The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Niger NAWOJ trains members

    The Niger State Chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has trained its members on the production of petroleum jelly. The state Chairperson, Hajiya Halima Bawa said that the training was to equip the women in the fundamentals of making some home essentials to save money especially in the face of  current economic challenges.

    She said now is a good time to produce jelly as the wet season gives way to a dry spell.

    The chairperson said that NAWOJ intends to broaden the knowledge of its members and prepare them for  multiple sources of income.

    Bawa urged the members not to take the training with levity calling on them to practice it continually and also to try various ways that will enable them have their trademark.

    The Resource Person, Amina Garba explained to the members the precautions to be taken during the production of the vaseline, the forms of production, apparatus and chemicals to be used for production.

    A member of NAWOJ, Maureen Dibie said the training will give the members a feeling of belonging to show that they have an association that shows concern about them. She urged the executives to be more proactive in organising more training that will benefit the members and the society at large.

    The association had earlier trained its members on liquid soap making.

  • Rare gift from Edo

    When President Muh-ammadu Buhari left Abuja last week Monday for Edo State, he never expected that he would return to Abuja on Tuesday with a goat, a rare gift that can be described as a widow’s mite. It was a gift from somebody Buhari had never met before the two-day visit, an elderly woman, Lady Egbon Grace, in Benin city.

    Lady Grace, who is a supporter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) registered in Ward 7, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, was said to have been looking forward to seeing the President for months. Her main reason for the gift was to show her admiration for Buhari’s selfless lifestyle and passion to liberate the masses. She must have selected the best among her goats or simply bought this one and took good care of it since it was a present meant for only the President.

    There is no doubt that she must have been disappointed over three weeks ago during the coronation of Oba of Benin, Oba Eheneden Erediauwa Ewuare II on October 20.

    The President, who was earlier advertised for the trip, could not physically attend the coronation ceremony in Benin city as he was represented by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo at the occasion. She must have come to the vicinity of the Oba’s palace with the goat laying ambush for the President only to realise that the President will not attend the ceremony. Only God knows how disappointed she must have felt while leading the goat back home on that Thursday.

    Everything she did to see the President on his visit last week pointed to the fact that she must have been ready with the gift ever since the information came out that the President will attend the Oba’s coronation. She did not spare any effort to see the President on his visit last week.

    Like the case of the woman with the issue of blood in the Holy Bible, she breached all protocol and did everything within her strength to get the President’s attention. But unlike that case, she did what she had to do to see the President not for any kind of healing but to appreciate the President’s lifestyle and love for the masses.

    Her prayers for months were answered on that Monday, November 7 when President Buhari commissioned the ultra-modern Samuel Ogbemudia College in Benin City, during his two-day working visit to the state. Just about the time the event was starting, the lady arrived with the goat and stood with the crowd that had gathered to the left side of the President.

    With the fighting spirit to reach for success found in most Edo women and men, she moved against all odds and barriers and tore through the thick crowd to reach the President.

    By the time she got ahead of the crowd, the President had already finished his official  engagement at the venue and was heading to his waiting car.

    Still not discouraged, she pursued after the President with her goat running along with her towards the President’s convoy, which was heavily guided by security personnel. That point would have been the end of the elderly Lady’s efforts as it would have been impossible for her to go beyond the armed security personnel.

    Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who was still the governor of the state during the function, saw the woman and her goat and had to intervene. He immediately alighted from the President’s convoy to receive the goat on behalf of the President. The elderly Lady then achieved her aims as she also had an opportunity to interact briefly with President Buhari and Governor Oshiomhole together.

    While she was said to have thanked the President for accepting the goat gift, which was handed over to protocol officials, Oshiomhole, on behalf of the President, commended her for the kind gesture.

    Despite differences in the values of the lady’s goat and the N1 million life savings donated by 95 years old Hajiya Fati Koko, popularly called Maitalla Tara, for Buhari’s election campaign, it is said that the love behind giving is more important than the gift’s value.

