The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Widows, farmers get a lift in Niger

    For the two needy women, despair has given way. Hajia Kunu Musa and Mrs. Raliatu Laisi, both widows, got a lift from an empowerment programme launched by Hon. Abdullahi Garba in his constituency in Niger State. The lawmaker, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), represents Kontagora/Wushishi/Mariga/Mashegu Federal Constituency.

    On May 28, he invited his constituents to give back to them.

    During the event, Hajia Musa, a 50-year widow from Mariga Local Government Area of the state, relived how difficult life was for her.

    “I am 50 years old with eight children,” she said. “My husband died about 15 years ago, so it’s been difficult but I run a local restaurant which I use to take care of their welfare. I believe that is my fate.”

    She got a complete set of grinding machine which she said will be used to mill grains to support her family.

    “With this grinding machine given to me free, I will be able to make more money for the family by grinding corn, potato, tomatoes and now that is fasting period, people do lots of grinding, no doubt it will help my family.”

    Her story was not really different from others, especially farmers crippled by poor or non-functioning farm equipment.

    Unlike many empowerment strictly tailored for indigenes, this seem to have extended to residents from other parts of the country such as the South East, South West and other regions.

    Mrs. Laisi was one of those residents from the South West, whose husband also died 20 years ago. At age 65, she managed to train her children but got a new deep freezer. “I am so excited. I pray that God will surprise him as well because I don’t know I will be among those that will get this new freezer.” When asked if it will make any impact on her livelihood, the reaction on her face was like the reporter could not comprehend her hardship. “I will use it to sell juice, water and other cold drinks and as I do this, I will always remember him in prayers.” She lauded the humanitarian gesture of the lawmaker, stressing that the intervention would help cater for needs of the four children.

  • Robbery: Car hire to the rescue

    I get called upon a lot at odd hours because of the nature of my job,” said a resident of Karu, one of the satellite towns of the nation’s capital. “But my experience with the cabs that I take has taught me to be more security-conscious. At one occasion, I was robbed and thrown out of a moving vehicle and another time, I had to fight two men off from robbing me.”

    For her, car hire is the answer. She picks the car, pays and proceeds on her trip peacefully, keeping the rogues at bay.

    Joy Michael, a student of the University of Abuja, prefers the car hire service for some different reasons, one of which comfort and status symbolism.

    “Most vehicles used for this present-day hire service are clean and nice, with air conditioning, unlike those taxis that can be so rusted you will be scared it might injure you.”

    Co-founder of MotionPlus Logistics Ltd, one of the car hire services taking over Abuja, Ayobamidele Mohammed explained that customers can now book for taxis that are affordable, equipped with wifi service from the comfort of their homes.

    He said, “With emphasis on riders’ safety and comfort while on board our vehicles, Motionplus offers GPS satellite controlled vehicles, 24 hours security tracking surveillance system.”

    Commuters who have been roughened up and robbed before will consider the alternatives, provided the little matter of cost is not a put-off.

  • End of thirst in Kaduna communities

    End of thirst in Kaduna communities

    28 communities in eight local government areas of Kaduna State now have potable water thanks to the revival of the state’s water treatment plant, reports ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE

    Providing clean water for Kaduna State was a tough nut governors of the state could not crack, but not for want of trying. In 1999, then  governor Ahmed Makarfi sought help from the Federal Government to rehabilitate and expand the Zaria water supply scheme. The plan involved, among other things, reviving the state water works, building a big dam and reservoirs and installing transmission pipelines.

    The Federal Government awarded contracts for the construction of a dam and the rehabilitation of the existing water treatment plants of 50 million litres and 10 million litres daily  respectively which were operating below 30%.

    The  administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo awarded the contracts but the projects suffered budgetary constraints and were not completed on schedule.

