The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • FCDA: we’ll deliver world-class buildings

    The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has said that it would continue to ensure the delivery of world-class public and private buildings, with exquisite interior and exterior ambiance expected for healthy.

    Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Umar Gambo Jibrin gave this assurance while declaring open a seminar organised in conjunction with Creative House at the Authority’s conference hall, last week in Abuja.

    He said, “This exhibition is the Authority’s modest contribution towards the promotion of optimum standards and international best practices in all aspects of the building industry. Much more, it serves as a forum where participants can offer innovative solutions and options to knotty interior challenges being faced in various building types.

    “The theme will provide a suitable platform for a one-on-one interactive between and among stakeholders in the building and also sensitize on the need and benefits of defining interior spaces with accent pieces and treatment through practical demonstrations.”

    Explaining what space definition meant, the FCDA boss said: “Space Definition is all about taking responsibility for the spaces we occupy by expressing ourselves with the things that mean most to us personally, professionally and socio-culturally. This is natural instinct.

    “This this exhibition is apt and timely as we all live, work and play in spaces. When we take responsibility for these spaces, we derive a psychological settlement and calmness that is subtle yet profound enough to affect our wellbeing and productivity.”

    The Executive Secretary, who was represented by the Director, Public Building, Engr. Emmanuel Oluwadamisi, while defining the word ‘accent’ explained that the word “does not stop with phonetics and languages. Within the built environment, accents are found and used both in the exterior and interior spaces.

    “Externally, there could be colours, columns and fixtures like doors or other forms that embellish and give character to both the structure and cityscape, silently speaking volumes about the individual, establishment or community.”

    Narrowing to interior spacing, Jibrin stated: “accents are generally used to aesthetically pull your spaces together for a personalised and yet functional ambience which enhances our general wellbeing and productivity, creativity and imagination.”

    Jibrin called on all relevant departments and agencies to also carry out similar trainings so as to “add value, richness, little colour, painting and artwork”, adding well as deepen the knowledge of space definition and aesthetics, hence the beauty of Abuja.

    Director, Department of Public Buildings, Anthony Osigwe, while speaking said that the seminar was the 30th in the series, adding that it transformed into an exhibition in 2016 and has continued to make improvement and innovations.

    He underscored the importance of space definition in designing and called on the stakeholders to always come together and work together for the progress of all.

    Chairman of the Capacity Building Committee who doubles as Deputy Director, Public Buildings, Ademo, in his address said that the objective of the programme, which was to bequeath a capital citity comparable to the best in the world.

    In ensuring the development of a modern city and society, in line with the dreams of its founding fathers, Ademo pledged they would remain open to new relevant technologies to achieve the best for the FCT and the country.

  • Minister: health development plan to cost N162 billion

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Bello has revealed that the Strategic Health Development Plan (SHDP) II is to cost about N162billion over a five-year period.

    Speaking at the official launch of the FCT Strategic Health Development Plan II (2018-2022), the minister said that while the government will make statutory budgetary provisions available, other financing gaps will be addressed with funding by Development Partners, World Bank Assisted Programmes, Private Sector and Out of Pocket expenditures by end users at the health care facilities.

    The minister who was represented by the Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS), Mallam Adamu Bappah, said, “In every country, the health sector is critical to social and economic development with ample evidence linking productivity to quality of health care. In the FCT, the vision to be one of the 20 best capital cities in the world by the year 2020 and mission to provide infrastructure, services and the administration for the development of a first class Federal Capital Territory comparable to the best in the world” is closely tied to the development of its human capital through the health sector.

    “Because of the strategic importance of this sector, the development of the FCT Strategic Health Development Plan II was approved in August, 2017. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on the 5th of September, 2018 endorsed the plan which was subsequently launched by Mr President on 8th of January, 2019.

    “This administration is committed to providing effective and affordable healthcare services.  Among the achievements are the commencement of health service provision from the Karu and Zuba General Hospitals, construction of thirteen (13) Primary Health Care Clinics, Provisions of ten (10) solar powered boreholes, upgrading and rehabilitation of nineteen (19) primary and secondary health facilities across the six FCT Area Councils. The FCT continues to record giant strides in immunisation especially Yellow Fever coverage (96.6%) where FCT came first amongst the six implementing states for November 2018 mass vaccination campaign.”

    BelIo implore all stakeholders to use this framework to adequately harness the policy gaps and program interventions required to improve the performance of the health sector towards the delivery of quality, efficient and sustainable health care for all the residents of the FCT.

