To fewer than 1,000 residents of Ozi community in Kogi Local Government Area, Kogi State have benefited from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Health Initiative For Rural Dwellers Scheme (HIRD).
The one-week free healthcare service was initiated by the NYSC to impact positively on rural communities across the country.
Kogi State Governor Idris Wada lauded the NYSC HIRD initiative which was designed to provide affordable and timely healthcare intervention for the large rural population of the country who lack access to basic medical care due to their distant locations from health facilities.
Speaking at flag off of scheme, Governor Wada described the programme as novel and worthwhile as conceived by the NYSC Director General, Brigadier-General Johnson Bamidele Olawunmi.
He said that the initiative was in tandem with his administration’s transformation agenda in taking health delivery to the door steps of the rural dwellers in the state.
The governor who was represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Idris Omede stated that the presence of corps members in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, would fulfill its objectives of taking healthcare service to the remote parts of the country.
He commended the management of the scheme for its commitment to the takeoff of the HIRD Week, assuring that the administration will continue to support it.
Earlier in his address, the NYSC Director- General, Brigadier Johnson Bamidele Olawunmi explained that the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers which was conceived over a year ago has today become not only a reality, but also a programme that has gained national acceptance, stressing that successes recorded in the two pilot states of Kwara and Lagos were being replicated in the other states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
“Against this backdrop, the goals of the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers programme is to mobilize corps medical volunteers in the provision of health intervention through diagnosis, treatment, referrals and proper prevention mechanism, thereby enhancing general well-being of rural dwellers across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria,” he stated.
Represented by the state NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Bolanle Agatha Olatunji, the DG posited that volunteer medical personnel will form the core of the team.
The NYSC medical team attended to various cases with the people of Ozi community along Lokoja-Abuja Road.
To stop inter-communal bloodshed over boundaries, do not redraw the borderlines; rekindle the friendliness and respect that existed among the forebears of the communities. VINCENT OHONBAMU reports
The horrors of the insurgents are receding in Gombe State, giving the residents much-cherished relief. Even political thugs, dreaded for their thirst for blood, are being contained through the state government’s initiatives. But how do you stop the bloodbath on the borderlines, a development which continues to blight the state, costing it not just precious souls but valued properties?
Many hold that redrawing the borders will help a great deal. But the Mai Kaltungo, Alhaji Mohammed Saleh is not one this lot. The traditional ruler and Deputy Chairman of Gombe State Council of Emirs and Chiefs said there is little to gain from boundary adjustment. The only thing that needs adjustment, he said, is the people’s feeling for one another on both sides of the border.
People should simply start respecting one another again, and rekindle the friendliness that their ancestors on both sides of the border once shared. That was what ensured peace among communities, not who owned what land.
One question the Mai Kaltungo likes to ask is, were the borders not there when their ancestors lived happily with one another?
“We have to be one,” he said. “We are supposed to be one big town without any divisions. If we do not work towards cementing this good relationship, there will be problems.”
The royal father’s call was necessitated by his concern over the perennial problems of land disputes in Gombe South Senatorial District, especially as it affects his immediate domain – Kaltungo and Shongom local governments on one side, and Billiri Local Government on the other.
Oftentimes, most parties attempting to proffer solutions have always called for boundary demarcation as a way of finding a lasting peace to the seemingly unending matter.
The last of such calls came in July from Hon Rambi Ibrahim Ayala who represents Billiri East constituency in Gombe State House of Assembly where he also chairs the House Committee on Land and Water Resources.
He moved a motion seeking the clear-cut demarcation of boundaries in Gombe South Senatorial District as a means to ending the bloodshed; just as he called for the reinforcement of security as an interim measure while still working at a lasting solution.
The Emir who was speaking as part of his to the people after Durbar (traditional horse riding and paying/receiving homage) buttressed his point about peaceful coexistence by exemplifying with the traditional hunters that normally participate in the Durbar which he said were predominantly Christians.