    Eventually the late President Musa Yar’Adua introduced the Water Exit Policy, transferring the rehabilitation of the water treatment plants to Kaduna State when it was about 80% completed. Similarly the construction of the 150 MD water treatment plant and the service reservoirs became the responsibility of Kaduna State government in addition to the pipeline distribution network rehabilitation and expansion.

    The administration of Governor Namadi Sambo in its turn awarded the contract for the construction of 150 MLD water treatment plant at the total cost of N15.7 billion. The 150 MLD water treatment plant was then billed to be completed in 2011. During the administration of the late Governor Patrick Yakowa, the contract was revised upward and it also suffered delays as a result of the killing and the kidnapping of a foreign personnel of the contractor. Yakowa made frantic efforts to refocus and continue implementing the project.

    Yakowa’s successor, Ramalan Yero equally promised to complete the contract, saying his administration would remain focused and committed to complete (i) the construction of a new 150 MLD water works, (ii) construct the transmission mains and service reservoirs and (iii) to rehabilitate and expand the pipeline distribution network and sanitation facilities.

    However, the project under Yero was rather trailed by allegations and counter allegations from different quarters that the project had been abandoned and that officials of Kaduna State government were enriching themselves at the expense  of the masses who had been waiting to drink potable water.

    A group of Zaria residents then alleged that the water projects were abandoned and without value to them, since they still depended completely on commercial water vendors popularly called ‘’Mai ruwa’’.

    In his turn, the first thing Governor Nasir el-Rufai did was to pay an unscheduled visit to the project site in Zaria and directed the contractors handling the Zaria Water Works projects to present comprehensive details of the project to the new government.

    The governor said the water project had already gulped billions of naira, yet it is years behind schedule.

    “We are here to see things for ourselves. The Zaria water project has been on for years without producing a single drop of a water. We must work hard to see its successful conclusion”.

    Reiterating his commitment to the realisation of the project, the governor said, “by the power of almighty God and support of the people of Kaduna State, we will break the Zaria water project jinx and bring potable water to Zaria town and the surrounding local government areas captured in the project design.

    “We have directed those handling the project to come forward and give us comprehensive details and the progress report of the project. The non-completion of the project is causing prolonged hardship for our people. We need to solve the problem,” he said.

    On May 27 El-Rufai delivered his promise, as Acting President Yemi Osinbajo inaugurated the 150 MLD water treatment plant.

    Present at the occasion was the former Vice President of Nigeria, Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo, who started the construction of the water projects, while he was the governor of the state.

    The Acting President who was represented by the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun described El-Rufai as a good example of what APC government stands for, saying that, he has completed within two years, a project that had been in slumber for 16 years under the PDP government.

    He said APC means well for Nigeria and it means business in the attempt to deliver its promises. He therefore urged people of Kaduna State to remain consistent in their support for the El-Rufai and President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and remain consistent in their prayers for the President’s quick recovery.

    Earlier, Governor El-Rufai in his keynote address said, the water need of Zaria metropolis and the surrounding local government areas per day was put at, 140 million litres per day, while the old water treatment plant, which was built by the colonialists could no longer cater for the population’s needs.

    El-Rufai said the Zaria water project is the beginning of a new phase in water works development and renovation in the state, as other water works scattered all across the state will continue to receive the attention of government.

    He said the Zaria water works was installed in 1939 with an initial capacity of 10m litres and is currently not functioning, pointing out that, in 1975 it was upgraded to 50m litres but the operating capacity of both the two cannot meet the 140m litres per day need of the people of Zaria and environs.

    He said it was on that basis and the projection that the water need of Zaria and environs will grow to 220 million litres per by 2025 that, his government decided to give priority to the Zaria water works projects to address the perennial water problem once and for all.

    El-Rufai said, commissioning of the 150 million litres daily treatment plant will immediately address the water needs of the about two million people spread across Zaria, Sabon Gari and six other local government areas within the Zaria environs

    Acknowledging the presence of the former Governor and former Vice President Namadi Sambo, El-Rufai said, Sambo was invited to witness the end result of the visionary project he left behind.

