The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Preacher stoic in son’s suicide

    Preacher stoic in son’s suicide

    There were two surprises at the Federal Low Cost Quarters in Gombe metropolis. One, the son of a preacher took his life. Two, the preacher appeared cheerful and glorified God after learning of the tragedy.

    The bereaved Reverend Ali Sule, pastor of the Federal Low Cost branch of Assemblies of God Church, said his son woke up that morning looking hale and hearty, full of promises and never looking worried or bothered about anything.

    He said he came back from the bank that afternoon and was studying the church Sunday School Manual and Holy Bible in preparation for the Sunday School Preparatory Class that was to come up later in the day by 5:00pm when he was hit with the hard news of his son’s sudden death.

    “On that Friday morning, one of our neighbour’s house was gutted by fire. So I went there to pray and encourage them. From there I went to Sterling Bank for verification thing. On my return, I stayed outside briefly and came in to study my Quarterly and Bible because we had a Sunday school preparatory class by 5:00pm.

    “Just then the owner of the opposite house came to inspect his project. He usually takes one month plus before coming. But that day, God brought him. He opened the gate and he saw the boy hanging from a mango tree. So he rushed to my house shouting, Dr. Dr. Dr., come and see somebody in my house! I went there and discovered it was my son.

    The preacher said the family prayed together that morning and the late Peter never told them of any problem and there had been no quarrelling in the house.

    He said they were still bewildered after the incident when a neighbour, a retired superintendent of police advised that they should search his pockets and clothes to see if he left a note.

    “We searched and saw a note in his clothes. In the note he said, ‘Daddy, please have a place in your heart to forgive me, Mummy, please have a place in your heart to forgive me. I have committed a sin. Please warn my brothers and sisters not to commit sin because sin leads to death’.

    “But he didn’t mention what kind of sin it was that he could not tell us about so we could counsel him.”

    He said Peter who is the first of his five children – three boys and a girl – never exhibited any stubborn traits or strange sign of unruly behaviour.

    “But he is weak and unserious in church activities,” the cleric said.

    Reverend Sule who hails from Gelengu town in Balanga Local Government Area of Gombe State, said he had been pastoring for 26 years but never had he buried any of his members, not even a baby.  And now that it was going to happen, it was in his house.

    But he said the incident is a thing of great joy because he believes it probably would have scattered his flock or impacted negatively amongst them if it happened to one of the church members.

    The reason: “We were in the church for prayers on Wednesday. During that prayer, there was a prophesy that we should pray against premature death. But we didn’t know where the thing was coming from. So we prayed that God should have mercy on us,” he said.

    He said a lot of sympathisers have either been expecting or taken aback that him and his wife were not weeping or at least looking gloomy

    But he said: “Why should I when God has been very faithful to me. Even with this incident, I don’t have any regret because devil has no power to pull me down. My wife is strongly backing me that devil will pull us down because my Bible tells me that in everything, we should glorify Him.

    “So, I am glorifying God because there is no reason for me to say the all-knowing God has wronged me. I did not come to this world with a child and will not go back with any. It is the one He gives that He takes because God has power to rescue him.

    “By the grace of God, he was my first son. Since I gave birth to him, he has been a cheerful boy and we’ve not had any problem with him. I bought a Honda Hennessey car last week; it was like the car belonged to him because I don’t know how to drive.

    “This is why I was telling people at the graveyard that we should be watchful about our children, that no matter how we think we know them, there might still be something very important we need to know about them.”

     

  • Youths appeal for jobs

    The Federal government has been urged to create jobs for unemployed youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and indeed the entire country.

    The call was made by Mr. Chikezie Erege, the National President, Youth Mountain of Hope.

    Erege staged a one-man peace protest march in Abuja to express his grievances to the government over the unemployment profile in the FCT and other parts of the country.

    The one-man protester  marched round the major streets in the FCT and the entrance of the National Assembly dressed in green-white-green  carrying a placard with the inscription, ‘Pls restore the Nigerian lost glory,  Mr. President,  VP,  National and State Legislators.

    He explained that he has been on a 40-day hunger strike to make known his grievances.

    Erege said that he decided to stage a one-man protest because he felt the pains of the unemployed youths in the FCT and entire Nigeria, and that since Nigeria is recognised as the giant of Africa,  there is the need for the present government to restore the lost glory of the country.

