The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • N40m goods lost in Kuje market fire

    N40m goods lost in Kuje market fire

    It was a sad day for Kuje traders when many of them lost goods worth N40 million to fire outbreak

    According to an eyewitness, the blaze destroyed so many goods because it could not be controlled due to the haphazard nature of the environment.

    About eight shops were burnt in the incident which is the second time in less than one month that some parts of the market were razed by fire.

    The blaze was said to have been caused by illegal connection of electricity wires by some shop owners.

    While addressing newsmen when he went to inspect the level of damage, the Vice-Chairman Kuje Areal Council, Mr. Mohammed Baba who represented the chairman expressed sadness that the incident had become worrisome as it was the second time the incident has occurred in less than one month.

    He said the council authority will take appropriate measures in compensating the affected victims, even as he added that the council and market managers would meet with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to form a committee on how to carry out proper electrical connection in the market in order to prevent future occurrence.

    The Chairman of Kuje Traders’ Association, Alhaji Yunusa Isa sympathised with the affected traders, adding that goods worth N40 million were lost in the fire as a result of illegal connection in the shops.

    Isa, therefore, urged the area council to upgrade the standard of the market and create access road within the market for easy access to the market.

    He advised traders to ensure they switched off all electrical appliances while closing for the day’s business.

    Meanwhile, traders at the market are lamenting over regular fire outbreak in the market, even as they called on the council chairman, Mr. Shaban Tete to expedite action in finding possible solution to the regular fire incidence.

    Mrs. Martha Ikechukwu, one of the traders whose shops were not burnt said that the two fire incidences that had destroyed shops and property in the market is beyond their imagination. She stressed the need for government to seriously look into the situation and find lasting solution to it before it gets out of hands.

    According to Mrs. Ikechukwu, the cause of the fire incidences in the market recently is not clear. I will say that it is something nobody can give explanations to, because it has never happened like this in the past, where fire will destroy shops and property in one market two times in less than 20 days. I believe that there are questions that seriously need answers.

    “I thank God that some of our shops were not affected and I sympathise with my co-traders for their losses. The entire thing is getting out of hands. How can one market experience two fire outbreaks in 20 days? The whole thing is becoming a mystery and nobody is taking serious action to put an end to it. All we hear are promises from the council leadership and no action.

    “The first time fire destroyed some shops and property in the market in December, the leadership of the council, led by Mr. Shaban Tete, visited the market and promised to investigate the cause of the fire incident and find solution to it.

    “Since after that visit, nothing was done. No investigation was carried out to know the exact cause of the blaze. If there was an investigation, it would have helped in averting this recent one. I guess they want the entire market to burn down before they find solution to the cause of it,” she said.

    Another trader who pleaded anonymity said when the council chief visited the market in December and promised to put an end to such occurrence in future, they thought the council leadership would immediately do something to avert future fire incidence. After the visit, no council official visited the market to carry out any investigation or to proffer solution to future occurrence of the incident.

    “One of the problems we have in this country is that our political leaders make promises that they will not fulfill. If proper measures had been put in place to correct the illegal electricity connection that they identified as the cause of the fire in December when the first fire incident occurred, the recent incident would not have happened. They just came here to see the extent of damage done and went to their houses to relax, because it did not affect them directly.

    “There are no markets in Kuje. The only market we have is under threat of being burnt down completely and no positive step is being taken by the council leadership to avert it. Nothing is happening in this council. There is no new infrastructure.

    “Other area councils are building model markets and upgrading the old ones for their people. Instead of building better markets for us in Kuje, they want the only one we are managing to burn down completely before they find solution to the fire problem.

    “The chairman, Mr. Shaban Tete should rise to his responsibilities and make things work for the benefit of Kuje people. During the last administration led by Hon. Danladi Zhin, nothing like this happened, because, he always tackled problems immediately before it got out of hands, and he always mapped out ways to better the lives of Kuje people. But we are yet to see that seriousness in this administration,” he said.

  • Council chief rues theft of 50 cows

    The Chairman of Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mr. Shaban Tete has expressed shock over the stealing of 50 cattle in Kujekwa community worth N70 million after 20 gunmen invaded it.

    The community, which is about 140 kilometers from Kuje town, was attacked by the gunmen at 7: 30 p.m penultimate Saturday.

    Investigations revealed that one Mr. Wasika Sarki was short dead when he made attempts to stop the invaders.

    Tete, while speaking with journalists in the affected community, said he was shocked when he received the sad news. He appealed to the villagers to remain calm, as the perpetrators will be apprehended and prosecuted. He added that such incidence was uncommon in the council.

    “It is sad news to hear because cattle worth millions of Naira were stolen by people who have no regard for humanity.

    “It became very necessary for the council authority to come all the way from Kuje town to sympathise with the people and see the level of damage done to the community.