    He said, Sambo’s foresight and contributions to the projects, especially getting the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and African Development Bank to finance several components of the water projects cannot be ignored.

    “Therefore, we have invited the former Vice President and Governor of Kaduna State here to witness completion of the project he started. Our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari has always told us that, we should place governance over politics. That is why we have carried on properly with the projects we inherited and we are irrespective of our political differences honoring the initiator of this project”, El-Rufai said.

    Meanwhile, former Vice President Namadi Sambo in his own remarks stated categorically that, five years after he left office as Kaduna State Governor, his successors (Late Governor Patrick Yakowa and Mukhtar Ramalan Yero) failed to make significant progress in the water project until the coming of Governor El-Rufai, who has completed the 150 MLD water treatment plant.

    Sambo however stressed that, he was not surprised with El-Rufai’s performance, as his encounter with him back in the early 80s when the Governor floated his Quantity Surveyors firm, El-Rufai and Partners proved El-Rufai as a man who will always deliver.

    Also speaking at the event, the Emir of Zazzau, Alh Shehu Idris said the completion of the Zaria water project by the administration of Nasir El-Rufai was a dream come true. “It is my dream to see this day becoming a reality. Thank you Mr Governor for making my dream come true”, he stressed.

    Earlier, the state commissioner for water resources, Alh Suleiman Aliyu Lere disclosed that the foundation of the Zaria water project was laid by the former governor of the state Namadi Sambo in 2008 at the cost of N15bn and was later reviewed to N24bn due to other exigencies.

     

  • Opadokun: blame military for Kwara’s woes

    The convener, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform (CODER) Ayo Opadokun has accused the military of being responsible for the stunted development of Kwara State in its 50 years of existence.

    The former spokesman of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, added that the military dictators used the state as guinea pig by their “surrogates to come, feast and chop in Kwara.”

    Chief Opadokun who hails from Offa, Offa Local Government Area of the state, said this in Ilorin, the state capital, at a colloquium organised by the Movement for Genuine Change (MGC).

    He said, “The dynasts who installed their loyalists constituted themselves as the albatrosses and demagogues on the civilian governors so much that no significant achievements were recorded. Even while they put up structures, the costs were scandalously prohibitive and unjustifiable. All the promises made as to the benefits that the people will derive from some ventures remain a mirage.”

    Similarly, former governorship aspirant in the state, Sunday Babalola said that the state had not done well in the last 50 years. Babalola, an engineer, singled out the administrations of Brigadier David Bamgboye and Colonel George Innih for scintillating performance.

    “But aside those two, everybody that came after that did not do much to project the state positively and progressively. Lawal’s administration would have been more a commendable model of development, if his activities had spread across the 16 local government areas of the state.  He forgot the many areas that make up the state. Dr Bukola Saraki was worse. He did not basically do anything. Ahmed is just Saraki’s surrogate there. Many of the leaders that have worked in the state have not added value. When the state was bigger and maybe the size could not make them do what they are supposed to do.

    “But you find Bamgboye and George Innih doing very well within the limited knowledge they had and the limited resources they had.

    “After that we have had a lot of resources that had been squandered. It is very sad that there is no vision for the state by the leaders, no direction that the state is following.  You cannot say this is what this state will be in the next twenty or even five years except if there is a change of political leadership which is not based on religion or where the person comes from. As long as we keep saying the governor must come from a particular place, then we cannot get result.

    “We need a visioner who knows what he wants to achieve in the four years to lead the state. Until we get that, we cannot make progress. If we are using sentiments, then we cannot get any result. That will mean that in another 50 years, the state will remain the way it is unless something changes.

    “Kwarans should wake up and participate in politics and should not be bought over by pecuniary offers or money. They should look out for people who will work for them and put such people in leadership position or in power; no matter where they come from or their religious inclinations. Religion does not feed people, and tribe does not feed people,” Engr. Babalola who was represented by an official of the group, John Adeboye, added.

