NaijaHottestGist To Celebrate 10, Rewards Excellence

NaijaHottestGist, an online news agency, after a ten year meritorious service in reportage, has concluded plans to reward excellence at its 2020 anniversary lecture and awards.

In a release signed by the publisher, Seun Oloketuyi, the news platform is set to celebrate Nigerians, who have performed beyond expectations and stood out in their choice careers.

“Our commitment to ensuring that Nigeria continues to break barriers despite the multifaceted issues besieging us everyday wouldn't allow us to rest on our oars," Oloketuyi said, "And as we all know, the only way we can encourage selfless Nigerians, who contribute to the advancement of the country despite its many challenges, is to say thank you.

"As a media organisation, what better way to celebrate ten years of professionalism than giving honour to whom it's due."

The maiden anniversary lecture, themed 'Dwindling Oil Revenue: How To Run A State Post Oil Boom', comes at a time when the oil price is crashing largely due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and this is threatening the major source of revenue for the country.

A lawyer, human right activist and member of the National Assembly representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District of Ekiti state, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, is the speaker of the day, the keynote address will be given by the former commissioner for commerce and industry in Ogun State, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, while the royal father of the day is His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi (Kusenla III) of Ikate-Elegushi.

Acknowledging that the awards will not cover a significant percentage of worthy Nigerians, the publisher stated that the recipients emerged after a carefully selected team of jury's rigorous sessions.

"The NaijaHottestGist awards recognises the individuals, policymakers, advocacy groups and organisations whose efforts at the local and state levels have established performance as a core value.

"I can assure you that the awardees are chosen on merit."

The NHG awards for the Governor of the Year will go to the hard working governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni. Other categories include Bank of the Year (United Bank for Africa), CEO of the Year (Anders Einasson, Promasidor), Government Agency of the Year (Nigerian Dispora Commission) and Tourism Destination of the Year (Transcorp).

Others are Monarch of the Year (Oba Saheed Elegushi), Legislator of the Year (Hon. Shina Peller), Sports Event of the Year (The Lagos International Marathon), Heart of Gold Award (Aare Bashir Fakorede), Product of the Year (Alat by Wema Bank) and Special Recognition Award (Sir Kesington Adebukunola Adebutu, CON).

“Our efforts at ensuring that NaijaHottestGist is one that provides equitable and professional reporting on events affecting the nation is unwavering,” said publisher.

Seun Oloketuyi, a journalist of repute, is also the founder of the most consistent Nigerian movie industry awards, Best of Nollywood Awards.

The event, which is coming up on April 17, 2020, will be taking place at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos.

Last 10 Months: How Governor Dapo Abiodun Has Touched Many Lives In Ogun State

BY OLUWOLE OLANIYAN

In the last 10 months, so much has been achieved in Ogun State under the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun. When he was inaugurated as the Governor of Ogun State last May, he espoused his ‘Building the Future Together’ agenda for the State. In fact, he has already envisioned the projects and policies for the State. He was determined to drive his pursuits while yearning for progress despite all the odds pitted against him as well as what he inherited.

The governor has braved to make appreciable impact and ready to do much more, especially in the area of infrastructural renewal, security, health, education and Information and Communications Technology among others would be achieved in the months ahead. Judging by the indices so far, he has not deviated or dithered, rather, he seems to be on a supersonic speed to pack many achievements into his first year in office.

On a recent media tour of some of his projects, our correspondent discovered that the governor is not just an ideas man; he is a pragmatist and hard-worker who is wholly committed to entrenching and enthroning an Ogun State that would sooner be the pride of indigenes and investors and visitors alike.
Whilst this is not an exhaustive list in any way, the highlighted achievements are a pointer to the ingenuity and masses-centric approach to governance in Ogun State.

THE OGUN TECH HUB AND SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) CENTRE

Our first port of call was the Ogun Tech Hub and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) Centre. Located along Kobape Road, Abeokuta Expressway, the Ogun Tech Hub is sited on a vast expanse of land hitherto housing an abandoned school building. It was, however, re-purposed for the tech hub and is now a sight to behold at night and during the day.

