Boat mishap leaves passengers missing in Niger

By: Zagazola Makama

A canoe conveying seven passengers capsized while in transit between Jata and Kami Village in Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State, leaving several persons missing.

Sources said the incident occurred at about 7:00 p.m. on Feb. 16 when the canoe, carrying six females and one male passenger, overturned during the journey.

The passengers were identified as Mustapher Yakubu; Sahura Yakubu and her child; Zarifa Yakubu; Mommy Yakubu; Lizatu Yakubu; Zaratu Yusuf; and Sumaiya Ibrahim, all from Jata/Bmagara via Kami Village.

Rescue teams, including police and local divers, were immediately mobilised to the scene. The boat driver and his conductor were rescued alive, while search efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining passengers.

Authorities said further updates would be provided as rescue operations continue.

Boat mishap leaves passengers missing in Niger

Armed bandits attack Konkoso Village, kill two in Niger

By: Zagazola Makama

Armed bandits have killed two people and razed homes during an attack on Konkoso Village in Niger State, security sources said.

According to sources, the incident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 17 when a large group of bandits invaded the village, shot two residents whose identities are yet to be confirmed, and set several houses on fire.

The attackers also looted shops and carted away food items before leaving Konkoso Village and moving toward Pissa Village in Pissa District.

Authorities said efforts are ongoing to track the bandits and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

Armed bandits attack Konkoso Village, kill two in Niger

Modern market: I’ve fulfilled campaign promises to Ngalda community – Buni

Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, Tuesday, said he has fulfilled his campaign promises to the good people of Ngalda community in Fika Local Government Area of the state following the inauguration of the newly reconstructed modern market in the community.

Buni stated that this in Ngalda community during the inauguration of the ultra modern market reconstructed by his administration to boost economic activities, create jobs for youths as well as boost the revenue of the state.

He stated that the facility which was completed in 10 months has all the modern equipment that any modern market ought to have to serve the economic requirement for businesses and trade to thrive seamlessly.

He said that by inaugurating the facility, he had fulfilled the campaign promises made to the good people of Ngalda to reconstruct the market, equip it with modern facilities as well as address the challenge of poor drainage resulting in perennial flooding in the community.

The inauguration of Ngalda Modern Market and concrete drainage is part of our legacy projects in fulfilment of our (campaign) promises to the good people of Ngalda and its environs.

This project has 272 shops of different sizes, administrative block, mosque, refuse collection point, parameter fence, pavement, drainage, boreholes, fire service station, police outpost, microfinance bank, and a 2.98 kilometer drainage is being constructed to tackle the perennial flooding being experienced in the town.’

Buni said that the market is one of the most thriving markets in the state that enjoyed patronage from across the country with the huge turnover that contributed to the state’s economy.

According to him, the new modern market will further increase economic activities in the area, creates job and income generation to the people and also promote post insurgency economic recovery programme of his administration.

He urged the people to take ownership of the market by ensuring its cleanliness for maximum benefits and good utilisation of the facility for the government to have value for the money expended on the project.

He further urged the market authorities to take all necessary steps to prevent leakages in the revenue collection drive and ensure that all revenue generated are remitted to government coffers to be used as part of funds to strengthen development in the state.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his support to Yobe State that had enabled the state to execute projects for the benefit of the people.

In conclusion, Buni, named the new Ngalda market after Gov Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, saying that the market would now be called Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya Modern Market.’’ In his remarks, Yahaya thanked Buni for executing alegacy and well constructed project’’, noting that the market would impact the economy of Yobe and Gombe States and Nigeria at large.

In his remarks, Hon. Kaigama Umar Yunusari, the Yobe State Commissioner of Commerce, Industry, Tourism, and Solid Minerals said that the state government under Buni’s leadership, since 2019, had established nine ultra modern markets across the state with six completed while three were ongoing.

Yunusari while commending Gov. Buni for the initiative aimed at boosting economic activities, job and wealth creation for the people, stated that the modern markets have become a model for other states.

Modern market: I’ve fulfilled campaign promises to Ngalda community – Buni