    Some past leaders also received similar gestures from some Nigerians during their tenures. One of the last was the contribution of N10,000 in 2014 to former President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaign by a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Ezemagu Sunday Nnamdi.

    Whether or not the President has reciprocated the gesture of the elderly Lady in Edo State, the joy of that brief meeting after several months’ waiting will remain with Lady Egbon Grace for a long time to come.

     

    Trump’s stunning victory and Nigeria

    The United States (U.S) President-Elect, Donald Trump, during his campaign had promised to bring about great changes to the U.S if elected for the position. Some of the proposed changes had made some Americans uneasy as they stayed solidly behind Trump’s opponent, Mrs. Hillary Clinton, in the keenly contested election.

    That led to anti-Trump protests, which spread across US in the wake of his victory at the polls.

    Many European, Asian and African countries were also not too comfortable with some of Trump’s proposed changes as they would have preferred Clinton to win the election.

    No wonder early signs of his victory triggered fluctuations in stock markets across the globe.

    But President Muhammadu Buhari last Wednesday, on behalf of Nigeria, joined other world leaders to congratulate Trump on his victory.

    Buhari’s ministers have also expressed mixed feelings about Trump’s victory.

    The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali while maintaining that Nigeria had to accept Trump’s victory and forge ahead, was optimistic that Trump’s presidency would strengthen collaboration with Nigeria especially on security.

    But the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, said that Nigeria will not take it lightly and may review its foreign policies if Nigerians are in any way intimidated.

    He said: “Trump’s language before the elections definitely did not endear him to the people. It scared a lot of people and yet he got this massive support which means there is something fundamentally wrong and some of us have been complaining even here for 30 years.

    “He made comments about Nigerians when he was campaigning that they had stolen money, they should go back to their country and live.

    “He has a very low opinion of the blacks and Hispanics. We hope he will become a president now for all, including Nigerians and others resident in the US. But if he doesn’t, it means we will have to return and retool our foreign policy to begin to find a situation where we may have to be welcoming some of our people if they come under extreme pressure. We hope it doesn’t happen”. He stated

    How will the new development in God’s own country affect Nigeria and her citizens in the diaspora, especially in the US, in the coming months and years?

    Only time will really tell how the turn of events will be for Nigeria and Nigerians in diaspora.

     

  • AMAC builds N1.6 billion market

    The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Investment and Property Development Company (AMAC-IPDC) said about N1.6 billion will be spent on the ongoing modern market located at Kurudu as part of efforts to boost the revenue base of the council.

    It was also revealed that the organization had secured about 25 hectares of land along kurudu/Oroso axis where low cost housing estate will be built for the benefit of AMAC residents.

    Addressing newsmen, the IPDC Managing Director and the Chief Executive Officer Alhaji Yakubu Mohammed Adamu, said that since the official commencement of operation by the company in August, several measures have been put in place by his leadership to ensure mandate of boosting revenue for the area council is achieved.

    He said: “AMAC-IPDC has been empowered by AMAC administration led by Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido to venture into diverse business activities which include; development and operation of markets, housing estates, abattoirs, motor parks, urban mass transport, tractor hiring service to boost agriculture and hotel management.”

    The IPDC director said the development of Kurudu market will among other others create job opportunity and boost economic activities within the axis and neighbouring towns and villages.

    While calling on all existing allottees and interested subscribers to pay for their shops without further delay, Adamu said the company will not continue to wait for uncommitted allottees and subscribers that will frustrate the process of developing the market.

    “Certificates of allocation will only be issued to subscribers who make full payment. We will not hesitate to revoke allocation papers of allottees who fail to pay for their shops within the specified period.”

     

  • ‘Mushrooms can tackle food insecurity’

    It is about time we embraced the mushroom. It can get us out of the woods.

    That about sums up Omor-efosa Osemwegie’s economic prognosis as the country grapples with recession.

