The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • 1,417 street traders, hawkers prosecuted

    The FCT Administration has arrested a total of 1,469 street traders and hawkers in the metropolis between July and August.

    FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed revealed this in his office after meeting with the officials of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).

    The Minister disclosed that out of this number, 1,417 of the street traders/hawkers were prosecuted and convicted within that period to serve as deterrent.

    Senator Mohammed further revealed that 99 of the street traders/hawkers convicted were sentenced to various terms in prison.

    According to him, a total of 2,300 nuisances reported to the Abuja Environmental Protection Board were fully addressed across the Federal Capital City during the period under review.

    He said that 235nos of various types of sewer complaints (bleeding manholes) in the Federal Capital City were also resolved between July 1, 2013 and August 16, 2013.

    The Minister remarked that Sanitary Inspectors inspected 520 premises within the Federal Capital City and were given health talk on sanitation; while 11 premises were fumigated as required.

    His words: “Pilot Survey of available Waste Receptacles was carried out in Area 1, section I, Garki I District; Aso Drive and Gana Street, Maitama District of the Federal Capital City respectively”.

     

  • Second-hand clothes: Staple of nation’s capital

    Second-hand clothes: Staple of nation’s capital

    Life in the Federal Capital City (FCT) may not come cheap. Accommodation there poses a constant challenge, as do many consumables. But residents sure know how to survive. The used clothing market offers a lifeline.

    There they find shirts that fit, shoes that meet their tastes, even bras and underpants they can flaunt anywhere. And they also, most importantly, fit their pockets.

    Surely, the items were used and discarded elsewhere but in Nigeria and even its capital city, they are very popular.

    Karmo Market located on the outskirts of Life Camp in the federal capital may lack the trappings of a modern market but it is the centre of a thriving trade for second-hand clothes.

    Buyers are simply crazy over them. Most of them defy the bad state of the road to patronise the market which is on the rise.

    The market, which operates on Tuesdays and Fridays, has a unique quality that attracts buyers from every nook and cranny of the city. Wares are displayed based on the amount of space allocated to individual trader.

    For those who cannot afford the prices offered in boutiques and other stores around the city, Karmo Market provides an easy alternative, as it boasts materials ranging from shirts, trousers, footwear to boxers, underpants and brassieres, among others.

    Compared to Onitsha Market in Anambra State, Katangowa Market in Lagos, Karmo Market has become the toast of Abuja residents by virtue of its used clothes.

    One attractive feature of the market is that the prices of goods sold there are not just affordable to many residents of Abuja; they are also about the cheapest one can find in the city.

    For example, the prices for a pair of female pants, for adults and children, are between N100 and N120.

    Also, second-hand shirts are available for as low as between N100 and N 1,200, depending on the quality of the shirt. Some shoppers see these prices as fair when compared to what is obtainable in the boutiques.

    Shoppers of used clothes, however, seem to be making their purchases based on style, rather than sustainability or durability.

    Are used clothes for the poor alone?

    Mr. Okafor, a trader in used clothes, said: “It isn’t just the poor who shop here. Workers also come to the market looking for unique outfits. Some big girls and boys also come here to buy. Even boutique owners come here too.

    “Many relatively poor or absolutely poor people prefer second hand western clothing materials because they are often of better quality and have associations with the western cultural imperative. They also match what they see on TV,” Benjamin, a staff of one of the leading banks in the country said.

    Although there are claims by experts that used clothes come with diseases, some buyers differ on this assertion.

    Dismissing the claim, an undergraduate who identified himself as Endurance told our correspondent that “as long as they are properly washed, there is nothing to fear about used clothes. Besides, what assurances do people have that the so-called new clothes they buy from the shops or boutiques don’t come from these markets?

    “I know of a boutique owner who lines his shop with used clothes. The only difference is the prices.”

    Despite government’s ban on sale of second-hand clothes in the country, it is estimated that 80 per cent of Nigerians still patronise sellers of used clothes.

    The ban, ostensibly designed to protect local textile producers, is one of such imposed by the government to protect the country from being flooded with donated clothes from the western world.