    He also commended the FCTA Health and Human Services Secretariat for putting up this robust plan which will go a long way in improving health care services in the FCT if properly implemented.

    Meanwhile, the Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS), Mallam Adamu Bappah, who was represented by the Director Administration and Finance HHSS, Alhaji Musa Abdulraheem said health indicators even though improving, have remained below country targets and internationally-set benchmarks.

    According to him, key challenges facing the health sector in the FCT which the Strategic Health Development Plan II seeks to address includes; increasing and sustaining accessible and affordable health care delivery particularly to the hard to reach areas in and around the Federal Capital, rehabilitating dilapidated health infrastructure, expanding the provision of functional services such as health Insurance scheme, Free Antenatal and Under Fives Program, increasing employment and retention of health care workers.

    Read also: TCN: why we sited FCT substation under power line

    He, however, noted that these will lead to reduction in mortality and morbidity indices, reduction in the burden of diseases amongst the populace, improving productivity and ultimately, the attainment of National Health Goals as well as International targets such as the Sustainable Development Goals.

    He went further that the FCT Strategic Health Development Plan II seeks to establish and provide specific guidance on the reasons to deepen investments in the health sector and the outcome objectives to be achieved, which include substantial improvement in the health system and service delivery with the aim of reducing disease burden, increasing life expectancy and healthy years for the FCT populace.

    He said, “This plan was developed in accordance with extant national health policies and legislation, National development agenda: Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), Vision 20:20:20 and international declarations and goals to which Nigeria is a signatory to, namely; SDGs, Ouagadougou Declaration on PHC, Abuja declaration and the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. Based on a multidimensional assessment of the health sector, the framework is made up of 15 priority areas distributed under five strategic pillars, with each of the priority areas having one goal. The plan has 47 strategic objectives, 208 interventions and 747 activities distributed amongst the priority areas.

    “The implementation of the FCT Strategic Health Development Plan II will be guided and monitored by the Monitoring and Evaluation plan which will track its progress and link inputs to intended results. This document was collaboratively developed by stakeholders in the FCT such as Area Council Services Secretariat, Area Council Health Departments and Secretariats, Education, Social Development, Federal Capital Development Authority, Environmental Protection Board, Development Partners, Civil Societies, Private Sector, Regulatory Agencies, Medical and Health Associations.”

    Similarly, while presenting an overview of the of the plan, the  Desk Officer, FCT Strategic Health Development Plan,  Dr. Chinenye Orjioke said there is the need to mobilize sufficient resources for its implementation becomes imperative adding that: “a starting point woould be to advocate for an increse in the FCT’s General Government Health Expenditure (GGHE) towards the attainment of the 15% benchmark. While it is understood that government’s allocation may not sufficiently address the funding need of the strategy, the large share of out of pocket payments reported for the national and sub-national health accounts is equally unacceptable,  especially asit exacerbates the financial risk of beneficiaries to health services.”

  • MTN tackles fake news, hate speech in journalists training

    Journalists in Abuja were recently taken through a training session to enhance their capacity.

    The focal point of the one-day intensive training for senior journalists in Abuja was how to discern the dangers of fake news and hate speech which were becoming more visible in daily news reportage, especially on the social media.

    Packaged by the communications giant, MTN, the session was part of MTN’s strategies for effective communication in the country, the Organisation sad.

    Tagged “Strategies for effective communication,” the resource persons included, Nkechi Ali-Balogun, the Principal Consultant of NECCI Consulting Ltd, who spoke on Crisis Communication and the New Media.

    Oludare Ogunyombo, who had worked as resource person and head trainer to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) spoke on leadership and organisation culture as enablers in Media practice.

    Hope Afoke Orivri, a mass communications specialist and broadcaster gave an insight into aspects of fake news, hate speech and alternate truth as threat to the future of the media

    And leadership and management expert, Dr. Okey Ikechukwu who is also a human capital development and communications consultant, discussed the ethical issues of social media in journalism

    All participants had fun especially during the interactive sessions during which various ideas were shared amongst the journalists and resource persons, and doubts on  current concepts and theories n the sector were cleared.

    Read also: MTN unveils FibreNet in Abuja

    The Senior Manager, External Relations MTN, Funso Aino, said that the training session for journalists was also one of the ways MTN gives back to the society that has been wonderful to it.

    He said, “We do capacity building for journalists because the media is a critical stakeholder in MTN’s business in Nigeria. So in furtherance of efforts at contributing to capacity building within the media, we always seek new opportunities to impart knowledge and skills into journalists in the course of their jobs.”

