The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Buhari’s largesse boosts IDP rehab

    Buhari’s largesse boosts IDP rehab

    Amid the rebuilding of communities destroyed by Boko Haram, President Muhammadu Buhari ships out trailer-loads of grains to Internally Displaced Persons in Gombe State. VINCENT OHONBAMU reports

    The worst is over for people forced from their homes by the terror group. Boko Haram is in retreat, their spine broken by relentless Army fire. This necessitated the plan to rebuild the much devastated communities of the North, especially those on its eastern flank. But while this plan is on, President Muhammadu Buhari brought more cheer to those displaced in Gombe State. He shipped in trailer-loads of maize and rice, which were distributed to the expectant beneficiaries. The trailers delivered 15,000 50kg bags of  grains to 4,779 registered IDP camp households.

    The Minister of Environment, Dr. Amina I. Mohammed who represented President Buhari in presenting the food items at the state Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency in Gombe metropolis said the gesture was to acknowledge that the leadership of the country was with the IDPs in their plight. She said she hoped the gesture would alleviate what Gombe State has been doing to help.

    The Minister also acknowledged God’s intervention in the fight against Boko Haram and urged Nigerians to remain steadfast in praying for the return of peace and tranquility to the country as well as for God to grant President Buhari the strength and wisdom to accomplish his mission of bettering Nigeria.

    “We have started enjoying the fruits of Mr. President’s tireless efforts as insurgency is being contained and IDPs have started to return to their respective homes,” she added.

    Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo substantiated her views on the Islamist fighters’ fate when the Minister paid him a courtesy visit, and congratulated the President for drastically addressing the issue of insurgency in the Northeast.

    “I must say in the last one year, a lot of efforts have been put in place to contain the activities of Boko Haram and other terrorists group whose activities have drastically affected the growth and development of the Northeast.

    “With the various efforts that have been put in place, I think the days of these insurgencies are numbered. I want to [say] that we will as state do our best to support all the efforts of Mr. President in this regard.”

    A beneficiary of the presidential gesture, Adamu Jilda, a state government hospital worker from Gwoza in Borno State appreciated the gesture and other activities to help the IDPs. He said he and his family would feed on the maize because they need food, shelter and many other things as long as he left everything back at home has not been working since being in Gombe. He implored Mr. President to put more efforts on security and their returning back home while praying for him to end his tenure well.

    Abudulmumini Alhassan, also   from Gwoza, said they were happy to receive the gift.

    “Since arrival, we have not been troubled by anybody in any way; we have found peace in living among the people of Gombe state. The only additional request we have is how to further beef up security in our areas, because if this is done, we can return home,” he said.

    Another Gwoza beneficiary, Safia Hammasale, said, “We thank God, we thank Muhammadu Buhari and we are praying that God will bless him and bless us too. We will eat this, and would want to go back anytime the security issue in the area is fully settled. She said they enjoyed peace in the state, though they sometimes have problems with landlords over maintenance of houses and also co-tenants.

    Chairman of the IDPs, Alhaji Jato from Damboa Local Government in Borno State was full of thanks to God for the gesture and its timing. “We thank the President for being kind and knowing what to do per time. We are praying that God should grant him strength that God should enable him accomplish his good intentions for Nigeria,” he added.

    He said the IDPs who wanted to go back were constantly ready to do so as soon as their places were certified habitable in every sense. He would remain grateful to the people of Gombe for making their stay peaceful and exhibiting high level of kindness, peaceful coexistence and understanding towards them; to the extent that intermarriages now take place between amongst them.

    He particularly showed appreciation to the state Governor for opening camps for them, and subsequently closing the camps to free them of stigma and being used as cover by evil minded persons and also for paying their rents upon closing the camps. He equally appreciated the

    Emir of Gombe for his kind gestures in the past and the plans to do more for the IDPs

    “On the whole, for each individual with their wives and children, we now have around 31,000 IDPs remaining in Gombe officially. Many have gone back and many are still around that did not register with us,” he said. Dr. Dalami Arabs Rukujei, Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) once said the number of unregistered IDPs in Gombe state far outnumbered those on official records.

    Meanwhile, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo has closed the IDP camps in the state, explaining that the closure was to avoid stigmatising the IDPs. The governor also said closing the camps would end the adverse conditions under which IDPs lived.

