The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Council swears in councillors

    Ten newly-elected councillors in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory have been sworn in at the council’s secretariat. They were urged to work hard towards promoting peace as well work as a team in the interest of the council.

    Chairman of the council, Mr. Peter Yohanna Ushafa, who presided over the ceremony, also swore in the Vice-Chairman of the council, Mallam Abubakar Bala Mutawalli, for a second term in office.

    He called on them to set aside all personal interests for the general interest of the people that voted them into power.

    “I encourage you to serve with all your heart and might. I also implore you, as major stakeholders of peace, to avoid anything capable of jeopardising the relative peace being enjoyed in the council,” he urged.

    He thanked the residents of the council for renewing his mandate at the polls, even as he called on politicians in the area, including those that could not make it at the polls, to close ranks and support the leadership of the council.

    “To the capable and trusted staff of this great council, our partners in progress, we also count on your continuous cooperation in the task of implementing the policy thrust of this administration,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, the Vice-Chairman of the council, Mallam Abubakar Bala Mutawalli, assured residents of the council of more purposeful leadership. He also solicited their support and pieces of advice.

    Speaking on behalf of the councillors, Mrs. Mary Makama, representing Dutse Ward, thanked the electorate for their confidence in them and promised not to let them down.

    Seven of the councillors namely Dantani Yusuf – Bwari Central Ward; Mary Makama – Dutse Ward; Jibrin Danbaba – Kuduru Ward; Ahmed Danjuma – Igu Ward; Reuben Timothy – Ushafa Ward; Dimas Gwamna – Shere Ward and Mohammed Koko – Kawu Ward won on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The other three councillors, Yunusa Hamza – Byazhin Ward, Haruna Mohammed – Kubwa Ward and Muhammad Salisu – Usuma Ward won on the platform of Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

  • Group laments govt’s insensitivity

    Group laments govt’s insensitivity

    The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has vowed to mobilise market women, artisans and other stakeholders against the federal and state governments.

    COEASU President, Asagha Nkoro told newsmen at a briefing in Abuja that the Federal Government had continued to exhibit uncaring attitude to the plight of lecturers by failing to implement negotiated agreement.

    The union listed the refusal to commence renegotiation process as contained in the 2010 agreement, none conduct of Needs Assessment, imposition of IPPIS, proliferation of satellite campuses, exploitative tax regime and the refusal to release White Paper of the visitation panel as contending issues government must resolve.

    Lamenting that the Federal Government had not responded to issues raised by the union since it embarked upon the strike on April 29, Nkoro, who was with the General Secretary, Nuhu Ogirima, also accused some state governments of abandoning their fundamental responsibilities in states-owned Colleges of Education.

    According to him, the refusal of governments to pay attention to the union was an indication of lack of respect for the masses who struggled for their children to attend colleges of education because they could not afford university education.

    Nkoro said: “It is quite incontrovertible that the refusal of the respective governments and various authorities to expeditiously address the issues could induce the union to invoke measures that would impede/paralyse the smooth running of the entire colleges of education system.

    “Ultimately, the peaceful and congenial atmosphere for which the colleges of education have been known would be difficult to guarantee, should the situation persist with the manifest impunity on the part of the government and the colleges’ management and councils,” he added.

    According to the union, the consistent manifestation of gross discrimination in addressing matters of common interest in tertiary institutions was not in the best interest of the sector.

    Nkoro also blamed some governors for not complying with the 65 years retirement age and contributory pension scheme, underfunding and infrastructural decay among others; especially in Osun State Colleges of Education in Ilesa and Ila-Orangun; and FCT College of Education, Zuba.

  • New deal for Abuja widows

    New deal for Abuja widows

    THE cloud of despair has lifted over widows in the nation’s capital. Elizabeth Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has come to their aid, bringing food, clothing and jobs tools.

    The food and clothing will take care of immediate challenges on the home front while the jobs tools will put the widows in business, making it possible for them to look after themselves and their families in the long term.

    It is a new deal for the women who lost their husbands and breadwinners.

    Most of the widows could not believe what they were given at the event.

    One of them, Mrs. Hanna Oma told Abuja Review that the foundation came to her rescue when her husband suddenly died while she was not doing anything to feed the family.

    She said: “I have known Elizabeth Foundation for over three years now. When my husband died, the pastor of my husband’s friend that works here invited me to come and register. So, when I came, I registered my name and my children’s names and since then she (the founder) has been helping us pay school fees. When we have any challenge in the family and call upon her, she will answer, she helps us solve the problem by the grace of God.

