The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • ‘We need health centre’

    ‘We need health centre’

    Residentsof Orozo-Gidan in the Federal Capital Territory seem to have little to celebrate. They have electricity,  nursery and primary schools. But that is about all. There is no health facility, which  they say they need urgently in order to remain healthy.

    A visit to the community revealed that residents of Orozo-Gidan are in dire need of primary health care centre. This is because of the distance they have to trek on daily basis to access health care services when any member of the community is sick or when a woman is about to be delivered of a baby.

    It was a pathetic experience for a young man who was rushing his wife who was in pains of labour on a motorcycle to a distant health centre at Orozo town, as both of them were struggling not to fall off from the motorcycle because of the bad nature of the road in the community.

    John Abachi, a native of the community who spoke with Abuja Review said the man and his wife had no money to board a vehicle, adding that they had to board a motorcycle to get health care attention due to lack of health care centre in the community.

    “This is what the poor in this community experience since there is no near-by health centre. If the young man has money or even if there is health centre in this community, the man would not be struggling on a motorcycle with his pregnant wife probably in labour or very sick to get to a hospital which is very far from here,” he said.

    Prince Zaphania Sule, who spoke on behalf of his father who is the Chief of the community, Chief Sule Baba, commended the leadership of AMAC for providing them with rural electrification, nursery and primary schools, but said that the issue of absence of health care centre has been worrisome because of its importance.

    His words: “We do not have health centre in this community, when anybody is sick or wants to give birth; they go to Orozo, Kurudu, Gidan-Mangoro or Karshi. The distance to these areas is very far and it is very risky most times, because when that person is very sick, instead of just walking into the health centre in the community, he would be thinking of how to get the money to pay the motorcyclist who will take him to any of these communities, before he thinks of how to get the money to pay for hospital expenses.

    “We seriously need health care centre. That is what my father usually complains about, because the issue of health centre is challenging to us. If somebody is very sick at night, we go through the pains of travelling to these areas for treatment. It is very dangerous, mostly when somebody is at the brink of death. There would not be nearby hospital to save his life. So, the chairman should help us by establishing a primary health care centre in this community.”

    Sule also said another challenge that the community is experiencing is insecurity, saying the issue of armed robbery has become disturbing to residents of the community. This, he said, is because of the absence of police post to checkmate on the activities of the youth in the community.

    “Before, the issue of armed robbery was inconceivable in this community; but now, due to development, the problem has persisted and almost every helpless residents and natives are becoming victims of armed robbery attacks.

    “Even last week, a woman was robbed in broad day light. We seriously need police post in this community to help us fight crime,” he said.

    Commenting on the customs and traditions of the people of Gidan, Prince Sule proudly said that in the past they had customs and traditions which they practised devotedly. Such practices included not pounding of pepper at night, masquerades dances and idol worshipping and believing in their guidance. But, since the community, Chief Sule Baba converted to Christianity over 12 years ago; they no longer practise those things.

    “Since our chief became a Christian in 2002, those idol worshipping has stopped; those things that we prevent the people from doing, no longer border us; such as not pounding pepper at night, believing that it disturbs the spirits and can cause sickness if any one does it. We no longer believe in it. Now anybody can pound pepper whenever they like, as far as it does not affect the next person negatively. Since we started living this way, things have been going smooth and peaceful for us all,” he stated.

     

  • Finally, a Govt House fit for Plateau

    Finally, a Govt House fit for Plateau

    The old order has rolled past. Henceforth, Plateau State government business will be done in a befitting facility, not lodges or temporary structures. A brand new Government House has made that possible.

    “Plateau State never had a Government House of its own since it was created in 1976,” said Secretary to the State Government, Prof Shedrack Best. “The state affairs have always been run from a temporary Government House and this has made the seat of government unstable all this while. The first military administrator of the state, Police Commissioner Joseph Dechi Gomwalk started running government affairs from a private residence in Jos, talking of late Mark Samchi residence.

    “The military administrators that came after him relocated the governor’s office several times. It was one of the military governments that built a Presidential Lodge in Rayfield. But the first civilian governor of the state, the late Chief Solomon Daushep Lar converted the Presidential Lodge to Government House and from there he ran government affairs for the period of his administration.

    “After Solomon Lar, there was another military government and they maintained their office at the same location in Rayfield.”

