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Defence/Security

Army confirms fire outbreak at depot in Zaria

Army confirms fire outbreak at depot in Zaria

Fire

By Mustapha Yauri
Zaria (Kaduna State) Jan. 24, 2021 (NAN) A fire outbreak at the Nigeria Army Depot, Zaria, Kaduna State, has destroyed parts of Block 15 of soldiers’ quarters at the depot.

Capt. Abdu Arigu, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Army Depot, Zaria, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria on Sunday.

According to him, the incident occurred at  9.30p.m. on Saturday at the block –  a two-storey building – and destroyed the last floor.

“There was no loss of life to the incident.

“Combined efforts of fire fighters at the Nigeria Military School and Kaduna State Fire Service brought the situation under control,” Arigu said.

He said that investigation was ongoing to ascertain the cause of the fire with a view to forestalling a similar occurrence.(NAN)

AM/KTO/IGO

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Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Ijeoma Popoola

Defence/Security

Gunmen abduct don, kill son in Zaria

By Mustapha Yauri

Kidnap

Zaria (Kaduna State), Jan. 19, 2021 (NAN) Gunmen had kidnapped Prof. Aliyu Mohammed of Department of Agriculture, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and killed his son, Abdulaziz.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the don, who is also the Wazirin Wusasa, was abducted Sunday night at Wusasa, Zaria, Kaduna State.

Mr Usman Aliyu, son of the kidnapped professor, told newsmen in Zaria that the incident took place on Sunday at about 10.30 p.m.

He said besides kidnapping his father and killing one of his brothers, they also shot Malam Abubakar Kabir, who is a younger brother to the deceased (Abdulaziz Aliyu).

Aliyu said no sooner than he returned to the family house at 10.30 p.m on Sunday, he heard sudden gunshots and took cover by hiding somewhere in the compound.

According to him, when the gunshots stopped, he called out to one of his younger brothers who informed him that they (gunmen) had killed their brother and kidnapped their father.

He said the deceased had already been buried according to Islamic rites while the one shot was receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

Alhaji Ahmad Amfani, the Ward Head of Kuregu, Wusasa, said the community made effort to reach some security agencies, but their effort was not successful as none responded to the distress call.

The state police command is yet to react to the development.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government had also confirmed the report through its Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan.
Aruwan said in a statement on Monday that intelligence information said the bandits kidnapped Mohammed and killed his son. (NAN)

AM/CHOM/MST

Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Muhammad Suleiman  Tola

General news

Institute to boost biofuel research with 84 hectares Jathropa plantation

Plantation

By Mustapha Yauri
Zaria (Kaduna State), Jan. 18, 2021 (NAN) The Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology (NITT), Zaria, says  it has acquired 84 hectares of land for Jathropa plantation to boost biofuel research.

Dr Bayero Farah, Director-General of the institute made this known on Monday in Zaria while briefing newsmen as part of activities to mark his one year in office.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jathropa is a genus of flowering plants in the sponge family of Euphorbiaceae and a raw material used for the production of biofuel.

According to him, the country is in search of alternative fuel and the plant can be used to boost research activities at the institute.

“The institute is embarking on the plantation as a case study with a view to inviting private sector for more investments on biofuel for Nigeria’s transport industry,’’ he said.

He said the institute had also acquired another 40 hectares of land from Sabon Gari Local Government in Kaduna State for the construction of Driver Development Training Centre.

The scribe said the institute was facilitating the accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education to offer National Diploma in Crane operations, welding and fabrication and mechatronics.

“This feat will no doubt open windows of opportunities for the teeming youths in the country as well as improve the internally generated revenue of the institute,’’ he said.

Farah said the institute had also established an intelligent transport unit which would gradually metamorphose into a National Transport Intelligence Centre with data of transport operators across the country.

The official said the institute had enjoyed an unprecedented level of patronage from its clients in the last one year.

He said more than 3,000 participants were trained under the short term programme, while 125 participants graduated from the long term programme of the institute.

“The long term programme comprised certificate, diploma, advanced diploma, post graduate diploma as well Masters in Transport and Logistics technology.’’ (NAN)
AM/SSA/EEE

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Edited by Shuaib Sadiq/Ese E. Ekama

 

 

Agriculture

Kudan LG partners local firm on production of improved seeds, brown sugar –Chairman

Kudan LG partners local firm on production of improved seeds, brown sugar –Chairman

Partnership

By Mustapha Yauri

Hunkuyi (Kaduna) Jan. 14, 2021 (NAN) Kudan Local Government in Kaduna state has earmarked 15 hectares of land to scale up seeds, sugar cane and red fleshed potatoes production, towards improving food security and reducing unemployment in the area.

