The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Policeman’s prize money for his ailing friend

    Policeman’s prize money for his ailing friend

    IT was at the MultiChoice Nigeria Abuja office where some of its subscribers were rewarded last week. One of the happy winners, a police officer, said he had never gambled in his life and has no intention of doing so.

    For getting N200,000 which he never expected, the officer, Okonmah Joseph Ifeanyi said he would dedicate the money to two causes. One of them is his ailing friend and colleague, the other reinvesting whatever remained in DSTV.

    “I don’t gamble, I have never gambled before and I have no intention of gambling. This one came as a big surprise because I knew that I did not enter for any product promo. It was a friend from the East that called about two weeks ago that he saw my name amongst winners of DSTV promo. I told him to forget it but he kept calling. After a while and getting fed up with his persistent call, I told him that if it is true, the company has details of its subscribers, so they should do what is right. He left me alone but not quite long after that I got a call from MutiChoice that I won a prize.

    “I was no longer surprised as my friend had told me before but I was wondering, how can I win when I did not enter for any promo. It was here they told me that it was generated by the system for subscribers that pay three months subscription.

    “I thank them for their sincerity and I think others should learn from them rather than turning everybody to gamblers.”

    On what to do with the prize money, Ifeanyi said what first came to his mind was his friend that has been down with some ailments for a while.

    “I thank God and Multichoice for this opportunity because I will be able to do something for my friend that has been sick for a while. This is an opportunity that Icahn not miss, and I thank God that I will be in the position to assist him. Whatever remain I will put it back into DSTV. I thank God. I never believe that people can ever genuinely win from all these promos all over the place, but this is real.”

    Speaking during the prize presentation to some winners, its Regional Operations Manager, North, Ismail Olalekan; Branch Coordinator, Enanigha Okpu and Public Relations Executive, Timothy Okwu said Nigerian subscribers were not just wonderful but fun-loving flat should be rewarded for their loyalty.

    MultiChoice, to show its appreciation to its subscribers is taking them to Granny award, NBA All Star Formular One in Dubai and weekend trip to Sun City in South Africa, among others. According to him,  100 lucky subscribers have so far benefited from the 20th anniversary promo with 20 couples winning trips and another 20 winning N200,000, he also disclosed that 20 subscribers won Walka 7 while another 20 went home with Gotv decodes.

    He also said more rewards for loyal subscribers are in the way as the Samba promo would debut next year where about 60 subscribers to Brazil to watch the 2014 World Cup competition.

    Olalekan also added that the South African company takes its Social Corporate Social Responsibility seriously  saying, “Talking about our corporate social responsibility efforts, we have MultiChoice Resource Centre with seven special educational channels to help students in public schools to learn; it facilitates teaching and learning.

    “We just launched the centre in Jos and that brought it to 264 of such centres we have in 26 states of the federation MultiChoice Nigeria partners Sickle Cell Foundation in the area of generating funds and creating awareness on the disorder”.

    The cable television company however pleaded that piracy of its continents be discouraged by subscribers while urging the government not to relax its efforts at bringing down cost of doing business in Nigeria. He however lamented that piracy remains a major challenge which MultiChoice Nigeria had faced over the years.

    On the need to bring the cost of subscription down, Olalekan ruled out the possibility of introducing pay-as-you-watch subscription saying there has been no technology to that effect yet.

    According to him, monthly subscription remains applicable the world over, “but as soon as the technology is introduced, Multichoice would not waste a moment to key into it,” he assured.

  • Rotary to build bus stop shelters

    Rotary to build bus stop shelters

    The Rotary Club of Abuja International District 9125-Nigeria has promised to build at least 10 bus stop shelters in Abuja. The promise was made by the 30th president of the club, Yemi Adekoya at her acceptance speech following her investiture.

    He said the shelters would be at the Federal Secretariat, Area 10, Area 11, Gimbya Junction, NPOST Junction, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Radio House, and the Finance.

    He also promised to embark on the beautification and maintenance of a selected round-about in the city centre and bearing the icon of Rotary’s  four way test.

    Adekoya added that the club would also render “assistance to the motherless babies homes, public schools, and drugs/medicine equipment supplies to rural public hospitals/clinics.”

    The new rotary president noted that there would be job/skills acquisition programmes for youths in the host communities.