    The Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication Hon. Abubakar Badu also corroborated the position of the SSG.

    He said, “Plateau is a second generation state created alongside 19 states by the late General Murtala Muhammed in 1976. The first generation states were the original twelve states created by General Yakubu Gowon. But the state never had a Government House of its own, the seat of government has been relocated from here and there against government protocol and security. At a point we were even operating government activities from a presidential lodge. So, in practical terms, Plateau State never had a befitting Governor’s Office and this has created some measure of inconvenience to those running the affairs of the state all this  while.”

    This explained why on assumption of office in 2007, Governor Jonah Jang said the state deserved its own Government House and cannot continued to run government affairs from a temporary location. He then promised to build one.

    “So from inception, the idea of a befitting and conducive Government House was captured in the 10-point agenda of the Governor Jang administration. However, the dream of having a Government House never materialised in the first term of Governor Jang”

    “On resumption of the second term of Governor Jang, the contract for the new Government House was awarded to an Italian construction company known as “Eagle Construction Company”

    According to the SSG, “The contract for the new Government House was assigned to Eagle Construction Company in 2011, that is the government building itself, the road network at the site was awarded to Pw Construction Company. The original contract for the project was N4 billion, but the cost for the project had to be reviewed upward from time to time to be able to accommodate additional work not envisaged in the original concept.”

    “But the true story about it is we moved in to occupy the new government house three years after the contract was signed. This mean the project was so dear to the hearth of Gov Jang administration because it is a promised we made to Plateau citizens that this administration will give the state a befitting government house they will be proud of. To us, this is a legacy project for future generation.

    “In this very project, the administration deliberately situated the project in such a way as to reflect the tourism might of the state. We sited it on rocky hills, capturing the topography peculiarity of Plateau State. So the project itself is serving a dual purpose; apart from providing enormous office accommodation to government, the building itself has added to the tourist sites in the state because the state had never had this type of modern architectural edifice”.

    As a matter of fact, Plateau state is the only state that operates from four government houses before the acquiring the present Government House in Little Rayfield. One of it is Governor Jang’s personal residence in Du village of Jos South Local Government. Governor Jang had to convert his own personal residence to government house initially from where he conduct official functions. That was because, the existing government House in Rayfield had to be renovated. So while the renovation was going on, Governor Jang relocated to the presidential Lodge located beside the Government House. And because the presidential lodge could not accommodate the governor and his supporting staff fully, his personal residence was used to carry out certain government functions.

    During Jang’s first tenure, the former Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Jishe was reconstructed as Government Lodge to host the governors office and official residence. The location was used as government house alongside the one in Rayfield and Governor Jang’s personal residence. So it was not unusual then the hear reports of government functions held from Du, Jishe, Rayfield and presidential lodge in the national media. In that period, when journalists were invited to cover the government’s activities, they often asked, which of the Government Houses, is it Du, Rayfild or Jishe?

    But with the new government house in Little-Rayfield Jos, government seat has finally moved from Du, Rayfield, Presidential Lodge, Jishe to the new government house where subsequent administrations will have befitting office accommodation.

    The new Government House was furnished by the same Italian company which constructed it, all its furniture imported from Italy. The entire complex boasts up to 300 offices. The governor and his family are also accommodated there.

    According to the commissioner for Information, Gov Jang did not embarked on this capital intensive project for selfish reason, he has almost served out his tenure before the completion of this project, but he had to do it for future generation of governors. If Governor Jang had wanted it for himself, he would have started it since 2007 when he took over. But he rather started it after his first term, suggesting he only wanted a befitting Government House for the state, so that the next governor will not suffer lack of office accommodation like he did during his tenure, so I think Governor Jang means well for the state. This building is the pride of the state.”

     

  • How to revive Aso-Oke industry, by dealer

    How to revive Aso-Oke industry, by dealer

    A dealer in Aso-oke fabric has suggested how the dying industry can be revived. Alhaji AbdulKareem Okolo, renowned in the trade, regretted that the once-thriving industry has plummeted, but he added that government can save the situation by supporting it.

    Aso-oke weaving is synonymous with Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. In fact, it used to be a trade for the influential in the society. The June 12, 1993 election impasse changed the tenor of the once  flourishing business in the metropolis.

