ASR AFRICA COMMENCES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 500-CAPACITY LECTURE THEATRE AND FACILITIES WORTH 250 MILLION NAIRA FOR THE ADAMAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, MUBI, NIGERIA

Mubi, May 3rd, 2024

Sahara Weekly Reports That The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) commences the construction of a 500-capacity lecture theatre and wash facilities for the Adamawa State University, Mubi. This project is coming after the nomination of the institution as a recipient of the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme (TEGS), by the Board of Directors of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative.

Speaking at the event, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr. Stephen A. Lagu, expressed his appreciation to the Chairman of BUA group and ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu, for the rare philanthropy gesture towards the university. He stated that the intervention of the Chairman would reduce the physical infrastructure deficit at their new campus and promote sanitation and hygiene in the university. He added that the choice of the 500-seat lecture theatre with the four boreholes at different locations within the campus was identified and agreed to by the relevant organs of the institution with the ASR Africa team.

Dr Ubon Udoh (MD / CEO, ASR Africa), in his remarks, congratulated the institution for qualifying for the nomination by the Board of Directors of ASR Africa. He stated that the rigorous selection process which includes stringent criteria such as the quality of service delivered by the university and the pedigree of graduands from the institution at the national and international levels, proves that the university is keeping up with its vision as a leading institution of learning in the region. He encouraged the management and students to ensure proper use and maintenance of the facilities as a show of appreciation for the grant given to them.

The Tertiary Education Grant Scheme of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative is part of the efforts of the Chairman of BUA Group and ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu to give back to the African continent and make a lasting impact in education as a means of uplifting and restoring the dignity and lives of Africans.

About ASR Africa

ASR Africa is the brainchild of African Industrialist, Philanthropist and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based, homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting Health, Education and Social Development within Africa.

Democracy Day: Good Governance Situation Room Names Govs Bago, Fubara as Most Outstanding, Best Performing Governors in Nigeria

A coalition of 100 Pro-Democracy Groups in Nigeria under the auspices of Good Governance Situation Room has announced that Governors Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State and Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State are to receive a joint award for “Best Performing Governor of the Year”.

This was contained in a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the coalition, Comrade Isaac Ikpa, and issued to journalists on Friday in Abuja.

Ikpa noted that the coalition selected Governors Bago and Fubara for the award after assessing the achievements of all the governors sworn in on May 29, 2023, in their first year in office.

He added that the data for the final awards was collected through various reliable means, including the internet and physical assessments of what is on the ground in all the states.

“After assessing what was achieved by all the governors sworn in on May 29, 2023, in the first year of their stewardship, the Good Governance Situation Room, a coalition of 100 reputable Pro-Democracy Groups based in Nigeria, has named Governors Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State and Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, as the Best Performing Governors in Nigeria,” the statement said.

“We carefully reviewed the performances of the governors in areas such as education, health, agriculture, security, economy, infrastructural development, human capital development and social justice using data collected via the Internet and physical assessment of what is on ground in all the states. After analysing the available data, Governors Bago and Fubara emerged as the most outstanding in terms of development and provision of good governance in the country.

“Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger State has established a reputation for integrity and transparency, and his achievements in his first year in office are commendable. He prioritizes peace as a necessary elixir for the development of society and distributed over 20 operational vehicles to the Niger State Command of Nigeria Police, its sister agencies like the SSS, NSCDC, NDLEA, and some other non-conventional security agencies to curb crime in the state. He also provided a new Divisional Police Headquarters in Chanchaga, replacing the old structure which was built on a water pipeline over 30 years ago, thereby denying hundreds of residents water supply.

“In terms of infrastructural development, Governor Bago rehabilitated a failed section of Minna-Bida road, and signed a contract agreement with BENIJ Nigeria Limited for the construction of 556 km of roads earmarked across the state.

“In agriculture, the Governor procured and distributed thousands of bags of fertilizer and other farm inputs to farmers in the state for the wet season at a subsidized price. He even dropped the ‘His Excellency’ title for ‘Farmer Governor,’ which he said was to reinforce the priority of his administration on agriculture.

“In the health sector, Governor Bago’s administration is currently redesigning the moribund Shiroro Hotel into Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Teaching Hospital, which is a display of purposeful, resourceful, and progressive leadership in action.

“In addition to the renovation of schools, award of scholarships to indigene students, sponsorship of huge number of citizens for pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, provision of solar street lighting systems and motorised boreholes, the governor distributed food items worth N3bn across the 25 local government areas of the state as a palliative to cushion the effect of petroleum subsidy removal on citizens. He also approved the payment of wage award of N20,000 for every civil servants in the state following President Bola Tinubu’s appeal to state governments to implement the payment of the wage award to help cushion the economic challenges faced by the people.

