Catholic Bishop tasks FG on hardship, lauds Kaduna Governor on security stability in B/GwariThe Catholic Arch Bishop of Kaduna Diocese Most Rev. Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso has called on the Federal of Nigeria to adopt more ways to aim at reducing the acute hardship being experienced by Nigerians.

Speaking during the annual Easter message for 2025, the Arch Bishop maintained that the continued kidnappings for ransom, the wanton destruction of life and property, and the blatant disregard for the sanctity of human life still poses great danger and the Federal Government must take proactive steps in tackling the issues. Speaking on the use of non- kinetic approach adopted by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State in handling security issues in Birnin Gwari Area, the Arch Bishop said, “I wish to commend the Kaduna State Government for the existing level of peace in some parts of the state, especially, in the Birnin Gwari axis due mainly to the peace initiative of the government that led to the peace deal with the bandits that in turn led to the relative peace now prevailing in the area. We commend this laudable effort of the government and encourage and urge the Governor and his team to endeavour to replicate the Birnin Gwari experience in other parts of the state especially ahead of the fast approaching farming season.””No efforts and resources should be spared to secure the state especially the farmlands so that farmers can have free access to their farmlands to produce enough food for the state and the country at large. This is not only essential but critical for the survival and progress of the state and the nation at large.” He stressed.According to him, while we encourage the citizens not to lose hope in themselves, their country and God, we equally encourage governments at all levels especially the Federal Government some of whose policies have brought us to where we are to do more than it is doing now to alleviate the suffering of the vast majority of the citizens. Yes, the resurrection of the Lord is the greatest assurance and anchor that we as Christians have. Our faith is based on hope that produces hope and this hope is what sustains us. Hope is the miracle of renewal that never lets us down because it has the capacity of making everything new in our life. “Ndagoso pointed that the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope titled, Hope does not disappoint, Romans 5:5, Pope Francis invites us to reflect and embrace the virtue of hope which is born of love and assures us that in spite of the challenges of our time and particular situations there is still a firm basis for hope knowing full well that hope does not disappoint and that the Lord is ever faithful to his Word (cf. Rom 8:28). In the same vein and in the spirit of the Jubilee Year of Hope, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) show us the way to restore hope in our dear land: “The Jubilee Year of Hope invites us to be agents of renewal, arising from restoration and freedom. We are called to be the light that dispels the darkness hovering over our land, which necessarily begins with each of us, from our homes to our churches, from our work places to our government institutions” with a proposal that “to rekindle hope among our populace, our nation needs political leaders of high moral profile, who are able to administer public goods in line with the principles of honesty and transparency and accountability” (2025 First Plenary Communique).

The Death Toll of New Nigerian Newspaper Retirees waiting for payment of their benefits from Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) has reached 111 on Friday the 18th of April 2025 when the death of former Company Secretary, Barrister Yusuf Onuh Abubakar occurred. Announcing the death of the ex company secretary on the New Nigerian Newspaper official WhatsApp platform Alhaji Idris said “INNALILLAHI WAINNA ILAIHIR RAJI’UN We loss another Beneficiary in Person of Barrister Yusuf Onuh Abubakar today April 18, 2025 may Allah SWT Grant him Aljannah Firdausi”Shortly after the announcement, members took to the NNN platform and so many others to mourn and lament the chains of Bureaucracy adopted by Northern Governors Forum before effecting their payments.

A beneficiary who pleaded anonymity said “these deaths are unusual and very painful, some of us are diabetic and some with several underlining illnesses which requires money in managing them. We have being begging Northern Governors to pay us, but it will sound as if the payment is going to come in one hour or the next day, then there will be total silence” “Does it mean these deaths doesn’t matter to the Governors? Yes, there are positive developments recently, but all we get is your matter is concluded. No penny has dropped into our accounts. What kind of Bureaucracy are they observing that hasn’t ended even with the death of 111 souls, oh God help us before we all perish” she exclaimed, crying uncontrollably.Last week Sunday, the first son of Aliyu Mai Borno ex-CBN Governor, Aliyu Modibbo Yola died at Federal Medical Centre Yola. He was in the NNN desk and was later transferred to Yola, Adamawa state his home town as state Editor NNN after the death of his Father Alhaji Aliyu Mai Borno a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN who’s his photo is in N1000 note. Meanwhile, last week Saturday, the death of Ado Umar at Yusuf Dantsoho Memorial Hospital Tudun Wada Kaduna brought the total number of beneficiaries awaiting payment from Northern Governors to 109.Investigation suggests that the number of beneficiaries in dear need of medical attention is 34 out of which 31 are diabetic, hypertensive and with ulcer.Northern States Governors’ Forum under Governor Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State raked in 7 billion naira after selling New Nigerian Newspaper properties in the name of paying NNN beneficiaries but until now no penny has been paid out of the 2.5 Billion naira owed the retirees.Meanwhile recent interactions of New Nigerian Newspaper Elders Forum with the Northern States’ Governors Secretariat suggests that efforts may have been underway to pay the retirees however no specific time frame was stipulated

Kano State Fire Service, has said that fire had destroyed six shops at Kurmi (Yan’ Jagal) Market in Kano on Friday.A statement signed and issued to newsmen by the Public Relations Officer of the State Fire Service, Alhaji Saminu Abdullahi, made this known on Friday in Kano.

According to the statement, we received a distress from Jakara police division at about 01:35 am that there was a fire outbreak at the Kurmi Jakara market. “Upon receiving the information, we quickly sent a fire vehicle to the scene, to bring the situation under control,’’ the statement said.Abdullahi, in the statement, explained that six shops were completely razed down by the fire, mainting that no life was lost and cause of the fire was under investigation.The Fire Service however, advised traders at the market and other residents, to always switch off all electrical appliances and disconnect the sources when not in use.(NAN)