    He said that there would be provision of water through boreholes and dug wells for rural communities.

    He said the various projects may appear too ambitious to be accomplished within his limited tenure of one year, by Rotary International Mannual Procedure, he, however, noted that, “I believe  that our agenda can be accomplished not just by my efforts alone, but by the collective participation of each and every member of the club and the collaboration of every well-meaning citizens of the FCT.”

    Adekoya explained that as a practising Insurance Broker and Risk Management Consultant, service is what he has been rendering to the nation and humanity.

     

  • Karamajiji: haven for the handicapped

    Karamajiji: haven for the handicapped

    Most times, we see them in street corners begging for alms. We throw some naira notes to them when we feel generous enough. Other times, we walk past and wish they were not there.

    Although the administration of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) makes efforts to evacuate them from the city centre because, it claims, they constitute a nuisance and dent the city’s beauty. They, like the beggars in Aminata Sow Fall’s The Beggars Strike, would return to the same spot at the slightest chance, especially when government officials are not in sight. They would also return to the same spot if such spot is lucrative.

    Although many might see them as worthless simply because they look dirty and haggard, they are normal persons like everyone else. Some of them have families and have people who depend on them for survival. Just as the beggars in Senegal, the setting for Sow Fall’s novelette, are important for the spiritual well-being of the people, the beggars in Abuja are also of importance to those who dole out monies to them, albeit unpronounced.

    The Karamajiji is a colony of the handicapped located along the Airport Road. More than 1,000 handicapped people (made up of the crippled and visually challenged) and their families, live in an environment akin to a poor village setting, without light and water. The norm is that a new resident is allocated a space of land by the chief of the handicapped (either the chief of the blind community or crippled) to erect a shack as a shelter over his head, his wife and children. From here, he goes off every day to fend for his family.

    The friendly and warm community was happy at the arrival of our correspondent. Members of this community court and marry one another most of the time and have healthy children who hop around the community when they are not in school.

    Some of them who do not want to beg are seen in front of markets like Wuse, Garki, Area 1, Lugbe and even during traffic jam selling little articles of trade like sweets, kola nuts, phone accessories, wallets and other items.

    The head of the crippled in Abuja, Alhaji Sulaiman Mohammed, who hails from Kastina State, said that most of the crippled in Karamajiji trade instead of begging, even as he added that some that do not have the capital will have to beg to feed their families.

    He said that the handicapped persons are as normal as anyone else, saying that they have children who attend schools in Lugbe, Area 1, Garki among others. This is so because they realise that knowledge is power and they hope that their children will be able to have as much opportunity as any normal person in future.

    Suleiman insisted that they do not enjoy begging, even as he said that most of their youths that sell articles of trade in town were not assisted by anyone. The unfortunate thing is that whenever officials of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) go around chasing people selling on the streets, the seize the wares of these handicapped persons who might have begged for years to get the start-up capital for their trade. This situation makes them resort to begging on the streets.

    He said that although Karamajiji is their own little colony where they can feel accepted and wanted, it is a difficult place to live because most of the things needed to make life a little bit easier for them are not available.

    He said: “You can see for yourself the way we live. Whoever comes around here, we allow the person to go around and see the kind of environment we are forced to live in.

    “In the circumstances, therefore, we are pleading with the government to come to our aid by making the environment we live in more habitable. We need schools that are close by for our children. The only primary school in this place was built by a church and was recently renovated by a non-governmental organisation (NGO). If we have a school that is close by, it will reduce the risk of our children travelling far.

    “We also need a healthcare centre close by. We are always forced to travel long distance to receive treatment. It is more difficult when we have to rush our women in labour to such hospitals in our condition. If the government can provide these major needs, then we will feel as good as every other Nigerian.”

    He also said that if the government of the FCT is really willing to clean the streets of FCT of beggars, it should meet with them the heads and they will tell it of the best ways possible to deal with the issue. He added that the government of the FCT through its Social Development Secretariat recently trained them on different crafts which they have been using as best as they can to provide their needs.

    The chief of the blind in Abuja, Alhaji Kabiru Hussaini who also spoke with Abuja Review was excited about how the level of begging among the blind people in the FCT had reduced because of the training in arts and crafts which they received from the Social Development Secretariat that often comes to buy whatever craft they had made. Most times, blind parents send their children out to sell their finished works.

