The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • A crackdown on overhead bridge hawkers

    The Federal Capital Territory has taken steps to ensure that hawkers steer clear of overhead bridges, GRACE OBIKE reports

    The daily tragic drama on the roads is coming to end. Pedestrians often shun the overhead bridges and enact a sprint across the busy expressways at a huge cost to themselves. Many have been hit and injured or killed by fast-moving vehicles.

    The administration of the territory had long warned of the dangers of not using the bridges but many residents would not. Now, the administration is enforcing the order, by clearing the bridges of hawkers and the destitute.

    The FCT administration on its part has attempted on several occasions to implement laws that will force residents to use such bridges, in some cases, fences have been built in places like Nicon and some strategic locations in Abuja to prevent residents from crossing the road but such fences are in most cases pulled down.

    To prove the administration’s readiness to curb street hawkers and enforce the use of the overhead bridges, Minister of the FCT Malam Muhammad Bello visited the pedestrian bridge in Ludge, a village along the Airport Road.

    There, he reiterated that such bridges were constructed for easy movement and passage of residents crossing the highways but not meant for hawking, begging or for other nuisances and therefore a stop must be put to it forthwith.

    He directed the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and the FCT Task Team on Environment to as a matter of urgency stop hawkers using pedestrian bridges for their activities in the Federal Capital Territory.

    Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary FCT, Muhammad Sule made the revelation in a press statement where he credited the minister with warning warned that hawking and other activities are not acceptable on the Pedestrian bridges across the Territory and called for strict enforcement.

    He quoted the minister saying, “The Administration is not prepared to take excuses anymore; saying that they must carry out their statutory duty.

    “Malam Bello also instructed that the AEPB and the Task Team must also get rid of herdsmen still grazing in the Federal Capital City; noting, “you must find a way in dealing with that bizarre situation”.

    “He seized that opportunity to talk to the crowd gathered around the pedestrian bridge on why people should not use such places as shopping malls.

    “He told them that pedestrian bridges were also not constructed for miscreants and further warned that all activities must be very far away from the expressway ways.

    “These expressways are the gateway into the Federal Capital City and the seat of power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and therefore everything must be done to keep Abuja clean from all environmental nuisances in line with the vision of its founding fathers,” Malam Bello stressed.

    The Director of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olanipekun and the Chairman of the FCT Task Team on Environment, Squadron Leader Abdullahi Adamu Monjel, accompanied the Minister on the unscheduled visit and promised to implement the law.

     

     

  • Ganduje steps up infrastructure

    Dwindling federal allocations have not deterred Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje from tackling the state’s infrastructure challenges. KOLADE ADEYEMI reports

    Like everywhere else, federal allocation cash is dwindling in Kano State. But that is no excuse for the state governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

    With a burning desire not to disappoint his people, Ganduje who inherited a whopping N400 billion liability from his predecessor, Senator Rabi’u Kwankwaso, hit the ground running. He immediately revolutionised the agricultural sector, set the wheels of trade and commerce rolling, just as he engaged in massive infrastructural development.

    Governor Ganduje also reorganised and reformed the Kano State Board of Internal Revenue. Having shown the people the benefits of re-investing their money collected as tax and levies, there is no gainsaying the fact that Ganduje has gradually re-established the need for people in the state to pay their taxes. This he has also done, by within a shortest period of time, flagging off gigantic projects, being sponsored totally with the taxpayers’ money.

    Speaking to The Nation on some of these projects, the state Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba said: “We have quite a number of them. There is construction of under-pass at Katsina/Kofar Ruwa Junction which is notorious for congestion, traffic hold-up, environmental, noise pollution and other traffic-related problems. The total cost of construction of this project is put at N1.2 billion. You have been in Kano for many years, and you can agree with me that these roads are very important. I am sure you have observed the hold-ups that are experienced there, especially, in the morning and in the evenings, after the close of work. I must emphasise that the cost of work on this very particular project comprises the construction of under-pass, including retaining-walls, drainages, slip-roads, lathrite-filling, soft-base, base-course, and then asphatic-wearing course. I must also tell you that this N1.2 billion set aside for this project is from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) that was accrued since the Board of Internally Generated Revenue was reformed and reconstituted by Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s administration. And it is tagged ‘the tax-payers’ project.’