Alhaji Shuaibu Jaja, Chairman of the local government, made this known while handing over the land, situated at Kauran Wali, 27km along Zaria -Kano express way, to local firm, Kauran Wali Investment, on Thursday, at Hunkuyi.

Jaja said the land would be used for the production of crop seeds, rice, red fleshed potatoes, in addition to constructing a standard rice mill plant and a mill for animal feeds production, to enable animal fattening.

The chairman said the project would augment government efforts at addressing rural and urban migration in the area.

Jaja also said that the council had constructed a N77.9 Million Dam at Garu, to reduce youth unemployment and attract other farmers from neighbouring Katsina state, to  irrigate rice farms and facilitate sugarcane and vegetables production by an estimated 3,000 dry season farmers.

He noted that already the dam area had witnessed increased influx of dry season farmers from Danja and other parts of Katsina state.

In his remarks, Alhaji Muktar Ladan, the Chief Executive Officer, Kauran Wali Investment Company, said the company would also collaborate with partners from Thailand, South Africa and United States, to establish plants for the production of improved seeds and animal feeds.

Ladan added that the project, which would become fully operational by the second quarter of 2021, would generate about 200 direct and 2000 indirect jobs.(NAN)
AM/ YMU/MMA

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Edited by Yakubu Uba/Mouktar Adamu

Agriculture

ABU trains 45 women on improved rice processing techniques

Training
By Mustapha Yauri
Zaria (Kaduna state) Jan. 11, 2021(NAN) The Ahmadu Bello University’s National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (AGRA), on Monday organised a three-day training for 45 women on improved rice processing for profitability.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the women were drawn from nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

It was organised in collaboration with Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and Kaduna State Ministry for Local Government Affairs.

Speaking at the start of the training, Prof Kabir Bala, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, said the collaboration between the institution’s AGRA and state government was to strengthen the capacities of gender groups.

Represented by Prof. Abdullahi Raddawa, Provost College of Medicine, Bala said the exercise was to enable the participants to adopt improved processing techniques and to have access to simple processing equipment.

“With support from the ministry of local government affairs each group will be given a complete set of simple processing equipment in addition to their capacity being improved,’’ he said.

Earlier, Prof. Christogonus Daudu, Principal Investigator AGRA/NAERLS Project, said the training aimed to put efficient simple technological packages into the hands of small holder farmers and processors.

Daudu added that the project had mobilised expertise and opportunities in the rice post-harvest sector to promote best practices for packaging, parboiling, labeling and other technologies.

NAN reports that the nine LGAs from which participants were drawn are Kaura, Zangon Kataf, Sabon Gari and Kajuru, Chikun, Kubau, Sanga, Lere and Ikara.

Five members from three different women groups were selected from each participating LGAs. (NAN)
AM/JEY/EAL
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Edited by Johnson Eyiangho/Ekemini Ladejobi

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

FG to generate N25bn annually from castor, says Permanent Secretary

 

Revenue
By Mustapha Yauri

Zaria (Kaduna State) Dec.  4, 2020 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development says it will generate about N25 billion annually and provide means of livelihood to about 500,000 families from castor production.

Dr Abdulkadir Mu’azu, Permanent Secretary of the ministry stated this during a two-day national castor stakeholders meeting and farmers’ field day on Friday in Zaria.

Mu’azu  said the Federal Government had a short term program within which to realize the target adding that the target (N25 billion) would be realised from 2021 to 2024.

‘’If by 2024 we were not able to realize the set target, we will review the strategy and continue from there,” he said.

Mu’azu, represented by Mr Bernand Chukwuemeka, Deputy Director, Federal Department of Agriculture said the ministry had resolved to raise the productivity of castor through the castor value chain.

He noted that castor was an important oil seed crop with great utilization in industrial, pharmaceutical and agricultural sectors.

Mu’azu said the seed contained between 40 per cent to 60 per cent oil adding that the demand for castor oil kept increasing in the international market.

The permanent secretary said the ministry would introduce high yielding, early maturing and disease resistant castor seeds.

He added that government would conduct workshops for capacity building in various aspects of castor activities.

In her remarks, Hajiya Hadiza Lawal, Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture said the state had aligned itself with the Federal Government efforts, to boost castor production.

Lawal, represented by Malam Mohammed Saidu said the state had developed data of castor farmers with a view to scale up interventions.

She said the state was working with key stakeholders to secure more markets for the commodity to avert what happened in the past where castor farmers failed to get market for their produce.

Also speaking, Prof. Mohammed Ishiyaku, Director, Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria said the institute conducted research on 50 different varieties of castor.

Ishiyaku, represented by Dr Alhassan Usman, Head of Plant Science Department of the university said out of the 50 varieties, 14 different lines were promising.

