The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Plateau woos foreign peace mediators

    Plateau woos foreign peace mediators

    The Simon Lalong administration has engaged a Switzerland-based conflict management firm to resolve the state’s communal clashes, reports YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU

    By many people’s reckoning, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has done well in calming tempers in the state’s often boiling communities. Since taking office, he has dialogued with the leadership of diverse communities, urging them to ensure peace reigned. For a length of time, the state enjoyed a measure of tranquility. Yet, the governor figured there was more work to be done, necessitating the intervention of external professionals.

    The Lalong administration has engaged the services of an international conflict management organisation, Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD), to resolve conflicts in the state.

    CHD was unveiled in Shendam Mini-Stadium where the pact was sealed.

    CHD is a private mediation organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland with a regional headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. Its mission is to help prevent and resolve armed conflicts through dialogue and mediation.

    The inter-communal dialogue which is expected to last for an initial period of six months will engage all the 46 communities across the six local governments of the state.

    Plateau State, like many others in the central region of Nigeria, has faced periodic inter-communal violence that has too often assumed ethno-religious dimensions, leaving many persons dead, more displaced and whole communities traumatised.

    In order to address the ethnic and religious tensions that sometimes manifest in violence, the governor had at inception of his administration in 2015 set up the Plateau State Peace Building Agency. The creation of the agency was in fulfillment of the governor’s promise to consolidate on the peace, security and good governance of the state.

    The state government acknowledges the need for an interim dialogue process to maintain the momentum gained by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (CHD) following the successful completion of a similar dialogue process in Jos City and its environs. There is a connection between the violence across Plateau State. Although there had been previous outbreaks of violence, the major inter-religious and communal clashes in Southern Plateau came on the heels of the 2001 Jos ethno-religious crisis. Ethnic and religious communities in Plateau State particularly Muslims and Christians developed a huge sense of fear and distrust between them.

    Prior outbreaks of violence in Southern Plateau revolved around clashes between farmers and grazers on, for instance, destruction of crops, stock routes, political positions and economic resources. Many of these disputes and clashes erupt on indigene-s settler dichotomy. The year 2002 was particularly dark for Southern Plateau with the crisis mainly characterised by violence in Yelwa Shendam, Wase, Langtang North and Langtang South. The crisis has left long-term scars and created “no go zones” in the communities.

    With the backing of Plateau State government and the support of the German government, CHD is set to start an inter-communal dialogue process between the  communities in Southern Plateau, for the next six months across 6 flash point LGAs of Langtang North, Langtang South, Mikang, Qua’an Pan, Shendam and Wase. The dialogue process will focus primarily on continuous causes of tension that include that of pastoralist and farmer conflicts; internally displaced persons; cross-border disputes between the LGAs; cattle rustling; land disputes; chieftaincy issues and claims; rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure and social amenities; role of government and security agencies in maintaining law and order; Youth restiveness; gun running and proliferation of arms; Representation in political positions and offices among others.

    By addressing these issues through dialogue, CHD hopes to involve the affected communities in developing collective solutions to their problems. To achieve this objective each community has selected six persons to represent it at the dialogue table. CHD completed similar dialogue processes in Dec 2014 in Jos and in Southern Kaduna in Kaduna State in March 2016.

    Chairman of the event, the Catholic Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Kaigama said, “The nature of the conflict that manifested at the Southern Plateau in 2004 were that of Land ownership, cattle rustling, farmer-pastoralist conflict, ethnicity, control of political power, indigene/settler conflict, control of economic activities (especially markets) religion and criminality. However, all these causes manifest themselves in three ways namely: Religious conflict, conflict over land and farmer/pastoralist conflict. I know this because I was privileged to spent all my seminary years and early priesthood working in Southern Plateau. I have worked in Langtang North and South, Shendam and Quan-Pan LGCs for many years. In fact when the conflict in Yelwa happened, I was working in Namu, another conflict hot spot.

