The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Media urged to promote Nigeria’s unity

    Nigerian media has been called upon to promote peaceful co-existence and unity of the country.

    FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed said this at the Eighth Annual Ramadan Public Lecture entitled “Islam in a Multi-Religious Society” organised by the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) at the National Mosque, Abuja.

    The Minister who was represented at the occasion by Muhammad Hazat Sule, Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, insisted that without peace no nation can achieve much in terms of development or even in the practice of religious beliefs as enshrined in the holy books.

    Mohammed reiterated that only through peace and stability would the entire country achieve sustainable development in all spheres.

    The Minister emphasised that all the residents of the Federal Capital Territory and indeed every Nigerian have a stake in the Abuja project.

    As the Minister congratulated the Muslim faithful, particularly those resident in the FCT on the commencement of the Ramadan fast, he admonished them to use this holy month for spiritual re-dedication and spread the message of love, selflessness, sacrifice, patience and modesty.

    While noting that Ramadan is a period of spiritual rejuvenation, he enjoined Muslims to use the period to continue to pray for the country and its leadership.

    Mohammed also urged Muslims to follow the injunctions of Allah and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad during and after Ramadan, which he stressed, is an inspiration to Muslims to show compassion, mercy and kindness to their fellow brothers irrespective of religion.

    He thanked the organisers of the public lecture and for inviting him to be the chief host of the occasion, as the association seems to have taken a bold step in fostering peace and unity of the country.

    The Minister also commended the organisers and saluted their courage for bringing to the front burner the issue of peace and unity at this auspicious period in Nigerian history.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Mother of Day and Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, commended the members of the fourth estate of the realm for taking a lead to promote unity of our dear country.

    She also commended Uztaz Nurudeen Abdulmalik for doing justice to the topic of the lecture but enjoined members to do more in publicising the activities of the association.

    The lecture was delivered by Uztaz Nurudeen Abdulmalik and chaired by Mallam Muhammed Musa Bello, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

    Some of the media icons who also attended the lecture included the Directors-General of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and Voice of Nigeria (VON).

     

  • ‘Abuja rail target realisable’

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed has assured that the Abuja light rail project started in 2007 will be completed in 2015.

    Mohammed gave the assurance during the ground-breaking ceremony of the rail mass transit station at the National Park station, Wuye District.

    The event which marked the commencement of the construction works on the 12 railway stations under the first phase of the Abuja light rail project will include shopping precincts, cultural and entertainment centres to boost tourism in the Federal Capital Territory FCT.

    The 12 railway stations are Abuja Metro Station, Stadium Station, National Park Station, Ring Road II Station, Wupa Station, Idu Transfer Station, Airport East Station and Airport Station.

    Also included are the Gwagwa Station, Deidei Station, Jibi Station and Gwazango Station.

    The rail stations, he said will be places of high economic activities like boarding or alighting, rail transit management and operations, commercial and tourism activities among others.The locations of these stations are strategically designed to connect the transportation network to districts and area councils.

    The Abuja main railway station located at the central business district of the Federal Capital City (FCC) will be linked to the transportation centre in the central business district (CBD) for high capacity bus and para-transit services, located within the vicinity is the world trade centre’s 35 twin-towers which will serve as the major business hub within the vicinity of the Abuja main railway station and transportation centre.

    He said that shopping malls, hotels, offices, restaurants, banks, clinics, etc, will all be located in the twin towers and will boost the economy of the railway stations.

    Bala added: “When the projects are realised, they will bolster economic development of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and speed up the pace of our attainment of FCT administration’s vision to build a capital city that would be among the top twenty capital cities in the world.”

    The Chairman Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, Smart Adeyemi who was also present at the occasion commended the Minister on the progress recorded so far.

    He also said that, “I hoped that in no distant time from now, the administration will be thinking of how to integrate the whole Federal Capital, where the Abaji axis can be connected to Lokoja so that the FCT can as well develop its neighbouring states.

    “The FCT will not be asked to pay but the Federal government can start thinking of constructing a rail system from Lokoja to Abuja, Minna to Abuja, etc, to increase the economic activities because it is important to have rail systems connecting all the neighbouring cities to Abuja.”

  • Pupils honoured at school anniversary

    Three excelling pupils of Government Day Secondary School, Wuse, Abuja have been honoured with prizes.

    The trio distinguished themselves in a literary and debating competition tagged “Role of Students in Nation Building, Patriotism and Leadership”.

    They were honoured at the 10th anniversary of the school.

    The ceremony was organised by the school management in partnership with Accurate Pattern Global Concept.

    The event started at 1pm. The students and guests were thrilled with jokes and comedy. It was an anniversary filled with music, drama and cultural display.