    A professor of Mycology/Plant Pathology, Osemwegie has urged the Nigerian government to embrace the production of mushrooms as a biotechnology tool in tackling food security challenges in the country.

    Prof Osemwegie added that the production of mushrooms is a huge global business estimated to have been increasing from 2.18 million tonnes in 1988 to 3.5 million tonnes in 2013.

    He said this in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State at the second inaugural lecture of Landmark University.

    The lecture was entitled “Mushrooms renaissance: Biodiversity, ethnomycological and ago-perceptions.”

    The lecturer who doubles as the Head, Department of Biological Sciences at the university said that mushroom is a major revenue earner for many developed countries.

    He added that over seven billion dollars in revenue is being shared among many of these nations.

    “While this statistics correlate with that of the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), China alone according to the United States International Trade Commission controls about 87 percent of global mushroom production,” Prof Osemwegie said.

    He asked, “Where is Nigeria or even any African nation on the world list of the top 20 mushroom producers?”

    He said, “Cultivation of mushrooms unlike plant production requires less space, little or no worries with soil state, disease threat, mechanization, farm inputs and meteorological data but rather permits flexible manipulation of the environmental conditions for the healthy

    growth of mushrooms.

    “This relies on the use of diverse locally generated waste bases. Similarly, edible and medicinal mushrooms vary across cultures. Nevertheless, literature is replete with suggestions that include

    mushrooms chemical architecture conforming with the nature of ambient environmental chemical characteristics; physiological variations among races and cultures and traditional beliefs from wild mushrooms hunting knowledge heritage or folklore that engenders fear certain types of mushrooms.”

    He said mushrooms grow fast with short cultivation time and attractive turnovers; it requires only small starting capital and low cost implements, rents and basic raw materials.

    He added that mushrooms production “involves a process that is mainly organic from farm-to-fork and minimises the application of synthetic chemical inputs or expensive antibiotics; it may be practiced in home/home-yard or small land space as a small-scale business; mushrooms are globally priced health and energy foods with scientific implications in disease mitigation, longevity and reproductive health and they use organic wastes of industrial, agricultural and domestic origins as substrates (raw materials) and double as a partial process of waste management.”

    He said that “while a small scale mushroom business is tied to season here and some West African nations, it is available all year round in many developed countries of the world for cuisines and industrial processing to pharmaceutical products.”

  • Community hosts outreach milestone celebration

    Community hosts outreach milestone celebration

    A rustic community in the Federal Capital Territory (FTC) was chosen to host the Carter Centre’s milestone of administering 500 million doses of medication to fight Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in 14 countries, including Nigeria, reports VINCENT IKUOMOLA

    The joy of residents of Gidan Gimba, Karu, some 30 minutes’ drive from the Abuja city  centre, was manifold. Some of them benefitted from the medical outreach organised by the Carter Centre set up by former president of the United States of America Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn. So it was natural for them to welcome the Centre officials to their homeland.

    Also, the Centre has saved lives in 14 countries but it chose Gidan Gimba to mark its attainment of the magic number of 500 million doses of medication to fight what is referred to as Neglected Tropical Diseases or NTDs.

    The Centre management came all the way from Florida, U.S.

    From the entry point to the community,  one would have noticed that something unusual was about to happen in Gidan Gimbia, as the road was graded to make the road passable for the August visitors in the month of November.

    Besides, the community was also mobilised to show their appreciation for the free medication which has helped many of their people to overcome some of NTDs at no cost.

    So they came out in their numbers to appreciate those behind the relative good health they enjoy. Traditional dancers and masquerades joined in the celebration, singing and dancing. A drama piece was presented by the Plateau Cultural Group.

    Most of the people could not remember the last time such a crowd gathered in their community.

    According to one, not even during the electioneering period had the community witnessed such a mammoth crowd that came to celebrate the achievement of the Carter Centre. For them, it goes beyond just the medical attention. That they were lucky  to have been a host and attraction of global event, was a great joy.

    The Carter Center partners with ministries of health and community volunteers to distribute medication and health education aimed at eliminating the NTDs.

