The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • A new orientation in sports

    President Muhammadu Buhari has turned his attention to sports, seeking to revolutionise it.

    He wants Nigeria to be second to none in major sporting events not only in Africa but globally.

    As a starting point, the President last Monday tasked the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Alhassan Yakmut to do everything possible for Nigeria to top medals table in swimming and other sporting events at the 11th All African Games holding in Brazzaville, Congo from next Thursday to 19th of September. 2015.

    From his body language, he was not satisfied with the levels of Nigeria’s performance in the various sporting events.

    Nigeria, which was ranked 3rd in Africa based on her performance at the 2011 All Africa Games with 29 Gold, 29 Silver and 42 Bronze medals, has now been ranked 2nd based on the result from the 2015 African Championship.

    At the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glassgow, Nigeria was ranked 9th with 11 Gold, 11 Silver and 14 Bronze medals.

    Nigeria Female Football Team, the Falconets won the Silver Medal at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Canada.

    Before flopping in Beijing, China last week, Blessing Okagbare was ranked 2nd in the world in the 100m event, while Aruna Qadri is currently rated 2nd in Africa in Table Tennis.

    But Nigeria, however, currently holds number one position in power-lifting and scrabble.

    Buhari is now determined to develop Nigeria’s sports sector to world class level for a number of reasons.

    Apart from exploiting agriculture and other non oil sectors to reposition the Nigeria economy, President Buhari is also focusing on sports to address youth restiveness and ethical orientation.

    Through sports, he also wants to promote national unity and social development in the country.

    He plans to use sports to prevent crimes in the country by gainfully engaging a large segment of the youth population in sports.

    The President also aims to boost the image of Nigeria internationally through sports.

    To further raise sports as a cross-cutting sector in the Nigeria economy, Buhari wants to use it for infrastructural development, foreign currency earner and to boost tourism and the environment.

    The President did not mince words last Monday when he gave his mind on the direction he wants sports to now take in the country.

    Yakmut as a technocrat, who is normally referred to as ‘Armored Tank’ in the sports circle for his ability to evolve strategies that can demolish Nigeria’s sporting opponents and his experiences of transforming raw talents to champions, promised the President to carry out the directive of turning around the fortunes of Nigeria sports.

    Speaking with State House correspondents, Yakmut said: “We briefed Mr. President on sports development in Nigeria and its retinue of social economic values. Mr. President was impressed with the presentation but he raised observation on the need for us to rekindle the exploitation of the medals available in swimming in order to make Nigeria top in All African Games table in future and that is actually the presidential observation that we have taken technical interest to ensure that it is implemented to the letter.

    “You know that we also have cultures that are oriented with gymnastics and that culture is the one that we will first of all technically invest in terms of facilities, coaches and programmes to make sure we compete with other … in swimming.” He added

    Despite commending President Buhari for his supports to sports from the federal government purse, he pointed out that a major challenge was inadequate funding from the private sector and the Nigeria Lottery Trust Fund.

    Besides the issue of inadequate funding, some of the weaknesses facing the Nigeria sports sector include sports medicine and sports science, coaching and officiating, policy implementation and poor sporting facilities at local government level.

    Threats to the sector include insensitivity of private sector, technology and innovation, advanced sports medicine and science, inadequate International Technical Officials (ITOs) and representation in international sports bodies, high leadership turnover and doping.

    It is hoped that these challenges would be adequately tackled in order to take sports in Nigeria to higher heights.

     

    Celebrating Buhari’s media aides

     

    The day 21st August, 2015 is a day that the two Presidential media aides to President Muhammadu Buhari will not forget in a hurry.

    It was a day drums were rolled out to celebrate the appointments of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu.

    The dinner, which was organized by the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, was attended by who-is-who in the journalism profession.

    The joy of the two presidential aides knew no bound as the night was dedicated to them, and standing tall as their citations were read.

    The duo, who were at one time or the other President of the NGE, were also made to dance before other guests joined them on the dancing floor.