    Till now many residents of Ilorin earn a living from weaving and selling Aso-Oke clothes. This age-long industry is more common among the people of Idi-Ape, Okelele, some parts of Agbaji, Okekere, Oke-Apomu, Isale-Aluko areas both in Ilorin East and Ilorin West local government areas of the state.

    Aso-Oke fabric is a hand-woven fabric popular among the Yoruba people especially in Ilorin and Iseyin in Oyo Otate. The popular Aso-Oke fabric comes in various colours, designs and qualities.

    Yorubas wear Aso-Oke fabric for every conceivable occasion such as wedding, funeral and chieftaincy title ceremonies.

    Aso-Oke, which is woven with elaborate unique patterns made from dyed strands of fabric that are woven into strips of cloth, are of three kinds namely Alaari, Sanyan and Etu. It takes some time to make Aso-Oke fabric as it is made very delicately. It can also be made with a silk fabric which enhances the colours and the material.

    Speaking on the local industry, a one-time Aso-Oke magnate in the state, Alhaji AbdulKareem Okolo said, “I inherited the business from my father but had to quit when things were not moving on fine.

    “Some of those [who] have become the who-is-who in the society today are trained children of weavers; when you talk of beautiful houses then, they were owned by weavers. But the story changed during the June 12, 1993 crisis.

    “You know the business involves travelling; we exported it for sale in Ibadan precisely, Oja Oje where people from different parts of the country like Ijebu, Abeokuta, Lagos, Onitsha, Benin and so on come to purchase it for retail. So when there was the crisis of June 12, weavers encountered series of attacks, they were robbed and injured. This really affected the business which made many people to abandon the trade for alternative means of livelihood.

    On the quality of modern-day Aso-Oke, he explained that modern technology has made the craft easier.

    “It is made by first washing the thread and then using starch. It is then left out to dry in the hot African sun. It then needs to be rolled before you start to weave it. It can take up to 3 hours to finish weaving one piece and can take up to two weeks to finish a complete customised Aso-Oke cloth. This process can be much longer during the rainy season,” he explained.

    For the survival of the industry, he appealed to Nigerian government to support the trade in all ramifications.

    “People in this local industry are contributing to the development of the economy. It is manufactured good that can be proudly pointed to as Nigeria made product, For instance, countries like China and India do not depend on other countries, they are manufacturing countries because they  supported creativity and this has given them upper hand in this area.”

    Okolo added that the trade is one that effectively engages youth and discourages hooliganism and other social vices among youths.

    He then urged the federal government to find lasting solution to the violence in the northern part, noting that it is already affecting the economy of the country just like the June 12 crisis which hindered inter-state trading activities.

    Another practitioner, Alfa Laaro Lamule Omo-Oba who hails from Idi-Ape area of the metropolis told THE NATION that weaving of Aso-Oke is a trade that may go into extinction if care is not taken.

    The clothe weaver who said he has been in the business for 25years, said that there are several challenges threatening the survival of the industry.

    He said “I have been in the business for about 25yrs but it is now gradually fading out because there are several problems hindering the growth of the local industry. But I decided to continue in the business because I don’t want to be idle.”

    Omo-Oba also attributed downturn in the trade according to the June 12, 1993 crisis when they could not move their products to the south western states where demand for the product is very high.

    Another problem, he noted is the change in fashion trend which has taken shine off the Aso-Oke.

    “People now use Ankara and head gear called Tapanpa instead of Ofi and this has greatly affected our business.  People prefer to use what is in vogue rather than what is good.

    “There are few hands in the business as people are not ready to learn the craft again, their target is western education and afterward, they go for white collar job. And let me tell you, this business is now profitable, the number of pieces that we weave in a month then will be produced within two weeks now because of modern techniques adopted.

    “People are not ready to weave again and the demand is more than what we can produce. Imagine a situation whereby there is demand for 40 pieces and we are able to produce just 15 pieces, apparently demand is more than supply, it is a great challenge, despite the fact that it is now more profitable than ever.”

    Omo-Oba however stated that he has no regret being in the business because of the passion he has for it.

    “More so, I have been able to use proceeds from this business to meet most of my financial responsibilities from time to time.

    The 30year-old, who became an orphan at an early age, said he had the craft to fall back on to make ends meet after the demise of his parents.

    “I lost my parents while I was still young, one must not see that as an excuse to join bad gang or become liability to others. I had to move on with life and thank God my parents had enrolled me in the trade. With the help of my boss, Alhaji Abdulkareem Okolo, I was able to save money to sponsor myself in Arabic school.