    He added, “Some of you may remember how even before the conflict in Yelwa, attempts were made to relocate the famous Yam market from there so as to reduce the influence of one ethnic group on it. Also, there were many cases of cases of cattle rustling or theft in Wase and Langtang South. Furthermore, many farm produce were destroyed. Crops still growing on farms were cut down and destroyed. Furthermore, houses and food stores were also burnt, I remember also a time when some youths in Namu went and poisoned a stream where Fulanis go to water their cattle so that the cattle will drink and die. All this attacks and counter-attacks, revenge mentality and hatred have divided our communities, made us enemies one to another and impoverished Southern Plateau which is supposed to be the food basket of Plateau State because most of the inhabitants here are farmers. So at the end of it all, we were the losers.

    Commenting on the effect of the prolonged conflict, Archbishop Kaigama said, “Violent conflict doesn’t bring progress and prosperity to a land. Rather, it slows progress or even takes us back many years.

    “I want to use this opportunity to thank and appreciate His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Barr. Simon Bako Lalong, the gentle and Peace-loving governor of our dear State for initiating this intervention. Coming from Ajikamai, I am sure he has also suffered the effects of all these conflicts both directly and indirectly. Most of us here may not appreciate the import and significant of what His Excellency has done. In some places, Government will prefer that conflict continues because that will help them to siphon money in the name of security vote without being accountable. Also, Government can use the excuse of conflict to abdicate its responsibility of providing social services and amenities to the people, thereby exposing citizens to more poverty. It’s therefore highly commendable that it is the Governor himself who has initiated this process. May God bless you Your Excellency.

    “I want to also appreciate the officials of Humanitarian Dialogue Germany for their courage and sacrifice, also for agreeing to steer this process. Looking at the road map, they intend to use facilitated dialogue style where they will guide us so that we find solutions to our problems, difficulties and differences by ourselves. From their careful selection of delegates, all interest groups are represented and the relevant stakeholders are carried along and included. They respect you so much and believe in your maturity and capacity to find solutions to your problems and difference through dialogue guided by maturity, respect and collaboration.

    Lalong in his remarks before signing the peace roadmap said, “Our commitment to consolidating on our peace building efforts in all parts of the state is what has led to the launching of this inter-communal dialogue in Plateau South. This is expected to last for six months. This dialogue process will not be easy, but it can be done, it has been done in societies more divided than ours.

    “My government will support the recommendation that will emanate from the dialogue provided it will lead to permanent peace in the state,” said Lalong.

  • Jigawa tackles malnutrition

    Jigawa tackles malnutrition

    About 32,000 children in Jigawa State are malnourished and may die if nothing is done quickly to save them, a research carried out by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has indicated.

    The research findings initially caused panic in the state, it was learnt.

    A UNICEF nutrition specialist Philomena Reney said in a paper presented at a workshop that the 32, 000 infants suffer from severe malnutrition and other child-related diseases and may not survive if they did not get urgent medical and nutritional attention.

    According to the research, no fewer than 600,000 children out of 1,100,000 under-five years old in the state are stunted.

    The good thing is that the state government is doing something about the situation, with the collaboration of UNICEF.

    The United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) is running an interventionist scheme in the state called Child Development Grant Programme (CDGP).

    The programme tackles malnourished expectant mothers and children by providing some cash to selected and screened beneficiaries. Each beneficiary receives N3,500 monthly for the period of 1,000 days from pregnancy. The beneficiaries are mostly in the rural areas of the state where poor nutrition is worse.

    Three local government areas were selected for the pilot scheme, the three councils being Buji, Gagarawa and Guri. Over 22,504 beneficiaries were enrolled.

    One beneficiary in Jaka village in Buji council, Aisha Adamu said the programme transformed her life and that of her eight-month-old baby.

    “This programme has given me a new lease of life,” she said. “The grant has afforded me the ability to get enough and proper nutrition in addition to health education given to us during our monthly lecture. I was taught on exclusive breastfeeding, how to use local materials to prepare and apply correct food to my child; how to take care of my personal hygiene and that of my child. In fact, now I am healthier than ever before, and look at my child, he is very healthy and active, he never suffers from any child killer disease as he received full dosage of child immunisation. You can’t compare him with his elder sister who was born before the coming of this programme to our village.”

