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FRSC Commends Dangote Industries for Adoption, Implementation of Road Safety Standards

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From left: Divisional Director, Dangote Transport, (DCP Obajana), Ajay Singh, Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), Dauda Biu, during a courtesy visit by the Dangote Group to the to the FRSC recently in Abuja.

 

 

 

The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Dauda Biu has commended Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) for the adoption and implementation of safety standards in the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS) in the company’s operations.

Mr. Biu, who stated this in Abuja when he hosted a team from the Dangote Cement Plc, Transport Division, said the significant reduction in crashes

 was made possible through the collaboration with his agency and the implementation of some mutually agreed safety standards by the company. The Dangote team was led by the Divisional Director of Transport, Mr. Ajay Singh.

The commendation is an outcome of several strategies executed by the company to ensure Dangote truck drivers adhere strictly to safety standards as prescribed by the FRSC across the country.

The Road Safety boss said: “Notable among this is the reduction of road traffic crashes involving Dangote Transport Trucks through the implementation of minimum safety standards in the Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS).”

According to Biu, in order to effectively achieve this success, the FRSC collaborated with the Technical Committee comprising Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), and the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) on speed limiting device implementation in Nigeria.

He said the establishment of an Outpost at Dangote Cement Plant Obajana, has contributed tremendously to the reduction of road traffic crashes along the ever-busy Obajana – Kabba road in Kogi State.

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Other areas of collaboration with the company, he said, include, the establishment of standard and functional driving school, collaboration in conducting professional Road Assessment (Road Safety Audit) for issues of safety concerns on the roads, as well as partnership on the Dangote Drivers’ Training Centre (Driving Range).

Speaking on various efforts by the company geared towards reduction of accidents involving Dangote Trucks, Dangote Cement Group Head, Transport, Health, Safety & Environment Nigeria & Pan Africa, Mrs. Ebere Okonkwo stated that the company adopted several strategies to ensure compliance with Nigeria road safety standards.

She listed the strategies to include: Improvement of drivers and journey managers’ competence in both HSE and job skills in order to achieve line ownership of safety and safe delivery.

According to Mrs. Okonkwo, “Plans were put in place to improve our maintenance management. Actions were developed to improve and embed an effective journey management system with focus on supervision. We introduced compliance monitoring and reporting such as performing check-ins on drivers while on trips, random alcohol and drugs tests etc.

“We increased the sphere of influence by showcasing visibly-felt safety leadership at the frontlines through engagements, campaigns, general empowerment to stop unsafe work, behaviours etc. Consequence management (reward and sanctions); reward for compliance and sanctions for non-compliance was also introduced and behaviours monitored based on criteria, to determine who gets rewarded as a result of safety performance and who gets sanctioned,” she added.

Okonkwo noted that the HSE team embarked on HSSE competence development trainings for all staff across categories to improve their competence on safety and their influence/supervision skills to the frontline workers (drivers).

She said internal behavioural-based safety trainings, safety stand-downs to cascade learnings from internal and industry incidents, safety campaigns covering different prevailing risk areas, pep talks by “HSE teams and transport trainers across locations, engagement of shop floor workers by various categories of management e.t.c. were carried out.

She added that, “The FRSC carries out recertification training exercise for our drivers, operations staff and trucks in Nigeria every six months. Across our Pan Africa locations, engagements, competence development trainings are deployed internally and externally based on risks using our experienced and well recognised internal resources and approved government resources. Where available, simulators are used for defensive driving trainings; for example in Cameroon, the training is facilitated by the Safe Way, Right Way Foundation e.t.c.”

Speaking earlier, Divisional Director Transport, Dangote Cement Plant, Obajana, Mr Ajay Singh said the collaboration between the Dangote Group and the FRSC was paying off. He, on behalf of the company, also congratulated the Corps Marshal for his elevation and appointment.

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NNPP Crisis:High Court Affirms Abiya as Acting Kano Chairman

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As Court Fixes January 19 for Hearing of Case Filed by Dawakin Tofa Exco Against Former Chairman

The Kano State High Court has affirmed Hon. Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya as the Acting State Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State.

In the ruling, the court also upheld the suspension of the former State Chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, and restrained him from interfering in the affairs of the party pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The interim order followed a motion ex-parte dated December 30, 2025, filed by members of the NNPP from Gargari Ward, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, seeking the court’s intervention over the leadership crisis in the party.

Justice Zuwaira Yusuf of High Court No. 13, Miller Road, Kano, delivered the ruling in an interim order.

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The applicants urged the court to uphold the disciplinary process that led to the suspension of Dungurawa by his ward executive over allegations of denigrating the office and person of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, creating division within the party, and failure to pay party dues.

The court further fixed January 19 for the hearing of the substantive case filed by the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Executive Committee of the NNPP against the former chairman.

In the suit marked KN/1218/2026, the court restrained Dungurawa from parading himself as the NNPP State Chairman or interfering with party affairs pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion.