    “Then, there is also award of contract of another intervention that has been made through the provision of flyover at the same junction connecting Katsina/Kofar Ruwa/Kabuga Road; which have also been notorious for the same traffic congestion, as I have mentioned above. Actually, the construction of this very particular fly-over is basically approved for the engineering design; and the total amount that is approved for the engineering design of this fly-over is N9, 589, 580—this work is for the engineering design. The scope of work comprises construction of two-span fly-over, consisting of filling, pipe-gap, among others. This design work is expected to be completed within a period of 10 months. This is also tagged ‘the tax-payers project.’

    “Again, the continuation of the construction of Gwarzo/Tsaure/Tsanyawa road has also been approved. Let me remind you that the contract for this project was awarded on the 21 September, 2010 at the total cost of N4.126 billion—this was in 2010. I have to tell you that 50 per cent payment was made then; but unfortunately, the project was abandoned for the past six years and the scope of work achieved about below 10 per cent. However, because of the importance of this road, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje administration decided to mobilise the contractor by approval the payment of 10 per cent advance payment, equivalent to N206, 329 million as stated in the certificate that has earlier been approved. You must also be aware that the continuation of this project will be done from the IGR.”

    Garba insisted that the Ganduje administration was making waves in IGR, saying, “For us in Kano State, our projection for 2016 budget, when we had our retreat was to generate from N4 billion to N10 billion monthly. However, you know that because of the attitude of our people, we have embarked on a series of sensitisation exercise to educate our people on the importance of paying their taxes.

    “When we came in, what we met on ground in respect of IGR by the immediate-past administration was between N650 to N700 million per month; but were have been able to increase it gradually to about N1.5 billion. This is as a result of the re-organisation of the Kano state Board of Internal Revenue.

    “You know, we invited quite a number of professional experts and consultants on taxation—you know that is what is happening in other developed countries; and in Nigeria, Lagos, in particular, have been using this formula, because Lagos is one state that has achieved so much in Internally Generated Revenue. So, as you are aware, we reconstituted the board, and the Board of Internally Generated Revenue is now independent as part of the reform. These guys are now generating between N2.2 to N2.5 billion per month; and every month, we are seeing an increment in millions of Naira. We have not yet achieved our projection for the 2016 budget; but gradually, we are reaching the target. “

    Speaking further, he said, “With these projects being embarked upon across the state which are going to be visible for everyone to see—which are the tax payers projects, I can tell you that very soon, our IGR might even surpass our expectations. For one reason, the people will see where their money is going to and we may not need to start beating drums for them to pay their taxes. You are aware that Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s administration is people-oriented. All our policies are based on the contract we signed with the people and residents of Kano state when we came in on May 29, 2015.  So, I can assure you that in the nearest future, we will use money generated from IGR to form the entire annual budget. We want to run a self-reliant and transparent budget, with little or no input from the Federal Allocation,” he concluded.

     

  • Digital tech: The next frontier

    If the message from the Presidential Villa, Abuja last Tuesday is anything to go by, the lives of Nigerian youth will soon change. They have not only been challenged to gear up for the digital world, they were told to be ready to overtake their counterparts in developing countries like India that have already progressed ahead of Nigeria in digital technology over the years. Not only are the Nigerian youths expected to forge ahead of their counterparts in other developing economies in the digital field, Nigeria is already planning to make it a source of foreign exchange earner by exporting human capacity in technology.

    In this direction, the Federal Government through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefilure, in conjunction with Google at the State House, Abuja commenced training of 400,000 Nigerian youth. The training based on the theme ‘Diversifying the Nigerian Economy: Enabling Youth through Digital Skills Training’ was expected to train the youth in the areas of content creation, application development, web design, social media and digital strategy.

    The training, which is to boost youth employment, is expected to contribute to the national plan, especially to the economic development.

    Apart from acquiring skills to do business and create more job opportunities, the youth are expected to be able to train others. The youth, at the end of the training, are also expected to start working towards creating something positive and yet-to-be-seen or imagined by the technology world, far beyond facebook, Uber, Jobberman, Iroko Tv and others.

    Besides the training, the Federal Government, in partnership with other bodies, is establishing technology hubs across the country, with two super hubs in Lagos and Abuja and six regional hubs in the six geo-political zones.

    While the hubs are expected to have infrastructure and capacity building tools, they are to be designed to produce relevant innovative technology, solutions to a wide range of business, commercial and government problems.

    Another 65,000 Nigerian youth are also expected to be trained this year in hardware and software services including animation as provided for in the 2016 Budget. These youths at the end of the day are expected to build, assemble hardware and to write innovative programmes.

    Flagging off the Google Digital Training for Youth Empowerment, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said: “The future has certainly arrived and it is a future that has come bearing great hope.