    The state Deputy Nutrition Officer Malam Saidu Adamu said that 120 health workers have been trained on community management of acute malnutrition, adding that 43,677 mothers and caregivers have been counseled on recommended standards of feeding infants and young children.

    The officer stated that 787,022 children within the age of 12 to 59 months were dewormed between January and June.

  • Cattle take over major roads

    Residents bemoan cattle grazing menace, reports GBENGA OMOKHUNU

    Mr. John Ayooba who lives in Kuje, a satellite town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), told Abuja Review that the city’s challenges brought on by its population growth have been worsened by grazing activities, with cattle obstructing vehicular and pedestrian movement.

    He said, “It is becoming terrible, almost every day when I pass from Kuje to town I come across cows obstructing the major highway and when you call the attention of the owners to control them to avoid accident or damage to property they don’t listen. Abuja is becoming something else and government should do something urgently before the situation gets out of hand.”

    A government source said that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) took measures in the past to curb cattle grazing but its efforts amounted to little more than verbal warnings to herdsmen to refrain from improper grazing activities along major highways.

    Another resident Tolu Abinbola said that the illegal grazing of cattle by herdsmen is just one of several problems facing Abuja, including the prevalence of street hawkers, unemployed youths, and “street urchins” which have “taken over every nook and cranny of the city.

    “I have observed how cattle and other livestock have now taken over the city centre of Abuja and I have really fallen short of words. It is not only degrading, but the distortion of the Abuja master plan also gives me a cause for concern.

    “I am neither a soothsayer nor a doomsday prophet, but public reaction to this unfortunate prowling of animals may not be good for the image of the FCT minister, Alhaji Mohammad Bello, who appears to be doing nothing about this apparent contravention of the Abuja environmental laws.

    “The activities of Fulani herdsmen within Abuja city centre are just inappropriate. For cows to be allowed to roam the city and compete for space with human beings is retrogressive and causes serious health and social crises in the hinterland where they eat up crops, pollute streams, rivers and other sources of water supply in the satellite towns and villages and cause deaths on the highways.”

    Ibrahim, a civil servant who lives in Kubwa, said, “From Kuje to Abaji and from Maitama to the presidential villa and highbrow Asokoro, Fulani herdsmen and their cattle are constantly fighting for space with motorists and pedestrians. The National Assembly, right to the office of the National Security Adviser are not spared by the herdsmen and their cattle. The herdsmen graze their cattle at the traffic junctions where police halt vehicles for upwards of 30 miniutes or completely block the road for cattle to cross to the other side of the road.

    “While we cannot run away from these cows that are a veritable source of protein that nurtures our health and bodies, they should be raised in a civilised manner. Distraught residents are sick and tired of the unprecedented ubiquity of herdsmen walking their cattle on the roads. The man-hour lost in hold-ups cannot be economically verified, but the psycho-social trauma of accidents, caused like the one on the Abuja-Lokoja expressway should move any government to action.

    “I suggest as a matter of urgent national importance that the FCT minister should quickly do something before things get worse. He must hasten to create and demarcate grazing reserves and cattle ranches to control the movement of the herdsmen seeking pasture for their livestock in the FCT and not necessarily in the city centre. We also advise that it has become expedient to constitute a committee consisting of all tribes that would campaign on the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence, because the silence of the people is like that of peace that exists in the graveyard. We are sitting on a keg of gunpowder if we allow cattle to disturb traffic, deface the streets and enter people’s premises. The time to act is now.”

    It would be recalled that few weeks ago the Federal Government on its part said it has concluded plans to build ranches for herdsmen as part of measures to address the perennial herdsmen/farmers clashes which had claimed hundreds of lives in the country.

    The government also said it would train park rangers, men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies to protect farms and other agro-business from looting by hoodlums.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh said this at the inauguration of an Inter-ministerial Committee on Security in Ministries of Agric and Interior.

    The minister explained that the nation is facing challenging times, noting that the government was concerned about protection for investments.