    “I appeal to the affected people to remain calm as the evildoers will be caught and will face the wrath of the law,” Ishaku said.

    The council chief, however, said plans were underway to have police post in the community, even as he assured that adequate security measures would be taken in order to avert such occurrence in future.

    He also urged the villagers to encourage the vigilance group in the area by monitoring strange faces coming into the community.

    Some of the affected villagers said the gunmen who were armed with AK47 assault guns shot sporadically in the air in order to scare people away so that they would escape with the stolen cattle.

    One of the affected people, Mr. Isa Balla, said 20 of his cows valued at N160, 000 each and 30 handsets were stolen by the invaders.

    “I sell handsets and rear cows in this village so that I can take care of my family. But the thieves had taken away almost all I have labored for.

    “The guns they were carrying were Ak47 and we do not have such guns in this village. Everybody ran for his life when they started shooting in the air,” Balla explained.

  • EFCC probes 270 land cases 

    The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam Ibrahim Lamorde has said the EFCC has handled about 270 land fraud cases in the past three years.

    Lamorde said this when he visited the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed in his office.

    In a statement issued by the Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, Lamode advised the FCT Administration to discourage use of cash in land acquisition process in the Federal Capital Territory to enable the commission to easily track all transactions on landed properties.

    Responding, Senator Mohammed expressed his administration’s commitment to stamp out all forms of corruption.

    The minister called for closer collaboration with all the anti-corruption agencies particularly the EFCC to be able to achieve this desire.

    He said:  ”Without the anti-corruption agencies, I cannot imagine how the Federal Capital Territory would have been, as people steal money from all over the country and launder or conceal them in buying properties in Abuja.”

    Senator Mohammed lamented that such property owners have refused to come forward for Deed of Assignment (s) to ascertain original ownership.

    The minister revealed that apart from concealment, the changing of hands of these properties without official sanction also denies the FCT Administration the revenue that should have accrued from such documentations.

    His words: “Until the current owners of these several properties in Abuja come forward for official documentation such as Deeds of Assignment, the government would continue to lose revenue in that area.”

    He, therefore, urged the EFCC to beam its searchlight on properties scattered across the Federal Capital Territory, especially the unoccupied ones.

    Senator Mohammed reiterated that there are several unoccupied houses in Abuja, which also constitute security challenges to the entire residents of the FCT.

    The minister advocated enactment of stringent laws to regulate and enforce new owners of properties in the FCT to come forward for necessary documentations.

    Promising to strengthen and solidify the existing relationship between the FCT Administration and the EFCC, Senator Mohammed stressed that since the FCT Property Tax is still before the National Assembly, efforts should be geared towards unifying them.

    The minister urged the EFCC and other anti-graft agencies not to spare those who carry out illegal transactions in the system, even as promised that his administration would not relent in its fight against corrupt activities.

    The FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu and some senior officials of the FCT Administration were in attendance at the meeting.

  • Jonathan, sports and unity

    Jonathan, sports and unity

    WWhether by chance or luck or implementation of new strategies, Nigeria in the past two years, has been on the winning path in some continental and global sporting events.

    Among the achievements the Goodluck Jonathan administration prides itself on are the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) won by the Super Eagles early last year and the U-17 World Cup brought home in November by the Eaglets.

    The senior football team has also qualified for the World Cup billed for Brazil in June.

    While speaking on the achievements of this administration in the area of sports, the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi said that the Golden Eaglets did not just win the tournament but set a new goal record in FIFA-organised competitions by scoring a total of 26 goals. He said this while formally presenting the U-17 World Cup trophy to the Federal Executive Council at the Presidential Villa last November.

    He said the team also left the tournament with the Fair-Play Award, the Most Valuable Player Award, the Golden Glove Award and the Silver Boot Award.

    “I want to emphasise that the only reason we did not win the Golden Boot was that, unlike other countries where only one striker was doing the goal scoring, the 26 goals by the Golden Eaglets were scored by nine different players,” he said.

    Recalling that the Super Eagles won the African Cup of Nations in early 2013 for the first time after 19 years, he said Nigeria was holding the record of the African Champion in the senior, youth and junior categories of athletics.

    “This is the first time in the history of African athletics that one country will hold these three athletics titles at the same time,” the minister added.

    Continuing, he said: “All these achievements, including the AFCON, we won in January (2013) after 19 years and the athletics championships in senior, junior and youth categories, put together has positioned President Goodluck Jonathan as the most successful President in Nigerian sporting history,”

    He also expressed confidence that Nigeria will win more laurels in the forthcoming 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

    On plans to ensure that Nigeria does not decline from the new heights already attained in sports, President Jonathan, while receiving the Queen’s baton at the Presidential Villa last week, promised better incentives and training for Nigerian contingent to the Commonwealth Games billed for Glasgow, Scotland between July 23 and August 3 this year.

