The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Baker’s honour for bread hawker

    Baker’s honour for bread hawker

    A confectionery has made ex-bread hawker Olajumoke Orisaguna its brand ambassador, reports VICTOR OLUWASEGUN

    The fairy tale continues apace. Former bread seller turned celebrity has been made the brand ambassador of Shirley’s Confectionery in Abuja. Olajumoke was presented with a certificate to that effect as well as the firm’s branded shirt at its office in Gwarimpa.

    According to Shirley’s Confectionery, its decision to adopt and unveil Olajumoke as their brand ambassador followed her unusual success story which has become a source of wonder and reference to many Nigerians.

    The story of the young lady is one that most Nigerians are familiar with, a Cinderella-like narrative of grass to grace, of sudden glitz and glamour.

    Amarachi Iwuanyanwu,  a director at Shirley’s Confectionery explained the decision to associate with Olajumoke.

    “We are delighted to inform you about our recent brand association with Olajumoke Orisaguna, a former bread seller who shot to stardom as a result of being at the wrong place at the right time. Now she has featured on CNN, Thisday Style magazine etc.

    “As a result of the unusual grass to grace story, Shirley has decided to make Olajumoke Orisaguna  as the brand ambassador to Shirley’s Confectionery.”

    The event  with took place in Shirley’s Gwarimpa, Abuja Offices had quite a number of media people as well as curious customers of the outfit who simply wanted to catch a glimpse of the sudden model.

    Wilfred, Marketing Consultant to Shirley’s said the purpose of the event was to celebrate something that is phenomenon and exceptional.

    He said Olajumoke’s story is inspirational and that Shirley’s believes in inspiration.

    Amarachi Iwuayanwu, who was at the event with Adaora Iwuayanwu, another director, denied exploiting Miss Orisaguna.

    “We’re not using this opportunity to exploit any situation, we are actually sympathetic and very happy with the grass to grace story of Jumoke. And why we thought it was necessary for Shirley’s to be part of it is that it traces back to what were actually selling.

    “We’re a confectionery shop and selling bread. We feel that out of every other brands that have adopted her as their brand ambassadors, we are more positioned to push her out to the world.

    “Now she is no longer selling Agege Bread, she’s dealing with Shirley’s Bread. The grass to grace story is also the Agege Bread to the Shirley’s Bread story.”

    The event which drew quite a number a crowd, featured photo sessions with the new model.

    Mrs. Orisaguna, who spoke in Yoruba expressed delight at the opportunity given her by the company. She said her story shows that whatever anyone is doing should be done with commitment as no one knows when his or her breakthrough would come.

    “I am happy with what God has done for me because where I am today is unexpected.”

    On her advice to those that are hawking as she was previously was, she said: “I want to tell them to work hard. People should not shy away from any job that comes their way. They should not say for instance that selling pure water is demeaning or that a certain vocation is not edifying. If I was lazy, I probably would not have been fortunate as I am presently.”

    Azuka Ojiuba, a staff of Thisday Newspaper who represented T Y Bello at the event, said they were happy that Mrs. Orisaguna’s unusual success is being recognised with the endorsement  and adoption of the lady as Shirley’s brand ambassador.

    Will Olajumoke remain humble and faithful to her husband in view of her new status?

    Ojiuba said she has been spending time with the Orisagunas and there is no indication that Jumoke would change.

    “She is still the real home girl that she is. Even when she gibes her husband food, she genuflects we don’t want to change who she is. We just want to give her good education and standard of living. She is still the same, she knows that people want to help her and that they love her. Her life has changed, but she has not changed.”

     

  • Buhari, women and Christianity

    Not a little has been said about President Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged hatred for Christians and women during the campaign period prior to the 2015 general elections, which eventually brought him to office last May.

    Two of the political sentiments played up then were the claims that Buhari didn’t love Christians and that women will not play key roles in his government.

    No stone was left unturned by the then ruling and now opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to puncture any defence and explanation given by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to support Buhari’s genuine love for all Nigerians irrespective of gender and religion.