    But the garments are moved into Nigeria illegally from neighbouring countries like Benin Republic and Togo.

    However, as long as consumers have these aspirations, and traders want to turn a profit, it seems unlikely that sale of used clothes in Nigeria will stop anytime soon, regardless of government’s policy.

  • 50 youths start agric training

    About 50 agricultural entrepreneurs recruited under the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) have started a one-month intensive practical attachment with successful agricultural establishments in and around Bwari Area Council.

    The Coordinator, FCT NDE, Romiliyu Oludare Newton, disclosed this while flagging off the last stage of the three months training in agricultural entrepreneurship at the NDE Multi-purpose skills acquisition centre, at Kuduru Village, in Bwari Area Council.

    He said the participants have been tutored on practical and theoretical aspects of modern agriculture.

    This, he said, included basic business training and management.

    The youth will, after the training, experience the practical aspect of running a successful farm business in their environments.

     

  • Association donates to orphanage, prisons

    The Abuja Chapter of the Alumni Association of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru has donated some items to an orphanage, prison and hospital in the FCT.

    Some of the items donated include toiletries, wrappers, cartons of noodle, spaghetti and bags of rice.

    The Chairperson of the association, Dr Kate Nwafor, said the event was part of the body’s corporate social responsibility to society.

    Nwafor said the gesture, done annually, was aimed at reaching out to less-privileged people in society.

    At the Abuja Children’s Home in Karu, she said that the visit was to give the children sense of belonging.

    The association also visited Kuje Prison, where Nwafor urged the inmates to use the opportunity to change their ways and desist from the criminal activities that led to their incarceration.

    “So far you are not dead, God is with you, don’t allow what brought you here to bring you back again,’’ she said.

    In their separate remarks, the Matron of the Abuja Children’s Home, Hajia Olutokun Agbaje and the Assistant Controller of Prison, Mrs Clementina Chukwu, thanked the association for the gesture.

    The matron said that 50 children between the ages of one and 19 were being catered for at the home.

    She solicited help from well-meaning Nigerians for the provision of basic amenities for the children and renovation of the home.

    Also speaking, Chukwu said that the items would be properly utilised.

    The group also visited the Kubwa General Hospital and donated gift items to some patients.

     

     

  • Group urges Jonathan to save Taraba

    Group urges Jonathan to save Taraba

    It took the intervention of security operatives to control a youth organisation under the aegis of Save Democracy Group (SDG) which took to the streets of Abuja to protest what it described as looming crisis in Taraba State. They urged President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in order to save the state from sliding into anarchy.

    The group, while expressing sadness over the political development in the state, said with the existence of an acting governor and the decision by ailing governor, Danbaba Suntai to return to office by all means, there is bound to be a breakdown of law and order, a situation it said could spell doom for democratic governance in the state.

    The youth carried placards with different inscriptions like “Suntai not fit to rule,” “some cabals are using the ailing governor to cause trouble in the state,” and “Suntai should step aside until he is fully fit to govern Taraba State.”

    The National President of the group, Comrade Solomon Adodo who spoke when he led hundreds of members of the group to submit a protest letter to the Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party PDP, Bamanga Tukur for onward transmission to Mr. President, said: “It has become necessary for the President to act quickly to save our democracy so as to forestall other mass rallies being coordinated across the various states of the federation to rescue our democracy from the wicked cabal.

    “If our democracy is not quickly rescued, it will collapse as a result of the two governors in Taraba State who are wielding state powers.”

    Adodo, under the watchful eyes of the security operatives said: “Mr. President sir, you may recall that this was the exact situation that you found yourself in 2010 when, after the National Assembly had invoked its constitutional powers to swear you in as Acting President, your late boss was smuggled into Aso Rock and his aides attempted to cripple your office for their selfish reasons.

    “It is on this note that we wish to demand that you call your party men and women in Taraba State to order so as not to deliberately throw the country into state of anarchy, chaos and lawlessness in the face of our numerous challenges.

    “We have it on good authority that our friend, Governor Danbaba Suntai is still not strong enough to coordinate the affairs of a state in Nigeria; but a certain cabal in Taraba State is insisting that Governor Suntai must continue to function through families and friends who could decode his ailing body language in order to enrich themselves.”