    Mercy Kelebe, overall winner of the quiz competition, emphasised the significant role the youth should play in nation-building. Kelebe, an SSS1 student of Art Department and two others aspire to be a lawyer.

    Speaking on the topic, she said with good parental upbringing and excellent teaching at preliminary academic levels, students can choose to be agents of change and good ambassadors of virtues.

    Miss Kelebe was excited after being told that she had won the top prize.

    Highlighting her experience, she said: “It was just God that did it. Even when I heard the topic, I went home, never discussed with anyone and I did research on the topic through Google. I never knew I would win.”

    She said: “Students have many roles to play in the nation. For instance, the present terrorism in the country is caused by students and students are the youths. If you start training them on how to avoid usage of arms and those who use them to make money, when they grow or gain admission to higher institutions, where youths form the habit of cultism, they can actually decide not to join the group.”

    She advised her colleagues to grab any of such opportunity that may likely come their way in the future and participate actively.

    Miss Jessica Babatunde, also SSS 1 student of GDSS lauded the initiative which, according to her, brought out the best in her. She was the second-best student in the competition.

    She said she did not know she would be among the successful contestants.  Babatunde who prayed to be a lawyer, expressed optimism that with good teacher to student orientation, youths could transform the nation through exceptional leadership qualities they enjoyed during early stages of education.

    She likened students to good seeds which ought to produce wonderful yields.

    “We students are good seeds; a good seed brings forth a good tree and a good tree produces good fruits. So we as students, if we play our role very well, we turn out to be good leaders. Those that are interested in politics can contest for election and when eventually elected, they can make the nation a better place.”

    Explaining her experience, Miss Babatunde said: “When our teacher told me about the competition, I told her I would participate because I can stand a crowd. I will not fidget because I’m used to it. So I worked on the topic, studied it and presented it to my teacher which she approved.

    “When I got there, I saw my mate and I said to myself, I want to be one of the best because I want to make history in my school when I leave. So I did my best but I never knew I will emerge one of the best in this competition.”

    Miss Mercy Otia, the 2nd Runner-Up identified need to have outstanding qualities such as boldness, being intelligent as well as the ability to discern good from evil. She outlined patriotism among other virtues as imperative to driving desired change the country hopes for.

    ”As a student, before you become a leader, you must be patriotic. You must love your country but being patriotic does not mean you must always criticize your government; it is about making an impact, a positive impact that will gain national recognition,” she said.

    Asked what prompted the initiative, the idealist, Mr. Adewumi Adesida observed that corruption, bad leadership and unpatriotic spirit have remained habitual of people and some leaders in the country, which needs urgent attention for the nation to witness genuine transformation. He identified the need for practical changes. According to him, it must start with the younger generation which is addressed as leaders of tomorrow.

    “What we do is to train young people for leadership, we inculcate into them inward development. We want them to understand that they are change agents and thus, contributors to whatever occurrence that is happening in this nation.

    “President of this nation, the government cannot do it all alone. With our present level, we have to partner with these present leaders to bring out the desire change we hope to see. That is why i went to the secondary school to start educating them on their role by looking inward to the growth and development of this nation,” Adesida said.

    He lauded the Secondary School Education Board for its support towards promoting vision of the organisation. According to him, representative of the Press Club was the overall winner, representatives of Sales and Entrepreneur Club and the Integrity Club won the second and third positions respectively.

    Adesida unfolded plans to organise a 3-day maiden conference for all secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The conference, where every school will be representing each local council in the territory, will provide opportunity for students to contribute their views towards nation building.

    “We want to go to every area council exercising the student on how to believe in the nation, Nigeria and how they can contribute to the nation. They are going to present a paper after going round the six area councils. Then we will pick a representative from each area secondary school during a three days conference. They will thereafter present that paper which could be used to form necessary policy.” He however, appealed for sponsors to help promote the programme.

    Earlier, the Principal, GDSC, Mrs. Ilenre Irene described the school as a “learning infantry” after 10 years of its humble beginning. To her, it’s been accolades and successes as the school has recorded great academic achievements where her students have gone to represent the country in international competition in Brazil.

    ”We can say much of the achievements on a yearly basis. The school has come a long way. For instance, we had the best West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) result in 2011-2012, apart from some of our students who went on arts and craft competition, some went to Brazil, to represent Nigeria in a science competition where they won the overall best.

    “It has been so wonderful.”

     

  • Health insurance scheme takes off

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has started implementing its Community-Based Health Insurance Scheme (CBHIS) in 300 communities, Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide has disclosed.