    Rahina Haruna, the woman leader of the Karamajiji community for the disabled, confirmed the training of members of the community by the Social Development Secretariat of the FCT. She said the people received training in soap making, tailoring, fishery, yogurt production, art and craft and lots more, even as she added that since the administration of the FCT had not provided them with a little money as start-up capital, they have no other option than to abandon the knowledge they had gained and return to begging since they all have children to feed and take care of.

    She further said that they honestly do not enjoy begging because of the level of insults they receive from people on the streets. Some treat them as useless people. The Islamic religion does not encourage begging but they are forced into the streets because of hunger and the need to provide for their children.

    Mrs Haruna pleaded with the government and well-meaning Nigerians to come to their aid by providing with pipe-borne water. She revealed that they buy water from water peddlers at the rate of N30 a gallon. She also pleaded with government to provide them with light as she said the community is always in darkness. Schools and clinics are other facilities which she said government should provide them with. These, she said, would enable them to have a sense of belonging.

    She complained that life was a bit better for them during the administration of el-Rufai who provided them with monthly stipends and food stuffs. She also said that destitute from other states enjoy the support of their various governments. The FCT should be seen as leading the way of caring for its disabled persons. Unfortunately, it is not so.

    She promised that most of them would be off the streets as soon as they get assistance from government and public-spirited individuals to start up a trade.

  • Gwarinpa: ugly face of Abuja’s largest estate

    Gwarinpa: ugly face of Abuja’s largest estate

    In size, it has no rival. In beauty, only a few can compare. Gwarinpa Estate is to Abuja what the famous Festac Estate is to Lagos.

    It is a mega housing estate, boasting some of the most enchantingly designed houses. It was designed and built by the government of the late General Sani Abacha.

    The estate, many agree, is the largest housing estate in West Africa. It is also the largest of its kind in Nigeria. It sits on an expanse of land measuring about 1090 hectares with seven residential areas marked by avenues. It is no doubt the home for the well-to-do in Abuja. They all converge here seeking to establish a niche of their own within this vast area of habitation.

    Gwarinpa, apart from the masterpiece in designs and architecture, boasts of beautiful road networks. The roads within the estate are linked together, making it accessible for vehicular movement. All these features make the estate a notch above other residential areas in Abuja, except a few like Maitama and Asokoro.

    But an estate, which was once the toast of many residents of Abuja is gradually declining into a cesspit, thanks in part to the neglect of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) which is supposed to ensure that the estate remains clean by getting rid of its waste.

    In May this year, residents of the once beautiful estate accused the Abuja administration of failing in its duties to ensure prompt and regular waste disposal, thereby causing health hazards. The residents said that the infrequent disposal of waste by the AEPB posed health hazards to them, adding that they are beginning to find heaps of waste littering the major roads disgusting and annoying.

    However, of all the residential avenues within the estate, 1st, 2nd and 3rd avenues are quite notorious for indiscriminate dumping of waste. This is because they are high activity areas with markets, commercial outlets and villages.

    When Abuja Review visited some of the avenues in the estate, heaps of waste were visible. The ever- busy 3rd Avenue was the most abused. Heaps of garbage littered the estate. When our correspondent asked why the place was littered with refuse, some of the residents said that the board had shown “laxity” in carrying out its duty for some time now.

    A resident civil servant who pleaded anonymity, explained that most times, waste remained in front of his house for days. The resulting odour, he says, pervades the environment. This, he says, ensures that some of them who reside in that environment do not spend time outside in the evening.

    He called on the board to be more serious and committed in the discharge of its duties, stressing that the absence of an efficient waste disposal strategy posed a threat to human life.

    Jibran, a businessman and resident of 1st avenue disclosed that it is saddening to see that waste lay unattended for long periods around the estate.

    According to him, “This is not acceptable. There are people in charge of disposing this waste. Anytime I pass round some areas in the estate, I see waste by the road side.”

    Jibran called on the board to assist in keeping the environment clean by assigning a monitoring unit to always move round to ensure proper waste disposal.

    A housewife in 2nd avenue who gave her name as Sarah, explained that people bring out waste from their homes on daily basis, which if not properly disposed, would continue to pile up.