    “Today, technology has opened mind-bugling opportunities in commerce, in science and medicine and practically all aspects of human endeavor. Today technology has created space for millions of business opportunities. Just by being able to virtually connect millions of people, the internet has changed the business landscape and empowered any one with great ideas and any smart handheld device.

    “It is in recognition of the central role of innovation and technology in our national economic growth plan that the federal government in the current budget provided extensively for technology and innovation. One thing that I want to assure you today is that we are all together determined to make sure that we give every opportunity that is possible to the youth in technology and innovation. I can assure you that the next few years are going to be great indeed,” he added.

    To make sure other youth in remote areas are not left out of the training, stakeholders at the flag-off ceremony also harped on the need for the training to be taken to the grassroot and not a one off thing in Abuja. Getting these right will go a long way in taking Nigeria out of the woods especially technologically more so as the economy is battered by the falling prices of oil in the international market. Again, it is high time Nigeria becomes a force to be reckoned with in the technology world.

     Rewarding excellence

    Hearing ‘Aso Villa Demo’ for the first time may be mistaken for a name of one of the new football clubs in Nigeria. But it is far from that, as it is mainly concerned with encouraging innovation and technology in Nigeria. The name however had some semblance with football clubs as it encouraged, just like football, ‘competition’ but this time in technology among Nigerian youths.

    To this end, the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja last Friday hosted the Aso Villa Demo Day, which was the final event for the competition among 4,000 youth groups in the country. Before Friday, 30 of them had emerged winners from competitions in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja. Among the 30, three top winners of the competition including Tracology, Recycle point, and Mass shuttle were announced to the public at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday.

    The three winners did not only had the opportunity of having the presence of the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of social networking website, Facebook, Mark Elliot Zuckerberg at the occasion, but they met and took snapshots with President Muhammadu Buhari in his office.

    The three winners also got monetary rewards from Airtel, which announced N3 million for each of them, Sahara Energy announced N500,000 each for them, while Dell also announced undisclosed amount for the winners.

    Osinbajo said at the event: “This is the first Aso Villa Demo Day but the next year will be bigger and better. I’m sure you are going to have a great future and I certainly look forward to working with you as part of the government of Nigeria to ensure that all that your talents and abilities are put in the best possible use and we I’ll support you all the way,” he added

     

  • How we’ll boost Katsina economy, by Masari

    Fresh from a trip to China and India, Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari lays out his administration’s plan to lift the state’s economy. KOLADE ADEYEMI reports

    There is the belief that foreign partners will make a huge impact in the state’s growth. But there is no question that Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari wants much of the growth to be driven by the state’s assests and its people. He laid out his plans

    “In the health sector,” he said,  “we have already placed order for equipment for three general hospitals. We have also made an advert for the recruitment of over 600 medical staff.

    On agriculture, he said:  “We are making serious progress. The Deputy Governor is the chairman of the Agriculture Team. He is also the Commissioner in charge of Agriculture. We also brought in a professional who was a consultant to various international organisations on agriculture, Dr. Abba Abdullahi. I must tell you that I am impressed by what they are doing now. They are doing a ground work. You know, agriculture is not all about fertilizer; because mere distribution of fertilizer is all about ceremony which the governor s are very interested in doing so that the cameras and  media will capture them. Here in Katsina, we are doing the most important work now. We are doing the census because we want to know who-is-who, we are identifying the real farmers, we are identifying the farm lands, we want to know which type of fertilizer is suitable for the farmlands, which implements are suitable for the farmlands. We are doing the basic ground work, we have sufficient money in place; and when we are through with the ground work, we will also start rehabilitating some of the smaller dams.

    “When we were campaigning, what we were saying was that given the availability of resources, it is our intention to provide a dam in each of the Wards, intending to open the availability of small steam that can engage between 30 to 50 farm lands on irrigation agriculture. So, for us to that, we need a comprehensive study. Like we said several times, this government is not, and there is no intention of approaching any project blindfolded so that we can achieve quick and unsustainable political gain—that means we want to play to the gallery. No. We want to be realistic, we want to true to our words.  Basically, we have to do what is right, we want to lay a solid foundation for a more sustainable agriculture in Katsina State.

    “We have also started discussing with some interested people about wood farming, you know, wood farming is new. People did not know that if you have two hectares of wood land, and you are harvesting it every year, you make more money than the farmer. There are certain types of trees that you plant that will give inexplicable returns. So, we are introducing wood farming so that people will know the benefit and the dangers of falling trees without re-planting them.

