The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Ibadan residents relish infrastructure upgrade

    Ibadan residents relish infrastructure upgrade

    Residents of Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, have continued to applaud the infrastructure upgrade in the city.

    There is a predominant feeling that the ancient city is undergoing a massive makeover, the latest effort being the inauguration of the Mokola fly-over bridge.

    A day to the launch of the historical facility, residents of the city were in high spirits. They had waited to see the bridge commissioned so that the difficulties experienced on the ever busy road will come to an end. To show their eagerness and preparedness for the event, all the traders, artisans, members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), motorcycle operators popularly known as Okada, and members of the business community declared a work-free day to be part of the epoch-making event which attracted both the high and low in the society.

    All the major markets in the city were closed, while the traders in these markets came out en masse to attend the event. Some were decked in Ankara uniform, others donned peak caps and T-shirts bearing the portrait of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    Their city was changing and they were happy about it. Some have been converted to dual-carriage ways and beautified. Jobs are created. The state capital is looking neater and healthier. There is better access to quality health and education. Transportation and commerce have improved, while peace and order have been restored.

    The amazed audience was wondering how the governor was able to achieve these feats within two years in office when past governors failed to accomplish much in four years or more. Some have asked “where did the governor get the money to execute this project”. But that is the kind of governor they have been yearning for after many years of stagnation and bad governace.

    The commissioning of the flyover was accompanied by two other multi-million naira projects; the ultra modern market at Scout Camp, and the new Garage Modern Motorpark, Ibadan.

    The people’s faces glowed in appreciation for the good work of the governor. Now, there is unfettered movement of people, goods and services in most areas of the city as a result of a good road network.

    That the Mokola fly-over bridge, the first to be accomplished in the last 35 years by any civilian administration was successfully constructed and completed within a span of two years was still a like a dream to many.

    Indeed, for an average motorist, Mokola Roundabout was a no-go area most especially during peak hours, with a journey from Dugbe to Ojoo which should not take 20 minutes, taking  not less than  two hours. A commercial motorist, Kazeem Adelaja,  said  he always prayed in the morning not to be hooked up in the vehicular bottleneck so as not to waste precious time and fuel in the process.

    He said: “The Mokola Roundabout is a problem to an average motorist in this city, and we often find out that the bottleneck is caused by impatience on the part of the road users. On my part, I always tried everything to avoid the place so that at the end of the day I would not waste my money burning fuel unnecessarily.”

    Senator Ajimobi who described   the  road as critical in the transportation network of Ibadan in terms of commerce, education and overall well-being of the citizens, said  the flag-off  of the construction of the bridge on the  ever-busy Sango-Mokola-Dugbe Road, was a testimony of his administration’s commitment to ensuring that the citizens of the state live a better life.

    The governor who visibly expressed joy to be a vehicle of transformation, said: “It is a testimony to the fact that we desire good and robust life for the people of Oyo State. This particular flyover was conceived as part of the overall vision and mission of this administration to restore, reposition and transform the state and her citizen’s transportation to higher efficiency and effectiveness.

    “The completion of the bridge is expected to translate to less stressful journey for her citizens, especially the people of Ibadan and visitors to the state capital.”

    As early as 7.00 am, a large crowd of ordinary people thronged the Mokola area  with most of them singing and drumming to celebrate what they called a “monumental and unprecedented achievement” in the history of the state. Twisting their bodies to the sweet drum-beats by local drummers who thronged the venue of the event, the people could not hide their excitement.

     

     

     

     

     

    given the harrowing experience that they had suffered in the past and lauding the government for coming to their rescue.

    The elated former governor of Lagos State, and National leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN) in his address lauded Governor Ajimobi whom he described as an actualiser, performer and

    extra-ordinary leader in Oyo State, for the project which he said would impact positively on the lives of the people of the state. He particularly commended the Ajimobi administration for making the people the cornerstone of its economic policy, saying “we all can see developments in all ramifications’’.

    Senator Tinubu who told the people of the state that the flyover bridge and all the projects inaugurated were just tips of the iceberg, assured that more good things would still come while

    lampooning those who he said had had the opportunity of presiding over the affairs of the state but failed woefully, but who were now forming “an unholy alliance’’, stating that their alliance would fail as the people of the state were now wiser and could read between the lines.

    He said,  ” I read recently that some of them were collaborating, the old enemies who dealt themselves out of office with guns, cudgels, sticks, and cutlasses. They say they want to collaborate again, ah!

    They have failed because they will fail now again.  They were down before, they were down again. No matter what evil they put together they will continue to collapse like a pack of cards. If they forget,

    we helped them before,  let their conscience tell them. I Bola Ahmed Tinubu did what I have to do to protect the integrity, the character , the content of our democracy and the freedom of our people through him, but what did they pay back? Today, here we are .  They left the

    office of the governor in shambles and they return the state backward and rotten. Now, the office is clean, free and you see rapid progress, you see a government that made the people the cornerstone of economic policy. You see civilization in Ajimobi administration.

