KACRAN Applauds Tinubu over Yobe Cargo Airport Takeover, Urges Buni to Invest Refund in Agriculture

…Says Federal ownership will boost North-East exports, create jobs, attract investors

By: Michael Mike

The Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has described the Federal Government’s takeover of the Yobe International Cargo Airport as a strategic economic intervention capable of transforming the North-East into a major agricultural, livestock and commercial export hub.

The association also urged Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, to channel part of the billions of naira expected as reimbursement for the airport project into agriculture, commerce, water supply, rural infrastructure and other critical sectors

KACRAN National President, Hon. Khalil Mohd Bello, in a statement, commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the takeover and reimbursement of the investment made by the Yobe State Government, describing the decision as a masterstroke for national economic development.

He also applauded members of the National Assembly for approving the promissory note for the reimbursement, expressing optimism that Federal Government ownership would accelerate the airport’s full operationalisation as an international cargo hub.

Bello said the facility, when fully operational, would serve not only Yobe but the entire North-East, neighbouring countries and the wider business community by providing an efficient channel for transporting agricultural produce, livestock products and manufactured goods to domestic and international markets.

He credited former Yobe Governor and Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, with initiating the airport project, while commending Buni for sustaining its construction despite the enormous financial demands.

The KACRAN president described Buni’s decision to hand over the airport to the Federal Government as an act of patriotism and statesmanship, saying it reflected his commitment to regional and national economic development.

According to him, the airport’s economic significance extends beyond aviation, as it could stimulate investment in agriculture, livestock processing, fisheries, mining and other commercial activities across the region.

He identified sesame seeds, gum arabic, beans, groundnuts, grains, vegetables, fruits, cattle, sheep, goats and fisheries products as some of the commodities the North-East could export through the facility.
Bello particularly advocated the establishment of modern, internationally certified halal meat processing and export centres to enable the region to move beyond the traditional sale of live animals to exporting processed beef, mutton and goat meat.

He said such facilities could open access to markets in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Asia while creating investment opportunities in abattoirs, cold-storage facilities, milk industries, food processing and logistics.

The association said the airport could also strengthen regional economic integration by positioning Damaturu as a commercial gateway serving Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba states, as well as neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
Bello further said the airport’s operationalisation could generate employment across the agricultural and livestock value chains, increase foreign exchange earnings, reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmers’ incomes.

The association also linked the airport project to the North-East Development Commission’s planned deployment of more than 10,000 electric tricycles, taxis and buses across the region.

It commended the NEDC Managing Director, Alhaji Mohammed Goni Alkali, Executive Director, Administration and Finance, Dr Garba Iliya, and other management staff for organising sensitisation workshops on electric vehicles across the six North-East states ahead of the planned deployment.

Turning to the expected reimbursement to Yobe State, Bello appealed to Buni to invest part of the funds in expanding agricultural production, particularly in areas with strong potential for food production.

He cited Machina Local Government Area’s capacity for beans production and Gaidam’s potential for onions and other food ingredients, urging the state government to strengthen the agricultural sector to support food security and commercial exports.

He also called for additional investment in modern markets, noting that such facilities could stimulate commercial activities, create employment and strengthen the state’s economy.

Other priority areas identified by KACRAN include solar-powered boreholes in grazing reserves and other pastoral communities, planting of about 10,000 economic and mango trees, and construction of rural roads linking farming communities to Damaturu and the cargo airport.

The association further urged the governor to allocate resources to education, healthcare, security, youth and women’s empowerment, small-scale industries and accessible soft loans for traders, business owners and pastoralists.

Bello called on other North-East states to identify their competitive agricultural and industrial products, invest in processing facilities and take advantage of the cargo airport to expand exports.

He said coordinated efforts by the six states would maximise the economic benefits of the facility and strengthen the North-East’s contribution to national development.

KACRAN Applauds Tinubu over Yobe Cargo Airport Takeover, Urges Buni to Invest Refund in Agriculture

Why Would the Military Ignore a Soldier Celebrating Convicted Terrorist Nnamdi Kanu?

By: Zagazola Makama

There is something profoundly disturbing about the argument being advanced by those demanding the intervention of Tarok military generals over the detention of Gabriel Lamdip, popularly known as the “Push Up King.”

The attempt to turn this matter into an ethnic solidarity campaign, while conveniently ignoring the gravity of the alleged conduct, is both misplaced and deeply troubling. The question is not whether Lamdip is Tarok, whether he enjoys the support of influential military officers or whether his family deserves compassion.

The real question is simple: Can a serving soldier publicly demonstrate solidarity with a separatist figure associated with violence against Nigerian security personnel and expect the military to look the other way?

Absolutely not!

Let us stop hiding behind sentiment and confront the issue squarely. A serving soldier is not an ordinary civilian. He wears the uniform of the Nigerian Armed Forces, carries the responsibility of defending the Constitution and has sworn allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. His conduct, particularly on matters touching national security, separatist agitation and threats to national unity, must reflect the discipline and loyalty expected of a member of the military.

If the video in question shows Lamdip performing push-ups in apparent solidarity with Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), then the matter deserves serious institutional attention. The explanation that Kanu shares a birthday with the soldier’s son does not automatically erase the implications of such an act.