    She said it was unhealthy for waste to pile up in residential areas for days. She advised that the relevant authorities be alive to their responsibilities so that the environment could remain clean and habitable.

    Corroborating the existence of indisposed waste in the estate, as a long practice, Gboyega, a former resident of the estate and a journalist with a radio station in Abuja, explained that the estate, for a period of time, was littered with heap of waste, adding that 3rd avenue was the most abused in terms of indisposed waste.

    ”I stayed there for two years (2010 – 2012). During that period, trucks that came to collect waste came once in a week at least to pick people’s wastes they put in front of their gates. It was easy for those that stayed in 3rd avenue to drop their wastes in black leather bags or plastic bins. It will remain for days before they will come and pack it. Imagine the heap of dirt that would have gathered before another week.

    ”For those that stayed around 3rd Avenue village, the case was different. Most of the residents dumped their waste by the road side for AEPB to come and pack. It normally blocks the gutter. In fact, for a long time, the gutters (drainages) were not working because of blockage, due to indiscriminate dumping of waste by the road side.”

    Another resident of the estate who gave his name as Segun called for a campaign by AEPB against the indiscriminate dumping of waste by residents. He observed that dumping of waste in the estate was an abuse of the environment. “It is something we all have to work together to curtail. A good campaign on indiscriminate dumping of waste for residents of the estate will go a long way to reduce the problem. There is need for residents to know the implications of abusing the environment.”

    Explaining the effects or dangers indisposed waste pose to human health, an Abuja base Radiologist, Dr. Augustine Ogah, explained that indisposed waste, when they decompose, release bacteria and parasite that cause diarrhoea, worm infection, typhoid and skin diseases. According to him, “when flies, rodents and cockroach come in contact with waste, they transmit diarrhoea diseases.”

    Reacting to the accusation of laxity by the board in performing its duties within the estate, the Head, Information and Outreach Programme of the board, Joe Ukairo, blamed the problem of waste in the state on lack of adequate waste bins in homes and commercial premises.

    He accused the residents of dumping their wastes on the ground instead of using the waste bins made available by the administration.

    He said: “Gwarinpa is quite large and we have two contractors handling the area. The major challenge in Gwarinpa district is lack of adequate waste bins in homes and commercial premises in that estate. Where there are no waste bins or the available ones are inadequate to containerise waste from the point of generation, litters and floor dumps cannot be avoided. So the first step towards a sustainable waste management is proper containerization; this is in line with global best practices.

    “The contractors collect waste from homes at least twice in a week and this is good enough. Where the waste bins are available and adequate, once a week collection will not be too bad.

    ”But what we have observed especially in Gwarinpa and other locations with blocks of flats is that they dump their waste on bare ground or into a “make shift” waste receptacle that fills up in less than 24 hrs giving rise to litters, floor dumps and unsightly/ unhealthy conditions. The contractors are working but before they can come back for the second routine in a week, the waste receptacles are overflowing because they are inadequate.

    “Our people are wonderful. However, people’s attitude towards environment sustainability is very poor. Majority of the residents do not pay the bills for the services rendered; knowing full well that the services come with a cost. Some cannot even lift a finger to take charge of their immediate environment which is their sole responsibility. They will wait for government to do everything for them which is not possible. The number one challenge we face as an agency in the discharge of our duty is negative attitude of people towards the environment.

    ”AEPB in her effort to right this wrong has begun the dust bin enforcement programme. In the past two months, we have been working in Gwarinpa through the mobile court to deal with defaulters accordingly. Firstly, abatement notices are served on erring households or business premises to procure required number of waste bin(s) within a specified time. At the expiration of given time, the team will go back for compliance monitoring. Where there is compliance it becomes a win – win situation but where the defaulters did not comply, a mobile court will be set in motion to prosecute the defaulters.”

     

  • ‘Embrace bicycle transportation’

    ‘Embrace bicycle transportation’

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has called on the residents of the territory to embrace the use of bicycle as a mode of transportation to improve their health and well-being.

    Mohammed gave the advice while receiving some cyclists from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) who paid him an advocacy visit as part of the activities marking the maiden edition of the National Cycling Week

    The minister, who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary of FCT Transportation Secretariat, Jonathan Ivoke Achara, lauded this initiative by the FRSC as it would improve the traffic situation in the Federal Capital City, especially at peak hours.