    You see restoration, you see commitment and radical transformation and

    urban renewal. They even refused to paint the buildings in the Secretariat where they work. They were enemy of progress,  they were enemy of change and they were enemy of the people.”

    Also speaking, Governor Okorocha, commended his Oyo State counterpart for transforming the state, particularly Ibadan where he said he built one of his schools taking care of indigent students while Governor Amosun congratulated the people of Oyo State for voting a “performer’’ as the governor, saying the result of their decision was the all-round transformation being witnessed in the state now.

    Goodwill messages were also given by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Oorelope Adefulire and the National President of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Chief Bayo Oyero among others.

    Senator Ajimobi, in his address, said the bridge was a dream come true and a historical mileage in the state and berated the opposition whom he said embarked on a campaign of calumny since the day the construction of the bridge began, urging them all to acknowledge excellence wherever they saw one.

    His words, “I remember that on Thursday, December 22, 2011, when we flagged off the construction of this fly-over bridge, we provoked the unbelief and disdain of cynics and political opposition. To them, the construction of the bridge was akin to building the biblical Towers of Babel, with its impossible tendencies.  Even when the bridge was being constructed, we became the butt of jokes of the opposition who, either out of mischief, naivety or their well-known cynicism, mocked the

    absence of an erect bridge, months after its flag-off. Unknown to them, the essential components of the bridge, being mostly pre-fabricated, were undergoing construction in the company’s yard.

    Now that the bridge has been completed, they have shifted their mischief to the cost of the project, choosing to ignore the comprehensive features of the project which among others include the upgrading of 1.2km long service roads and intersections, beautification of roundabout and space under the flyover, construction of new water mains, street lighting and the payment of compensation to the numerous property owners whose properties in this commercial centre of the city were affected. “

    A resident, Mrs. Mojisola Babalola, after the commissioning was full of praises to Senator Abiola, for not only fulfilling a  promise to deliver on the project but also changing the landscape of the entire area making it one of the beautiful areas in the city of Ibadan. She said, “the governor indeed has etched his name in the heart of many people with the completion of this project and we could not but be grateful for the flyover bridge.”

    Present at the occasion are the former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Chairman of ACN, Chief Bisi Akande, Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State,  Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola represented by his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Oorelope Adefulire, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, Chief Kola Daisi, the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Badejoko Adeniji, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, the Iylode of Ibadanland, Chief Mrs Aminat Abiodun, an educationist , Chief Emiola Adesina, Chief Bode Amao, Ambassador Olu Saanu, executive members of the Central Council Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), National Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN), Chief Lai Mohammed, members of the state executive council and party leaders amongst others.

     

  • Fayemi’s wife cares for the needy…3000 on three square meals free

    Fayemi’s wife cares for the needy…3000 on three square meals free

    The new lease of life being enjoyed by the aged, widows, HIV/AIDS patients and other vulnerable citizens in Ekiti State has continued with the introduction of Soup Kitchen by the wife of the state governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi through her Ekiti Development Foundation (EDF).

    Under the Soup Kitchen plan, the needy are fed three times a day three days in a week.

    It boosts the subsisting freebies introduced by the government. Such freebies include payment of a monthly N5,000 to the aged from 65 years, consistent free medical missions for all categories of residents in the state, free healthcare for children under five years, the aged over 65 years, expectant mothers and indigent disabled persons.

    The feeding plan started with 200 persons, with beneficiaries accessing meals across centres in Ado-Ekiti, Osi, Itapa, Emure, Aramoko and other centres across the state. Now, there are 3000 persons benefitting from the programme.

    The Soup Kitchen follows closely on the heels of the Food Bank launched in October 2012 through which well over 3,000 selected individuals had been accessing raw food materials at centres located in Ado-Ekiti and other locations in the state, according to Erelu Fayemi, EDF founder.

    The governor’s wife said the EDF spearheaded the food bank and soup kitchen as part of its contributions to the administration’s resolve to banish poverty and extreme hunger from the state.

    Said she at the soup kitchen launch: “The target of the current administration is to ensure that every family secures access to free nutritious meals a minimum of nine times every week. This is not just a dream, it is a goal towards which we are working.”

    On the soup kitchen, the EDF is collaborating with the Centre for Family and Reproductive Health Initiative (CFRHI), a non-governmental organisation, founded by the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi.

    The governor’s wife said the ultimate target of the initiators is to ensure that the soup kitchen is replicated in each of the 177 wards of the state before the end of the year.

    She is optimistic that the target will be achieved if indigenous people of the state residing at home or in the Diaspora, as well as political appointees in the state, support the initiative.

    The Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, and some top female officials of the state were with the governor’s wife as she spoke during the launch of the feeding plan.

