Category: Northern Report

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar at the weekend, conferred on one of the  sons of Sokoto state and the immediate past Chief of Army , Lt. General Farouk Yahaya(rtd) the title of Zarumman Sakkwato.Yahaya, who hails from Sifawa town in Bodinga Local Government was almost immediately turbanned accordingly.

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Sultan Abubakar,  delivering his speech at a grand reception by the state government in honour of the former COAS , direted the immediate turbanning of Zarumman Sakkwato at the Giginya Stadium , Sokoto venue of the event which attracted highly placed personalities and other dignitaries from all works of life in their numbers who graced the epoch gathering.

According to the revered leader and royal father, Yahaya had demonstrated commitment, loyalty, resilience and convincing sense of responsibility in the military in driving the needed courage and tenacity especially in the fight against Boko Haram as well general security challenges particularly in the north and other parts of the country.

“I knew Farouk since as a young military officer and since he was growing from strength to strength as a result of his loyalty, hard work and dedication to duties and doctoring of the military profession with true sense of purpose.

“In the light of this and other personal soft skills and traits he demonstrated while in service, I hereby confer on General Farouk Yahaya the traditional title of Zarumman Sakkwato, a title only bestowed on illustrious sons and daughters of the state who distinguished themselves as warriors in the military profession and other endeavours within and outside the state”, the religious monarch pointed out.

Abubakar who is also the President General , Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, said that the sultanate council would continue to recognise loyalty, hard work and commitment to assigned responsibility amongst sons and daughters of the state with a view to rewarding them for others to see and be inspired to emulate.

Abubakar further disclosed that ” we will continue to celebrate you and your achievements as a distinguished military officer and someone who has excellently done so much to the communities , the state and nation at large.”

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) yesterday commenced work on addressing washouts that have made Gombe-Bauchi Expressway unpassable.

 This is coming on the heels of recent downpour which forced many passengers and motorists to divert route to other places, thereby adding additional hours of journey on the only highway to the Northeast.

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 Speaking with reporters during an inspection of the work site along Gombe-Bauchi Road, the representative of the Zonal Coordinator Northeast II, Muhammad Nura Adamu, an engineer, said: “This is an unexpected visit. So far, so good. The progress of the work here is highly commendable, and the level of the work here speaks for itself. Despite the challenge of heavy rain, the work is still moving fast.”

 He appreciated the effort of the State Field Engineer and his staff and urged them to continue with the good work they are doing.

 The State Federal Roads Maintenance Engineer, Charles Avishigh, explained that the agency is worried about the challenges faced by motorists on Gombe-Bauchi Road.

 Avishigh stated that the repairs would lessen the challenges of road users on the busy highway to the six Northeast states.

 He added that it would also have an impact not only on economic activities in the region but also the lives of the people and all the road users.

 According to him, the works on the highway was sequel to the directive of the Acting MD/CEO of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Godson Amos, who insisted that succour be given to the users of the road network pending disbursement by the Federal Government for the reconstruction of the road.

“The current work is the emergency repairs of collapsed embankment and shoulder between CH.30+576 – CH.30+675. Along Gombe-Bauchi Road, Route No.85 in Gombe state. We are trying our best to see that all federal roads are motorable for all road users.”

“FERMA is restoring all federal roads by way of reconstructing washouts along federal roads nationwide,” he said.

 Some of the motorists who spoke with The Nation correspondent expressed their happiness with the development, especially on how the management of the agency was trying to keep these roads in good condition.

 One of the motorists plying Gombe-Bauchi route, Ishaku Baba said he was happy seeing FERMA working on the road, adding that before this intervention one could hardly travel from Gombe to Bauchi with their car in good condition.

 “The road was so bad that after a return trip on it you must visit the mechanic workshop because your car must be faulty because of the bad roads,” he said.

 Avishigh said similar works are expected along Gombe/Biu Road, “by restoring the critically failed sections of the road to ensure that it remains motorable.

 He also said the Gombe/Potiskum Road, Gombe/Numan Road, Billiri/Filiya roads are beneficiaries of the intervention within the field programme.

 “When funds are released to FERMA we will tackle the other federal roads especially Gombe -Biu Road and others to make life easier for the road users. I want to tell you that the government is aware of the hardship of motorists on our highways and is doing everything to ameliorate it,” he said.

A civil society organisation, Coalition of Civil Society Networks (CCSN) has urged the prompt resolution of the suspension of Max Air’s Boeing B737 Aircraft type.

 National Coordinator of the group, Abubakar Dandume, addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja, said through diligent and unbiased investigations, the truth of the matter would come out, and appropriate actions could be taken to ensure the continuity of Max Air while upholding the highest standards of safety.

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 It noted the recent suspension of Max Air’s operations involving Boeing B737 aircraft by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) which has since been lifted, stressing that the coalition has been monitoring this situation.