He added that the 14 different lines were being evaluated in 10 states since 2018.

Ishiyaku said that by 2021, the institute would unveil three castor varieties that would be comparable to any castor variety in the world. (NAN)

AM/ORO

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Edited by Razak Owolabi.

Agriculture

FG to generate over 500,000 jobs through cashew production – Permanent Secretary

Cashew

By Mustapha Yauri

Zaria (Kaduna State) Dec. 4, 2020 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development says it will harness the cashew value chain to generate over 500,000 jobs for  unemployed youths in the country.

Dr Abdulkadir Mu’azu, Permanent Secretary of the ministry stated this during the two-day national cashew stakeholders meeting and farmers’ field day on Friday in Zaria.

Mu’azu, represented by Mr Bernand Chukwuemeka, Deputy Director, Federal Department of Agriculture said cashew was among the top priority commodities being promoted by the ministry.

He said that the promotion of cashew by the ministry was due to the commodity’s enormous potentials for employment generation for youths and foreign exchange earnings.

Muazu said Nigeria’s current output is 175,000 metric tonnes on150,000 hectares with an average yield of 350 kilograms per hectare, against the global average yield of 1,230 kilograms per hectare.

“Increasing Nigeria’s raw cashew nuts production of between 175,000 metric tonnes by 20 per cent will give rise to more than 500,000 new jobs and 10 million dollars additional income,’’ he said..

Earlier, Dr Ibiremo Samuel, Director, Cashew Research Department, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria said the institute has a mandate for genetic improvement of cashew in Nigeria.

Samuel said the institute had developed high yielding and early bearing cashew varieties, as well as protocols to prevent pest and diseases for cashew.

He said the value addition department of the institute had also developed cashew juice, and other protocol of training women and youths on juice and wine making from cashew.

Mr Ojo Ajanaku, President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN) advised participants to brainstorm and come out with appropriate blueprint for the National Cashew Masterplan.

Ajanaku, represented by Mr Stephen Malam, ex-officio, North-West Zone of NCAN appealed to government at all levels to support the association in ensuring establishment of cashew orchards across the country. (NAN)

AM/CHIN/ORO

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Edited by Chinyere Bassey/Razak Owolabi

 

General news

Lawmakers to address infrastructural challenges at Aviation College –Dep. Chair

Lawmakers to address infrastructural challenges at Aviation College –Dep. Chair

Infrastructure

By Mustapha Yauri

Zaria (Kaduna) Dec. 4, 2020 (NAN) Hon. Musa Pali, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, said the House would amend the Act establishing Nigeria College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria, to address its infrastructural needs.

Pali, who made this known during an oversight visit by the committee to the college on Friday, said the amendment would enable the college attract funds from the TETfund.

“When that is done some infrastructural development challenges at the college could easily be addressed,” he said, adding that the committee was aware of the challenges at the college and was working within its powers to address them.

He noted that Nigerians expected tremendous progress in the aviation sector, especially in the light of the security challenges manifesting in many parts of the country.

Earlier, Capt. AbdusSalam Mohammed, NCAT’s rector, told the committee that the college was established in 1964, by an Act of the Parliament Number 31 and that amending the Act would re-classify the college as a tertiary institution, thereby making it eligible for TETfund grants.

Mohammad said that accessing the grants would address numerous infrastructural challenges in the college, such as the upgrading of students hostels and standardization of classrooms., stressing that the college was also faced with inadequate budgetary allocation and release of funds.

Apart from that, he said the college lacked adequate equipment and facilities to commence advance aviation training due largely to budgetary restrictions and that this had made the college unable to keep pace with advancements in equipment used in the industry.

“We have to keep up with the advancement in technology so that when the students and people, who are in the industry, come for training they will be able to use equipment that they are used to in the field.  So, we are constantly looking for money to purchase new equipment to keep up with the industry,” the rector said.

He added that because the remuneration in the college was based on what obtains in the civil service, it was difficult to attract quality manpower since the industry package was better.

The rector said in spite of COVID-19 lockdown, however, the college introduced trainings online and conducted 24 courses, with 292 students completing., adding that the college presently has 28 courses with an enrolment of 454 students in individual classes of 20 participants each, as recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Mohammed explained that the college took delivery of six additional training aircraft on Nov. 25, and the aircraft were  awaiting certification by NCAA, while
the college is planning to establish an Airport Emergency Training School, to train personnel of the airport on rescue/firefighting, and other trainings on drones and  aviation security. (NAN)
AM/MMA
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Edited by Mouktar Adamu

General news

Kaduna College of Health Technology to award degrees, says Gov. El-rufai

Kaduna College of Health Technology to award degrees, says Gov. El-rufai

Degree
By Mustapha Yauri
Makarfi (Kaduna state) Nov. 29, 2020 (NAN) Gov. Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna state has said that the Shehu Idris College of Health Sciences and Technology, Makarfi, would soon commence specialized health degree programs.