    The beauty of the soup kitchen, as noted by the governor’s wife, is the decision by some of the beneficiaries with catering background to cook the foods and serve as volunteers in each centre.

    “This will erase any suspicion about the quality and safety of the food. We don’t want political opponents to turn round and say that there is something else to the initiative. “That is why those who are cooking and serving are among those eating it,” Fayemi’s wife said.

    She said the introduction of the soup kitchen was in fulfilment of some of the electioneering promises of the governor when criss-crossing the nooks and cranny of the state for votes.

    She thanked organisations and individuals that have contributed to the success of the projects so far and sought further support.

    She urged all political office holders in the state to ensure the establishment of at least one soup kitchen in their ward to take government nearer to the people at the grassroots.

    In her remarks, Prof. Modupe Owolabi said the initiative was the begining of good things that the people of the state have longed for.

    She described the project as an imitation of best practices in the developed world, adding that the government was proud of the efforts of the governor’s wife towards giving the people a new lease of life.

    She appealed to the people of the state to continue to support the administration to enable it to deliver more dividends of democracy to them.

    The founder of the CFRHI, Dr Richie-Adewusi thanked the state government for its giant strides aimed at ensuring that the people enjoyed the presence of government in their localities.

    She urged the volunteers in charge of the soup kitchen not to divert the food, whether raw or cooked, and to treat the beneficiaries with love and care.

    Two of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Margaret Abegunde in Ado-Ekiti and Mrs. Bosede Folorunso in Emure, lauded the initiative and prayed for the continued success of the administration.

    Abegunde said: “I collect N5000 monthly from the government. I enjoy free health services and now free meal. Fayemi and his wife are taking care of the aged and my prayer is that they will age gracefully.

    “I’m short of words because none of us enjoying these freebies have ever been asked to produce any political party card before we benefit. I’m close to 90 years and I can say this is the first time I’m seeing this type of thing.”

    The governor’s wife also recently supported nearly 200 individuals across families with various sums totalling N11 million direct financial empowerment and individuals in the state. However, what made the event tick was the flavour of the so-called minority groups including the Ibo, Hausa-Fulani, Urhobo and Ebira who took prominence among the list of beneficiaries.

    All the beneficiaries of Erelu Fayemi’s assistance however shared just one common attribute: they all needed material and financial assistance, reached out to her office and succour came their way.

    Many among the 190 beneficiaries who spoke to the nation were lost in words when a total of their accumulated four-month largesse were handed over to them one after the other in sum which totaled N11 million.

    One of the beneficiaries, an Igbo trader in the state, Mrs. Irene Obasi, was full of praises for the governor’s wife on her efforts at supporting people of the state, irrespective of their political or ethnic backgrounds.

    She noted: “I would have made my request last year but I was discouraged by people who said I was Igbo. I was to discover late that the Igbo were among those who benefitted that same year.  I thank the governor’s wife for not discriminating among the people of the state and for offering good leadership to all communities in the state. May God continue to bless you, Ma.”

    The beneficiaries included widows, orphans, multiple birth mothers, students and those seeking assistance to offset medical bills or start businesses.

    At the ceremony, the governor’s wife said she would continue to use her position and networks to empower the people and enhance their well-being.

    She explained that the four-month accumulated disbursement was delayed due to the death of the former Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka, an incident she said plunged the state into mourning.

    The First Lady assured the people of the state of her avowed commitment to sustained financial assistance through her office and EDF, but admonished beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money, urging them to ensure they commit the given sums on whatever they might have planned, with a special prayer for the sick among them to get well quick.

    The governor’s wife used the opportunity to urge the beneficiaries and well-wishers of the Dr. Kayode Fayemi-led administration to continue to disseminate information about its unprecedented achievements, saying “we give assistance not on the basis of political r religious affiliation. Christians have access to my office as much as Muslims. Whoever genuinely approaches my office for succour would surely find one.”

    She however added it would be improper and possibly look like being ungrateful for those benefitting from the different life-changing programmes of the administration to keep silent while detractors run down and talk ill of the government.

    She said: “Let me encourage all of us here to tell others about this programme. The more people we can make happy and restore smiles to in whatever way, the more successful the administration of Governor Fayemi. We should also endeavor to speak the truth to people whenever the enemies of the administration deliberately misinform the public in respect of Governor Fayemi’s many laudable and life-changing programmes.”

    Just as I told our Igbo mothers on their Igbo Day recently, the programmes of my office and that of EDF are not for only the Yoruba or Christians alone. It is for those who lack a definite source of income. Once you come Younwill be asked questions to ascertain how true your claims are. We will definitely reach back to you wherever you come from or your religious/political affiliation.

    Meanwhile, the wife of the governor also recently led advocacy visits of the members of Gender-Based Violence Prohibition Law Management Committee to the Ekiti state University (EKSU); the State Judiciary. She equally visited the Ministry of Justice as well as the Ekiti state Police Command in the drive to ensure zero tolerance for gender violence in the state.