    The minister, who made this known at a top-level advocacy on the health insurance scheme at the Emir of Karshi’s Palace, said the scheme would improve access of FCT residents to quality and affordable health-care.

    “The implementation of the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme in 300 communities of the FCT signifies the fulfilment of a dream. The need for a health scheme that will guarantee affordability, quality and access to a greater number of the people has been a priority for this Administration.

    ”The FCT initiative is a collaborative effort between the FCT Administration, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the six Area Councils and is aimed at taking the scheme to every community in FCT, starting with 300 communities,” said Akinjide, who was represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Area Council and Resettlement, Alhaji Yusuf Tsaiyabu.

    She added that 10,000 households had shown interest in the pilot scheme, which covered 50 communities each from the six Area Councils.

    The minister reiterated the commitment of the FCT Administration in reducing maternal and child mortality rates, combating HIV/AIDS, especially mother-to-child transmission of the virus as well as rolling back malaria and improving immunity against tuberculosis.

    ”The FCT Administration is still concerned over the wide disparities in health and health services between FCT’s rural and urban areas. This situation results from the challenges of access to health centres, low capacity and scarcity of funds coupled with the difficult terrains of some communities. There is also the issue of low purchasing power among rural households.

    “It is for this reason that the FCT Administration is driving the Community Based Health Insurance Scheme into the rural areas. This is a social security system that guarantees the provision of needed health services to its beneficiaries on the payment of token contributions of N150 monthly,” she added.

    Akinjide appealed to traditional rulers and residents in the territory to support the FCT Administration in its drive to improve the lives of the people.

    The Emir of Karshi, HRH Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed, commended the FCT Administration for initiating the scheme and also developing infrastructure in the area councils and satellite towns.

    He pledged to mobilise community leaders, local associations and religious bodies to educate their people on the importance of the CBHIS.

    “We are all witnesses to the tremendous efforts of the scheme in delivering health-care to difficult terrains and reaching the hitherto unreachable areas of the FCT with Medicare. I join you to share the joy of this achievement.

    “I like to pledge my support and commitment to the success of this Community Based Health Insurance Scheme in my domain. It is the prayer of every traditional ruler to see to the improvement in the living standard of his subjects. This is something that is close to our heart,” the royal father stated.”

  • Under-age marriage storm still raging

    Senators in Abuja are not the only ones arguing over under-age marriage. On the streets of the nation’s capital residents have also been offering their perspectives on the heated issue. And, as you probably guessed, their opinions are divergent.

    For instance, some think it is a matter of culture. They ask, if early marriage is widely practised in a community and the people see nothing wrong with it, why should anybody else fault it?

    Still, some others (and they seem to be in the majority) see early marriage as barbaric.

    The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in an interview, also condemned the girl-child marriage.

    She was of the view that the education and the empowerment of the girl-child and women are very important and should be taken seriously.

    She added: “I totally support the empowerment of girls and women. It has been shown that one very clear way to move our country out of poverty is to educate your girls and empower them. When they are educated all the other things fall in place and they will improve dramatically because they have a little more knowledge. The education of their children improves dramatically when they have gone to school.

    ”So there is no doubt in my mind, letting them go to school is the best for the family. You start with what is good for the family to what is good for the nation to what is good for the globe. It is not a sentiment, the world knows this and our country need not lag behind.”

    But a political analyst, Mr. Sani Lawal Suleiman said that it is only hypocrites who believe it is a crime to marry an underage girl and call her a wife in one’s house, but the same people remain evasive about abusing and impregnating an under-age girl, denying the child and dumping her in her ordeal.

    He asks, which is better: marrying an under-age girl into your house or abusing her in her parent’s house?”

    Suleiman insisted that in the case of Nigeria, there is no way of stopping early prostitution or child-abuse.

    He said that it is far better to marry the girl because it is almost impossible to stop the illicit trade.

    Suleiman added that those who oppose early marriage are the same people who abuse the girls and then come out to chant war songs against marrying them.

    The fact, Suleiman said, is that it is almost impossible to stop abusing under-age children in any part of the world, so he suggested strict laws guiding the marriage and serious punishment for abusing them.

    Miss Joy, a lab technician who was interviewed, said that it depends on the culture and background. In some places, you find a lot of teenagers made to marry early against their will.

    Joy said: “If you want something, you will have to find a way of getting it because everybody in life wants something and even that girl forced into marriage can eventually make a difference, we have seen lots of cases where girls with dreams are forced into early marriages but eventually leave it and turn themselves into testimonies.

