Nelson Ugwuagbo

Terrorists who kidnapped over 286 students and staff in Kaduna State have demanded a total of N1 billion ($620,432) for their release.

According to Reuters, a community leader, Jubril Aminu, who acts as a spokesman for the families of the hostages, said he received a call on his phone from the kidnappers on Tuesday.

“They made a total of a N1 billion ransom demand for all the pupils, students and staff of the school,” Aminu said.

“They gave an ultimatum to pay the ransom within 20 days, effective from the date of the kidnap. They said they will kill all the students and the staff if the ransom demand is not met.”

An elected official from the Kuriga Ward municipal council, Idris Ibrahim, also confirmed the ransom demand and the amount.

“Yes, the kidnappers called the community through Jubril Aminu’s number and made the demand,” he said.

“They called from a hidden number but the authorities are working on getting the number.”

He added that the security forces were taking “adequate measures” to secure the release of the students.

The Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State, Samuel Aruwan, did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the kidnappers’ demands.

Spokespersons for President Bola Tinubu and the army also did not respond to requests for comment.

The Minister of information, Mohammed Idris, told reporters on Wednesday that Tinubu’s position on the kidnappings in Kuriga was that security forces should secure the hostages’ release without any ransom.

LeadingReporters report that the school children, some older students and members of the school staff, were abducted on March 7 in the town of Kuriga, Kaduna State.

The incident is the first mass kidnapping in the country since 2021.

Benue State Government to Establish Power Plant for Electricity Generation.

The Benue State Government has revealed plans to establish a power plant towards generating electricity to boost socio-economic development across communities in the state.

Raymond Asemakaha, the managing director of Benue Investment and Property Company, BIPC, made this known on Monday.

LeadingReporters gathered that the Federal Government’s recent assent to a bill, allowing all state governments to own and manage their electricity companies.

Speaking during a meeting with a delegation of Remedy Earth at BIPC corporate headquarters in Makurdi, Asemakaha asked the electricity company to set up a pilot plant in Benue State.

The BIPC boss stressed the need for the state to own a power generation plant that would transform the state and stimulate economic activities.

“For us we know that one thing that stimulates the economy is when you have enough power. So, we are looking for options to ensure that the state generates its power and shares it with its communities.

“We want them to do the plant here and test run it so we can know what they are capable of before we engage them. Gone are the days that people tell stories; we want to see them before we can recommend them to the governor,” he said.

The Senate of Nigeria is leading the investigation into the Central Bank of Nigeria’s disbursement of a significant N30 trillion loan to the Federal Government.

The probe aims to examine the process and utilization of the funds provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria to the Federal Government.

The Senate has initiated the investigation amid growing concerns and calls for transparency surrounding the country’s financial management.

The investigation is taking place within the Nigerian Senate, with stakeholders from various sectors closely following the proceedings.

The inquiry is essential to ensure transparency, accountability, and proper oversight in the allocation and utilization of such substantial financial resources. It also seeks to address concerns regarding the loan’s impact on the economy and the government’s plans for repayment.

Through a comprehensive examination of documents, testimonies, and expert analysis, the Senate aims to shed light on the terms of the loan, its implications for the Nigerian economy, and the strategies for repayment.

A total of 59 medical doctors formerly working at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, DASH, in Lafia, Nasarawa State, have resigned from their positions with the state government.

The doctors cited the non-implementation of hazard allowances and poor conditions of service as the primary reasons for their resignation over the past three months.

LeadingReporters gathered that 20 of the doctors left to seek opportunities in Saudi Arabia while the remaining 39 resigned due to dissatisfaction with their conditions of service.

This mass exodus of medical professionals comes amid a broader trend of instability in industrial relations at Nasarawa State Government-owned hospitals, including strikes, protests, and resignations of health workers, particularly doctors, due to the non-implementation of hazard allowances.

The situation has escalated in recent months, with over 50 medical doctors resigning from state services between January and March 2024.

A government official from DASH, who chose to remain anonymous, disclosed that the hospital received more than 25 resignation letters from doctors within just two days, stating the severity of the situation.

Dr. Yakubu Adeleke, the president of the National Association of Resident Doctors in Nasarawa State, expressed frustration over the lack of response from the state government to address the doctors’ demands for improved welfare.

He pointed out issues such as stagnated promotions, with some doctors working for up to eight years without promotion, as major grievances, warning that the mass resignation of doctors would significantly strain the state’s health system.

He said, “Doctors in Nasarawa State have been stagnated. No promotion. Some doctors have been working for eight years without promotion.”

In response, the Commissioner for Health in Nasarawa State, Dr Gaza Gwamna, acknowledged the challenges and stated that the state government had initiated the implementation of a welfare package for doctors.

Gwamna urged the remaining doctors to remain calm, assuring them that the government was in the process of recruiting to fill the vacant positions.

The Oyo State Government has joined its counterparts in Lagos to issue a ban on the use of Styrofoam for food services, storage and other purposes.

The state Commissioner for Health, Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, disclosed on Monday at the Food Safety Stakeholders Forum and the inauguration of the task force.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Akintunde Ayinde, Ajetunmobi said the ban was necessary to guarantee food standards in the state.

“The directorate of Food, Water, and Laboratory Services is saddled with the responsibility to regulate food business operations to ensure the presentation of wholesome edibles for public consumption in the state and planned to double her efforts to monitor/inspect food business premises in the state.

“Consequently, the use of Styrofoam for food services, storage, and other related usage in the state is also banned.” She declared.

LeadingReporters recalls that on January 21, the Lagos State Government banned using and distributing Styrofoam and other single-use plastics within the state.