The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Kazaure Emirate Council distributes grains to residents

    The Kazaure Emirate Council in Jigawa State has distributed grains worth more than N8 million as Zakkat to additional 2,219 indigent people in the area.

    The spokesman of the emirate, Malam Gambo Garba, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Dutse that the exercise was in continuation of the 2016 Zakkat (Islamic thanks giving alms) collection and distribution.

    Garba explained that the grains were distributed to deserving poor families in Karkarna district.

    The Emirate had on Dec. 1, distributed grains about N5.2 million as Zakkat to 2,041 less privileged people in Maraganta village in Gwiwa Local Government Area.

    He said that the Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Hussaini, distributed the food items.

    According to him, the First Class traditional ruler reaffirmed the commitment of the emirate council toward the propagation of Islam to reduce poverty in the area.

    The emir urged wealthy persons to always support the vulnerable and the less privileged in the society to reduce poverty in the area, adding that giving Zakkat is one of the five pillars of Islam.

    Husaini commended individuals who voluntarily gave out alms in support of the needy, the spokesman said.

    He said that the emir also presented gifts to district, village and ward heads that excelled in the collection of Zakkat in their respective domains.

    The Emir was represented by the Makama of Kazaure, Alhaji Umar Adamu, at the occasion.

     

  • We have been left behind, the disabled cry

    We have been left behind, the disabled cry

    For persons living with disability, life, they say, has not been easy, especially when they feel the government is not doing enough to tackle their plight.

    This was why a disability group, under the auspices of Cedar Seed Foundation, took to the street of Abuja to mark the International Day of Persons with Disability and also ask leaders of the eighth National Assembly to hasten the passage of the Disability Bill.

    This year’s celebration is themed Achieving 17 SDGs Goals for the future we want according to the founder of Cedar Seed Foundation, the disabled have been treated as second-class citizens for too long, left behind from development agenda for too long, and denied their rights.

    Her words: “Enough is enough of all these discrimination, exclusion, marginalisation, stigmatisation, gender-based violence, unemployment, inaccessibility, illiteracy, etc. “We are tired of the charity model and we implore everyone to support disabled persons or partner with disabled organisations, to join the cause of advocating the rights of disabled persons using the right channels and make things happen for these great people on earth.

    “The International Day for Persons with Disabilities is being marked and this represents an avenue to celebrate the achievements of persons with disabilities, while asking everyone to get involved in the development agenda for persons with disabilities.

    “We have the potentials and abilities; all we are asking for is opportunities and support, and we will deliver our jobs exceedingly well. If given the opportunity, we will be the best presidents, governors, ministers, ambassadors, engineers, pilots, doctors, journalists, administrators, architects, clergy, innovators, artists, musicians, politicians, economists, developers, etc. All we are asking for is empowerment.

    “The United Nations Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities is calling on everyone to help realise the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the lives of the disabled people, by making every agenda inclusive and enable them have their full participation and enjoy equal opportunities.

    “We urge leaders of the eighth session of the National Assembly to ensure that the Disability Bill is attended to as fast as possible so that the President can assent to it.

    “The organisations of and for Persons with Disabilities should increase their advocacy and engagement with critical and relevant stakeholders. The media should continue to support us with reports on disability issues. State and none-state parties should support quick passage of the disability bill campaign to help Nigeria achieve the SDGs on or before 2030.”

  • Exit of a titan

    The Presidential Villa, Abuja, received an unusual visitor on October 20. The visitor was the late former Minister of Commerce and Tourism, Otunba Ayora Bola Kuforiji-Olubi.

    She was accompanied on the visit, which coincided with her 80th birthday, by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

    As if she knew that her death was imminent, the tall and fair-complexion woman came to greet President Muhammadu Buhari. Her mission was to thank the President, whom she said had touched her life positively, and was instrumental to the feats she attained in life.

    She happened to be the only one among such dignitaries to come to the Villa to say ‘thank you’ especially on the same day a birthday congratulatory message was issued in her honour.

    President Buhari, in a statement same day, congratulated her on her 80th birthday and wished her well. He prayed for her continued health and longer life to allow the nation and humanity benefit more from her wisdom and wealth of experience.

    But barely six weeks after her visit to the Villa, Kuforiji-Olubi was no more and the President, last Monday, commiserated with her family, friends and loved ones.