    “Some girls do not care or strive for anything in life and in such cases, you will always find such people stuck in a marriage. Moreover, being a full-time housewife can be a job on its own; we really need to ask ourselves if these girls really want an education or marriage because whoever wants to achieve a dream has to put an extra effort no matter how hard and long it takes.“

    A gynaecologist Dr. Nwokoma Eze said: “The issues have become a heated debate at the moment. From a medical point of view, the girl-child deserves education because the girl is the mother of a nation and it reduces the issue of maternal mortality because if the girl is educated, she will be able to take care of herself and will be aware of the best way to bring up her child.

    “We in the medical profession advocate for a good education for the girl-child because that will help her in the long-run, and help us prevent maternal mortality which is one of the goals of the MDG. Also a lot of issues come up when a girl gets pregnant in an early age; we are talking about cases of the proportion of the pelvis, issues of affective labour and high-risk pregnancies associated with teenage pregnancies; we are all talking about women empowerment and gender equality which will go better with education.”

     

  • Council chief’s wife helps widows

    Wife of the Bwari Area Council chairman, Mrs. Tamar Yohanna Ushafa has donated various empowerment items to over 65 widows in the area in a bid to make life more meaningful to them.

    The widows, selected from the 10 wards of the area council, were presented with sewing machines, grinding machines, hairdressing machines and knitting machines.

    Mrs. Yohanna Ushafa called on well-meaning individuals, non-governmental organisations and corporate organisations to complement the council’s effort in empowering the womenfolk.

    She also urged beneficiaries of the facilities to take good care of them as they are meant to improve their lives and those of the children left behind by their late husbands.

    Earlier, the women development officer of the Area council, Mrs. Laraba A. Zagi, enjoined the beneficiaries to put the facilities to good use and generate income to carter for their families.

    In his remarks, chairman of the Council, who was represented by the Council’s Secretary, Luku M. Zanishin said the administration is posed to deliver its electioneering promises and urged the widows to make good use of the items.

    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Saratu Usman, thanked the chairman’s wife for the initiative.

     

  • Power failure: Inverter to the rescue

    It has not really been a good time for residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) especially those who live in the suburbs. They grapple with power failure. Some of the areas affected include Lugbe, Jabi, Kubwa, to mention but a few.

    Tired of complaints to appropriate authorities, some the affected communities have taken to the popular radio station, known as “Wazobia” to air their grievances.

    It could be worrisome when some lament living without power for almost two years and had to resort to power generating sets as well as inverters.

    Generating sets have their shortcomings such as environmental pollution, noise and the need for gasoline, a fact which has made the inverter the better option.

    Inverter adoption has been on the increase in the country especially the capital territory, as users look to improve the quality of their lives. The solution allows users to store energy when it is available and deploy it whenever it is needed, without needing to switch on their generators.

    The solution is automatic, and assures users’ experience ‘Always on Power’. The resultant savings from not having to spend money on diesel are enough to justify the purchase of inverters. The fact that they produces no noise and no pollution, just adds to their value proposition.

    Speaking to Abuja Review, Head of Simba Service, subsidiary of Simba Group which distributes the product in the country, Mr. Kj Anil said customer satisfaction has earned the firm much credibility.

    “At Simba, we believe that total customer satisfaction is only achieved, when a good quality is supported by attentive and responsive customer care and after sales service,” he added.

    The power backup solutions are manufactured by Luminous Power Technologies, an Indian power and storage firm. The company, according to Anil, produces high quality inverters, batteries and renewable energy products.

    Anil further advised the concerned territories to strengthen its drive for alternative power source as well as renewable energy.

    This among other internationally acclaimed methods can enable the administration as we ll as the country to achieve its goal on nationwide power transformation.

     

  • N19.4b water contract signed

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration has signed a N19.438 billion agreement with SCC Nigeria Limited for the construction of a new water supply scheme in Karshi Satellite Town of the FCT.

    The Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, and the Permanent Secretary, FCT, Mr. John Chukwu, signed the agreement on behalf of the FCT Administration while the Managing Director of SCC Nigeria Limited, Mr. Yuval Levy, signed for the contractor.

    Akinjide explained that the water project would address the issue of water scarcity within Karshi and its environs.

    “The water supply project, which will provide potable water and irrigation to that growing suburb of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is estimated to cost N19,438,012,125 with a completion period of 30 months.

    “The source of raw water is by means of two dams constructed on the two rivers that cross Karshi town. The water supply system includes the following elements: two dams, one low lift pumping station, raw water conveyance systems, treatment plant, treated water pumping station, treated water rising main, and regulating reservoir of 6,000 cubic metres capacity,” the minister disclosed.

    She noted that the water project would be funded through the “national priority budget”.

    She added that the project would generate employment for 600 skilled and unskilled workers.