    All the propaganda that played out before the Presidential election are now history as Buhari has been on the saddle in the last ten months.

    But has Buhari since taking office office done anything to show that he was partial against women and Christians?

    A straight answer may not be given here, but the number of female ministers currently in his cabinet is six and it would have been expected that none will make the list based on his alleged hatred for them.

    Fifty percent of the female ministers are substantive ministers fully in charge of key ministries including Finance, Environment, and Women Affairs.

    Buhari has also appointed women to other positions with the latest being the appointment of Ibim Semenitari as Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa

    There is also no doubt that female appointees will get a good chunk of the soon-to-be announced board chairmen and members of government’s parastatals, agencies and commissions recently dissolved.

    A remark by the Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters, Gideon Samani, while representing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, at a public function late last year drew the anger of the Presidency when he claimed that there were low number of female ministerial nominees because Buhari was shy around women.

    The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, wasted no time in a press statement to disowned him as a SSA of the government and described the claim as ‘totally fallacious.’

    While stressing that his government will not relent until women are empowered in the country, Buhari, in the 2016 Budgetary allocations have also increased provisions for ministries having direct bearing on the lives of women.

    The President has also made greater emphasis on girl-child education in the country.

    Showing that Buhari has nothing against christianity in Nigeria, his appointments so far are fairly spread between the two major religions.

    In his cabinet, for instance, 19 out of the 37 ministers are Christians.

    The President again has received many Christian clergy men at the Presidential Villa in the last ten months including the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, Rev. Father Frank Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry in Enugu, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Hassan Kukah, and Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan.

    To date, records have also shown that Buhari has only received christians on Christmas homage at his official residence since he became a democratically-elected President of Nigeria.

    Buhari, who is a Muslim, have not received Muslims on homage at the Presidential Villa as he was outside Abuja during the Eid-el-Kabir festival in September last year.

    With all these, how partial or impartial the President has been on the issue of women and Christianity is clear to all.

     

    Special treat for Turkish President

     

    The visit by the President of Turkey, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Nigeria last Wednesday is not one to be forgotten in a hurry.

    It has the highest delegation of a visiting President to Nigeria under the current dispensation.

    The visit also recorded unprecedented coverage for such presidential visits so far witnessed in the life of this administration.

    There was live broadcast of the Turkish president’s visit with two Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) outside broadcast vans deployed to the seat of government 24 hours before the visit.

    While Turkey also brought another smaller outside broadcast van to hook up with NTA and beam the visit’s proceedings to its citizens at home and other parts of the world, other interested local stations also had the opportunity to hook up with NTA.

    This privilege was hardly extended to any past visiting President to Nigeria.

    What was similar to the Turkish President’s visit was experienced under Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who gave the same treatment to the then visiting Russian President.

    This treatment was never given to any visiting President under immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Turkish President, like many others, was also honored with a grand presidential reception, military parade and 21 gun salute.

    Indications that the Turkish President’s visit was going to be special was seen when 175 rooms were booked at the Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja for the delegation prior to the arrival of the President at the hotel around 12 midnight on Tuesday.

    The Turkish President came to Nigeria with 150 businessmen and women towards investing in various sector of the Nigeria economy.

    While in Nigeria, the Turkish were very thorough as they left no security issues to chances.

    They ensured that one of the President’s chef, Huseyin Okatan cooked his meal while Turkish security men also followed and watch hotel staff when blending soup and doing other things relating to preparation of the meal.

    Another interesting thing is that they didn’t use the hotel’s water for their cooking throughout their stay in Nigeria. They used Eva bottled water for cooking.

     

  • Kebbi to mass-produce rice

    Kebbi to mass-produce rice

    Kebbi State is aiming to produce rice in commercial quantity, the state governor Atiku Bagudu has said. To do this, he said the state would soon launch its rice mass production plan.