    Erelu Fayemi Fayemi, who is also the Chairperson of the Management Committee said the reason for the visits was to build partnership with all relevant stakeholders including government agencies to combat all forms of violence against women.

    She added that working with stakeholders will enable women have a better grasp of the situation on ground and the plight victims of violence and ensure that response to the law against gender violence was adequate.

    Erelu Fayemi, who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi, said the committee, will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that violence against women and girls became a thing of the past in the state.

    At the Ekiti state University, the governor’s wife commended the university community on the various steps it had taken against some students and even lecturers found violating women.

    She further gave kudos to the university for establishing GBV support club in the school which would make students and lecturers work side by side to address the issue of violence against women.

    Erelu Fayemi promised to fully support the establishment of the Centre for Gender and Development Studies being proposed by the institution. She used the opportunity to advise victims of gender violence not to be silent but to report immediately any form of violation against them in order to get justice.

    The Chairperson advised administrators of higher institutions in the state to ensure that security personnel took the issue of violence against women serious and to discourage out-of-court settlement.

    At the Ekiti state Judiciary and state Ministry of Justice, the governor’s wife solicited for the establishment of a gender court to operate side by side with the family court already in existence in the state.

    She requested the designation of a gender court to hear and determine GBV cases as provided by section 5 of the Gender-Based Prohibition law 2011, as well as replication of the family courts in all the judicial divisions of the state. The committee also demanded that adequately trained gender sensitive court officers should be assigned to work on gender issues, as well as to ensure that gender cases were expeditiously tried.

    Speaking with the state police commissioner, Mr. Sotonye Wakama, Erelu demanded the strengthening of gender desk at the police  stations by posting gender sensitive officers with adequate and continuous training.

    She also request that gender cases must be charged under the Ekiti state Gender-Based Violence Prohibition Law 2011, while also calling for prompt release of case files to ministry of Justice, adding that survivors of gender violence should be given free medical treatment as provided by section 8a of the law.

    In her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs Fola Richie-Adewusi urged all hands to be on deck to address the challenging issues of gender violence with vigour.

    The commissioner, who is also the vice chairperson of the committee, noted that government has given the committee a mandate to ensure zero tolerance for gender violence in the state, adding that government has also approved GBV support fund to assist those who have been violated to get back on their feet.

    On the visit to the EKSU, Erelu Fauemi made similar appeals and called for supports of the Institution’s management in the fight against various abuses of women.

    Responding to the various demands of the committee, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oladipo Aina said the university had embarked on the construction of female hostel accommodation with full security network to ensure that women were adequately protected from all forms of harassment.

    He disclosed that a lecturer of the university was recently sacked as a result of violating female students and promised to meet such stern action on any staff of the institution who used their positions to harass and embarrass female students on the campus.

    The VC disclosed that the University Council has approved the establishment of Centre for Gender and Development Studies to ensure that all men and women are treated fairly and equally with dignity and respect. He used the opportunity to solicit more support from government for empowerment of women in the state.

    Meanwhile, the state government recently opened  a black book, called the Sexual Offenders Register, in which a blacklist.for the programmes founded by the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi.. for the programmes founded by the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi. of convicted sexual offenders would be catalogued possibly alongside the specific sexual crime they have committed.

    This was a culmination of several efforts of the wife of the state governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi in the area of gender advocacy and empowerment which well complement the efforts of the state governor Kayode Fayemi’s at instituting people-centered and genuine socio-economic  progress in the state.

    for the programmes founded by the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development and Gender Empowerment, Mrs. Fola Richie-Adewusi.

     

  • Lawmaker lifts constituents

    An Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Chieftain in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, Princess Uzamat Akinbile, has distributed poverty alleviation materials to residents and community development associations.

    Speaking at the event tagged: Goodwill Project 2013, Akinbile, who is the Supervisory Councillor for Agriculture, Rural and Social Development in Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, said that she was touched by the plight of the residents and the limited resources by community development associations to carry out self–help projects.

    “There is need for public office holders to initiate community-based developmental projects that would uplift rural dwellers and alleviate poverty in the society. I was encouraged to embark on this gesture because there are many skilled residents who, for lack of fund do not have necessary work tools to earn a living while many communities lack basic infrastructure or social amenities to make life worth living especially in the rural areas.”

    Speaking further on the choice of the choice of beneficiaries, Princess Akinbile said they were picked after a careful selection by a committee.

