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 Kano Spends N1.8b on Sponsored Students

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Kano state government under Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has spent the sum of One Billion and Eight Hundred Million Naira (N1.8b) on Kano sponsored students to Nigerian private universities, who were abandoned by the administration of the former governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

 

The private universities are the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Crescent University, Al-Qalam University, Bells University of Technology, Otta, and Igbinediom University, Okada.

 

This was disclosed by the governor during the presentation of Certificates to 20 students, during the State Executive Council meeting, held at Africa House, Government House, Kano, Wednesday. They all graduated from AUN, Yola, with 2 First Class grade students and 18 Second Class Upper grade students.

 

They were the set of students who were taken to the university during the administration of Kwankwaso, with the payment of their tuition and other fees at less than 10 percent.

 

“When we came in by the year 2015, we were told that all the students sponsored by the then administration, all their payments were settled 100 percent. Including these ones from American University Nigeria, Yola. But the statement of such payments turned out to be a half-truth,” he reveals.

 

In the case of the AUN students, the governor challenged, the percentage of what was paid for them was very insignificant, “Bit we believe that they are our children, we must therefore pay over 80 percent for them to finish their studies. Which we did,” he said.

 

While congratulating them for their outstanding performances, he promised to see them through in their life endeavors.

As some of them started becoming entrepreneurs.

 

Abubakar Bala Musa and Rabi’u Ibrahim Kabiru graduated with First Class grades in Science Software Engineering. While the remaining 18 all graduated with Second Class Upper grades.

Governor Ganduje Is a Sobriquet Of Malam Aminu Kano and Deserves the Right to anoint a successor -Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu

Governor Ganduje appreciated their efforts in making Kano state proud, due to their performance at AUN. Assuring that, “We will give you all the necessary assistance. We are glad to hear that some of you have already started engaging in entrepreneurship. This is a good step in the right direction.”

 

He promised them inclusion into any recruitment exercise that may arise in the state Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. He even directed the State Head of Service to take all their information for that purpose, encouraging that, “We will give you priority during any recruitment exercise.”

 

Ganduje further revealed that “We inherited over 1150 students from the administration of Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, who were sponsored to universities both within and outside the country. And we were told that all of them their fees were paid 100 percent. Which turned out not to be true.”

 

Hafsat Adhama spoke on behalf of the 20 AUN graduates, who appreciated that “Today, being the 25th of November, 2020 marks the second happiest day for me and my colleagues in this 2020 of a year. The first day was in May when we were assured that our fees had been settled.”

 

Appreciating how governor Ganduje saves their studies and time, after being abandoned due to non-payment of their fees by the past administration, she said “The two and a half years we spent at home waiting for our results had been a roller coaster journey for all of us.

 

But with perseverance, consistent prayers, guidance from our parents, and most importantly our belief in our father, the Khadimul Islam of Kano state, a role model, an icon of true leadership and a father to the fatherless His Excellency Dr. Abdallah Umar Ganduje, our suffering has finally come to an end.”

 

Adding that, ” I want to give you a glad tiding that the decision you’ve made in giving us hope and a chance to reach out to the bright future we envisage, is surely the best decision you’ve ever made in your government

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Port-Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational- Says NNPC

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The attention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has been drawn to reports in a section of the media alleging that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery which was re-streamed two months ago has been shut down.

We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false as the refinery is fully operational as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC.

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Preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing.

Members of the public are advised to discountenance such reports as they are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip-off Nigerians.

 

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Port Harcourt Refinery Halts Production Less Than a Month After Resumption

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Less than a month after the porthacourt  appeared to have resumed production, the facility has stopped working.

It was gathered that the lifting of petrol actually stopped last Friday, December 13, as the 18-arm loading bay of the new Port Harcourt refinery was empty.

While about 18 trucks littered the stretch of the busy road leading to the refinery itself, nine trucks were spotted inside the parking yard, while the loading bay was empty.

Journalists who visited the refinery on Thursday, December 19, 2024, observed that the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) had stopped completely.

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The depot, which is usually a beehive of activities where tankers scramble for space at the parking yard, was a shadow of itself with literally no vehicular or human activity relating to operations.

This was after $1.5bn was approved in March 2021 and spent on the rehabilitation of the facility.

The inauguration of the 60,000 barrel per day production capacity plant by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, was met with celebration and fanfare.

During the re-opening of the facility, there was lifting of petrol to the excitement of the cheering crowd.

However, less than 10 trucks of petrol were lifted that day as against widespread claims that about 200 trucks carried petrol out of the bay.

 

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FG Allocate ₦27bn For Obasanjo, Gowon, Buhari, Others In 2025 

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The Federal Government has allocated ₦27 billion for the entitlements of former presidents, vice presidents, heads of state, chiefs of staff, retired heads of service, and professors in the 2025 fiscal year.

The beneficiaries of this allocation include former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari, alongside ex-vice-presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Other notable individuals expected to benefit from this allocation are ex-military Heads of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), as well as former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, and retired Chief of General Staff, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe.

It can be recalled that President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday presented the 2025 budget, titled ‘Budget of Restoration: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity,’ to a joint session of the National Assembly. The ₦49.70 trillion spending plan prioritizes defence, infrastructure, and human capital development, with a projected ₦13.39 trillion deficit to be financed through borrowing.

The Federal Government has allocated ₦1.4 trillion for pensions, gratuities, and retirees’ benefits. This allocation includes ₦2.3 billion for former presidents, heads of state, and vice presidents. Retired heads of service and permanent secretaries will receive ₦10.5 billion, while retired professors in universities will get ₦13.5 billion. Additionally, ₦1 billion has been allocated for retired heads of government agencies and parastatals. The total allocation for these groups amounts to ₦27 billion.

Furthermore, the budget allocates ₦46 billion for civilian pensions under the Office of the Head of Civil Service, while ₦383.9 billion is earmarked for military pensions and gratuities. An additional ₦66.8 billion is budgeted for expected retirees, with ₦434 million allocated for administrative charges, ₦596 million for pension running costs, and ₦870 million for medical retirees.

The Federal Government has also set aside funds for various social investment programs, including the student loan scheme, National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy programs, National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, and the Consumer Credit Fund initiatives. A total of ₦500 billion has been allocated for these programs, with ₦50 billion specifically earmarked for the student loan scheme.

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