    That would be a good thing because the country spends an estimated $2.3 billion on rice importation in three years. This makes local production of the grain inevitable not just to feed the country but also create jobs.

    The governor told the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Zone ‘A’, that in the next few years, the state should be among the largest producers of rice in the country.

    Governor Bagudu is targeting mass production of rice by engaging thousands of farmers and mobilising soft loans for them.

    He said, “Though government does not have enough to satisfy all your needs, we shall get in touch with financial institutions that would partner with us in that direction.”

    The state is already looking  ahead and aiming to produce several millions metric tonnes of rice per annum. The governor said the state was lucky to have been chosen for the flag off of the presidential initiative on rice and wheat production.

    As one who is passionate about rice farming, he is not in support of its importation, stressing that rice imported into the country is not safe for consumption.

    He said, “Most of the rice that is imported is seven years old. How is that preserved? There is imperialism in the food system. Local production should be encouraged.”

    Nigerians, he added, “are among the producers of high quality rice which does not come from Thailand, etc. We must not endanger our local variety; it has higher medicinal value.”

    Bagudu said, “Agriculture can be a business for our young ones, because there are many things in our agricultural value chain that can benefit the society.”

    He challenged journalists to help in marketing the country’s potentials in agriculture to the world, saying, “We are all stakeholders and we have our various roles to play, we shouldn’t be passive.”

    Bagudu said the federal government should create the enabling environment for farmers and make the occupation attractive, adding out that once this is done, many of the idle youths will be taken off the street. He said further that there is the need for “more technical methods of agriculture to be made known to farmers, modern method of planting, including spacing are not known to farmers and you don’t have the luxury of farming the way you are used to, if you need higher yields.”

    He argued that for the nation to attain food security and sustainable development it must evolve policies and programmes that will ensure small scale farmers are protected and supported for improved productivity. He therefore advocate for some level of immeasurable support for farmers to achieve food security in line with the federal government’s initiative.

  • ‘11m children stunted’

    ‘11m children stunted’

    The wife of Niger State governor, Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello has said that 11 million Nigerian children under five are stunted, the second highest in the world. She said this is due to malnutrition resulting from mothers’ refusal to practise exclusive breastfeeding.

    Addressing policymakers and nutrition stakeholders at an advocacy meeting to scale up nutrition in the state, Dr Bello expressed the readiness to adopt the national strategic plan of action for nutrition (NSPAN) in a bid to fight malnutrition in children.

    She ssaid, “11 million children under five are stunted in Nigeria. This is the highest in sub-Saharan Africa and ranks second highest in the world with 37 per cent of children under five years classified as stunted and 18 per cent wasted.

    “Nigeria is leading unfortunately in a bad way in maternal mortality and child stunting growth in the world despite government programmes and policies. We need to work towards ensuring that these indices drop.”

    According to her, while adopting the national strategic plan of action for nutrition, Niger state will develop its own strategic plan of action for nutrition and intensify monitoring and supervision strategic plan to ensure proper implementation of the plan at various MDAs, local government areas and primary health care centers.

    The governor’s wife also lamented that exclusive breastfeeding, which can address malnutrition for children under five years, is being sabotaged by health workers, stating that there is need for renewed aggressive campaign for aggressive breastfeeding.

    “Exclusive breastfeeding have not been working in Nigeria because even the health workers who are supposed to be involved in the campaign do not believe in it. The health workers are sabotaging the exclusive breastfeeding programme in the country.

    “We need to emphasise on exclusive breastfeeding. It is sad to note that 30 per cent of women in Niger state are not breastfeeding at all,” she said.

    Bello added that malnutrition is preventable and that everyone should make the effort to control and eradicate it in Niger State.

    She said advocacy campaigns should be done in the communities instead of the heath centers while the current school feeding programmes by state and federal government should be extended to all primary pupils.

    According to the Head of Nutrition in the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chris Isokpunwu, Nigeria needs N182.4 billion to operationalize the National strategic plan of action for nutrition over a period of five years while Niger state would need N2.8 billion to operationalize its strategic plan of action for nutrition for five years.