    The organisation on November 4 celebrated  the distribution of 500 million doses of donated medication to combat five neglected tropical diseases in 14 countries in Africa and Latin America.

    The choice of Gidan Gimba, was informed by the presence of the five areas of focus of the Carter Centre, which are  malaria, elephantiasis, soil transmitted helminths (intestinal worms), bilharzias and trachoma (blindness disease).

    The country is the largest recipient of the Carter Centre donation of medication with 60 per cent, while the  next largest number of NTD drugs has been distributed in Ethiopia, to combat trachoma, river blindness, and lymphatic filariasis.

    Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Centre, Ambassador Mary-Ann Peters  while appreciating the choice of Gidan Gimba for the auspicious occasion,  explained that Nigeria was chosen to celebrate the event out of the 14 countries because Nigeria was one the most affected by NTDs.

    ”The Carter Center health programmes have pioneered eradication, elimination, and control of neglected tropical diseases for more than a quarter-century.

    ”We have seen, time and again, that people at the grass-roots level can improve their own lives dramatically when they have access to the appropriate tools and knowledge. Among the most important of these tools are safe and effective donated medicines, together with health education and community ownership of the distribution process.”

    She said the treatment was supported by the Carter Centre, but all the treatment were done by the people of the 14 benefiting countries.

    Out of  the 500 million treatments, 60 per cent of the treatments, Amb. Peters said  were executed in Nigeria and the “treatments were delivered by thousands of volunteers in some 20,000 Nigerian communities just like Gidan Gimba.”

    She also attributed the success of the programme in Nigeroa to the contry’s determination to improve the health condition of  its citizens. She therefore commended government agencies, development partners and the benefiting communities for the respective cooperation for this great achievement.

    She said the centre was founded by former President and Mrs Jimmy Carter, both of whom have made several trips to Nigeria and love Nigeria very much. She also stressed that the Carter legacy and the goal of the Carter Centre is to wage peace, fight disease and help people.

    The Centre, she said worked  hand in hand with former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon to eliminate guinea worm disease in Nigeria.

    She further noted that  the centre believes that Nigeria can do anything including getting rid of the NTDs.

    According to her, “The citizens of the places where we are privileged to work in Nigeria have been a beacon for the rest of Nigeria in the fight against NTDs.

    “We believe that the communities have piloted some very innovative methods for dealing with the scourge.”

    In his remark, Dr Frank Richards, Director Health Programmes, Carter Centre,  disclosed that the organisation has spent three billion dollars for the treatment of the NTDs in 14 countries across the world, including river blindness in Nigeria.

    Mr Michael Harvey, Director, USAID Mission in Nigeria, said the mission has decade of partnership with the Carter Centre in addressing the challenges of human cause, including the NTDs.

  • This man needs help

    This man needs help

    He came into our Abuja office looking every bit like a man in desperate need to save his life. Oguche Enechojo Joseph is troubled by a badly aching ear.  A secondary school teacher, he has spent his wages on treatment but has got little relief.

    Oguche, 51, is suffering from Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia, (CML), which has affected his hearing for the past six years.

    One had to repeat what was said severally before he could understand what was said.

    He has spent more than his monthly salary to fund his medical expenses. According to him, feeding his family has become difficult thereby looking for assistance to either get an additional job or financial assistance to avoid further crisis.

    He explained how it all started: “My name is Oguche Enechojo Joseph. I am 51 years old. I am a teacher by profession at a private junior secondary school in Gwarinpa. I teach basic technology. My problem is that I have been suffering from cancer for the past six years. Last year they changed my drugs and it has been affecting me and I am spending 90 percent of my salary. My salary is N70,000.

    “I have been buying one injection since last year’s September for N20,000. And after two weeks I could not afford it again. It continued like that to the extent that I was transfused with two units of blood. I have been borrowing money since my predicament started.