Inside is a sprawling tableau of ICT experts, trainees and gadgets. Governor Abiodun said that the hub was conceptualised to make Ogun “the one-stop-shop for technological innovations across Africa where start-up companies will conveniently be set up. This step is firstly a result of the collaboration of tech enthusiasts and private sector players largely independent of our government.”

Essentially, the Ogun Tech Hub and STEM is a grand step geared towards fostering creativity and achievement of purpose for technologists, social entrepreneurs, tech companies, impact investors, and even ethical hackers and governments around Ogun State. The Hub will also serve as a knowledge platform where citizens can connect, share, build new skills and competencies to solve local challenges that improve the quality of life of Nigerians.

BEHOLD, THE LARGEST INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT) CENTRE IN ANY NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY

On the hallowed academic grounds of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, an enduring monument for educational purposes reputed as the largest Information and Communications Technology (ICT) centre in any Nigerian university; has sprung up. The multi-purpose complex sits 3,000 persons at a time and is fitted with all the gizmos that make reading profound and pleasurable. There are also computers, printers, free Wi-Fi facilities and training programmes required to make learning and teaching easier for researchers and staff of the university. The complex was commissioned in February.

REBUILDING THE IJEBU-EPE ROAD FOR EASE OF TRAFFIC AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

For many years, the Ijebu-Ode-Epe road had been in a state of disrepair leading to abandonment by commuters. Successive administrations in the state only mouthed reconstructing it but never made good their words. Weeks back, Governor Abiodun turned the sod on the very important road, saying, “One of our promises was to provide infrastructure in all parts of our state. In the course of our campaign, I made a promise that our administration will rehabilitate and reconstruct the Ogun end of the Ijebu-Ode-Epe road to bring succour to our people and engender the economic development of our state.”

The dual carriage road is planned to have 10 lanes – four on each side with one pull-out section while there would be a toll plaza comprising 14 payment points. Aside from easing traffic on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the road would bring relief to commuters and indigenes, engender the socio-economic growth of the state and save Nigerians valuable time in traffic.

Governor Abiodun said that the project was necessary as it would be an easy link to Lagos, thus improving the economic and social well-being of those in the axis.When we got there on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 11, work was going on at fever pitch. Craneburg Construction Ltd, a leading civil engineering company, was fully on the ground with men and heavy-duty machinery.

‘OKO- OWO DAPO’ – THE EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE THAT HAS BOOSTED SMES IN OGUN

Launched in September 2019, about four months into his administration, the Oko-Owo Dapo is an empowerment initiative to provide funds to women who are involved in legitimate SMEs across the state. It also aims to enhance trade as well as micro, small and medium scale enterprises.

2000 women benefitted in the first phase of the initiative as it is envisaged to reach at least 100,000 women in the first year of the Abiodun-administration. Beneficiaries could be market women, politicians, members of women’s societies, religious associations or trade associations. The governor revealed that the initiative is a social intervention programme borne out of the passion to make life better for Ogun people.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: THE JOB PORTAL TRUMP CARD

One of the earliest initiatives that pleasantly amazed many in the state was the launch of the Ogun Job Portal, which aimed to tackle the scourge of unemployment by linking the state’s unemployed youths with matching job opportunities in the labour market. Describing the job portal as one of the initiatives that would take the good people of Ogun State out of unemployment while also bettering the career chances of the employed, Governor Abiodun said that the portal is particularly suited to prepare the people to fit into appropriate sectors while revitalising all the sectors of the state’s economy.

To underscore his seriousness in this regard, one of the earliest appointments Governor Abiodun made was that of Olalekan Olude, an award-winning entrepreneur, co-founder of Jobberman Limited, the leading job site in sub-Saharan Africa and founding partner of the African Talents Company in South Africa.

Olude is also the co-founder and Executive Director at Rovedana Limited, a business process outsourcing company that provides employment to more than 2000 Nigerians across different industries and specialises in upscaling and placing them into employment with over 100 companies.