    Dankwambo said, “On the issue at stake (IDPs and their camp), we always have a different approach and that has resulted from maybe some of the studies that we have seen over time. When some studies were conducted in 2012 and 2013, we found out that 92% of the people who have been displaced in one way or the other and found themselves in Gombe were not prepared to go back, even if normalcy returned to their respective villages or towns or states.

    “And if that is the case, then we felt the need for camps may not be necessary. And also we had a lot of issues with camp – social, religious, cultural issues that are associated with people living in camps and we felt as people that: it is not good, for somebody to be identified with those kind of issues, especially in this part of the country where you can easily be identifiable by the circumstances you find yourself.

    “Also, there is the issue of some funny people or bad guys trying to find a way to mix up with the camp population and cause havoc in the state. As a result, we tried to dismantle the camps, arrange for housing accommodation for them with our people, so that they can integrate, and secondly, our people can monitor them to know those who actually came in peace or otherwise

    “And also very importantly, we want to make them, to a larger extent, forget the agonies that have befallen them. Substantial numbers of them have been integrated; we paid rent for them and we agreed that after some number of years, when they would have been established or integrated, they will continue to cater for themselves and be very good citizens of Gombe state, that is those who wish to remain behind.

     

     

  • Baby’s future grim as stepmom cuts off his genitals

    Baby’s future grim as stepmom cuts off his genitals

    Two-month-old Buhari Dauda survived the attack, but his genitals did not.

    Police said little Buhari’s stepmother sliced off his manhood. The incident took place in Kuta community, Shiroro Local Government of Niger State.

    The boy’s suspected attacker, Mrs Bara’atu Rabiu, has been remanded after her arraignment in court.

    It was also said that she confessed to the crime, reportedly saying that she carried it out using a knife in their toilet.

    She did not give any logical reason for her behaviour.

    Buhari is currently recuperating in the hospital after medical personnel battled to save his life.

    The doctors said he will not have a functional manhood.

    A paediatric surgeon, Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi at the Ibrahim Babangida Specialist Hospital, Minna told reporters that though the little boy survived the attack, his manhood has been permanently damaged. The surgeon painted a grim picture of the boy’s future.

    “In fact, I can assure you that the boy has survived the attack but he would not have a functional male organ,” Dr Abdullahi said.

    The husband of Bara’atu, Mr. Mohammed Dauda expressed shock over the action of his second wife, saying that he did not know what prompted her to behave the way she did.

    The victim’s mother, Mrs. Bashira Dauda also expressed shock over the fate of her baby as she said that she had no problem with the suspect as she has always been given her due respect as a wife in their home.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana told The Nation that Bara’atu has  been arraigned at Magistrate Court 1 in Minna and have been remanded in the Minna Prison, adding that the police will spare no effort to get justice for the baby.

    The wife of Niger State governor, Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello described the attack on the four-month-old baby by his stepmother as a horrendous act and the height of wickedness.

    Bello who condemned the stepmother’s action said it was heartbreaking to see an innocent baby go through such a near death experience.

    Expressing joy that the boy was still alive, Bello assured that everything would be done to bring the perpetrator of the dastardly act to justice, adding that all machinery to ensure the boy receives the best medical attention has been put in place.

    The wife of the Governor then appealed to members of the public to always exercise restraint when they are angry, so that innocent children or even adults do not become unfortunate victims of unwarranted violence.

     

  • Minister launches “Tablet Technology” in schools

    There was exciteme-nt when the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu launched “Tablet Technology in the Classrooms” at the Regent Primary School in Abuja.

    Many were quick to agree it was the beginning of a new phase of learning not only in the Federal Capital Territory, but the whole country.

    The Minister lauded the board of the Regent Primary School, saying it has taken a visionary financial step forward to ensure that young people are prepared for the technology of tomorrow.

    According to the Minister, the children will be able to play a leading role in the development of Nigeria as a leading global economy.

    “There is a need to remember that if we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow,” he said.

    Onu said the government has always been in support of growing a culture of developing science in Nigeria from a young age.

    According to the Minister, letting the children into science based training and the access to computers early in life will aid economic diversification especially into science related services.

    “Now we want to move to a knowledge-based economy that is innovation-based so that we can start talking of services, products. We can’t continue to have woods in our forests and we continue to bring in toothpicks. You know that is not right.