    “Today, Nigeria is called the giant of Africa,  but because of corruption and unemployment in the country,  our youths are now the easiest people to use as slaves by most corrupt people. Nobody cares about the rate of unemployment in the country.

    “That is why I am calling on the attention of the government at all levels through this one man protest,  which is the easiest protest to control,  for the government to restore the Nigerian lost glory,  so that the youth of this country will rejoice once more,” he said.

    According to Erege,  the government needs to kill corruption from the grassroots to the top,  mostly within the Police and the educational sector,  saying that there is corruption everywhere in Nigeria,  where the people are been denied their rights,  in order for them to remain poor forever.

    “Today,  makes it 1000 days since I have been protesting over this issue and I am appealing to the government to give hope to the youth in th country. I decided to go on hunger strike for 40 days, just to draw  the attention of the government to the plight of the suffering people,” he said.

  • Rice firm awaits international certification

    Rice firm awaits international certification

    A rice farm in Nasarawa State with over 960 workers will soon receive the International Standard Organisation’s certificate for food safety management, The Nation has learnt.

    Olam Rice Farm located in Doma Local Government Area of the state, was inaugurated in 2014 by former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan and touted to be a major player in the effort to scale back the country’s 12 billion dollars annual rice import profile. It is said to have cultivated only 4,000 of its 10,000 acres of land, meaning there is room for expansion.

    The ISO is said to have notified the company of its plan to issue them a certificate for food safety management. This could expand the rice firm’s capacity to employ more people and drive revenue not just for itself but also the workers.

    The Head, Sales and Distribution of the farm, Maheshi Nimte said the expansion of the farm will depend on the demand for its rice and the enabling environment from the state and federal governments.

    Nimte showed journalists around the farm, taking them to its paddy field.

    He said, “Once the paddy, which is the raw rice, reaches the intake, we check the quality. Once they upload from that point it goes straight to the silo or it can go straight for parboiling. From there they will parboil it again and it will come to the milling process.”

    That was indeed the joy of the farm owners and the tourists, who were there with their unending questions about the incredible sight of the farm. Within the farm were various shades of tools like the combined harvester, trucks and dumpers that produced the deafening metalic sound of the mechanised farm.

    Mr. Nimte said the farm cultivates rice twice yearly, in wet and dry seasons. Following the uncontrollable growth of weeds due to heavy rainfall, the harvest is always lesser than that of the dry season irrigation.

    He added that the demand for Olam Rice, branded Mama’s Pride, will determine the rate at which the company will expand the farm.

    “The idea is to increase the capacity. The idea is to produce from the farm and we have the programmes in Jigawa, Kebbi, Taraba…all of that location,” he said.

    He said, “I think for the next three years you will not see the gap filling up too much.  But if the government decides to come and give a policy that you can only depend on what we are farming within the country, that policy might close the gap as much as possible, maybe five years or six years.”

    Despite this promising outlook, the farm depends on its generators for 24 hours, which according to Nimte, has increased the cost of production.

  • A boost for water supply

    A boost for water supply

    If water supply improves appreciably in the nation’s capital, the credit must go to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has donated several tools to the local water board. GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports

    Sourcing clean water has been a huge challenge in the federal capital city, but, thankfully, help has come. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has given the FCT Administration Ultrasonic water flow meters, leak detectors, pipe detectors, test meters and data loggers, among others.

    The Japanese agency also donated two 4WD vehicles to the FCTA.

    •The vehicles donated to FCTA
    •The vehicles donated to FCTA

    That should make a difference in water supply as well as the quality of the precious liquid and even the operations of personnel.

    The challenegs in water supply are sometimes blamed on  the overwhelming influx of people into the FCT.

    At the presentation of the equipment, JICA Chief Representative, Mr. Hirotaka Nakamura said in the FCT findings indicated a conservative non-water revenue or NRW of about 42.1% and a bill collection efficiency of 35.2%. Such figures represent substantial losses of potential revenues that are needed for future investments on improved service delivery.

    Nakamura said the project is a holistic coupling of the technical, social and institutional components in order to establish a functional model for managing NRW, adding that this can be replicated by other water utilities across Nigeria based on expected successful result.

