privileged. From her antecedents and if given the opportunity, Hajiya Halimat Adenike Tejuosho, will continue to extend her generosity and passion to bring a turn around in the fortunes of the less privileged and downtrodden in Nigeria", the text noted. 

“This is our collective resolve born out of the conviction that with the support she has been giving people in the community for over 10 years, she's the right person for the job. Politics, region and other considerations should be put aside to allow competence and merit to prevail", he concluded. 

Picture: PWD in collaboration with CSOs addressing press at a conference in kaduna

“You are engine room of governance" - Gov. Idris tells accountants

By Editor

The Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris has described the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) as the engine room of governance.

He stated this yesterday at the opening ceremony of a three-day Intensive Seminar on Accounting Ethics and Public Financial Management for Directors, Deputy Directors of Finance and Supply as well as Principal Officers, Ministry of Finance Kebbi State.

He commended the association for not only supporting his administration but also supporting his election, adding that was ready to support the profession for them to stop and benchmark any linkages in the government.

In his remarks, the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Finance, Abubakar Chika thanked the Kebbi State Governor for supporting the ministry to organise such seminar.

He described the workshop as a way of giving full accountability of the financial system in the state.

The Chairman, Association of National Accountant of Nigeria, Kebbi State branch, Abdullahi Umar described the State Governor as a sympathiser of Kebbi State.

He appreciated the commitment of the governor in capital development of civil servants in the state, describing them as the engine room for effective and efficient service delivery in the state.

In a message, the Accountant-General of the State, Amirul Zoramawa expressed happiness and joy over the success recorded by the present administration in the state.

"We thank you sir for approving this workshop for us, this seminar will go a long way in not only enlightening and educating members of the association but will also assist them in correcting some abnormalities in governance," he said.

Kebbi officials rescue 3 missing pilgrims

 By Editor

No fewer than three missing Nigerian pilgrims have been rescued by Kebbi State Government Officials (KGOs) in Mecca, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

KGOs are pilgrims sponsored by the state government to perform Hajj, at the same time assist pilgrims where necessary.

Speaking to one of the KGOs in Mecca, Alhaji Nasir Idris, Executive Director, Women's Right Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), Kebbi State brach, said they had rescued a woman from Kamba Local Government Area of Kebbi.

He said the woman missed her way back home, instead, she further went behind the Al-Masjid Al-Haram (Kaaba) leading to a different area.

"As KGOs, we have to intervene and redirect her back home through a taxi service," he said.

Enumerating some activities of the KGOs, Idris said some of the KGOs sometimes assist in translation and stand as intermediary due language barrier, adding that they also offer useful suggestions to committees they feel is beneficial and would lead to success of Hajj exercise.

He said the activities of KGOs were not restricted to Kebbi State alone but they render assistance to all pilgrims from Nigeria, provided he/she needs assistance. 

"We recently rescued two women from Bauchi State who missed their way to their hotel but quick intervention of the KGOs led them to their hotels without difficulty," he said.

The CEO said the humanitarian services being rendered by the KGOs was still ongoing throughout the Hajj exercise and appealed for more support and cooperation of pilgrims to ensure a successful Hajj operation. 

He, therefore, appealed for more support and cooperation of the pilgrims to ensure a successful Hajj exercise.

Idris advised the pilgrims to always move in groups to avoid missing their directions.

‘He said, ”They should always be cautious in spending their basic travelling allowance.

”They should also be routinely asking the clerics for guidance on the proper Hajj rituals for them to perform an acceptable Hajj.” 

Gov. Idris, visionary, marvelous transformer - CPS

By Editor

I’m not The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to His Excellency, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, has described his Principal as a visionary, holistic and marvelous transformer.

The CPS in a congratulatory message to his Principal, marking one year anniversary, personally signed by him, said that Kauran Gwandu deserves special commendation in view of his gigantic efforts to transform the entire state.

May I, on behalf of myself, my family and entire practicing journalists in Kebbi State wish to extend our appreciation for the marvelous and concerted efforts your administration put in place to bring positive transformation to the state.

