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Empowering Small Scale Miners: NASSMCS Target North West

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By Solomon Attah, Lafia

In a bid to revolutionize artisanal mining, the National Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Cooperative Society (NASSMCS) is dedicated to empowering small scale miners nationwide.

The NASSMCS has unveiled a structured framework for its North West chapter, aimed at efficiently managing and safeguarding the interests of cooperative members within the North West geopolitical zone.

Structuring the Cooperative
Under the visionary leadership of Aminatu Ibrahim Musa, the North West zonal Chairperson, the cooperative has instituted a robust framework comprising the General Assembly, Board of Trustees, Executive Committee, and specialized task committees.

The General Assembly, comprising all cooperative members, convenes regularly to deliberate and make crucial decisions affecting the cooperative’s operations.

Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees, elected by the General Assembly, assumes the pivotal role of overseeing cooperative activities and managing its affairs.

An Executive Committee, led by elected officials including the Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer, is tasked with executing decisions sanctioned by the General Assembly.

This committee ensures operational efficiency and adherence to the cooperative’s objectives.

To address specific concerns such as finance, marketing, environmental management, and social welfare, various committees are constituted under the Executive Committee’s purview.

Comprising members from the General Assembly, these committees play a vital role in steering the cooperative towards sustainable growth.

Prospective artisanal miners seeking membership in the cooperative must meet predefined criteria and fulfil membership obligations, including payment of membership fees.

Membership confers voting rights in General Assemblies and access to exclusive benefits offered by the cooperative.

Upholding Standards and Practices
Artisanal mining cooperatives enforce stringent rules and regulations governing membership, decision-making processes, revenue distribution, and conflict resolution.

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These guidelines ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability within the cooperative framework.

In a commitment to continuous improvement, members benefit from regular training and capacity-building initiatives.

These programmes focus on enhancing mining techniques, promoting safety protocols, and honing business management skills.

Ultimately, the structured approach adopted by artisanal mining cooperatives in Nigeria aims to uplift small-scale miners, enhance working conditions, and foster sustainable mining practices nationwide.

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My harrowing experience in the hands of bandits – Bishop Kukah’s brother

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Mr Ishaya Kukah, brother to the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev. Fr. Matthew Kukah, on Tuesday recounted his harrowing experience in the hands of bandits who had held him and others captive.

Kukah spoke with newsmen on Tuesday when the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu and the Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, handed over 60 rescued victims to their families in Abuja.

He said he had given up hope of surviving before his rescue with others by the troops of the 1 Division Nigerian Army in Kaduna.

“Frankly speaking, I had already given up. I didn’t think I would come out alive because of how they were treating us in the bush.

“We suffered too much. They used to chain us in twos. If you wanted to defecate or urinate, you had to move together,” he said.

Kukah said that the victims were pressured into agreeing to ransom demands due to the torture they endured.

According to him, if they noticed you are reluctant, they will beat or even kill you.

“If not for the Federal Government, we would still be in the bush. Thank you for what you have done. God bless you,” he said.

Another rescued victim, Adesanya Michael, a Deputy Director at the National Assembly Commission, who was abducted from his residence in Kubwa, Abuja, advocated for a non-combative approach to tackling banditry.

He said the bandits, mostly aged between 17 and 21, were stark illiterates and victims of circumstance.

“I was chained for 32 days. Most of them can’t even count up to a million. They don’t know what they’re doing.

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“Instead of killing them, the government should arrest, educate, and rehabilitate them. Some of them want to learn trades. They can still be useful,” he said.

Michael, who was kidnapped on Jan. 26 and released on April 7, recounted how his wife was killed in his presence.

“When they kill someone in front of you, you will give them anything they want. They killed my wife before me. In that moment, if they asked for my head, I would have given it,” he said. (NAN)

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Group Slams Zamfara Governor,Daudae Over Insecurity

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A civil society organisation in Zamfara State has strongly criticised Governor Dauda Lawal, accusing him of gross incompetence and failure to secure the lives and property of the citizens under his watch.