    He said, “In simple terms, Non – Revenue Water (NRW) is the most common challenge for the efficiency of a water company. It is defined as “the difference between the quantity of water supplied to a network and the metered, billed and paid for water by the customer”. It has two components namely; physical losses due to leakage from pipes; and administrative losses due to illegal connections and under registration of water meters.

    “JICA is aware that the Water Board currently operates in 16 water service areas in Abuja and has its plans to further expand and serve Abuja residents much better. In order to assist such plans, JICA decided to provide Ultrasonic water flow meters, Leak detectors, Pipe detectors, Test meters, Data Loggers, etc, including two 4WD vehicles worth approximately US$421, 000.

    “The project had identified and selected Pilot Metering Areas (PMAs) from each of the Abuja Districts, where currently has no functional or reliable system in place for measuring water losses. The water flow meters will be installed to each PMA to measure in/outflows regularly to analyse accurate data of NRW.

    “The project has advanced step by step, and we have been able to commence on a series of activities. They include; 1) the construction of meter chambers, 2) Installation of bulk meters and capacity building through local training workshop and; 3) Sector -focused trainings in Japan for FCT Water Board personnel, and today, delivery of these equipment and vehicles etc.

    “I have noted a worthwhile partnership among stakeholders of the project, and now implore FCT Water Board and relevant departments to take good care of the equipment. Reduced water losses converted to cash can be the solution. JICA solicits even greater leadership and commitment from the FCT government since JICA experts will never be with you forever and ever.”

    FCT Permanent Secretary, John Chukwu said that the water board officials will take the project seriously and ensure that it is executed and implemented with the highest degree of responsibility.

    He said the project has come on stream at a most convenient time when emphasis is on prudent conduct of government business.

    Chukwu who was represented by the Director FCT Water Board, Malam Hudu Bello said, “We will therefore like to express our profound appreciation to the government of Japan through JICA who has made this project a reality. JICA who has made this project a reality. JICA is not only providing support to the water board but to the Federal Capital Territory Administration. And government of Nigeria in terms of funding but as it is being witnessed today.

    “This collaboration will also impact on the development of the skills of the water board officials as the capacity development component is also implemented. We call on the residents of FCT to lend their support to the success of this project by desisting from every form of illegal water connection and regular payment of water bills.”

     

  • Challenges of rebuilding Gombe

    Challenges of rebuilding Gombe

    The state is determined to give its capital city a befitting status but some residents whose buildings are demolished are putting up quite a resistance. VINCENT OHONBAMU reports

    Every administration since 1995, when the state was founded, has tried with little success to change Gombe’s village status. Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo seems to be making the boldest efforts. But a few challenges are getting in the way. Slums are springing up as population grows in the capital city. Land developers are also selling off parcels in places government would rather they did not.

    •Shehu Durbi
    •Shehu Durbi

    To straighten things up and achieve its plan, the Dankwambo administration deployed its bulldozers and pulled down structures said to be impeding the master plan. Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Durbi, Chairman, Committee on the Recovery of Government Layouts, admitted that though his committee was not mandated to demolish structures, some structures could give way nonetheless where necessary. The committee went to work.

    That was when it ran into rough waters. Shongo Jauro Bello community cried foul, even alerted  the Federal Government and the National Assembly, asking them to intervene and stop the committee’s work. The community also accused the state government of seizing their land and demolishing structures without compensation.

    Malam Shehu Mohammed, spokesman of the community, said, “It is now 26 years that Shongo Jauro Bello community and government have been struggling over ownership of this land. All this while, no administration has done to us what Governor Dankwambo’s is doing now.

    “Shongo Jauro Bello community had existed for over thirty years before Gombe relocated to its present location; we are the fourth generation here and nobody has paid us anything as compensation to either our fathers or us.

    “We have documents indicating that the then Emir of Gombe in 1959 during our then leader, Jauro Bappah approached us to allow him make our farmland a forest reserve area with a promise to release it back to us in due course.”

    Mohammed admitted that 22 building plots were allotted to the community by the state Ministry of Lands and Survey when government decided to convert the place to a residential area some years ago.

    The community leader also added that at least 30 houses have been demolished.