    “We can’t continue to be the sixth largest producer of crude oil in the world and yet we import petroleum products that again are not right. We can’t continue to produce cocoa and import chocolate that is not right.

    “So we require technology to add value to these natural resources. And who are the people that will do this for us, they are the children. And it is the determination of President Muhammadu Buhari to make sure that we diversify the economy.”

    The Minister ‘cut the ribbons’, went into the classrooms to speak to the children, watched what the pupils were doing and addressed them personally.

    Chiamaka Kalu – Uche, Public Relations Manager of Regent said the School has recently maximised the potential of tablet technology to facilitate pupil learning.

    “This was in line with the school’s strategy to incorporate new teaching styles which utilise information and communication technology (ICT) to enhance learning in a new and dynamic way.

    “The Regent Primary School has always aimed at furthering its acknowledged academic excellence by being the leader in the implementation of cutting edge technology for teaching and learning, whilst ensuring that the learning process remains enjoyable and fulfilling for every child.”

    Kalu-Uche said Research indicates that children who use computing technology have greater gains in structural knowledge, problem solving and language skills compared with those who do not use technology in their learning.

    She said Tablets will allow the pupils to access the school curriculum and educational content designed by teachers.

    “The introduction of tablets is the start of the school’s ICT strategic objective of having a 1:1 ratio of pupils to computing devices in the very near future. Through the use of approved apps, teachers can provide notes, display steps and processes to problems, initiate the display of media, and allow pupils to participate from their own seats in a variety of interactive activities.

    “It will also allow pupils to play video or audio lessons and take notes that are synchronized with the lessons. They can read books, view presentations and check homework off as it is completed,” she said.

    The principal of the school, Mr, Michael Dickson said the tablets have excited the students, the staff, but that it would not replace the human side of teaching in the school.

    “What are we planning to achieve with our tablets is to impact quality education in the students,” he said.

  • IDPs learn entrepreneurial skills

    IDPs learn entrepreneurial skills

    Knowing that handouts from the public are not enough, internally displaced persons have embraced skills acquisition, GRACE OBIKE reports

    Give a man a fish, as they say, and you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, and you feed for a lifetime. At a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Abuja, this Chinese proverb has a literal meaning.

    The IDPs depend largely on charity, but even as they cherish every handout, they still lack most of life’s basic necessities.

    Things are changing. The truth of the Chinese saying is sinking in, and the IDPs have started learning trades in order to be able to support themselves. And they are doing quite well.

    Some well-meaning entrrepreneurs have dedicated  their time and knowledge to  training the displaced persons to be self-reliant.

    The government of the Federal Capital Territory says the displaced camps are in the wrong places, meaning it is not obliged to take care of them. This attitude inspired a lot of Nigerians to take up the responsibility of giving to the displaced out of the little they have which has so far been sustaining them but some residents in some cases have gone a step further in providing education, health facilities and empowerment programmes to the IDPs. One of such organisations, the Life Builders Initiatives formed by a couple, has erected structures in Durumi and presently teaches over 1000 children. The organisation also feed the IDPs  ones a day.

    Whereas most of their parents, especially mothers, have nothing to do, a few people have taken to training the mothers as well. Recently, the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) empowered 43 women in different skills ranging from bead-making, soap making, making of hand wash, bags, flower vases and a lot more.

    The training which took place at the Maria Centre Abuja, located around the Durumi camp was coordinated by Rev. Sis. Anne Falola who explained that she had always visited the camps to provide them with relief materials but she felt that they should not simply be reduced to simply relying on people’s hands out.

    She said, “I was coming to the camp like every other person to give food and clothing but I felt that no human being should be reduced to just handouts, I feel that these people’s lives have been disrupted, their normal way of livelihood, they have lost everything in the crises and felt they should be re-equipped to face life so that the time that they are in transition and away from home can be put into a useful purpose.

    “Each time we spoke with government agencies about them, they always told us that this was a temporary thing, that we should not invest too much on them and I feel that is not right because every human life is precious. I feel that where we need to invest in our country is not in buildings but in persons; that is our greatest resources, so all this put together made me say that the little people gave to me for my birthday, let me divert it to use. I saw how downcast the women where and decided to give them a space to play and talk which brings healing in itself and in the process learn something that they will not need a lot of money to invest in, many of them are very happy because it is useful for them, it takes their minds away from being depressed now they see that they can do things, sell and make money.