    “Since I met her, she has been helping with payment of our house rent, clothing, and on Christmas Day celebration.

    She calls us to come and rejoice with her. She buys things for the children and sometimes she gives us money. She also tries to encourage us on the challenges in the home. She helps us immensely; especially in the area of paying our children’s school fees which she has been shouldering up to university level.”

    Another widow, who did not want to disclose her name also said: “She has paid my house rent, children’s school fees and helped us even with foodstuffs. The foundation includes outsiders who are not necessarily members. We have been going outside and inviting everybody. As far as you are a widow, you can register with the foundation.’’

    According to the Senior Special Assistant to the Senate President on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Matters, Mrs. Nehi Okunmwendia, government will assist the widow.

    She said: “Like we said during the skill acquisition programme, the office of the NGO has areas like education, poverty alleviation and good governance on which it focuses attention. They say that there is dignity in labour. So, we want to help them to actualise their dreams. This is because some people have talents but don’t know how to go about actualising them.

    “So, we want to bring out that potential to enable them empower themselves. If we train them, we give them capital to start.

    “So, we are trying to reduce poverty in Nigeria. The Senate President has a passion for that. Actually, whenever they have such conventions for widow, the Speaker usually asks them to find something to do, which is how we want to empower women so that when their husbands die, they will be able to take care of the children and themselves.

    “Government cannot do everything. That is why we have all these NGOs that can help in this aspect. We don’t give money directly; we try to understand what kind of skill they want to engage in, get the specification, start it for them and get a group to monitor them because you cannot just give someone money without monitoring to ensure that everything goes well.”

    The founder, Mrs. Angel Adelani was in tears when explaining how she started the foundation with little support.

    She said: “The challenges were majorly funds because if I have funds, there are a thousand and one things that I will like to do.

    “My most pressing need for now is a plot of land. I would want government to give me a plot of land where I can build houses for them and try to empower them. My advice to widows is to hold on tight because God is able to meet them at the point of their needs. Their focus should be on God. It’s not very easy for them. They have emotional, financial and social problems. They are stigmatised as widows because they happen to be from Nigeria.”

  • FCT warns against illegal document on parks

    The FCT Administration will not release any title document on any park and garden within the 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory.

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed made this disclosure, while receiving the 17-member delegation of the Indian Defence College that was in Abuja on a study tour of Nigeria, at the FCDA Conference Room, Central Business District, Abuja.

    The minister revealed that all Certificates of Occupancy meant for the parks and garden in the territory are domiciled in the Department of Parks and Recreation in the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council.

    Senator Mohammed reiterated that no title document on any of the gardens would be released to the Park Operators because such areas are only being sub-leased and would be taken back at the expiration of the lease period depending on activity on such areas.

    According to him, the activity on such parks determines the lease period, which is being graduated between five and 35 years that is the maximum.

    Senator Mohammed disclosed that since inception, the FCT Administration has been able to develop 30 percent of the Federal Capital City comprising of 250 square kilometers.

    “Accordingly, the FCT Administration has out of 79 Districts of the Federal Capital City developed 11 with 68 districts still undeveloped,” he stressed.

    The minister noted that India and Nigeria have similarities especially on their demographic challenges, which his administration is determined to turn into its utmost advantage.

    He lauded the sound diplomatic relations between Nigeria and India including their economic ties, which both nations have exploited to the benefit of their citizens.

    The leader of delegation of the Indian National Defence College, Air Vice Marshal IP Vipin appreciated the warm reception accorded his team.

    AVM Vipin who praised the rapid development being witnessed in Abuja within the short time of its conception, remarked that India and Nigeria have long standing history and would work to strengthen it.

  • Group makes case for women

    The African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP), a non-governmental organisation has called on government and financial institutions to assist them with funds to enable them to enhance economic growth as well as boost economic empowerment in the countr.

    The group also disclosed its intention to train 500 women on computer application by the end of this year.

    The International President of AWEP, Mrs. Sylvia Banda disclosed this in Abuja during the launch of the Nigerian chapter of AWEP.

    Banda, who appealed to government to support women and reduce the challenges women face in business, urged banks to ensure that the interest rate they plan has human face because three quarter of the world economy is generated by women.