    “No knowledge is a waste; thank God the two are of good use to me now because I have been able to establish an Arabic school. After I am through with weaving for the day, I retire to the school to train my students.”

    He said that the trade is one that could be conveniently combined with other jobs be it government or private.

    On the importance of the fabric, Madam Deborah Ogunbaiyeje, a resident of Ilorin stated that the outfit is one that cannot be under-estimated in the world of fashion because of its grandeur.

     

  • Made-in-Zaria cars coming

    Made-in-Zaria cars coming

    Cars manufactured locally by engineering students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria will soon be exhibited at a competition in the Netherlands. Beyond the show, however, home-made vehicles may be on the way, reports ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE 

    Before the varnish and the final touches, they certainly look as uninviting as wrecked cars. One unfinished one looks little more than a strange gadget held together by four tyres. But indeed those are products of genius and the hope of the nation. They are the precursors of the Nigerian cars, a feat that already stands the young manufacturers out even before they set out for the Netherlands where the cars will be parked side by side with others in a competition.

    •Another car in the making
    •Another car in the making

    They are the Engineering students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria who dazzled guests and residents of the ancient Zaria city at the institution’s 37th convocation ceremony. It was on that occasion that they rolled out the first-ever made in Zaria cars for test-running.

    The locally fabricated vehicles looked light and were unfinished when The Nation came, but certainly they are nothing but a breakthrough for the university and Nigeria in technological development.

    The Nation gathered at the university that the cars would be displayed for a Shell-sponsored competition at Rotterdam in the Netherlands in May.

    ABU, University of Lagos and University of Benin will represent Nigeria in the competition against 125 other car-making countries.

    The project, which is an urban concept, has a maximum 200kg and is specifically designed to ply any road and move a very long distance with minimum of gasoline consumption.

    When The Nation visited the institution, a team of 500-Level Engineering students were working on the body of the second vehicle under the close watch of their lecturers. The students expressed enthusiasm that once they are back from the Netherlands, they should be able to easily manufacture tricycles in marketable quantity.

    Their Head of Department, Dr. Muhammad Dauda who led The Nation’s crew to the workshop also disclosed that the competition which propelled the fabrication of the vehicles was targeted at getting vehicles that will go the longest distance with minimum of fuel.

    He said even as they were yet to test-run the second vehicle, they had already passed two out of the three stages of the competition, which are: expression of interest in the competition, which includes the explanation of the type of vehicle, the fuel grade and its overall dimension and the second stage being about sending the detailed design of the car.

    He said, “The competition is all about evolutionary process of development. That is why Shell, the sponsors of the competition, is not after the development, but the process as a whole”.

    The Nation gathered that Shell which has been sponsoring the competition for well over 30 years, always wants students to understand that development ýis not a revelation but a process, hence, the HOD said the competition is an eye opener to the students and entire university community that, they can do more.

    According to Dr. Dauda, the Shell-sponsored competition was borne out of the desire to identify brilliant engineering students all over the world to enhance technological breakthrough.

    He said all the departments in the Faculty of Engineering were involved in the process ýof making what has been dubbed the Shell Marathon Vehicle or SMV, adding that the engineers who produced the car have ensured that they strictly adhered to the recommended size.

    “We signified interest to participate in the competition last year, and that made us one of the three universities from Nigeria to be selected for the contest after passing the first and second stages of the competition.

    car2“As you can see, we have produced two cars with most of the materials sourced locally and on the average, we can say the project is at 75% ýcompletion level. Therefore, our contingents are expected to leave Nigeria for Rotterdam in Netherlands on May 15 for the competition.

    “We are confident that Ahmadu Bello University will win the competition because all work done are strictly according to specification prescribed by the rules and regulations governing the competition,” he said.

    The Head of Department ýsaid the Engineering Faculty has been humbled by the feat already achieved and their next plan is to construct another urban concept prototype car using gasoline and a battery electric vehicle with the involvement of Chemical Engineering Department.

    He expressed satisfaction that, in the ongoing project, Mechanical Engineering Department has been the harrow-head, noting that, the oil company solely financed the making of the cars by providing the seeds money to the tune of N10 million.