    “Today 43 women graduated after three months and we were able to give a small start-up for 11, others are waiting and we want to give to all of them, with as little as N20,000 we can put something beautiful for them.

    “My dream will be that in all the suburbs, there should be empowerment centres because we don’t look at the potentials in people in this country, we look at people as problems which is a mistake, the women where really surprised when they made their first purses, they never believed it was possible before then, I have seen people from other countries come here today to say that they can actually take the items home and tell people that they bought in from Nigeria. In all the suburbs where joblessness is the daily song of people, where depression is bitting hard and people are unable to think because they don’t see a future, people need to learn to start little things, different handwork, this was how Indonesian shops where developed and now they supply to chain stores in Europe, there are wasted spaces everywhere in this country, even a little poultry will bring down the price of chicken in the market, we need to learn to stop importing stupid things in the name of joblessness, we do not actually need big money to start a lot of things.”

    Coordinator Governmental and Public Relations of the IDP camp in Area 1, Idris Ibrahim Halilu, explained that even though they appreciate being provided with food and clothing items, they will love to be self-reliant.

    He said, “The sisters of the Ladies of Apostles contacted us that they wanted to organise a skills acquisition training for our wives, widows, sisters and we welcomed the idea, we spoke with our people and got the number required to register and I had the privilege of being the translator and it has been a success story so far.

    “This is an opportunity for our women to acquire skills to enable them become self-employed and trainers to other, so they can be a relief to the society instead of depending on NGOs, individuals and the government to come to feed us, with something to do, for instance, if she is a widow, she can make use of her skills to take care of her children, which is good because the men are equally being trained because when a man gives you food, it is just for a day but being thought skills is being given food for life. If you bring a hundred thousand trailers of food, it will finish but these skills will always remain and can be imparted to others and the impact is on the larger society.

    “When they return home, this is what will sustain them and they will be eager to teach others, as we train them.”

    Executive Secretary of Caritas Nigeria, a relief and development agency of the Catholic Bishops conference of Nigeria Rev. Fr. Evaristus Bassey, added that the problem with the country is that, unemployment and the level of hardship in the country makes it difficult for a lot of people who would have ordinarily want to help the needy in their midst, to help because people with jobs in a family have a lot of dependants which makes it difficult for a lot of people to make much to give after providing for their families.

    His said, “We have supported the project financially and in terms of guidance, we have made substantial donations like the container with toilet facilities, sewing machines for the women etc.

    “The philanthropic culture in Nigeria is very poor, many Nigerians give so that their names can be mentioned, they give when it is relatives but to give not knowing where it will be used is poor here it is something we have to work on but it could be linked to poverty, when one has employment or a means, he has lots of dependence, so before he can take care of these dependents and reach out to people outside the circle is challenging, there is a lot of extended family and community dependency, it’s probably the reason and not that we are not generous but there are still people that can reach out and help those in need.”

    One of the beneficiaries, 17-year-old Fatima Ali from Gambarongala Local Government, who appreciated the opportunity, stated that she now believes that she has something that she can one day use to take care of not only herself but family.

    “I decided to learn because it can be a way of taking care of myself in future; if I don’t have anything doing, with this I can work for myself and get enough money to pay my bills instead of depending on anyone, with this I can become a businesswoman who can afford to take care of her family; it took me five months, now I can make bags, belts, flower vase, ear rings, bangles, key holders and lots more.”

    Another beneficiary, mother of five, 27-year-old Mariam Isah, said that she now believes that what she learnt will keep her going.

    “I learnt to make bags, soap, hand wash, vase and a lot more, they thought us a lot of skills, formerly we used to just sit at home doing nothing but now we can confidently call ourselves business women, now when I return home, I have a craft to keep me going, I have a business to use in taking care of my children.”

     

  • Time for peace

    For months, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other aggrieved militants have sustained their attack on oil and gas pipelines and other facilities in the Niger Delta.

    The fresh attacks have not only destroyed infrastructures in the region, but have been having negative impacts on the country as a whole and the region in particular.

    They have resulted in a sharp reduction in Nigeria’s oil production, which in turn, further decreased its incomes from sales of the product in the face of the falling prices of oil in the international market.