The group hailed the intervention of the House of Representatives’ involvement through its Ad hoc Committee.

 It emphasised the importance of conducting the House’ Committee investigation with utmost objectivity, impartiality, and diligence.

 “While we strongly implore the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee to carry out its investigation without any preconceived biases or prejudices, ensuring a comprehensive and unbiased assessment, time is of the essence, as the efficient functioning of Max Air is integral to the Nigerian economy and the livelihoods of thousands of individuals who directly and indirectly depend on the airline for their livelihoods.

Any undue delay in resolving this matter could have far-reaching implications on both the economic stability of our nation and the well-being of its citizens,” the group said.

 The group commended the airline’s commitment to safety protocols, which it said it had independently verified.

 “Max Air has consistently upheld its dedication to the highest safety standards, even in the face of adversity.

 “An example that stands out is the incident involving the discovery of adulterated fuel. Max Air promptly responded by conducting an in-house audit and voluntarily suspending its operations for two days to ensure the safety of its passengers.

 “This proactive approach demonstrates the airline’s unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of its passengers,” the group said.

Learning losses to school closures due to COVID-19 left about 70 per cent of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries unable to read or understand a simple text, a survey by a group, Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (PMNCH) has stated. This, it says, is up from 53 per cent pre-pandemic.

 In the survey entitled: ‘What Young People Want’, the group stated that last year, the rising conflicts around the world has left many young people unable to engage in the job market, including as a result of low levels of education, physical and psychological conditions, and scarcity of educational and vocational training.PMNCH, a global alliance for the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents, hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), made the result of the survey public during a virtual public dashboard launched on the eve of the United Nations (UN) International Youth Day.

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The survey stated: “The survey asks young people, aged 10-24 to express, in their own words, what they want most for their own well-being, giving voice to many of those who have simply never been asked, including in fragile and low-resource settings.

“Among 713,273 respondents between 10-24, the top interest expressed by young people (40.5per cent) is for learning, competency, education, skills and employability (40.5per cent), reflecting a strong interest in job stability, financial and material security and independence.

This result was reflected across all age groups, particularly among those aged 15-19 (47.2 per cent) and among adolescent girls (49.2per cent), who frequently cited the need for “learning opportunities” and “quality education.

“In 2022, in low- and middle-income countries, learning losses to school closures due to COVID-19 left up to 70 per cent of 10-year-olds unable to read or understand a simple text – up from 53 per cent pre-pandemic.

“In parallel, rising conflicts around the world have left many young people unable to engage in the job market, including as a result of low levels of education, physical and psychological conditions, and scarcity of educational and vocational training. Climate change too presents a looming challenge to economic well-being, with an estimated 60% of young people around the world currently lacking necessary skills to support the ‘green transition’.”

During the launch, 21-year-old student Cross River State, Blessing Alims, said she realised that the needs of adolescents within her community are common as adolescents want affordable education, quality healthcare services and provision of Sexual education in schools.

A member of the Benue State House of Assembly representing Gboko East constituency, Hon. Mrs. Beckie Orpin, yesterday kicked off her free mass deworming programme for 10,000 children of the constituency in Gboko Local Government Area of the state.

 The exercise took place in three council wards of the local government, including Mbayion, Ipav and Yandev.

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Mrs. Orpin, who is the House Committee Chairman on Appropriation, said the programme is one of the modest ways of responding to the health and development needs of children in her constituency.

 The lawmaker, who stressed the need for leaders in the country to prioritise the well-being of children, observed that many children have suffered impediments to their growth and several factors have accounted for why they cannot fully develop.

“It is our hope that every child grows and lives his full potential but depriving infants and young children of basic health care and denying them the nutrients needed for growth and development sets them up to fail in life.

“But when children are well nourished and cared for and provided with a safe and stimulating environment, they are more likely to survive, to have less disease and fewer illnesses”.

She said the programme was carried out in partnership with management of Tyonex Nigeria Limited, a pharmaceutical company being managed by Dr. Emmanuel Tyovenda Agba.

The lawmaker said the children dewormed are those between two and 12 years, and promised to seek more partnership with other similar organisations to improve the health needs of children in the area.

Agba said over 1.5 billion children are suffering from deworming worldwide, stressing that children that are properly dewormed usually grow up to have sound health systems and perform better while at school.

The traditional ruler of the area, Chief Joseph Ikpaahula, commended Hon. Orpin for the initiative and considering the health challenge of the children whom he described as leaders of tomorrow.

Chief Ikpaahula who encouraged Hon. Orpin to do more, saluted the awareness of parents towards immunisation of their children against diseases like polio and measles, a development he said has gone a long way in eradicating deadly diseases in the society.

A human right group, Equity Alliance, has petitioned the Federal Ministry of Education and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), demanding cancellation of the appointment of Dr. Hauwa’u Mukhtar Abdulkarim as the Provost of Federal College of Education (Technical), Gusau.