    Masari specifically spoke on rice production, saying, “Katsina State is one of the leading states in rice production, and you know, there is a serious drought on rice. You know that Nigerians have been cultured into eating rice. It is unlike when I was growing up—the stable food then was guinea corn and millet. Later on, maize came. In fact, maize was more of a ceremonious food during our time, but as time moved on; it became a stable food with the coming of the Funtua agricultural project in the 1970s. So, really, I think it is better to eat what you have and what you can produce than to depend on somebody to give you.  So, I believe, there is some difficulties initially; but when we are able to cross over the difficulties of this year, by next year, there will be abundance in rice production in Katsina state. In fact, prices of rice has already started going down because the new rice are already in the market; and I am sure, between now and October, the prices of rice will relatively stabilize.  You are also aware that Central Bank of Nigeria is organizing one project on the promotion of rice production, and in Katsina state we have 50, 000 participants.

    Speaking on the trip to China and India, Masari said, “We were invited to China by some companies that are doing business with Katsina state government; and some that are interested in doing business with Katsina state government. The purpose was for us to see their offices and their capacities outside the country, and to see what connection we have in order to facilitate our developmental projects. Based on our invitation, we met with those companies that are doing business with Katsina state government and those companies who are in Nigeria and have the intention to do business with Katsina state government. There are some of these companies that have their branches here in Katsina state but are doing business with the Federal Government, but due to this visit, we have now opened door for business transactions with those

  • Council chief hires vigilance groups

    The Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Alhaji Abdullahi Galadima, has disclosed plans to recruit vigilante members that would collaborate with the security agents to checkmate any form of crime in the entire council.

    Galadima while addressing journalists in Kuje after a closed door security meeting with traditional rulers and security agencies, therefore, urged the youth in the area to continue to remain law abiding to all constituted authorities.

    He however, called for the continued support to the council and noted that plans were underway to recruit vigilante members that would also collaborate with the security agents to checkmate any form of crime in the entire council. while urging residents to remain law abiding to all constituted authorities.

    Galadima said the issue of security was a collective responsibility of everybody, hence it had become necessary to rid the council of any form of crime and criminality.

    He advise residents to always partner with all security agencies by giving them any useful information whenever the need arose.

     

  • IDPs’ plight worsens

    Following deteriorating plight of the Burma-Gosa Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Durumi area of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which is about 10km from the Presidential villa, many have resorted to commercial motorcycle business for survival.

    The suffering IDPs also surrounded by mega-churches, embassies and major national and international agencies, cannot  boast of two square meals a day, shelter, clothes, good medical care, or water.

    While recounting their ordeal, the secretary of the camp, Mr. Bala Yusuf recalled that at the initial stage, the wife the Chief of Army Staff Mrs Tukur Buratai had  built and donated a self-contained medical center to the camps.

    Yusuf said: “But the issue and the problem we have here is that we do not have enough drugs inside the center. Whenever there is any issue relating to accident or emergency we hardly get assistance from anybody because must of our peoples in the camps just do Okada business to assist in the health center, even the Okada that they are doing is illegal in Abuja and some time police will arrest them”

    According to him, “the director managing the medical center is very interested to do more to the to help the camp without any payment and since h started doing the work, he has families no body is paying him. So we are calling on our brothers in the country to give us a little support no matter how small it will go a long way to ease the suffering of the people in the camp, who barely feed once a day nor have access to medical care. If not for the food intervention  from good Samaritans that only sustain us for few days, or couldn’t go round sometimes” he added.

    He further called on the Federal Government to look into their plight.

    His words: “We need enough drugs for our medical center. The major problems we are facing in the camps as far as we are concern is the lack of educational systems and materials in the camps. We initially started teaching the children by ourselves because some of have all forms of qualifications, from SSCE, NCE and other qualifications.

    “We are teaching them but, you know any child that started doing

    primary schools here may no longer nor further pursuit to another level because as they complete primary six they can not go further because our school here is not attached to any government school of education.

    “When they finish primary 6, no common entrance , no JSS 1, no

    schools to attached them and we are looking for a responsible persons to assist us in taking such responsibilities to adopt the children into government schools. We are citizens of this country and we are suffering like a slaves in our country. It is not good and we believed that there are some kind of people wasting their resources.

    “It is only one bed in this health center that over two thousand three hundred people in the camp, are using  it and most time women are giving birth inside the Batcher, you can see the signs of the batchers one of the Batcher can accommodate only like 5 to 7 kids inside.

    “If rain is falling at the night some of our people can not sleep until the rain stops before we can enter to our various batchers, like the one that you are seeing here is housing almost 25 families and their kids inside it. We are calling of the two regions, Christian and Muslim to come to our aid.”