    He said: “This period, you will all agree with me, has been a glorious time in our sporting activities. Nigerians are therefore expecting a much better performance in Glasgow. We will therefore send a compact and powerful team of athletes. I assure you that government will ensure that adequate resources are made available for the training and participation of all the athletes going to the games.”

    Stressing the need to exploit sports to further boost national unity, he said: “I therefore urge all our sportsmen and women coaches and other officials to intensify their efforts in preparation of the games. Sports, as we all know, not only build character but are veritable tools for sustaining unity of our great country.”

    Stating that Nigeria has been a committed member of the Commonwealth, he said that she has participated in all except four Commonwealth Games since 1950, even as she has won medals in all the games it participated in.

    “Our first gold medal was won in the high jump at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games as it was then called in Vancouver, Canada in 1954. Nigeria won a total of seven medals: one gold, two silver and three bronze medals in Vancouver.

    “Our most memorable outings were the 1994 and 2010 games in Victoria, Canada and Delhi India where we won 11 gold medals in each of the competitions,” he said.

    With the new improvement in Nigeria’s performances in sporting events at both continental and global levels, it is has been said that Nigeria has truly got it right in that sector and will continue to be a force to reckon with in all global sports.

    But Nigerians still expect more from the Jonathan administration.

    Nigerians want the country to win more laurels or, at least, compete and meet up with best international practices in all other sectors in the country.

    The magical wand Jonathan introduced in sports that made it start to win laurels in the past two years should be introduced in education, fight against corruption and other key sectors so that Nigerians will, at least, start to feel the impact more. This is so because they may not have seen the people are yet to witness the improvements in other sectors of the economy as being witnessed in sports.

  • ‘Why we provided free medical care for grassroots residents’

    ‘Why we provided free medical care for grassroots residents’

    From December 16 to 21, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe and her husband took free medical outreach to Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State. In this interview with FRANK IKPEFAN, Mrs Ochekpe discusses her driving force and desire to care for people at the grassroots. Excerpts:

    How did the mission begin?

    There was a young man who had a case of appendicitis that when he went for examination, was told he needed to be operated upon. He did not believe it. The doctors assured him of the success of the operation. He was offered free surgery in the end and he went home telling people about it.

    At the end of the programme of last year, we had drugs worth more than a million naira. We had to give it to them so that they can extend. My joy with this process is the spirit of volunteerism that it has rekindled in the minds of our professionals especially doctors and paramedics. We used to hear of doctors without borders; most of them white people. But this is something we can do within here among us. All we need to do is encourage one another. We are not equally endowed in the society. Some are better off than others and also government cannot provide everything for our citizens. We have to look for other ways of doing that. The services that the doctors volunteered if we are to quantify that in monetary terms, if you think of how much you pay in a private clinic or even in a government clinic for consultation, how much you pay for drugs or how much you pay if you are admitted, you will discover that it is so much money.

    When our people are well, they will be able to contribute positively to the economic development of the country.

    What informed your decision to reach out?

    I discovered that there are people in the rural community that need access to free medical care but they don’t have the wherewithal. What actually motivated me was an activity my sister in-law was involved in. She is a medical doctor. She is a consultant at the Abuja teaching hospital and she participated in a similar project. She came to me soliciting for support and I asked what exactly were they going to do and she explained the kind of services they rendered to rural communities and initially they would go for about five days. One of her colleagues was doing that in memory of her husband who was a medical doctor but has passed on. So I asked if it was possible to also replicate it in other places and what the requirement will be. She explained to me that what was needed was some form of transportation, accommodation and some form of assistance to acquire the medical items and equipment that will be needed for the mission.

    How do you get volunteers?

    Well, through these different organisations including Sotaria Afrique, Urban Frontiers, Afrique Foundation and the Association Resident Doctors. For this year we had 130 volunteers on the mission comprising doctors, nurses, paramedics. The initial idea came in through the Sotaria Afrique. Some of them also have doctors working with them and those doctors have their friends that they can easily mobilise to come on board. Like the exercise that we just completed, some of the volunteers had to mobilise through the local government. On the first day of the exercise when they started the operation, they discovered that they did not have enough nurses. They only had about two or three nurses and that was not going to be enough to run shifts and attend to those who have been operated. So I spoke to the Barki Ladin Local Government Chairman for assistance.

    Did you offer specialist or general treatment?

    It was general medicine and when they have complications, they refer them to tertiary health care facilities but we didn’t have complications because we had specialists with us so there was no need for referral.

    Did the team follow up on surgery patients?

    For men it was mostly hernia related surgeries. For women it was fibroids, appendicitis. Those were the kinds of surgeries that were carried out. For those who had surgeries, what the medical team did was to make sure that they provided adequate drugs for the period that such a person who had undergone to recover. They also referred them to nearby clinics for removal of stitches. For this year 91 surgeries were performed while 3,784 people where treated. In 2012, they treated 5000 and performed 45 surgeries. On the last day, over 10 surgeries were conducted. The doctors had to explain to them that they were no longer to be available. Did they have alternatives? Most of them opted for the operations and called on their relatives to take them to some other clinic where they will be followed up till they got better. The team made sure they got enough supply of drugs till their time of recovery. So all they needed was a bed till the period of their recovery.