    Reacting, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on media and communications, Dr Muyideen Akorede said “Kwara State has recorded growth in leaps and bounds since 1967 when it was created. The Kwara State of today has no resemblance to that of 1967 development-wise. Look at the infrastructure network, the number of universities, the level of urbanisation, the expansion of towns and cities. It is absurd to claim that Kwara hasn’t witnessed development since those governors.

    “Every subsequent administration has built on its predecessors and recorded successes. None can be labeled a failure.”

     

  • Things FCT needs, by Reps

    The House of Representatives has bemoaned the fact that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) does not have any tertiary institution of its own.

    The House also condemned the slow pace of development in the suburbs of the FCT compared to Abuja city.

    Speaking at the ongoing public hearing on bills on the FCT, Chairman, House Committee on FCT, Herman Hembe assured that the House would work assiduously with the Senate to ensure that work on the bill establishing Abuja University of Technology and Abuja College of Agriculture is concluded and sent to the President for assent before the commencement of next academic session.

    According to the Committee, commencement of academic activities on September this year remains sacrosanct.

    “One of the problems that contributed to this long delay is probably that one of the Chambers completed work on the bill and the other could not…This time, the House is going to ensure that the Senate expedites action on it and send it to the President for assent. The school is ready, the infrastructures are in place and ready to take in 200 students.

    “So, we are mindful of the benefits this would impact on our education system and FCT in particular and that is why we are determined this time to make this a reality because it is unthinkable that the FCT does not have its own tertiary institution,” Hembe said.

    While describing  the slow pace of development at the suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory  (FCT) compared to the Abuja city as unacceptable, the Committee regretted  that the four states of Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger and Kaduna bordering the FCT have not benefitted from development emanating from the Federal Capital.

    Hembe said part of the reasons behind the commencement of the process of the establishing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Wider Areas Planning and Development Commission and FCT Security Trust Fund was to implement measures inclined to develop the four states that border the FCT.

    Sponsor of the Wider Areas bill, Jonathan Gbefwi (PDP, Nasarawa) said, “Over the years, these suburbs as they are classified, have recorded high population densities in terms of accommodating majority of people working in the FCT but cannot afford to live there.

    “The bill is therefore aimed at establishing a commission that will be saddled with the responsibility of bringing development to the wider areas through the provision of basic infrastructure and social amenities that will bring about a certain level of urbanisation.

    “Also, in a bid to address prevailing problems caused by congestion in many of these suburbs, a master plan just like that of the FCT would be implemented in the Wider Areas where strategies would be developed towards a more rational utilisation of land and other natural resources as well as the better arrangement of residential, commercial, industrial, recreational and other needed activity centres within these communities,” he said.

    The high point of the hearing however was the failure of the  Ministry of FCT to contribute to the discourse as the Permanent Secretary, Babatope Ajakaye, said the position of his Ministry on the two Bills  would be communicated to the Committee after due and wider consultations.

    He disclosed that a panel to look at the Security Fund bill  has been set up and given a week to conclude its assignment.

     

  • Group mobilises against malnutrition

    Group mobilises against malnutrition

    A Civil Society Organis-ation, (CSO) under the auspices of Women Friendly Initiative (WFI) has raised the alarm over the high rate of malnutrition among women of reproductive age and children below five years in the Federal Capital territory (FCT).

    The group advocated for concerted efforts to rid the society of the problem particularly in Abuja.

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organisation, Dr. Francis Eremutha, suggested that perhaps the best approach to tackling and reducing malnutrition in the territory lies in the quick and effective implementation of the National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition (NSPAN) which has not been introduced in any part of the six area councils.

    He said the group hopes to penetrate the six area councils soon with well-packaged enlightenment plans to galvanise public support for the National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition to comprehensively address malnutrition.

