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Zamfara blames Matawalle, rescues 93 students stranded in Cyprus
The Zamfara State government has raised concern over its 93 students stranded at the Cyprus International University over improper documentation.
The government which blamed the crisis on the previous administration of Bello Matawalle now Minister of State for Defence said the tuition fees, accommodation and feeding allowances of the students were not paid to the University authorities, thereby exposing them to hardships and difficult conditions.
The Zamfara State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wadatau Madawaki, at a press conference in Abuja, said right from the beginning, there was no documentary evidence showing Memorandum of Understanding between the University and the previous administration as
the students were simply left at the mercy of the University authorities in Cyprus.
He, however, said the State government has paid some money as part payment for the tuition fees, pending reconciliation of accounts, between three to six months accommodation and other debts.
Madawaki said, “The attention of the present administration under the able leadership of His Excellency, Dauda Lawal, has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by Zamfara State students sponsored by the previous administration led by the former Governor of the State, His Excellency, Alhaji Bello Muhammed Matawalle to study different courses at the Cyprus International University.
“In the spirit of fairness and just balancing, the attention of Zamfara State government and in particular, the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and or its parastatal, that is Zamfara State Scholarship Board should give its own side of the story.
“The main reason for the convocation of this conference is to “Put the records straight and disabuse the minds of the general public, most especially the parents” of those students sent to study at the Cyprus International University by the previous administration. For the avoidance of doubt and as was earlier mentioned, the administration of former Governor Bello Muhammed Matawalle sponsored ninety three (93) Zamfara indigenes to study different courses at the Cyprus International University in the year 2020.
“However, right from the beginning the process was fraught with dishonesty and outright selfishness as there is “No documentary evidence” of any type showing “Memorandum of Understanding”, signed between the University and the previous administration that sponsored the students.
All records available to the present administration at the Ministry of Education, Scholarship Board and the University showed that a “Consultant” was hired who negotiated between the previous administration and the university, processed admissions and traveling documents for the students and delivered them to the university authority. In the negotiation, it was arranged that the students would be in a system that is tagged “Full package”.
“In that arrangement, the students’ accommodation and feeding were handed over to the university authority and that whether the students ate meal or not for whatever reason, they will be charged by the school authority as having eaten. That was a very unfair arrangement that has formed part of the difficulties faced by the students. From the year 2022, the previous administration of Governor Bello Matawalle abdicated from its responsibilities of funding the students’ studies at the Cyprus International University as tuition fees, accommodation and feeding allowances were not paid to the university authorities thereby exposing the students to hardships and difficult conditions. That by extension caused the accumulation of huge debt by the previous administration which continued up to the end of its life span Monday, May 29th 2023.
“It is on the unfortunate lack of legal and binding agreement between the previous administration and the university authority that exposed the students to unwanted and unwarranted bad treatment by the university, since there was no signed document that outlined responsibilities of each party with regards to the students stay in the University.
They were simply left at the “mercy” of the university authorities by unpatriotic elements who cashed in on the poor arrangement to make fast money. Five (5) out of the ninety three(93)students left the university remaining eighty eight (88).
“After the inception of the present administration of Governor Dauda Lawal, his attention was drawn to the difficult situation being faced by the students in Cyprus. His Excellency, Dauda Lawal quickly swung into action and directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to engage with the university and find out what was the burden of debt being owed by the State Government. The Secretary to the state government arranged zoom meeting with the university authorities and it was at that point the rot manifested itself as the University presented an outrageous debt profile owed by the government.”
The University authorities was said to have presented a debt of tuition fees being owed by the government even when they knew they had stopped the students from attending lectures for almost one year.
Also, the University authorities charged the government feeding money for the students even when they knew that they had not taken meal for almost one year as their feeding was tied to their stay in the accommodation.
Moreover, the University authorities charged government the fees (both accommodation and feeding) of the five (5) students even when they they knew that they had left the University.
The present administration refused to accept what the University presented as it was meant to dubiously short changed the government.
“However, in order to demonstrate its willingness and sincerity in addressing and resolving the issues, the Commissioner said the present administration intervened and took bold steps.
Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media and Public Communications to Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has responded to the recent appointment of Bashir Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).