    Adodo expressed worries that affairs of the state are now being coordinated by hangers-on and desperadoes who are in the habit of causing confusion in order to feed their families.

    He said it is most disheartening to note that “all these characters are members of the Peoples Democratic Party under your amiable leadership.”

    While urging Mr. Suntai to go back for further treatment and come back only when he is fit enough for the rigours of democratic governance, the group said: “the Taraba State House of Assembly has reaffirmed our position and the feelings of well-meaning Nigerians that Governor Suntai is unfit to coordinate the rigorous duties of the Office of the Governor by unanimously recommending him for further treatment.

    “This cannot be far from the truth as every attempt to force Governor Suntai to act the script of this cabal has continually refused to rhyme with his health realities.”

  • FCTA to strengthen relations with Pakistan

    The FCT Administration will work towards the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Pakistan in order to increase their trade balance.

    FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed gave the assurance while receiving the Pakistani Trade Delegation to Nigeria.

    The Minister reiterated that his Administration would assiduously help in strengthening the existing robust relationship between the two countries for the benefit of their citizens.

    Mohammed emphasized that Nigeria and Pakistan has a lot similarity especially in culture and beliefs, which are supposed to be, exploited for greater advantage of the two nations.

    According to him, the meeting will help re-awaken the over 40 years diplomatic relations that can be further enhanced as Nigeria; particularly Abuja has lots of potentials waiting to be tapped.

    While promising to not only provide an enabling environment but to also be a catalyst in promoting the increased trade relations, he recalled with nostalgia the activities of Pakistani teachers in Nigeria in the 1970s.

    Speaking earlier, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ambassador Dauda Danladi said that Nigeria established relation with Pakistan about 40 years ago and that the two nation’s trade potentials have not been well exploited.

    Ambassador Danladi remarked that what spurred him into action to scout for Pakistani investors and industrialists to come to Nigeria is the citizenship and economic diplomatic of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Also speaking at the meeting, the Pakistani High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lt. General Mohammed Ashraf Salim (Rtd.) stated that Nigeria and his country has a long time historical relations and promised to enhance the cordial relations.

    He also assured that Pakistani investors and industrialists would launch their presence in Nigeria and particularly in Abuja by establishing educational and health institutions in the Federal Capital Territory.

     

  • NGO lifts widows

    A Non-GOVERNMENTAL organisation (NGO), God’s Love Tabitha Royal Foundation in Nyanya Gwandara near Abuja, has donated food and clothing items to 50 widows and other less privileged women, when it held its annual love feast.

    The widows, who came in from Panda site development area of Nasarawa State, received items such as bags of rice, clothes, soapy substance, kitchen utensils and cash.

    Speaking at the event, founder of the foundation, Evangelist Victoria Oloche, said the gesture was its way of expressing love towards the less privileged especially the widows in rural communities.It is also to let them know that despite their condition, they can live a good life, as all hope is not lost.

    She said the foundation had prepared gifts for 200 women but due to financial constraints to transport them down to Abuja, they could only bring 50 of them.

    “Annually we organise a love feast, whereby the foundation not only donates gift items to the widows in rural areas but also celebrates and puts smiles on faces of other less privileged women, orphans and the poor in the society.

    “Apart from the distribution of food items and clothing materials to the less privileged, we ( the foundation) also have some skills acquisition programme, where we teach them how to produce powder beans, soya beans, garri , powder pepper, crayfish, among others.

  • Abuja natives quit land-swap committee

    The indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory under the umbrella body, Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja, (OIDA) have voluntarily withdrawn from the Ministerial Committee on the Implementation of FCT Land-swap Programme and Resettlement Matters set up by the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed.

    In a press statement signed by its Media Adviser, Sumner Shagari Sambo, OIDA says its withdrawal from the Ministerial Committee is due to the non-acceptance of its recommendation of 30% for the host communities who own the land and are to be resettled by the government and companies involved in the land-swap programme.

    OIDA’s withdrawal decision is contained in a letter signed by its President, Pastor Danladi Jeji which the group said it had submitted to the Chairman of the Landswap Committee and Permanent Secretary, FCTA Engr. John Chukwu at the resumed sitting of the Committee last Thursday.