    It will be recalled that the Federal Government had earlier approved contract for the provision of engineering infrastructure in two districts of Karshi at the cost of N28 billion in 2007, without water provision component.

    “Work in the districts have reached advanced stage, hence the need to provide other complementary infrastructure services in the area. Eighty per cent of Nigerians in the city actually live in the satellite towns, therefore, we believe that satellite towns should also receive the same level of infrastructure and attention as the Federal Capital City (FCT),” Akinjide stated.

  • Residents warned against substandard drugs

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has raised the alarm over the proliferation of substandard medical outfits in the territory, warning residents against patronising them.

    The Secretary, FCT Health & Human Services Secretariat Dr. Demola Onakomaiya sounded the alarm when the Private Health Establishment Registration and Monitoring Committee (PHERMC) paid an unscheduled visit to the Abuja Unity Hospital and Maternity in Lugbe.

    Onakomaiya said that the hospital was registered by a retired nurse and a doctor but the registrar of PHERMC later discovered that there is no doctor covering the facility and strongly advised her to employ a doctor but she declined doing so.

    He added that the committee visited the facility after hearing the rumours and allegations of complications attending the delivery of a set of twins.

    It was said that the first twin could not be delivered easily, causing a dislocation of its shoulder. The baby reportedly died later.

    The secretary said in addition that the owner of the hospital has not renewed her practicing license for the year 2013, and that she has no qualified nurses in addition to the environment being very untidy. Therefore the hospital is being run above the scope of its operation.

    Considering these reasons, the registrar of PHERMC promptly closed down the hospital and withdrew its registration.

    The Secretary who attributed the proliferation to the constant influx of people into the FCT, however, said the administration is on top of the situation, adding that Health & Human Services Secretariat of the FCT has been empowered to deal with such ugly situation through the activities of the Private Health Establishments Registration and Monitoring Committee

    The registrar of the committee Dr. Ibrahim Tata advised  the residents of the territory to always demand for license issued by the FCT administration before registering as a patient in any hospital and enjoined the residents to as a matter of urgency raise alarm wherever they suspect such outfits to be operating in their neighbors and advice the owners of private institutions to conspicuously display their certificate of the facility with PHERMC in their reception.

     

  • NUJ Abuja mourns a committed member

    The executive of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja council, have paid a condolence visit to the family of a deceased colleague, Mr. Francis Ogbu-Ngene.

    Ogbu-Ngene, a long-standing member of the union, died recently at the Maitama General Hospital, Abuja, after a brief illness.

    The chairman of the council, Comrade Chuks Ehirim during the visit to the family at Federal Housing Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, described the deceased as a strong member of the union.

    He pledged the support of the union for the family during and after the burial ceremony, adding that they should feel free to contact the union at all times in any area they need assistance.

    While praying God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss, he admonished them not to place their trust in man but in God at all times especially as they grieve over the demise of the head of the family.

    Responding on behalf of the family, Eze Igbo Lugbe, Eze John Okonkwo, expressed appreciation for the union’s concern and support to the family starting from the time their brother was hospitalised.

    The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Mohammed Garba, also urged journalists to always uphold the ethics of the journalism profession at all times.

    Garba gave the charge during the service of songs organised by the NUJ, Abuja council to honour the late Ogbu-Ngene, at the council’s secretariat, Utako.

    Garba said journalists should use their, “God-given talent to turn around the society for the better, bearing in mind that we would be held accountable for all we do as well as be remembered for the work we did when we are gone.”

    The president who was represented by an ex-officio of the union, Mr. Gbenga Onaiyega, appealed to journalists to subscribe to the NUJ insurance scheme given the hazards of the profession so as to provide for their families in event of sudden deaths.

    Deacon John Ojamiren of Winners Chapel in his sermon urged media practitioners to endeavour to make time out of their busy schedule for God, pointing out that it is their relationship with God that would count for them in the end.

    Praying against sudden and untimely deaths in the union Ojamiren, however, said that death should be an earnest expectation of all Christians and should not take them unawares if they are living lives worthy of Christians.

    Similarly, Pastor Vincent Mkpu of Graceland church urged friends and family of the deceased not to grieve too much as the dead only transit to a place where life is permanent, adding that death is not shame but gain to Christians.

    According to him, they should expect it with boldness, just as the death of others should be a reminder of their mortality and encourage them to make peace with God and man as no one can tell when it would be their turn to move on to eternity.

    Speaking on behalf of the deceased’s family, brother-in-law of the deceased, Mr. Azoro Ekezie expressed appreciation of the family to the union for their care and concern for their brother.

    The body of the late Ogbu-Ngene has been laid to rest in his country home in Enugu, Enugu State.