The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Prison boss: Officers working under challenging circumstances

    The Controller-General, (CG) of the Nigerian Prisons Service, (NPS), Ja’afaru Ahmed, has said officers work under challenging circumstances.

    Ahmed said managing over 69 thousand inmates in  such circumstances was demanding.

    Inadequate office equipment and other necessary logistics, Ahmed said, were major challenges.

    He spoke in Abuja at a two-day workshop for the NPS Command Public Relations Officers in collaboration with Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), with the theme: “Engaging the media in managing offenders in prison custody.”

    He said: “As it’s typical of prisons everywhere in the world, those in incarceration usually exhibit a common trait which is devising means to secure freedom either using the approved means or through unacceptable process like escape. Employing the latter has often been a source of friction between authorities and the captive population. Therefore, as a prisons officer, beyond understanding the dynamics of providing custodial services for prisoners, it is also important to appreciate communication process with the public using the media in order to guide against skewed and negative narratives. We need to know how to properly manage the over 69 thousand prisoners under our care.

    “The mandate of the Nigerian Prisons Service, as you all know, is to secure safe and humane custody of persons legally interned by courts of competent jurisdiction, establish causes of their rebellious behaviour, put up appropriate treatment regimes to re-socialise them, manage various vocational training centres including farms towards economic viability and support prisoner’s re-integration back into the society through After-Care Scheme.

    “Recent developments have made it more imperative for you as field officers to sharpen your skills to ensure that you carry out this onerous task with utmost professionalism balancing respect to stakeholders and the protection of the Service’s integrity. Developmental strides that have been recorded in the areas of inmates training.”

  • Adamawa moves to improve birth registration

    Adamawa moves to improve birth registration

    A report from the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) indicates that birth registration in Adamawa is the lowest in the north-eastern part of the country.

    It notes that only 17 per cent of under one and four per cent of under five years registered in the region in 2015.

    Expressing concern about the low rate of birth attendance generally in the country, observers say there must be pragmatic measures aimed at improving birth registration.

    They note that birth registration is one of the four major sources of demographic data for planning process which should be on a continuous, permanent and compulsory recording.

    But Mr Innocent Mishikir, the Head of Vital Registration in the National Population Commission (NPC) office in Yola, said lack of public awareness on the importance of the registration had been one of the major challenges in Adamawa.

    He explained that from January 2016 to August 2016, the commission registered only 87, 748 children comprising 45, 858 males and 41, 890 females.

    “Other challenges include inadequate registration centres and workforce; Adamawa has only 79 registration centres and birth registrars across its 21 local government areas which are grossly inadequate to cover the 226 wards in the state.

    “The state is now recovering from Boko Haram insurgency which seriously affected local governments in northern part of the state.

    “As the state plans for resettlement and rehabilitation of the returnees, one of the issues being addressed is that of birth registration,’’ he said.

    The Adamawa Ministry of Health and the Primary Healthcare Development Agency has, therefore, planned to sensitise the residents of the state to the importance of birth registration.

    The agency, in collaboration with European Union (EU) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), had recently conducted a one week massive birth registration advocacy in the state.

    Inaugurating the campaign, Mr David Garnvwa, the Federal Commissioner of NPC, underscored the importance of birth registration which he described as a right.

    “Civic registration is a continuous and compulsory recording of the occurrence and characteristic of vital events, such as birth, death, stillbirth and marriages, among others.

    “It is therefore the right of every child to be registered without any discrimination as specified in Article 7 of the convention on the Right of children,’’ Garnvwa said.

    Garnvwa said 2,136 sub registrars were engaged to assist the only 79 registrars in Adamawa in the going from house to house in the 226 wards of the state for the massive registration.

    He advised the state government to address the problem of shortage of staff by seconding local government staff to NPC to serve as sub-registrars on a permanent basis.

    “We wish to request the governor to consider, approve and direct the local governments to second to the commission at least one sub-registrar per ward who will be trained by NPC to work with our staff,’’ he requested.

    “So far, with funding support from EU through UNICEF, more than 300 health workers have been trained on birth registration services in the various health facilities in the state,’’ he observed.

    Dr Abdulai Kaikai, Chief of Bauchi Zone Field Officer of UNICEF, who lauded the massive birth registration campaign, also solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders in achieving effective birth registration and its sustainability.