    “We selected 10 outstanding community development associations across the wards in the Agbado/Oke-Odo council area for a N50,000 grant each as support for their self-help developmental projects. We have single handedly constructed and commissioned a culvert project in Ward G to alleviate the untold hardship experienced by road users and we have also rehabilitated a borehole in Temidire community. This is not my first time of reaching out to my people; many residents have benefited from my charity in the past, especially in the areas of health education and free treatment for infirmed mothers and their children. I have given free medical treatment to people and I have also distributed drugs, mosquito nets and other items to empower indigent residents who don’t have any means of livelihood or resources to prosecute their children’s education. I am not tired yet of doing more because it’s a calling to help humanity, not to actualise self-seeking goals,” she added.

    In his message on the occasion, Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who was represented by Hon. Dele Ogunsakin, praised Akinbile for her gesture saying :” she has demonstrated outstanding commitment toward grassroot development which is the pivot of national development and one of the cardinal programmes of the Action Congress of Nigeria. toward executing

    About 100 artisans and traders were given various items and tools ranging from hair dryers, clippers, baking oven, freezers, generators, computers, public address systems and digital camera among others.

     

  • Kaduna deputy governor searches for un-immunised kids

    Kaduna deputy governor searches for un-immunised kids

    He walked through the woods, made his way across farmlands and marched in muddy terrains just to find two children who missed out in the last immunisation exercise held in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    Such was the importance of the health plan that Deputy Governor Nuhu Audu Bajoga who chairs the state Task Force on Polio Eradication and Strengthening Routine Immunisation, did not want to take chances.

    He launched out on the search like the biblical shepherd who went after one missing sheep, leaving the 99 others behind.

    Ambassador Bajoga left the comfort of his office in Kaduna, the state capital, to locate and immunise two children who failed to be innoculated in the last exercise in Ungwan Aya and Madauchi villages, neither could their whereabouts be ascertained.

    The report of the missing kids gave the state government cause for concern.

    Determined to find and immunise them as part of government’s efforts to rid the state of child killer disease, Bajoga took a trip to the two villages, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, chairman of Zangon Kataf council and polio officials.

    The two villages located almost 200km away from Kaduna metropolis city are mainly farming communities. As he went through the settlements, he preached the message of immunisation.

    He told the people of Madauchi to be patient and respond to the immunisation call for the total eradication of the virus. He appealed to the people to accept the programme, and not feel that government is disturbing them.

    “Do not think that government is unnecessarily disturbing you with regular rounds of polio vaccine,” he told them.

    “It’s important we vaccinate children so as to wipe out polio in the world. So be patient and comply at all times for the good of our children and our society.”

    Aside the efforts to locate the missing children, the deputy governor personally supervised the immunisation of some Fulani children at Ungwan Aya and assessed their response to the exercise. He was not disappointed with what he saw.

    But he insisted, though, that parents must heed the call for children to be allowed to partake in the routine immunisation exercise for posterity. His charge was not unconnected with the fact that the Fulani are always on the move in search of pasture for their cattle. As they move their cattle, they also move with their entire families. That is how some children miss out on the polio immunisation exercise.

    Bajoga walked the distance between the two villages to ensure that the right thing was done and the children found and immunised. He said that the idea behind his visit was to determine whether the two children in the communities who ‘missed out’ during the earlier immunisation exercise had been recovered and rightly immunized to forestall any emergence of the dreaded polio virus in not only the local government but the entire state. So, he walked through the farm and on the muddy road to the villages and was told that the children had been found and immunised.

    He later told the paramount ruler of the Bajju people, Mallam Nuhu Bature: “We are here today because there was a case of two missing children during the last routine polio vaccination exercise. As the committee saddled with the responsibility of ensuring total eradication of polio in the state, we have decided to come back to ensure these two children are located and properly vaccinated alongside others” he told the Agwam Bajju”. He lamented that “it was only Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan in the whole world that still parade the white-polio virus. Government has spent money on the issue of polio eradication and so we must always go round to insist that the routine polio exercise is complete.”

    The Agwam Bajju, Mallam Nuhu Bature told the Deputy Governor of his chiefdom’s readiness to partner with the state government to rid the state of polio. The paramount ruler was particularly happy that the deputy governor took it upon himself to personally do an on the spot assessment to determine the success of the programme. He said “I want to sincerely thank the state government for engaging in this inspection exercise to free our community and the state of this polio virus. I want to assure the government of our chiefdom’s support to rid the state of polio”.

    Chairman of Zangon Kataf local government Christopher Haruna however told News Extra that efforts to totally eradicate the dreaded polio disease in the local government and the state was yielding fruit.

     

  • Council chair remembers the elderly

    Hope was rekindled for senior citizens of Oriade Local Council Development Area in Lagos State as the council chairman, Hon Ibrahim Babatunde Sanusi last week began the payment of their monthly allowance.

    Hon Sanusi disclosed that 300 elderly persons will benefit from welfare package of N5000 per month. He disclosed this during the flag- off of the distribution of welfare package to the elderly at the council secretariat.

    He said the council will continue to update its data to get more of the elderly to benefit from the welfare package every month.