    How do you source funds for the mission drugs?

    Well, we all go to some friends who can easily support with either a little cash or drugs. So where we did not have drugs the little cash provided was enough.

    What inspires you?

    I am inspired by the spirit of volunteerism which is not very strong in Nigeria. Sometimes people will want to know what is in it for us. They are not looking at it from the point of saving lives. For me, our experiences of 2012 and 2013 are sufficient for us to begin to build a core of volunteers to make Nigerians aware that our brothers and sisters have no reason to suffer if we all put our expertise into use. We might not be able to reach everybody at once but if a small group of professionals decides to pay one community and work with them over time, that community will not remain the same.

    Are you are working on any other project?

    I have been working with a different group of widows. For this year one of the groups trained 30 widows. Most of them were trained in tailoring and we have been able to support them with 10 sewing machines.

    Are you going to extend the medical outreach to other local governments?

    We are looking at senatorial zones. In April 2014, we hope to move to Pankshin Local Government. We are looking at moving to each senatorial zone.  In July we will go on to Kwampan Local Government which is in the southern senatorial zone.

  • Who attacked Gbagyi ruler?

    A cross the north, the Gbagyi people are known to be very docile, preferring to stay away from trouble and always seemingly running away from civilisation. It is believed that they lost most of their ancestral lands to other tribes because of their laid-back attitude. So, when the news broke on January 3 that their youths attacked the chief of Jere in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, many people quickly concluded it was a clash between them and Fulani herdsmen. The assumption was wrong. It turned out to be a clash between the Gbagyi in Jere chiefdom and their paramount ruler, Dr. Sa’ad Usman, a former Secretary to the State Government who turned out to be a Fulani.

    The attack left the traditional ruler-half dead and currently receiving treatment at the National Hospital, Abuja. One of his attackers who was identified as Ayuba Barde is also receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

    However, there have been claims and counter-claims as to what led to the attack and who the aggressor is. While the Gbagyi people accused the chief of undermining protocol and slapping Ayuba Barde on his farm, the Jere traditional council said it was Barde and his group who attacked the chief who had stopped to address them while on his way to Abuja. There are indications that both parties in the dispute have something to hide as the issue leading to the attack may be more than a land tussle as the case concerning the land is presently before a Kafanchan High Court.

    Gbagyi youths told newsmen that the chief was fond of taking over their land and selling them to the highest bidder. They also accused him of cutting down Barde’s economic trees on the disputed land, a situation which they claimed to have reported to the police on several occasions.

    Their spokesman, Ayuba Daro Kakaraka said: “The most recent complaint at the Jere Police station is the destruction of Mr. Ayuba Barde’s yams, banana and hungry rice (acha) on December 31, 2013… Like in many other complaints, the police did nothing because the Chief of Jere and his agents are law in Jere chiefdom. Again, despite the fact that Ayuba Barde and others have sued the Chief of Jere in the High Court of Kafanchan…, the Chief, in clear disregard and disrespect to law and order continued to invade the land and dispose of same… This immoral attitude id a clear invitation to crises which he ignited on January 3, 2014″. Kakaraka accused the chief of provocating the attack on him saying “on Friday, 3 January 2014, Ayuba Barde was on his farm when he was physically and grieviously attacked by the Chief of JEre in the presence of his bandits without any provocation. Ayuba Barde had alternative than to attack him back in self defence. In the process, Ayuba Barde was shot and fatally wounded and left in the pool of his own blood to die. He was later taken to the hospital where he is currently under intensive care. It will be recalled that the Chief of Jere had gone to Ayuba Barde’s farm uninvited and was the first person to attack him. The truth is that if the Chief of Jere had not gone to Ayuba Barde’s farm and attack him, there would not have been any breach of the peace… It is clear that the Chief of Jere… went to the farm to murder Ayuba Barde in order to frustrate the suit at the Kafanchan High Court and thus conscript his land to satisfy his insatiable greed for land. The entire previous anomalies regarding this land invasion and other violation of the fundamental human rights of the Gbagyi people have severally been reported to constituted authority with no adequate action taken to avert the likely danger”.