    While praying to God to grant her eternal rest, he maintained that the deceased served Nigeria and humanity with all her God-given strength and talent.

    Buhari also believed that she will not be forgotten in a hurry, for redefining the place of womanhood in Nigeria’s development, and inspiring others.

    Kuforiji-Olubi, besides being a former Minister of Commerce and Tourism in the Interim National Government in 1983, was a businesswoman, banker, economist, accountant, author and philanthropist.

    She was the first female Chairman of the United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) (1984 to 1990), and the first female President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), while she became a fellow of ICAN in 1976.

    The deceased was also the first Nigerian woman to be Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a multinational company, VYB Industries Limited, with British affiliates (Inchcape PLC), and the first female Chairman of a public quoted company (Bewac Plc).

    Apart from chairing and serving on the boards of many other companies, she was the first Chairman of the Ogun, Osun River Basin Development (1976–1980), member, governing council Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research

    (NISER, 1981–1983), a foundation member and Chairman, Lagos State Education Endowment Fund (1988–1999), and deputy chairman and Federal Commissioner for Ogun State at the Revenue Mobilisation.

    She graduated from the University of London in 1963 with B.Sc honours in Economics, a fellow of the Institute of Charted Accountants, England and Wales (1977), British Chartered Institutes of Company Secretaries (ACIS, 1964), Nigerian Institute of Management (FMIN, 1985), and British Institute of Directors.

    Mrs. Kuforiji-Olubi was a recipient of many honours and awards, including the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) in 1979, for her contributions to management education and the socio-economic advancement of Nigeria.

    She was conferred with the award of Order of the Niger (OON) in 2002, certificate of Merit by the United Nations Decade of Woman (1980), award for Excellence from the University of Benn’s Skonit Club in 1988, honorary Grammarian of CMS 1988 by CMS grammar school, award of Excellence by Brigade of Nigeria (1992), International award of Excellence for outstanding entrepreneurial achievements (MIT) Cambridge, MA, United States (1992), a recipient of 2002 conferment award for Woman of Achievement under the auspices of the Woman Development Centre, Abuja (2005).

    Besides holding many chieftaincy titles across Nigeria, Kuforiji-Olubi also got the following honours – Doctor of Business Administration from Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT, 1997), Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) from the Bayero University, Kano (2004), Doctor of letter (Honoris Causa) from the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, in 2006.

    As many Nigerians will continue to follow her giant footprints in life, it is hoped that her soul will find eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord.

     

    Another feather to  Osinbajo’s cap

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo last Thursday got an award from unusual quarters, the military.

    He got a special recognition award from the governing council and management of the National Defence College (NDC).

    After some failed attempts, Commandant of the NDC, Rear Admiral Sanmi Alade, led other officers to the seat of power to give Osinbajo the award.

    He qualified for the award as the first Vice President to ever deliver a lecture in person in the history of the college.

    The award was also given in recognition of Osinbajo’s contributions and support to the college.

    Admiral Alade said: “In August, we graduated Course 24 from the college and there was an award dinner during the occasion. The Vice President was given a special recognition award.

    “He was to be presented with the award at the dinner but that was not possible because of his work exigencies, he was not present at the occasion.

    “But today, he gave us the opportunity to do the presentation in his office. That award was mandated by the governing council of the National Defence College, chaired by the Minister of Defence.

    “The award is in recognition of his contributions and support to the college. During that course, and for the first time in the history of the college, Prof. Osinbajo delivered a lecture in person.

    “For the governing board and management of the college, we believed that was a special event and for that reason, the award was instituted and awarded to him.”

    More awards and recognition will no doubt continue to trail the hard-working professor as the government strives to steer the ship of state on the path of growth and progress.

     

    Orderliness

     

    Discipline and orderliness in the way and manner staff and visitors park their cars at designated places in the Presidential Villa, Abuja appeared to fast becoming a norm at the seat of power.

    The strict discipline enthrowned by the former Administrative Officer (A.O) under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan ended with the administration.

    The former A.O. had the record of not only impounding the cars of staff who parked wrongly in the Villa, but also gave out the same treatment to high profile visitors, including state  governors, who step out of bounds.

    The fear of the A.O. then was the beginning of wisdom for car users at the seat of power.

    But staff and visitors, who dared not stop or park on the roads in the Villa under the former A.O. became more embolden at his exit.

    Twenty months down the line, they park their cars any way they deemed fit.