    “We are giving the aged social security package; it was quarterly before but now we are making it monthly and also extending it to more wards within the council’s jurisdiction. We are giving 300 people this month; we believe that this donation will help improve their welfare,” he said.

    The council also gave out eight transformers to the Community Development Associations (CDAs) for their use. Giving reason for the distribution of the transformers, the council chairman said it was in response to the complaints of the residents with regards to blackout occasioned by malfunctioning transformers.

    “There are a lot of complaints from the CDAs on the issue of transformer; most of the transformers are old and malfunctioning, they have spent a lot repairing them yet they don’t work very well. Some communities experience blackout till now. For us to stop this, we decided that we should assist the CDAs who are in blackout to provide them with transformers so that they can have access to electricity; we want the transformer issue problem to be a past in LCDA,” he said.

    Hon Ramot Hassan, who was assisted by the council chairman to commission the transformers, praised the efforts of the council chair in alleviating the sufferings of the people through the provision of the transformers and granting of monthly welfare package to the elderly in the council.

    He urged theresidentsto make proper use of the materials given to them.

    Other things gave out include presentation of internet base laptops to the Police Force to improve security in the area and the royal fathers to ease communication problems.

     

  • Fed Govt to build 550 housing units

    The Federal Government will build 550 housing units in the 22 states of the federation ravaged by flood in 2012, the Kwara state Chair, Committee on Flood, Relief and Rehabilitation, Alhaji Dabarako Mohammed has disclosed.

    He added that each of the 22 states would enjoy 25 housing units from the Federal Government. Dabarako, who is the state head of service told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital, that the state had put measures in place to mitigate flooding in 2013. He listed some of the states that will benefit from the Federal Government housing project as Kwara Kogi, Delta, Bayelsa, Niger and other states where the impact of the 2012 flooding was devastating.

    He stated that the state government had appealed to hydro-stations to regulate the release of water from the dams to avoid flooding. He opined that the water could be released gradually when the dam was not filled up.

    He said that: “We also spoke with hyo-stations that is Jebba, New Bussa and Shiroro. We advised them that what they could do to help our people is to regulate the way they will release their water. They should not wait until the dams are 100 percent full. So that people down streams will be able to manage their own situation.

    “We also went to the traditional rulers and chairmen of the councils to identify ten relocations areas in their respective councils for the people. Having done that we held meeting with the Presidential committee on flood last week; they told us that the federal government is coming to assist the people. It was at the meeting that we learnt that 25 housing units would be constructed in each of the 22 affected states.

    He stated that committee had identified such areas as Patigi, Moro, Kaiama, Baruteen and Ilorin as some flood prone areas.”

    He added that the state had designated 60 sites where to relocate the people of the state living in flood prone areas.

    The 60 sites are scattered across six local government areas of the state that were affected by last year’s devastating flood.

    The local government areas are Patigi, Edu, Kaiama, Baruten, Moro and Ilorin, the state capital, saying that each council has been allocated 10 relocation centres.

    The Special Assistant, Emergency and Relief Services to the state Governor, Musa Abdullahi said the government had cleared virgin land, arranged for tents and mobile toilets and provided about N5m anti-flood epidemic drugs as a proactive measure against the impending flood and the associated health demands.

    He added that the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed had made provision of N10m for the construction of the tents and N7m for the mobile toilets.

    He urged people living in flood prone areas to relocate to safe areas and be more safety conscious.

     

  • Kwara to upgrade 120 schools

    The Kwara State government has said it would upgrade 120 secondary schools to meet global standards of teaching, infrastructure and pupil-teacher ratio in the state.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Communications, Dr Muideen Akorede, in Ilorin.

    The statement said the move was designed to enhance the quality of education and teaching standards in schools in line with the education reform programme tagged “every child counts’’.

    “Secondary education builds on the strong foundation laid at the basic level, so we have to get it right by providing high standard education in an atmosphere conducive to quality learning for our children before they begin tertiary education.

    “That is why we are matching our teacher training with a curriculum overhaul and comprehensive upgrading of our secondary schools,’’ it said.

    The statement said in an attempt to ensure geographical spread and equitable distribution of development projects, 40 secondary schools had been selected for overhaul from each of the three senatorial zones in the state.

    The proposed upgrade will cover classrooms rehabilitation and construction; provision of science equipment; computer laboratories and sports facilities in all schools selected for the first phase of the project.

    It said that another set of schools would be upgraded once work on the 120 was completed.

    The statement stressed that the proposed overhaul of the schools would improve on the 400 blocks of classrooms rehabilitated by the state government in the last two years.

  • Honour for DESOPADEC commissioner, others

    The Commissioner representing Ndokwa nation on the Board of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC),Rev Chukudi Eke, has described Governor Uduaghan as the exemplary administrator he has been emulatingsince he assumed office.