    But the Jere Traditional Council denied these claims. Secretary to the Council, Alhaji Aliyu Zubairu said the land in dispute belong to the Chief of Jere and not the Gbagyi people, adding that since ascending the throne, Dr. Usman has never taken over anybody’s land. Zubairu disclosed that the land initialy belonged to the late Dallatun Zazzau, Alhaji Hayatudeen who inturn sold it to Dr. Usman when he could no longer farm on it. The confirmed that the case regarding the land is presently before the Kafanchan High Court, pointing out that the case was fixed Thursday, January 9, 2014 for hearing. Narrating the ordeal of the traditional ruler, he said that the Chief “was on his way to Abuja through the newly constructed Jere/Bwari road when he saw a gathering of Gbaygi youths stopping him and he ordered his driver to stop and addressed them. In disrespect to his Royal Highness, one Ayuba Daro Kakaraka shouted on his royal highness, thus attracting the attention of his driver and orderly. The Gbagyi youths descended on them and the police orderly fired shuts into the air to dispass them. The Gbagyi youths mobilised and brought out weapons, injured the driver and the police orderly, wounding them on the head and forcefully collecting the orderly’s gun. Dr. Sa’ad Usman was attacked and injured with deep cut on his head, neck and back… and he became unconscious. He was however rushed to Sabon Wuse General Hospital in Niger state by a good Samaritan for treatment. It was at the hospital, after identifying him that the chiefdom was informed. By the time the news spread round Jere and environ, the youths mobilised themselves for a reprisal attack. However, the elders of Jere community made a quick response by stopping them from taking the laws into their hands. His Royal Highness, Sarkin Jere has never tampered with their family land, not to speak of the properties of his subjects. He however has landed properties he purchased and certificated by the various land authorities. Contrary to earlier news reports by some media that Sarkin Jere had gone to a farmland belonging to Ayuba Barde and the insinuation that he is used to disposing the so-scalled Gbagyi people of Issah farmland is not true and a calculated effort to smear the good image of Sarkin Jere. In fact, he bought the land in question from the late Dallatun Zazzau, Alhaji Hayatudden who bought it from the owners and was farming on it”.

    The Gbagyi people feel that the government and security agents have taken sides in the matter. The government, through the Director General, Media and Publicity to the governor, Ahmed Maiyaki, in a statement, ordered a probe into the incident, while assuring the people of the area that the government will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice is done.

    The community residents accused the police of conniving with the chief to deny them their land. According to them, since the incident took place, the police has embarked on what they called one-sided arrest, torture and detention of innocent Gbagyi youths and demanded the immediate release of those arrested if they will not be charged to court. They also accused the Chairman of Kagarko Local Government, Danjuma Akuso of failing to comply with government to stop all ongoing work on the said land until all contending issues are amicably resolved. In a letter to Akuso as Chairman of Kagarko local government area, the GDU accused the Emir of “consistent trespass on the farm land at Issah/Chinka Junction”. The letter dated October 18, 2013 and was signed by the Chairman and General Secretary, John Bako and Joseph Gajere respectively, the union said “you are quite in picture of the wrangling in the parcel of land at Issah/Chinka junction which presently stand litigation in the High Court of Justice, Kafanchan between Ayuba Barde and others vs Yuhuza Makama Zaria and Dr. Sa’ad Usman, Chief of Jere. We say this with assurance because you were instructed by His Excellency, the Deputy Governor to stop every ongoing work on that parcel of land until all crises relating to the said land are resolved in the interest of peace and peaceful co-existence. This instruction was given at the instance of our invitation for a meeting at the Kaduna State government house with the Deputy Governor on May 27, 2013 over issues bordered on the development layout which you were part of. Our people have severally mentioned the continuous trespass of our farmlans and its attedsnt consequences to you at various meetings organised by your very self in you office in connection with the development layout in other parts of Gbagyi land including this particular parcel of land, yet, nothing had been done to avert the danger. it is with utmost surprise that as the Chief Security Officer of Kagarko local government, you have undermined the instruction of the Executive governor and have allowed work to continue in the said land at the detriment of peace and peaceful co-existence… Non-compliance with His Excellency’s directive shall be construed as taking side with the Jere Traditional Council which will leave us with no alternative than to mobilise our people for a peaceful protest to express our displeasure over your inaction on various injustices mated against the Gbagyi people of Kagarko local government”.

    Investigations revealed that the Gbagyi people have long been complaining about trespass of their farm land by the Chief of Jere and his team with several correspondences to the police and the government. There is however no evidence that any action has ever been taken to address their complaints.

    However, the Southern Kaduna Lawyers Forum warned against taking sides in the matter in order not to aggravate the already tense issues. While asking all concerned to follow the path of peace, they warned against keeping persons in detention indefinitely without being charged to court.

  • Plateau back from the brink

    Plateau back from the brink

    For sure, terrorists did their worst, plunging Plateau State, the home of peace and tourism, into crises. But it has clawed its way back from the brink.

    For two years now, there has been a good measure of stability, even growth. Many towns in the state are fast taking on the status of mega cities. Jos, the capital, is an example. Bukuru, headquarters of Jos South Local Government Area is also becoming another big city. Most of the local government headquarters like Bassa, Riyom, Barkin Ladi and Mangu have been witnessing population explosion over the past two years.