    He stated that the government was looking at ways to curb herdsmen and crop farmers clashes across the country by evolving solutions that would assure indigenous and foreign investors of the security of their investments.

    Ogbeh noted that President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to developing and expanding the economy, and the protection of investment.

    He said, “The current problem we are facing is the security of investment. We are inviting people, Nigerians and foreigners alike to invest in this country, especially in the agriculture industry. The crime rate is soaring and sometimes, criminality is carried out because there is no credible intelligence.

    “We are planning now to build ranches and bring our cattle rearers in manageable conditions where herdsmen and farmers would no longer have clashes. We are going to encourage agro investment. We assure indigenous investors, foreign investors that Nigeria is serious about investment and about protecting investors.

    “Nigeria can’t afford the looting of private investment by hoodlums who think that is their share of the national treasury.”

    The minister stated that the committee was expected to work out the modalities for the training and deployment of the security personnel that would be involved in investment and infrastructure protection across the country.

    He however cautioned that when deployed, the security operatives should not be converted to duties other than what they were trained for.

    “The security officers are not to be converted to private body guards or errand boys to be sent to the market or shopping malls,” Ogbeh warned.

  • 1000 women get Niger governor’s wife’s N12m grant

    1000 women get Niger governor’s wife’s N12m grant

    The wife of Niger State governor, Dr. Amina Sani-Bello has given out cheques totalling over N12m in grants to 1000 women from 18 local government areas of the state.

    Giving out the cheques to the beneficiaries in Minna, the state capital, Dr. Sani-Bello said she hoped the grant will reposition their businesses.

    According to her, 60 women cooperatives with a membership of between 15 and 20 women from 18 local government areas will get between N200,000 and N300,000 to improve their businesses, adding that the other local government areas will be captured in the next programme.

    The governor’s wife stated that the grant disbursement which is the maiden edition from her non-governmental organisation is aimed at complimenting government’s effort in fighting poverty and empowering women and youths in the state.

    She also expressed her determination in reducing maternal mortality rate in the state, lamenting that the state has the highest mortality rate in North-Central area of the country.

    She added that her NGO is working at ensuring free treatment and medication for women in the state.

    Dr Sani-Bello urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the opportunity and not use the money for other trivial things.

    Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Roseline Abara commended the governor’s wife and advised the beneficiaries to judiciously utilise the monies given to them as there will be proper monitoring and supervision.

    She, however, urged women to form and or join cooperative societies because it will easily pave way for support from the government and organisations.

    The state Coordinator, Niger State FADAMA Coordination Office, Mr Aliyu Usman Kutigi, an engineer, said that now is the time that all hands need to be on deck nationally to tackle the issue of unemployment and creation of wealth particularly for women and youths.

    He commended the effort of the governor’s wife in not only empowering the women but giving them the finances to enable them calling on other NGOs, institutions and organisations in the state to partner in the noble venture of job creation of youths and women to minimise youth restiveness in the state and the nation.

    Kutigi assured the governor’s wife of his agency’s continuous support to enable her achieve her goal and objectives of her foundation.

    The beneficiaries in turns appreciated the grant given to them by Dr. Bello as they promised to give back to the foundation to enable other people benefit.

  • Suspected beggar-syndicate members arrested

    In its efforts to stamp out street begging in the Federal Capital Territory, the Special Task Team on Abuja Environmental Protection has broken up a syndicate of suspected suppliers of beggars to strategic locations in Abuja.

    The chairman of the FCT Special Task Team Squadron Leader Abdullahi Adamu Monjel (retd) disclosed this while parading the suspects at the FCDA Police Station at Area 11, Garki I District, Abuja.

    The chairman revealed that the feat was achieved with the close collaboration of security agencies in the Task Team.

    The leader of the suspected syndicate, Baba Gwarma from Kaduna State, said that he is based in Karma-Jiji, a suburb of Abuja with their leader (Sarki) in the same vicinity.

