The National Universities Commission (NUC), has approved the take-off of fourteen programmes for the newly established Federal University of Transportation Daura, in Katsina State.

The pioneer Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the university, Prof. Umar Adam-Katsayal, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina, on Saturday.

NAN reports that the development was the fallout of the recent visit of the NUC resource verification team to the university.

The vice-chancellor further said that the approval was conveyed in a letter addressed to him, dated Oct. 18, 2023 and signed by the commission’s acting Director, Academic Planning, Mr Abubakar Girei.

“The acting Executive Secretary has considered and approved the establishment of full-time mode of the programmes to be run in the Main Campus of the University with effect from 2023/2024 session”, the letter stated.

According to him, the programmes approved for the university are; “B.Eng. Civil Engineering, B.Eng. Electrical Electronics Engineering, B.Eng. Mechanical Engineering, B.Eng. Mechatronics Engineering, and B.Eng. Railway Engineering.

“Others include: B.Eng. Highway Engineering, B.Sc. Aviation Management, B.Sc. Transport Management, B.Sc. Logistics and Supply Chain Management, B.Sc. Maritime Safety and Environmental Administration, and BSc. Railway Transport Management.

“And also B.Sc. Sea Port and Dry Port Management, B.Sc. Inland Waterways Safety and Environmental Administration and B.Sc. Maritime Economics.”

Adam-Katsayal also said the letter further stated that, “the approval does not cover the part-time mode of delivery of the programmes.

“The programmes shall bear only the approved title and nomenclature and any change will require the approval of the commission.”

NAN recalls that the NUC had on Oct. 12, 2023 carried out resource verification on the university with a view to assessing human and material resources available for its take-off.

The newly established university was named, ‘Muhammad Buhari University of Transportation Daura’.

For members of the National Youths Service Corps serving in Katsina State, this Sallah is unfolding as a great feast.

The reason is that they have received a big presidential treat.

President Muhammadu Buhari has donated 10 rams, two cows and N1 million to them, particularly those serving in his home town, Daura, in Katsina State.

The President made the donation during the Sallah celebration with the NYSC members on Saturday in Daura.

He commended the scheme for keeping up the dreams of its founding fathers as it was established to ensure unity and national integration.

Buhari said that the scheme was one of the weapons to unite Nigerians, saying that most of the corps members serving in Daura are from far away southern states.

He said that none of the corps members serving in Daura is from Katsina State, and if there is any, it must be on health grounds.

The president urged the management of the scheme to make frantic efforts to sustain the objectives of which it was established in 1973.

He advised the corps members who he described as true patriots to be vigilant and be security conscious anywhere they find themselves.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari has made it part of his Sallah celebration every year to meet with NYSC members in Daura.

NAN further reports that after the Eid-El-Kabir prayer, the president walked to his residence where he received and greeted residents who lined up by the road sides.

The coalition of 42 political associations in Daura emirate has commended the Federal government for siting projects that would accelerate rapid socio-economic development of the area.

Alhaji Ali Rabe, the Chairman of the group, made the commendation in Daura on Tuesday.

He cited Air Force Rapid Response, Referral Hospital, ongoing construction of School for People with Special Needs, inauguration of a Federal University of Transport and Federal Polytechnic, in Daura emirate as some of such projects.

Rabe said benefitting communities were extremely grateful with the projects, promising that they would extend maximum cooperation toward successful and timely completion of the projects.

He assured that the people of the area would make maximum utilisation of the facilities when completed, especially,by enrolling their children into the schools and patronise the newly established air force medical facility.

The chairman also lauded the Federal government for the anchor borrower agricultural scheme which resulted in mass production of rice in the area.

He said, “Our people, especially farmers, are extremely doing very well courtesy of the borrower scheme. “

He, however, appealed to the Federal government to hasten completion of the multipurpose sabke dam located in Maiadu’a Local Government Area.

“We are grateful that the water supply section of the dam was fully completed what remains was the irrigation section of the project. “

The Federal government recently inaugurated Federal University of Transport and a Federal Polytechnic in Daura to promote education in the area.

Daura emirate comprises: Daura, Maiadua, Baure, Sandamu and Zango Local Government Areas.

Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouq, on Sunday conferred the traditional title of “Talban-Daura” on the President of Guinea, Alpha Conde.

Farouq said that the title was conferred on President Conde in recognition of the love he has for the President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria.

“Today is a historic day in the history of the emirate, Katsina State and the country at large.

“President Conde left all his schedules in his country to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir with his counterpart, President Buhari in Daura.

“This is a great honor to us, we also decided to reciprocate the honor by giving you a traditional title.

“I confer on you the title of Talban-Daura for accompanying our son, President Buhari to observe Eid-el-Kabir celebration in the ancient city of Daura.

“Talban-Daura is a title given to a great person like President Conde, we indeed thank you for the visit,” he said.

