By Suleiman Yakubu

The Chief Judge of Niger State, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, has observed that the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2023 in Niger State will promote and ensure efficient management of criminal justice institutions in Niger State.
She further noted that it will ensure the speedy dispensation of justice and the protection of the rights and interests of the suspects, the defendant, and the victim.
Addressing participants at a two-day workshop on effective implementation of the Niger State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, held at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi Conference Centre in Minna on Tuesday, she stated that the law has introduced a number of innovations aimed at improving the enforcement of human rights, thereby curtailing prolonged trials in the courts.
According to the chief judge, it was revolutionary, and if properly implemented, it will enhance the criminal justice system in the state. She added that the provisions of the law revealed that there was a conscious effort to reduce delays in the criminal justice system.
"For instance, Section 228 introduced the remand protocol to curb excessive and prolonged detentions; this will greatly reduce the number of people awaiting trials in our custodial centres.
Other innovations, according to the Chief Judge, included "the introduction of professional bondsmen, plea bargain suspended sentences, visitation of the Magistrate to detention centres, the establishment of an administration of justice law monitoring team, the maintenance of the bail register, and even the procedures for the interrogation of suspects, among others", she asserted.
Justice Halima also explained that the essence of the workshop was to highlight those innovative provisions and identify possible impediments in the law, adding that the resource persons have both the requisite knowledge and experience to do justice to the theme of the workshop.
"We hereby profoundly appreciate the resource persons for their magnanimity in imparting their knowledge and sharing their experiences, " she said.
Speaking earlier, the acting Chief Registrar of the Niger State High Court, Alhaji Hassan Mohammed, commended the Chief Judge for organising the workshop for magistrates and all other critical stakeholders in the administration of justice in Niger State.
He described the workshop as timely, urging the participants to open their minds and hearts to new ideas "as we come together to learn the innovative provisions of the Niger State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2023 and to share knowledge.
He then admonished the participants to pay adequate attention to the resource persons who will deliver various papers and make proper use of the knowledge acquired from the papers.

By Suleiman Yakubu

Niger State Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said his administration intends to invest N1 trillion in infrastructural development in the state in the next two years. The governor disclosed this Tuesday when he declared open a startup workshop on the Minna-Bida road project co-financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) at the Government House, Minna.
The governor described Niger State as a gateway, connecting the northern and southern parts of the country, and maintained that investing in the state's infrastructure will be of immense benefit to the state and the country as a whole.
He appreciated the IsDB and ADFD for agreeing to co-finance the Minna-Bida road project.
Governor Umaru Bago highlighted the huge potential in the state, ranging from its size to the presence of four hydro dams and eight national and international borders, among others, which he said were selling points that would attract investors into the state.
He, however, expressed concern that, despite all the potential, the state was bedevilled by insecurity and infrastructural deficits.
The governor therefore called on development partners to support the state in the areas of security, health, education, and agriculture so that the state can attain an enviable height of development, adding that counterpart funds were available.
He also directed his commissioner for Communication Technology and the Digital Economy, Suleiman Isah, to engage telecommunication companies in corporate social responsibility (CSR), which would improve online education in the state.
The team leader, Alagi Basiru Gaye, disclosed that 163 million U.S. dollars have been earmarked for the project, out of which the Islamic Development Bank will provide 86.64 million U.S. dollars, 44.76 million from the Abu Dhabi Development Fund, and 31.6 million from the Niger State Government.
While acknowledging the efforts of the state government towards the success of the project, Basiru Gaye explained the startup workshop was important for the effective implementation of the project and enhanced the capacities of executing agencies and project management units, among others.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Hassan Baba Etsu, commended the governor for his commitment to the continuation of the Minna-Bida road project as well as the prompt payment of counterpart funds to development partners in the state.
He assured the IsDB and ADFD of an enabling environment for effective monitoring of the project and that the ministry would ensure that specifications and the terms of the contract were strictly adhered to.