    The  objective of the training, according to him, was to “Enhance skills and industry knowledge of media practitioners; Improve relationship with the Nigerian media; Equip participants with requisite training tools and techniques; Improve participants’ competence, efficiency and effectiveness on their jobs; and to Improve strategic thinking and decision making ability amongst the journalists.”

    The participants received illumination of various aspects of the subjects considered and expressed their appreciation for the training and requested that it should be a continuous annual exercise so as to benefit more reporters in the Federal Capital Territory.

  • 19 kids evacuated from orphanage

    Amid concerns that orphanage operators are getting up to unwholesome practices with their charges, the authorities have removed 19 inmates of a child-care facility in the Federal Capital Territory. GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports that it is the beginning of a crackdown

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Social Development Secretariat (SDS) has evacuated 19 children from Famouskids Orphanage Home, in Tungan Maje area of Zuba, Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja over alleged negligence and other nefarious acts.

    The SDS officials, accompanied by a joint team of security personnel, sealed off the premises of the orphanage, which also runs a school in the area.

    Abuja Review reports that the Famouskids Orphanage Home had 25 children as inmates, but only 19 aged 4-17 years were met as at the time of the evaluation exercise.

    Speaking with newsmen during the exercise, SDS Acting Secretary, Hajiya Safiya Umar said the action followed a request by the police authorities in the area, asking the Secretariat to evacuate the children from the orphanage.

    Hajia Umar added that following information from the police that the owner of the orphanage, Nkechi Udoh had abandoned the home, the SDS was given a directive to pick up the kids and transfer them to a government facility till she returns from wherever she went to.

    According to her, a preliminary report revealed that most of the children are brought to Abuja from Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, and were left since February, 2019 in the care of a 23-year-old, who claimed to be an undergraduate of the University of Abuja.

    “The police wrote to SDS to come and evacuate the children, meaning there are a lot of things happening in orphanages. From our investigations here, we have come to realise that there are other linkages with some other orphanages in Abuja.

    “It appears it is a big business in orphanages, which the government is expected to look into. It is quite unfortunate that people are now using orphanages as their own personal businesses.

    “They are using the children as personal business; here, a mother deposited her two children voluntarily and is asking the woman to give her back her children and she has taken to her heels.

    “As we are here the police are asking us to resolve the issues, we don’t know which issue, the police here in Tundan Maje, the area command, reached out to us. And a child is missing and one child means a lot to the world.

    “Orphanages are not meant to sell children. There is reliable information from the police that the child might have been sold and she is in Lagos, which they are now trying to track,” she explained.

    She adds: “With this latest development, where children are being sold, we have started a clampdown on orphanages; we want to know where the children are coming from. It is not in our jurisdiction to collect children from other states, because all the 36 states have social welfare as a department and they have facilities for orphanages.

    “It is bothering us that the orphanages in FCT are abusing the law, they are only supposed to keep the children only for three month and then give them out either for adoption or fostering.”

    On his part, one Edet Raphael, who claimed to be working with the orphanage as a volunteer, denied knowledge of the missing child from the home.

    He said: “I don’t know anything about the missing child; the first time I heard I was arrested and taken to the police station and they questioned me about the child.

    “I told them (the police) I don’t know anything about the missing child. I remember the first girl but I have never met the missing girl.”

  • Kaduna killings: coalition protests in Abuja

    Hundreds of indigenes of Kaduna State gathered in Abuja last week for a peaceful procession to bring to the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari and the international community what they called the horrendous attacks by herdsmen militia on many Adara communities in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

    Convener, Coalition Against Kajuru Killings, Rev. Fr Williams Abba said, “The latest death toll of this mindless carnage has already surpassed 130, with several communities reduced to rubbles, and setting the stage for a major humanitarian crisis that has so far displaced no fewer than 10,000 persons now living in four camps.”

    Dressed in black and displaying various inscriptions like “stop the Kajuru massacre now,” “why kill children?”, “Southern Kaduna needs freedom”, “end the bloodshed”, “Sanga lives matter”, “where is your humanity?” and “enough of the killings in southern Kaduna”.