“You see these traditional hunters, about 90% of them are Christians but we celebrate sallah together. This is an Islamic affair. We go to the eid ground with them. They will just stay aside while we pray. After prayers, we all come and celebrate together. That tells you the kind of unity that is here,” he said.
It is not clear what the state government is planning regarding finding a lasting peace, but Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo as part of the immediate past sallah message told traditional rulers, community and religious leaders and the entire citizenry to continually strive towards sustaining the existing peace in the state.
He said government as the primary responsibility of providing adequate security for the lives and property of its citizenry would continue to support security agencies to discharge their duties while urging all to “be law abiding and to shun acts capable of disrupting the peaceful co-existence the state is enjoying”.
The only people who made something out of the 55th independence anniversary were performers on empty streets and, perhaps, a few couples who took their families outdoors. Otherwise, it was just as drab as the recent editions, reports GRACE OBIKE
Again, there were no blinking lights or colourful banners on the streets of the nation’s capital. And no huge crowd and ear-splitting sounds which once characterised Eagle Square on a typical Independence Day anniversary. The Square itself was sealed off, and two local football teams could have played all day on the streets.
It was Nigeria’s 55th Independence Day, but there were no celebrations resembling the sort you were used to. All the ceremonies took place in Aso Villa away from popular view.
In the days of former President Goodluck Jonathan, insecurity was to blame for the subdued celebrations. Now, President Muhammadu Buhari’s fiscal discipline, pruning the anniversary budget to a mere N70m, a far cry from the billions usually provided for the ceremonies, has taken fanfare away from the event.
Such performers as skaters grumbled about the low-key edition of the national holiday, especially about the fact that they did not have the opportunity to show their talents on the skate boards before President Muhammadu Buhari and other dignitaries. Some families seized the opportunity to unwind outdoors. Otherwise, it was another unflattering independence anniversary, like the one before it and the one before that.
Some couples took their children to the Millennium Park and other amusement facilities scattered around Abuja, while some went to the numerous children’s parties in town. Some others spent the day in school celebrations or religious gatherings.
While the event went on inside the Villa, a lone man danced around with a hoe, a show he probably hoped would have impressed the President if the event had taken place at the Square and if he were allowed in.
•Other performers
A group of skaters under the umbrella of the Coalition of Abuja Skaters expressed their disappointment at the fact the Square was locked up. The group claimed that they were in contact with the organisers of the event and hoped for an opportunity to perform before the President and other dignitaries. They had been practising for weeks. Nothing would have thrilled them more than entertain the president and prove to everyone that skating was good enough to be ranked among other sports in the country.
The coalition is made of such small units as Vision Skaters from Karshi, United Skaters Association, Skate Love, House of Legend Skaters, all of them saying that Nigeria is a country which they love and appreciate and that they are ready to show that they are not an inconsequential bunch of street kids on skates.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the club Sylvester Fadion said, “We have existed for over 10 years; this is a coalition of different clubs coming together to celebrate Nigeria, we are out here displaying our joy for the country. We had written to the people in charge of the celebration and they promised that they may include our name to the program if the Eagle square will be used but now that they are not using the square, we know that we may not be able to get access into the Villa, we are a bit disappointed that no one will watch us because we deal with stunts, skills, choreographic moves and a lot more techniques but now no one to watch us since no one is at the Eagle square, we have a lot of force men amongst us, men of Nigerian Civil Defence, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police a lot more.”
They proceeded to run around Maitama, Wuse, Garki, Asokoro to display their skills.
In satellite like Kubwa for instance, apart from residents going about their business as if nothing important was going, members of the Christ Embassy tried their best to celebrate with their usual 1st of October celebration that usually takes place each year, they took to the streets in green and white, with loud music which a lot of the members danced to following behind a member riding a horse dressed in green an while and a vehicle carrying musical instruments that blared different songs as they distributed the Rhapsody of Reality.
Member of the church, James expressed his excitement at the independence day celebration.