    He said UNICEF, in collaboration with NPC and Adamawa Primary Healthcare Agency, had further trained 300 Community Resource Persons on birth registration in insurgency affected local government areas of the state such as Madagali, Michika, Mubi North, Mubi South and Maiha.

    “With the support of all stakeholders, all unregistered children in Adamawa will be registered and will obtain the birth registration certificate issued by NPC to ensure that every child has an identity as a Nigerian.

    “The birth registration certificate issued by NPC also provides legal, documentary evidence of the child’s existence; age, parentage, birth place and nationality.

    “This will further enable the government plan for children and implement basic social services such as health, education, infrastructure and employments for the future well-being of these children,’’ Kaikai explained.

    To further boost the birth registration exercise in Adamawa, the state has benefitted from another EU/UNICEF intervention in the use of automatic device by birth registrars for efficiency.

    Speaking on the pilot project, Dr Babagana Wakili, the Director Vital Registration Department at the NPC headquarters in Abuja, said that the training was to boost birth registration exercise in Adamawa and Kebbi selected for the pilot project.

    He explained that Adamawa and Kebbi were selected for the pilot project in view of the states’ poor record in birth registration.

    He said the success of the pilot project in Adamawa and Kebbi would facilitate the expansion of the programme to other states.

    “We use to do birth registration manually, using paper but now in collaboration with UNICEF, we want to automate it and make the registration easier.

    “This automated approach will make the registration more efficient and credible. Adamawa and Kebbi were selected because they have low registration and by building the capacity of the registrars and providing them with the hand held devices for data capturing, things would improve,’’ Wakili said.

    Mrs Sharon Oladeji, child protection specialist with UNICEF, who spoke on the importance of addressing gaps in birth registration in Adamawa state, noted that tackling the problem would play a vital role in the state’s development.

    “It will give the state the ability to plan, implement, monitor, evaluate and report on the impact of its social and economic policies and ensure that resources are allocated to where they are really needed,’’ she said.

    In addition to sensitisation programme on boosting the public attitude to birth registration, media jingles by local radio stations in the state are ongoing to enlighten parents and guardians on the importance of birth registration.

    Hajiya Aishatu Abubakar, the Director of NPC in Adamawa, described the enlightenment exercise as effective as shown by the turn out of parents to register their children.

    Stakeholders, therefore, solicit supports, particularly from the state government and key stakeholders, to sustain the efforts of NPC and UNICEF in ensuring that Adamawa children are given rights to existence and identity.

    …Uba is of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

  • Is N5,000 stipend for the poor a propaganda?

    Long before President Muhammadu Buhari became a democratically elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2015, he was seen in many quarters as a leader who has the interest of the masses at heart.

    Towards this direction, so many programmes were promised for the masses by the ex-military General during all his campaign periods in the four times he aspired to lead the nation.

    So it was not surprising when N500 billion was appropriated to alleviate poverty in the 2016 Budget, which was the first budget of Buhari’s current administration.

    Part of the N500 billion social investment schemes was a programme to pay N5,000 monthly to one million poorest and vulnerable Nigerians.

    But events unfolding last week have started to raise concern in the minds of some Nigerians.

    Last week Monday, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, in a statement, disclosed that nine states have been captured in the first batch of the payment of N5,000 stipend to poor Nigerians.

    He listed the nine states in the first batch for the payment to include Borno, Kwara, Bauchi, Cross Rivers, Niger, Kogi, Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti.

    He said: “As part of its  determined efforts to touch the lives of Nigerians positively the Buhari administration has now started the payment of N5,000 monthly stipends to the poorest and the most vulnerable in the country through the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) of its Social Investment Programmes (SIP).

    “Under the CCT, one million Nigerians would receive N5000 monthly payments as a form of social safety net for the poorest and most vulnerable as budgeted for in the 2016 Budget.

    “In the first batch that commenced last week, nine states would be covered, and many of the beneficiaries have already reported receiving their first payments by Friday last week, December 30, 2016.

    “Funds for the commencement of the payments in four states were released last week to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) – the platform that hosts and validates payments for all government’s social intervention programmes.

    “Funds for another set of five states to complete the first batch of nine states would follow soon.

    “Though the sequence for the payment of the money would be operationally managed by NIBSS, beneficiaries in Borno, Kwara and Bauchi States have started receiving the money.