    He reiterated that the bicycle remains one of the few modes of transportation with double-barrel advantages of improving one’s health as well as being cost effective.

    His words: “The bicycle represents an affordable means of transportation that improves health, reduces pollution, recovers public space, quicker in traffic congestion-prone routes and reduces cost of transportation”.

    He praised the FRSC for spearheading the reawakening of the use of bicycle and directed the FCT Transportation Secretariat to ensure that all designated pedestrian and bicycle lanes in the Federal Capital City are well delineated to encourage the riders.

    The minister at the occasion had a test ride around the premises of the FCT Administration.

     

  • Group seeks more public toilets

    The Registrar of Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON), Augustine Ebisike, has urged government and other stakeholders to provide functional toilets in public places to check open defecation in the Federal Capital Territory.

    The registrar, who made the call, said it was unfortunate that people still defecate in the open due to the lack of will to promote sanitation in public places.

    Ebisike said the availability of clean toilets in homes and public places such as tourism destinations, offices, and motor parks, was crucial in the fight against open defecation.

    He added that in other climes, people considered open defecation and its consequences as a taboo.

    “Go to the federal secretariat, go to the state secretariats, even some people’s home; you ask to see the toilet and everybody is embarrassed.

    “Or go to Wuse market and ask to use the toilet; you will be surprised if there is one. They call it a restroom in some places, but I don’t see anybody who will rest in any public toilet in this part of the world.

    “You are supposed to go to toilet and relax and do whatever you want to do. But here, there are no way you will see a toilet and you have an opportunity to relax unless you want to go and contact more diseases and we must talk about it if it will change. The registrar, however, said that providing the public with clean toilets was “a symbol of better health, higher income, more education, higher social status, and a cleaner living environment”.

    It could be recalled that in 2001 the World Toilet Organisation declared November 19 of each year a World Toilet Day, which is celebrated in more than 19 countries with 51 events being hosted by various water and sanitation advocates.

     

  • FCTA to fast-track Abuja development programme

    FCTA to fast-track Abuja development programme

    The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide has said the administration will accelerate the development of the nation’s capital, Abuja, through completion of ongoing and new road projects.

    She stated this at the foundation laying ceremony for the upgrading of Karu Motor Park in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

    The minister, who was represented by the Mandate Secretary, Area Council Services Secretariat, Alhaji Yahaya Gwagwa, said the transportation policy of the administration was designed to provide an efficient, affordable and environmentally-friendly modern transportation infrastructure for the territory.

    ”There has been a deliberate policy of fast-tracking development of on-going infrastructural projects and ensuring their realisation within the stipulated timeline. These include the Abuja Rail Mass Transit project, the Abuja Taxi Scheme as well as the Greater Abuja Urban Mass Transit project.

    ”The administration has embraced the completion of most ongoing road construction projects which we met on assumption of office and have initiated new ones. This is with a view to ensuring effective and seamless movement of personnel, goods and services in the FCT,” Akinjide stated.

    The minister lauded the Abuja Municipal Area Council Chairman, Hon. Micah Jiba, for upgrading the Karu Motor-Park which, according to her, would help regulate and bring about order in commuter logistics and urban development.

    ”The picture that readily comes to mind whenever motor parks come up for mention is usually that of filth, chaos and crime. This shouldn’t be so.

    ”Motor parks are central in the achievement of efficient, seamless and customer-friendly transportation system in any city. They can serve as shopping outlets as well as centres for culture and entertainment,” she added.

    Akinjide also praised the royal fathers, religious leaders, National Union of Road Transport Workers, women societies and youth groups for partnering with the FCT Administration towards the improvement of the territory’s urban transport sector.

    She urged them to support the Abuja Municipal Area Council in its efforts to deliver the new Karu Motor Park project within the estimated 52 weeks.

     

  • Park pastors: business or calling?

    Park pastors: business or calling?

    One after another, the passengers boarded. They paid the fare, got their tickets and proceeded to choose their seats on the bus. Apart from the general park buzz, everywhere was quiet. But as soon as the last passenger boarded, a voice rang out from one of the windows.

    “I greet you all in the precious name of Jesus,” said a man clutching a bible. “If you are a child of God shout a big halleluyah!”