    They did not leave the hall without first getting gifts presented to them by their colleagues.

    The two aides, who got the promises of the NGE to back them up on their new assignments, expressed their appreciation to the group.

    With all these, they can now settle down with all confidence to continue with their national assignment.

     

    Buhari as SSS

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari, due to his unique style of governance has been given another acronym, SSS.

    The acronym, which describes what Nigerians should expect from his pace of work, was given to the President by some Nigerians in Diaspora.

    The former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa disclosed this while speaking during the commemoration of the 2015 Diaspora Day at the Presidential Villa, last Tuesday.

    According to her, Nigerians abroad now refer to President Buhari as Slow, Steady with Surprises (SSS).

    Nigerians are definitely waiting patiently for those surprises that will turn around the fortunes of the country.

     

  • Youths hail anti-corruption battle

    Youths in Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the auspices of Abaji Concern Youth Movement (ACYM) have praised the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on the fight against corruption.

    Speaking at a joint press briefing chairman of the group, Comrade Usman Abdulkadir and Secretary, Comrade Hussaini Sanusi, said the steps taken by Buhari administration to checkmate corrupt people in the society, would go a long to redeeming the image of the country in the eyes of the world.

    They expressed concern over the spate of corruption across all sectors, saying there was need for all citizens, including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to give their support to ensure the present administration succeeds in the fight against corruption.

    “It is obvious that some politicians and a section of this country are not happy with the anti-corruption by Buhari administration. But we the youth are fully in support of the move, as we are calling on the Buhari not to be deterred by any attack and criticism on his fight against corruption,” the group said.

    The group urged President Muhammadu Buhari to heed the peoples call in making one of the indigenes of the territory as a minister, saying appointing an indene as minister will break the jinx and set a precedent for any future government to follow.

    They said the original inhabitants of the territory have suffered neglect and marginalisation from successive admirations, adding that indigenous people have been reduced to second class citizens in their ancestral home.

    “The non-inclusion and consideration of the original inhabitants into the federal executive council has also negatively affected the socio-cultural development of the natives, especially the teaming youths,” they said.

    They also appealed to the Buhari administration to set up a committee that would look into the state of the newly completed Abuja University of Science and Technology, Abaji (AUTA), in order to commission it for academic activities to fully commence.

     

  • ‘Save us from bulldozers’

    Indigenes of Kpaduma communities in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to save them from officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and Development Control who allegedly harass and threat to demolish their houses.

    The indigenes through their leader, Hon. Bala Iyah, made this call during a press briefing on the incessant attempts by officials of the FCDA and Development Control to demolish their houses, despite a court order restraining them from doing so.

    The indigenes who lamented over the recent demolition attempt by the FCT authority, explained that they have been going through rough times in the hands of the two FCT agencies, since the administration of the past FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed, where their houses were marked and demolished without due process.

    “We thought that after the administration of Sen. Bala Mohammed, things will change for the better and peace will return to this community, since the slogan of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is based on ‘Change’. But, to our disappointment, things still remain the same way it was, because those two departments are still constantly harrassing our people and threatening our lives.

    “We are original inhabitants of Abuja and Kpaduma communities have been our ancestral home right from the days of our forefathers up until today. Hence, after bringing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to Abuja by the federal government, nobody has engaged us in any move or discussion of resettlement or compensation.

    “Because of our simplicity and peace loving nature, our farmlands were forcefully taken over by the government and private allottees without compensations, and now our residencial buildings are at the danger of been taken away too. The question is if we are removed from our houses without proper alternatives, where do we go to?” he said.

    According to Iyah, Kpaduma indigenes are not Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), “we are not trespassers, strangers or settlers. We have been in Abuja for over 200years, before the coming of the Capital City to Abuja. We are true Nigerians and we should be treated as such.

    “Nobody should treat us as foreigners in our own country. We are therefore appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to save our souls, by coming to the aide of Kpaduma inidgenes and the indigenes of the entire FCT, to avoid us been turn into refugees in our country.