ENHANCING SECURITY FOR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

Security is integral to the prosperity and growth of any state or nation. And Governor Abiodun is blithely aware of this. He did promise at the outset of his administration that he would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the state maximised its potential to the fullest by creating an enabling environment for residents and prospective investors.

Firstly, he inaugurated the Security Trust Fund committee headed by Bolaji Balogun, Chief Executive Officer of Chapel Hill Denham, one of Nigeria’s pre-eminent investment banking firms, to source funds for the acquisition and deployment of security equipment, personnel gear and other resources necessary to prevent crime and preserve public peace in Ogun State.The committee is also to promote the synergy of all security agencies in the state and mobilise support in cash or kind from public and private sources in a transparent and accountable manner.

Secondly, the governor signed into law the State Security Trust Fund Bill.

Thirdly, he procured 100 Patrol Vehicles and 200 Bikes to aid the activities of law enforcement agents in the state while reiterating his support for efforts and ideas that would make Ogun a crime-free state.

Just recently, the governor also signed into law the creation of the Western Nigeria Security outfit, Operation Amotekun.

INFRASTRUCTURAL REJUVENATION AND REBUILDING: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OGUN STATE PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY

To serve as a quick fix mechanism to address the deplorable condition of the township and rural roads in the state, Governor Abiodun established the Ogun State Public Works Agency.

According to the Governor, “Infrastructure, for us, is key to development. We have been able to demonstrate a commitment to the continued socio-economic development of our dear state, particularly in education, health, infrastructure and other key sectors that have a direct and positive impact on our people.

“You will recall that we requested that our people should select roads that should attract immediate attention in each of the 236 wards across our dear state. These roads are receiving an immediate intervention. This is in addition to government’s identified projects that will be spread across the three senatorial districts of our dear state.”

As the media team went around the state that Wednesday, it was evident that the agency is proving to be efficient and responsive in rehabilitating roads.

WATER FOR ALL IN OGUN

The bucolic community of Arakanga in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the State is home to the Ogun State Water Corporation. Alas, even people in that community suffer from water scarcity as much as people in urban areas like the state capital, Abeokuta.

Governor Abiodun would discover on assumption of office that potable water was scarce in many homes around Abeokuta and beyond. For a governor who believes that water is not only an essential commodity but a right to which people should not be denied, he didn’t see why the situation should persist regardless of the challenges. Thus, he embarked on an assessment tour of the water corporation where he was confronted with the state of disuse of the corporation, which has a pumping capacity of 103.68 million litres per day. There, the governor announced that water would not only be restored, he ordered the prompt repair and restoration of faulty transformers in the corporation.

As we moved around the state, the story was different; availability of water was the song on virtually everybody’s lips. What changed within months? Governor Abiodun!

COMBATTING THE CORONA-VIRUS SCOURGE – A VISIT TO OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL, SAGAMU

With the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus Disease, COVID-19, across the world; and the fears that Nigeria stands susceptible, Governor Abiodun has been widely praised for his proactive efforts in putting a rein on its outbreak in the state.

Lagos is Africa’s most populous city and Ogun is its closest neighbour. When the Italian index patient was discovered in Lagos and possible contacts traced to Ogun State, Governor Abiodun rose to the occasion by informing the public that the 28 people who had contact with the Italian have been identified and quarantined and that the firm where he visited in Ewekoro has also been shut down. The 28 people were identified after the state government conducted a contact tracing through the Disease Surveillance Notification Centres (DSNC) set up in all 20 local government areas of the state.

The OOUTH has been designated and empowered specifically to be a DSNC in the case of an outbreak. The plan was for our team to see if we could get within shouting distance of the DSNC but as it was running late, and with no one to take us there, we took our leave but not without being shown some ongoing projects within the hospital.

THE PEACEMAKER AND PACIFIST

Even when politicking was rife with hate and propaganda, Governor Abiodun never returned fire for fire or wavered in his adoption of soft power – that sheer ability not to use force or coercion for political gain when you can shape the dissidents or opposition’s long-term attitudes and preferences by tact and diplomacy. And it is working perfectly for him.