    Affirming Hilary Clinton’s statement, Mrs. Banda said: “Women can be the rock on which a freer, safer, more prosperous Africa is built. They just need the opportunity.

    “The African Women’s Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP) is an outreach, education and engagement initiative that aims to empower African women entrepreneurs to become voices of change in their communities.”

    Also speaking, the President of AWEP Nigeria chapter, Mrs. Yemisi Iranloye, who also called for the empowerment of women, explained that in the world today, the role of women is impeded due to lack of empowerment, insisting that for their role to be felt, they must be empowered economically.

    She said: “World Bank asserted that women empowerment will enhance productivity and development outcome and in Nigeria, women are the backbone of communities. Nigerian women believe that Nigeria will grow if they are part of the growth process.”

    Still speaking on the significance of women, Mrs. Iranloye said “no nation is likely to experience economic growth if the women are not given the enabling environment. Giving women greater earning power will boost children’s health.

    Speaking about AWEP’s programme for this year, she said: “We have three programmes for the year. They will take place in the North and South. In the North, we shall be focusing on two products which are moringa and yellow pepper. We want to see how we can standardise moringa and become a leading exporter of it. In the South, we will explore the species of banana and seafood.

    “The last programme for 2013 is on funding. We will see how we can collaborate with the World Bank and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in order for the women to have funding opportunities. Hopefully, by the end of this year, we will have big entrepreneurs doing massive export.”

    She expressed hope that the funding opportunity will create enabling environment for women to do business in the country. That, in turn, will help them to cater for their children, community and contribute to the growth of the national economy.

    She further explained that AWEP has embarked on training 500 of its women by the end of 2013.

    “We have done a lot of training; training on food processing, on export. We have taken the women to NACO where export is being done and we have also partnered with Intel International to start teaching women how to do their accounting through the use of computer and even how to use Facebook.

    “We want to train them on how to use the power of data to promote their business internationally and we just finished training 50 women on data processing and the 50 women will, in turn, train 10 women each.

    “So, by the end of 2013, we will have 500 women trained on how to use data to promote their businesses internationally.”

    Reacting to the demands of the women, the Special Adviser to the President on Gender, Mrs. Asmau Abdulkadir who described economic empowerment as second to the air we breathe assured women that the issue of funding will be addressed.

  • Govt deports 19,000 illegal immigrants

    Govt deports 19,000 illegal immigrants

    Over 19,000 illegal immigrants have been deported from the country since the deadly activities of the Boko Haram insurgents became rampant, the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro has said.

    Moro, while expressing regrets that there is no accurate data on the number of illegal immigrants in the country due to what he termed the porosity of the Nigerian borders, disclosed that the United States government has promised to help in the provision of surveillance equipment to help stem the activities of the insurgents.

    He spoke in Abuja at the 27th session of the Leadership Forum organised by the Nigerian Newsworld Magazine.

    He said: “19,000 illegal immigrants have been sent out of the country by the appropriate authorities under the ministry. There is no accurate figure of illegal immigrants in our country due to the porous nature of our borders and the wrongful interpretation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Act.

    “On the cost of implementation of the surveillance equipment at our borders, we are in the process of certifying one of those that can be awarded. It is within the region of $2.6m and it was tendered by a Chinese firm.

    “But that money may drastically reduce as the United States government is also in touch with us in fighting terror and the US government has offered to provide some surveillance equipment which we will deploy to the borders.”

    Speaking on the danger posed by prison congestion in the country, the minister explained that if the National Assembly accepts the ministry’s request to change some sections of the Prison Act, the problem of congestion would reduce substantially.

    He also said the prison service has been able to reform some of the inmates in spite of the huge challenges the authorities have had to grapple with daily.

    “The resurgence of insurgents has led to some jail breaks across the country.  However, as I speak with you, about 50 inmates are attending the National Open University Nigeria (NOUN); 90 are writing the West African Examination Council (WAEC); 690 have been rehabilitated after serving their terms; 109 have been trained in vocational skills and 145 trade-tested in artisanship.”

    He also condemned the reported clash between men of the civil defence corps and the police, noting that the Presidency has intervened in the matter.

    “It is unfortunate that the civil defence and the police should clash in the first place. Whatever reason that might have caused the occurrence of the incident, it is very unfortunate. But Mr. President has intervened and we have all agreed that such a thing should not happen again.”