    Rev. Eke who was recently conferred with the prestigious Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Administration (FCIA), at the International Conference Centre Abuja, seized the opportunity of his induction to showcase the success of the 3-point agenda of the administration of Governor Uduaghan.

    He noted that: “It’s only a visionary leader that can map out his action-plan and, thereafter, follow its implementation to the letter.”

    Commissioner Eke applauded the innovation and doggedness of Governor Uduaghan in the pursuit of his visionary agenda of Delta Beyond oil Revenue,saying, “it takes only visionary administrators to create and maintain an economy that’s not totally dependent on oil revenue that we are almost certain may not last forever. In fact, the innovative administrative capability and sustainable skills of Governor Uduaghan have set him apart from his peers as a pacesetter and visionary leader.” He thanked the governor for recognising his talents and carrying along educated, experienced and talented Delta people in Diaspora in his administration.

    Rev. Chukwudi Eke, a graduate of the prestigious Harvard University, Cambridge, USA was one of the trained administrators who earned the Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Administration.

    Other notable Nigerians who received similar include: Dr. Emeka Anyaoku (former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations),Alhaji Bala BawaKa’oje (President of Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, former Member of the Federal House of Representatives and one time Minister of Sports and social Development), Hon. Ekpuk Silas Udom (a serving Commissioner in Akwa-Ibom State), and Hon. Gogo Levi Charles(Rivers State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning) among others.

    Speaking at the event, Chief Dr. Emeka Anyaoku remarked that unlike Rev. Eke and other professional administrators who studied and were assessed before bagging the award, he was profoundly thankful to be recognised as a seasoned administrator by the Chartered Institute of administration.

    The President and Chairman of the Executive Council of the CIA, Adm. Dr. Goddy Ibidaminabo, remarked that CIA gave the Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Administration (FCIA) to Dr. Anyaoku in recognition of his leadership qualities as well as one who served his people at both national and international capacities.

    Over 2000 guests attended the event at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. His Royal Majesty, Obi Edward Akaeze II, the Obi of Ubulu-Uku congratulated Rev. Eke on the award and said that “with Rev. Eke’s education, experience, expertise and exposure in national and international administration standard and practice, he truly deserves such award.”

     

     

     

  • Day of demands for Abuja indigenous people

    Day of demands for Abuja indigenous people

    The indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory have marked their day. But even as they did so, they made it abundantly clear that mere feasting was not top on the agenda.

    The people who marked the day in Gwagwalada on the platform of the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA), saw it as an opprotunity to unburden their minds and let the authorities know what they really want.

    One of their requests was for the Federal Government to democratise governance in the Territory. They asked that the President of the Federation relinquish his powers as Governor of the FCT and the National Assembly also give up the role of the legislature of the Territory.

    The people requested that those powers be given to the original inhabitants and residents of the Territory so that they can freely and directly elect those to govern them.

    OIDA expressed support for the National Assembly’s proposal for election of a mayor of FCT with executive powers.

    The proposal is part of the recommendations by the National Assembly in the ongoing constitution amendment.

    OIDA President, Danladi Jeji  also expressed their support for the Mayoral status of the city.

    Jeji said: “The Senate proposal for an elective mayor, with governorship power, as contained in the constitution review is hereby accepted by OIDA.“

    “But we plead that for the FCT, the democratic institutions of a second tier administration (the state) should be unambiguously entrenched in the constitution when finally amended, “ he said.

    The FCT indigenes had proposed the removal of “an unconstitutional democratic deficit” imposed by the military regimes in their memoranda to the constitution review.

    Jeji commended NASS for respecting the democratic tenets of the rule of law and constitutionality by satisfying the yearnings and aspiration of indigenous people of the FCT.

    He said there was a need for the creation of two additional senatorial districts and four federal constituencies in the FCT in line with what obtains in other states of the federation.

    “Perusing the activities of government vis-a-vis progressive practice globally, it has become abundantly clear that the indigenous communities of FCT have been seriously short-changed.

    “Government has responded to the demands of the Niger Delta for revenue allocation based on the principles of derivation.

    “It established a Niger Delta Ministry and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the FCT indigenes have not been so treated, “ he said.

    He appealed that 20 per cent of all sales accruing from land proceeds within the FCT and 40 per cent of all land allocation to individuals should be given to indigenes.

    “Major streets in the FCT should also as matter of policy be named after indigenous heroes and traditional leaders.“

    Earlier, the General Secretary of ACE, Mr Emma Ezeazu, called on the Federal Government to rectify the development challenges facing the FCT original inhabitants.

    “We are also asking for the establishment of an FCT Original Inhabitants Development Commission.”

    He said the FCT Indigene day is a day to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the nine indigenous tribes of the Federal Capital Territory namely: Amwamwa, Bassa, Egbura, Gade, Ganagana, Gbagyi, Gbari, Gwandara and Koro.