    That was how the passengers were treated to a dose of evangelism which ended with prayers for journey mercies.

    But, wait a minute, is this evangelism or plain business?

    In era of problems and daily challenges, one of the options available to the poor and deprived is spiritual solution. It’s an avenue to a world of dreams, beliefs and an escape from the daily troubles of life.

    That, perhaps, is the reason many religious houses are sprouting up across the country.

    This phenomenon has also affected the various motor parks in the country. The Federal Capital territory is not an exception.

    It is common to see buses and cars of different sizes and colours loading passengers and to see traders displaying their wares like recharge cards, petty articles of trade like edibles, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, cigarette, kilishi and other things in Abuja parks.

    They are as ubiquitous as the buses and Agbero boys who help motorists invite and load passengers for a fee.

    The messengers of the gospel at these venues are called motor park pastors because they basically practice their callings at the parks.

    Their purpose, to the knowledge of many, is to pray for commuters embarking on a trip and in the process win souls for God.

    It cannot be denied that most people, if not everybody, need prayers and the Holy Book commanded it in the first book of Thessalonians 5 verses 17, saying “Pray without ceasing.”

    These pastors have cashed in on the fact that the parks are usually populated with people who are heading for one destination or the other.

    In Abuja, some of the transport services are Ideal, AIT, Fairplus, Okunline, Ola Express, Abbey Line, Big Joe, Peace Mass Transit; God is Good, the Young Shall Grow, among others.

    These transport services are found in parks like Utako, el-Rufai bus stop in Kubwa, Nyanya Bridge, Jabi Park, Zuba Park, to mention but a few.

    Passengers at all these parks witness the pastors, especially in the morning.

    The common routine at the park is that once passengers are seated, the pastor stands by the window of the bus or if the bus is still open, he stands at the door with his Holy Bible as his tool and usually begins: “I greet you all in the precious name of Jesus. If you are a child of God shout a big halleluyah!’’

    Everybody shouts the halleluyah and then he smiles in triumph and continues. He leads a session of praise, sermon and then he says, “let us pray.”

    Most of the prayers go like this: “Father God Almighty, I thank you for the life of everyone in this bus and for keeping them alive. We ask for your mercy to prevail upon us and forgive us our sins. As they are travelling today, I bind all blood-sucking demons on the way. Nobody will die from accident in this vehicle today.

    “I cover the driver with the blood of Jesus. I cover the steering with the blood of Jesus. I cover the engine with the blood of Jesus. I cover the tyre with the blood of Jesus. In fact, I cover the road from here to your destinations with the blood of Jesus!

    “You shall not run into armed robbers. Father, nobody in this bus will have accident and I pray that everybody in this bus will make heaven at the end of the day in Jesus name.”

    The prayer ends but it has been observed that some of the pastors don’t end it there. They proceed by saying, “Brothers and sisters, please support the work of God. Nothing is too small.”

    This is the part that some commuters have complained about claiming that a true man of God will not ask for money or offering after prayers.

    According to majority of the commuters who spoke with Abuja Review, when pastors ask for money, it reduces the authenticity of the prayer and it looks like they are paying for the prayers.

    Sandra Kawu, one of the commuters who spoke with Abuja Review in Utako Park said: “I am travelling with Plateau Riders to Jos. I always encounter them in Utako Park. I feel most of them engage in it as a form of business to make ends meet. I have had cause to donate to them or give offering. It is not like I believe in them but as a Christian, you have to support whatever since it is their own business.

    “Sometimes, if you don’t want to give, at the end of the prayers, they will tell you to drop something for their ministry to move forward. I am serious about this.”

    Mercy Ocholi had this to say: “I travel with Benue Travelers. Each time I board bus at the park under Nyanya Bridge, when the bus is filled, they will walk up to the travelers and say, ‘ok, now that the car is filled, we want to pray for journey mercies.’

    Everybody closes their eyes and the pastors will pray. After that, he will say if you have anything to drop for the man of God, please drop and at that moment, you will see people who have good heart dropping money to help the man of God.

    Miss Ocholi further said: “I believe in what the pastors do because it really helps. It is encouraging. There is no problem in that, because even if the pastors don’t come, sometimes after a bus is filled and it’s in motion, one of the passengers willingly leads prayers in order to ask God for a safe trip.