    “The other states in the first batch to commence the CCT payments are Cross Rivers, Niger, Kogi, Oyo, Ogun & Ekiti States.

    “The nine pilot states were chosen because they have an existing Social Register that successfully identified the most vulnerable and poorest Nigerians through a tried and tested community based targeting (CBT) method working with the World Bank.

    “However other states have already begun developing their Social Registers and would be included in subsequent phases of the CCT implementation.

    “Beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer of the Federal Government would be mined from the Social Register, initially developed by 8 States through a direct engagement with the World Bank.

    “Those states are featured in the first batch, with the added inclusion of Borno States where a validated list of IDPS were compiled in addition to the Social Register which is expected to go round the country.

    “Working with the World Bank, the CBT process has now been adopted for developing the Social Register in the other states around the country, for transparency, objectivity and credibility in the selection of the poorest and most vulnerable beneficiaries for the programme.

    “The Federal Government will actually commence community mobilization for the creation of the Register in more States soon, to expand the scope and reach of the CCT across the country.”

    But as soon as the news from the press statement hit the airwaves, Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose, whose state was named among the nine states, faulted the Federal Government’s claims.

    Fayose described the N5,000 monthly payment as a mere propaganda by the Federal Government.

    He claimed that there was no evidence of the payment in his state.

    He said: “A blind man will say it is when it gets into my mouth that I will say you are feeding me, not promises.

    “Apparently, the states they claimed have started receiving the payment are APC-controlled states knowing fully that the governors can not come out to disprove the payment.”

    While pointing out that the Federal Government’s social intervention fund was World Bank project partnered by the Nigerian government, he said that the World Bank’s money has been paid since June last year.

    The governor did not fail to disclose that he is already paying social security package to over 10,000 poor people in his state without any delay and procrastination in the last one year, calling on the Federal Government to toe his line.

    But on behalf of the Federal Government, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, last Wednesday replied Fayose.

    He said the government is built on integrity and accountability and will not lie to Nigerians.

    He said: “It was announced specifically from the office of the Vice President that the scheme has started in nine states. And then a certain governor came and say it is not true.

    “It is just a matter of who do you believe. This is a government that is built on integrity and accountability. This government will not lie to Nigerians, does not lie to Nigerians, in fact anything you hear from this government you can take it to the bank, believe it.

    “So if anybody comes and say it is politics, it is not true. Choose who to believe I can tell you that you should believe this government because this government will not lie to you.” He added

    Among the questions being thrown up now is: who is really deceiving Nigerians?.

    It is definitely not right to play politics with everything, especially with the livelihood of poor Nigerians.

    Besides the reported involvement of the World Bank and other organizations in identifying the poor Nigerians who will benefit from the scheme across the country, the programme should not just commence in states and the FCT without any form of ceremony.

    It will not be out of place to invite state government to such functions.

    If it is done with so much secrecy, the programme will be turned to a case of the more you look, the less you see.

    The handlers of the programme could even be accused of padding the list of poor Nigerians with the names of their cronies, relatives and loved ones at the end of the day.

  • Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Bauch, Kwara unfold plans to turn around economy through agriculture

    Some state governments across the country have highlighted some measures aimed at improving agricultural production in 2017, following the current economic recession, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Some of the state governments have concluded plans to turn to agriculture through the initiation of diverse policies to boost their economy and create job opportunities.

    Some respondents, government officials and other stakeholders, made this known in separate interviews with NAN in Bauchi, Maiduguri, Gombe, Yola and Kwara among others.

    They said the move was necessitated by the bitter experience of 2016, when the cost of staple food items rose astronomically beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians.

    Most of the state governments in the country have also keyed into Federal Government’s Agricultural Programmes, especially the Anchor Borrowers Scheme.

    Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State said government had concluded arrangements to purchase grains to cushion the effects of price fluctuations on farmers’ income and also store for future sales to people at subsidised rates.

    Abubakar, who stated this while presenting the 2017 budget to the State Assembly, added that there are plans to establish farm training centres and demonstration farms in the state.

    He also said that part of the agricultural programmes of the state for the 2017 was the empowerment of youth in irrigation agriculture at Wata dam irrigation project in Bauchi South, Galala dam irrigation project in Bauchi Central and Adalda irrigation scheme in Bauchi North.

    Abubakar further said that the state government had keyed into the Federal Governments Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP).