    Addressing the crowd Rev. Fr Williams Abba said: “This peaceful procession today reveals our commitment to the restoration of peace in not only Adara communities, but other areas of Southern Kaduna and indeed Birnin Gwari now under siege by these criminal elements. We call on fellow Nigerians and the international community to mount pressure on the Nigerian government to come to our aid by ending the genocide that is rippling across Adara communities and other areas of Southern Kaduna where there is a resurgence of violence, such as Gerti and Sanga where no fewer than 12 persons have been killed by these rampaging herdsmen. Most disturbingly is the fact that while Adara Nation mourns, Governor El-Rufai rounded up and put in jail Adara leaders and elder statesmen, including the Waziri Adara who’s next in the line of seniority in Adara chiefdom on phantom charges.”

    He expressed sadness that the governor’s allegations over killings of Fulani is still an allegation that is yet to be proven, as he has neither shown the world the pictures of recovered Fulani corpses nor commenced investigation to prove his allegation.

    Abba said: “The Kaduna State Police commissioner recently debunked the death toll as announced by the governor, insisting that investigation into Fulani killings is still at “embryonic stage.”

    “The allegation by El-Rufai over killings of our brothers of Fulani extraction set the stage for reprisal killings and weaved the labyrinth of insecurity over the besieged Adara communities such as we are currently witnessing. Within the space of one month, we have been horror-stricken at the barbaric attacks carried out by these merchants of death against children, men, women, including the aged. Communities have been reduced to rubbles and insecurity now stalks these towns and villages unchallenged.

    Read also: Lamentations as stakeholders proffer solutions to KADUNA KILLINGS

    “The present spate of killings started on Sunday February 10, 2019 when herdsmen militia, without any form of provocation, attacked Ungwar Barde in Maro ward of Kajuru LGA. In that blistering attack, 10 persons, including a pregnant woman, were killed. To our shock and consternation, not a single word over the killing was issued by the Kaduna State Government. Five days after the attack, exactly on February 15, 2019, Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, on National Television disclosed that security agencies had recovered bodies of 66 Fulani killed by Adara natives. He was later to increase the death toll to 130.

    “We cannot remain silent in the face of these gruesome killings and deliberate agenda to annihilate Adara people whose only crime is being natives. The bourgeoning human carnage has the propensity of spreading to other areas of the state if not effectively checkmated. If we must save our shared humanity and salvage what is left of humankind, we need to close ranks and insist on relevant organs of government to perform their obligations without fear or favour.”

    The gathering prayed that Government should, as a matter of urgency, deploy more security forces into these hinterlands, including consistent aerial surveillance to track down the terrorists and consequently end the carnage.

    They said government at both Federal and state levels must muster courage and the political will to halt the incursion of these non-state actors adding that: “It is our firm belief that powerful retrogressive forces are funding and supporting these well-coordinated militia who come in and strike at our sleepy and peaceful communities and retreat without consequences.

  • People’s will

    One clear advice from President Muhamm-adu Buhari to Nigerians from the pre-2019 general elections period was that they should feel free to vote for candidates of their choice in the various elections.

    That advice did not change when he took his campaign train to the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The moment he highlighted his achievements during his campaign and how he was going to take the country to the next level, he never failed to urge Nigerians to vote for their preferred candidates.

    Even after he raised the hands of the governorship candidates during the campaigns in the various states, he was not ready to force anybody down the throat of Nigerians.

    That didn’t change after he was declared the winner of the February 23rd Presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He repeated the advice to Nigerians at least twice last week just before the supplementary elections in parts of the country, even when it didn’t go down well with some people in his party.

    The President was more interested in letting the will of the people prevail in the various elections.

    In the first statement issued last week Sunday, it was made very clear that President Buhari will not interfere in last weekend  supplementary polls in favour of anybody including members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Unlike some past leaders, Buhari ruled out interference in the supplementary elections and decided to uphold the constitution to the letter.

    In the statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President insisted that INEC was fully in charge of all the electoral processes.

    He said “The Presidency has cautioned against a lot of the hate spewing, incitement to violence and the polarising statements by so-called political leaders as a number of states brace up for supplementary elections prescribed by the National Electoral Commission.

    “The Presidency also rejects unfair and ridiculous criticisms of President Muhammadu Buhari’s apparent disinterest in the upcoming elections in some states by party members who wrongfully assume that the President will abuse power by changing results to favour them.

    “Past Presidents of Nigeria were known to interfere in inconclusive elections, and that is why party members appear to be upset that the same thing is not happening now, but President Buhari is a different kind of leader. He swore to defend the constitution and will not veer off from that.

    “The constitution of Nigeria gives the President no such powers. It is unfair and ridiculous to criticise President Buhari for not going against the constitution.