    Jos-Bukuru metropolis which comprises Jos North and Jos South local government areas is also witnessing population explosion within a spate of two years of its recovery from crises.

    This is the city that was almost deserted and forlorn between 2001 and 2008 when violence reached its peak.

    Curfew, state of emergency, silent killings and other atrocities combined to make life in the city a regimented one. This situation resulted in many residents seeking alternative place of abode outside Jos. That was when many residents of the city were forced to go to bed by 6: 00 p.m. daily. This state of affairs lasted for over six months between the last quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009.

    That was then. Today, Jos the state capital is becoming bloated with population as a result of the peace that has returned to the city since 2010.

    Those residents who fled the city when violence reigned did not only return en masse, thousands of other Nigerians displaced from their states in the north by insurgents also ran to Jos to take refuge.

    As at the last quarter of 2010 when insurgency swept through most states of the North, Plateau State had already achieved peace and Jos became the ideal destination for citizens of North-eastern Nigeria who fled their zones as a result of activities of the dreaded Boko Haram.

    At a point, over 4,000 Christians who are indigenous to Damaturu, Yobe State fled to Jos for safety. They claimed they escaped to Jos from Boko Haram bullets. A lot of families also left Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to reside in Jos. With what was happening in Maiduguri, Jos became a haven of peace.

    With the new wind of peace blowing across the city of Jos and its environs, the city has returned to its usual hustling and bustling status. Business activities rejuvenated in full swing beyond government’s expectation. Today, it is hard to convince visitors to the city that Jos is a city recovering from myriad of crises.

    The current source of worry in Jos is that of congestion which resulted from human and vehicular traffic that is on the increase. Both private and commercial owners of vehicles battle daily to determine which street to avoid and which street to ply. Many residents planned to avoid the busiest streets like Ahmadu Bello Way, Murtala Muhammed Way, Tafawa Balewa and Bauchi Road, among others.

    In spite of the decentralisation of Terminus Market, the central areas remain the busiest streets in the city as most businesses are concentration in these areas. Following the congestion that has become a daily feature of Jos, Governor Da Jonah David Jang has been making frantic efforts to make the state habitable for all.

    Some of the measures he has taken to this effect are conversion of most streets to dual carriage ways and the construction of new roads at the suburb. This has been government’s deliberate policies aimed at decongesting the city centre.

    In addition, there are several committees and task forces in place whose responsibility is expansion of the city. For instance, there are task forces on city renewal, internal revenue generation and street and house naming, among others. Mr Chris Kwaja who is the chairman of research sub-committee of the street naming and house numbering task force said: “The state government, in responding to current socio-economic challenges of the post-conflict life of the state, has set machinery in motion to reposition the state particularly Jos that is fast becoming a mega city.

    “Some of the advantages of these policies are crime control, conflict resolutions; conflict management, boosting developments, creation of data for easy public administration, management of urbanisation, emergencies and provision of social services, among others.”

    Continuing, he said: “Already, this administration has come up with a new Greater Jos Master Plan on which all developments would be based. So, this committee is working in full compliance with the provisions of the new Master Plan. We are going to work mostly in conjunction with traditional rulers who are the custodians of culture and traditions of the people, as well as various stakeholders to play key roles in the project.

    “The street naming will showcase the cultural heritage of people of Plateau State as well as the history of the state. Some of the existing street names that have no relevance to the state’s history, culture and tradition will be changed.

    “The research committee is also in consultation with some states across the country to see their various models of street naming and house numbering. At the end, we should be able to come up with the best formula to enable government to reposition the city.

    “The state has a legal framework in the form of Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) which is a creation of the state House of Assembly. We are even contemplating changing the name of JMDB to reflect the new challenges.

    Instead of calling it Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), it may be called Plateau State Metropolitan Development Board (PSMDB).

    Kwaja confirmed that the street naming and house numbering project will be completed before the end of Governor Jang’s administration in May, 2015.

  • Community demands development

    Community demands development

    Residents of Congo community along Funtaj Road in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to the council chairman, Mr. Shaban Tete to provide the community with basic infrastructure in this year to ease their prolonged suffering.

    Checks by our correspondent revealed that members of the community are truly going through hard times due to non-availability of basic infrastructure such as pipe-borne water, electricity, healthcare centres and others that can improve their well-being.

    Zephaniah Iyah who is indigenous to the community expressed griefs that, since the existence of the community, past administrations have failed to provide dividends of democracy to it, saying that it seemed as if the community has completely been ruled out of the council.

    “The bad state of this community is becoming unbearable and things are getting worse by the day. There is nothing in this community that can represent the existence of past and present administrations. We have been left behind in all areas of development.