“Our church always celebrates this day because it is important, we also use it as an opportunity to remind Nigerians of God’s love and goodness in our lives which is the reason why we share free copies of the Rhapsody, we wanted to do something nice and different which informed the reason for the horse because we all believe that Nigeria has come a long way in 55 years.”
A taxi driver who could not be bothered to state his name said that as long as he is concerned, he has no reason to celebrate unless, the government will be sharing money to Nigerian.
“I’m out here working because I need the money more than anything right now; who cares about Independence Day celebrations? Are they going to share money? With the hardship in the country right now, I will only go to a place that will give me money.”
Residents of Jiwa community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to the incoming FCT administration to rehabilitate the main road linking the community to Dei-dei and Gwagwa-Karmo communities.
Mr. Hassan Musa, who spoke with Abuja Review, said that the poor road has presented serious challenges to the people, with motorists often trapped for hours in traffic gridlock when it rains.
According to Musa, the residents of the communities have written many letters to the FCTA and even to media organisations just to attract the FCT administration to the roads and the plight of the residents, but nothing has been done to alleviate their suffering.
He appealed to the incoming FCT Minister to include the rehabilitation of the road in the FCT budget when the new administration takes effect, saying that if the road is rehabilitated, it will reduce the suffering of the people and also improve on the economic development of the council.
Another resident of the community, Mr. Alhassan Mohammed, also said that the dilapidated state of the road is affecting the businesses in the communities, as Dei-Dei, Gwagwa and Karmo communities are the most flourishing business areas in the FCT.
“The internally generated revenue gotten from these communities are more than any community in the FCT, the largest timber and building materials markets are in this communities, but the road that leads to this markets are dilapidated and gradually becoming inaccessible.
“That is why we are appealing to the incoming administration to consider the rehabilitation of this road, so that things will go well for everybody within and outside these communities. We have been going through hell as a result of the bad road, mostly when it rains, the government should come to our rescue so that we can have peace,” he said.
Crude as their methods are, women rice processors in Kwakuti, a sleepy community in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger State, still manage to turn out up to two trailer-loads every month.
Now things can only get better because the state government has trained no fewer than 50 of the women to be more efficient and productive.
The government is seeking to reduce the stress associated with the exercise and position the state as the largest producer of rice in the country.
This is particularly important in view of government determination to make the country self sufficient in rice production and reduce the reliance on importation. It is estimated that the country spends about N12 billion annually in rice importation.
Realising that the state has the potentials of being the largest producer of rice in the country in view of its rich terrain, the Niger state government recently trained about 50 women in the community on ways of processing rice in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
During the training, which lasted for five days, the women were taught how to form and manage cluster-groups and rice value chain development. They were equally groomed in value development at each processing stage and what value addition needed at each stage.
That was not all. They were also taught business management and marketing as the organisers looked at the four P’s and proper book keeping as it deals with keeping of the stock such as the raw materials and the finished goods. In addition, they also taught how to properly cost their products. Interestingly, from the interaction with the women, it was discovered that the women (who were also the marketers) were either over costing, overpricing and under-pricing their products.
Focusing on the product development, the organizers taught them to bag the rice instead of selling in ‘module’ which is their preferred measurement; the women were also taught them on how to properly boil the rice, sieve the paddy, par boil it and dry it while keeping stones away from the rice. A rice cluster with the capacity to take two machines was built for the women, designed to have two rice mill and one destoner. Also, the women were taught to organised themselves into cooperative that will put them in the right position to getting government aid.
Dr. Abdumalik Ndaki, one of the consultants involved in the training, told The Nation that rice is one of the key product where the state have a comparative advantage. The other products include: yam, cassava, cowpea, groundnut and sheabutter. On the choice of Kwakuti, he disclosed that when a need assessment was carried out in Kwakuti, it was discovered that in spite of the potentials of the area I. Rice production, there were no rice farmers in the community, adding that only three farmers were found in the town with farmlands that were not up to half an hectare.