    On the frequent deadly clashes involving Fulani herdsmen and farmers, Moro said the government is on the verge of creating “separate routes and grazing grounds for Fulani herdsmen. If they keep to that, I hope that would stem the tide.”

  • Wada’s wife seeks more technical colleges

    Wada’s wife seeks more technical colleges

    Wife of the Kogi State governor and Chief Executive Officer Faridah Wada Foundation, Mrs. Faridah Wada has reiterated the need to establish more technical colleges in the country with a view to tackling unemployment and youth restiveness.

    Mrs. Wada spoke during a Spelling Bee competition organised for junior secondary schools in Abuja.

    The schools that participated in the competition included Community Staff Secondary School, Asokoro; Government Secondary School, Jikwoyi; Government Secondary School, Karu; Government Secondary School, Tudun-wada and Government Secondary School, Maitama.

    The event was jointly organised by corps member, Miss Zainab Haruna in conjunction with the Faridah Wada Foundation at Government Science and Technical College, Garki.

    In her opening remarks, the Mrs. Wada said technical education was a panacea for curtailing the unemployment rate in the country.

    “If students are made to learn and acquire technical skills at this level by the time they are through with tertiary education, they would still have something which they can fall back to in the absence of any job,” she said.

    She commended Miss Haruna, the initiator of the competition and promised that her organisation would sustain the project even after the pass out of the corps members.

    “As a group, we believe in the girl child education and the youth. I wish to state here today that what Miss Zainab has started will be sustained by the Faridah Wada Foundation so that her efforts will not be in vain,” she said.

    At the end of the competition which was supervised by the Head of Department, English and Linguistics Nasarawa State University Dr. Gideon Omachonu, Community Staff School Asokoro emerged winners and were followed by Government Secondary School Karu.

  • Corps members sink borehole for community

    Corps members sink borehole for community

    For some time now, Guyinda village, a community located around Idu Karimo in Abuja, has been experiencing serious water challenges. But a few days ago, the story changed and now they boast of potable water with the intervention of corps members who donated a manual borehole to them.

    The three Batch B corps members in the Federal Capital Territory dug and donated the manual borehole to the community which identified potable water as its major challenge. They also trained some of the women on how to make beads and liquid soaps, among other things.

    The trio, Haruna Amina, Owoeye Ebun and Haruna Blessing disclosed that they were inspired by boredom and their Community Development Service (CDS) Coordinator who announced the idea of rendering a personal community development service.

    Aisha, who spoke to Abuja Review on behalf of the three corps members said: “I felt a bit bored at work because there wasn’t so much work in my place of primary assignment (PPA) and it was not taxing. So, I said to myself if this is how the whole one year will be, I will find something to do. So, I decided to invite my friends who had already shown interest in doing something that will benefit other people.”

    Continuing, she said: “When we got to the village, the main thing the village head told us was their need for water. Before we dug the borehole, their source of water was a river. We had to provide them with drinking water. All other projects were just something to complement the main one.

    “At first, they demanded an electric borehole but we felt it does not make sense because of the cost of fuelling a generator in case there is no light. Since they don’t have light there, what will happen when there is fuel scarcity? Also, they are villagers who find it difficult to eat. How would they get money to fuel a generator? It does not make any sense. That was why we decided to sink the manual borehole,” she added.

    On how they will maintain the borehole, the Village Chief, Chief Michael Agashi who was represented by Mr. Chinkobo promised to assign the youth head to be in charge of the borehole, even as he said they would hold meetings from time to time to know if the borehole has any problem so that they will contribute money to effect repairs on it.

    He said: “We are grateful for what these ladies have done for us. Our kids will no longer wake up by 4:00 a.m. to rush to the stream for water.”

    The Chief, who appealed to government to dig more boreholes in the village also called on corps members to be posted to the primary school located in the village.

    Miss Haruna further explained that interested women were picked to participate in skill acquisition.

    “We had one-on-one interview with them before they were selected to participate in the skill acquisition. This is because we didn’t want a scenario where we will train them with our meager resources and it will end as a waste.”

    She added that “we are buying start-up materials for five bead-making participants and 10 liquid soap-making participants.

    “I think health is everybody’s concern. We all fall sick; we all take medicine, we all drink water, and mosquitoes don’t choose who to bite. We were also able to conduct public health seminar on maternity, infant care, hypertension and the distribution of 100 pieces of mosquito nets,” she said.

