The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • I’ll transform AMAC’

    The Secretary of the All Progressives Party (APC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Hon. Abdulahi Candido has said his experience has equipped to transform the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) if he won the council poll coming up soon.

    Hon. Candido was speaking with reporters in Abuja in the run up to the election.

    He said experience matters in electing a leader, adding that he has served as ward councillor for five years, and also as supervisory councillor and secretary to the council chairman.

    “I have gathered enough experience in the municipality. If given the mandate, I have a three-point agenda that I intend to use the three years to focus on. One is education, which is very essential, the second one is infrastructures and the last is security.

    “We are all witnesses of what is happening in Nigeria today, the security aspect of the country, must not be left alone in the hands of the federal government. So every tier of government, mostly in the local government, needs to ensure that the people go to bed without fear of been terrorised. First amongst all the agenda is education.

    “Whether you are a native of the AMAC or not, I believe that everyone needs sound education for their kids. That is why we are going to give them, in order for them to be the future leaders of tomorrow. I have a lot of passion for education and all I need to do is haven looked at what used to happen, especially in the area of supporting students through scholarship and financial assistance.

    “I believe that the little token they used to give them is nothing, simply because they concentrate on quantity, instead of quality. I am going to identify with the best hands amongst our young ones coming up, to support them financially, a good percentage of money would be budgeted to carter for the education of our children,” he said.

    He said that for infrastructures, any government that wants to come will promise heaven on earth, without fulfilling them, saying that he will conduct a feasibility studies on how they are going to affect the lives of the people, by putting infrastructures for the people.

    “It can be in terms of feeder roads, rural electrification, road networks, construction of water boreholes and even health centres. This are the areas that the government will not be hasty in taking decisions, but will find time to plan for them to be actualized. What we are going to give in the next three years, will be something the area council has never witnessed before and the people will be proud that they made the right choice,” he said

  • Coalition, NOA promote national unity

    Coalition, NOA promote national unity

    coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has started a campaign for national unity.

    The partnership aims at discouraging hate speeches and division of the country based on ethnicity, political ideologies, religion believes among others.

    National Coordinator, Social Welfare Network Initiative, Emmanuel Osemeka during a courtesy visit to The Nation Newspaper, Abuja Bureau emphasised that the unity of the nation cannot be compromised.

    He said it is important for every individual, corporate organisations, religious leaders among others to support in the campaign in order to restore the nations togetherness.

    “At present, about two villages in Benue State are completely sacked as a result of conflict between farmers and cattle rustlers. Boko Haram insurgency is still a major issue to battle while our country is splitting on political differences, religion and so on. So, we want to create this consciousness to stop the hate speeches and promote oneness, unity for all.”

    Among other partners in the project include Executive Director, Poverty and Associated Maladies Alleviation Initiatives (PAMAI), President, Mandate Health Empowerment Initiative (MHEI), Ameh Abba, Executive Director, Speakers’ Corner trust Nigeria, Ms. Marilyn Ogbebor and the Assistant Director, NOA, Mrs. Chinwe Ikaraocha.

    Osemeka added that the stop the hate campaign would re-orientate Nigerians and foster new attitudinal change to oneness. In her remarks, Ikaraocha disclosed that the frequent hate speeches

    have further affected unity of the country.

    She said the more hate speeches, the further the nation splits. However, she called for a change in attitude. The Deputy Editor, Nation’s Capital, Yomi Odunuga disclosed his readiness to partner in raising more awareness campaign.

    He urged them to be proactive in their approaches and remain focus.

  • Blame neglect of history for nation’s stunted growth’

    The Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN) has attributed Nigeria’s developmental challenges to the relegation of the country’s history to the background.

    To reverse the trend, the society has resolved to engage all tiers of government to restore history to the curriculum of both primary and secondary schools.

    HSN’s President Prof Christopher Ogbogbo told reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, saying that without the knowledge of history, “you will be struggling to reinvent the wheel.

    “That is why we are taking our society’s 60th anniversary to Abuja next month.”

    Prof Ogbogbo, who is also the head of department, University of Ibadan (UI), said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s 100 days in office have been impactful.

    “If you distort history the product you will get will be negative, which can’t help your circumstances,” he said. “So if the diagnosis is wrong, the solution will be wrong.