    Presenting a master plan of action designed by the organisation to enable it effectively penetrate the rural communities with its intervention programmes, Dr.  Eremutha, who was accompanied by officials of the NGO including Rosemary Adejoh, explained during a press briefing on the sad development, said that malnutrition is a condition that occurs when people consistently do not consume or absorb the right amounts or types of food and essential nutrients.

    He stated that globally, the condition contributes to nearly half of more than three million deaths which occur among children globally each year.

    He said, “Nigeria is one of the six countries that accounts for half of all child deaths from malnutrition worldwide  every year, one million children under five die, 45% of them due to causes attributed to malnutrition.

    “Prevalence of child malnutrition varies significantly across the six geopolitical zones: children living in the North West and in the North East stand out as being particularly disadvantaged (percent stunted in

    North West and North East is 50 and 47, 29 in north Central, 20 in the South South and in the South West, and 10 in the south east. Similar patterns emerge for underweight and wasting.”

    He also said that malnutrition prevalence among women of reproductive age is also high and geographically widespread.

    “The prevalence of malnutrition among women ranges from two percent in the south east to ten percent in the North east and rates are particularly high for adolescent mothers of between 15-19 years, as compared to women aged 20-49 years.”According to UNICEF in Kaduna state (North central) 1.6 million children are malnourished; while malnutrition is responsible for the death of under five in the state;

    900,000 children representing 57% children in the state are stunted meaning six out of every ten children less than five are stunted due to malnutrition.”

    Dr. Francis Eremutha listed some of the key nutritional problems are as follows: Poor Infant feeding practices, Energy and Protein deficiencies Vitamin A deficiency (VAD), Iron deficiency Anaemia (IDA),

    Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDD], adding that the nutrition situation in Nigeria has over the years assumed public health proportion with malnutrition accounting for more than 50% of under-five deaths. The CEO advocates for adequate and dedicated budget for nutrition in the area councils of the FCT while also urging that area council administrations should be compelled to appropriate funds for the National Strategic Plan of Action for nutrition implementation.

     

  • Halfway through

    The four-year democratic term of President Muham-madu Buhari’s administration yesterday crossed the halfway mark.

    Not a few Nigerians were highly hopeful at the inception of this administration that all the problems bedevilling the country will vanish overnight.

    They were more or less expecting the government to wave a kind of magic wand that will solve all the problems and automatically transform the country.

    But from the beginning of the current administration, the government had raised alarm that it met an empty treasury while the international prices of oil that hovered over $100 per barrel during the last administration crashed as low as $30 per barrel for a better part of last two years. The economy is largely dependent on oil.

    With the lean purse greatly impeding the government’s masses-oriented programmes, the administration said that it will take some time to clear the mess left behind by the last administration.

    Two years down the lane, there is not much difference in the story.

    While the government is still striving to put the nation on the path of growth, it is believed that it is too early to assess the government as it has a four-year term to work and not two years.

    Midway into the administration, some Nigerians have scored the government high on its anti-corruption drive and on its efforts to secure the country.

    But they felt that the economy is still not doing well as it is still in recession and many Nigerians adversely affected by the harsh economic environment.

    Some of the remarkable achievements of the government in the last two years, according to them, can be found under security and anti-graft battle.

    Apart from rescuing over 100 Chibok Secondary School girls from the insurgents, Boko Haram, a few weeks back, the administration had reclaimed the 14 local governments’ areas in the Northeast under the control of the insurgents in May 2015.

    The dreaded Sambisa forest where the insurgents freely operated from also fell to the Nigerian security agencies. The military unveiled its plans to turn the forest to training ground for officers and men of the Armed Forces.

    While there is now free movement of citizens in the Northeast, millions of internal displaced persons resulting from the activities of Boko Haram, have started movement back to their villages and communities.

    Relative peace has also returned to the Niger Delta region, where militants were blowing up pipelines and oil installations.