The governor made this known at a reception in honor of five professors from the area, organised by the Makarfi Local Government Area Community on Sunday.

El-rufai, who was represented at the occasion by Alhaji Muhammad Shehu, Commissioner for Education, said the  college would offer specialised health degree training in addition to its existing diploma courses; stressing that the diploma courses would be used for direct entry into the degree programmes.

He also said  that the state had concluded plans to establish a Campus in Kudan of the State College of Education Gidan-Waya, as well as a campus of the state University in Lere, adding that construction of the university’s  permanent site had since commenced at Rigacikun, along the Kaduna-Zaria highway.

The governor emphasized the need for the youth to acquire additional entrepreneurship skills to their diploma and degree certificates, noting that lack of such skills was the main reasons why many youth graduates were stranded  without any good means of livelihood.

El-rufai restated the commitment of the state government to strengthen skills acquisition centers across the state, in addition to revitalizing the state’s Scholarship Scheme to incorporate special grants for skills acquisition training with a view to address youth unemployment in the state.

The Governor also said that the state was collaborating with key stakeholders and its international partners, to establish additional skills acquisition centres in the state in its quest to providing free and quality education in the state.

Earlier, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, the Chairman of the occasion, tasked the community to support the younger ones to acquire education, stressing that those with the means should endeavour to support those without the means with scholarships to acquire education.

“This (scholarship) is the program that is better pursued as a community project, not as an individual project, because it has greater chances of out living us and impacting positively on the lives of our people”, he said.

In his address of welcome, Alhaji Mahmud Gazara, Chairman Organizing Committee for the occasion, said Makarfi Local Government Community was hosting the reception to celebrate excellence, with a view to encouraging the future generation to pursue education.

He identified the celebrants as: Prof. Ahmed-Muhammad Makarfi, a professor of Agricultural Engineering in Bayero University Kano; Prof. Lawal Saidu a professor of Avian Medicine in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria,
Prof. Yusha’u Ango, professor of financial entrepreneurship in Kaduna State University.

Others are: Prof Aliyu Mu’azu a Professor of Hausa Culture in Bayero University Kano, and Prof. Yahaya Makarfi a Professor of Quantity Survey in Ahmadu Bello University. (NAN)
AM/MMA

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Edited by Mouktar Adamu

General news

Huawei inaugurates ICT equipment it donated to ABU

Donation

By Mustapha Yauri

Zaria (Kaduna State) Nov. 28, 2020 (NAN) Huawei, a Chinese multinational technology company and global leader in ICT and Telecommunication Solutions, has inaugurated ICT training equipment it donated to the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

The equipment will be used to train students in intermediate and advanced technologies in routing, switching and cyber security.

Malam Auwalu Umar, Acting Director, Public Affairs Directorate at ABU, said in a statement issued on Saturday in Zaria that the equipment comprised three Huawei AR6280 routers and five Huawei S5720 switches for designing physical and logical topologies.

He stated added that Ms. Melissa-Chen Yangfeng, Director of Enterprise Delivery and Service, Huawei Technologies Nigeria Ltd., inaugurated the equipment at the university’s NLG Engineering Laboratory.

Umar quoted Melissa-Chen as saying that the relationship between the university and the global ICT firm dated way back to 2018.

Melissa-Chen added that in 2018, the university and Huawei signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a partnership on Huawei Authorised Information Network Academy (HAINA) programme and other Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

Umar said the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabir Bala, appreciated Huawei’s since the signing of the MoU and expressed satisfaction with the outcomes so far recorded.

Umar also quoted Bala as saying that more than 800 enrolments had been made and 350 persons were certified in different certificate tracks in the HAINA programme.

Bala explained that Fahad Danladi, a student of the ABU, recently acquired the highest-level certification HCIE (Huawei Certified ICT Expert) and would serve the mandatory NYSC with Huawei.

He added that the university had four instructors for the HCIE and HCIP certification training programmes.

The vice-chancellor said that the successes recorded so far was due to the commitment of the instructors and the dedication and interest by students, stressing that ABU would continue to support the Huawei ICT academy.

Bala equally, assured Huawei that the university would make judicious use of the equipment donated to it.

He also noted that creating and maintaining a strong ICT base would enhance the discovery of ICT talents, skills acquisition, opportunities and promote industry certifications. (NAN)

AM/CHOM/ALLI

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Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Alli Hakeem