    “Party members in states where there will be supplementary elections then need to be reminded that they need to work hard to earn their people’s votes, rather than expect President Buhari to manipulate INEC in their favour.

    “Interestingly, while members of the ruling APC party were criticising the President for not interfering on their behalf, members of the opposition were condemning the President based on their assumptions that he would definitely interfere, as many in the opposition did while in power.

    “Under President Buhari, INEC had been and will be completely independent throughout the elections, free from any interference.

    “President Buhari is a man of conviction, and the manipulation of election results goes against everything he stands for. INEC is completely in charge.” he stated

    The second statement issued  last Friday wasn’t quite different from the earlier one.

    In the statement, the President appealed to voters to vote for the candidates they believe will deliver on promises because it is their “constitutionally guaranteed democratic rights.’’

    Read also: Buhari moves to prevent National Assembly hijack

    President Buhari dismissed rumours and insinuations that he was forcing voters to elect candidates other than those they preferred.

    Describing the rumours as baseless, the President said at no time did he give instructions that the electorate should vote particular candidates.

    ‘‘I believe in the will of the people, and I cannot, therefore, put pressure on voters to elect leaders they don’t like,’’ the President said

    The President assured Nigerians, in the statement, that he is ready to work with elected representatives of the people regardless of party platforms on which they are elected, in the best interest of the country and democracy.

    But the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) didn’t fail to fault Buhari last week over his advice for Nigerians to vote for their preferred candidates.

    The party believed that Buhari’s comment to remain neutral in the  supplementary elections showed that the Presidency rigged the Presidential elections.

    The party said “The Presidency’s confession that the All Progressives Congress, APC, members are mounting pressure on President Buhari to help them rig the Supplementary elections further confirms the Nigerian Presidency manipulative and rigging capacity, including militarization of the electoral process, instigating of violence and alteration of results, as were freely used by the APC in the Presidential election.”

    “The Presidency has never been committed to free, fair and credible elections.

    “Nigerians can recall that ahead of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, President Buhari had promised to allow for a free, fair, transparent and credible process, only for his Presidency and party, the APC, to engage in downright manipulations at the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, deployment of military and thugs to intimidate and suppress voters, as well as outright alteration of results delivered from the polling units.

    “President Buhari cannot exonerate himself of the harm inflicted on our polity by the deployment of soldiers in the 2019 general elections, as nobody deploys the military except the President and Commander-in-Chief.

    “Now that President Buhari, in his official capacity, has come out to state that he will not intervene in the March 23 Supplementary election; we ask, is Mr. President assuring Nigerians that any ‘soldier’ seen directly involving in the rerun election is fake and should be treated as such?

    “The PDP charges the military to note the import of the statement by the Presidency and steer clear of the supplementary elections.

    “The PDP also cautions INEC officials to note that Nigerians are very eager about the outcome of the governorship supplementary elections, given that the PDP is already leading in these states.

    “Nigerians are not ready to accept any results that do not reflect the reality of our victory, which is already known to all.” the party stated

    It is hoped that the will of Nigerians have really been allowed to prevail in last Saturday supplementary elections held in some parts of the country

  • Nightmare on Kubwa roads

    Residents of Kubwa, one of the satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are calling on the Bwari Area Council, and the Federal Government to do something about the deplorable roads in the town.

    The Bwari Area Council is one of the largest Area Councils in the FCT. Kubwa alone is very large and has so many link roads. But for the past six to 10 years, no major roadwork has been done in Kubwa town, leaving the roads in terrible condition. There is no road whatsoever in Kubwa presently that is good enough for motorists.

    Residents are speculating that a lot of the bad roads are used for robbery attacks at nights. Gado Nasko Road from the Federal Housing down to the NNPC is quite scary at night, there are areas there where the potholes are really deep making the driver to slow down completely or risk damaging the car. It had been speculated that armed robbers take advantage of such areas to snatch cars from their owners.

    Sample the potholes. There is one at Gado Nasko Road, another before Nandrem Supermarket, and yet another death trap before the Chemzo Supermarket. Driving towards the Kubwa High Court there is another very bad pothole. There are still others on your way to NNPC before Expressway.

    By the Kubwa Federal Housing is the greatest shame of Kubwa where there is this very bad road. If it rains that area is terrible and messy. There is no way motorists can avoid that road because it is very strategic. As you approach the federal housing to turn into Kubwa before the Nandrem eatery you hit the very rough road. Once in a while some good Samaritans will look for stones and sand to pour on the road, making it better for a few weeks and then it goes back to its very deplorable state.