    The Director of Agricultural Services, Bauchi State Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Suleiman Ningi, told NAN that the state government would invest over N150 million to support 30,000 farmers under the ABP.

    ‘’The Bauchi State government would pay the sum of N150 million to commercial banks, so as to ease bank charges and further empower youths and the farmers.

    ‘’Farmers are to cultivate rice and wheat during the dry season, while for the rainy season, farmers are expected to cultivate rice and maize,’’ he said.

    The Borno State government said it earmarked about N7.72 billion to enhance various agricultural programmes in the post-insurgency era.

    Goernor Kashim Shettima said at the 2017 budget presentation that the amount would be used to revolutionised farming as well as provide enabling environment for food production, maintenance of plantation sites and introduction of new crop varieties.

    ‘’Government will provide adequate farm machinery and other inputs to boost agricultural activities, while all Counterpart funds for NPFS, IFAD and Fadama III programmes shall be paid to access more fund.

    ‘’We have instituted several agricultural policies and activities in the State in order to encourage farming activities,’’ he said.

    According to him, about 1,000,000 seedlings of cashew, 500 seedlings of Date Palm and 7500 seedlings of improved variety of citrus, as well as 21,000 mango seedlings have been raised.

    He said this was in addition to the cultivation of 35 hectares of ginger crop at Kidang, Biu Zone as a pilot farm

    and the establishment of 200 hectares of plantation each at Tamsu, Kawu, Mainta Kururi, Mainok and Auno towns.

    ‘’Furthermore, assorted seeds of arable crops were procured and distributed to farmers at no cost, while NPK fertiliser was sold at highly subsidised rate to farmers in the Southern part of the state.

     

  • FCT to go after vandals, scavengers, traffic offenders

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Security Committee has resolved to go after vandals, scavengers and traffic offenders.

    The committee also resolved that the vandalisation of public utilities in the FCT must be stopped , urging the security agents to clamp down on vandals.

    The committee noted that most of the traffic lights in the Abuja metropolis hadbeen vandalised, which led to signal failure in interchanges.

    The committee added that most street lights, especially those at the outskirts of the city, had been vandalised and warned that all perpetrators would be tracked down to face prosecution.

    FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Bello appreciated the support the FCT Administration has been enjoying from the FCT Security Community and called for closer collaboration this year.

    According to a statement by the  Deputy Director / Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the minister said  the FCT Administration would give serious attention to the problems of traffic offenders, illegal activities of commercial motorcyclists, vandalisation of public utilities, restricting of Keke NAPEP to designated areas.

    He said abandoned and uncompleted buildings across the Federal Capital City would be properly monitored.

    The minister urged their owners to take proper possession as they would be held responsible for any security breach in such places.

    Bello also directed the security agents to also restrict the activities of scavengers to dump sites and arrest any of them found roaming around the city.

    He announced that the FCT Judiciary has already assigned five Magistrates who are expected to man five Mobile Courts to deal with all these problems.

    According to him, the Mobile Courts had been brought in for immediate dispensation of justice and appropriate penalty to serve as a deterrent.

    The minister added that arrested commercial sex workers would be taken to the rehabilitation centre in Lugbe for skill acquisition.

    Bello also directed the FCT Police Commissioner and the FCT Director of DSS to immediately meet with the graded traditional rulers in FCT as well as the chairmen of the six area councils to strengthen collaboration and fine-tune ways of getting useful intelligence from the grassroots.

    He advised the residents of the Federal Capital Territory to pass any useful information on any security situation to the relevant security agencies nearest to them as well as traditional and community leaders.

  • Joy, happiness as community gets police station

    Joy, happiness as community gets police station

    It was a memorable day for the people of Ugboju community in Benue State when they trooped out to witness the inauguration of a well-furnished Police Station built by the National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Ambassador Dickson Akoh.

    Many believe crime-fighting efforts in the community and neighboring communities will now receive a boost with the new Police Station.

    Akoh, who also presented an Hilux van to the police, said security in the community would be enhanced.

    He also called on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to further secure the country.

    His words: “Today I was elected as the President of the Ogbojo Community Secondary School Old Boys Association. In this community we have lived peacefully and Fulani are here and when ever organised ceremony, the first people I entertain is the Fulani people. We condemn what the Fulani are doing but people should not take advantage of the fact that they are causing trouble somewhere and be hustle to them. This Police Station will serve this community and will help reduce the rate of crime because we all know the importance of a Police Station in a community.