In his remarks, President Buhari thanked the Emir for giving the title to President Conde.

Buhari, who was represented by Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, said that the chieftaincy title conferred on his Guinean counterpart by the Emir was a great honor to him personally and the country as well.

“I thank the Emir and the Emirate Council for the title,” he said.

The Nigerian President also prayed that Allah would grant the visiting President safe trip back home.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Conde was turbaned by some of the Emirate’s councillors, after which, the Emir donated a horse to him.

A group, the Coalition of all Associations in Daura has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the legislative bill for the establishment of a Federal Polytechnic in Daura.

Malam Mohammed Saleh, Chairman of the coalition made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Daura on Monday.

He said the polytechnic when established would increase access to tertiary education, generate employment and boost the economy of the people of the host community.

He called on the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to hasten the processes for the take off of the Polytechnic.

Saleh said that the host community was particularly very grateful to late Sen. Mustapha Bukar who initiated the bill for the establishment of the federal polytechnic in Daura.

He noted that the bill had scaled first and second reading in the Senate before his death.

The chairman also lauded the efforts of the current senator representing the area, Ahmed Babba-Kaita for ensuring that the bill scaled through all the remaining legislative processes, stressing that he had proved to be a very good ambassador of the senatorial district.

NAN reports that President Buhari formally assented to the bill last week.

The Federal Government had in 2018 earmarked Daura for the establishment of a Federal University of Transport to increase access to tertiary education in the area and beyond.

The District Head of Daura, Alhaji Musa Umar-Uba, who was kidnapped from his residence three months ago, has been rescued by security agents in Kano.

Malam Tukur Umar, younger brother to the victim, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Daura on Tuesday that the Magajingari Daura was rescued at about 7:25 am today.

He said that the district head was rescued by a combined team of security operatives after a serious gun battle with his captors who were holed up in a secluded house along Madobi road in Samagu quarters close to Sani Abacha Youth Center, Kano.

“He was rescued in good condition of health and any moment from now he may be in Daura to be reunited with his family. Alhamdulillah, God has answered our prayers,” Uba said.

He commended the security agencies for their tireless efforts which led to the rescue of the district head and said the family would remain grateful to them for their efforts.

Gambo Isa, spokesman of the Katsina State Police Command confirmed the development and said the police would issue details later.

NAN reports that Musa-Uba was abducted on March 1, 2019 and since then, no contact was established between his family and his abductors.

Residents of President Muhammadu Buhari’s home town of Daura in Katsina State have continued to pray for peace and prosperity for the nation as their son was sworn in for the second term as Nigeria’s president.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Daura emirate council has since yesterday organized prayers and supplications invoking divine intervention for God”s guidance and protection on the president and the nation as it transited to the next level.

Prayers were offered in the mosques and other public fora seeking God’s guidance and protection against all evils that may mar the peace and tranquility of the nation.

Malam Habibu Bala Daura, a Unionist, expressed optimism that the second term of President Buhari would be full of glad tidings as it would be eventful and prosperous.

He said he was sure that all the development projects like rail lines, petroleum exploration and other relevant projects would be completed as many more would be added for the general development of the nation.

Daura used the occasion to offer prayers for the nation especially against the sporadic instances of security breaches in some parts of Nigeria.

He advised the president on strict adherence to the principle of rule of law by bringing all those in conflict with the law to book without being biased, stressing we expect to see equal treatment of all citizens irrespective of political party leneage.

Alhaji Abdulmanaf Muhammad, the North West Zonal Organising Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had congratulated the president and Gov Aminu Bello Masari for their victory in the last general elections.

He called on them to consolidate on the earlier gains so far recorded and multiply the number of projects initiated by them at their individual areas of jurisdiction.

Muhammad called On the president to restrategize and overhaul the security architecture of the nation with a view to achieving a lasting peace and stability nationwide while commending him on his administration’s effort to revamp the agricultural sector and other critical infrastructure.

He added that president Buhari meant well for the nation and urged all Nigerians to continue to pray for peaceful coexistence and prosperity in the country, stressing that the next level held lofty objectives.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the ancient town of Daura remained gloomy and full of uncertainty since the recent abduction of Alhaji Musa Umar, the district head of the town early this month which compelled the Daura emirate council to suspends sallah celebration to commiserate with the victims of such carnage.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the kidnappers stormed Umar’s Daura residence at 7pm on Wednesday and sporadically shot into the air, scaring the hell out of bystanders, who scampered for safety.

Umar had just returned from the mosque where he took part in the evening prayer when the incident happened.

He was sitting in front of his house with some people when the gun totting men came.

A witness told the News Agency of Nigeria that the kidnappers came in a Peugeot 406 saloon car.

After the gunmen left, the Daura council chairman Malam Abba Mato and hundreds of sympathizers came to Umar’s residence, to discuss the bewildering incident.