    The federal government did a very good work on Kubwa Expressway down to the very doorpost of some houses in Kubwa, but expectedly they cut Kubwa Federal Housing Junction out, because it is not in their plan. It is the duty of the Bwari Area Council to do the job which of course they have turned their eyes away from.

    The road from the federal housing down to Total petrol station is manageable though, but the road opposite Zenith Bank linking the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a terrible eyesore. In dry season it is terrible, in rainy season it is worse. Let’s not forget the fact that these roads have residential areas around them, so we are also looking at the health hazard it is causing.

    The question on the lips of residents is do we really have area councils, do we have chairman and councilors in these area councils? It is understandable that they generate revenue, have budgets for the area council, what are they using the money for?

    The Nation spoke with business owners in Kubwa and other parts. Mallam Aliyu Dutse, a tailor, said the untarred road with potholes everywhere really affects their business.

    He said, “Most of my customers don’t like coming to the shop, it is even better now during the rainy season. As you can see, we are even trying to clear the gutter to create passage for water, the drainage is full with all kinds of dirt, but our major concern is for the area council to come and repair the roads.

    “We shop owners come together to ensure the drainage is clean, if we do not do it when the rain starts you cannot pass the road at all, in fact residents are the worst hit because the rainwater will start entering people’s apartments. With this kind of roads no customer will want to patronise us on this street.

    “We expect the Bwari local government to come and repair the road because they collect revenue from all shop owners on these roads. They collect ten thousand naira from us every year. I want to categorically say that no work has been done on the roads in the past five to ten years. The most annoying part is we are put under intense pressure to pay this revenue money.

    “Once in a while we come together as shop owners, task ourselves and clean up the place just for it to be habitable, we empty our dustbins ourselves, there was a time the local government council people came to say we should be paying one thousand every month so they can be emptying our dustbins, they started it quite okay but after a month they stopped and that was the end.”

    A pub owner, who gave his name as Ezenwa Okwudili, said the road has been this bad for over five years now.

    He said, “The Area Council staff came here last year 2018 to inspect the road, after inspection they did not come back again. I pay twenty thousand every year for revenue, ten thousand for liquor license and ten thousand for revenue, yet nothing has been done on the road.

    “To me I see it as high level corruption from the local government operators. We are in the month of March, by next month now no vehicle can pass this road again, it is that bad. All businesses on this road are put on hold until after the rainy season.

    My appeal to the local government council is for them to try and work on the road before the rain starts. We really do need help on this roads, there is no way we can continue paying such revenue if the road still remains like this , the local government chairman should please look seriously into this issue and do the road for us.

    The Bwari Area Council Chairman, Musa Dikko while presenting the 2018 proposal of over N4.7 billion budget, earmarked N2.4billion for capital expenditure in the council with works and housing gaining the highest amount of N1,046,311,952

    Dikko in his presentation tagged this budget, “budget of consolidation” calling it the people’s budget pointing that his administration placed more emphasis on capital projects to meet the needs of the people.

    The Nation had on two occasions put a call to the Chairman who said “Go ahead and write anything you want to write; can’t you see the work we are doing around the area council, all you people do is carry the negative part of news, please don’t call my line again.”

    The question is if money has been earmarked for capital projects like working on roads within the area council, where are the roads that have been worked on, what did the council use the money for, obviously there was no work done. In most parts of Kubwa the roads are really bad yet the Chairman is not doing anything or saying anything about it. The so much money collected for revenue what is it used for?  In his swearing in speech, he assured the people of Bwari Area Council that by the mandate given to him to represent them, he and his team will d do their best to fulfill all the promises made by their councilors during their campaign.  Are the promises fulfilled?

  • Accepting God’s will

    Getting the mandate of Nigerians and the runner-up in the 2015 presidential elections to concede defeat appeared to be easier for President Muhammadu Buhari four years ago.

    Then, the incumbent, former President Goodluck Jonathan didn’t waste any time to call and congratulate Buhari on telephone, when he knew what direction the votes were going.

    That singular act by Jonathan immediately suppressed the tension in the country and enthroned environment of peace and tranquility across the country.

    Prior to Jonathan’s telephone call conceding defeat, there was fear among Nigerians that the country was heading for a major crisis and going to split into segments.

    The breakup evil prophesies of some parts of the international community in 2015 also did not help matters.