    •Demolished houses on the outskirts of Gombe
    •Demolished houses on the outskirts of Gombe

    Responding, Shehu Durbi said Shongo Jouro Bello community had no right whatsoever over the area which he said was gazetted a forest reserve in 1961.

    He read a part of the document which states: “The Forest Ordinance Chapter 75 of the 1948 Law, the Gombe Native Authority Shongo Forest Reserve Order 1961; Date of commencement, 6 April, 1961”.

    “The area was deforested in 1984 and given to farmers on loan for farming purposes only during the military regime of present president of this country, Muhammadu Buhari to facilitate peoples participation in his then ‘Back to Land’ programme.

    “And by 2006, Gombe was already a state and people wanted to build, so government developed that plan and labelled it GDP 16; plots were created and were allotted to people for their own usage.

    “The people of Shongo Jauro Bello also benefited 60 plots, aside from the 22 they were initially given; not because they have right there, No, it was only a matter of courtesy that government gave them and they gave us undertaking for that”, he added.

    He said the 60 plots of land were demanded as part of the terms for agreeing to sign a peace agreement and an agreement totally surrendering the land and they were allotted plots H1 to H60 in fulfilment.

    Besides, government had compensated for every economic tree and plant before it took over the land through an agreement signed by their then leader, who happens to be their present Emir, the Emir of Gona, he added.

    He said “They even went to court about two or three times with the Ministry of Lands and Survey and the judgement was against them. So they are just noisemakers”.

    Durbi further recalled that “a law was passed during Gov. Abubakar Hashidu’s administration designating Gombe town as urban centre with 15km radius. And within that 15km radius, nobody has any right to give out land except government and all the GDPs that I mentioned fall within the 15km radius.

    “So, the essence of the committee is to make sure that the master plan of Gombe metropolis is restored and to make sure that the original owners got their rights and because government cannot fold its arms and allow slums to be springing up at the centre of the city uncontrolled.

    “Where there is a clash between a genuine owner and one who was cheated, it will form part of our report and government in its wisdom knows how to settle such cases.

    He called on affected individuals not to entertain hard feelings or feel witch-hunted by government, adding that they were free to lodge their complaints to their complaints to the committee.

  • Portfolio palaver

    It is no longer news that all the 36 ministerial nominees forwarded to the Senate for confirmation scaled through.

    But what is on the front burner now is the confusion whether all the ministers-designate will get portfolio, and if not, who will get portfolio and who will not?

    Senate President Bukola Saraki, for the first time since taking office, rose to the occasion in defending the interest of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the screening and confirmation of the nominees.

    He stood his ground against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators who staged a walk-out during the exercise.

    Saraki, no doubt, did exactly what his predecessor, Senator David Mark, would have done for his party, the PDP, in similar circumstances.

    The Senate President, who personally brought the letter conveying the list totaling 36 confirmed nominees to President Muhammadu Buhari, believed that the exercise was carried out within record time because of the high quality of nominees sent to Senate.

    But prior to the time of submitting the list, there have been misunderstanding surrounding whether all the confirmed ministers will get portfolios.

    President Buhari in an interview in New Delhi, India where he participated in the third summit of the India-Africa Forum a fortnight ago had warned that not all the 36 ministers designate will act in substantive capacity as some of them will only sit in the cabinet to fulfill constitutional requirements.

    Stressing that not all the ministers designate will get portfolio, he also declared that Nigeria is broke and couldn’t pay salaries of large cabinet like under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    But some Nigerians immediately faulted the president’s remarks and accused him of demarketing Nigeria.

    Others also seemed confused concerning Buhari’s remarks on the portfolios and his declaration that not all the 36 Ministers designate will be substantive ministers.

    The confusion was compounded by a contrary report in a newspaper last week, which quoted a presidential aide, claiming that there will be portfolio for all the 36 ministers designate.

    But President Buhari reiterated his earlier position within one week while receiving the list of confirmed ministerial nominees from Saraki last Tuesday.

    He said: “If I can remember, there must be a member from each of the 36 states. That was why I limited the number of my nominees to that number, 36.

    “I think there is some enthusiasm in some parts of the Presidency today that said portfolios are to be given to the 36.