    The FCT group said its earlier acceptance of the membership and full participation of the Committee’s sittings was borne out of germane and bonafide motives.

    “Despite initial misgivings OIDA chose to give the Hon. Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed the benefit of doubt when he said; ‘…we will carry the affected people and communities along….’ He further said: ‘… its going to be a bottom-up and not top-to bottom approach’.  He equally said, ‘…we shall adhere to global best practices….’. But as things have turned out, particularly as the ‘draft report’ of this Committee now attests, with due deference to the persons and personalities of this Committee whom OIDA holds in high esteem, the talk about ‘carrying the people (original inhabitants) along and so forth…’ was all mere rhetoric and a gimmick to get the Land-swap policy endorsed and or in another word ‘rubberstamped’ by the said locals.”

    “In view of the fact that the Committee’s draft report and or resolutions/recommendations do not reflect OIDA’s most weighty position of redefining the percentage ratio of 60% to Private Companies and 40% to FCTA.  Indeed OIDA’S position that the said equation be reworked from a bipartite to tripartite arrangement or contract, i.e. by the inclusion of the PAP/Communities in the equation has not been reflected much less be so recommended. It has been the uncompromising position of OIDA as repeatedly told and submitted to this Committee that 30% of the ratio or equation must go back to the PAP/Communities to be held in Community Trust Fund.  This position was also the outcome of the FCT Enlarged Stakeholders’ sub-Committee’s consultations. OIDA believes that this demand is justified in view of the fact that the compensation due and payable for the creation (acquisition) of Abuja has not been paid for 37 years now.  On 30% We Stand!”

    The press statement further states that “the original inhabitants have unlawfully, unconstitutionally, immorally and indeed un-spiritually been deprived and divested of their God-given inherent ‘title hereditament rights to their ancestral lands’. Despite the provisions of Section 297 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 1 of the FCT Act, it remains immutably and unequivocally explicit that for as long as the compensation for Abuja lands remain UNPAID by the Federal Government, then it means that we the FCT Abuja indigenous people still possess the customary rights to our lands. On our Ancestral Lands We Stand!”

    OIDA also dispelled media reports of a division between the FCT natives with regards to the landswap policy.

    It states that “the volte-face done by the Ketti-Waru Youth Forum from demanding 30% to a position of demanding not even 0% is the handiwork of a well-scripted Machiavellian Script of forces outside of the Land-swap Ministerial Committee but OIDA is not perturbed or deterred in its legitimate agitation for the Abuja People. Ketti-Waru’s shifting of grounds does not in any way reflect the generality of position of the other remaining communities to be affected by Land-swap and as such same cannot be used as a yardstick for across board implementation. No amount of intimidation, division of our people or use of divide and rule tactics will make us give up our lands. ”

    The rights group noted that “it is not proper to continually sit in this Committee knowing very well that at the end of the day, we would not assent to its report.  That would be most unfair and a great disservice to the Committee.”

    OIDA also wondered why the Ministerial Committee set-up to deliver its mandate in 3-weeks is yet to deliver report 10-weeks after its inauguration.

    While thanking the Minister for his invitation to serve as a member of the Committee, OIDA said it was withdrawing from the ministerial committee “until such a time that the Land-swap programme and indeed the FCTA is willing and ready to accede to the demand of 30% to host communities through the setting up of a Community Trust Fund.”

    The group also advised the concerned private investors and FCTA personnel to stay clear of Abuja indigenous communities until the issues are properly resolved through genuine consultation and dialogue or stand the risk of litigation.

     

  • NGO urges youths to be self-reliant

    The Organisation for Truthful Rebirth (OTR), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has advised youths to be self-reliant in order to reduce dependency on government.

    The National Coordinator of the group Mr. Eben Akinyemi gave the advice while briefing newsmen in Abuja on the state of the nation.

    Akinyemi decried a situation in which people, mostly youths, depend on people in power and the government for employment and income.

    He said the youth could achieve self reliance through value orientation, adding that the habit of living within their means would earn them dignity before the elite.