Perhaps seeing the enviable and exciting direction Governor Abiodun is steering the ship of state, a coalition of opposition members formally declared for the All Progressives Congress, APC. Some of the notable defectors include Chief Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI), the gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the March 2019 governorship election in the state; Mrs Salmot Badru, a former deputy governor under the Otunba Gbenga Daniel administration; Joju Fadairo, former state chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); Chief Iyabo Apampa, former PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) member; Hon. Ayo Odugbesan, former Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly; and Hon. Dave Salami, a two-time member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the PDP, among others. Opposition members like Ladi Adebutu, former Governor Gbenga Daniel and Senator Buruji Kashamu have openly embraced the governor.

NGO presents public lecture on Education

Empowered Vessels For Change Initiative (EVCI) is a non- profit organization that is on a mission to mobilize communities, addresses challenges facing young children and women, and enable them realize their full potentials through the promotion of  programs on education, health care, recreational skills, empowerment in addition to providing moral support.

As part of our Organization goal to promote programs on education, which includes special education (inclusion),  they would be having a Public Lecture  for School Proprietors, Parents, Educationist, Teachers, NGOs, policy makers, disability advocates to get together to learn, debate and share methods of building and promoting Inclusive education in government and private schools.

The event plans to hold on the 16th of April . 2020 and they would be hosting 200 Participants as a national knowledge sharing platform and generated impetus for closer cooperation and dialogue with each other so as to improve quality of education.

 The objectives of the event are:
1. To create a brighter future for children with Special Needs and Parents.

2. To plan towards improving the availability, accessibility and quality of edu services for all Children with Special Needs.

3. To persuade school proprietors and parents to give early intervention to a child weak areas in their education and also to improve and strengthen the education sector to practice inclusion nationwide.

4. To update teachers, school proprietors and therapist skills in identifying and managing children with special needs.

5. To ensure the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) becomes reality in Education practice in Nigeria.

The Theme for the Education Program : Thinking Differently: the truth about Disability.

We all know how the society at large look down on people with Disability, most especially how schools don't want to embrace (take them in) because of their incapacity.

This is an Awareness Program to change the notion of people about PWDS (People With Disabilities) what are the government doing about it and how schools in Nigeria, particularly here in Lagos practice Inclusion.

This is another approach we employ government to do something about it, by providing accessible learning spaces, well trained teachers, also adaptation of curriculum for all levels of education to be done by the ministry of education in Collaboration with SUBEB and Education Districts.

Alot has to be done, if we need a great change in the Educational system in Nigeria.

Labour ministry reviews contract staffing, outsourcing in oil sector

 

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has began the issue of review of contract staffing and outsourcing in the oil and gas industry, this is a follow up to the recently concluded review of labour bills which held at the Eko hotel and suites, Lagos.

In another tripartite encounter with stakeholders in the oil and gas sector, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN FCIArb hosted a select-few allies in the oil and gas sector on the review of guidelines on labour administration issues in contract staffing and outsourcing.

The meeting which held shortly after the reviews of the national labour bills in Lagos saw different associates in the oil and gas sector making presentations on issues affecting contract staffing and outsourcing and the urgent need to address these issues.

At the technical working group meeting, stakeholders in the oil and gas such as the Labour and Service Contractors, NUPENG, PENGASSAN, NAPIMS, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Federal Ministry of Interior, OPTS to mention but a few were given opportunity to deliver papers on the challenges facing the sector.

Addressing the gathering, the Labour Minister, Keyamo, after listening to their plights proposed another retreat to enable a technical committee take a holistic look at these issues bordering on contract staffing in the oil and gas with a view to finding a lasting solution.

"The time is now to also look into these critical issues of contract staffing and outsourcing in the oil and gas sector, just like we've just done in the labour law review which shall soon be forwarded to the National Assembly for approval, there are so many options we can employ but the most important thing is to start as soon as possible, I've actually taken this as a challenge and task, now that am in charge of the Labour Ministry, the Minister told the gathering which had the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, PENGASSAN President, Ndukaku Michael Ohaeri, Comptroller of Immigration (Visa), Kolawole Amao, ILO representative among others in attendance.