    “Immediately I receive my salary it all goes into buying of drugs. That is why I came for help to either for good-spirited Nigerians to help me. I want to do something extra to feed my family and also meet my health needs. Since this incident I have not been taking care of my family.

    “I have three children and because of this situation I lost my one-year-old son last year to a heart-related problem, remaining two. I could not take him to India as suggested by doctors. They asked me to pay N3 million for surgery which I could not afford. My wife is over 30 years. She is a mini-fashion designer. The eldest, a boy, is 10 years while the other female is eight. The boy wants to go to secondary school but there is no fund for that.

    “My consultant is at Obafemi Awolowo teaching hospital Ife, every month I go to the national hospital in Abuja here foe blood counting. And because of transportation fare I go to Ife every three months for medical checkup. Because of my hearing problem I cannot travel along, I go with my wife and transport to Ife for two is not easy. I am always barrowing and if I continue like this at this my age I will have nothing to save for my children and would not be able to train them properly.

    “My consultant said if I keep on taking my drugs properly that the nerves which are affected will grow and I will start hearing properly again. They showed my people with similar problems which have been rectified with some time. They said I should be patient and be prayerful. It all started through an infectious disease called CML then at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.

    “I am lucky that all our drugs are being given to me free but the entire test we pay for it at the National hospital and every day they change the course of test for me. I was buying one unit of blood N7,800 and screening N7,000. I am not asking for luxury but money to take proper care of myself and family.”

    Oguche Enechojo Joseph’s phone number is 08036503137. And his account number is: Oguche Enechojo Joseph, Zenith Bank. Account number: 2086432106 and Ecobank: 2202091999.

  • Kogi seeks oil-producing status

    The Kogi State House of Assembly has renewed the call for designating the confluence state as an oil-producing one. The lawmakers urged the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to give the state its rightful place among its oil-producing counterparts.

    They said the call became imperative following the exploration of oil in Echeno and Udeke, in Ibaji Local Government Area of the state.

    The renewed clamour followed the adoption of a motion by Hon. John Abah (Ibaji constituency) appealing to the state government to expedite action in ensuring the declaration of Kogi State as an oil producing state by the Federal Government.

    Similarly, the Concern Youth Group in the state threw its support for the resolution calling on the Federal Government to declare Kogi as an oil producing state.

    The group in a statement issues in the capital Lokoja said that the call had their full support.

    The group in the statement signed by its coordinator, Oladele Nihi said according the state oil producing status will end the hostility between it and Anambra.

  • ‘Okun feast can fetch N600m yearly’

    ‘Okun feast can fetch N600m yearly’

    The maiden edition of Apapo Okun Cultural Festival (AOCF), a gathering of Okun-speaking peoples of Kogi, Ekiti, Ondo and Kwara states, which has just ended in Kabba, Kogi State, is capable of generating over N6bn yearly.

    The curator of Gold Tourism and Sail Limited and Chairman of the organising committee of AOCF 2016, Prince Olusesan Orebiyi disclosed this in his address at the ceremony held inside the Kabba Township Stadium.

    “We are proud to tell you that it has the capacity to bring in to the economy of Okunland over N600 million yearly. It will develop the private and economic sector and revitalise the general landscape. It will further engender  unity and progress and reduce the challenges of unemployment and curb the vices of youth and general crime, “ he said.

    “Today it is a new dawn, permit me to deliver to the entire world the birth of a great festival that shall sharpen the future of Okunland. It shall run yearly every November.”

    He said the Okun festival was packaged as a brand with collaborations with the Okun Area Traditional Council led by the late Obaro of Kabba, Oba Michael Olobayo, Kogi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Federal Ministry of Information, National Tourism Development Corporation, among others.

    Chairman of the occasion,  former Military Governor of old Oyo State General David Jemibewon (rtd),  welcoming captains of industries, scholars, traditional rulers, members of state and national assemblies,  government officials, and representatives of private organizations, described the Apapo Okun festival as “historic”, “important” and “one of the ways  we can network among ourselves and also make contacts with the rest of the world.”