    The hostility, apart from making existing foreign investors and workers in the area to flee the region and in some cases, Nigeria, for safety, the destructions and war-like atmosphere are also scaring away new prospective foreign investors.

    Power outage has become a normal occurrence in most states of the Federation in the past few weeks as gas scarcity, which was caused by the bombings, was hindering power generation.

    Not only power outage alone, they have also indirectly worsen water supply in some states as equipment could not be powered.

    Many businesses outside the region, which are mainly dependent on electricity supply have also been badly affected.

    But the negative impacts of the pipelines bombing seemed to be more in the Niger Delta area itself.

    Peace has eluded the region as there are now threats to lives and properties.

    The attacks are also already creating humanitarian crisis in the region with thousands of refugees displaced from their communities.

    There is increased health hazard from the bombings, thereby compounding the effect of the oil spillages in the Niger Delta region over the years, which have been estimated to take up to 50 years to clean up.

    Fishing and other businesses in the region are also not having the best of times with the renewed hostilities.

    The destroyed facilities and installations will also cost billions of naira to repair, thereby wasting the money that could have been utilized for development and other meaningful purposes.

    As a concerned father of the nation, President Muhammadu Buhari has used almost every available opportunity in the last one week to appeal to the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other groups to stop the destructions and allow peace to reign.

    He severally made reference to the attacks during his breaking of fast with various groups at the Presidential Villa.

    During breaking of the fast with the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership at the State House, Buhari said: “Those of you who have friends among the leadership or even the militants themselves should plead with them in the name of God ýAlmighty to take it easy.

    “We need to stabilise to create employment, we need to stabilise the economy etc. I agonize over these things,” he said.

    The President has not only promised his administration’s commitment to rebuilding the region but has also given assurance to ensure the amnesty programme is continued with.

    Receiving a delegation of Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact Group, led by His Royal Highness, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, Bayelsa State, at State House, Abuja last Thursday, Buhari said that the gazette on the Niger Delta amnesty programme by the Late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration is being studied to determine what had been fulfilled, promising that whatever is left would equally be addressed.

    “I want to get as much intelligence as possible on the situation in the Niger Delta. I have encouraged law enforcement agencies to contact leaders like you in order to have enough information to deal with the issues once and for all, “the President said.

    It is hoped that the militants would really allow peace to reign now and not allow themselves, as being alleged in some quarters, to be used by any person(s) to achieve any ulterior motives.

    Peace in the area will not only ensure the well-being of the nation as a whole, but it will stop the health hazard risks from the bombings and fast-track development in the region.

     

    Saraki and the cabal

    What began as a rumour two weeks ago bordering on the relationship between the Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Presidency, became a reality last week.

    There is no doubt now that a wider crack exists between Saraki and the seat of power.

    Some Nigerians became alarmed two weeks ago when news filtered in that a scheduled breaking of fast dinner by President Muhammadu Buhari for National Assembly leadership, led by Saraki, has been called off.

    The Saraki camp saw no reason to attend such a dinner when the following Monday they will be tried in court by the State for forgery of the Senate standing rules.

    The rumour and tension that arose then was doused by a statement from the Presidency stating that the breaking of fast dinner with the lawmakers was not cancelled but postponed till a later date.

    It succeeded in showing that there was no rift between the two arms of government.

    But that did not last long, as Saraki last Monday showed that there was a real crack between the two arms of government, alleging that the Presidency has been hijacked by a cabal.

    The Presidency wasted no time to challenge him on the same day to name those that belong to the cabal.

    It is however very important for the polity not to be heated up as the man on the street will be at the receiving end like the grasses that suffer when two elephants fight.

    There is no doubt that the allegation of a cabal went too far especially when there are no names and evidence to back it up.

     

  • First Lady feeds the needy in Niger

    First Lady feeds the needy in Niger

    Wife of Niger State Governor, Dr. Amina Abubakar has distributed food items to the less privileged, including people living with disability, widows and the vulnerable in the state.

    She said that the food items were donated by the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari to alleviate the suffering of the less privileged.

    The food items included 1000 bags of rice, 1000 gallons of vegetable oil, 1000 cartons of tomato paste, 1000 cartons of specially packaged garri and 1000 cartons of custard which will be distributed among the 25 local government areas in the state.

    The governor’s wife appreciated the wife of the President for taking interest in the condition of the less privileged, widows and the physically challenged individuals in the state adding that this gesture will go a long way in helping the beneficiaries.

