FG To Sue Niger Speaker Over Plans To Marry Off 100 Girls

The Federal Government is set to take legal action against the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, over his plans to sponsor the marriage of 100 girls. Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye petitioned the Inspector-General of Police and filed for an injunction to halt the event scheduled for May 24.  The minister emphasized the need to prioritize the girls’ futures and announced plans for the ministry to take responsibility for their education and vocational training.  Sarkin-Daji’s proposal has sparked controversy, with critics arguing against the forced marriages, while the speaker maintained he is only funding the weddings.  The minister said: “I want to let the honorable Speaker of the House in Niger state know that this is totally unacceptable by the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and by the government. “Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the onset, that is no more business as usual. “These children must be considered, their future must be considered, the future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered”.

Niger State Gov Bago’s Special Adviser Is Dead

Mohammed Adam Erena, a Special Adviser to Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago on Labour Matters, has reportedly died. Governor Bago confirmed the sad development in a condolence message conveyed through his chief press secretary, Bologi Ibrahim. The governor expressed that the loss of the former secretary to the state government (SSG) is a significant one for the entire state. He highlighted the deceased’s dedication as a public servant and his invaluable contributions to the state, emphasizing that his legacy of unwavering commitment to service and tireless efforts in advancing the development of Niger State will always be cherished. Bago offered prayers for the deceased to be granted entry into Aljannah Firdausi, and encouraged the family members of Comrade Erena to accept this loss with patience and faith, recognizing that the will of Allah is absolute. Erena, who sadly passed away, held the position of SSG of Niger State during the tenure of the late former governor Abdulkadir Abdullahi Kure from 2002 to 2007. Additionally, he dedicated his service to the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria at both the national and state levels. He also served as the national vice president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) under Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and served two terms as the chairman of the Niger State Council of NLC.

Police Arrests Woman Over Protests In Niger

The Niger State Police Command has arrested three women and 22 youths for leading the protest in Minna, claiming that the women-led other people to disrupt the peace of the state capital. According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, the leader of the women, Aisha Jibrin mobilized other women and miscreants to block the Minna-Bida road and Kpakungun roundabout leading to disruption of law and order. Abiodun said that the protesters had deliberately refused to clear the road for public use despite the presence of Police patrol teams led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, DCP Shehu Umar Didango, and the presence of the Deputy Governor of Niger State, Comrade Yakubu Garba. The PPRO further said that despite these personalities, the protesters turned deaf ears and chose to be violent leading the police to adopt minimum force to disperse the protesters. He said: “The Police adopted minimum force to disperse the protesters who turned violent by attacking the Police with dangerous weapons such as stones, bottles, sticks, cutlasses and damaged Police patrol vehicles and parts of the Kpakungu Division roof. “In the course of this, the Police arrested the initiator of the protest, one Aisha Jibrin aged 30 years, Fatima Aliyu aged 57 years, Fatima Isyaku aged 43 years all of Soje ‘A’ of Kpakungu area of Minna, and twenty-two other miscreants with the following dangerous weapons; a bench and a stick used as a barricade, three knives, one scissors, one cutlass, one saw blade, one iron pipe, four other sticks, two wraps of Indian hemp and charms.” The Initiator of the protest, Aisha Jibrin while defending herself said that her actions were not illegal as she believed that the plight of the hardship they are going through should be heard. She said that she never intended it to be a violent protest as she informed one youth leader whom she called Hassan in the community who was given the task to inform the Police about their plan to protest adding that she did not know that he did not inform the police. Jibrin defended herself saying that there is too much hunger in the land for the people to keep quiet about. However, the Police have declared Aisha’s mobilization of over 100 women and youths whom they called miscreants to block the highway for the protest was illegal The PPRO said that all suspects were taken to the State CID for investigation after which they will be charged to court for prosecution adding that effort is ongoing to arrest other identified members of the violent protest. In a related development, the Niger State House of Assembly directed the state government to provide palliatives to the most vulnerable members of society to forestall future protests which may be hijacked. The legislators noted that the women protested against the high cost of living in the society and inadequate response from the government compelled them to block the main roads to draw the attention of the government.

Flood: Niger Govt gives people living on waterways quit notice

The Niger State Government has asked residents who built houses on waterways to vacate with immediate effect to avert flooding. The Deputy Governor, Mr Yakubu Garba, gave the directive on Wednesday, during an inspection visit to some of the communities affected by flood, following a heavy downpour on Tuesday night in Minna. Garba also directed the State Urban Development Board, the State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and the State Environmental Protection Agency (NISEPA), to sensitise people living on waterways to relocate to safer areas. “I sympathise with people affected by last night’s flood, especially those whose properties have been affected. “As government, it is our obligation to ensure that lives and property are saved. “As such, I have given a matching order to relevant government agencies to inspect houses and structures built on waters ways and ask all the occupants to vacate such premises. “They are also to ensure that structures, especially shops built close to drainages, vacate with immediate effect. “This is to avoid future re-occurrence of flood disaster,” he said. The deputy governor further advised residents who acquired lands on waterways against developing such lands due to the impending danger. He also advised residents to desist from dumping of refuse on waterways to prevent flood. Alhaji Ahmad Bako, General Manager, Urban Development Board, said that most of the structures on waterways were already marked as illegal structures. Bako added that the owners were already served with notices to vacate. “The owners of the structures do not have development permits, as such we will implement the executive order with immediate effect,” he said. Some of the areas inspected were Brighter Road, New Market in Maitumbi, Gurara and Gbaganu communities.