In a scathing statement signed by the group’s Publicity Secretary, Dr Suleiman Ibrahim Usman, the organisation alleged that Governor Lawal has abandoned his responsibilities, choosing instead to blame his predecessor, Dr Bello Matawalle, for the state’s persistent security challenges.

“Governor Lawal has failed woefully in his primary duty of safeguarding the people of Zamfara,” the group said.

“Rather than tackle the escalating insecurity, he spends his time pointing fingers at his predecessor, all while living lavishly and ignoring the plight of his people.”

The group criticised what it described as the governor’s “luxurious lifestyle”, claiming that while communities in the state suffer from hunger, sickness, and fear of bandit attacks, Governor Lawal is busy acquiring exotic vehicles.

“It is disgraceful for a leader of a traumatised state to indulge in such extravagance,” the statement read.

The statement further accused the governor of mismanaging the state’s increased federal allocation and internal revenue, questioning what tangible security investments have been made since he assumed office.

“Under Governor Matawalle, despite limited funds, security agencies received over 200 Hilux vehicles and motorcycles. What has Governor Lawal done with the increased allocation?” the group queried.

The civil society group also criticised the ongoing road projects in the state, describing them as mere reconstructions of long-standing roads rather than the development of new infrastructure.

“These are not new roads; they are just politically motivated renovations focused mostly on his own local government area,” the statement alleged.

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It condemned aides of the governor for attacking the current Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, saying he had contributed to improved security in the state.

“Thanks to Matawalle’s interventions, many villages are now able to sleep with both eyes closed, and farming activities are gradually returning,” Dr Usman claimed.

“It is only hypocrites or those who have never stepped foot in Zamfara that would commend this administration. We challenge anyone to visit the state and see the suffering of the people firsthand.”

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Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable To Equip Church Leaders for Spiritual Harvest, Says KARM Leader

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The Kingdom Apostolic Revival Ministries (KARM) has unveiled plans for a significant gathering dubbed the Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable, aimed at equipping church leaders and workers for what its convener describes as an “imminent harvest of souls.”

The announcement was made on Tuesday by Apostle John Enelamah, leader of KARM, in a statement released to journalists,on Tuesday.

The conference, scheduled for 11-12 April 2025 at the Jesus the Way Gospel Mission Auditorium in New Era Layout, Akwunanu, Enugu, is expected to draw ministers and church workers from across Nigeria’s South East and South South regions.

Apostle Enelamah emphasised that the event would not only address the spiritual needs of attendees but also tackle their temporal concerns, while fostering discussions on expanding the reach of the Christian faith.

“The Ministers’ Roundtable is a forum where ministers and church workers will come together to fellowship and receive the Word of God, equipping them for the great work ahead,” Enelamah said.

“God’s move and revival are sweeping across the nations, and Nigeria has a pivotal role to play in these end times.”

Enelamah highlighted Enugu’s strategic importance in the South East as a key reason for hosting the event there, noting that the conference would serve as a springboard for further outreach in the region.

He also revealed plans for a future gathering, the Mission To West Africa (MTWA) Conference, set to take place in Umuahia in February 2026.

The Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable will feature prominent Christian leaders, including Archbishop Chris Ede of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Enugu Archdiocese; Bishop Obi Onubuogu of Rock Family Church; and Apostle Chuks Alozie of the Abia Apostolic Intercessory Team.

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The event will be hosted by Rev John Uga, with sessions running from 9am to 4pm on 11 April and resuming at 9am on 12 April.

In his statement, Enelamah urged ministers “thirsty and hungry for greater exploits in their ministry” to attend, promising a spiritually enriching experience that would “build up our most holy faith.”

He added that KARM intends to collaborate closely with ministers in Enugu and other parts of southern Nigeria to strengthen the church’s mission.

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