     

  • He went for greener pastures, now he’s lost his mind

    He went for greener pastures, now he’s lost his mind

    Raimi Kayode, who claimed to have left his Igboho hometown in Osun State in search of greener pastures in Kaduna State, is homeless, jobless and mentally challenged, SEUN AKIOYE writes

    Do you know Raimi Kayode of Ile Onimosa Igboho in Osun State who migrated to Kaduna in 1987, or any of his relatives? A newspaper vendor, Ayodele Obaloko, in Jos Road, Kaduna has some news: Kayode who has been untraceable for many years is alive, but has unfortunately lost his mind.

    Kayode is a popular face at L1 and L2 Ahmadu Bello Way, where he has made a home for himself in front of some shops. Many people called him an Islamic cleric as he had a reputation for offering buoyant Islamic prayers for all who seek his help. During the day, apart from offering prayers for prospective clients who pay him a token, he sits offering unsolicited advice to the government.  He had an opinion on almost every subject including security, economy, infrastructure, etc.

    Kayode is destitute and a nuisance who has been mentally ill for many years. On Jos Road with a large Yoruba immigrant population, he is regarded as a cleric of sorts with special powers for effective prayers. For others who do not believe in his supernatural talents, he is simply a mad man.

    The first impression on seeing Kayode did not betray his illness, he is dark with tribal marks which age filled into his cheeks and age has done a good job of hiding. He has a full beard and moustache part of which has gone grey, and bloodshot eyes.

    He wore a cheap green lace traditional outfit which was tolerably clean; however, if one looked closely, one would see that underneath, he was wearing another lace. His hands are clean and his fingernails are neatly trimmed. On his two wrists he wore two different watches which surprisingly tell the correct time.  He had a light brown cap on his head, a pair of bathroom slippers and carried a sack.

    The content of the sack betrayed him as a vagabond, there were several empty packaged water sachets, a rotten corn cob, a small jotter filled with gibberish, a Techno mobile phone, prayer rosary, pliers, screw driver, a tape rule, body cream and money in different denominations. But the most important article in the bag is a blue overall with a bag belonging to “Welding Association of Nigeria, Igboho branch, zone A.”

     

    The journey to insanity

    No one could remember exactly when Kayode went mad or anything about his antecedents before the unfortunate illness. The farthest people could tell about his history is one year ago when he suddenly showed up at Jos Road vendor stand and became friends with a certain Muda who is a newspaper vendor.

    “He was a friend of Muda; whenever he came around he would buy Alaroye  newspaper, he would offer prayers for people and they would give him money. When he is hungry, he would use part of the money they paid him to buy food. He has never given anybody any problem, we don’t know anything about his background except what he said himself that he came from Igboho,” Obaloko said.

    It was not difficult to get words out of the loquacious Kayode who willingly answered every question even though only few of them could be relied upon. “My name is Raimi Kayode and I am 91 years old, I came from Ile Onimosa in Igboho in 1987 to Kaduna to work,” he began.

    Kayode claimed to have been a vegetable oil seller in his home town and an apprentice to a welder before relocating to Kaduna.

    That was where the sense in his narration ended. He claimed to be  91 years old but that must be absolutely incorrect because from his looks he would be in his early 50s.

    Despite the inadequacies in his story, Kayode remembers addresses well. For Instance, he said robbers broke into his shop at No 3, Ago Sanusi Road by Tudun Wada, he remembers too that he took his tools to one Iya Ijebu in Barkinwa Express by Sanusi Road.

    The Yoruba community in Jos road considers him as one of their own who should be helped.  In December 2015, the Islamic group, Ansarudeen volunteered to return him to his hometown. But before plans could be formalised, Kayode was attacked by a group of suspected robbers while he slept on the front lawn of the building. They stole his bag and whatever money they could find on him.

    There is no record of Kayode’s family or friends in Kaduna. In the past, according to Obaloko, he had told him about his children in Igboho.

    Would he like to return to Igboho? At first he looked lost as if he didn’t understand the question, then said in a sorrowful voice, “I can’t go because I don’t have a job there.” When he was assured of a job once he gets to Igboho he changed the narrative and claimed to have recently returned from Igboho on August 7, 2016.

    Many of the traders appeal that his people should come forward to collect and rehabilitate him as he has become a nuisance to the Yoruba community in Kaduna.

    “If there is anyone who knows  his family, they should please come forward and help him, there is no way we can trace them but we are appealing to them to come and claim him and care for him,” Obaloko said.