Since when did a child’s birthday become a convenient excuse for a serving soldier to publicly associate himself with a figure whose movement has been linked by the Nigerian government to deadly attacks against members of the nation’s security forces?

This is not about denying anyone the right to hold personal opinions. It is about the special obligations that come with wearing a military uniform. The Armed Forces are not a social club where personnel can freely blur the line between personal admiration, political activism and institutional loyalty.

And those rushing to condemn the Army for investigating this matter should first remember the blood of Nigerian security personnel shed in the violence associated with IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
The record is grim.

On May 3, 2022, Master Warrant Officer Audu Linus and Private Gloria Mathew were abducted while travelling in Imo State. They were brutally murdered and beheaded. In a statement issued the following day, the Presidency attributed the killings to IPOB and condemned the gruesome crime.

On July 13, 2021, an attack on troops at the Iggah/Asaba checkpoint in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State reportedly left two soldiers dead. The Nigerian Army attributed the attack to IPOB and its Eastern Security Network.

In November 2021, two police inspectors, identified as Akubo and Adamu, were abducted and murdered. Their bodies were reportedly decapitated, while footage of the killings was circulated. The Federal Government attributed the operation to IPOB members.

On May 30, 2024, armed men attacked a military checkpoint in Abia State. The Nigerian Army blamed IPOB for the attack, which reportedly killed five soldiers. Six civilians also died in the violence, according to an account cited in the UK government’s country report.

The figures announced by the Federal Government are equally alarming. In October 2021, the then Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, disclosed that a government committee had attributed 175 security personnel deaths between October 2020 and June 2021 to IPOB and ESN. The figure comprised 128 police officers, 37 military personnel and 10 other security operatives.

The committee also attributed 164 attacks on police stations and security formations to the group.
These were official government figures, and they paint a disturbing picture of the scale of violence confronting security institutions during that period.

Beyond attacks on security personnel, communities in the South-East have also endured killings, abductions, intimidation, attacks on public infrastructure and the violent enforcement of sit-at-home orders. Ordinary citizens, traders, transport operators, civil servants and other residents have paid a heavy price for the activities of armed groups operating under separatist banners. So, what exactly are the critics asking the Nigerian Army to do? Look away? Pretend that nothing happened.

The Army is not a private association belonging to any ethnic group. It is a national institution. Its loyalty is to Nigeria, not to ethnic pressure groups, political sympathisers or individuals who believe that connections and influence should place someone beyond scrutiny.

If Lamdip has done nothing wrong, he should have nothing to fear from a fair and transparent investigation. But if the evidence establishes a breach of military regulations, he must face the appropriate consequences under the law.

Why Would the Military Ignore a Soldier Celebrating Convicted Terrorist Nnamdi Kanu?

Borno: Biu residents commend Betara over construction of township roads

By Peter Uwumarogie

Some residents of Biu Local Government Area of Borno have commended Hon. Aliyu Betara, member representing Biu/Bayo/Shani/Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency for constructing township roads in Biu town.

They gave the commendation in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Biu town on Monday.

Malam Rabiu Aliyu, a resident, said that the roads had helped mitigate flooding in his community while providing seamless access to homes.

Aliyu said that the intervention addressed the critical needs of the people as some communities within the town were not properly connected by roads until Betara’s intervention.

“This is what representation should look like; directly meeting the needs of your people.

“We commend the Federal lawmaker for helping residents see the dividends of good representation.

“He (Betara) may not be around us every time but what he has done can be seen, used, touched and felt, that’s governance,” he said.

For Suleiman Isa, another resident, the roads have not only added to the beauty of the town but reduced the cost of transportation around the town.

He said some residents could easily use bicycles from their homes to market, schools, worship centres and other locations without needing to pay to enter tricycles.

Isa said the construction of the roads had made communities within Biu town more connected and “that’s why many people now buy rechargeable bicycles and move with ease.

“The roads have really helped students as they now use bicycles to school and the good roads reduce their travel time and stress,” he said.

Mrs Esther Daniel said the roads have helped improve economic activities in her community as shops have been built along the roads where women sell their goods near their homes.

Daniel also said the project has helped improve mobility especially during the rainy season when the roads used to be flooded and largely inaccessible.

“Now even if it rained, we don’t get stuck at home; we still go and do our normal activities and return safely.

“Betara has been representing us well and we will continue to pray for him. It is not difficult to please Nigerians, just represent us well and we will support and love you.

“This is why many people love Betara because he is doing what makes life easy for his constituents,” she said.

For Hauwa Ibrahim, a resident who lives adjacent to Biu main market, Betara has shown goodwill to his people and “we are proud of him.”
Ibrahim, however, urged the Federal lawmaker to complete other roads that he had earmarked for construction so that “we too can enjoy what others are enjoying.

“Some communities along Gombe road have been marked for construction but are yet to be done.

“So in the spirit of inclusive governance, we appeal for those roads to be constructed to make it easy for residents there to access their homes and businesses,” she appealed.

Borno: Biu residents commend Betara over construction of township roads