Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, said his administration is in touch with kidnappers that abducted four female students at the Nasarawa State University Keffi, adding that security agents are gearing efforts to secure the release of the four female students.
Engineer Sule made this known when he presided over an expanded state executive council meeting at the Government House, on Wednesday.
According to the Governor, talks are ongoing with security agencies aimed at seeking the release of the kidnapped students.
Furthermore, Engineer Sule directed the Commissioner for Special Duties and Humanitarian Services, Margaret Elayo, to visit the university and to meet with the management of the institution on the way forward.
“Just this morning, I spoke with the Vice Chancellor on what steps to take. We have been discussing with the security agencies to see to the release of these children. We pray that these students will be released as quickly as possible,” he stated.
It would be recalled that Police authorities confirmed the invasion of a community in Keffi Local Government Area of the state by gunmen, where four students of the state’s university were kidnapped and taken to an unknown destination.
As part of the reasons for convening the meeting, Engineer Sule called on members of his cabinet to acquaint themselves with policy documents guiding the activities of his administration.
He specifically charged members of the executive council to be fully acquainted with the operational guidelines, the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS), as well as the Sectoral Implementation Plan (SIP).
“There are indeed operational guidelines for the Nasarawa State Executive Council. What I came to discover is that a lot of us are not fully aware of the document and have not followed. I think that it’s necessary all members use the opportunity to follow.
“I also want all the members to use the opportunity to understand the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy. From all indications, a lot of members are fully not in the picture, and they don’t understand. And we kept talking about it NEDS. It looks like some of the members are not fully in the picture of what the document is all about. I think it’s necessary that we get to take and read the document.
“It’s very important for us to understand the Sectoral Implementation Plan (SIP). It’s very important,” he added.
The Governor also directed the secretariat of the council to get all the three documents and make it available for members of the state executive council as well as others.
Engineer Sule equally spoke on the recent distribution of food items as palliative meant to cushion the hardship brought about by the removal of fuel subsidy.
He used the opportunity of the meeting to commend the state Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe who chaired the committee that handled the distribution of the palliative, State Commissioner for Special Duties and Humanitarian Services, Margaret Elayo, as well as all those that contributed to the success of the exercise.
The Governor requested the Commissioner for Special Duties to brief the council on the exercise with a view to commence the second phase of the distribution of palliative.
He equally informed the council about the scheduled groundbreaking of a lithium processing factory located in Laminga, in Nasarawa Local Government Area on Thursday.
“From what you have seen, by the grace of God, tomorrow, we are going to do the groundbreaking of Gofyen Lithium Industry Limited Himalayan Group. Which is the first time they are doing anything like that in Nigeria. Our policy on ensuring that our lithium mining in Nasarawa State, the Executive Order, finally has worked,” he stated.
Engineer Sule congratulated the Nasarawa State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources for the efforts that is now yielding positive results for the state.
Among the dignitaries that will grace the groundbreaking include the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Shri G. Mr Keo, the President world wide of the Snowman, who flew into the country to be part of the ceremony, Mr Pan, President of Gofyen world wide, Chairman of the China Mining Association, Mr. Wo, as well as the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake.
Another that cropped up during the meeting are the announcement of the replacement for the immediate past Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ahmed Aliyu Tijani, who was recently appointed Federal Commissioner/Chief Executive Officer, National Commission for Refugees and IDPs.
He announced to the council that the name of Abubakar Odah Akum has been submitted before the Nasarawa State House of Assembly awaiting confirmation.