    ”The Vice Chancellor of ABU, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha who was overwhelmed by the gesture also doled out N2 million to further encourage our team of Engineers. And as it is today, we have sufficient funds being judiciously utilised for the project,” he said.

    He also disclosed that the university will after the programme go into partnership with automobile companies to share their expertise with the institution for the benefit of students, researchers and lecturers. This he said will set the ground for the university to start automotive engineering.

    However, to the students directly involved in the project’s manufacturing, the Shell competition is an eye opener that, with grant, they can develop made in Nigeria vehicles.

    The lead students, Sadiq Yusuf, Folorunsho Taiwo and Azeezat ý Salman were in high spirit to take their invention to Netherlands, bring home glory to Nigeria and face new challenge afterwards.

  • Eight-year-old Jemila needs N5m to live

    Eight-year-old Jemila needs N5m to live

    Eight-year-old Jemila Mohammed Umar, a Primary Four pupil in Kaduna State, is a sickler and needs help urgently.

    She nurses an ambition of becoming a medical doctor, a career she chose to enable her give care to sickle cell patients, an ailment she suffers from. The fear of her parents, however, is that her career may be not even take off owing to her health condition.

    Jemila, according to her father, Alhaji Umar Mohammed has been going through the pain of sickle cell anaemia for the past seven-and a-half years. Even though she was born with the ailment, her parents only got to know six months after.

    Alhaji Mohammed said: “There are eight children in the family, but she is the only sickle cell carrier among them. She suffers severe body pains and organs disorder whenever the crisis starts and has to be admitted in the hospital frequently.

    “She experiences a couple of crisis a year during which she complains of hand-foot syndrome characterised by swollen hands and feet. My fear is that, the signs and symptoms of the disease manifest between May and June each year. Therefore, we take measures to manage episodes that are uncomplicated at home but in most cases, we take her to a nearby clinic for medication where she would stay for at least a week.

    “Application of ‘cola nut’ balm to relieve the pains in the hands and feet is another medication we have adopted in managing the crisis at home,” he said.

    He further explained that Jemila’s case has left the family financially and emotionally devastated, adding that, “the condition is characterised by excruciating pains which distinguish neither day nor night. Whenever the crisis starts, the whole family does not sleep as we exchange roles to pacify and comfort her, but all in vain because the pains are stubborn and determined until when God Almighty sends His relief. And, at last, when sleep sneaks in on her, we don’t wake her up.

    “Doctors at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Benin-City said for Jemila to get cured, she has to undergo stem cell transplant. The procedure requires the injection of healthy cells into her body to replace the damaged ones.

    ”A hematologist and stem cell transplant expert at UBTH, Dr. Nosa Bazauye said it will take between two and three months for her condition to stabilise after the operation. The transplant will use cells donated by her family members. The cell samples of her siblings will be taken to a hospital in Switzerland for verification before choosing the right donor.” he stated.

    For the surgery to take place, Alhaji Mohammed said the sum of N5 million was needed; an amount of money too difficult for the family to get. He is therefore pleading for help from the government, individuals and organisations to save the life of his daughter.

    He pleaded to individuals, organisations and government willing to assist to send donations for his daughter’s recovery to First Bank, with account name: Mohammed Umar and account number 3075634882 (Current) or UBA with account name – Mohammed Umar and account number 1014957735.

    While praying that God will replenish whoever assists his daughter in multiple folds, Alhaji Mohammed said he doesn’t mind if any individual, organisation or government will prefer to foot the bill directly, through UBTH.

  • Council chief donates relief materials to herdsmen

    Council chief donates relief materials to herdsmen

    Following the fire incident that gutted residents of Fulani herdsmen at Jijingba, a community in Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the chairman Hon. Shaban Tete has donated some relief materials worth millions of naira to the affected victims.

    Presenting the relief materials to the Fulani herdsmen, the council chief said the gesture aimed at cushioning the suffering the victims were going through, saying it is the responsibility of his administration to provide a healthy atmosphere conducive to the well-being of members of the community.

    He further said his administration is an all-inclusive one, as such, will continue to ensure that it carries along every member of the community in the interest of development of the area.

    Hon. Tete reiterated the determination of the council to continue to give priority attention to the welfare of the people, in order to improve the living standard of the people, pointing out that the items donated were to help in alleviating the conditions and improve the lives of the Fulani herdsmen whose houses were gutted by fire.