At the end of the deliberations, a 3-day retreat  was unanimously agreed, tentatively between March 29th-April 2nd, 2020 at Eko hotel, Lagos to enable stakeholders meet on the review of issues affecting the oil and gas sector.

FG to cut budget, seeks new oil benchmark

Amid tumbling prices of crude oil, the Federal Government is set to cut the country’s 2020 budget.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), will get a report on Tuesday (today) on what his regime can do to salvage the N10.59tn budget.

The budget review committee, which was set up by Buhari on Monday, is chaired by the Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed.

Its primary duty is to review the $57 oil benchmark for the budget and ultimately recommend an appropriate size, down from the current N10.59tn.

Other members are the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele; and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr Mele Kyari.

The President had handed the assignment to the committee on Monday after he held a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with the government officials.

Speaking with State House Correspondents after the meeting, Ahmed said the committee would determine the new benchmark for the budget.

She said, “Our mandate is to make a very quick assessment of the impact of this coronavirus on the economy, especially as it affects the crude oil price.

“We will be writing a report and briefing Mr President tomorrow (Tuesday) or Wednesday morning. After that, we will also have more substantial information for the press.

“It is very clear that we will have to revisit the crude oil benchmark price that we have of $57 per barrel. We have to revisit it and lower the price.”

She added, “Where it will be lowered (benchmark) is the subject of this committee. What the impact will be on that is that there will be reduced revenue to the budget as it will cut the size of the budget.

“The quantum of the cut is what we are supposed to assess as a committee.”

The Buhari regime gave its first hint on a possible cut of the budget after last week’s Federal Executive Council meeting.

The minster, when asked by reporters what the impact of coronavirus would be on the budget, replied, “We are really concerned as a government.”

Sylva spoke on the reported disagreement between the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and OPEC+ member states on how both sides would respond to the impact of coronavirus on oil prices.

He said it was not a matter Nigeria could handle unilaterally, but would be handled at the level of OPEC versus OPEC+ bodies.

Global oil prices have been unstable since January, worsening with the outbreak of coronavirus in China and its rapid spread to many countries.

In December 2019 when Buhari signed the 2020 budget, Nigeria’s Brent crude was well above $60 per barrel. But, it soon began a free fall since January, dropping below the budgeted $57.

Recall that in 2015, oil price crashed to as low as $27 per barrel, forcing the economy into recession. The economy later exited recession as oil prices climbed again.

The steep fall in crude oil prices on Monday stoked fears of fresh economic recession that Nigeria suffered in 2016 and has yet to recover from more than two years after a shaky exit.

The global oil benchmark, Brent crude, plummeted by as much as 31 per cent to $31.02 on Monday, its lowest since mid-February 2016, but recovered slightly to $36.29 per barrel as of 6.15pm Nigerian time.

Brent, against which Nigeria’s oil is priced, fell by over $4 to $45.72 per barrel last Friday following the failure of OPEC and its 10 allies, led by Russia, to broker a deal.

Russia refused to go along with a plan for deeper crude production cuts to tackle the coronavirus’ impact on global oil demand.

OPEC had on Thursday revealed a plan under which it would slash its production quotas by an additional 1 million barrels per day for the rest of the year, contingent on Russia and nine other non-OPEC allies agreeing to shrink theirs by 500,000 bpd.

Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, fired the first shot in an oil price war, moving to hike its oil output and offering deep discounts to customers in markets such as Asia, Europe and the US to entice refiners to use Saudi crude.

Economic experts, in separate interviews with one of our correspondents, said the sharp drop in oil prices amid the price war would have serious implications for the Nigerian economy.

The Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr Bismarck Rewane, said, “It has very huge implications for our economy. It is a national emergency.

“We are facing unprecedented difficulties. It is not what I want to talk about; it is something we have to think about and it is time for action. Actions have to be taken immediately.”

Rewane, who is a member of the Economic Advisory Council, said the nation’s entire macroeconomic strategy needed to be reset.