    “Since I was given birth to till now my father retired from the Army and I came to this village we have never had any case of Fulani clashing with the locals. We should also encourage ourselves to be more hospitable to people. If Nigerians can travel to other country and get elected into offices, then I see no reason we should not live together in peace.

    “I want Nigerians to know that security is key to any development and as such, the greatest gift Nigeria have gotten in the last five years is the capture of Boko Haram and the taking over of Sambisa forest.

    ”The security agencies have made the festival period merrier than before when it was a threat and we all know that a threat to any part of the society is a threat to every Nigerian

    ”We celebrate and appreciate the doggedness of the Armed Forces and the commander in chief of the Armed Forces President Mohammadu Buhari. They deserve accolades from all Nigerians considering the terror that has been unleashed on Nigerians by Boko Haram in the years past, with many lives lost.

    “The capturing of the territory is also a warning signal for other agitators in Nigeria that there is no where you can defeat government. For other agitators they must know that constructive dialogue is the only way out. People should also help the security agencies in this regard to achieve success. Part of the function given to the Peace Corps of Nigeria now is neighborhood watch. In the bill it states that every street now should be watched by Peace Corps.

    The Commandant however appealed to the Federal Government (FG) to motivate other security personnel, while urging for medals of honour to be awarded soldiers who have fought tirelessly to capture Sambisa.

    “As practiced in advanced societies, the chief of army staff deserves the highest honour and I recommend such for him while also encouraging the FG to motivate other security personnel, and those soldiers who captured Sambisa forest deserves medals of honour. Some streets should also be named after the gallant and young men who fought day and night to secure the hideout of Boko Haram,” he urged.

    His Royal Highness, the Obande of Ugboju, Chief Solomon Apochi, who led the Ugboju traditional council in Oturkpo Local Government Area of Benue State, to the event, praised Akoh for building a modern police station for Ugboju community. He urged the Federal Government to fix the bad roads in the area so that farmers could convey their products to the market.

    The police station, he said, would further curb crime in the community.

    The House of Assembly member representing Adoka/Ugboju constituency and Chairman of appropriation in Benue State House of Assembly, John Adam Okloho, stressed the importance of policing as he commended Akoh for building the police station.

  • Army, police vow to end Southern Kaduna violence

    Army, police vow to end Southern Kaduna violence

    Killings in southern part of Kaduna have in the last four weeks dominated national discourse. The matter has now attracted the attention of the Federal Government more than ever before. The zone now awaits two military formations and a mobile police base. ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE reports that with these developments, there is hope of an end to a bloody Southern Kaduna.

    The violence in Southern Kaduna has defied many applied solutions since after the 2011 post presidential election violence. Successive government made unsuccessful efforts to nip the crisis in the bud, but the Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai’s government seem to be succeeding in bringing the challenge to its new.

    Burnt houses, and destroyed properties litter the landscape of the region with its people traumatised having been rendered homeless and losing their loved ones.

    It would be recalled that Goska, a village of about five kilometres away from Kafanchan, headquarters of Jema’a local government area was attacked under a 24 hours curfew, by suspected Fulani herdsmen, leaving five people dead, many injured and houses razed.

    The state government had imposed curfew on the three local government areas of Jema’a, Kaura and Zangon Kataf to forestall break down of law and order. The curfew came a day after the convoy of the Governor was attacked by rampaging youths in Kafanchan.

    The good news is that, while the Fulani communities under the auspices of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, (MACBAN) have asked parties involved in the killings to forgive each other and stop reprisal attacks, Federal Government has concluded arrangements to establish two military formations and a mobile police base in Southern Kaduna.

    Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai during a two-hour chat with local radio reporters recently disclosed that plans are underway to establish two military formations in Southern parts of the state. Saying, his government has gotten assurances of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Ministry of Defence and Chief of Army Staff on the request to site the military formations.

    El-Rufai said, the proposed military formations will be sited in Fadan Karshi, in Sanga Local Government and Kauru Local Government Areas. “We are talking with the President, the Minister of defense and the Chief of Army Staff to site two military formations in Southern Kaduna; one in Fadan Karshi in Sanga and the second one in Kauru local government area. And I will meet the President on Thursday (yesterday) in continuation of the project.