    “Look at Nigeria where they are not teaching history. I go to America every year to teach African history for three months. You cannot graduate from any American university without reading the country’s history. In fact, the condition for you to become an American citizen is that you must demonstrate the knowledge of American history.”

    On President Buhari, the professor of history said:  “So far, the stature President Muhammadu Buhari as a person is very impactful on Nigerians. But given the degree of challenges that the country has, it would go beyond an individual. In history, we say that it is better that a revolution starts from above than from below.

    “If it comes from below it will blow everybody away; when it comes to a fundamental change in attitude it must be people-driven.

    “The National Orientation Agency (NAO) has to be recalibrated to reach out to the people. That change must be about us. You can’t stay in Abuja and fight corruption when it has become endemic. All you need to do is to twitch the various groups and that is where history comes in.”

    Conceding that the country has daunting challenges, he added that Nigeria had tremendously moved forward.

    He said: “It is true Nigeria has quite a number of challenges, but Nigerians are the most acerbic critics of the country. We are extremely critical of our country. When we go to other countries, even the ones we are better than, we don’t criticise them as much as we criticise ourselves. Self criticism is good so long as it will propel you to become better, but as a nation we have moved forward tremendously.

    “No matter how sentimental Nigerians are, our population is growing everyday; the standard of living of our people has advanced. In other words we must begin to recognise that as we move forward there is a cost for progress; we have to pay a price. What Nigerians are disenchanted with is that given the kind of enormous resources that Nigeria has it ought to have moved faster than this. Have we made some progress? Yes of course.

    “As youths we saw more of military men as our leaders, but today we see civilians as our leaders. They may not be doing it quite right but a new culture, ethos is beginning to emerge. If you were a youth about 25years ago, there are opinions you read in the papers these days if you expressed them in the military era you would be in gallows.

    “What we are saying is that we must begin to engage those challenges. I have travelled round the world Nigeria has about the best manpower you can find anywhere in the world. Part of it is that we have not learnt to utilize our own stuff. We must begin to regain some confidence for ourselves. God will not send angels from heaven to come and run Nigeria for us. God has given us the intellectual manpower to run Nigeria. That is what our historical experience is indicating to us.

     

  • Farmers seek commodity marketing board

    A group of farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has demanded the urgent set-up of a commodity marketing board.

    The farmers, who spoke during a meeting with the Programme Director of African Centre for Food, Agriculture and Sustainable Development (Afri-CASD), Bolaji Akindehinde in Abuja, said the board would help regulate arbitrary pricing of farm commodities.

    The farmers sought support of the Centre to further advocate necessity of the board to increase food production and promote large scale farming.

    They said it was inappropriate for farmers to be at the mercy of buyers among other end users before farm harvests are sold.

    A representative of the farmer, Mr. Sulieman Azeez said, “Farmers are suffering in this country. This is a country where the buyers fix the price for our farm produce. But if there is agriculture commodity marketing board, you cannot tell me you will buy my rice for N5 when everyone knows in the country that it is being regulated for sales for N10 across the country.

    “So it is bad for farmers not to have control over sales of their farm produce.”

    In his remarks, Akindehinde disclosed that the erstwhile Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina showed the zeal to setup the commodity board but little was heard thereafter.

    He said such agency would better lots of the farmers and boost the nation’s overall food production.

    Akindehinde cited an instance of South Africa, United States and some advanced countries which regulates and guarantee markets for farmers’ yields to prevent post-harvest losses.

    According to him, if the nation must be food secured, farmers who are responsible for this giant responsibility should be properly taken care of.

    Speaking on the Agriculture Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the previous government, the farmers urged the present administration to continue with the agenda especially on the various value-chain programmes.

    He said though the administration is still young but emphasised need for the coming Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to make the issue a core agenda.

    Akindehinde emphasised need to sustain the various value-chain programmes kicked by the previous administration.

    “If we must get it right by properly motivating our farmers, the agric sector should be accorded same attention given to the NNPC. Imagine that the sector has a department like the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Committee (PPPRC) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) also performing a similar function in the agriculture sector farmers would do much more than expected,” he added.

    Among initiatives considered laudable is the electronic wallet (e-wallet), Growth Enhancement Support scheme (GES), subsidised mechanisation supports to farmers and private sectors involvement in the sector’s transformation.