    According to a statement issued by the Deputy Director an Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, Squadron leader Monjel further disclosed that he has three personal vehicles for movement of beggars in and around Abuja as well as neigbouring states of Nasarawa, Niger and Kaduna states.

    He said that Baba Gwarma has houses that he has rented out and also provide shelter for the beggars in the syndicate in Karma-Jiji.

    The Chairman stated that the suspect has been arrested more than 50 times in the past, but this time he would be charged to court for subsequent prosecution.

    Squadron Leader Monjel further revealed that the suspect uses dangerous weapons to attack enforcement team.

     

  • Appointments and disappointments

    Last week was action-packed at the Villa. On Tuesday President Muha-mmadu Buhari hosted two West African presidents. Consider, too, the gale of appointments and disengagements, all in the week.

    The appointments effectively removed those whose tenures had expired or those who were in acting capacities, although there were also some who were let go before their tenures ran out.

    It was a shocker and disappointment for some of those whose first or second tenures had not expired before the latest appointments were announced.

    The statements announcing the appointments, which emanated from various government offices, had affected some heads of Federal Government agencies.

    Other appointments were made for some committees saddled with the responsibility of carrying out special assignments.

    Not all those affected were happy to relinquish the positions they have been occupying and enjoying the salaries, allowances and the pecks of office.

    The tsunami last week started on Monday with a statement from the Federal Ministry of Education.

    The President in the statement sacked 16 heads of key agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education and also announced their replacement including Nigerian Institute for Education Planning and Administration, Universal Basic Education, National Library of Nigeria, National Examinations Council, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, Nomadic Education Commission.

    Other affected agencies in Education are the National Business and technical Examinations Board, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Computer Registration Council of Nigeria, National Commission for Colleges of Education, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, National Teachers Institute, Libarian Registration Council of Nigeria, National Mathematical Centre, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board and the National Institute of Nigerian Languages.

    The President also appointed a new Executive Secretary for the National Universities Commission ( NUC) to replace Prof. Julius Okojie whose two-term tenure just ended.

    On Tuesday, the President nominated seven nominees for the positions of Chairman, Executive Commissioner, and Non-Executive Commissioners in the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

    The list was forwarded to the Senate for confirmation in line with Section 8(1) of the NCC Act 2003.

    On the same day, the President, through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), named a new Post-Master General / Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST).

    Buhari, on Thursday inaugurated the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Trust Fund for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

    The 12-man Council has the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed as the Chairman, while the 13-man BoT has Mr Wale Edun, a world renowned financial expert and former Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, as the Chairman.

    Before last week, Buhari had upper Friday, through a statement from the office of the SGF announced five new heads of health agencies including the Nigerian Institute for Medical Research, the National Centre for Disease Control, National Agency for the Control of AIDS, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency and National Health Insurance Scheme.

    The new appointments have, no doubt, given these Nigerians the opportunities to serve the nation.

    The generality of Nigerians, on the other hand, expect them to hit the ground running and start delivering the goods in their new posts as soon as they assume office. The reason for this is that Nigerians have been waiting anxiously for the fruits of the change agenda of this administration to materialise. The new appointees cannot afford to fail the nation now.

     

    Nigeria’s 37th state

    If the joke by the President of Benin Republic, Patrice Talon, last Tuesday was anything to go by, that country is gradually becoming the 37th state of Nigeria besides the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Talon, who visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja for the first time since assuming office four months ago, has started to toe the line of the immediate past President, Boni Yayi, who frequent Nigeria under his tenure.

    Benin Republic has been befitting many facilities from Nigeria over the years like any state government in Nigeria.

    Topmost of these, is the dependent of Benin Republic on Nigeria for its power supply.

    Just like the real 36 states in Nigeria have been running to the Federal Government to get bailouts in other to survive the hard times, Benin Republic has not pretended not to be adversely affected by what is going on in Nigeria.

    No wonder Talon declared last Tuesday that the present downturn in the Nigeria economy due to dwindling prices of oil in the international market is adversely affecting Benin Republic and other African countries who have relied on Nigeria, as the ‘big brother of Africa’, for one thing or the other.