    “The presence of these two military formations will help in securing lives and property and provide rapid response to any act of criminality and the maintenance of law and order. Two other military formations will be established in Birnin Gwari and Kubau local government areas.”

    “Security has been beefed up in the area as part of measures to stem the tide of violence in the region. Two squadrons of mobile police have been drafted to the area. In addition, more military personnel have also been deployed to tackle the rising insecurity in the region”, he said.

    El-Rufai explained that the rising insecurity in the region is also having adverse economic effect as investors who expressed readiness to invest in the region were already pooling out.

    Similarly, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris who was on tour of the troubled areas on Saturday announced that the Nigeria Police will establish a mobile police base in Kafanchan, saying; “from the discussion I had with Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, we have decided to station a mobile police base in Kafanchan. We are here to see things for ourselves so that we have a lasting peace in the whole area,” he said.

    The IG said a panel had been set up to investigate the crisis in the area thoroughly, including the allegation that 800 people were killed in the crisis.

    IGP Idris said some of the reports on Southern Kaduna were exaggerated, saying all the leaders of the villages have a lot to contribute to peace and unity of the area. “Some of the community leaders need to be cautioned. They are contributing to creating situation that does not exist,” he said.

    He said the police were committed to restoring lasting peace and later met with community leaders in the area.

    The Fulani communities on their part called on the warring parties to genuinely sheath their sword and sincerely embrace all the reconciliatory moves towards achieving peaceful and harmonious coexistence, saying without that, there may be no end to the killings and reprisal attacks.

    The National Assistant Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi who stated this as part of the solutions to the recurring killings and destruction of properties in the area said natives of the area embark on indiscriminate killings.

    ”We call on the entire people of southern Kaduna to forgive what has happened. Both parties should learn to forgive. This crisis will never end if you think you would go and revenge what happened to you , so we’re appealing to all parties to sheath their swords and embrace peace.

    “We want to also support the steps so far taken by the government of Kaduna State and all the security agencies in order to return normalcy to the area.

    “We call on leaders in particular, political, religious and otherwise to desist from making inflammatory speeches that could escalate the situation.  There should be no hate speech, those speeches that points towards religious sentiment or ethnic jingoism.  Let us all work for peace.  We inherited a peaceful southern Kaduna and I don’t think we are sensible if we bequeath to our children and grandchildren a southern Kaduna that is fighting itself.

    “We want to assure that we will continue to work with people of goodwill.  In southern Kaduna there are good people that are out for peace.  And I want to make it clear that there are Chiefdoms where you never, ever experience any clash because the traditional rulers there are out to promote peace.  Kagoro, Marwa is one of them even though some people mischievously leave from other places and come to Marwa and attack.

    “We are going to work with people of like minds  to ensure total reconciliation.”

    Dr Abdullahi said grazing reserve is the main reason for the violence, adding that “at the inception of this administration everybody is aware that the government formed a committee which I was priviledged to be a member and we went on tour of the entire part of southern kaduna.

    “We discussed with people from all shades of opinion, and wherever we go the issue of grazing reserves is tabled, the people on ground did not opposed the idea.  There is a place the traditional ruler said if there is no designated grazing area, he wants to volunteer his farm.

    “But no sooner than the report was handed over,  we heard some political leaders from that area and elected representatives of that area called a press conference saying that the entire people of southern Kaduna, including myself has rejected the idea of grazing reserve.

    “This committee went out to all nooks and crannies of the area, somebody decided because he has power called pressmen and tell them the southern Kaduna people are not willing to accept grazing reserve.  I think that is mischief. None of them has ever even gone to his constituency to consult with the people.  I don’t think somebody like Gen. Martin Luther Agwai will come and lie to the government that my people accepted grazing reserve  when he did not discuss it with them. That is unacceptable”, he said.

    While the security measures are being taken, there is need for the people of Southern Kaduna people, locals and the Fulani communities to come together and chart a new course for peace to reign in the region.

  • NMA pledges more support to freed Chibok girls

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has promised to sustain its efforts at providing specialist care to the released Chibok girls and other victims of insurgency.

    Dr Yusuf Sununu, the Secretary General of the association, made the pledge in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday (NAN) in Abuja.

    Sununu noted that the released Chibok girls were experiencing emotional and psychological torture, among other challenges.

    He assured that NMA has the right capacity to provide medicare services and special care that would guarantee better future for the victims.