    Isokpunwu said if the will reduce stunted rate to 20 per cent and save 123,000 lives yearly.

     

  • 100 days: Minister promises better governance

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reiterated its plan and determination to make life better for residents of the Territory through  programmes that will fast-track the development.

    Making the reassurance during a media parley to mark the 100 days of Muhammad Musa Bello in office as the 16th Minister of the FCT, the communication management team of the FCTA comprising the Director, Information and Communications FCTA, Mrs. Stella Ojeme, Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Media, Abubakar Sani, the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Muhammad Sule, and Head Call Centre, Mrs. Jumai Ahmadu, said the administration has prioritised people-oriented programmes.

    According to the team, as part of efforts to encourage hygienic environment and the well-being of the residents, the Minister flagged off an intensive community and neighbourhood environmental sanitation scheme across the six area councils of the FCT.

    To maintain the cleanliness of the city however, the FCTA said it intends to reactivate its environmental mobile courts place to deal with offenders under the purview of the law.

    On the nasty traffic gridlock on the Nyanya-Mararaba axis, the administration said that the construction of the prolonged Karshi-Apo-Ara Road would soon start, as funds have been made available and approved for the projects, aimed at ease the traffic congestion.

    Meanwhile, the FCTA expressed deep concern over the huge work force in the area councils, especially those engaged in Local Education Authority (LEA), disclosing plans to conduct biometrics exercise, to ascertain the actual number of staff in the councils especially teachers, who are about 4,000 in numbers.

    Also, the administration insisted that the ban on okada and tricycle riders’ activities within the city centre still stands as violators will not only be arrested, but henceforth prosecuted accordingly in special mobile courts.

    Abuja Review recalled that Bello took over the mantle of leadership of the FCT as the 16th FCT on November, 11 2015, with a promise to build on his predecessors’ achievements.

    Concerned by the plight of workers at the Area Councils in the FCT, the FCT Administration has revealed it has concluded plans to provide financial bail out to the Councils to enable them pay staff salary arrears.

    Area Council staff are owed three months salary arrears and their cries have been heard by the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello who has promised that his Administration would bail them out by paying two months, while the Councils should pay the remaining one month salary arrears.

     

  • Council candidate wins court case

    A high Court has ruled in favour of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Abdullahi Candido, striking out the case instituted by Amanda Pam over her disqualification from contesting the party’s December 16 chairmanship primaries.

    The court verdict also favoured the party and seven others.

    The party’s legal adviser and counsel to Candido, APC and the others, Mr. Yakubu Haruna said during a press conference that the court ruling has allayed fears that the party might not present a candidate during the forthcoming polls.

    In the case, the APC, INEC and eight aspirants were joined as defendants in a suit filed by Barrister Pam who was disqualified before the primary election, challenging the process that led to her disqualification.

    Haruna explained that the court struck out the case for lack of jurisdiction, adding that it was purely a domestic affair which the court does have the power to entertain.

    “Except she decides to go further we are ready for that, as we are, we are ready for election, no more distraction,” he said.

    He explained that the ruling will be pivotal to the success of the party’s candidate, Abdullahi Candido at the March 19 polls, adding that the court case was a calculated attempt to disturb the teeming party supporters.

    On his part, the Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in AMAC, Hon. Hashimu Angama, Barr. Amanda Pam still a party member and will always be treated as such.

    “We were never disturbed despite the case was in court, we went about our campaign because we believe in justice. With this ruling in our favour, that will give us more strength to go about the election process. We are ready to accept her in our fold at any time for us to work together for the success of our party, because she was trying to protect her interest,” he said.

     

  • Amnesty for Benue militant

    Amnesty for Benue militant

    Mr. Terwase Akwaza, once described as a notorious criminal and the deadliest militia leader in sub-Sahara Africa, has turned a new leaf and been pardoned by Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom. The governor offered the Benue-born militant the carrot and stick option. Akwaza, also known as Ghana, took the carrot.