    Akinyemi also argued that corruption was not the major cause of underdevelopment in the country as believed by many people. He rather blamed the development on lack of good ideas that could bring the desired development in the country.

    His words: “Our youths need to be remodeled to attain greatness in all aspects of life.

    “We need more ideas than money to be able to develop Nigeria, because the developed world used sound ideas and not money to be where they are.

    “To me, corruption is only part of our problems. It is not our total problem.’’

    The OTR National Coordinator also cautioned the elite against selfishness and accumulation of the country’s resources, adding that the act of looting at the expense of youth empowerment would turn against them in the near future.

    He said: “The risk of developing only oneself is inimical to his existence because when others are not empowered, all asset acquired by the wealthy becomes vulnerable and could be destroyed by the idle ones.”

    Akinyemi, however, insisted that there were some good Nigerians who have good vision for the country.

    “I still believe that there are some good people in this country; we should not continue to think that every Nigerian is bad.

    “We have good ones that still think well about the future of this country. Our NGO is out to create talent warehouse where these talents can be harnessed for a better Nigeria. ORT will continue to preach the gospel of a new Nigeria, where citizens will be judged on the strength of their character and not on the strength of their wealth,” he said.

    OTR is a new NGO which has the objective of inculcating good moral values that will be translated into a better Nigeria where things are properly done.

    The NGO is to achieve its aims through promoting societal development through funding of immediate and affordable community needs.

     

  • Raising a reading nation

    There is a saying that: “If you want to keep a secret from a Nigerian hide it in a book.”

    Although most of us, readily disagree with the saying, we still refuse to read.

    The American corner Abuja trained some children recently, on the importance of having a good reading habit, with encouraging words like “ the more you read, the more things you will know, the more you learn, the more places you will go.”

    The three weeks summer reading program was organised by the American corner with the theme, “dig into reading” where children from ages 6-12 where given the opportunity to read from the vast collection of the Abuja American Corner library, the basics of story telling and used recyclable materials to create beautiful works of art.

    They were also inspired to dream through the compelling story of Martin Luther King Jr and their spelling skills sharpened through spelling bee contests.

    The United States deputy chief of mission to Nigeria, Maria Brewer who was present at the closing ceremony of the program encouraged parents to always read to their children everyday as a way of nurturing their minds.

    Brewer who read to the children from the book titled, “ Lamar, Lamar time to share” told them that each book opens new doors and together, they can travel to exciting worlds and new places from the comfort of their homes.

    American Corners are partnerships with host-country institutions.  The partner provides a physical space and staff while the Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy provides multi-media materials about the United States, training and technical support.

    They also provide accurate information about the U.S., including education and cultural programs; access to English language resources and connections to alumni.

    A spelling bee competition was held in three stages for children between the ages of 6-7, 8-10 and 11-12 for the closing ceremony with 6years old Terna Piu Ukeyima emerging as the winner for the younger age group.

    Chima Mmachukwu emerged for ages 8-10 and the battle between the two finalist Chima Lawrence Akachukwu and IIoaya Ebuka which can be likened to the clash of the titans was eventually won by Chima Akachukwu.

    One of the parents at the event, Ernest Osogbue, a father of three boys in the program said that the programme was great because it kept the children busy during the holidays and prevented them from having to watch cartoons all day.

    While Chima Mmachukwu, a primary four pupil and one of the winners said that the experience was fun and  the program had taught them the spirit of reading since they do not know what lies ahead in their future.

     

    Malore Brown, one of the US mission coordinators explained that, “The US embassy will continue to support the Abuja American corner, in addition to the other corners that we have through out Nigeria, we will put up another summer reading program next summer and the American corner in Abuja is open year round, children can come around, they do not just have to wait for the summer reading program.

    “ we encourage young children to come and read, do arts and craft as well as spelling bees during their time off instead of simply sitting at home, watching television or playing video games, this way they have the opportunity to use their brains in reading and having an enjoyable experience throughout the summer”

    Highlight of the closing ceremony apart from the spelling bee was prices given to the most improved reader in all categories, best craft, most enthusiastic reader, most outstanding poem etc.