    The general secretary identified areas of care to include psycho-social support, reintegrating them with their families, recommending necessary investigation, carrying out investigation, interpreting and recommending the desired services.

    “We can seat with parents, educate them on the need to accept their children no matter the condition. Their families must accept them and understand that they did not subject themselves to that.

    “For them to be reintegrated into the families parents must accept that those changes are there; must understand that they have passed through situations that may have changed their psychological outlook and behavior, among others,’’ he said.

    However, the scribe stressed that the victims needed full support and assistance of family members, governments and other philanthropists to be fully reintegrated into the society.

    Sununu explained that a lot of them were held in captivity without babies but came back with babies, noting that this must have exposed them to varying sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

    He said that they required thorough medical examination to ascertain if they have been infected with HIV, syphilis and other STDs.

    Sununu, who further noted that the girls were malnourished, however said the association would generate physical and laboratory investigation to ascertain the nutritional deficiency confronting them and make adequate replacement of those elements.

    “We have identified what their problems are, they have been in captivity for almost two years, separated from their families, undergo torture, also tormented by constant gunshot, bomb blasts, among others.

    “So, these nasty experiences can give them psychological stress. Since they have been released from captivity we have to look at this issue and find a way to address them headlong.

    “First, they must get assurance that their safety is guaranteed, they must undergo a thorough medical checkup with regard to STDs because some of them went there without babies but came back with babies.

    “They need to be screened for STDs, HIV, Syphilis, among others, that may be of health significant currently or in future,’’ Sununu noted.

    About 45 Chibok school girls had so far been rescued out of over 200 abducted in April 14, 2014, by Boko Haram insurgents.

  • Bello releases N2b to former office holders

    Bello releases N2b to former office holders

    The National Councilors Forum, Kogi State chapter, has hailed Governor Yahaya Bello over the release of N2 billion to clear salary arrears and severance package of past political appointees in the state.

    Bello has released N2 billion for payment to immediate past political office holders in the 21 local government councils.

    The money is a carry over from former Governor Idris Wada, as part payment of their salary and severance package.

    The Chairman of the National Councilors Forum, Musa Abdullahi Adakeke, expressed their relief over the clearance of salary and other entitlements when he led over 512 members on a ‘thank  you’ visit to the governor.

    Bello said his administration will continue to welcome all those that are ready to work with him, adding that every one in the state belong to his administration.

    He said that all former chairmen and secretary of local government councils have been paid part of their salary and severance package owed by the previous administration.

    According to the governor, his administration will do everything possible to take care of civil servants in the state, noting that virtually all genuine workers have been paid up till December.

    He presented an 18-seater bus to the forum, and promised to consider members into positions of his “New Direction” administration.

    Adakeke thanked the governor for releasing the money as part payment of their salary and severance package.

    He added: “We appreciate the dogged determination of the governor to transform the state in the area of infrastructure at the rural and urban cities. This will help in no small measures to engage a number of our youth on gainful employment, thereby reducing the incidences of crime in the state and its environs”.

    They called on the governor to provide 5,000 All Progressives Congress’ membership cards to them and their supporters, and approve a date for their formal defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • Gombe traditional ruler advises subjects on farm produce

    Paramount ruler of Tangale tribesmen in Billiri Local Government of Gombe State, Abdu-buba Maisheru, has cautioned his people against the indiscriminate sales of their farm produce.

    Maisheru, who gave the word of caution on Saturday in Billiri at the annual Tangle Cultural Festival, said the advice became necessary in view of the current economic recession.

    He advised them to save enough food items that would sustain them till the next harvest.

    He commended the state government for supporting his people, especially in promoting their cultural heritage.

    In his remarks, Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Gashua, in Yobe , Prof. Andrew Haruna, called on tangle community to live in peace with one another for the development of the area and to sustain their mother tongue.

    Haruna, a linguist, said that there were about 7,000 languages in the world, out of which over 500 were in Nigeria.

    He noted that due to lack of effort at sustaining them and passing same to the younger generation, some of the tribes were almost extinct.

    In his speech, Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State also called on the people to live in peace and assist security agents by reporting any suspicious character.

    He said living in peace, unity and understanding, would accelerate the progress and development of their community, the state and the country at large.

    Dankwambo urged the Tangle community to sustain the cultural festival, adding that the state government would soon organize the state cultural festival.