    “We are also appealing to President Buhari to consider an indigene of the FCT, for the position of an FCT Minister, because he or she will know more about the plight of the people and how to improve on the living standard of every indigene and resident of Abuja,” he said.

  • Council chief urges calm after bank robbery

    The chairman of Àbaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Yahaya Garba has called on residents of the council to remain calm and go about their normal businesses, as effort is being made by security agencies to track down the armed robbers who attacked First Bank in the council.

    Garba, who made the call while on a visit to the robbery scene at First Bank in the council, sympathised with victims of the bank robbery, urging the residents to be vigilant and security conscious.

    The chairman assured the résidents that the security operatives are doing their best to arrest  the robbers.

    The council chairman also paid visit to the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa, to assure him of the council commitment to ensuring proper security of lives and property in the council.

     

  • ‘Pray for the nation’

    ‘Pray for the nation’

    The FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Obinna Chukwu, FNSE, has urged the FCT contingent to the 2015 Hajj Operations in Saudi Arabia to pray for the peace and security of the country.

    The Permanent Secretary gave the advice while bidding farewell to intending Muslim Pilgrims to Makkah and Madinah, Saudi Arabia at the FCT Permanent Hajj Camp, Bassan-Jiwa, Abuja.

    Chukwu urged the pilgrims to pray for the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration so that it would be able to overcome the numerous problems confronting the nation especially insecurity and corruption.

    According to a statement issued by the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the Permanent Secretary challenged the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the country by abiding with the rules and regulations covering Hajj Operations in the Holy Land.

    His words: “I must remind you that each pilgrimage comes with its peculiarities; consequently, I urge you to abide by the flight schedules, because due to the new arrangement, whoever misses his/her flight stands the risk of missing the Hajj.”

    He said that the FCT Administration gives high premium to the welfare of its residents at home and abroad, and therefore it’s the desire of the Administration to continue to ensure that FCT contingent gets the best treatment compared to any other state of the federation.

    Chukwu reiterated that the FCT Administration has continued to introduce a number strategy such as orientation and education, medical screening and other programmes designed to address observed obstacles to successful Hajj Operations over the years.

    He thus, announced that a total number of 3,107 intending pilgrims are on the contingent of the Federal Capital Territory for this year’s Hajj Operations.

    Also speaking at the occasion, the Director of FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mallam Bashir Muhammad assured that the Board has put a wonderful mechanism on ground to ensure successful Hajj operations.

     

  • ‘Six in 10 families battling drug abuse’

    The word is out that six in ten families in the FCT are grappling with one form of substance abuse or the other.

    This was revealed when the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) visited the FCT command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    On the visit, AGIS Director, Mrs Jamilah Tangaza said the organisation will partner with agencies in order to achieve good governance.

    Exchanging views with the Agency commandant, Mrs. Chinyere Obijuru, the AGIS chief  expressed shock at the statistics given by the NDLEA  Commandant that as high as six out of every 10 families in the FCT are battling substance abuse.

    She added that the substances ranged from such hard drugs such as cocaine to over-the-counter medications like cough syrups.

    Mrs. Obijuru added that most causes of deviant behaviours amongst university students in the FCT today can be traceable to drug use. “Drug follows money and one of the greatest source of money in the FCT is land business.”

    AGIS Director assured the commandant that the agency would also be useful to the agency in the area of the deployment of geospatial technology in the war against drug abuse.

    AGIS, she said, boasts a corps of capable experts and requisite technological knowhow that the agency could leverage to digitize NDLEA processes especially, the deployment of geospatial technology to stem the activities of drug agents and end-users.

    During the visit AGIS Director recalled her works on the scourge of drug addiction and abuse while at the BBC, saying, “It was clear then that if one did not have one, he or she knew someone battling with the drug.”