Ndagi who is the Director General of Niger State Industrial Parks Development Agency said the state government has spent over N20 million on the development of the Kwakuti rice project adding that similar programme are ongoing in Bida, Lapai, and Badegi areas of the state. He explained that the state government is working to add value, modernize them and make them better adding that the government pays its counterpart fund to ensure that the state stays top in the agricultural sector.
Ndagi was confident that when the project is fully implemented, there would be more than enough rice paddy from Kwakuti, adding that with two trailer loads of rice to process every month, Kwakuti rice would be a force to reckon with in the near future. He assured that UNDP and the state government would continue to work round the clock to better the lots of rice farmers in the state.
He said: “We recently held a meeting with major stakeholders in agriculture in the state last week. So we are charting a way out to be able to help rice processors in the state.”
Wife of Plateau State Governor, Mrs Regina Lalong chose the nation’s 55th anniversary to share an unforgettable moment with needy children. YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU reports
Many of the needy children she visited lost their parents during the intermittent battles in Plateau State. In some communities, raiders swooped on sleeping residents, nearly wiping out the settlements. In some cases, couples and their children were cut down. In some other cases, some children survived, though their parents did not. Some of those child-survivors have ended up in orphanages, one of which Mrs. Regina Lalong, wife of Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, visited in Kangan village in Jos South Local Government of the state.
The visit was significant because it cheered up the children, who for the most part are often forgotten by the larger society. The call on the orphanage was equally remarkable for other reasons. Mrs Lalong could have chosen to do the usual, observe schoolchildren marching in the stadium or even take the salute as they filed past. After all, it was the country’s 55th independence anniversary.
Clapai Orphanage which she visited is managed by a couple Mr and Mrs Nyabam. There are at least 350 orphans there. Most of the boys and girls at the centre were made orphans in the course of the protracted civil unrest in the state.
In visiting the orphanage, Mrs Regina Lalong accompanied by wife of the state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Abigail Tyoden went with a truck-load of assorted items required for the use of the children. The items included mattresses, blankets, laundry soaps, toilet soaps, sanitary items etc. The truck also contained food items like bags of rice, beans, cartons of noodles, carton of biscuits etc. it also contained assorted brands of beverages and chocolate foods.
While presenting the items to the children, Mrs Regina said, “I decided to be with these children on this special day of Nigeria independent and share little love with them. As wife of the state governor, I consider myself as the mother of these children. I also believe that these children are not orphans, they are Nigerian children and they should be catered for by Nigerian government.
“The government of All Progressive Congress (APC) is a government for all segments of society on the Plateau. It is our duty to provide for all citizens of the state including these children in special care home. So today I came with my a little within my disposal to offer as a gift to my children. We are still new in government and I have little to offer. I feel that it is not when I have enough, even the little I have I should be able to extend to my children, nothing is too small and something is always better than nothing at all.
“But then I have to express my appreciation to the manager of this centre for taking the initiative to create a centre for these less privilege children. If you had not done this, I would have not been able to locate them for a visit. These are children of God and God in Heaven will reward you abundantly for taking care of them on behalf of God. I want to use this opportunity to call on all spirited individuals and Organisations to come and assist those who are providing care for these children. The population of the children is much and they require assistance of every Nigeria for their daily upkeep.
While receiving the items, Mrs. Nyabam, coordinator of the orphanage said, “We never expected this visit from the state First Lady, because no First Lady has ever visited us in this manner on Nigerian Independence anniversary. As you can see the children are so happy and elated over your presence in their midst. We have nothing to say other to pray that God will replenish your pocket in thousands fold. We will continued to pray for the success of the APC administration in the state and may the hands that give never dry.