The suit was instituted by Abdullahi Ali Uban Iya, Shuaibu Hassan, and Auwal Sani Abubakar.

Justice Yusuf also ordered that the suspension of the former chairman effected on December 30, 2025, be maintained, while directing that all court processes be duly served on the respondents.

The court further ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante as it existed after December 30, 2025, pending the determination of the case.

The court’s decision effectively maintains the status quo within the party leadership in Kano State until the determination of the case.

Meanwhile, the NNPP State Executive Committee has endorsed the emergence of Hon. Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya as Acting State Chairman following the suspension of Hashimu Dungurawa.

The endorsement was made during an emergency meeting of the party’s state executive held at the NNPP secretariat in Kano.

The decision was announced by the party’s Assistant Legal Adviser, Barrister Yusuf Mukhtar, who said Abiya’s emergence was in line with the provisions of the NNPP Constitution with the State Hight has affirmed today by the experte order.

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Call for Governor Yusuf to Join APC, a Welcome Development – Inuwa Waya

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and elder statesman, Mallam Inuwa Waya, has said that His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusif is an Excellent performer who received awards for good governance in improving education, agriculture, press freedom, accountability, infrastructure and urban beautification. He is therefore an asset to any political party.

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Mallam Inuwa Waya stated that the call for the governor to join the APC is a welcome development that would usher in a new era of reforms devoid of political chicanery, which is necessary for the survival of the APC in Kano State.

The elder statesman further stated that Governor Abba Kabir Yusif will bring his unique style of political sagacity necessary for internal democracy and cooperation among leaders and followers.

 

Inuwa Waya urged APC stakeholders to put aside personal ambition and support His Excellency Engineer Abba Kabir Yusif. As the Governor of Kano State, he is the undisputed leader of the party. Everyone must show loyalty and willingness to work with him for the greater good of the greatest number.

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Zaura Empowers 5,000 PWDs Across Kano”

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Over 5,000 persons living with disabilities (PWDs) from all 44 local government areas of Kano State have received support through a wide-reaching empowerment program spearheaded by Abdussalam Abubakar Zaura known as A.A. Zaura.

The beneficiaries converged in Kano metropolis, where the empowerment forms were officially distributed.

Speaking at the event on behalf of AA Zaura, Alhaji Ado Abdullahi Zaura said the initiative was designed to discourage street begging and promote self-reliance among PWDs across the state.

He added that program was designed to enhance economic inclusion and improve the quality of life for marginalized communities across the state

He noted that the gesture was part of a broader commitment to support vulnerable groups and integrate them into productive economic activities.

Alhaji Ado, a former Deputy Chairman of Ungoggo Local Government Area, emphasized that years of neglect and lack of adequate support from both government and well-meaning individuals had pushed many PWDs into street begging.

He stressed that the empowerment programme aims to reverse that trend by providing sustainable means of livelihood.
According to him, AA Zaura resolved to come to the aid of PWDs by offering various empowerment opportunities, including start up capital for small-scale businesses, sewing machines, scholarships, and other forms of assistance tailored to individual needs and interests, including education.

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He further disclosed the introduction of a new initiative tagged “AA Zaura Aqidah Programme,” under which 27 participants will be selected from each ward across the state to benefit from further empowerment, with special focus on youths.

Also speaking at the event, Garba Nuhu Darki, former member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Wudil Constituency and Director-General, Political Contact and Mobilization of the AA Zaura Movement, described the large turnout of PWDs as a clear indication of AA Zaura’s vision and leadership direction.

“To me, the gathering I witnessed today reflects the direction of AA Zaura’s ambition, especially considering that this empowerment programme is exclusively for persons living with disabilities,” he said.

He urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the support provided and to continue supporting the movement in order to achieve its broader political aspirations.

Earlier, Chief Protocol of the movement, Abubakar Yawale (popularly known as Baba Yawale), said PWDs occupy a special place in the heart of AA Zaura, adding that for over 20 years, AA Zaura has consistently supported persons with disabilities to enhance their wellbeing and productivity in society.

In his remarks, Isa PA assured the beneficiaries that more empowerment programmes were underway.

He revealed plans to procure hearing aids for persons with hearing impairments, walking sticks for the visually impaired, and electric wheelchairs for physically challenged persons. He, however, encouraged beneficiaries to ensure they obtained their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

In her remarks, Hajiya Maimuna Shitu, popularly known as Uwar Marayu, commended A.A. Zaura for his initiatives aimed at enhancing the lives of persons with disabilities and, by extension, orphans.

She urged the beneficiaries to rally behind Zaura’s vision of advancing the socio-economic welfare of the populace.

Hajiya Maimuna noted that all his efforts in capacity building and economic empowerment have been carried out independently, without external assistance.

She highlighted that Zaura has been funding these initiatives from his personal resources, acting in his capacity as a businessman rather than a government official.

Some of the beneficiaries expressed their happiness for the gesture and affirmed their loyalty to AA Zaura.

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