    Recall that the Village Head, Chief Yahaya Musa, who was trying to tidy his farmland, had set fire on his farm when the fire spread and burnt down all the Fulani huts rendering them homeless.

    Musa, who said the act was not deliberate, expressed gratitude to the council chief for coming to their aid during their trying period, advising the Fulani community to continue to live in peace with other communities as one family.

    Speaking on behalf of the Fulani, the Chief of Fulani in Kuje, Umar Ishiaka thanked the council chief for extending the gesture to his people. He pledged his readiness to support the council in its development strides.

    Some of the items donated to the affected Fulani herdsmen included bags of rice, clothes, bags of salt, bags of maize, cartons of maggi and mattresses.

     

  • More districts, communities to get water

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Water Board has expressed its readiness to enhance service provision through increased and uninterrupted water supply to districts and communities of the FCT yet to access water supply.

    Rising from the its meeting of the year which was also the 10th since the inauguration of the members of the Board, Chairman of the Board, Alhaji Alhassan Sule Gwagwa, expatiated that aside from conforming to President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda, the service expansion will also translate to improved revenue generation.

    Towards achieving this objective therefore, Gwagwa confirmed that the Board of Directors has concluded arrangements to make a presentation to the Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed on the need for a speedy completion of tanks one and six and the associated mains in order to ensure that the adequate volume of water currently being produced is also equitably distributed.

    Contributing, Board member in charge of personnel matters, Alhaji Nasir Galadima, told reporters that issues of staff welfare, including incentives and allowances, provision of protective gears and uniforms and the need for good office accommodation, especially in area offices, were also resolved.

    The current security situation in the country, according to Alhaji Galadima, also informed the decision of the Board of Directors to ensure that the perimeter of Lower Usuma Dam is intact and secure at all times, while all other complementary measures that will protect the entire facility against any form of hostility are also put in place.

  • Group urges Jonathan to ok Disability Bill

    Group urges Jonathan to ok Disability Bill

    President Goodluck Jonathan has not assented to the Disability Bill passed by the National Assembly 30 days ago, it has been learnt.

    •Director, Drac, Irene Patrick-Ogbogu
    •Director, Drac, Irene Patrick-Ogbogu

    Executive Director of Disability Rights Advocacy Centre (DRAC), Irene Patrick-Ogbogu who briefed reporters on the development, said: “It is also pertinent to note that it is approximately 14 years since the struggle for a legal framework to protect the rights of people with disabilities (PWDs) began in Nigeria. This is also the second time this bill is coming to President Goodluck Jonathan’s table and the third time persons with disabilities are pleading with him to sign it.

    “We hereby call on President Goodluck Jonathan to give his assent to the Bill recently passed by the National Assembly without delay so as to reduce the pain and exclusion suffered by Nigerians living with disabilities. We believe that President Jonathan, under whose watch the Health Bill and the Freedom of Information Bill became law will further cement his legacy as a humanitarian President if he makes the Disability Act a reality.

    “This is because the sad condition of the more than 19 million Nigerians who are living with different forms of disability is a blot on the collective conscience of the nation.

    “Over 60 per cent of Nigerians living with disabilities are 18 years and above with more than 80 per cent of them living in the rural areas with minimal access to social infrastructures. More than 50 per cent of Nigerians with disabilities are women with no access to health care, resulting in increases in maternal and child mortality in the community.

    “This bill provides for prohibition of discrimination against persons with disabilities, right to access to public premises, accessibility provisions in public buildings, provision for situation of risk and humanitarian emergencies, service at queues, prohibition of use of persons with disabilities in attendant penalties, freedom and movement, access to comprehensive health care, right to inclusive education, free education, special education, personnel, participation in politics, and establishment of a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, among others.

    •Another disabled woman
    •Another disabled woman

    “If assented to, the bill will lead to marked improvements in the quality of life of PWDs and a departure from stereotypical and harmful ways of approaching disability issues, putting forms of institutional, attitudinal environmental barriers experienced by citizens with disabilities to rest.

    “Examples of anticipated improvements include: it will become illegal to erect buildings and structures that deny access to PWDs, those responsible for approving building codes will begin to ensure that a standard building plan is one that provides accessibility considerations, such as ramps, lifts, audio-visual signage and accessible restrooms, among other; thus enhancing access to buildings and the physical improvements in access to health care for PWDs generally; but especially for women with disabilities; a situation where disability needs will reflect in the planning of our health policies and programmes will be the order of the day. Service delivery will improve through the training and deployment of auxiliary personnel in health facilities.