    “The constitution certainly said there must be one member of the cabinet from all the states but the constitution did not say I must have 36 ministries.” He said

    He went on: “I will explain that details. Because of the economic imperative, to have a lot of ministers, substantive ministers, let me put it that way, whatever somebody speculated in some of today’s newspapers, I think that the economy as I have seen it now since my sitting here for the last four months, that we are so much battered. Although some people are saying I am giving bad publicity and scaring away investors.

    “But I am confirming to them that we are truthful, that we need them to come and help us help ourselves by getting in industries, manufacturing and services.

    “They know our needs. The economy of human resources, I believe will make them eventually come and help us.

    “I assure you that we will follow the constitution and all the 36 will be sitting in the cabinet as the constitution stipulates.” He added

    Now that the President has cleared the air and maintained that he did not mince words on the issue of portfolio, definitely, no minister designate will still be in doubt concerning the matter.

    The president’s statement might also have increased underground lobbying by some of the ministers designate in order to emerge substantive ministers at the end of the day.

    But such move may not achieve much as the President already knows who he will make a substantive minister and who among them will only sit in the cabinet.

    Buhari has been fully grounded on each of the ministries and parastatals before the ministers designate came on board and knows where to place each minister.

     

    Orientation for ministers

     

    President Buhari last Thursday and Friday took a step further towards bringing the desired change of his administration to the people.

    He organized retreat for the Ministers designate and impressed on them the need to purge themselves of anything that will stand on their way and key into the change agenda of the administration.

    Before last week, Buhari had not only taken time to receive briefs from permanent secretaries in the various ministries and head of agencies, he also gave them an insight into the direction the government was taking during the briefings.

    He has consistently insisted that it was not going to be business as usual in the conduct of government’s business and activities.

    Declaring the retreat open, Buhari said: “We must count ourselves privileged to have been chosen among millions of our compatriots at this historic time to be the instruments that will deliver the change we have promised.

    “The work of restoration and renewal is urgent and immense. The expectations of Nigerians are high. Our determination to succeed and change the fortunes of our country must be equal to the challenge.

    “I have invited you to join me in this urgent mission for our country. I am convinced that in accepting this invitation you are also equally determined to take part in this patriotic undertaking.

    “It is important that you are fully acquainted with the direction and priorities of this Government so that we can all move together as a team.

    “Our economic focus will be policies that will ensure inclusive growth and we will count our achievements based on the number of Nigerians we move out of poverty.

    “It is expected that we make the running of Government at all levels as lean as possible, avoid waste and conserve resources. As ministers, you must be the vehicle that will administer the change.

    “I would also expect you to be even more determined to work as a team, and to live up to the high standards of probity and integrity which Nigerians expect of us,” he said.

    Besides urging them to observe the rule of law and avoid impunity, the President also advised them not to fail to share information among themselves.

    So, it’s now left for the ministers to embrace the change agenda and join the moving train to give Nigerians the much awaited change.

     

  • A ministry for the poor

    A ministry for the poor

    A cleric in Plateau State is having more impact on the needy through giving rather than preaching, reports YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU

    She seems to have a natural call to serve, not just to preach or teach. In Plateau State where she is the shepherd of the Tina Bawa Ministry International, Rev Mrs Tina Bawa feeds and clothes the poor. Outside the state, she has reached out to people in need, visiting and comforting displaced by the insurgency in the region. Her budget for the poor is well over N10m in some cases.

    Bawa said, “Ministering to people [alone] will not bring salvation because it is obvious that these poor people need immediate help. You should be able to provide their need. Running a ministry is not about exploiting the poor, it should also be about helping the poor and lifting them out of their situation, that way they will appreciate the word of God better,” she said.

    Not long ago, she held a four-day free medical outreach at the IDPs camp at Zawan Commercial College Jos to offer medical assistance to thousands of displaced people who ran from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa to take refuse in Jos.

    Now on the anniversary of her husband Dr Godfrey Bawa Shitgurum’s 58th birthday anniversary she gathered the needy once again to help them, with her international collaborators lending a big hand.

    The event took place at Quan Pan Local Government Area of the state.

    Such is her impact that various communities around Kwande know her husband’s birthday and look forward to it. On this year’s anniversary over 5,000 people gathered at Kwande Primary Health Care Centre for the free medical programme organised by Mrs Bawa, although about 3,500 persons beneficiaries were targetted.

    She brought 40 wheelchairs, sufficient drugs, children’s clothing and wrappers for aged women.