Mrs Lalong also visited Plateau state specialists hospital to show love to patients on admission in the hospital. The governor’s wife went round all the wards of the hospital and presented hand-pack containing assorted items. The gift items also include envelope containing an undisclosed sum of money. Accompanied by the Chief Medical Director of the Specialists Hospital Dr. Philemon Golwa, Mrs Lalong told the patients that, “Please accept my widow’s might, I decided to share this challenging moment with you on this historic day, I know if you are in your various homes, you will join millions of Nigeria to celebrate this day, but you are here because of health challenge which I know is temporal. So don’t be discouraged, remain hopeful because God is with you and is aware of the moment you are passing through. So, get well soon and go home, the hospital is not your home,” said Mrs Lalong.
The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Micah Jiba has urged Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari in his bid to reshape the nation.
Jiba, who also serves as the National President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), congratulated Nigerians on the 55th Independence Day anniversary, saying that only unity and love have kept the country together.
The ALGON boss further commended President Buhari for the bold steps he has taken to tackle insecurity, saying that with the prayers and support of the people, the administration will put an end to insurgency.
Jiba said 55 years of any nation is not a joke, adding that Nigerians should have sober reflection and also pray for President Buhari.
He also appealed to the President to consider indigenes of Abuja in his cabinet when appointing ministers, adding that indigenes of the FCT deserve better representation at the Presidency.
“I will advise Nigerians to continue to remain united and work with the present administration in order for President Buhari to move this nation to greater height. We are also appealing to President Buhari to consider Abuja indigenes in his ministerial appointments, so that we can contribute our quota in his government.
“The indigenes of the FCT have been marginalised for a very long gone time and we believe that with the present administration, the marginalisation will come to an end. We are also appealing that since the independent anniversary is taking place today, Nigerians should continue to be law abiding and loyal to this administration, so that the government will be focus and succeed in his desire to reposition the nation in all ramifications.
“Nigerians should be patient with President Buhari as he is taking his time to reposition the country and correct everything that needs to be corrected. We should continue to pray for this administration, that God will give our President good health and the wisdom to pilot the affairs of the nation to greatness,” he said.
The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, since assumption in office in June has not been sighted in the Presidential Villa, Abuja until last Thursday.
He has kept away from the seat of power probably because of his faceoff with his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Saraki, had against the wish of his party, contested and emerged the Senate President with the support of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators in the red-carpet chamber.
Apart from his emergence, Saraki, unlike the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara who won election to the number four seat in similar circumstances, also did not allow the wish of the party to prevail in the selection of other Senate leadership positions.
Saraki has not been to the Presidential Villa until last Thursday during Nigeria’s 55th independence anniversary celebration, except if he had visited under the cover of darkness in the last three months.
As the number three citizen, it would have been unprecedented for Saraki to have absented himself from the independence anniversary celebration.
His predecessor, Senator David Mark did not miss any of the celebrations under the last dispensation.
Saraki, who arrived the Presidential forecourt after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, took salute from the military personnel on parade before joining dignitaries and invited guests at the sitting arena.
He exchanged pleasantries with them before taking his seat.
There were also warm exchange of pleasantries between Saraki and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and later with President Muhammadu Buhari when they arrived the venue separately.
The frequent smiles from discussions between Saraki and Buhari during the event made some guests to wonder in low tone what has kept Saraki away from the seat of power for so long.
As if that was not enough, Saraki who left the Presidential Villa after the ceremony ended returned to Osinbajo’s office in the Presidential Villa about an hour later in a private car.
He spent about thirty minutes in a private meeting with Osinbajo.
Saraki was escorted to his vehicle by Osinbajo after their closed-door meeting.
The fear of President Muhammadu Buhari is growing in many quarters. In his days in the military as Head of State, he was known to be a no-nonsense man and an apostle of discipline, transparency and accountability.
Those in government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies prior to Buhari’s democratic administration, who have done things anyhow to enrich themselves and drained the nation’s resources, are now treading cautiously out of fear.
The fear and new self-inflicted restraint from doing things anyhow is said to have mainly been responsible for the improving power supply in the country.