    “Go and sin no more,” the governor told him. Since then, Ghana has been reintegrated in the society to do his legitimate businesses freely. The repentant militant said he is better-off now that he has turned away from his ‘old life.’

    During his vicious days, Akwaza was believed to disappear into thin air. His power was rated to be so enormous that he was not scared of any weapon, neither did he fear anyone, not the police nor soldiers. Now repentant and having embraced amnesty, Akwaza has surrendered over 200 light and heavy weapons, including AK47 rifles, other robotic guns and explosives.

    Recently, his Shitile community joined him in a thanksgiving service which featured Governor Ortom as guest of honour. Bishop of the Katsina-Ala Diocese, Rev. Peter Adobo, was another dignitary, having played an intermediary role for the amnesty to be complete.

    The occasion, chaired by House of Representatives member representing Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo federal constituency Emmanuel Udende, took place at the St. John the Baptist’s Quasi Parish, Gbise, Katsina-Ala local government area. The gospel was taken from Luke 13:1-9, where the Holy Scripture says: “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

    At the church Mass, Ghana went down on bended knees as he sought forgiveness from those he had offended. He said he has also forgiven those who had rubbed him the wrong way. He said the thanksgiving was a public manifestation that he is now a true follower of Christ.

    Akwaza claimed he had acquired firearms to defend his Tiv community, particularly Mbayongo, from external attacks. He explained that his people had often clashed with their neighbours in Nasarawa and Taraba states. He added that Fulani marauders were attacking them, feasting on their farm crops, maiming, displacing and killing them in both Taraba and their home state Benue. But now he has retired from all of that because government has become their defender. Formerly Saul, he is now Paul. From being a militia leader, he became an amnesty leader. A commander in war turned peacemaker; a vengeance seeker turned forgiver.

    After the Thanksgiving Mass, a colourful reception was held at the premises of the Terwase Akwaza Technical Science Secondary School, Gbise, built by the ex-militant who believes in education as the best weapon for change.

    In attendance were many other dignitaries, including: Commissioner for Agriculture Simon Anbua, Commissioner for Commerce and Trade Investment Tersoo Kpelai, Chairman of BIRS Mimi Adzape Orubibi, Special Adviser on Media and ICT Tahav Agerzua, Aspecial Adviser on Special Duties Joe Kyaagba, APC council leader Terver Gyanggyang, Caretaker Chairman of Logo council, Caretaker Chairman of Katsina-Ala Martins Ujoh (Host of the occassion), Josephine Haba (Guest Speaker) and many traditional rulers.

    Chairman of the Central Planning Committee Augustine Avaan welcomed the guests. He commended the governor on his peace initiative, saying his (Ortom’s) collaborative meetings with the governors of Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba states on the inter-state border community clashes, spate of armed robbery and the surreptitious ethnic killings were yielding a positive result.

    “Ethnic hostilities against our community had exacted desolately on our people who share boundary with other states. Invasions by Fulani herdsmen, particularly, had been giving us sleepless night. But all of that has died down since Ortom came on board last year with the peace programme. We urge him to intensify more efforts so as to halt any resurgence,” Avaan said.

    Highlight of the occasion was the decoration of the governor and Ghana in native regalia. The governor was first dressed in Godo –Tiv’s most venerated and pricey cultural fabric. He wore a hat, known as Ato-a-Beagh, standing for power and authority. Then he and his ‘prodigal son’ were dressed in the popular black and white Angel. They were handed spears, as an emblem of peace but also defence and an ox-blood sack (ikpa-i-aboo-a-tar) for dignity.

    Ortom spoke to the people saying he was mocked and criticised that he was celebrating a criminal (Ghana). But he insisted he was on a peace and security project, which was yielding fruits. He noted that, there can be no development where peace and security are eluded. With a tranquil environment, investors can come and invest to help build the state, he said. He explained that Ghana has repented, surrendered arms and pleaded for forgiveness. So, it was simply right to forgive him and consolidate on the peace the people are now enjoying. “Traders and farmers are no longer attacked on the road when they sell their produce and are returning home,” he said.

