By Suleiman Yakubu

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa, says BUA Plc’s decision to reduce the price of cement to N3,500 per bag is a demonstration of the company’s commitment to improving lives.
This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Deputy Director of Information in the Ministry, Mr. Salisu Badamasi.
Badamosi said that Dangiwa made the remark in response to the announcement made on October 1 by the firm reducing the price of cement to N3,500 per bag.
“I commend BUA Cement Plc. for its socially responsible decision to reduce the price of cement.
“Accessible and affordable housing is a fundamental right.
“This move by BUA Cement Plc. will undoubtedly alleviate the challenges faced by our citizens.
“It demonstrates a shared commitment to improving the lives of our people and furthering the goals of sustainable urban development,” he said.
Dangiwa said that the proactive gesture would reduce the cost of cement, which is a major component of housing construction.
He also said that the firm’s action was in support of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu to provide affordable housing to Nigerians.
According to him, the soaring cost of cement has led to a drastic increase in the cost of building houses, thus making them unaffordable for the average Nigerian.
Dangiwa further stated that the decision represented a substantial stride towards easing the financial burden on aspiring homeowners.
He said that since assuming office, he has made the delivery of affordable housing a top priority, in line with the renewed hope agenda of the present administration.
“The escalating prices of building materials, especially cement, have placed a daunting obstacle on the path to home ownership for many Nigerians.
“BUA Cement Plc.’s decision to reduce the price of cement to N3,500 is highly commendable.
“It reflects their understanding of the struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians, and it is a positive step towards making housing more affordable and attainable for all,” he said.
The minister said that the initiative would benefit individual homeowners, stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and lift many Nigerians out of poverty by fostering affordable housing construction and infrastructure development.
He urged other industry players to emulate the BUA example, saying that they should consider the social impact of their decisions.
The minister said collaborative efforts between the government and private sector entities were essential in overcoming the challenges of housing affordability and ensuring the realisation of decent living conditions for every citizen.

By Suleiman Yakubu

The election of the member representing Mashegu Constituency of the Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Isah Alhassan Kaboji, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been nullified by the Justice Angela Otaluka-led National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Minna.
Justice Angela Otaluka further ordered a re-run election into twenty-five polling units in the constituency within the next ninety days, while the first respondent has been disqualified to contest the re-run election.
Similarly, the tribunal ordered the withdrawal of the certificate of return issued to the first respondent by the third respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Mohammed Jiya of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had approached the tribunal on three grounds, alleging that the respondent was not qualified to contest the March 18, 2023, governorship and state assembly election, and that the respondent forged his credentials that he filled out in Form EC8 of INEC.
According to the petitioner, the election of the first respondent was characterised by irregularities in virtually all the polling units of the constituency.
He further requested the tribunal nullify the election on the ground that the respondent forged the credentials he used in the contest of the election and the election was not in conformity with the Electoral Act 2022.
He equally claimed that some of the ballot papers were not signed and stamped by the Electoral Officer of Mashegu local government, which, according to him, rendered the election invalid as it was not in compliance with the provisions of the electoral act.
The petitioner also requested the tribunal disqualify the respondent on the premises of using falsified documents to contest the election, arguing that the National Examination Council (NECO) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) issued to the second respondent were full of inconsistencies.
In the pre-hearings trial of the petition, a total of 29 exhibits and evidence, as well as witnesses, were presented to the tribunal, which were all adjudicated.
Justice Angela Otaluka, while reviewing all the evidence, exhibits, and testimonies of the witnesses, asserted that the petitioner was able to establish all the evidence tendered against the second respondent beyond the conviction of the tribunal, and the petition has stood the test of time.
Citing various legal authorities to arrive at the judgement, she averred that the petitioner has proved his allegations beyond a reasonable doubt; hence, the petition was upheld and the election of the second respondent, Alhassan Isah Kabboji, was nullified.
"The first respondent (INEC) is hereby ordered to conduct a re-run election in 25 polling units of Mashegu Local Government Area within the next 90 days of the judgement.
"The second respondent is therefore not qualified to contest the re-run election, and a total of N600,000 was awarded as a cost to the petitioner," Justice Angela Otaluka asserted.