Frequent acts of vandalism in the energy sector under the former administrations have suddenly stopped with the inauguration of the administration on May 29.
Fuel scarcity and long queues that have been the story of past administrations have also stopped under Buhari’s administration.
The improvement could visibly be seen during the recent festive periods and independence anniversary celebration as the country was spared of such fuel scarcity and queues.
These are just two areas where the fear of Buhari has helped in services rendered to the nation.
There are many other silent areas of improvements resulting from such fear.
But President Buhari on assumption in office has counseled Nigerians not to fear him.
As if the counsel was falling on deaf ears, President Buhari in his October 1st independence anniversary message to Nigerians again urged them not to fear him but should rather fear the consequences of their actions.
This means that those who soil their hands have course to worry while those on the right side of the law will never have any problem with him but earn his support.
He said: “As I said in my inaugural speech, I bear no ill will against anyone on past events. Nobody should fear anything from me. We are not after anyone.
“People should only fear the consequences of their actions. I hereby invite everyone, whatever his or her political view to join me in working for the nation.” He added
But he harped on the need for change in the habits of Nigerians in order to bring about the desired change being championed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
“I would like to end my address this morning on our agenda for CHANGE. Change does not just happen. You and I and all of us must appreciate that we all have our part to play if we want to bring CHANGE about.
“We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust. We must change our unruly behavior in schools, hospitals, market places, motor parks, on the roads, in homes and offices. To bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens.” He said
Indigenes of Dagbalo community in Apo area of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC ) to investigate the activities of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) officials in respect of allocation of plots, especially those whose
Certificates of Occupancy were approved in less than the stipulated one year.
The indigenes through their leader, Rev. Danjuma Tanks, who made this call on behalf of the community, insisted that if the investigation on what he described a the nefarious activities of FCDA officials commences, it will aide in healing the wounds suffered by indigenes of Abuja.
Rev. Tanko said the Indigenes who affected by the ill fated activities of the FCDA were subjected to untold hardship and all manners of inhuman treatment by the past Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed.
According to him, the FCTA through the department of Ressetlement and Compensation took a bulldozer two years ago, which was July 30, 2013 to demolish the entire Dagbalo community and destroyed their farm lands without any ressetlement or compensation.
“They allocated the same area to one Mr. Owuora, the owner Owuora group of companies. It took the FCDA officials, led by the director of Ressetlement and Compensation, Mr Francis Okechuckwu five days, in company of well armed Military personnel in a pickup van to wipe off our entire community.
“Our people who were helpless and armless, could do nothing, but to report the matter to the nearest Police division at Apo, where we advised to go to court and the case has been in court for the past two years now. All efforts by our Counsel to ensure quick dispensation of justice has proved abortive. This is therefore causing untold hardship and more suffering to our people, even as we squatting with our neighbours.
“Also, about this time last year, the FCDA called for settlement out of court, which we did not object to. But, for the past five months now, they have failed to fulfil the promises they made to us. Instead, they tried to lobby me to sell out my community and I bluntly rejected it. So, we are back in court and since then, the FCDA has resorted to delaying the court procedures, without respect to the judicial process .
“Counsel to the FCDA has joined in frustrating the case by failing to tender his redress for adoption, which ought to have been been done since July, 2015, before the court went on recess, but neither the director nor their defense counsel were in court to tender their redress for adoption. Now, the resumption the next adjournment has been shiftedOctober 17, 2015.
“We are appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari, who we see as an act of God to liberate us from our suffering, through his anticorruption campaign to investigate the nefarious activities of the FCDA and they way they are subjecting indigenes of the FCT to immeasurable suffering by forcefully confisticating their land without due compensation and resettlement,”he said.
Tanko further appealed to President Buhari to instruct the incoming minister of the FCT to ensure that their communities which were wrongly demolished by the FCDA and allocated to a single developer are restored to the people, saying that as it is presently, none of the affected indigenes have any place to call their villages or hometown.