    The governor disclosed how he came from a poor background, loading passengers in the motor park to become a council chairman, then minister, employer of labour and now governor.

    Ortom assured of his readiness to help the people and transform Benue, by building schools, bridges, roads and providing other social amenities in the rural areas. “But I have to begin with peace and security. I ran for the governorship election not because I want to acquire wealth; I am contented with what I have; mine is to help the under-privileged and transform Benue,” he said.

    Chairman of the occasion Emmanuel Udende pledged to donate a block of classrooms to Ghana’s school. He urged others to also donate to the school.

     

  • ‘We need better, cheaper houses’

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Bello wants better houses for residents of the territory but he also desires affordable shelter.

    To achieve this, he called for a multi-disciplinary meeting of all professionals involved in the building industry.

    Bello made the call while receiving a delegation from the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) led by its President, Arc. Umaru Aliyu that paid him a courtesy visit.

    He reiterated that the call was necessary i order to enable professionals to brainstorm and ensure that sanity is brought to the sub-sector, thereby providing more housing delivery to the populace.

    Malam Bello noted that the industry is robust, with the capacity to provide ready employment to the teeming populace in the FCT, because of the diverse professionals and unskilled labourers involved from the conception to the completion stage.

    He expressed delight to meet professional bodies like ARCON that have contributed immensely to the development of the Federal Capital Territory, recalling that recently, he had a similar meeting with the Town Planners Association Nigeria.

    According to a statement issued by the Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, the minister said architects, engineers, town planners, surveyors and builders should all come together to find a better way to fast track the entire process from the drawings, building plan approvals, setting out and the entire building construction process in the territory.

    The Minister decried a situation where houses are built in estates without giving enough space for greening, planting of trees and at least a garden at the backyard as well as space for children play area.

    Bello assured that the FCT Administration on its part would make the process transparent and friendly to all players in the industry.

    Speaking earlier, the President of the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria, Umaru Aliyu congratulated the Minister over his appointment.

    The President said that ARCON is assiduously working to eliminate quacks, which he noted have contributed in no small measure to the cases of collapsed buildings across the country.

    He stated that no registered architect has ever been involved in any case of collapsed building.

    The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, the Executive Secretary of FCDA, Engr. Adamu Ismaila and some senior officials of the FCT Administration joined the Minister to receive the architects.

     

  • Many fires of Kano

    Many fires of Kano

    The Singer Market fire, which destroyed goods worth over N3billion was one of the infernos that have ravaged such facilities in Kano, reports KOLADE ADEYEMI 

    Traders have been grappling with their losses since the February 18 fire, which razed the multi-billion-naira Singer Market in Murtala Muhammed Way in Kano. It is estimated that the merchants lost over N3 billion in goods and cash to the fire.

    It was not a one-off disaster, though. In December, the popular Abubakar Rimi Market, another huge commercial facility in the ancient city, was razed to the ground. In that fire, traders lost goods estimated at N300m.

    After that tragedy, another inferno wasted N3 million goods in Kurmi Market, known as the oldest in Kano, said to have been founded by Emir Muhammad Rumfa in the 15th Century.

    Manufacturers of foodstuff and household items, such as the Dangote Group, Gongoni, and security agencies and the fire service men tried in vain to put out the fire.

    One interesting angle to the fires is that no one seems to know how they started.

    Sources blamed a tea-seller and a pop-corn dealer close to the market for the Singer Market fire. Alhaji Imam Yuguda and Alhaji Bature Garba Mairawoni who identified themselves as leaders of the market said goods and cash worth over N3 billion were lost in the fire. According to Yuguda said, “This morning, we were informed that our shops in Singer Market were burning; and also the shops of Alhaji Hamza Sani Maiturani. We were informed at about 6 a.m. and immediately we arrived, the fire was very devastating and it was even beyond the Fire Service men as they struggled to control it. I can confirm to you, as you can see for yourself that Alhaji Hamza’s building is completely razed,” while confirming that about 2000 shops and 1500 make-shift shops have been destroyed at Singer Market by the fire.