Olayinka took to X (formerly Twitter) to address discussions surrounding this leadership transition. His post aimed to clarify that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not dismiss Mele Kyari, a northerner, to replace him with a southerner, as some speculated. Instead, Olayinka pointed out that Ojulari, like Kyari, hails from the northern region of Nigeria.
According to Olayinka’s post on his official X account, he emphasised that Bashir Ojulari is from Kwara State, located in North Central Nigeria. Additionally, the new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, originates from Borno State in the North East.
His post stated: “Bashir Ojulari, the new NNPCL CEO, is a northerner from Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. The new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is also a northerner, from Borno State, North East Nigeria.”
Olayinka’s statement came in response to narratives suggesting that the appointment was politically motivated to favour one region over another.
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has strongly condemned the extrajudicial killing of 16 travelers in Uromi, Edo State, while warning against retaliatory violence targeting Southerners in Northern Nigeria.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, MBF Spokesman Luka Binniyat denounced inflammatory threats from individuals claiming to represent Northern interests in response to the killings.
Recalled that the victims, were allegedly armed hunters, traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano when they were attacked by a mob that accused them of being kidnappers.
“The MBF strongly condemns the unlawful killing of any Nigerian citizen, including those who lost their lives in Uromi,” the statement read. “However, we categorically reject any attempt to use this tragic incident as a pretext to unleash violence against Southerners residing in Northern Nigeria.”
The forum assured that the Middle Belt would not become a battleground for reprisals, emphasizing that it remains a safe haven for all law-abiding Nigerians. It urged community leaders and youths to remain vigilant and prevent any attempts to instigate violence, calling for anyone with such intentions to be handed over to authorities.
The MBF also reaffirmed its commitment to justice for all victims of violence across Nigeria. The statement highlighted the ongoing security challenges facing Middle Belt communities, citing persistent attacks by armed herdsmen with little government intervention.
” We hope that the swift response to the Uromi killings would serve as a precedent for broader action against criminal elements terrorizing the region.
“Thousands of our people remain in captivity, and vast portions of our land are still under the control of violent outlaws—primarily Fulani militants,” the statement noted.
“Justice must be served across the board.”
The MBF concluded by reiterating its support for the ongoing investigation into the Uromi incident and calling for a fair and decisive crackdown on all forms of criminality across the country.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Kabir Ibrahim kware, has commended governor Ahmed Aliyu for executing numerous developmental projects without taking loan from any financial institution.
Ibrahim Kware whp gave the commendation when he led other members of the State Assembly on Sallah homage to governor Aliyu, added that, the governor is very prudent in managing resources to achieve results.
“There was never a time you approached us with a request for permission to borrow money from any financial institutions whether at home or abroad,”he affirmed.
This , according to him, is worthy of commendation considering the myriad people- oriented projects the governor is executing across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the State’s Judiciary, Sokoto State Chief Judge, Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Sifawa, commended the governor for the construction of additional Court rooms at the State High Court.
Justice Sifawa also expressed delight over the way and manner the governor responds to issues affecting the Judiciary, which he said, is a clear testimony of the good working relationship existing between the three arms of government in the state.
Responding to the commendations, governor Ahmed Aliyu appealed for more synergy among the three tiers of government in the overall development of the state.
A statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to governor Alhmed Aliyu reaffirmed his principal’s unwavering commitment of the executive arm to providing the direly needed dividends of democracy to the people of the state,in line with his campaign promises.
The governor also urged lawmakers to present all the needs of their constituencies for prompt and diligent implementation.
“”I want to assure you that my doors are always open for you at any given time, to listen to the demands of your people.”
He reminded them on the need to put politics aside and work together with the executive arm for the progress and even development of the people they represent.
Turning to the members of the State Judiciary, the governor appealed to Judges and Khadis to ensure the quick dispensation of justice, so as to decongest the correctional centres.
“It is worrisome to see how inmates are languishing in correctional centres for minor offences in the name of awaiting trial.
“We recently appointed seven additional Judges and 7 Khadis, which is the first in the history of Sokoto State.
“The idea is to enhance the manpower in our Judiciary so as to speed up the dispensation of justice,” he added.
The governor further assured the members of the Judiciary of his administration’s readiness to ensure their welfare at all times.