Your purposeful leadership has not only yielded the desired results but has completely changed the face of Kebbi State. The state is actually wearing a new outlook, signifying that you are a real transformer.

You have propelled several ongoing projects spread across the state. Your desire for Birnin Kebbi to answer its name as the state capital is gradually but definitely being accomplished.

The good people of Kebbi State cherished your noble idea of according every sector of the economy the needed attention it deserves.

I pray the Almighty Allah that brought you to power for rapid transformation of Kebbi State will give you the wisdom, strength and capacity to deliver the goods excellently.

I am proud to be associated with your government and I will continue to be loyal to your noble ideas and idles towards taking Kebbi State to greater levels of development. 

Media Practitioners, Techies to Convene in Abuja Dialogue on Journalism, Digital Tech, and AI

By AbdulGaniyu Alabi 

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) is set to host a pivotal event in Abuja, bringing together media managers, industry leaders, tech experts, and journalists from across the African continent. The Journalism, Digital Tech, and AI Dialogue aims to delve into the evolving media landscape, focusing on the profound impact of digital technology and artificial intelligence on the future of journalism.

Scheduled to take place on 27th of May, this dialogue promises to be an enriching experience for participants. Attendees expect insightful discussions on the intersection of journalism and emerging technologies, with a keen focus on navigating digital disruptions and harnessing the potential of AI to enhance media practices. The conference will not only address the challenges posed by these advancements but also highlight the myriad opportunities they present for the media industry.

Journalists from respective media organizations like print and broadcasts, including online  will be among the journalists who will benefit from this unique platform. The dialogue is set to equip participants with advanced knowledge and strategies to adapt to the rapidly changing media environment. By engaging with leading experts and peers, delegates will gain valuable insights into innovative approaches for maintaining the vitality of the media ecosystem in the digital age.

One of the key expectations for attending media delegates is the requirement to publish or broadcast at least two features about the conference. These features, ideally produced before and during the event, will help disseminate the critical conversations and developments to a broader audience, ensuring that the insights gained extend beyond the conference halls.

In addition to the enriching sessions, the CJID is offering travel and accommodation support to facilitate the attendance and participation of delegates. This support underscores the importance of inclusive dialogue and the CJID's commitment to fostering a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives can thrive.

The Journalism, Digital Tech, and AI Dialogue represents a significant opportunity for media professionals to stay at the forefront of industry trends and technological advancements. By attending this event, journalists like [Your Full Name] will be better equipped to navigate the complexities of digital transformation and contribute to shaping a resilient and innovative future for journalism in Africa. 

Gov. Idris approves NBTE accreditation fees for HND Nursing, Midwifery

By Editor 

Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu has approved the NBTE accreditation fees for College of Nursing Science to facilitate the accreditation of National Diploma and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Nursing Sciences Birnin kebbi 

Confirming the success story to newsmen yesterday in Birnin Kebbi, the Hon. Commissioner for Higher Education Alhaji Issa Abubakar Tunga said that the approval fees will help in the accreditation process thereby  upgraded the institution to higher level.

The Commissioner assured the readiness of the college to ensure continuity in qualitative teaching and learning in the institution.

"We really thank the present administration under the able leadership of Comrade Dr Nasir Idris for its passionate role and efforts in promoting education and educational activities in the state.

"Now after achieving the accreditation we can run HND and train graduate in both Nursing and Midwifery, this wouldn't have been possible without the kind efforts of His Excellency, therefore, we remained grateful to him, he has done a lot for us and for the state," he said.

He then expressed happiness for the successes recorded and attributed it to the present administration's commitment towards achieving the set goals and objectives.

"I can assure you that the performance of the institution had and has from March 2023 to May 2024, the institution has produced 453 qualified Nurses and Midwives," he added.

He appreciated the governor for linking the institution with 33KVA line where they normally enjoy stable electricity power supply now.

"We have nothing to offer to you rather than to pray for you and your family. May the Almighty Allah continue to bless your administration, guide you onto the right part and protect you from all forms of enemies," he prayed.