    “Past administrations have failed to impact positively on our lives and I do not know why we are treated this way. We voted for them as our leaders, but they have failed to lead us well. I am appealing to our present chairman, Mr Shaban Tete to come to our aide and save us from further suffering in this New Year,” he said.

    Ishiaku Balla, another inhabitant also expressed his disappointment over what he called criminal neglect of the area. He said that because of the neglect those indigenous to Congo Village have been experiencing for a long time, they have completely lost hope of the government of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “When I visit Kuje town and other communities that have received some infrastructural improvement from past and present chairmen, I always ask if Congo Village is part of Kuje Area Council. The truth is that the government has disappointed us. I hope this present administration will make a difference and restore our faith in the ruling party.

    “I sincerely want to appeal to Mr Shaban Tete to come to our rescue. We need potable water supply, even if it is two or three water boreholes, electricity to improve our economic values, healthcare centres to take care of our health needs and other basic infrastructure that will give us a sense of belonging,” he said.

     

  • The joy of roasted fish

    The joy of roasted fish

    The delicacy of roasted fish is turning erstwhile jobless people into employers of labour in Lokoja, Kogi State capital. Muhammad Bashir writes

    It is the confluence capital, where Nigeria was said to have been named. But Lokoja, capital city of Kogi State, is also the ancient town where fresh fish is harvested in considerable quantity. In fact, the city’s aquatic riches are providing jobs for countless numbers of residents. Some of these people have been doing several creative things with fish, one of which is roasting it and selling to connoisseurs. You could say fish is not just generating jobs, but huge cash.

    To the people of Lokoja, fish used to be a mere staple on the family table. But since the creation of Kogi State, fish has become one of the most expensive items on the residents’ menu, only affordable by moneybags, especially during the dry season.

    Before the advent of commercial fish ponds, popular hotel operators in Abuja always enjoyed coming down to Lokoja to buy their fish no matter the cost. Travellers going from Lokoja to the east, south and north stop by and purchase fish, thereby making it too  exorbitant for the common people in the area.

    Research has shown that fish business especially the roasted type, known as point-and-kill has become one of the fastest growing businesses in the capital city. Graduates and undergraduates have since turned the business into a means of livelihood.

    Research has also shown that over 25 per cent of unemployed graduates are into the business, while over 30 per cent sponsor their education with proceeds from it.

    Many locations in Lokoja, particularly pubs have point-and-kill beside due to customers demand who now believe that consumption of alcohol is nothing if not accompanied by fish not only because of its protein but also because of it peppery taste. Many have since taken to eating roasted fish rather than the usual pepper soup and other spiced offerings.

    Hardly can you find a table at a bar where there is no tray of roasted fish. Families move their entire households in the evening to nearby outlets just to have a taste of this delicacy. On a lighter mood, most ladies place much demand on point and kill fish in order to top off theuir evenings. Some men have formed the habit of buying roasted fish to make peace or solidify their relationships with their women instead of the usual flowers.

    Some of the roasted fish sellers who spoke with The Nation, appreciated the level of patronage they enjoy every evening.

    Madam Esther John at the NUJ press centre in Lokoja said she has been in the fish-selling business for four years. She said the business has not always been rosy because of the high cost of fish.

    Esther said that she went into the business since she was sacked out the state civil service, following the last workers verification exercise conducted by former administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris. The screening report led to the sacking of so many workers.

    She said what takes up most of her profit is the daily purchase of ingredients to spice the fish.

    “The money I use in buying fresh and dry pepper, onion, maggi, vegetables cost me a lot; at times I don’t go home with much profit as expect.

    Can she go into another business?

    Esther said: “Which other business do you expect me to go into.  I am already used to this one, and it is not as if I am not making any profit; it is not much, but I am managing.”

    This was not in the case of Mr. Augustine Emmanuel who expressed happiness with the roasted fish business.

    Emmanuel who has his business empire opposite Museum in Lokoja and have three people working for him, said he has been enjoying the business for the past three years. He said the business has been very profitable due to the high demand by customers.

    “This business has been helping me in solving almost all my needs. I never go hungry since I ventured into it. I use this business to help my self and my relations. In fact I am currently sponsoring some of my younger ones in the school.

    He said he has never sold less than fifteen fishes, I sell up to 30 to 50 especially when there is high demand.

    The affordability of these proteinous delicacies is another serious issue to be handle, particular to those who survive with a very lean resources. The least cost of these are ranging from N1000 and above.

    Some people have lauded the fact that buying roasted fish to consume in one instance, shouldn’t be priority, and it is rather waste of money especially in the midst of financial hardship in the country.

    Mr John Musa, argued that, fish of N1500 is enough to eat with his family for two or three day.

    “How can I take N1500 to buy just one fish that may not even be enough fro me alone to eat; that is a waste of resources. I’d rather use the money to buy more than one fish directly from the market and eat with my family to satisfaction. I forbid buying point-and-kill fish.”