    The prophesies then created fears in the minds of many Nigerians, which led to their deaths in motor accidents on the highways and other tragedies while running from the cities to their villages.

    Some of them wholeheartedly believed the reports that Nigeria was going to break into North and South and had to start running even before the elections started.

    So, Jonathan putting action to his words that his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian immediately brought calmness to the country and ended all hostilities.

    But that is missing in the current dispensation as the major opposition candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, who came second according to the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has not conceded defeat over ten days after Buhari was declared winner of the 2019 Presidential election.

    Atiku, not only felt that he has been robbed of his mandate by incumbency powers, he had also been threatening to head to the court over the issue.

    In a statement issued after the elections results were released, Atiku said “I thank the Nigerian people who trooped out in their millions to perform their civic duty this past Saturday. The patriotism of Nigerians is heartwarming and affirms my oft-repeated statement that we are brothers and sisters born from the womb of one mother Nigeria.

    “With regards to the Presidential elections that took place on February 23, 2019, it is clear that there were manifest and premeditated malpractices in many states which negate the results announced.

    “One obvious red flag is the statistical impossibility of states ravaged by the war on terror generating much higher voter turnouts than peaceful states. The suppressed votes in my strongholds are so apparent and amateurish, that I am ashamed as a Nigerian that such could be allowed to happen. How can total votes in Akwa-Ibom, for instance, be 50% less than what they were in 2015?

    “Another glaring anomaly is the disruption of voting in strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos, Akwa-Ibom, Rivers and diverse other states, with the authorities doing little or nothing and in some cases facilitating these unfortunate situations.

    “The militarization of the electoral process is a disservice to our democracy and a throwback to the jackboot era of military dictatorship. In some areas of the country, such as, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Imo states, troops deployed for the elections turned their guns on the very citizens they were meant to protect. This is condemnable and should not be associated with our electoral process in the future.

    “I am a democrat and there are democratic avenues available to present the truth to the nation and the watching world. Already, many international observers have given their verdicts, which corroborate our observations. I am sure more will come in the coming hours and days.

    “If I had lost in a free and fair election, I would have called the victor within seconds of my being aware of his victory to offer not just my congratulations, but my services to help unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and the South.

    “However, in my democratic struggles for the past three decades, I have never seen our democracy so debased as it was on Saturday, February 23, 2019. 2007 was a challenge, but President Yar’Adua was remorseful. In 2019, it is sad to see those who trampled on democracy thumping their noses down on the Nigerian people.

    “Consequently, I hereby reject the result of the February 23, 2019 sham election and will be challenging it in court.

    “I want to assure my supporters and the entire Nigerian people that together, we will not allow democracy to be emasculated.

    “I hope and pray Nigerians will someday summon the courage to defend democracy. That is the only way we can move away from being the world headquarters for extreme poverty,” he said

    Atiku’s efforts to investigate and discover the ‘real’ result of the election led the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal headed by Justice Abdul Aboki to only grant him permission to inspect electoral materials used for the elections last Wednesday.

    Atiku was barred from carrying out forensic analysis and scanning on them.

    Carrying out forensic analysis and scanning by experts, of computers, card reader machines, server deployed for the election, the Tribunal noted was beyond the scope of the provisions of Section 151(1) & (2) of the Electoral Act (as amended), which permits the inspection of election materials.

    “After a careful examination of the reliefs sought on the motion paper and a perusal of Section 151 of the Electoral Act (as amended), and the decision of this court in cases of Aregbesola v. Oyinlola, Akintayo v. Jolaoye, Senator Hope Uzodinma v. Senator Osita Izunaso, it is hereby ordered as follows.

    “Leave is granted to the applicants to bring this application at this stage.

    Read also: Presidential Committee to document Buhari’s campaign promises

    “The first respondent (INEC) shall forthwith, allow the applicants and or their representatives to inspect polling documents and obtained certified true copies of all polling documents in the custody of the first respondent, used for the just-concluded presidential election, to enable the applicants institute and maintain an election petition.

    “Prayers three, four, five and six on the motion paper are hereby refused.

    “Forensic audit, examination and analysis by forensic experts cannot be regarded as an inspection of those documents within the ambit of Section 151 of the Electoral Act (as amended),” Justice Aboki stated.

    Some Nigerians, however, have noted that the path being followed by Atiku would in the long run heat up the polity and hamper development in the country.

    To them, Atiku should just sacrifice his personal ambition for the national interest.

    The National Traditional Rulers Council were among the latest groups and Nigerians that urged Atiku and other presidential candidate to see the final election result as the will of God.