  • Council aspirant promises development

    In aspirant for the chair of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Bala Iyah, has promised to make rural development a core area of his administration if he won the forthcoming poll.

    Iyah was a councillor representing Garki ward in the council on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He made this known while inaugurating his campaign team.

    He said: “It is my sincere desire to emulate and continue with the good works the past and present leaders of the council have been doing for us. My vision and mission is to empower the people of AMAC educationally, economically, in rural infrastructures and agriculture. I want to take development to rural communities and ensure that the poor people are given opportunities to live a better life.”

    He promised not to disappoint the people of AMAC and to do his best to carry out his responsibilities of his people, when he is elected as chairman of AMAC.

  • Council chief advises against building on riverside

    Chairman of Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Hon. Yahaya Garba, has warned residents not building their houses by the riverside in order to avoid being washed away by flood.

    He made the call while declaring open a two-day sensitisation and enlightenment campaign for residents and traditional rulers in the council.

    He advised the residents not to farm around riversides and should also avoid dumping refuse in drainages in order to allow free flow of water during the rainy season.

    He said his administration will continue to empower the environmental department of the council to always evacuate and clear drainages to avoid erosion. Earlier, the head of Environment in the council, Alhaji Yusuf Simbabi also charged the residents to comply with the laid down rules, by building according to plan and to ensure that they work in line with environmental standard to safe guard our houses.

  • Kebbi buys grains for farmers

    The Chairman, Wheat Farmers Association in Kebbi State, Alhaji Abdullahi Maigandu, has announced to his fellow growers that the state government has started buying tons of wheat for distribution to them.

    Maigandu said this in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, where he displayed some of the grains, adding that the gesture was to encourage wheat farmers in the state to embark on large-scale production of the crop so that the state will be become number one producer of the grain in the country.

    “At this level, 400 tons of wheat have been purchased at N15,000 per bag; I got the assurance of the state government to support our farmers through accessing loans and other incentives. It is our hope that farmers will utilise this opportunity to cultivate wheat on the over 600,000 hectares of fadama land in the state.”

    The chairman has also allayed farmers’ fears on the sustainability of the scheme by announcing that the Federal Government has released funds to the association in that regard.

    The Speaker, Kebbi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdulmumin Kamba represented Governor Atiku  Bagudu at the event.

    He assured the farmers of the government support.

  • College hosts American varsity’s brightest graduate

    College hosts American varsity’s brightest graduate

    A reception has been held in Plateau State for 20-year-old, Tobi Adebisi, who graduated at the top of his class at University of Michigan, United States.

    The ceremony held at the Nigerian College of Accountancy, Kwall, near Jos, the state capital.

    Tobi, son of the Director-General of the college, Prof Joseph Femi Adebisi, was the best student in Computer Science and also overall best at the University of Michigan, Flint.

    On May 3, the younger Adebisi was among 750 graduates of the university. His academic performance earned him applause from the institution, which recognised his dedication to class work, work ethics and professionalism.

    He graduated with a GPA of 4.0. His major area of specialisation is App Designing.

    His parents flew to US to witness his graduation. One of his lecturers said: “Tobi did not just want to receive knowledge, but wanted to explore and experiment and it has got him far.”

    He served as the President of the Association of Computing Machinery, and as Vice President of African Students Association and member of UM -Flint Student Government and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship.

    The high-flyer was not just glued to school work; he mixed quite well.

    Tobi said: “I love people. I like building relationships. I enjoy relationships with others close to me. But that will not clash with my interest in my academic practice. I like a lot of research; it enables me to know what I never knew. I learnt a lot by watching many videos online about computer science and app designing. Then I make use of people and resources around me to grow my skills.

    “My future ambition is not just to limit myself to app designing, I want to come up with an idea that will help the growth and development of my country, Nigeria. I want to initiate a technology that (will move) the whole world. I want to build a name like Bill Gates in the computer world, I want to own my own technology with which I will not only make a living but change the world of computer.”

  • Nigeria loses N250b on medical tourism yearly

    The Nigerian medical Association (NMA) has raised the alarm, saying that Nigeria loses N250 billion yearly to medical tourism.