    On its anti-graft battle, while some Nigerians felt that the government has been selective, many others have given kudos to the Buhari’s administration.

    Apart from some Nigerians still in detention over alleged theft of government money, many others in the last two years have been returning stolen assets acquired under the past administration to Buhari government.

    Under the current administration, the dragnet has been capturing more suspects while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have also been storming some residential premises and offices.

    Based on tips from whistle-blowers, EFCC has been able to recover large sums of local and foreign currencies.

    The government has also recorded great achievements by enforcing the Treasury Single Account (TSA) blocking many fraudulent loopholes.

    President Buhari administration is said to be succeeding with the policy, which was started by the last administration, by giving political will and support and support to ensure its execution.

    Through the policy, the government has centralisation records domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Thousands of ghost workers are said to have been uncovered in the last two years through the policy, while billions of naira is said to have been saved by the government.

    The Power, Works and Housing Sectors of the economy have also been identified as a hub in the drive to improve infrastructure by the administration across the country, to create jobs and serve as a    springboard to reflate the economy.

    The three sectors, which were said to be better funded in 2016, have through its activities created over 9,000 direct jobs and 60,000 indirect jobs in the Power Sector.

    The works sector has also employed approximately 17,749 direct jobs and over 52,000 indirect jobs.

    Also in the Housing Sector, due to the National Housing Programme initiative introduced by the government targets 1060 housing blocks of various house types, totaling 2,736 mix housing

    units to the National Housing Stock.

    Through the initiative, 542 local contractors have been empowered nationwide, 13,680 direct jobs created and 41,040 indirect jobs created through this initiative. Other housing programmes like the PPP Housing scheme, Ministerial Housing Initiative programme etc have created approximately 500 direct jobs and over 5,000 indirect jobs (suppliers, food vendors and others).  The following sector by

    sector analysis gives an insight into the activities of the Ministry in the last two years.

    On the power sector, the average generation of Power at the inception of this administration in May 2015, which was 3,324MW, increased to 4,357MW in August 2015 and rose to a peak generation of 5,077MW in February 2016.

    But presently, the generation is on average of about 3000MW as a result of spate of gas infrastructure vandalism and low level of water in the dam during dry season that affected the output of the 3 main Hydro Power Stations.

    Speaking with State House correspondents on the two years anniversary, the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, last Tuesday, said “We have the achievement chronicled in the three key areas, this administration has three focal points, securing the country, fighting corruption and reviving the economy.

    “So we have in the area of economy phasing out of subsidy regimes for petroleum products and fertilizers, you have the anchor borrowers programme in which the CBN is assisting farmers particularly to grow rice, we have the presidential fertiliser initiative, support for micro small and medium enterprises, the new Developmyent Bank of Nigeria, ease of doing business reform successes and so many others.

    “We have achievements in the area of infrastructure with details then alignment of monetary fiscal policies, a new social housing programme and am sure you all reported it that N1.2 trillion was released for capital expenditure in 2016 budget year. This is a record in this country, then we have the social investment programme in which all the four components have taken off.

    “We have strategic engagement with OPEC and in the Niger Delta, we know that there is relative peace in the Niger Delta now compared to what we had in 2016 and then the new vision for that region of the country.

    “There are beneficial government to government partnerships with China and Morocco, we have all the details, the national economic recovery and growth plan has also been launched, in the area of anti-corruption and transparency, we have the presidential initiative on continuous audit we have budget reforms that have been put in place and then the TSA, this government met it but expanded it and you know strides that have been taken in the area of TSA.

    “Development of BVN for payroll and social investment programmes, you know that through the use of BVN for payroll, over 20,000 ghost workers were weeded out of the civil service, there is replacement of old cashed based accounting system with an accrual based system.

    “The country enlisted into the open government partnership and there is a national action plan of the OGP global summit in Paris,France in December 2016.