  • ‘Don’t politicise land-swap initiative’

    The FCT Administration has warned against the politicisation of the FCT Land Swap programme because infrastructure must be provided in the entire 250 square kilometres of the Federal Capital City as well as the 8,000 square kilometres that comprise the Federal Capital Territory through an affordable means.

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed gave this warning while inaugurating the 30-member Ministerial Committee on the Implementation of Land Swap Programme and Resettlement Matters at the FCDA Conference Room, Central Business District, Abuja.

    Senator Mohammed also cautioned those who may wish to hijack the genuine concerns of the people to cause confusion to desist from such acts.

    He said: ”Let me use this opportunity however, to serve a word of caution to those that may wish to hijack the genuine concerns of the people to cause confusion”.

    According to him, “We, as an administration prefer the way of dialogue and civil approach to all matters affecting the citizens of the FCT. We cannot however, abdicate our responsibility for maintenance of peace, wherever there is a threat to law and order”.

    The minister remarked that the inauguration is a follow-up to the promise made during the Special Town Hall Meeting convened last month to discuss matters affecting the FCT Land Swap Programme.

    He reiterated that the meeting was designed to provide a forum for all stakeholders to make input into the Land Swap Programme as well as to listen to the concerns of the various communities that would be affected by the project among others.

    Senator Mohammed recalled that the deliberation at the meeting was conducted in a free and fair atmosphere, adding that the occasion provided a unique opportunity for the administration to listen keenly to the submissions made by various stakeholders.

    The minister described the meeting as a huge success because all stakeholders participated and therefore used this occasion to thank all that attended the event.

    “Your contributions remain an invaluable resource for our administration and make us proud. It, indeed, was democracy at work and at its best. We showed the whole world our transparent desire to listen to all and to carry everyone along” he stressed.

    The minister noted that one great lesson learnt at the occasion was that there was still need to allay the resettlement fears of the various communities that are likely to be affected by the project.

    Senator Mohammed also noted some communication gaps that needed to be bridged and misinformation that required correction because FCT Administration is guided by the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan and cannot fold its arms or turn a deaf ear to the genuine yearnings of its citizens.

    He said that his administration has been in constant dialogue with all stakeholders; explaining “on the same strength, we have gone ahead to constitute a 30- member Ministerial Committee to harness the lessons learnt at the event and to address the grievances expressed by the affected communities.

    “Accordingly, the Chairman and Secretary of this committee are Engr. John Obinna Chukwu, FCT Permanent Secretary and Malam Baba Kura Umar of the FCDA Resettlement and Compensation Department FCDA respectively”.

    Senator Mohammed emphasised that the committee has been made large enough so that all shades of opinion are represented and all issues are thoroughly examined with solutions proffered.

    Meanwhile, the terms of reference of the committee are as follows:-

    •  to examine all the presentations made at the Town Hall meeting of Friday, April 26, 2013 and advise government on subsequent action.

    • to visit the Communities affected by the Land Swap Project and determine the best way forward on matters of their resettlement/compensation.

    * interface with relevant community groups/associations within the Land Swap site and establish confidence-building measures.

    *  ensure that appropriate measures are put in place to enable government conduct all outstanding surveys to gather vital data required for implementation of the scheme and

    *  advise government on any other matter relevant to the success of the resettlement scheme at the Land Swap Districts among others.

    While saying that he expects the report not later than three weeks from the inauguration day the minister reiterated the commitment of his administration to partner with the original inhabitants and the entire residents of the FCT in a bid to achieve the dream of the founding fathers.

     

  • 75 lives, N1b property saved from fire

    The FCT Administration has saved 75 lives due to its prompt response to rescue calls in the territory between January and March his year .

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed made this disclosure in his office in Abuja

    The minister, who further disclosed that during the same period under review, eight persons lost their lives during such rescue missions, remarked that 21 persons were saved in January, 21 in February and 33 in March this year.

    Senator Mohammed revealed that the his administration also saved property valued at N1,138,800,000 while, N257.9 million worth of property was lost during the same period under consideration.

    According to him, the FCT Administration saved property valued at N258.2 million in January; N594.2 million in February and N286.4 million in March 2013.

    He said that the FCT Urban Affairs Department received 162 fire calls with 56 in January; 61 in February and 45 in March 2013.

    While praising workers the FCT Urban Affairs Department for their pro-activeness in handling all these emergencies, the minister enjoined them to redouble their efforts to further reduce the number of casualties in future.