    Ikenna, another passenger said he suspects that the transport service and especially the drivers have a deal with the pastors because of the patience they exercise to allow these pastors finish their business.

    He said: “The driver is always patient enough to wait for the pastors to finish praying. I think the pastors have a deal with the transport service.

    Biodun Tijani said he sees motor park pastors as businessmen.

    His words: “With each Naira note the pastor grabs, he rewards the faithful with a ‘’bless you” and when he is sure no more is coming he wishes us a ‘safe journey’ and moves on to another bus.

    “I think they are a nuisance. Is there anyone of them who doesn’t ask for donations/offerings at the end of their sermon and prayer? They are little more than corporate beggars who just capitalise on people’s fear of traffic accidents and highway robbers. They pray against these incidents just to make you feel better, and put you in a good frame of mind to give them money and then they are off to the next bus.

    “The ministry they represent is unclear and it makes me feel they represent the ministry of their pockets and stomach,” Tijani added.

    In a chat with Abuja Review, the Secretary of the pastors, Pastor Abiola he said that he belongs to an association called Mobile Ministers Evangelical Ministry of Nigeria.

    Pastor Abiola, while explaining that he goes beyond motor parks to minister in churches, schools and sometimes in the hospitals if he is led by the Spirit, debunked the notion that the pastors are out to make profit.

    “It is wrong to say that it is for business purpose. If I want to do it for business’ sake, I will sit back in my office because I have an office opposite NYSC camp in Kubwa. We, the mobile ministers are about 15 in number and our ministry is basically to win souls for Christ.

    Continuing, he said: “We don’t ask and passengers are not compelled to give. Those who give do because they are led by the Spirit to give and it won’t be nice for us to reject.

    Debunking the notion that pastors pay the transport firms for the time taken in praying, Mr. Lekan Ojo of Okunline said that they don’t charge anything. They are just propagating the gospel and I feel it won’t be right to hinder them. Since there is no test we can carry out to ascertain whether these mobile ministers are called or not, there is need to do everything decently in order to avoid harassment and anarchy.

  • Hawkers take over Abuja streets

    Hawkers take over Abuja streets

    There is no food for the lazy man. No one knows this better than residents of Abuja where the cost of living is only suitable for the rich. Many of them took to hawking and have since become a ubiquious sight in the nation’s capital.

    In order to survive, the average residents try their hands on all sorts of businesses-tailoring, transportation, dry-cleaning, car washing, trading, among other things.

    While some traders have shops, some who do not have mount containers, kiosks or even make shades with umbrellas by the roadside, while some others run after a moving vehicle along with their goods.

    These diligent traders, unmindful of the implications of selling by the roadside, go about their businesses without the fear of being crushed by a moving vehicle.

    Worse still, some of them display their goods on the expressway irrespective of the heaps of dirt surrounding them.

    These road hawkers are never scarce in places such as Deidei Junction, Phase 3 Expressway, Second gate, Zuba, etc.

    What is surprising is that even young boys who should either be in school or with their parents at home are seen running after vehicles in motion just to sell their goods.

    They trade varieties of edibles such as gala snack, handkerchief, bottled drinks, fruits, while some others sell car wipers, picture frames, Teddy bears, etc.

    When our correspondent approached one of the young boys who hawks along Phase 3 Kubwa express road, he narrated he kicked-off hawking after the demise of his father 2 years ago.

    The 11 years old boy who schools in one of the primary schools in Kubwa said his business starts immediately after school and closes by 7pm, adding that he hawks other edibles such as fruits and satchet water.

    Asked if he is not scared of being hit by a vehicle, he said: “I get scared sometimes but God is my father and he knows my mummy needs this money to train me and my younger sisters  in school”.

    With smiles on his face, he continued: “I get plenty money from this thing I sell and people dash me money. Whenever I give the money to my mother she blesses me and I am happy.”

    For Mrs. Zitgwai Umar who who sells fruits by Deidei expressway, death is inevitable irrespective of were we are.

    Her words: “Anywhere you are, if God says your time is up, it is up. So if we are selling on the main road, if God says we will die, there is no way to escape from death. You come for it you go for it”.

    The fruit seller who seemed fearless of when death calls, revealed that she has witnessed several accidents on Deidei expressway.