    He said, “We have talents all over the world in every profession, this sort of festivals keeps us connected to our roots, our culture, our values and origin; and through festivals like this, we hope to preserve the best of Okunland”.

    He described tourism as one of the largest industries contributing trillions of dollars to the global economy, through creation of jobs and wealth, generating exports, boosting taxes and stimulating capital investment. He commended the organisers describing Orebiyi  as ‘an international tourism promoter’ and  expressed optimism that  Apapo Okun Festival would “encourage the practice of cultural entertainment to attract tourists to Okunland”.

    The festival witnessed varieties of cultural display by representatives of each of the six Okun speaking local councils in Kogi West Senatorial District and award presentation to distinguished personalities of Okun extraction from all callings. Highlights of the occasion was the unveiling of Mrs Funke Esseyin, a regional manager of United Bank of Africa (UBA) as Yeye Okun (a woman of substance/representation of who a real Okun woman should be) and the face of the event in Chief Mrs Nike Okundaiye of the popular Nike Arts Gallery.

    Governor Yahaya Bello was represented by the Secretary to Kogi State Government, Mrs Ayoade Folashade among other cabinet members.

     

  • ‘We need media’

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello has craved the support and collaboration of the media.

    The media, he said,  has contributed to the socio-economic and political development of the country just as it has remained the conscience of the nation.

    Bello stated this while receiving members of the Forum of FCT Broadcast Editors that paid him a visit in his office at Area 11, Garki I District, Abuja.

    The Minister reiterated that every stakeholder in Project Nigeria has done their bit in one way or the other but the role of the media since pre-independence Nigeria cannot be over emphasised.

    He recalled how members of the fourth estate of the realm encouraged his administration to take certain major decisions, saying, they have been part of his guiding principles.

    The minister described his partnership with the media as robust; adding that some of his policy decisions have been greatly reinvigorated by the feedback he received from journalists covering the FCT Administration.

    Bello who described the media as the eyes and ears of the society; saying, their profound knowledge of the city is one that generates a lot of vibrancy in both the public and private sphere.

    He called for continuous support and collaboration from the media practitioners to strengthen institutions in the FCT Administration to enable them carryout their statutory duties, thereby taking Abuja to greater heights.

    According to him, “You have been and will continue to be the eyes and the ears of the residents of the FCT. Your knowledge of the city is obviously much deeper and I have had course to follow the activities of most of your organizations, the feedback and the support you give, the vibrancy that you generate in our beautiful city and community.”

    “Since I came on board as the Minister, we have tried as much as possible to convey a message to the wider community that Abuja is for all and therefore, Abuja should reflect the standard of a city that we all aspire to say it is ours. That is why in all of the policies we initiate, we try to encourage people to own it, simply because we have realized that a Minister and a team of 50 or hundred senior officials cannot run the city alone. It has to be something that all of us should consciously believe in,” he stressed.

    While briefing the Forum on some of his recent activities, the Minister stated that FCT Administration would make ready for use some of the grazing reserves within the Territory, notably the ones in Paikon Kore, Karshi, Bwari, and Kuje.

    Bello also disclosed details of his recent meeting with the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 7, even as he called on the media and other FCT residents to support the concept of community policing.

    “While we all applauded the police high command and all the security agencies in making our city safe, we also agreed that it is very important that we as citizens support the concept of community policing. We agreed that a lot of areas where we have barricades that are deemed to be no longer necessary could be removed to free vehicular movement,” the minister emphasised.

     

  • Residents relish peace, one year after blasts

    Residents relish peace, one year after blasts

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been peaceful since the twin blasts in Kuje and Nyanya over one year ago, reports GBENGA OMOKHUNU

    It is almost surreal now that terrorists-branded violence is no more in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Last October Boko Haram detonated two devices in Kuje and Nyanya satellite, killing 15 persons. Kuje, near the Abuja airport, is about 40km from the city centre and seat of government. It was a return of the extremist sect to Abuja that Friday night.