     

  • Council chief, monarchs hail MDGs projects in Plateau

    The rural parts of Plateau State are changing, thanks to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) projects. The ambitious plan by the United Nations to raise the standard of life in remote areas is yielding fruit in the state, as primary schools and health clinics are being built. A local council chair and traditional rulers have hailed the projects, which include furnishing schools and giving soft loans to rural women to boost their businesses.

    The Chairman, Management Committee for Wase Local Government, Dr Ado Abubakar Buba  said, “I wish to, on behalf of the entire Wase people, express our deep appreciation to MDG and Plateau State government. We have received a lot of interventions that will change the lives of our people for good.”

    Speaking further, Buba said, “MDG has, within the last one year, constructed seven primary schools; they have constructed four clinics, they have also provided ambulances to convey sic people from the remote villages to hospitals at the council headquarters. In some of these villages, pupils sit on the bare floor of their school to receive education, many of our clinics don’t have drugs to give patience, and so on. But today, we are not just celebrating new schools and clinics, we are receiving equipment like desks, books and instructional materials to furnish the schools. We have also just received drugs and a lot of medical equipment to furnish the new clinics constructed by MDG, we have never seen this kind of interventions in the history of the local government. We don’t know how to express our joy as a people, but we know these interventions will serve as a major transformation in the lives of rural communities.”

    Dr. Buba promised to take the items to the various communities that deserve them.

    He also said, “What we cherish most is the financial grant allocated to women cooperative societies to carry out agricultural related ventures; this is because the local government is 90% farmers populated. This will translate into more food for the family and financial sufficiency of families”

    The Emir of Kanam, Alhaji Muhammed Sambo Haruna, who was represented by the Wazirin Wase to recieve the items said, “This is a dream realized, because when these construction began last year, we doubt its completion, our people thought it will be like every other government projects that are likely to be abandoned along the line. But today we are celebrating its completion and furnishing. Our people are full of gratitude, these are projects that will directly touch the lives of our people. And for this, the people of Wase emirate will continued to support and pray for the Governor Lalong led administration as well as the state MDG”

    The Chairman Management Committee for Shendam Local Government, Hon Alex Miskoom Nantuan, in his appreciation said, “We consider this day as unique day in the local government, simply because it is now that the rural communities in Shendam understands what MDG stands for. Because of the dare need for school desks in our village schools, we had to distribute mist of the desks provided by the MDG even before they could hand them over to us formally. We only left some few for this symbolic presentation. But with this presentation today, we shall go ahead and distribute these drugs to our various clinics as well as the instructional materials to schools. The people are so pleased because it is the first of its kind, our people may have been hearing of MDG, but today we have seen practical actions of MDG through what they have provided for villages in dare need of social amenities in areas of health and education.

    While handing over the items to the council boss, Plateau state Coordinator of the MDG, Hon Samuel Damla said, “The completed MDG projects was that of 2013 which was neglected by past administration in the state, but Give Lalong saw that the project would change the lives of the down trodden when completed, so he thought the project back for completion, and indeed we are witnessing the last stage of the project which is the formal handing over of the projects for the end users.

    Hon Damla said, “This 2013 MDG intervention was specifically for projects that has to do with education, health, water and sanitation, which was why we embarked on construction of primary school blocks, construction of health clinics and provision of boreholes. But the good thing is, the project was not just empty constructions, there is equipment to furnish them for the benefit of those using them.

    In addition to the project, Wase LGA and Shendam LGA will be given four mobile Clinic Vehicles which are expected to be used to convey emergency health cases from the rural villages to the local governments for medical attention. These mobile clinics are fully equipped with medical facilities including Oxygen facilities that can sustain the patients four hours until it got to the closest hospital. These vans are no meant to be used as ambulance, he warned.

    “The handing over of these projects now marked the end of MDG program which terminates in 2015. The UN has entered into the 2nd phase which is now known as Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The SDG is expected to last 15 years within which period it is expected to close the gap between the rich and the poor in the world,” said Hon Damla.

     

  • Kerry in Aso Rock

    The US Secretary of State, John Kerry is yet to occupy the office of the President of the United States (US), but the security apparatus put in place on his visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja last Tuesday appeared to be more impressive  than those for visiting presidents from other countries.

    Most times, security appeared to be relaxed and nothing extraordinary during visits by other countries’ Presidents to the Presidential Villa, Abuja as the place is perceived to be the most secured place in Nigeria.

    Visiting security men, who accompany such visiting Presidents hardly have any business to do at the Aso Rock Villa prior to their principals’ visit.