    Acknowledging that agriculture and other non-oil development are the way out of Nigeria’s current economic woes, Talon has offered to make Benin Republic one of the silos of Nigeria’s agricultural produce under the new moves to boost non-oil sectors in Nigeria.

    Because of the cultural and historical ties between the two countries, Talon has even offered for his country to import Made-in-Nigeria goods rather than importing from the other big economies.

    The time has come for Nigeria to go beyond the ‘big brother’ role and start benefiting from our ‘small brother’ countries.

    Nigeria, should start putting its acts together now to at least become a great exporter of goods and services to the neighbouring countries towards boosting Nigeria’s foreign earnings.

     

    Salvaging Ajaokuta Steel

    Nigerians last week Monday got another cheerful news from the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    This time, it was the Federal Government’s taking over the ownership of the Ajaokuta Steel Complex.

    The complex, which is very significant for Nigeria’s development, has not been properly tapped over the years. Many other countries with less endowment in steel and related resources have been exploiting them to the fullest and have advanced technologically in the manufacturing sector ahead of Nigeria, while the one for Nigeria lie in waste. It is hope that Nigeria will get it right this time around.

  • Standard train reality

    History was made last Tuesday with President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurating the first standard gauge train service for passengers and freight in the country. Nigerians, over the years were used to the narrow gauge passenger trains, which were mostly grounded due to lack of maintenance, among other factors.

    Under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, the standard gauge rail line was completed for the steel industry to move goods between Ajaokuta in Kogi State and Aladja in Delta State. The portion of the new project completed under Buhari and ready for commercial activities is the Abuja (Idu) – Kaduna segment of the Lagos – Kano railways, which moved from the realm of vision to reality last Tuesday.

    President Buhari and his team did not fail to commend the past administrations that conceived and commenced the project. Because it fell within the administration’s vision for Nigeria, the Buhari administration wasted no time to continue with the project as soon as it came on board.

    Also because of Buhari’s love for Nigerians, he didn’t follow the footsteps of some past leaders who abandoned laudable projects just because they didn’t want to share credit for the projects with past administrations. For their selfish interests, many of them had either looked away from projects at almost 100 percent completion or kill the project under the guise of going for newest technology that will bear their names alone.

    The past leaders never bothered if the nation will lose the billions of naira already invested in the projects they were abandoning. Rather than look away from the standard gauge rail project, and pursue after speed trains powered by electricity that will take many more years and huge investments to realize, President Buhari gave directives for the stations, the signaling, the communications and part of the tracks to be completed to make the standard gauge trains on Abuja-Kaduna route operational.

    While the locomotive and coaches for the route arrived in May, the administration commenced trial runs between June and July.

    The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi disclosed that the trial runs conveyed over 500 passengers per trip twice a day for a month and two weeks, free of charge.

    The inaugurated Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge train service, which is expected to be safe, comfortable, affordable, fast and reliable, would provide an alternative transport link between the Federal Capital Territory and Kaduna State.

    It will further serve as a major catalyst for industrialization and employment generation. While boosting rapid socio-economic development and improving the quality of life of Nigerians, it is expected to promote social and regional integration.

    Buhari at the inauguration said: “I am delighted to be here today to commission the Abuja – Kaduna railway track and flag-off the Abuja-Kaduna train services (Passengers & Freight) on Nigeria’s first ever Standard Gauge Rail track to go into operation.

    “This project was conceived by a previous administration, started by the last government and I am pleased to complete and commission it,” he added

    Commending Buhari, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki said: “It is a milestone in the history of our great country. Today as a country, we have shown our seriousness and determination to put in place a modern, efficient railway and by so doing, advance the stage of modern and developed economy.

    “On behalf of the National Assembly, I must commend the President and the Minister and his team for ceasing the initiative early in the life of this regime to complete this project,” he stated

    Determined to bring rapid socio-economic development and improve the quality of life of Nigerians in every part of the country and to promote social and regional integration,  Buhari has promised to implement the 25-Year Strategic Railway Master Plan and link most State capitals and major commercial and production centres with railway system.