    But a new order appeared to be evolving in the Villa in the last few days.

    Some of the designated car parks within the Pilot gate have now been properly marked and numbered.

    Some staff who were still in doubt of the emerging new order were caught in a crossfire last week.

    Two tyres of a car that was wrongly parked blocking a duly marked entrance to one of the car parks in the Villa were deflated to serve as deterrence last Thursday.

    As the authorities try to maintain orderliness in parking, it will be great if they also consider extension of the car parks as they are hardly enough for staff and visitors, especially when the Villa was holding a special event.

     

  • Residents urged to embrace ultra-modern market

    Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Abdullahi Candido has asked the residents to key into the affordable modern markets scheme embarked upon by his administration. This, he noted, would better their lives.

    He spoke when he led his cabinet to inspect ongoing work at Kurudu, site of the new market.

    According to him, the purpose of governance is to raise the standard of living of the citizens, adding that his administration will not relent in bettering the lot of AMAC residents.

    “Barely two months ago, the ground breaking ceremony was held and today’s inspection has truly shown the seriousness of this government, and AMAC-investment Company, of ensuring the allocation and raising the level of our revenue through business.

    “Therefore, I call on the citizens and residents of Abuja Municipal Area Council to key into this laudable project, to be business-minded and invest here by owning a shop,” he said.

    Managing Director AMAC-Property Investment Company Adamu Yakubu said the organisation is determined to complete the project within the six months stipulated time.

    “This modern market will cut cost of residents within AMAC and Nasarawa State,” he assured.

    Project consultant Abubakar Hairy, from Cost Tracker limited said the project is already 40 per cent completed.

  • Kogi: KOGROMA in mending mission

    Kogi: KOGROMA in mending mission

    The dilapidated state of road network in Kogi State almost became not abnormal to the people.

    But, the Kogi State Road Maintenance Agency (KOGROMA), responsible for fixing the vast road network, appears set to rewrite the sad story.

    From the Ganaja Junction linking virtually all parts of the state, and also serving as an inter-states road, commuters and motorists are the better for it. Others, including the Zone 8 road, a long stretch snaking past strategic establishments, like the Maicharigari Military barracks, Zango, down to the expressway leading out of the state are also receiving a face-lift.

    The Zango/Army Battacks road’s reconstruction, which was awarded towards the tail end of the last administration, left the corridor in a sorrier state than it was, while the ground breaking by ex-Governor Idris Wada, for a fly-over at the Ganaja Junction, fell through.

    However, the roads are gradually wearing a new look, to the credit of KOGROMA.

    The Ganaja Junction, going into Ajaokuta town towards Adogo, or the Kabba or Okene axis are now motorable. So also are other areas within the metropolis, including the Lokoja Club/Grag Hotel junction, down to Alheri, Total, Post Office, or even the corridors along the Government House, which were hitherto eyesore.

    The Acting General Manager and director, road maintenance office, KOGROMA, Oludele Olugbami said:“We have been working even ever before this government. As I talk to you, I can give a catalogue of roads we have been doing, even outside the capital; in Idah, in Okun, to Ekinrin-Adde and in all the three senatorial districts, even up to Janna Bunu. We have a roll call of roads that we have maintained that I cannot reel off hand. Even the past government funded us. He (Wada) was the one that bought the equipment we are using, although the present administration said it will even buy more. They are the ones encouraging us.

    “We do direct labour, we don’t contract our jobs out. We have the equipment and we have so many engineers that are experienced. We understand what to do and we are doing it; as long as we are encouraged, we will do the work we are trained to do. It is in line with our mandate, and not in connection with political exigencies, but we are being encouraged.”

    On the cost of the projects, Olugbami said: “I will not want to dwell much on that, but as far as I am concerned, we have a hardworking honourable commissioner that is very supportive, encouraging, and even, he works with us into the night, and governor himself is ready to support us to do the little works that cannot be given to contractors.”

     

  • Plateau partners U.S., U.K. investors on agric research, training

    The Fertiliser Blending Plant, Bokkos in Plateau State is partnering with United States and United Kingdom investors for research works to boost the quality of its products.

    Mr John Mallo, Chairman, Bejafta Group Nig. Ltd, managers of the company disclosed this on Sunday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bokkos.

    The chairman also disclosed that part of the partnership agreement included intensive training for prospective farmers in the state toward mass food production.