    Their first contact with the Villa on a particular visit is when they accompany their Presidents to the Villa for the visit proper.

    Even though President Muhammadu Buhari did not come to the forecourt  to receive Kerry like he does with visiting Presidents, nothing was left to chance as far as security arrangement was concerned for Kerry, whose official functions in the US government are similar to those of a Minister of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria.

    Security ground works for Kerry, who was a five time senator in the US before his current position, started in the State House Abuja about twenty four hours to his scheduled visit.

    Some US plain clothed security personnel were spotted last week Monday carrying out their assignments at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    More security and US Embassy staff were also deployed to the State House Abuja before Kerry’s arrival on Tuesday.

    While one US security personnel in mufti was seen standing at the middle of the forecourt communicating intermittently on his wireless gadget as the 2.55 p.m scheduled arrival time for Kerry approached, one of the US Embassy media man assisted in positioning the State House photographers and videographers by showing them where to stay to do their job as they awaited Kerry’s arrival.

    At about 3.06 p.m., four black-coloured American specs, including Chevrolet and Ford made their way through the Service Chiefs Gate to the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Kerry did not alight from his vehicle for about two minutes when his car stopped, probably to allow his security men from other cars position themselves.

    Kerry also appeared to be waiting in the vehicle for Villa’s State Chief of Protocol (SCOP), Kazaure Lawal, who received him on behalf of the President, to take position by his vehicle.

    He had to bend his 1.93 meter body height in order not to hit his head against the car as he alighted.

    Photographers and videographers, who had gathered at the forecourt immediately went to work as their cameras clicked away while Kerry was ushered to the main entrance of President Buhari’s office.

    Apart from visiting journalists, only two television stations’ cameramen accredited to the State House and two State House official photographers were allowed to establish the bilateral meeting at the President’s office.

    Kerry emerged from the main entrance to the President’s office after about two hours that he entered for the closed door meeting.

    Security men at the Villa including the visiting ones immediately went into action by clearing the about 200 meters passage from the President’s office to the State House Press Waiting Room, where Kerry was planned to meet with some selected state governors from the Northern part of Nigeria.

    To access the venue of the meeting with the governors, Kerry had to pass in front of the Council Chamber Press Gallery, where journalists covering the State House stay to do their jobs.

    The journalists sometimes stand on the corridor in front of the Council Chamber Press Gallery to ambush and interview some high profile visitors coming out from the President’s office.

    But last Tuesday was a different ball game as they were not allowed near the corridor when Kerry made his way from the President’s office to the venue of the meeting.

    Some security men had to stand in front of the Council Chamber Press Gallery door to ensure no journalist disobey the instruction and venture to the corridor while Kerry moved to the venue of his second meeting in the Villa.

    Again just like the first meeting, establishment of the meeting with the state governors was limited. Only seven State House cameramen and photographers were allowed to establish the meet.

    While many visiting Presidents and other leaders hold joint press conferences with the Nigerian President at the end of such bilateral meetings at the Villa, there was no press conference with Kerry throughout his stay at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The visit, no doubt, showed that the Aso Rock actually received a special visitor from God’s own country.

    It may also be very difficult to fault the security arrangement put in place for Kerry knowing the situation of the insurgency and militancy in some parts of Nigeria.

    The US Embassy in Nigeria that has severally warned its citizens on movements to certain states in Nigeria won’t want to take any chances with Kerry’s life in any part of the country.

     

    Battle against corruption

    One of the news items that emerged from the closed door meeting between Buhari and Kerry last Tuesday was move to make the present anti-corruption war in Nigeria live beyond the current dispensation.

    Buhari promised that the anti-corruption crusade will not only be deepened but institutionalized.

    This is definitely a warning to all those secretly taking what do not belong to them to be ready for probe when his administration exits power.

    All well-meaning Nigerians, no doubt, will be praying for the anti-corruption war to live beyond this government in order to ensure that the commonwealth of Nigeria continues to be utilized for the generality of Nigerians and not siphoned to private pockets of few individuals.

    But to achieve this, there must be a real change in the behaviour of Nigerians at all levels.

    For a start, Nigerians must begin to see things from the national perspective and not from selfish, ethnic or religious angles.

    Whether the anti-corruption war to be institutionalized will live beyond Buhari will also largely depend on the subsequent administrations that will come at the end of Buhari’s government.

    Will they have the political will and love for Nigeria to shun corruption and continue to fight it to a standstill?

    Or will they embrace it like we have seen in the past?

    Only time will answer these questions.