    She lamented the devastating impact of drugs on marriages, families, careers and physical well-being of the victims. “Unfortunately,” the Director noted, “the issue of addiction is a global phenomenon prevalent amongst both celebrities and the homeless, the old and young as well as the rich and the poor and has proved too hard to tackle.”

    Mrs. Obijuru, had called on the residents of FCT to be alert to any possible existence of methamphetamine laboratories which, she disclosed, does not only pose risks to its users but also to people resident within the vicinity of the laboratory; “the soil within the vicinity of the methamphetamine lab does not only get contaminated and become hazardous to health but, also, the effects on the soil lasts for nearly six years.”

    She informed AGIS Director of the Command’s plan to build a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts and would appreciate it if the AGIS could support its desire for a plot of land to bring the plan to reality.

    The Command, she said, therefore thought is necessary to solicit the support and collaboration of relevant stakeholders in the battle against drug as well as to generate public awareness on the subject.

    Responding, the Director, AGIS, Mrs. Tangaza welcomed the new Commandant to AGIS and expressed appreciation for the enormous task before the drug agency in the FCT. She noted that any effort to win back our youths and indeed, our citizens from the grip of drug abuse is one that deserves the cooperation of everyone.

    Mrs. Tangaza expressed concern over the near absence of a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation of drug victims, especially among stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.

    She added that the agency’s need for a rehabilitation centre was a welcome idea and is something that the Commandant could take up when the new Minister arrives, promising to give the agency the support of AGIS in its quest.

    While being conducted round AGIS facilities, the NDLEA Commandant expressed delight at the quality IT infrastructure she observed, which she said has enabled better services, more secured land data management operations as well as a solid disaster recovery back-up system that is resistant to even terrorism or fire.

     

  • FCTA teams up with security agencies against crime

    The FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Chukwu has assured that the FCT Administration will continue to support security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory to make Abuja safer.

    Chukwu gave this assurance while receiving the new Commander of the AHQ Garrison, Abuja, Brigadier-General Abba Dikko who paid him a working visit in his office.

    He remarked that Abuja is the seat of government of Nigeria and therefore needs more security attention considering that the city is the window in which the world sees Nigeria.

    According to him, Abuja hosts Mr. President, members of the National Assembly, Chief Justice of the federation as well as members of the diplomatic community and therefore every effort must be made to ensure adequate security of lives and property of the residents.

    He emphasised that security agents are stakeholders in project Abuja and stressed that FCT Administration will continue to cooperate and partner with them.

    The Permanent Secretary reiterated that the Administration will continue to carry out its statutory functions of city management diligently and promised to assist in solving the environmental and ecological problems affecting the Mogadishu Barracks.

  • IDPs: Shippers to the rescue

    IDPs: Shippers to the rescue

    Things may not be getting worse for persons forced from their homes by the insurgents but some shippers who visited a camp in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) made the point that the victims of Boko Haram need more help. GRACE OBIKE reports

     

    The visitors brought quite a sizeable consignment of relief materials, but their message may be just as helpful as their gifts. There is much more to do for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    That was more or less the point made by members of the Nigerians Shippers Council Senior Staff Association (NSCSSA) who presented bags of rice and a load of other household needs on their visit to an IDPs camp in the FCT.

    Boko Haram has dealt a lifelong blow to its victims. Its fighters have killed thousands and wounded many more mainly in the Northeast. The invaders robbed homes, shops and farms before setting a good many on fire, leaving survivors with no choice but to flee. But such is the flight that virtually state in the country hosts a number of IDPs. And at a huge cost not only on themselves but also those who have to look after them.

    Yet, their squalid accommodation is far short; daily necessities even fewer. That is not all; at some point Abuja developers told them to evacuate. Before then, security personnel also clashed with them, leaving about five IDPs dead.

    That was, as it were, in the old order. Under the new administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari, things seem to be changing a bit for the better. But the IDPs still need help.

    The visiting members of the NSCSSA have said that although the government and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) are doing their best for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), they can afford to do more.