    “We have asset recovery reforms of long standing petroleum sector cash call arrangements and so many others. We have the new whistle blowing policy.” he added

    While many Nigerians are waiting for the promised change to manifest to transform the country in every sector and reduce hardship in the land, it is hoped that the next two years will be better than the first two years of this administration.

    Not only bringing the economy out of recession, but placing it on a path of sustainable growth.

     

  • Kogi forum meets over National Assembly seats

    Stakeholders in Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State, under the aegis of Yagba Political Forum, a non-partisan group, have met in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area, “to chart an all-inclusive political roadmap” for the constituency ahead of the 2019 elections.

    At the end of the meeting held in Isanlu Town hall, and attended by political gladiators from the area, the forum resolved to unite and mobilise Yagba people to ensure that the federal constituency produces the next senator of Kogi West Senatorial District. The meeting recalled that based on the existing rotation principle in Kogi West zone involving the three federal constituencies of Lokoja/Kotonkarfe, Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu and Yagba,” it is the turn of Yagba to produce the senator in 2019″.

    The forum also debated on the next election into the House of Representatives for Yagba Federal Constituency, comprising of Yagba West, Yagba East and Mopamuro local government areas.

    Consequently, it was resolved that the next representative should come from one of Yagba East and Mopamuro local government areas, exempting Yagba West local government area alleged to have done three terms since 2007. However, the senate seat was declared open for contest among the three local government areas with a caveat that no single local government shall produce both senate and Rep at the same time.

    Convener of Yagba Political Forum, Chief Frank Aiyedun, who read the communiqué at the end of the summit, said the forum which had been moribund was resuscitated to ensure that Yagba attained its rightful place in Okun, Kogi and the country as a whole.

  • ‘We’ll not demolish as others did’

    ‘We’ll not demolish as others did’

    There is an assurance that the authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) want to distance themselves, as far as possible, from their predecessors who frequently pulled down houses and structures, GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports

    Whatever the claims justifying the deployment of the bulldozers, it is now clear that the administration of Muhammad Bello, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will not follow the path of Nasir el-Rufai, a former minister of the territory and well-known demolisher.

    El-Rufai, in his days in the FCT, was quite controversial in the manner his administration rolled out the bulldozers and tore down homes and sundry structures in the nation’s capital.

    Bello said his administration will rather develop than destroy what has been built.

    He also blamed multiple allocation of land in FCT on past administrations.

    The minister said this while addressing journalists as part of the activities marking two years in office of the present administration in Abuja. He said his administration would rather upgrade slums in Abuja than demolish them.

    Bello said, “In the past you saw 2,3,4,5 people contesting a piece of land. I have been under tremendous pressure to allocate land but because of the past mistakes of the past, whereby land allocated to A was also allocated to B or more, [we have to be careful]. Then there will be litigation which is not good. I am working towards allocation of land where there are new layouts”.

    On demolition, he assured FCT residents that his administration won’t demolish anyhow, rather he would upgrade the slums, put infrastructure in place.

    “The reality is that Abuja is growing. I will not destroy places anyhow. We have been trying to strengthen the system.

    “Rather than demolish, why don’t we upgrade. Rather than demolish slums, why don’t you upgrade them? Give them modern infrastructure. Bulldozing people’s places in the past hasn’t been effective”.

    The Minister said, in order to develop the human capacity, the administration trained and retrained over 12,000 staff.

    In the same vein, the ability of the Nigeria Police to earn and retain the confidence of the international community in the discharge of their duties is a clear testimony of their resilience and dedication to the service of not only the nation but entire global community.

    The Minister said that despite limited resources, the police particularly in FCT, has been able curtail threats of criminality and other illegalities to ensure the safety of lives and properties.

    Bello assured that the FCT Administration will continue to provide all necessary support to the Nigeria Police to ensure that the relative peace and tranquillity being enjoyed in the FCT is sustained.