    It is organised to show how peaceful and accommodating we have been to all Nigerians in the centre of unity.”

    “We also want two additional Senatorial districts to be created for the FCT to make it three like other states in Nigeria”

    “That not less than four additional federal constituencies should be created for the FCT to make it six like other states”

    “That eleven additional Area Councils should be created in the FCT”he said

  • Night life in Abuja

    Night life in Abuja

    Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of government, has many attractions. It could be counted among the best three in Africa and the best in sub-Saharan Africa.

    This sprawling capital city possesses a curious blend of African and Western civilizations and it is home to people of divergent ethnic nationalities. It is also fast becoming Nigeria’s power capital by the growing number of political activities that take place almost every other day. In fact, all nationalities of the world are well represented here, because this is where you have all the head offices of diplomat’s, oil companies, and construction companies among others.

    The city is well known for its vibrant night life. At about 4:00 Pm or 5:00 Pm if you take a close scrutiny while returning from work, you are held bound by the traffic jam that characterizes the city and you manage to allow your eyes wander to the sides of the road, that is when you will discover the open spaces converted into relaxation spots called (gardens) scattered all over the place. And if you have an adventurous nature, you will not miss to observe how organised these bu-siness people are: plastic chairs of blue, white, red are well arranged in their fours with a table in their middle, this is where the fun kicks off for the day. You will hear boisterous laughter emanating from different tables in these parks. What is particularly of interest is the fact that the women here are not as noisy compared to what you find in Lagos outdoor entertainment spots. Another thing that is also noticeable about Abuja gardens is the issue of class and the additional efforts made by these women to be classy. After all, these parks serve Abuja residents and visitors the opportunity to unwind after the hustling of the day and nobody wants to appear undesirable.

    For the new visitor you will be amazed by the towering structures of private and government organizations.

    The beauty of this city to some people is most visible at dawn aided by the grace of the rising sun, while to the night crawler, it is a safe haven since it is one of our cities with the lowest crime rates.

    Not surprisingly therefore, a good number of people see Abuja as an irresistible woman in whose arms they would wish to spend eternity for its sheer hospitality and the fact that, she welcomes you with open arms from airport road, Kubwa and Nyanya. Her long arms stretch from Gwarimpa to Utako from there to Asokoro to Maitama to Garki and you get the climax of this city at Wuse 2.

    A visitor friendly metropolis, the first impression visitors get when escaping to Abuja from the ambush of Lagos and Port Harcourt is that of sanity and maximum enjoyment which is guaranteed.   To me, the night crawler enjoys this city most, because at night the sea of street lights cascading through the city brings out that hidden beauty usually associated with a few African cities. It is also by this period (10:00 pm or 11:00 pm) that other forms of entertainment begin to unfold its zeal to pleasure the fun seeker. These forms of entertainment vary according to the orientation and vision of the business owners; they are nightclubs, bars, live band, striptease and cocktails etc.

    Eighty per cent of the night clubs are all clustered in Wuse 2, where you have Terminal 5, Cubana, Aqua, Blakes, Basement, Krystal Lounge, Safari, etc, and some of the clubs can be located in some big hotels like Sheraton, Transcorp Hilton and some hotels in Asokoro. It is at this time (10pm or 11pm) that you really see people’s real character come up, as you can catch these pleasure lovers or fun seekers (as you may call it) wining and dining and then dancing alingo or kukere to the tune blaring from the huge speakers with the DJ’s in the box standing with speakers on his ears and dark shades on his face shaking his head to the tune.

    But recently following spates of terrorists attacks all over the world (in which Nigeria had its fair share) activities slowed these process down and certainly these events (terrorism) sent jitters down the spine of residents and would-be visitors. To worsen matters, the city control unit imposed a curfew that stipulated when to go out or not.

    Though prostitution is prohibited but you could feel its presence and traces. It is usually visible in dark spots of the city or some night clubs. These girls sleep in the day and dress out provocatively in the night and you might stop to ponder “where is this beautiful girl going by now?” Most of them are students of higher institutions who come from all corners of the country to ply their trade in Abuja because of the belief that politicians and foreigners pay more.

    Some are lucky and some are doomed as they do not live to tell the story. Notwithstanding, it is pertinent to know that not all girls are prostitutes, some are responsible ladies who go in group and sometimes alone to unwind, but because of the prohibition of prostitution, some of these ladies (in the past) were usually harassed many a time by hotel securities or security agents, but thanks today we are no longer in that messy condition again, because recently the Federal Government decided to tackle this issue of insecurity by its horn, the city have returned to peace and everywhere is now bubbling again as activities are now in full gear.

    It is said that after rain comes sun shine so the security situation which otherwise bedeviled the city which is located in the north central has been nipped in the bud and once again everything has returned to normal. So sit back, relax and enjoy the city of Abuja.

    •Umoren Umoren writes from Abuja