    “This donation is made in the spirit of the Ramadan fast as the President’s wife contributes her quota towards alleviating the suffering of the less privileged.”

    She appealed to the people to support the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration especially in his fight against corruption, job creation and youth empowerment.

    “It is true that although you might be going through some form of hardship right now, we need to preserve a little more because if we exercise patience with the government, very soon, we will all see the dividends of the change that we have been anticipating because sustainable change is truly a gradual process.”

    Bello also encouraged individuals in the society to develop the spirit of giving urging them not to look at the quantity of the items but the spirit behind the gesture.

  • Students’ ‘giant leap’ into baking

    Students’ ‘giant leap’ into baking

    A bakery set up by students of the Federal Polytechnic in Offa, Kwara State, has produced its first loaves, prompting calls for vocational training in schools. ADEKUNLE JIMOH reports

    It was a picture of joy as they held the loaves aloft. The administrators, students and baking crew looked happy to launch their bakery and their bread.

    It was a giant leap for students of Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, who established the bakery, where some of them have been busy turning flour into a popular breakfast offering.

    The product may not be attractively branded or packaged but there was no doubt at its launch that the students have  given everyone, including their counterparts elsewhere, something to chew on.

    One of its highlights is the fact that students set up the bakery, a veritable money spinner. Another point is that students are part of the baking trade, learning crucial skills in an academic setting where such a thing never happened before.

    That was why Acting Rector of the institution Dr Ayodele Olaosebikan and the students union President (SUG) Yusuf Olalekan made a case for  vocational education.

    The duo said this at the mini-campus of the institution in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of the state at the commissioning of   bakery.

    Dr Olaosebikan added that the technical/vocational education would ensure attainment of sustainable development goals (SDGS) in the country.

    She said that the effort of the students was in line with the ‘change’ agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to reduce unemployment and poverty in Nigeria.

    She said, “I want to appreciate the president’s change initiative which has become a great drive for technical and vocational education in Nigeria; at the Federal Polytechnic Offa, we are imbued by this drive to produce graduates with skills and self-reliance.

    “It would interest you to know that soonest technology will be adopted to conduct examinations for students through computer based examinations (CBE). This effort is to eradicate lots of bottlenecks like loss of scripts and delayed processing of results.

    “I therefore enjoin all students to improve their computer proficiency so as to avoid difficulties when the programme begins.

    “I want to call on the polytechnic’s alumni association and corporate organisations to join hands with the management especially on research funding, physical development and endowment of prizes in order to encourage the students. The present management will continue to support innovation, research and evolve policies in line with the change mantra of the federal government that will create and maintain the enabling environment for enhanced private sector investment in the polytechnic.”

    Olalekan urged the federal and Kwara state governments to partner with the polytechnic in promoting entrepreneurship, adding that polytechnic is the bedrock of economic and technological growth of any nation.

    He said, “We intend to equip and prepare our fellow students on entrepreneurship skills and we also have in mind to establish sachet and table water factory for the school.”

  • Hope for underfed kids in Gombe

    Hope for underfed kids in Gombe

    In Gombe State, a malnourishment management centre has restored poorly-fed kids to health, reports VINCENT OHONBAMU

    It was not just that the children were on the verge of death; in some cases, their parents misdiagnosed thier ailments. It was an incurable act of God, some of them concluded. No, others countered, the evil spirits were at work. A third group was sure human enemies cast a spell on their children. None of them suspected that their children were acutely malnourished and needed help urgently.

    Right before his parents’ eyes, 19-month-old Zubairu was growing thinner by the day. He could not sit, crawl or walk. Eventually his mother Rukaiya Bala and her husband of Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State took him to the local dispensary, from where he was referred to Deba General Hospital, after four months of vain treatment.

    At the general hospital, Zubairu was diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition or SAM. From there, he was taken to the Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) facility in Gombe metropolis.

    Adama Abdul of Kagarawol community on the outskirts of Gombe town, a mother of 18-month Abdellah Abdul, said her son, apart from not being able to sit, could not turn his neck. To compound her dismay, other complications set in and the boy could no longer respond to treatment.

    Hafizu Jibr was probably malnourished from the womb because his mother Mariam Jibr said she bore him with his present condition 11 months ago. But the fact that he could neither sit nor turn his neck got her searching for solution.