“When Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara came into office, he had promised a minimum of 16 projects in his 100 days, a promise he has kept considering what had been put on ground already. The Governor has completed over 21 road projects totalling about 68km across several local government areas of the state in less than one year in office. The Port Harcourt Ring Road project, which his administration flagged off on 17 July 2023, is the largest infrastructure project by a State Government in Nigeria. The 50.15 km dual-carriageway ring road, when completed, will connect and enhance economic progress and integration across at least six local government areas and open a vast gateway for new local and foreign investments in real estate, agriculture, hospitality, and industrial ventures within the state.

“In a bid to stimulate economic growth, enhance job creation, and reduce poverty, Governor Fubara has created a four-billion-naira Enterprise Fund in partnership with the Bank of Industry to facilitate the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the State. The Governor also initiated several other projects and programs, including the Rivers State Youth Empowerment Scheme, the Rivers State Strategic Development Plan, and the Rivers State Health Insurance Scheme.

“Governor Fubara also scored high in other sectors like education, health, as seen in the numbers of schools and hospitals renovated and numerous ongoing projects in the state. In addition, the governor provided some buses as palliatives to ease the transportation difficulties facing Rivers residents as a result of the hike in fuel price. The buses ferry commuters from one station to another free of charge. Some ply the local government areas, while others ply the streets of Port Harcourt.

“These and many more are the solid achievements of the two Governors selected to be the joint winner of the ‘Best Performing Governor of the Year’ award. Their achievements in less than one year were considered to be far-reaching and worthy of emulation,” the statement added.

465 Hostages Were Freed And 715 Terrorists Killed In April – DHQ

According to the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, 465 kidnapped hostages were released in April, and troops killed over 715 terrorists in that same month.

During a biweekly media briefing in Abuja, Maj-Gen Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operation, revealed these.

Buba emphasized that eliminating terrorist organizations is a must in order to shield citizens from additional harm.

He added that the military’s coordinated use of air and ground forces allowed them to accomplish the task.

He claimed that operations in April comprised fighting patrols, ambushes, and raids using aircraft assets to locate and attack terrorist commanders and their bases. Eyes Of Lagos reports,

He said, “The synchronised strikes between the ground and air forces during the period under review resulted in over 715 terrorists neutralised.

“During the process, troops arrested 146 persons and rescued 465 kidnapped hostages.

“Furthermore, troops recovered 937 assorted weapons, 23,034 assorted ammunition, and denied the oil theft of an estimated sum over N2 billion (N2,572,397,190),” he said.

He listed some of the engagements of the troops and the successes they recorded in the fourth month of the year.

“On April 13, 2024, during the airstrikes, three senior terrorist commanders (Ali Dawud, Bakura Fallujah, and Mallam Ari) were neutralised at Kolleram Village along Lake Chad.

“Additionally, on April 15, 2024, the enclave of terrorist commander, Babaru, in Kankara LGA of Katsina State was destroyed. On April 19, 2024, the terrorist hideout belonging to a senior terrorist commander, Kamilu Buzaru, in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State was decimated.

“Similarly, on April 20, 2024, a gathering of senior terrorist commanders, Ado Ailero and Kamilu Buzaru in Danmusa LGA of Katsina State was disrupted by airstrikes. Battle Damage Assessment of all these strikes revealed that several terrorist combatants and their commanders were neutralised,” he added.

In the North-East, the military spokesperson reported that Operation Hadin Kai troops conducted missions in the Sambisa Forest, Timbuktu Triangle, and the Tumbus around Lake Chad, resulting in the elimination of 248 terrorists, the arrest of 422 and the rescue of 163 kidnapped hostages.

Additionally, he said 714 Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists, along with their families, surrendered, with recovered items including 208 AK-47 rifles, 34 fabricated guns, 45 Dane guns, and various caches of ammunition.

In the North-Central area, he said Operation Safe Haven neutralised 32 terrorists, arrested 148, and rescued 35 kidnap victims, seizing weapons and ammunition.

Maj-General Buba said Operation Whirl Stroke targeted criminal strongholds, killed 60 terrorists, arrested 99, and rescued 57 hostages, with arms and ammunition also recovered.

In the North-East, Operation Hadarin Daji, he said, continued efforts against terrorists, killing 297, apprehending 141, and rescuing 143 hostages, with significant weapon and ammunition recoveries.

In the South-South, the Operation Delta Safe operations, according to him, targeted violent extremists, crude oil theft, and illegal refining, resulting in killings, arrests, and significant recoveries as well as successes of Operation UDO KA in the South-East.