    “I have seen many accidents on this road but what will I do? Are my God? Whenever there is a car accident, I run for my life and still come back because this is the only way I can survive.”

    Also, a road commuter who plies from Zuba to Wuse/Berger, Mr. Simon said that he has witnessed a lot of accidents condemn the lives of so many road hawkers.

    Citing instances, he said: “About three months ago, a trailer that failed break Dankogi, Zuba express road, ran into all these roadside sellers and killed so many of them while some sustained injuries. Again, a car recently hit one of them at deidei junction and from what I saw, I don’t think he would survive it”.

    Mr. Simon observed that road hawkers see using the pedestrial bridge as tiresome and so suggested that government should construct wires exactly the same way they did at NICON junction to prevent these hawkers from wasting their lives in the name of making money.

    For Mr. Shaibu, who sells car parts at Deidei junction, he said it is disheartening for people to sell goods where there are heaps of dirts especially when such goods are edibles.

    He said that those that sell edibles such as suya, tuwo, masa, awara, Gurasa, Denwake and the like usually come out every evening to sell not minding the dirt surrounding them.

    According to shaibu Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) chase these roadside hawkers who litter everywhere with dirt but they still come back because this is their own way of getting their daily bread.

    He however praised the AEPB for a job well done but urged them to do more by providing a waste bin where the refuse will be dumped as it is detrimental to the health.

    He also recommended that government should provide a place, very close to the bus-stop, where the roadside food sellers would sell to hungry passengers, who would rush in to eat, as some of these roadside hawkers are victims of the ongoing demolition in Kubwa.”

  • NGO trains pupils on food production

    NGO trains pupils on food production

    Oxfam, through its global campaign Grow, Think, Act, has urged secondary school pupils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to embrace farming in order to eradicate hunger and poverty.

    The international non-governmental organisation (NGO) also educated the students of Government Junior Secondary School Kubwa on the importance of nutrition and good feeding.

    Earlier, art exhibition was held by the secondary school students within the FCT.

    The initiative was launched in the country on June, 2011 to promote campaign against hunger.

    Speaking at the event shortly after the talk show, Gender Officer, Oxfam Nigeria, Mr. Boyowa Roberts said the talk show was meant to enlighten youths on ways to fight poverty and eradicate hunger from the country.

    Roberts said: “Today, we are having what we call the grow talk show where we would be working hand-in-hand with three government schools.

    “The essence of this school talk show is to work with young people to raise school heroes. We are going to be working with our partners like association of agro producers in Nigeria to teach the children these farming practices and how to use fertilisers.

    “The whole essence is to encourage youths to take to agriculture and tell them that farming has gone beyond farming with hoes and cutlasses to mechanised farming. Apart from the oil sector, you can make a lot of money and secure your livelihood.”

    The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala observed the quantity of food imported into the country has continued to dwindle on an annual basis.

    Okonjo-Iweala said efforts by local farmers were yielding meaningful results as most foods consumed in the country were locally produced.

    “Nigeria is trying and one way to measure that in economics is to look at the amount of food imports over the years.

    “The statistics we have shows that food import is going down and this means that domestically, Nigeria is trying to cover up most of the imported foods. This therefore points to the fact that we are doing more in terms of food security,” she said.

    The minister, who was represented by her Special Assistant, Dr. Emmanuel Nwosu said the country had intensified efforts to achieve food security.

    She further said it was imperative to educate school children on the importance of food security so that when they grow, they can develop interest in food production.

    “This is because, in Africa and most developing world, we have malnutrition problems and one of the MDG goals is to fight hunger and provide food for the population,” she added.

    However, she observed the challenge in Africa had a lot to do with its growing population, adding that this often leads to food security problems.

    She said the programme was important as it would help inculcate the right ideas in youths to help combat problems of food security.

    “There is a lot of work because most people in Nigeria are running away from agriculture. They think that it is just for the old. But when agriculture is taken seriously, we will achieve better results,” she said.

    The Chief Executive Officer, Speakers’ Corner Trust Nigeria, Ramatu Umar restated that the show was organised to help youth acquire necessary skills to empower themselves.

    “We also educate them on nutrition, feeding and eating good food. We want young people to grow, think and act in agriculture process,” she added.