    The fire which spread to the Abdulrasheed Hamza Mai Turare building, destroyed many shops and properties as fire fighters battled for hours to put it out. The disaster plunged many traders into agony. Some of the affected traders, who spoke to this reporter, recounted thier losses with an appeal to government and wealthy individuals to come to their aid. Alhaji Tasiu Shui’b, a cigarette dealer, said, “I lost goods worth over N50m to the fire. I have nothing left, I don’t have anything in terms of goods. As I am talking to you I am in serious agony, I have a lot of dependants. I don’t know how I will cope with this pathetic situation. I don’t know where to start from, as the impact will negetively affect my family. In fact, I don’t know where to run to for help because the fire consumed three of my shops stocked with  cartons of cigarette. I therefore appeal to government to kindly help us in Allah’s name.”

    A grocery dealer Sulieman Zakariah said  he lost goods worth N60m to the fire disaster, adding, “I lost everything to the fire, I have accepted the incident in good faith. God gives and takes from whoever He wishes so as a true Muslim I have accepted it as destiny and God knows the best on how to compensate me. Since I have lost everything I am planning to start afresh as all businesses have their own hazards. The fire incident was destined to happen, so God has destined it and therefore it must come to pass.”

    Also, Alhaji Adamu Yakubu who sells polythene bags and slippers said he lost goods worth N40million to the fire. He said he was planning to close down some of the shops to enable him transfer some of the goods located outside the market before the fire incident.

    Yakubu said, “I was just luky that I have other shops outside the market. Now that my shops inside the market have been destroyed by the fire I will now transfer the other goods to the Singer Market to start my business again. He called on the government to upgrade the market to make it modern by expanding it.

    The director of Kano State fire service department Alhaji Balarabe Habu Karbara confirmed that the fire started from a tea sellers shop located in the market.

    He said ,“ Our men could not gain access into the market for lack of access road which hampered our work of battling the fire as it took us hours to locate where we could gain entrance into the market. He confirmed that three of their personnel sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital, treated and discharged.

    Assistant Comptroller of Immigration, IB Tanko, Commander, in-charge of Immigration Patrol, said, “This is unfortunate because Singer Market is a prominent market in Kano. In fact, this is not favourable to Kano and the country. We shall soon meet with leaders of the market to ascertain the real cause of the incident because we are yet to commence investigations,” he added.

    They may also need to determine the cause of other fires which have wasted goods and plunged Kano traders into misery.

     

     

  • A road nightmare

    A road nightmare

    As the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Bello aware of commuters’ agony on Lokogwoma Road in Kabusa, a growing community in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

    At his inauguration, Bello pledged to complete unfinished road projects and start new ones. Will the minister put an end to the residents’ years of anguish?

    Accommodation in the swanky parts of the nation’s capital is way too expensive for most residents so they make do with such places as Kabusa. As a result, dozens of estates and several other settlements are springing in those districts.

    Lokogwoma and the whole of Kabusa house hundreds of architectural beauties with influential residents driving by in flashy cars, this part of town has one of the worst roads in the whole of Abuja.

    The only tarred road that can be seen is the one that comes from the stadium, Games Village, all the way to the Galadimawa Roundabout; it passes in front of Sun City Estate, all the way to Apo Junction and connects the T-Junction that goes to Apo Shoprite. But apart from that, all the roads that connect the estates are untarred, the worst being the one in front of Sunnyvale Estate.

    Some of the estates nestling on the side of the district include Sunnyvale, Sameglobal, Kabusagarden, and a few others including estates that go into Cityview all the way to Dogongada Village. All the roads, even in Dakwo and Dogongada districts are  untarred.

    The road is so bad that the gully erosion that ravages these areas during the rainy season cause vehicles to slid off the road, resulting in terrible accidents.

