Gov. Buni inspects Potiskum Trailer Park

By Daily Hint Reporter, Damaturu

Hon. Mai Mala Buni Yobe state Governor and Chairman APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, today inspected work at the Potiskum Trailer Transit Camp under construction to assess the quality and speed of work on the project.

The Governor was taken round the project by the state commissioner for Commerce and Tourism, Alhaji Barma Shettima.

Governor Buni while fielding questions from newsmen, expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work on the project.

He explained that he was satisfied with the contractors saying, the contractors were adhering to the contractual agreements and specifications.

“The quality of work is upto this moment today, is very excellent and we expect them to maintain the standard for government to have value for its money.

“This project is very dear to this government because, it is providing 5,000 direct employment opportunities to our people with a chain value and other indirect employment opportunities.

Government would live upto its obligations to ensure timely completion of the project for the benefit of our people” Governor Buni said.

BORNO ASSEMBLY, IDPS HAILS LAGOS SPEAKER FOR DONATING 10,000 BAGS OF RICE TO CUSHION RAMADAN FASTING

BY NDAHI MARAMA, MAIDUGURI

BORNO State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt Hon Abdulkarim Lawan and thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) taking refuge at various camps have on Thursday commended Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudasiru Obasa for donating and transporting 10,000 bags 15kg rice to be distributed to all IDPs across the state.

The gesture, in which the bags carries sticker and picture of the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is to cushion the hardship faced by thousands of IDPs during the Holy Month of Ramadan fasting.

Flagging of the distribution with officials of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Speaker, Hon Lawan said, this intervention is first of it’s kind since over decades of Boko Haram crisis, and called on other well- to -do individuals to emulate.

He said, the donation came at the right time, considering the economic hardship faced by traumatized IDPs in the state.

Lawan said, governor Babagana Umara Zulum, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other humanitarian agencies have been doing alot in managing the plights of IDPs in the state, unfortunately, due to devastating effects of the Boko Haram crisis, there is much concern on meeting the economic demands of the displaced families and those living in host communities. Hence, the donation from the Lagos Speaker was a welcome development and timely at this critical period.

“We in Borno State, especially members of the Borno State House of Assembly are happy and very appreciative to Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mudasiru Osaba for donating 10,000 assorted bags of rice which we are distributing today.

“As you are aware, the first phase of the distribution was conducted in Bakasi IDPs camp which host people from Nganzai, Monguno, Guzamala and Gwoza local government areas.

“The second phase of the distribution is to be conducted in Farm Centre IDPs camp where people of Ngala, Kala Balge, Dikwa, Bama and Mafa Local government areas are taking refuge.

“I am very impressed with the conduct of the exercise, as the IDPs are cooperating and organizing themselves with us, including officials of SEMA without any hitches.

“On behalf of my people at the State Assembly, I commend my Colleague the Lagos Speaker, Rt Hon Mudasiru for this great gesture which will definitely cushion the hardship faced by our IDPs in camps and host communities”. Lawan stated.

In an interview with some of the beneficiaries, Mallam Auwal Isa from Gwoza, a father of 10 children and Aishatu Mohammed from Guzamala, a mother of 7 children whose husband was killed by Boko Haram, expressed their appreciation to the Lagos Speaker for the gesture, and prayed Allah (God) to bless Mudasiru and his family, as well as restoration of Peace in the country. End

Insurgents attack on power lines, NNPC partners BOSG to build Gas power plant in Maiduguri

By Madu Mohammed, Maiduguri

In its efforts to tackle the incessant attack on power supply lines by Boko Haram,, the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation ( NNPC),and other stakeholders in power supply value chain are to partner with the Borno state government to build a Gas power plant in Maiduguri within four months

It could be recalled that power supply to Maiduguri and its environs was cut off for over two months as a result of attack on the power lines that supply the power to the city by Boko Haram and after its restoration it was again destroyed by the insurgents .

The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, Mr. Mele Kyari who disclosed this when he led a delegation of power stakeholder to a courtesy call on Governor Babagana Zulum at the Government Maiduguri on Friday said “we are here to join you solve the power problem in Borno state particularly, in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and it’s environs . It is Mr. president cardinal principle to deepen gas consumption in the country and easiest way is to deliver gas to power”.

” Mr. President has declared this year, a decade of gas, this means for the next 10 years there will be significant gas entry in the domestic market. So as a result of the challenges of power supply, in the state we saw the opportunity of supporting Borno state, because of the challenges of power supply to the city. We and our partners in the value chain, have talked to each other and we think it is very possible to establish a dedicated power plant in Maiduguri, which will serve the current need and potential in supply gas power to neigbouring cities and other countries”, he added.

Mr Kyari informed the governor that they neeed infrastracture for the project and they are ready to work with the Borno state government to achieved that in 3 to 4 months., Saying that ” I have the confidence that all of us including the potential power suppliers to make sure the noble project is achieved. And we look forward for support from you from the very beginning to end to see that we delivered within short time of 3 to 4 months”.

Responding, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state said “today’s event can change the entire narrative of the state, as power is very essential , with power we can reduce the magnitude of insurgency in the state, Northeast and country at large Because millions of our people are earning a living through power supply, as it was attested to during the fuel scarcity period . I saw people in filling stations with their power generators including women in search of fuel to power their business”.

” I am glad to have you here today for this purpose, if this information goes out to the people of Borno state, they will be very happy because sustainable energy supply is very important”, he added.

While thanking the GMD and heads of various subsidiaries under him for supporting the state, Governor Zulum said ” few months ago he performed a ground breaking and foundation laying of 250 capacity bed infectious disease hospital and was delivered within 6 months, in addition they are currently constructing medical diagnosis centre in Maiduguri and other humanitarian supports they have been rendering to the state. We, are very grateful and appreciative”

He assured the delegation that the Borno state government will provide support and leadership to ensure the establishment of the Gas power plant