    All three cases were on their first day at the CMAM centre when The Nation visited. At the malnutrition treatment centre, the patients started to improve after taking the Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) given at the facility. After four weeks, they could sit and their sickly look was fading away.

    Other parents had tales of delight to tell after some weeks at the centre. A couple said their child who always vomited everything he ingested, had started to improve.

    CMAM has been restoring the health of malnourished children in Gombe, but the centre has also been doing quite well in fighting ignorance among parents, which is almost as bad as the ailment itself.

    CMAN is run by the Gombe State government with a lot of help from UNICEF, which supplies the RUTF, for instance.

    Parents are told that eating a balanced diet is the best way to avoid malnutrition.

    Malnourishment results in stunting – a reduced growth rate in human development, which Gombe State Nutrition Officer, Suleiman Mamman said is about 41% in the state. He said the influx of internally displaced person or IDPs from neighbouring Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states has contributed to the acute malnutrition burden in Gombe state.

    He said cases noticed at the IDPs camp in 2015 were indicators, adding that before their influx, just above 6,000 people were treated the previous year, 2014.

    “But in the following year, it shot up to well over 9,000 and it was mostly during the period of serious security threat. So the IDPs have helped to increase the programme.”

    The frightening statistics of malnutrition in Gombe State made known to Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo during UNICEF visit earlier this year drove the governor into a statewide awareness campaign on malnutrition, using the opportunity of his ‘appreciation tour’.

    Though a lot more could still be done, some achievements have been recorded in Gombe State where over 33,000 children have benefitted from the treatment programme over the last three to four years. Overall, 6,500 lives of children have been saved.

    Out of the statistics, about 10,000 cured cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), including about 2,000 children who would have died were obtained in 2015 alone.

    The State Nutrition Officer added that more than 4,000 children were cured between January and May this year and feared that the figure of cases could soar, considering that hunger is more terrible in the remaining part of the year. Lack of food is more evident and excruciating after sowing of crops, the period of awaiting harvest.

    The CMAM site for the treatment of SAM in Gombe state is in Gombe, Dukku and Nafada local government areas (LGAs), making it just one third coverage of the state, which has 11 LGAs. As a result, those sites are now under pressure. Yet, the traffic keeps increasing by the day because lots of people come from where there are no cites to access treatment.

    This obviously means that the SAM treatment sites need scaling up if malnutrition must be wrested to a standstill. But the good news according to Gombe State Nutrition Officer “is that Gombe government has agreed to the scaling of all the remaining eight LGAs. If the state government would do as it has said, we will be able to save a lot of children from dying and wasting.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Kaduna battles child-rape

    Kaduna battles child-rape

    A 71-year-old grandfather has been arraigned at a Kaduna magistrate court, accused of raping a minor. With him in the court were two other suspects. The Kaduna State government wants to put a stop to the development, which is said to be quite rampant these days.

    One of the suspects is a woman who is accused of facilitating the crime by luring minors to their violators.

    It was against this backdrop that the state government declared war on rapists, especially those who attack minors. The state has also provided phone numbers on which victims and their relatives can contact security operatives. The state equally pledged to track every reported case and prosecute suspects.

    Governor Nasir el-Rufai who addressed a press conference through his spokesman, Mr. Samuel Aruwan revealed that the 19 Northern state governments were collaborating in order to curb the menace. One of the steps they have taken is reviewing the penal code to replace the obsolete punitive measures attached to cases of rape in the region.

    He said his administration will use every legal means to deal with the menace. A bill to that effect is currently being worked on by the state Assembly.

    “The issue of rape has even gone beyond adults as it used to be, but minors are now falling victim by the day,” he said.

    Spokesperson of Kaduna Police Command, SP Zubairu Abubakar, who confirmed the arrest of the 71-year-old suspect, told  The Nation that available medical report indicated that the victim had been earlier abused by another man in the neighborhood.

    The police spokesman said, “Medical reports showed that one Mohammed Auwal, 30, who happened to be her neighbour had earlier uncovered the girl’s nakedness and he was arrested in connection to the case and investigation was ongoing.

    Meanwhile, Safiya’s mother, Hindatu Mohammed who was very reluctant to report her daughter’s case, said the incident occurred on June 13 at about 1pm in their residential apartment located in Tudun Wada, Kaduna.