    The association said the solution to such capital flight lies with the upgrading of the country’s tertiary institutions and replacing obsolete equipment with modern ones.

    In a communiqué at the end of its national executive council (NEC) meeting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, NMA said it was opposed to giving girls out in marriage before the age of 18.

    The communiqué was signed by NMA President and Secretary-General, Dr Kayode Obembe and Dr Adewunmi Alayaki.

    NMA urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a medical doctor as the minister of health, adding that “doctors who take care of the sick must be accorded priority in the scheme of things”.

    Part of the communiqué reads: “NMA has been clamouring for the post of Surgeon General which is paramount in our health system. Examples we can point to are: Attorney General of the Federation, Accountant-General of the Federation and Surveyor-General and Auditor General.

    “The NMA is opposed to giving out our girls in marriage before the age of 18 years because before that age, the bony system has not fully developed. Scientifically, this practice should be condemned, the birth canal will be very narrow for the head of the baby to pass through during labour, which can lead to the condition called Vesico Virginal Fistula (VVF). We appeal to all men of good will to impress on our Government and policy makers to rescue our female children from this miserable life and ultimate disaster.

    “We know that President Mohammadu Buhari has respect for human lives, hence doctors who take care of the sick must be accorded priority in the scheme of things. We hereby implore the President to appoint a Medical Doctor as the Minister of Health. We also implore him to bring out the white paper on Yayale Ahmed Report because this will promote industrial harmony in the health sector.

    “NMA is very concerned with the incessant strikes that have bedeviled the health sector which is due to the fact that circulars issued by the government were not cash backed. In the interim, supplementary allocation should be made to pay for such commitments while on a long term basis, it must be clearly defined as a budget heading in 2016 appropriation.

    “NMA is worried at the rate at which the so called regulatory bodies, apart from Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), invade our hospitals. We hereby appeal to the Police to cooperate with NMA in ensuring that no regulatory body apart from MDCN is allowed to come and interrupt Doctors while they are on their legitimate vocation of saving lives as this constitutes distraction and interruption in the hospital environment.

    “NMA is in full support of the Universal health coverage, this has been the focus of the national officers’ committee (NOC) of the Association and we believe the instrument of the full implementation is through National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). We are delighted that the National Health Act made provision for getting one percent consolidated revenue fund through the NHIS while the other 50 percent goes to the primary health care.

    “NMA is poised to eradicate measles from our country. We have kicked out polio and Ebola. Everybody should join hands with NMA to achieve this. Therefore, our Physicians Week in October shall focus on measles.”

     

  • FCT gives Area Council ultimatum on refuse 

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration has given the chairmen of the six Area Council one week deadline to clear all the heaps of refuse littering the area councils.

    FCT Permanent Secretary, John Chukwu expressed disappointment over the huge volume of waste in all the area councils and satellite towns.

    Chukwu who reminded them of the statutory responsibility of maintaining the environment, added that the ugly trend of heaps of garbage must immediately be reversed according to the change mantra of the Federal Government.

    Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary FCT, Muhammad Sule said this  in a press statement. He said  Chukwu gave the instruction during an emergency meeting on the state of environment in the Area Councils and Satellite Towns.

    He added: “Chukwu during the meeting expressed disappointment over the poor state of environment as well as the huge volume of waste in all the Area Councils.

    “The Permanent Secretary reminded the Council Chairmen of their statutory responsibilities of 100 per cent maintenance of the environment; stressing that cleanliness is next to godliness.

    “He reiterated that the ugly trend of heaps of garbage in all the Area Councils and Satellite Towns must immediately be reversed in line with the change mantra of the Federal Government.

    “Chukwu warned that the Chairmen are elected leaders; noting that Councils’ elections are around the corner and therefore the people are going to hold them accountable.

    “He insisted that enough is enough; saying that the Council Chairmen must sit up as this sorry state cannot be allowed to continue in the Territory.

    “The Permanent Secretary emphasised that Abuja is one of the most important places in the country, being the abode of Mr. President, members of the National Assembly, highest ranking judicial officers in the country as well as members of the diplomatic community; and therefore the window in which the world sees Nigeria.

    “All hands must be on deck to keep the environment of the entire 8,000 square kilometres of the Federal Capital Territory very clean to showcase the city to the world.”