    The terrorist group had been effectively fenced off from the capital since it attacked a shopping plaza Emab, in the Wuse 2 District of the city on June 24, 2014, killing at least 21 and injuring 17 others.

    But despite the huge fortification of the capital territory against attacks – through extensive roadblocks and security patrols – the terrorists sneaked in on that Friday, killing many.

    The multiple explosions were said to have been carried out by a female suicide bomber who attempted hitting the Kuje police station at about 9:51pm and a second blast from a suicide bomber on a motorcycle who detonated explosives in front of the Kuje market, killing dozens of people 15 minutes later.

    Security reports said that the  bomb blast was carried out to force the release of Boko Haram suspects held in Kuje, while the bomb that went off in Nyanya was a decoy to confuse security agents and cause a jailbreak.

    But since then, there has been peace, and residents love every minute of it. President Muhammadu Buhari has made progress in containing the jihadist group Boko Haram in the northeast and it has rubbed off on Abuja. Taking office, President Buhari inherited challenges on all fronts. Nevertheless, his arrival was met by optimism, high expectations and a strong desire for wholesale change on the part of Nigerians and international partners alike.

    His efforts to strengthen cooperation with neighbouring countries, particularly on the security front, and with allies and partners farther afield were encouraging. He vowed to crush the brutal jihadist Boko Haram, which has probably been responsible for 15,000 to 20,000 deaths since it began its campaign in 2009, in the northeastern part of the country.

    A year into Buhari’s presidency, Boko Haram, though far from being eliminated, is in retreat. After seven years of the group’s expansion, that is a significant achievement.

    Yet other destabilising forces have arisen from north to south. Fulani herdsmen have been involved in deadly skirmishes in villages across several states. Many blocked roads in the FCT have been opened for free flow of traffic due to the peaceful atmosphere.

    Abuja is now more or less safe for all no matter the area. With the recent development, a cross section of residents has been commending President Buhari and the security operatives for the progress.

    Among those who spoke with Abuja Review is the former Deputy Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye who commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts at conquering the war against Boko Haram sects. Elegbeleye recalled that this time last year the Boko Haram activities were much pronounced with several bombing in both the north east and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Abuja.

    The ex-lawmaker advised that to totally defeat the Boko Haram sects, kidnapping and other social vices youths should be properly engaged with adequate job creation. He urged security operatives not to rest on their oars in fighting insurgency to a standstill in Nigeria.

    While condemning the killings in most part of the country by suspected herdsmen, Elegbeleye who was also a former Director General (DG) of the National Sports Commission, (NSC) advised government to properly investigate the issue.

    His words: “There is nothing you can do without an environment of peace. In Nigeria today things are difficult because anywhere you go you do not feel secured mainly the issues of insurgency and armed robbers. And there are others who for political reasons want to kill the next man. So it is difficult to move.

    “I must say again Boko Haram not totally defeated but partially defeated better than before. There must be also must be religious tolerance in Nigeria. Today we say we are under economic recession, if we get it right in terms of security, we will move out of the recession. People are meant to do their business without security threat. Investors cannot come into the country. Their fear is we secured’.

    “The present government of President Muhammadu Buhari is trying and I wish the government can try more. You and I know that President Muhammadu Buhari has tried with our security operatives to secure the country from Boko Haram. Insurgency was on the increase some few years ago. It was terrible than this. Bombing in the north east and Abuja, it has reduced and that means the current government is trying and current efforts are yielding results. And in know that if more efforts are deployed Boko Haram can be totally eradicated. Some ten years ago Nigeria wasn’t like this.

    “If we look at those perpetrating violence they are mainly the younger generations, there should be opportunity for employment. Government should find a way to get the youths engaged. This move will further reduce or stop insurgence, violence in Nigeria. Many of them are graduates that have no job to do. Some are not even educated. Some of them can be lured into to taking the wrong steps. Somebody who is engaged, employed will not have time for violence of any kind.