    Mrs Bawa said her organisation also collaborated with her husband’s foundation called “Peter Bawa Foundation” on the outreach.

    She said, ”I was too burdened in 2007 when I saw that apart from ministering to the people through the Holy Ghost [there was] the need to reach out to people medically also. So by 2002 we did a little bit of it, the ministry started in 1999. So by 2004 we all went out to do medical mission. We did medical outreach in the daytime and then in the evening we brought the gospel of Christ to the people.

    “Since 2004 we have been in to full medical mission working with a team of medical professionals from every field of human needs on the medical outreach, with most of them volunteering and some coming from the United States of America and some of my friends within who believe in the vision. We come to treat major cases; when we have cases of surgeries we referr them to big hospitals for treatment and the ministries pay the bills.”

    She said the current effort focused on eye checks, diabetes, HIV, hepatitis, malaria, typhoid among others.

    “I observed that our people are not being cared for by the government, the government health centre in this village was in bad shape when we came in the last two years, we had to renovate the structures,” she said.

     

  • Lawmaker buys army recruitment forms for youths in Argungu

    Youths in the six local councils of Argungu, in Kebbi State willing to join the Nigerian Army have been given recruitment forms by the senator representing Kebbi North Senatorial District, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi.

    The gesture is said to be one of the ways Senator Abdullahi intends to tackle youth unemployment in the area, according to a statement from his constituency office in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.

    The statement said that the APC chieftain recently procured 300 Nigerian Army recruitment forms and distributed to youths from the six Local Council Areas of Argungu, Augie, Kangiwa, Kamba, Bagudu and Suru, all in the Kebbi North Senatorial District of the state.

    According to the statement, the senator has promised to support every successful candidate who sat for the qualifying examination that held on October 8, 2015, including the provision of transport and feeding allowances to each of them.

    In a similar development, Sen. (Dr.) Yahaya A. Abdullahi has taken up the medical treatment of a commercial motor cyclist, (achaba), IbrahimSadiq of Tudun Wada, (Kokani South) who broke his arm in a serious crash, shortly before this year’s Ramadan.

    According to medical sources at the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, the accident was so serious that without the timely intervention of the Kebbi North federal legislator, it could have led to the amputation of the arm. Sen. Abdullahi is also reported to have already deposited N120, 000 for the accident victim’s treatment, promising to do more so that Ibrahim Sadiq can get back on his feet.

    Also, Senator Abdullahi has condemned the arbitrary surge in electricity current in some Argungu communities of Kebbi State, saying no fewer than 11 people have so far been killed by suspected public power surge, in the last three weeks.

    The Senator said he has taken up the issue with the relevant Electricity Distribution Company (DISCO), adding that the deaths from electrocution have created fears and anxiety among the people in the area.

    Besides the high casualty figure, household items and appliances, destroyed during the deadly public electricity system failures, have been estimated in millions of naira. Dr. Abdullahi, however assured that he has discussed the unfortunate incident with members of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Power, and to soon present a formal memo to them on the matter.

    According to him, there is every indication that his colleagues will work with him to call on for a comprehensive overhaul and re-strengthening of power lines, across the country, to withstand the impending increase in national power output, particularly as President Muhammadu Buhari sets about tackling the issue of infrastructural decay in the power sector.

  • Relief for the displaced

    Relief for the displaced

    Internally displaced persons or IDPs at the Karshi and Kuje camps have had cause to smile, a rare development. Camp life is tough, but thanks to workers of Skye Bank, good-natured gesture of kindness  changed the camp mood.

    The IDPs said it was a special Sunday when workers of the bank paid them a visit that left a lasting impression on the victims of natural disaster and insurgency.

    The visitors’ first port of call was New Karshi’s trafitional ruler’s palace. Though the monarch was away, the distribution of the materials went on without any hitches. For about four hours, the bank staff distributed food and household materials to the IDPs.

    No one was left behind, the old, the young and the elderly all went back with something to cherish and were grateful. The fears anticipated by the IDPs that the materials brought might not go round was soon dispelled when it was discovered that each IDP might even get double share of the materials.

    Prior to that time, the IDPs were on the brink of breaking protocols with the surging crowded overwhelm the security operatives until they were assured that everyone would go home with enough.