    She said, “After my six-year old daughter returned from school, I sent her to buy detergent for me, but she didn’t return early as expected. So I became worried and began looking for her. Then one boy came to my house to inform me that my daughter has just been raped. That boy told me that it was a woman who was passing by that caught the old man in the act in an uncompleted building within the area and she called for help, which resulted to his arrest.

    “So I went out to see for myself and was accompanied by my co-wife; we went to the police station at Tudun Nupawa. When we got to the police station, I learnt that my daughter had been taken to hospital for test to ascertain if she was actually raped, and it was confirmed that she was raped.

    “Now, I am so afraid that she might be infected with HIV/Aids and I was told that after the doctors’ investigation that it was discovered that she has been raped earlier by another person before that of the 71-year old man.

    “And it was our neighbour (name withheld) my daughter identified and the police had already arrested him, they are both in police custody. Initially, I didn’t even know that this other person had raped my daughter because we are neighbours,” she stressed.

    One of the suspects confessed to the crime, saying “This is my second time of raping a minor. Presently I have a case at the police station for raping a different victim and the case is ongoing. What happened to me is that, I allow my evil mind to lead me into committing the act. Now, I have realised that I have destroyed my life completely.

    “I have eight children and they are all alive and I have two wives but my first wife left me immediately she learnt of the crime I committed,” he added.

    The police prosecutor, Inspector Akinga Akila who presented the accused persons before Magistrate Naheed Abdallah on charges of rape and gross indecency confirmed to the magistrate that one the accused persons had committed the crime on Monday June 13, 2016 in an uncompleted building located in Tudun Wada area Kaduna metropolis.

  • Gbagyi women move against developer

    Gbagyi women move against developer

    Situated along the airport road in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Gosa Market for years now has remain one of the most popular markets in the nation’s capital.

    Gosa Market comes alive every Friday with people come all over Abuja including neighbouring towns to buy and sell.

    According to investigations and patronage, commodities of all kinds are cheaper.

    It was like a joke when traders at Gosa Market learnt that some developers are laying claim to the land occupying the market.

    Gbagyi women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the auspices of Gbagyi Women Association (GWA) have taking it up and staged a peaceful protest against move by an estate developer to take over the market space, calling on the FCT Minister, Mallam Mohammed Bello to intervene and rescue the traders from been evacuated from the market.

    The traders who said that their lives are been threatened by developer’s moves, stated that the market has been the source of survival for the indigent people in the FCT and if allowed to be taken away lives may br lost.

    Mrs. Ladi Danladi, President of the Gbagyi women association, who led the protest said that they are appealing to the FCT Minister to protect them, so that this market will not be taken away from them.

    “This government of President Muhammad Buhari is a government that came to fight for the poor and we believe that this government will fight for us. We are here because we do not want the developer Alhaji Umaru Usman to take our market.

    “Because this market is meant for the poor people in Abuja, as this is the only place we can afford. If you go to Garki or Wuse market, you cannot find our type there, because we cannot pay their exhobitant shop rents which ranges from N500,000 to N1,000,000.

    “However, in this market a trader can comfortably do business with N2,000 and take care of his or her family. So, we do not want this market to be taken away from us, because this is our source of survival,” she said.

    Speaking on behalf of GG-DIN, Comrade Jethro Iliya, Special Adviser on Media to the President of GG-DIN, who who was amongst the protesting women said that the case is a very critical one, in the sense that the market has been in existence for ages, and the interest of an individual cannot override the interest of the public.

    “This is a market for the general public and one man cannot just come and chase thousands of traders away simply because he has money and wants to develop the place for his personal interest. This is a market that feeds not just residents of the FCT, but also people from the neigbouring states.

    “This market serves as a meeting point between those from the town and in the villages. Those in the villages who go to farm bring their produces to the marker and those who need them at cheaper rate come here and patronise them.

    “In the struggle to ensure that this market is retained, we had a meeting with the former Minister of the FCT, Sen. Bala Mohammed and he told us that as long as the original inhabitants are here, and they are not been resettled compensated, this market will stay.

    “That whoever comes here that he has been alloted this plot, should come back to the FCTA for reallocation of another plot of land, other he should wait for the original inhabitants to be resettled and compensated. So, we expect that this Minister should assist us by following the same line as his predecessor, because we beleive in his government,” he said.