  • Herdsmen, farmers sensitised on peace

    Herdsmen, farmers sensitised on peace

    To scale back clashes between cattle herders and crop farmers, the Federal Government is
    rehabilitating grazing reserves and stock routes and sensitising both sides on peaceful coexistence, reports VINCENT OHONBAMU in Gombe State

    There has been enough violence and bloodshed between cattle herdsmen and crop farmers for federal authorities to come up with an answer. And the answer may have been found: rehabilitating all grazing reserves and stock routes, and orientating breeders and growers on the need for peaceful coexistence.

    That is what the government has started doing, working through the Ministry of Agriculture in conjunction with Miyyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.

    The National Coordinator, Grazing Reserve Rehabilitation at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Mahmud Ibrahim said the government has decided to rehabilitate the 414 grazing reserves and stock routes in the country. He was speaking during a sensitisation and mobilisation programme on the rehabilitation and development of the reserves and routes at Wawa Zange in Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State.

    He said government was determined to end the crisis between farmers and Fulani cattle breeders and would not rest until this was achieved.

    Baba Usman Ngajarma, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, said the tour was meant to sensitise nomads on such issues as the development of grazing reserves, demarcation of cattle routes, cattle rustling, kidnapping and peaceful coexistence with farmers, among others.

    He said the sensitisation team would cover the country in phases, beginning with 10 states in each phase.

    He added, saying, “We are going round the country to sensitise the nomads and the farmers on the need for them to co-exist peacefully because the two professions are created to coexist together. So is the need for them to coexist is very essential and necessary because it is natural that they coexist,” he posited.

    On education, Ngajarma said they were also sensitising the Wawazange population and those in other grazing reserves on the need to allow their children go to school because the lack of modern education is one of the causes of crime among the youths; so also is moral decadence among the Fulani.

    “Since we are collaborating with the National Commission for Nomadic Education, very soon we will still come out with the commission to sensitise the Fulani on the need for them to put their children in school,” he explained.

    His assistance, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, said security was paramount and called on residents to be watchful for suspicious persons, and report them to the authorities immediately. He also appealed for adequate security in the grazing reserve.

    He said he saw a vehicle full of firewood, an indication of indiscriminate felling of trees in the reserve, insisting that such act would not be tolerated, especially now that the country and indeed the entire world is battling with the menace of desertification and desert encroachment.

    This act, according to him, would not be possible without the collaboration of insiders in the reserve, hence the call on leaders in the Gombe State chapter of Miyyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria to come out in full force, liaise with security agents and the

    state Ministry of Environment to put a stop the act immediately.

    Three Fulani leaders in their different remarks pleaded for the provision of water for their animals and assured government of efforts to check the attitudes of their members in order to avoid clashes with farmers and communities.

    Representatives of farmers on the hand complained of hot temper and hostility by some cattle breeders and called on them to desist from wanton destruction of their crops as some deliberately do and to report encroachment on routes to appropriately for appropriate action.

    Dr. Abdullahi pleaded that they should ensure perpetrators were brought to book within the next one month, reminding them of the law which stipulates that ‘for every tree cut down, ten trees must be planted in their place.

    Also speaking the state Commissioner of Animal Husbandry and Nomic Affairs, Mr. Sammy Barka urged the citizen of the state to desist from encroaching into grazing reserves and stock routes.

    According to him, encroaching on grazing reserves and stock routes is causing disharmony and threatening our peaceful coexistence.

    “I will like to appeal to the cattle breeders to control their animals and not to allow them destroy people’s farms and means of livelihood,” he said.

    The sensitization exercise according to Ngajarma, the National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria was supposed to have been flagged-off by President Buhari on July 4th, but was postponed to September and hoped that the President flag-off do a national the exercise by September.

    Commenting however, Abare Abdu caste doubt on President Buhari’s commitment to end the farmers, herdsmen clashes, the rehabilitation of grazing reserves notwithstanding. He sighted the continuous silence of the President over the mayhem Fulani herdsmen are unleashing on

    communities across the nation to prop-up his argument.

    He opined that the problems between the two related oldest professions should rather be referred to as herdsmen massacre as the clash always end in their favour, especially now that they even brandish their rifles openly.

    Elsewhere in the country, women and even men no longer go to farms alone. Women are constantly raped if found alone or outnumbered by the group of herdsmen who brandish riffles, swords and other weapons to subject their victims to the humiliation.

    Men on the other hand get killed for trying to resist or protest grazing on their farms, while some are bound with ropes and made to watch their sweat destroyed by heartless herdsmen.