    NSCSSA painted a touching picture of people who escaped the only life they were accustomed to because of Boko Haram and now have to live in deplorable conditions, adding that  Nigerians who have the resources should help.

    President NSCSSA Comrade Mukhtar Adikwu said said that members of the association decided to contribute from their meagre salary to provide for the IDP’s because they realise that the situation that made some Nigerians displaced can happen to anyone and it is only when Nigerians come out en mass to contribute that these Nigerians will survive the situation that they have found themselves in.

    He added, “We discovered that this people are our brothers, who are displaced from their homes and we feel that as Nigerian workers, it is not really nice when you eat in your house and realise that others are not eating, you don’t feel comfortable at all so that is why we put our heads together and to take something out of our meagre salaries to come and assist the needy because it could be anybody because this one’s are displaced today, tomorrow it could be my relatives or even me, which is why we have come together to bring this items to this people to at least solve some of the problems they are encountering.

    “Some of the items that we brought here today are sixty bags of 25kg rice, twenty cartons of soap, eight cartons of vegetable oil, cartons of spices and clothing materials as well as liquid soap, these are what the staff of Nigerian shippers council are able to gather together especially the senior staff association and we are able to bring them here.

    ing that the place is conducive enough for their return, so the government is doing all it can but it should not only be left to the government alone, there are individuals who are worthy enough they should come out, there is nothing wrong with providing port cabins here, they should come out to support this people before they return because the government on its own after handling the insurgency will ensure that they clean up the place to ensure that the place is safe enough to return to.”

     

  • Ten days of health outreach

    Ten days of health outreach

    Doctors from the United States and Nigeria carry out surgeries, among other activities, in Kaduna State communities, TONY AKOWE reports

    Ailing residents of Ungwan Romi and environs in the suburbs of Kaduna metropolis have had some of their challenges sorted out by a team of doctors from the United States of America working in conjunction with their Nigerian counterparts.

    While some of the patients were diagnosed and given medications, some others went through surgery. The outreach lasted 10 days.

    The Restoration Bible Church located in the area facilitated the intervention, which was led by Dr. Stuart Quartermount from the Medical Missions International College Station in Texas.

    He told The Nation that working in collaboration with the Mercy Angel Hospital owned by the Restoration Bible Church, they were able to carry out surgery on 42 patients in eight days with the assistance of Dr. Paul Odumu, a surgeon with the 44 Armed Forces Reference Hospital, Kaduna who led other Nigerian medical personnel.

    Dr. Quartermount told The Nation that the mission was his third in Kaduna, having carried out similar exercises at the St Gerard Catholic Hospital and Gwamna Awan General Hospital in the past in collaboration with Restoration Bible Church.

    He said, “I have been coming to Nigeria on medical mission since 1988 when we started a mission hospital in the east which is still there in Owerri. Since then, we come about three times a year to support the work there. Since 2008, we have been going to different parts of the country and that was when Rev. Tunde Bolanta invited me to come and do outreach here. We did one at St. Gerard Catholic Hospital and another at the General Hospital. Now, we have our own facilities here and that will make it easier to come and go”.

    On how they raise the money for the mission, he said “We have a mission organisation in the United States of America that helps to raise the funds for the work we are doing. We have a number of churches and individuals that donate resources because they catch the vision of what we are doing here. Some of them have come here before on other missions and have been faithful to give so that we can bring all the things we needed”.

    He said they carried out surgery on women with fibroids-related cases.

    “It’s been quite interesting because a lot of the people we are doing surgery can’t afford to go somewhere else to get it done. We did a lot of hernia and there was one we did for a man who could not afford to lift anything. We did one hour surgery for him and when he is healed, he will be able to go back to work again. Some of the women have not been able to give birth because they have problems. We’ve been able to correct that for them and by the grace of God, they will be able to have children. I want to encourage other people to follow the leading of the Lord and give as they have been blessed because God blessed us to be a blessing in return. Christ left his palace in heaven to come and give us. The best we can do is to take a little bit of time and give to others.”