The petition signed by the National Chairman, Equity Alliance, H Magaji A. Baba and copied the Cheif of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila andNational Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), argued that Dr. Hauwa’u Mukhtar Abdulkarim is not qualified for the appointment.

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 The petition reads: “Based on Freedom of Information Act of 2011, we wish to forward this petition on the eligibility of Dr. Hauwa’u Mukhtar Abdulkarim, who had belatedly applied and appointed the Provost of Federal College of Education (Technical), Gusau.

“It is a known fact that the major requirement for any individual to apply for that position is that one must be  a chief lecturer with at least  five years cognate experience   (please see attached the copy for the advertisement for the post of Provost of Federal College of Education (Technical), Gusau). The requirement which Dr. Hauwau Mukhtar Abdulkarim did not satisfy as she was and still a Principal lecturer as at the time of the interview (22nd May, 2023).

“In fact, the meeting for her promotion along side other Principal Lecturers of the College to the rank of Chief lecturer held on 24th May, 2023, two days after the interview (please see attached a copy of the document where her name and those of six others appeared as applicants for the position of Chief lecturer). This , therefore, means that she cannot be eligible to apply for that position as a Principal Lecturer.

“Before Dr. Hauwa’u Mukhtar Abdulkatim becomes eligible for that position, she has to become a Chief Lecturer and spend five years on that position. That will be approximately in October 2028.

“It is on record that Dr. Hauwa’u Mukhtar Abdulkarim was only being imposed by some people regardless of her qualifications at the expense of other qualified candidates. For instance, it is on record that Dr. Hauwa’u Abdulkarim did not even meet the deadline for the submission of her application, she submitted her application after the expiration of the six weeks given (please confirm from the registry department of the College).

“It is also on record that some candidates were not shortlisted on the basis of their in ability to satisfy the criteria of five years’ cognate experience. But due to the fact that Dr. Hauwau’u has a backing of some officials from within the supervising authority, she was shortlisted and undeservedly placed higher than all other qualified seasoned Chief Lecturers (Candidates) with from Federal Colleges of Education, even having presented fewer publications on the ground that her other publications were missing.

“It is also on record that one of the shortlisted candidates (Dr. Aminu Ibrahim), a Chief Lecturer with Kofi State College of Education was not interviewed on the account that he was not a Chief Lecturer from Federal College of Education but rather is an employee of a State College of Education.

“In view of the foregoing, for fairness and justice to prevail and avoid further serious petitions on the matter that will involve some Agencies, we humbly request that the appointment of Dr. Hauwa’u Mukhtar Abdulkarim as the Provost of Federal College of Education (Technical), Gusau should be rescinded and  canceled.

“Furthermore, we also submit that since one of the shortlisted Chief Lecturers (Dr. Aminu Ibrahim) was removed for being an employee of State College as well as the fact that one of his document was missing, Dr. Hauwa’u should not have been allowed to participate since she did not present all the listed document in her Curriculum Vitae on the account that they were burnt,” the Group said.

The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has celebrated its golden jubilee with the ground breaking ceremony of the FHA Golden Jubilee Estate in Abuja, which the agency hopes to add 7,000 units of various types to its national housing stock on completion.

Also, FHA says in Abuja alone, it recently inaugurated the Zuba Housing Estate and is working on a Bwari project, and will soon be commencing the development of its Smart City/Diaspora estate in Maitama 11.

Managing Director/ Chief Executive FHA, Senator Gbenga Ashafa made this known in Abuja at the ceremony of FHA’s golden jubilee estate Mbora district.

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He said: “Today’s event is momentous and remarkable for us as an organisation, as the estate we are about developing is in commemoration of our existence as a corporate entity for these past 50 years.

“The Authority’s journey over these years has been quite eventful. Our management is proud of our relentless efforts that have led to the transformation of the Federal Housing Authority into a performing agency. Only recently, we commissioned the Zuba Housing Estate. We are  working on our Bwari project, and will soon be commencing the development of our Smart City/Diaspora estate in Maitama 11.

“FHA Golden Jubilee Estate will be adding about 7000 units of different house types to our national housing stock on completion. In conceiving this estate, the Authority considered both comfort and safety of both the allottees and residents in mind.

“We are starting the construction of 1200 units, to be delivered through a Public Private Partnership with Nugga best Regis international. In choosing Nugga Best Regis, we considered a company that has a proven track record in Real estate development, noted for both capacity and capability to deliver.”

Chairman Nugga Best International and Regis integrated Services Partnership, Pastor Hilary Chukwuma said the FHA opened its doors to the private sector to invest in houses, which has made the partnership between Federal Housing Authority, Nuga Best International and Regis Integrated Lp possible.

He said his company went through a rigorous process and passed through laid down government processes and procedures and is excited that it has come to the end of the rigorous process, and is set to deliver different classes of affordable houses to Nigerians.