Kachukwu To Nigerians: Fuel Queues Will Begin To Disappear From April 7th

The lingering queues at filling stations nationwide will
begin to disappear by April 7.

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, gave
the assurance in Abuja when he appeared before the Senate
Committee on Petroleum to intimate them with the effort
done to make fuel available.
He told the Senate that the Ministry had developed a
programme that would ensure the constant availability of
sixty percent of the daily fuel need of consumers.
The Minister said the lingering fuel crisis was the product of
decades of fraudulent practices that overwhelmed the
Ministry, which had left what he described as the
“monstrous chain of problems that had ushered in the
annoying scarcity of petrol”.
He advised Nigerians to stop hoarding fuel to help clear the
long queues at filling stations.
He however said the country would rely on the newly-
developed programme for fuel supply until its refineries
were fully rehabilitated.

Kano Fire: 15 People Hospitalised and Over N2tr Worth Of Goods Lost

About N2 trillion worth of goods were destroyed in Kano
market’s fire outbreak, the traders’ association said.
Also, Nigeria’s Disaster Management Agency, NEMA, said
over 3,800 shops were burnt in the inferno which it
described as the worst market fire disaster in Nigeria.
On his part, the Emir of Kano, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi
ll, has called on the Federal and State Governments to
launch an investigation immediately.
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has inaugurated a 9-
man committee to assess the level of damage and the
traders affected.
The Committee, Chaired by Alhaji Alin Bagadaza, was also
mandated to advise the government on how to resettle the
affected traders. The committee has five days to submit its
report.
Speaking to newsmen earlier, the Chairman of Sabon Gari
Market Traders’ Association, Alhaji Nafi’u Nuhu Indabo said
over 75 per cent of the market was burnt down.
He lamented that the fire started in the night when there
was nobody in the market to take preventive measures
against its spread.
During a visit to the market, NEMA Director General Alhaji
Sani Sidi, confirmed to reporters that 3,800 shops were
burnt down by the fire.

He added that 15 people were hospitalised for inhaling too
much smoke and minor injuries.
On assistance, Sidi said an assessment of the situation was
ongoing which would determine the level of help to be
rendered to the victims.
He assured the victims that help would soon come their
way.
Addressing the press after visiting the scene of the disaster,
the emir Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi ll, asked the federal
and state governments to investigate all the causes of
recent fire outbreaks in some Kano markets and schools.
The emir also called on the Kano state government to
restructure all Kano markets in order to modernise them
and make them safe.
Sanusi called on the traders to imbibe the culture of Islamic
insurance (Takaful) so as to recover their losses in case of
disasters.

FG To Teacchers; Obtain Teaching qualificcation Or Be Disenganged

The Federal Government has given teachers in the country a
two-year ultimatum to obtain a Teaching Qualification or be
disengaged.
Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah
announced this while interacting with newsmen in Owerri,
Imo State.
He said government would no longer tolerate a situation
where those without teaching skills were engaged to teach
in schools.

The Minister explained that applicants with certificates in
education would be given priority during the planned mass
recruitment of teachers by the Federal Government.
Professor Anwukah also said Federal Government was
paying attention to skill acquisition to reduce over-
dependence on white collar jobs.
The Minister also gave an assurance that the dichotomy
between University and Polytechnic graduates would soon
be eliminated.

Two Suicide Bombers Gun Down In Borno State

The ever alert and vigilant troops of 7 Division Garrison
based in Maiduguri, in conjunction with Civilian JTF averted
yet another suicide attack on the innocent citizens in Borno
State today.
The troops intercepted 2 female suicide bombers at about
1.20am this morning, almost 100 metres south of Umurari
village, outskirts of Maiduguri.
However, one of the suicide bombers on sighting own
troops detonated her explosive device, killing herself
instantly, while the second bomber in an attempt to escape
was gunned down by one of the Garrison snipers.
The combined team of Nigeria Police and Nigerian Army’s
Explosive Ordinance Device team safely detonated the
unexploded Improvised Explosive Devices strapped on the
gunned down suicide bomber.

It is important to state that there was no casualty beyond
the two suicide bombers. Presently, the troops and the
Civilian JTF deployed in the village are now combing the
general area to forestall further breach of security.
The situation in the area is calm and law abiding citizens
are going about their normal activities without fear.

Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman
Acting Director, Army Public Relations

Easter: FG declares Public Holidays On 25 and 28th March

The Federal Government has declared Friday, March 25 and
Monday, March 28 as public holidays to mark the Good
Friday and Easter celebrations respectively.
The Minister of Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman
Dambazau, made the declaration in a statement issued by
the acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji
Muhammadu Maccido on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Minister urged Christians and Nigerians in general to
support and join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari
in his sustained effort to build a peaceful, united and virile
nation.
He further urged Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for
peace and unity across the nation.
While wishing Nigerians and Christians the world over
happy celebrations, Dambazau also reiterated Federal
Government’s commitment to the change agenda in the
country.