A former Director-General, West African Institute of Financial and Economic Management, Prof. Akpan Ekpo, said the oil slump would result in sharp declines in revenue, foreign exchange earnings and external reserves.

Ekpo said, “We need to rejig the budget for this year; the budget is no longer realistic. We need to strengthen our resolve to build an economy that is not dependent on oil. Everything now is in disarray.”

The Chief Executive Officer, Economic Associates, Dr Ayo Teriba, said the government should leverage its over $50bn equity investment in joint venture oil assets to raise funds.

He said the option should have been explored in 2016 when the country slipped into recession.

He said, “Are we at risk of another recession? Are we at risk of another devaluation? It depends on how long the low oil price regime lasts. This latest one is arising from an oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.”

The Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Muda Yusuf, described the spread of coronavirus as a major threat to the nation’s economy.

Yusuf said many manufacturers and service providers in the country were already experiencing acute shortage of raw materials and intermediate inputs as a result of the virus outbreak.

The Director General, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, Dr Timothy Olawale, said the fall in the global oil price called for concern.

He said the government must ensure that the country did not fall back into recession

Chibok girls’ mothers pen emotional letter, seek release of abducted daughters

The mothers of the remaining 112 Chibok girls still in Boko Haram captivity have called on the Federal Government and other world women organisations to intensify efforts toward the release of their daughters.

They made the call in a letter written to commemorate the 2020 International Women’s Day, which was made available to newsmen on Monday in Asaba, Delta.

The letter was entitled, “Open letter to the World’s Most Powerful Women by Chibok Mothers on International Women’s Day 2020.”

It was signed by Yana Galang, Monica Stover, Hannatu Dauda, Mary Shettima, Ladi Zanna Lawan and Rebecca Samuel, on behalf of the mothers of the 112 Chibok girls.

They also pleaded with the world’s most powerful women to further intensify their efforts to ensure the release of the remaining of their 112 of our daughters in Boko Haram captivity.

We seek to stand upon your shoulders, to shine a light on our pain and hopelessness, to bring our plight, which has had no reprieve,” they said.

The letter read, “We also stand before you and every mother, daughter and sister who in one way or another has fought for our daughters and for the girl-child.

On April 14, 2014, 276 of our daughters were abducted by the terrorist group Boko Haram from their school in Chibok, in North-East Nigeria.

However, today, almost six years after the abduction, 112 of our daughters remain in captivity.

Our anguish is unbearable as we do not know what has happened to our children.

A day does not go by without us sending up a prayer that perhaps, today, we will be reunited with our daughters.

Our daughters are the repository of our hope. Our desire to educate them was to empower our community and change our collective lives, and reach beyond the invisible lines that poverty and culture did not allow us to cross.

“Our dreams are dashed and our hope deferred and the nightmare we live daily has no end. We lay our tears at your feet, dear Sisters, and we put our hands in yours to receive strength to rise from the shackles that have imprisoned us and our children.

We know that as we walk through this storm, you will lift our heads and shine a light on our path knowing that when we collectively illuminate the path, all can see and see clearer too. What affects one, affects all.

“Fight with us, we beg you to Call on the governments of the world not to relent until all our daughters — including Leah Sharibu of Dapchi and every girl, woman and child held captive by Boko Haram is returned home.

Man kills girlfriend over pregnancy ownership in Katsina

The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a 27-year-old man, Shafi’u Haruna, for allegedly killing his girlfriend over dispute on the ownership of her pregnancy.

Haruna was arrested last Tuesday following a tip off.

The spokesman for the command, SP Gambo Isah, said Haruna who lived in the Dorawar Natiba area of Birdigau village, in the Kankara Local Government Area of the state allegedly committed the crime in December, 2019.

According to the police spokesman, Haruna tricked 14-year-old Hamsiya Lawal of the same address to a nearby bush where he allegedly smashed her head with a stone.

She reportedly died on the spot.

SP Isah said “The suspect smashed her head with heavy stone, killing her instantly.  Investigation is ongoing.