    Nigerians are anxiously waiting for the completion of this alternative means of cheap, safe and fast transportation across the country. It is also hoped that in the long run, the cheap transportation to be offered by the rail will assist in reducing the prices of goods and services in Nigeria, which skyrocketed due to the high road transportation costs.

    The Buhari administration should also go a step further and look at what has been put in place for the smooth running and maintenance of the project, especially the operational Abuja-Kaduna train service.

    Unlike the past, everything should be done to protect the trains, rails and other facilities. The trains, for any reason, should never be allowed to degenerate to the experiences recorded with the narrow gauge trains where passengers not only hang on the doors and body of the train, but also climbed and stay on the trains while in motion.

    Also allowing the facilities in the trains like the air conditioning system, televisions, seats, windows, to be vandalized will amount to taking one step forwards and ten steps backward.

     

    Killing corruption in football

    It is no longer news that the anti-graft battle being fought by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in other sectors is now coming to football administrations in the country.

    Before now, corrupt practices have been massive in the administration of football in Nigeria, which have adversely affected its full development and tapping of its abundant potentials and opportunities.

    There have been many cases in the past where players’ match bonuses were either not paid or reviewed downward by the officials in charge after getting allocation for a higher rate.

    It has also been reported in the past that some players were made to bear the cost of their air tickets when invited for camps towards an international competition while the government has actually made provision for them.

    Also many cases have also been heard of some government officials reaching gentleman agreement to share the final bonus and other largess from a football competition at a percentage ratio with some players they smuggled into the final list of a championship.

    Team managers and coaches were not left out of the problem as some of them, especially local coaches, had their salaries and entitlements diverted and delayed while the money for them have been released by the government. All these and many other practices have discouraged players and coaches from giving their best to the round-leather game in Nigeria over the years.

    But Buhari last week Monday has now promised to pay keen interest to accountability and transparency to fast-track football development in Nigeria.

    “We will take the development of football very seriously and I encourage the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to behave itself and organize effective competitions for the good of the game,’’ he warned.

    This is seen by some sports analysts in the country as a right step in the right direction. If the new move will not beam searchlight on past happenings in the sports sector, those who have skeletons in their cupboards should urgently turn a new leaf now in order not to get theirs hands burnt.

     

  • Varsity honours Danjuma

    Varsity honours Danjuma

    For his service to humanity, Kwararafa University Wukari, Taraba State has named its library after the mother of former Defence Minister Gen Theophilus Danjuma.

    The late Rufkatu Asibi Kuru Danjuma, a woman of limited western education, saw the power of education and ensured that her son Theophilus Danjuma went to school. She was said to have felt disappointed when Theophilus Danjuma abandoned a B.A History programme at the Nigeria College Zaria to join the Army, which though, has made him famous.

    The N34m-library has a capacity of 300, physical collection of 10,000 books including journals and other publications, a media section and an e-library which gives access to 1.5 million publications across globally recognised channels.

    The university authority said Danjuma was rewarded because of his immense contribution to the nation’s education sector, particularly to the development of the Kwararafa University.

    An impressed Danjuma donated the sum of N20m to the university while commissioning the library.

    Danjuma said: “My mother did not have the privilege of going to a formal school. She went through the ‘Adult’ so that she could read the Bible. Today, she will smile and thank God wherever she is.”

    It was gathered that in 2012 Danjuma donated N49.65 million to the Kwararafa University.

    Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku, who was the special guest of honour at the occasion, donated N2 million to the university and promised to assist it in housing.

    Danjuma’s donation, the retired soldier said, would be given in two installments.

    “You will get N10 million in a week‘s time and another N10 million a year later. I will come back to see how you use the first N10 million; how many books you have added and how many digital equipment you have procured. Then, I would give you the balance,” he said.

    He noted that the economic slump is universal and Nigerian schools, colleges and universities must learn to persevere with little resources while recoiling from the culture of waste.

    Also speaking at the event which was heralded with cultural dances, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of Kwararafa University, Prof Jerry Gana said: “The University is a knowledge centre and the library is its nerve centre where the teachers and students must consult for knowledge.