    He said: “All these are in response to the Federal Government’s diversification policies and programmes toward boosting the nation’s economy.

    “Our ultimate goal is to see how we could give our clients and customers the best of quality products that could boost food production in Nigeria and across the border, which also necessitated the research and training programmes.

    “We have already employed an Indian and still interviewing a Romanian, who will work with us in our drive to build the capacity of the blending plant for maximum results.”

    Mallo further disclosed that the blending plant, which has a production capacity of 300,000 metric tons has began a test run production of NPK 20-10-10 which is being supplied to farmers.

    “Farmers here in Nigeria, and even in our neighbouring countries, like Niger and Chad, have tested our production and testified that it’s very good,’’ according to him.

    The chairman said that the equipment his firm installed at the plant could produce 50 metric tons per hour.

    However, Mallo said the plant runs only one shift instead of three because of the challenge of availability of raw materials and “more so that our products are just new in the market’’.

    “By the time the public get to know about our quality products, I am assuring you that more orders would be placed, and before you know it, we shall reach our maximum production capacity, ’’ he assured.

    Mallo called on farmers in the state and the country at large to take advantage of the products of the plant to boost farming and food production as part of government’s agricultural policies and programmes.

     

  • Peace Corps boss begs Buhari to assent to bill

    National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) Dickson Akoh has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Nigeria Peace Corps bill.

    According to Akoh, the presidential assent to the bill for an act to establish the NPC will reduce crime by 70 per cent within three months.

    He spoke when he received the Board of Trustees, Advisory Council, National Executives and state Chairmen of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).

    The Corps’ plan, Akoh said, is to reduce crime in Nigeria by engaging the youths meaningfully. He added that the greatest challenge of the country was not insecurity, but joblessness which has led the youths to social vices. Unemployment, Akoh noted, was a time bomb which the National Assembly had averted with the passage of the bill.

    According to him, the bill is the greatest thing to happen to the youths as it has deliberate policies that will open new opportunities to them.

    He also urged the people to be wary of organisations parading themselves as the PCN and defrauding the people, noting that the Corps has specific guidelines in recruiting.

    NYCN President Comrade Murtala Mohammed lauded Akoh for his tenaciousness in getting the Corps to where it is today, and pledged the support of the youths to the Corps.

  • Jigawa distributes 400 tricycles to NLC

    The Jigawa Government has distributed 400 units of tricycles as loan to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.

    The NLC Chairman in the state, Alhaji Usman Ya’u, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Dutse.

    Ya’u said that the tricycles were shared among all the registered affiliated unions in the state.

    He explained that that the vehicles were given to the members at the rate of N550,000 to be paid within four years.

    “The tricycles were distributed to the registered affiliated unions in the state. They were distributed according to the size of the unions; some got 40, 30, 10 and 3, depending on the number of members of the union.

    “And each of the tricycles was given to the beneficiaries at the rate of N550,000 payable within four years,” he said.

    The chairman added that the deduction from the beneficiaries’ salaries would commence in the current month as part of the agreement.

    Ya’u, therefore, advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the vehicles so as to replenish the deduction from their salaries

     

  • Corps members lift Yimitu community

    Corps members lift Yimitu community

    For the people of Yimitu community in the Apo, Garki District in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, November 16 is one day they will remember for a long time. It was a day a group of corps members under the Breast Without Spot Community Development Group came to their aid. The group, whose main job is to create awareness on breast cancer, decided to break from their normal routine to put a smile on the faces of residents of the community. The cheerful residents received the team of corp members with open arms as they danced, rejoiced and showered encomiums on the youths. It was a day of joy for the people as the over 70 Corps members donated clothes, food and drugs to the needy.

    They also used the opportunity to give pep talks to the people on cancer. The corps members said it was time to focus on smaller communities, such as Yimitu because of the lack of medical facilities and the trouble they face daily is to access health care.

    Although the community is a few minutes’ drive from the Apo Legislative Quarters, they lack a primary health care centre to take care of their needs.

    An excited community head, Dauda Hassan, said the community was highly appreciative of the efforts of the corps members, saying the NYSC scheme had benefitted a lot of rural settlements. Dauda said the food and drugs donated would go a long way in helping the people of the community.

    He is, however, not happy because the community lacks basic facilities, such as schools, potable drinking water, electricity and basic health care.