    In a congratulatory visit to President Buhari at the Presidential Villa last Tuesday, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, who led the group, said: “The National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria is here to felicitate with you on your re-election as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We join all Nigerians and the International community in praying and wishing you very big success in your tenure.

    “As traditional rulers, we are not only custodians of our people’s cultures, values and traditions but also the custodians of the religious beliefs and conscience of our people.

    “We are therefore, fully aware that it is only God almighty who owns power and authority and who bestows this on whom He will, when He wills and how He wills.

    “Therefore your election as President for a second tenure should be seen as what God has destined and no one could have changed that.

    “This result is the will of the almighty God and therefore we call on all to give you maximum support for the achievement of peace, development and progress of our dear nation,” he stated.

    On the other hand, other Nigerians felt that it was good Atiku was taking his grievances to court rather than resorting to violent self-help.

    It will be a good thing for Nigeria if these issues can urgently be addressed and put behind the giant of Africa for it to forge ahead.

    Moreso, if the INEC’s declaration was the will of God.

  • Foundation to train 12,000 girls

    The Youth Empowerment Foundation (YEF) NGO is set to train and mentor up to 12,000 secondary school-age girls by the end of 2019.

    The Programme Officer, YEF Abuja, Kemi Omole said this during a stakeholders conference held in Abuja.

    She explained that the organization, which operates in 19 countries worldwide, has recruited 30 direct beneficiaries who will train 14 girls each week in and week out for 10 months.

    Omole said: “Since our inception in Abuja in 2010, we have trained over 100,000 girls,” she stated in an interview. “We have 4,200 students that we train annually in Abuja. Our target now is to reach 12,000 students by the end of this year and we have already begun the process.

    “Our aim is to empower girls and to teach them how to save money, to know their rights and how to avoid being violated.”

    She commended the Federal Government for its involvement and support in giving them the opportunity to reach the students, but also listed time as a major challenge and hindrance to the impact that could be made towards the students.

    “What the federal government has done is that they have given us the opportunity to reach these students, however, we would like more time with the students,” she complained.

    “Many of the schools that we work in give us only about 20-30 minutes per week. At times, we are turned away by the school managements. We need to be allotted more time,”she added.

    Omole also named poor infrastructure as another challenge the group faces, noting that some lessons require them to sit outside to teach the girls. She implored the federal government to make available more classrooms for convenience.

    Speaking during an interview, the Head of Department of Gender for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Dr. Safiya Tamanuwa, praised the initiatives of YEF in empowering young women and capacity building.

    “YEF is impacting marginalized girls by helping them attain their fullest potentials in education and life skills.

    “They have succeeded in sensitizing girls on societal and personal development, especially those who were timid and afraid to ask questions.

    “UBEB is out to assure that no girl child is left on the street. Admission into any of the FCT secondary schools is open at all times to both girls and boys of school age. We are leaving no child left behind.”

    Tamanuwa expressed her hope that the Gender Equality bill will soon be passed to further strengthen the federal government’s mission to aid girl child education in the country.

  • Group makes case for women

    As the world celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD), an Abuja-based non-governmental organisation, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, called on women to be more economically viable in order to forge a more gender-balanced world.

    The group also revealed that the 2019 edition of International Women’s Day, would be used to examine women’s achievements and challenges with a view to creating gender parity.

    Addressing newsmen in Abuja to mark the occasion, President of Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu called for collective efforts and shared ownership for driving gender equality.

    Dr. Ahmadu stressed that:, “as we speak, every March 8 is a great and important time in history to do everything possible to help forge a more gender-balanced world. Women have come a long way, yet there’s still more to be achieved. The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single person or gender nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.”

    She described this year’s theme: “Balance for Better”as a call to action for driving gender balance across the world, while calling on women not to see themselves as weaker vessels.

    Answering questions on the achievements recorded by women, Dr. Ahmadu noted that much has been achieved globally and locally, adding that the world has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in women’s equality and emancipation.

    She said, “Today, we have more women in the boardroom, greater increase in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women’s visibility as role models in every aspect of life, is a demonstration of the fact that women have gained impressive equality.

    “In today’s world, we do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls gaining admission into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And more significantly, each year the world inspires women and celebrates their achievements.

    “However, the unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women’s education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men”.

    Dr Ahmadu therefore called on government at all levels and corporate organisations to do their best to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding by initiating policies and programmes that will truly make a positive difference for women.