    He said, “We have seen the benefits and I will continue to support you as partners in progress to ensure that we keep the Federal Capital Territory safe for the citizens, safe for the government and of course safe for the diplomatic community and all those that come from far and wide to transact business and other activities within the city.”

    “As long as crimes happen and we are able to solve them within the shortest possible time, it brings credibility to the force and to the Administration and above all, it gives confidence to the diplomatic community, to our business partners and anybody that uses Abuja as a place for work or leisure. That is why for us, security is very important,” the FCT Minister said.

    Bello also praised the FCT Police command for their ability to resolve a number of kidnap cases that occurred especially in the satellite towns, saying they were able to crack these cases, despite difficult terrains and limited accessibility.

    The minister specifically recalled an incident in Kuje area where the Command, with very close cooperation with other security agencies took care of the problem of kidnapping, adding, “Within a very short period of time, 10 kidnapped persons were rescued, all alive, without payment of any ransom.”

    “Recently, we had challenges in the border communities between FCT and Niger State and Gwagwalada Area Council where something happened and a joint team, including your men and officers took care of the situation and the community even directly came to me to extend their appreciation. So, I want to also extend my appreciation to you and by extension, the Inspector General of Police for this,” he said.

     

  • ‘Stop using our alma mater as event centre’

    Old students of Government High School Ilorin (GHSI) have decried the use of the institution for social activities. The students made the observation in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the 50th anniversary ceremony of the school, formerly known as Ilorin College.

    “We are very sad with the use of our school as event centre,” said President, GHSI Old Students Association, Raji Mohammed. “This will lead to much destruction in our school. On this note, we ask the state Ministry of Education to stop the use of GHSI for ceremonies and non-academic activities.

    “After all there are event centres around the school. We wonder how they expect the students to learn during these ceremonies as they could interrupt teaching and learning.

    “On behalf of this association, I want to make a special prayer to the state government. It is a fact that Alhaji Abdulganiyu F. AbdulRazaq single handedly founded this school in 1957, it is also a fact that the school was taken away from him in 1976. It is an indisputable fact that the compound of this school today houses four schools, another fact is that for the fears that the school was taken over from the founder, a dime has not been given to the man as compensation for his efforts.

    “For equity’s sake and prosperity, we are asking the state to compensate founder with nothing but by naming the school after him. The better time is now that the state is celebrating its anniversary. This will serve as good lesson to all Kwarans. We thank God the man is alive, it is better now to honour him than when he is dead.”

    The founder of the school, Ambassador Abdul-Razaq and the first senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from the north, attributed the falling standard of education in the country to policy inconsistency.

    He warned that the nation’s education sector is already lying in intensive care and needs surgical operation for total revival.

    In his speech entitled: “Five decades after: Rekindling the Hope of Qualitative Education,” the former diplomat, who spoke through his son, Dr Alimi Abdul-Razaq, also blamed the challenges bedeviling the education sector on lack of political will.

    He warned that educational policies designed on deceit would end in abysmal failure.

    Abdul-Razaq, the Mutawali of Ilorin, emphasized the importance of quality education as a way of priming successive generations for the task ahead and urged the government to return to the drawing board and fashion out new policies that would match the standard envisaged.

    He also noted that new policies must key into the benchmark prescribed by the United Nations in order to have a literate society, a clear departure from what we have presently.

    “One should at this juncture reiterate that no society can develop beyond the quality of education it bequeaths to the people living within it. Thus, this assertion justifies the importance of education in the life of man, right from the cradle to the grave.

    “Though some of the problems earlier highlighted above also persist in this present time, it is disheartening that the contemporary challenges have assumed a frightening dimension.

    “If the truth be told, our education system is in coma in intensive care unit, and it requires holistic surgical operation to revive it.

    “We have got to a level that the quality of students churned out today as graduates have become subjects of scrutiny. The problem is more pervasive in public schools. For the record, the problem did not just start today, it is an age-long battle, which has continued unabated.