    Hassan said: “We want the government to look into primary health care issue in our community, make provision for a nursery and primary school, and also help in installing electricity and water supply. The state of the road leading to the community is also very bad. We plead to you as an intermediary to the government to make our community’s complaints known.”

    A resident of the community, who would not disclose his name, said the people relied on a stagnant stream for their water needs. The stream, he said, is used by the over 1000 members of the community to bathe, and do other household chores.

    The community, he said, does not have toilets. He pleaded that the government should come to their aid before an epidemic breaks out.

  • Surprise applause for El-Rufai’s bulldozers

    Surprise applause for El-Rufai’s bulldozers

    The need to dualise major Kaduna roads as well as the payment of compensation explain why residents cheer, rather than condemn Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s latest demolition. ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE reports

    Anywhere he went his bulldozers went with him, often drawing condemnation, protests and litigation. As minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Nasir el-Rufai’s demolition plan pitted him against many. As Kaduna State governor, el-Rufai has deployed the bulldozers, pulling down structures and earning himself another round of protests.

    Now, his heavy vehicles of demolition have moved, destroying structures, but what did the people do? They applauded. Why? The bulldozers have only been pulling down structures to pave way for el-Rufai’s dual carriageway  plan. The people say they love it.

    Major roads in Kaduna metropolis have become too narrow for the huge traffic on them. Dualisation work has started on Zaria Road in Rigasa. The road leads to the new Abuja-Kaduna railway station and College Road in Unguwar Dosa. Structures to be demolished are still being evaluated.

    The dual carriageway plan, and compensation being paid to property owners irrespective of whether they hold certificate of occupancy of their buildings account for why the people have not protested.

    Governor el-Rufai in a recent interaction with newsmen lamented the state of township roads in the state, explaining his administration’s resolve to give the Kaduna metropolis and council headquarters a facelift complete with streetlights.

    El-Rufai said, “We are looking at several components of infrastructure, roads, for instance; the township roads in Kaduna have been allowed to go into disrepair for long, the same in most of the urban areas. Our local government headquarters are glorified villages, they have no roads, they have no street lighting, which is very important for security and our roads sometimes don’t have drainages, so they don’t last.

    “So, we are trying to focus on these, we started street lighting and roads rehabilitation in Kaduna, we have now moved to all our local government headquarters. Township roads are being built, street lights are being put up, because we want to tell our people that live in the rural areas that rural areas can also be cities, you don’t all have to move to Kaduna, Zaria or Kafanchan to have a good life, we will bring the good life to you. So, we have a massive programme in which every local government headquarters and sometimes not only the local government headquarters, but also in towns.

    “We have had some issues with some of the township roads, for instance, the Rigasa Road, Unguwar Dosa, Barnawa and so on because of compensation. We want to dualise roads, people have built too close to the road, sometimes it is their fault, sometimes the authorities who allowed it to happen, but if you want to dualise, you have to look at payment of compensation.

    “We are not following the law strictly, because to get compensation, you must have building plan approval and certificate, but we said no, if you have a building there, we pay you reasonable compensation and one of the policies we are even looking at is, if you lose a substantial part of your land to road expansion, we give you another plot of land in addition to paying you compensation for your building, because the whole idea behind this is not to punish people while giving them better roads, but to ensure that, they are not worse off. But we have cleared up the compensation issue in Rigasa and the dualisation is going on that will take from Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway up to the train station and out, that has started.”

    The state Commissioner for Works, Usman Hassan, who inspected the ongoing projects and some completed ones in Igabi, Kaduna South, Kaduna North and Chikun local government areas, gave the assurance that the projects would be completed in good time while new ones would be awarded by next year.

    Hassan who toured the project sites, made his first stopover at the 8km Zaria Road in Rigasa, saying residents of the area have experienced heavy traffic on a daily basis, due to the narrow nature of the road.

    “The dualised road when completed, would reduce the heavy traffic experienced morning and evening by those making use of the road”.

    Other roads inspected by the team included the dualisation of the Aliyu Makama Road and other roads at Barnawa in Kaduna South Local Government, ongoing dualisation of Ali Akilu Road which were designed with standard drainage systems, and another 20 roads within the state capital.

    The works commissioner said the construction of the inner roads, which is the initiative of the el-Rufai administration, and a fulfilment of his campaign promise, was geared towards massive intervention on access and link roads, as well as boosting security.