    Musa Abdulahi, Chairman IDPs, New Karshi, Karu Local Government summed up the feelings of his colleagues in the camp with prayers for the bank workers.”May almighty God bless them with their families as they give us supports with the best understanding of how we have been suffering in this place. We pray for them and their families too, including the bank where they are working. God will bless them all”.

    Abdulahi said the prayers were necessary because of the kind of life and living the IDP were suddenly exposed after being displaced from their homes. According to him, it is difficult surviving as a displaced person who is now exposed to a new environment, culture and at an advanced age.

    “I go for hard labour before I could take care of my family. Some-time, they give me a portion of land, so I farm because it’s over 12 months I got to karshi. Since I left my area on 5th August, 2014, in Gwoza, Borno State. They pay me after the labour before I now help my family.” Abdulahi said that was the typical daily routine of an IDPs in new Karshi where all the IDPs were housed by indigenes of the village rather than being housed in a camp.

    The train moved to Abuja at 30 Village, Pegi, Kuje where most of the IDPs were of Chibok origin. It was the same complaints that it was more of abandonment by the government. They were equally grateful to the bankers for creating time to be with them.

    The bank workers also expressed fulfilment at the gesture they were able to extend to the victims of insurgency. According to the leader of the team, Idris Yakubu, Executive Director Abuja and Northern Directorate of Skye Bank, the initiative to give back to the society was entirely hatched and executed by the workers – from the Chief Executive to the last worker. A pointer to the fact was seeing Yakubu physically involved in off – loading and sharing of the materials. He said the bank workers were not forced into donating to the cause, as it was voluntary, “There is joy in giving. Even the workers of the bank are very happy in doing this. This is not the first time we are doing this. So our workers are not tasked, it’s a voluntary contribution. You give what you can give. We don’t force anybody to give but we only encourage them. Our staff wants to identify with the environment and the people, they were very happy even to contribute the funds we have given all together. Next year, with the success of this, we will do lot more and our shareholders will be very happy that we are identifying with the IDPs at this point in time. On why the bank workers identified IDPs for the gesture, Yakubu added, “This year, because of the situation we founded ourselves in the country; we decided to identify with our brothers and families in the northeast who are displaced. So our desire was to identify with the IDPs who are living in these areas and come to their needs and minimize the impact of the suffering they are undertaking currently. We partnered with two of our partners NGOs who had done this before, so what we are doing is a painstaking exercise because we wanted to be sure that whatever we do as bank workers reach the communities that deserve them. So we are doing both Karshi in Nasarawa State and Kuje camp in Abuja”.

     

     

  • Senator makes case for youth, women empowerment

    The Senator representing Niger North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has stated that the only way to curtail the security challenges bedeviling the nation is to empower women and youths in community and national peace building.

    According to him, women and youths have enviable characteristics that equip them for effective community peace building adding that such would become an invaluable asset to the country if well harnessed.

    Speaking at a Peace and Unity Colloquium themed Community Peace Building – Engaging Women and Youths in Minna over the weekend, Aliyu stated that with the fall in oil prices, the chances of depending on the governments for job opportunities are getting slimmer stressing that the alternative to this predicament is to create enabling platforms for women and youth to acquire different skills which would enable them to become job creators.

    He therefore urged women and youths to participate in the country Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-Entrepreneurial Development Centre (EDC) programmes on skills acquisition in areas like agriculture, commerce, environment, information and communication technology.

    Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello assuring women and youths of adequate support in the state stating that women and youths are one of the cardinal points of his administration for the social and political development of Niger State.

    The governor who was represented by  Head  of Service, Alhaji Mohammed Maude Lapai, then expressed optimism that the partnership between the state and all Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) would further strengthen the development of people of the state and country at large.

    Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Entrepreneurial Development Centre , North Central Zone Coordinator, Professor Casmir Obialom said Nigeria cannot talk about peace when the women and youths are idle stating that empowerment is an instrument of peace and unity.

    “There can be no peace when the people are idle and the women are doing nothing. It is only when people are comfortable that you can talk about peace.

    “Our target therefore is to ensure people are occupied and capable of fending for themselves so as to have peace and rest of mind,” he said.

    The Coordinator then urged all hands to be on desk as only government cannot bring about peace building in the country.