    One of the Nigerian doctors who assisted during the intervention, Dr. Paul Odumu said he had to take part of his leave from the 44 Armed Forces Reference Hospital to be part of the intervention. Dr, Odumu attributed the intervention to the efforts of the leadership of Restoration Bible Church.

    He said, “Essentially, Restoration Bible Church led by Rev. Tunde Bolanta and his wife has been the foundation for the intervention, working in collaboration with our friends from the US led by Dr. Stuart and his wife. Eleven of them came from the US form the intervention. They also collaborated with my own NGO, Odumeaje Christian Medical Mission located in Benue State. We spent about 10 days and the Lord has been helping us. We operated on men, women and children and this has brought a lot of relief to the people here. Our friends from the US brought a lot of equipment and drugs which have been of great help. In the cases we have seen, there are lots of families that could not afford to pay for the surgery. There is a particular case of an 18-year-old girl who was rushed in one of the nights with a ruptured appendix. We attended to her even when she could not afford to pay for a card and she is doing well. In all, I will say there is need for more hands of all medical personnel.”

     

  • NGO faults National Peace Committee

    A non-governmental organi-sation (NGO) Civic Duties Awareness Initiatives (CIDAI) has faulted the Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee’s suggestion that President Muhammadu Buhari should not waste his time fighting corruption alone.

    The Executive Director of the group, Benjamin Oyekunle said that the suggestion could distract the anti-corruption crusade of the Buhari administration.

    He said: “It is in this light that we cannot support the recent call by some elderly, respectable and eminent citizens on the President not to waste his time on fighting corruption alone.

    “It is our informed view that given the resources available at the moment no developmental project or administrative area has suffered neglect under this government.

    “We believe and rightly so that there is no time spent on fighting graft that is not worth it. The President is on the right path. Anti-graft war is needed, it is needed now.

    “For Nigeria to develop, corruption must be eradicated. All hands must be on deck in this just cause”.

    Oyekunle warned Nigerians on the capability of corrupt persons to do everything to stop the anti-corruption, including fighting integrity crusaders.

    “It has been noted that when you fight corruption, corruption fights back. Vigilance is therefore of utmost importance against all reactionary tendencies. The people who have emptied our collective purse are still bent on diverting the national resources to their private pockets. They are ready to spend huge sums to truncate the anti-graft war. They are the ones alleging partiality and selectivity.

    “They can use anybody as their mouthpiece even without the person being aware they are being used for a wrong cause.

    “There are those who would also want to make nonsense of this justifiable cause by attempting to make caricature of it, shouting wolf where none exists.

    “They want to manipulate the process to their favour through mob action and smear campaigns aimed at pulling down public servants who are above board and have been impediments to dipping their hands into the public treasury.

    The group likened the allegations against the Director-General of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko to such moves by the corrupt to tarnish the image of the just.

    “We view this as a deliberate attempt by mischief makers to rubbish the modest achievements recorded by her since assuming office in 2014.

    “The fund was alleged to be enmeshed in corruption prior to her becoming the DG. There are those who had been feeding fat on the fund who she blocked. Her transparent management of the fund was said to have boosted the confidence  and garnered support from the stakeholders.

    “Mrs Onaeko is a young mother of two and a dutiful wife. Her competences and ability were recently recognised by no other person than President Muhammadu Buhari when he included her in his lean entourage to the United States of America.

    “Some have reasoned that her enviable feat in the course of her duties might have endeared her to the President who might have penned her name down for a higher appointment.

    “They opined that the above reasons could be why some who want her position as DG of ITF or scheming to get a ministerial slot are fighting her for.

    “The allegations against Mrs Onaeko and some others that are already fighting corruption should be dismissed for what they are, concocted and fabricated lies based on hearsay against innocent public officers”.

    While commending the efforts of President Buhari in tackling corruption, the group urged opinion leaders, professionals and the media not to allow themselves to be tools in the hands of evil forces.