    A visit to Lokogwoma in the morning rush hour is a nightmare due to the untarred red sand on the road and the struggle for vehicles to meander their way through. The area can be equated to a red desert, with blinding clouds of choking dust.

    A resident of Kabusa village, Thomas Promise, said the travel to Abuja is particularly tortuous, adding that if commuters are unlucky enough not to travel in air-conditioned vehicles, they will not wind up their windows when driving in or out of the area. Each traveller will end up coated with  red soil.

    “I have lived in Kabusa for four years and the road has been a great challenge for us residents,” he said. “It is hectic during the rainy season and worse during the dry season; we will be very grateful if the government will construct this road, we are begging the government to come to our aid, this is the major problem we have in this area.

    “We have over five to eight million people residing in Kabusa, Charity, Paselle, Budwe, Katie, not to mention the numerous estates. It is horrible during the rainy season, cars get stuck very often in some of these places, vehicles often get spoilt on the road and it becomes difficult for other vehicles to drive through, if you are very unlucky and have a vehicle that the windows are not coming up you will be piled with dust when you leave the area and we have to wash our vehicles everyday to avoid driving into town like people coming from the farm.

    “We have been complaining about the Chinese company that runs the quarry in the area and the menace of their heavy duty vehicles on our already dangerous road and we have not noticed any community development from them but they too complain. When you try to talk to them, they say that they pay their taxes to the government and it is the duty of the government to fix the road and they pay their rights to the heads of the villages,” Promise explained.

    Wole Adetayo who has resided in Lokogwoma since 2011 and now lives in Santos Estate in Dakwo district, explained that residents of Lokogwoma, especially the estates, will be ready to collaborate with the government in constructing the road even if it means contributing half of the money needed as long as they are such that the costing is done right and the job really done because they are aware of their suffering and want it to stop.

    He said, “Lokogwoma has a bad inter-linking road; there are so many estates in Lokogwoma that have sprung up in recent years, approved by the FCDA for developers to build and the population has really grown.

    “As far back in 2011, when I moved into Lokogwoma, there was no traffic in the morning when you went or came back from work but things changed tremendously over the space of two to three years as a result of many people moving into estates in the area. I heard that the road that goes in front of Sunnyvale all the way to Kabusa Garden has been advertised twice in national dailies; the residents members association have mentioned it during one of our meetings.

    “Lokogwoma has so many estates, it is like one of the most thriving estates where people feel they can live and still feel like they are staying within the town, government needs to look at how they can tar some of the roads, even if they have to find a way of telling each estate in the area to assist.

    “They can measure the distance of road, do the costing and the government can decide to provide half the amount and the estates provide the other half, if such an agreement arises, I can bet you that most estates will be willing to comply. In my estate for instance we are 80, if you tell us that you will do it and we all sign a joint agreement each house will be willing to contribute because it is for the good of everyone, the government should try and collaborate with the people, they should meet with us and we will come to an agreement on the road.”

    Another resident who simply introduced himself as Mr Demola agreed with Adetayo on the issue of the road being advertised with no single construction work embarked upon.

    “Some of us that have put structures on the ground in the various estates are unhappy that we are yet to get assistance from the government in getting good roads. As individuals and associations, we have tried to do something for ourselves but nothing major have come out of it so far. I recall seeing in the papers sometime, where it was advertised asking people to come and bid for the road from Sunnyville to Kabusa but the road was never done, the residents of Dakwo, Kabusa, lokogwoma area need the government to come to their aid.”

    A taxi driver Obinna who plies the road everyday complained that the gully erosion adds to the danger and suffering on the road.

    One woman said, “I have been here for four years also and I know how difficult it has been for me. The truth is that they started the road in some parts that lead to Apo on one side and the other part that leads to Lugbe and they just left the whole mess in our area. If they had even put a little gravel on our road, it would have been better but they just left it like that and as you can see, the dust is really dangerous to our health.”