  • Gombe, UNICEF boost childcare

    A collaboration between the Gombe State government and the  United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has enhanced children’s health in the state.

    A presentation of the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development review done by Mr. Adamu Puma revealed that 656 persons in 41 Wards in four focal local governments of the  state have been trained and sensitised to monitor and respond to Violence Against Children (VAC) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

    He said, “To date 40 children victims accessed documented GBV and CP services for various abuses (Rape 12, other forms sexual abuses 5, drug abuse 6, child abandonment 7, trafficking 1, child force marriage 4, physical abuses 5, and quarter a number of children in conflict with the law.

    He said the December, 2015 meeting on VAC, GBV and peace building had started yielding dividends as over 60 religious/traditional and community leaders from four LGAs now have improved awareness of the various issues and commit actions to end VAC and GBV as well as promote the involvement of women in peace building initiatives in their various communities.

    Puma said the Child Protection Committees, CPC in each of the 41 Wards of the four focal LGAs were established in to support CP activities up to community/wards levels with the committees already enhancing the prospects of improved CP and GBV service delivery in the State.

    “The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare and Child Protection Network (CPN) cum other Child Protection actors in the state are making concrete commitment to model Child Protection in the State and identify priority actions for improving CP.

    “This is as an output from participation at child protection system strengthening (CPSS) learning groups within the period under review,” he explained.

    He further stated that the advocacy to Gombe State House Assembly, Community/Religious Leaders, trade groups, women and other groups and the dialogue on the domestication of the Child Right Act (CRA) in the State have improved the awareness on the importance of domesticating the CRA.

    He said the efforts had also heightened the limited understanding of leaders on the provisions of CRA who are now ready to submit their positions with the view of harmonization meeting yet to be convened.

    The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare and CPN cum other Child Protection actors in the State are making a concrete commitment to model Child Protection in the State and identify priority actions for improving CP. This is as an output from participation at child protection system strengthening (CPSS) learning groups within the period under review.

    Under the education sector review, Mrs Hannatu Atiku of the state Ministry of Education said UNICEF supports the education sector in Gombe through normal programming in five LGAs that include: Balanga, Dukku, Kwami, Nafada and Yamaltu Deba) and emergency programme executed in four LGAs of Akko, Gombe, Funakaye and Yamaltu-Deba

    She said the state’s Education Emergency Working Group through the support of Safe School Initiative (SSI) Project identified and enrolled 2,935 school aged IDPs children and enrolled them in schools at Dukku, Kwami, Nafada, Balanga and Yamaltu Deba LGAs

    She said the aim of the programme is to ensure that children of IDPs born in Gombe or brought into the state got or continued their education.

  • Suspected beggar-syndicate members arrested

    In its efforts to stamp out street begging in the Federal Capital Territory, the Special Task Team on Abuja Environmental Protection has broken up a syndicate of suspected suppliers of beggars to strategic locations in Abuja.

    The chairman of the FCT Special Task Team Squadron Leader Abdullahi Adamu Monjel (retd) disclosed this while parading the suspects at the FCDA Police Station at Area 11, Garki I District, Abuja.

    The chairman revealed that the feat was achieved with the close collaboration of security agencies in the Task Team.

    The leader of the suspected syndicate, Baba Gwarma from Kaduna State, said that he is based in Karma-Jiji, a suburb of Abuja with their leader (Sarki) in the same vicinity.

    According to a statement issued by the Deputy Director an Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, Squadron leader Monjel further disclosed that he has three personal vehicles for movement of beggars in and around Abuja as well as neigbouring states of Nasarawa, Niger and Kaduna states.

    He said that Baba Gwarma has houses that he has rented out and also provide shelter for the beggars in the syndicate in Karma-Jiji.

    The Chairman stated that the suspect has been arrested more than 50 times in the past, but this time he would be charged to court for subsequent prosecution.

    Squadron Leader Monjel further revealed that the suspect uses dangerous weapons to attack enforcement team.