    One other issue that raised much heated argument is the potency between fish pond and that of river. Divergent opinion have it that the pond fish taste satisfactory and hygienic, because it clinical breeding, while some believe that river fish is more tasty and proteinous because it was naturally breeded.

    But Mr. Augustine settled the confusion. He said some customer prefers pond fish fish the more because it is a bit lower in price than the river fish.

    He said he placed river fish on the fire based on demand by a customer.

    There is every need for the government to give much emphasis on this venture. It will go along way in taking restive youths out of the streets. And, even more than that, they can also become employers of labour.

  • New life for abandoned Gashua Prisons

    New life for abandoned Gashua Prisons

    Gashua, apart from being the capital of Bade Local Government Area in Yobe State and administrative seat of  the famous Bade Emirate, also hosts celebrity prisoners. The late legal icon and human rights crusader, Gani Fawehinmi, was one such.

    At the mention of ‘Gashua’, what crosses  the mind of an  average  Nigerian in the southern  and indeed other sections of the country  especially those outside the North eastern axis is nothing but  a home of prison or prisoners. But those who know Bade really celebrate its enviable geography, sociology and the history of the people and the emirate.

    Located at the foot of River Yobe about 200km northwest from the state capital Damaturu, the people of Gashua are highly industrious  with very high entrepreneur skills which places the  city just  second from Potiskum one of the  largest economic hubs in Yobe state. They are predominantly fishermen, farmers, and hunters.

    Though this reporter does not intend to bore readers with the history of the emirate or of the people, it is however imperative to say that the Bade Emirate was a very powerful one that was neither conquered by the famous Kanem Borno Empire nor the Jihadists of great Othman Danfodio after several fierce attacks. The emirate had a fortified military base at Gogaram in the present Jakusko Local Government Area.  It is said that the people willingly ceded to Kanen Borno Empire but remained a buffer state.

    Gani suffered greatly at the Gashua prison. After spending 121 horrific days at the prison in 1989, thanks to former military leader Ibrahim Babangida, Gani in one of his interviews painted the gloomy picture of the prison at Gashua:

    “The cells there are terrible. I was detained there in 1989. So I know what I am saying. The cell is about 18 feet by 10 feet. It is surrounded by yet another big terrible wall which is 22 feet. So there is no way air is going to penetrate this cell.

    “The windows are so tiny; it is built in such a way that when you peep out of the windows, it is the outer wall that you will see. The outer wall overshadows the cell completely. There is just a little space between the cell and the wall. So I started sweating the very moment they opened the cell and locked me in.

    “The cell I was put is Cell D, which is a solitary confinement, far removed from other cells. The cell has no ceiling; it has only perforated sheets which make heat penetrate fully into the cell. The floor is not cemented; there is no bed, no mattress. In my case, I was given a mat.

    “Any time I remember that cell, I get agitated because of what I suffered while in detention. At one corner of the room, there is a very small pail, at another corner of the room is another small pail. I used the one by the left for defecation, the one by the right for urinary purposes.

    “Anybody who is imprisoned in Gashua is bound to face numerous hardships. The first is lizards. For my room alone, there were no days I counted less than 100 lizards physically. Second are flies. Maiduguri is nothing when you compare it with the flies in Gashua. There are also mosquitoes. Its vibration is the [the kind of] noise you have at the airport when a jet takes off and it usually happens around noon every day.”

    One silent issue about the Gashua prison is that the real maximum prison where VIP prisoners are taken was never put to use for the past 30 years after it was started by the then first civilian regime of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

    The good news now however is  that the Federal Government has re-awarded contract for the completion of the Gashua Maximum prison.

    The minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama who is the son of the soil recently undertook a visit at prison as part of his tour to inspect Federal Government projects in the state noted that the prisoners would no longer be treated like second class citizens after the completion of the project.

    “Apart from strengthen our judicial system, this project is very important to the people of Nigeria because its completion will ensure that prisoners would no longer be treated like second class citizens.

    “As you can see, the prison has a vast land mass, enough space for free movement of prisoners to engange in whatever activities they would like to; clean environment with good hygiene will also not be compromised as all that have been put in place in the original design  of the project”, Dr. Ngama explained.

    The contract according to the minister was awarded at the cost of N287million. He informed that the contract for the staff quarters of the prison will be awarded this year 2014.

    Investigation revealed that residents living close to the prison within the span of 1km have been fully compensated as the authorities have embarked on the demolition of the houses to clear the prison environment away from people.

    The minister also commended the contractor whom he said was not mobilized by government yet his commitment to executing the job is worth emulating.

    Briefing the minister, the project supervisor said that his men are doing everything possible to ensure that the prison is built on international best practices.

    He explained that the initial plan of the prison which was conceived for the past thirty years has to be reviewed to meet the modern day standard prison all over the world, adding that the materials for the construction are carefully chosen to stand the test time of over fifty years.