    “Accessible equipment will also be provided. Sexual and reproductive health needs of young persons with disabilities will also be mainstreamed into programmes for adolescent.  It will become a crime to use PWDs to solicit for alms and for sexual and other forms of exploitation, making it an offense that attracts a stiff penalty. “This will lead to a marked reduction in crimes against PWDs and an increase in rehabilitation facilities to absorb the teeming population, inclusive and accessible education will guarantee children with disabilities to develop intellectually and socially at the same pace/level with their non-disabled counterparts, thus ensuring their effective integration into mainstream society and improving their social interactions and opportunities, including those for the job market.

    “It will become illegal for employers and would-be employers to discriminate against anyone on the basis of disability with regard to hiring, firing, pay and promotion, among others. It will also ensure that employers provide reasonable accommodation (workplace accessibility) for workers with disabilities.

    “Many more are some of the intrinsic benefits that will accrue to persons with disabilities, their caregivers and society as a whole when this Bill becomes law.

    DRAC is a non-governmental, non-profit making organisation that works to promote the human rights of persons with disabilities.

    It also facilitates development agenda and increase awareness about the situation of women with disabilities in Nigeria.

    “DRAC is borne out of the personal experience of the founder who lives with a disability as well as from an in-depth analysis of PWDs where environment, poverty, pervasive exclusion and social injustice pervade.

    “Our vision is a just world devoid of poverty and intolerant of all forms of injustice.

    DRAC is currently enjoying support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for advocacy and civic engagement for social inclusion of persons with disabilities and access to health for women with disabilities in Nigeria,” she said.

  • Farther from the masses

    The Presidential Villa and the head of government, the President ought to be close to the masses as obtains in many western nations, whose style of government Nigeria has adopted.

    But this is far from the case in Nigeria as the gap appears to be getting wider by the day.

    To bring Americans close to the government and give them the feelings of belonging, citizens in the United States, for instance, always have opportunity to visit the White House.

    Even as one of the worst terrorists-hit nations, park land and gardens by the White House has offered access to Americans and visitors alike.

    Such visitors to the White House also have opportunity to participate in numerous activities and special events in the park.

    The Park also offers students and educators a number of opportunities to explore the political and cultural history of the United States of America.

    As a home, an office, and a showplace for American craftsmanship, the White House mirrors and magnifies broad social trends.

    The White House is also a popular location for individuals and groups to petition the government, which is a hallmark of the American democratic experiment.

    Although no entrance fees is charged any individual or group to access the President’s Park or the White House Visitor Centre, their request for access must be submitted through the visitor’s Member of Congress (as a citizen) or embassy (if a foreigner) between three weeks and six months in advance of the desired tour date.

    Each member of congress already has established procedures by which to accept tour reservation requests.

    Besides, all citizen visitors who are 18 years and above will are also required to present valid, government-issued photo identification before gaining entrance, while all foreign nationals must present their passports.

    In my write-up entitled “Whither Nigeria’s Presidential Park” over a year ago, I harped on the need for such Presidential park at the seat of power in Abuja to provide Nigerians, who have been properly screened, the opportunity to visit the seat of government.

    This has not been done to date. Rather, steps are being taken to build more walls between the occupier of the seat of power and the masses.

    New and high-tech electronic-controlled barriers have been springing up at various security points in the State House.

    Many visitors to the Presidential Villa, if their opinions have been sought, would have thought that the measures in place before were adequate enough, especially with the successes being recorded against the terrorists, Boko Haram in the Northeast.

    More so, President Gooduck Jonathan has severally reiterated that the sect will soon be defeated.

    There is definitely a disconnect between the reasons behind the installation of the new gadgets and the President’s seeming desire to mix up with the masses just like he did on Saturday, March 7 during walking and jogging exercise at the Eagles Square.

    At the Eagles Square, the President did not only want to shake hands with all the youth scrambling and falling over one another to touch him, but if given the chance, he would have hugged everyone at the rally.

    The gentleman, who spoke on behalf of the people with special abilities at the physical training exercise at the Eagles Square, was full of gratitude to President Jonathan for being the first President that brought disabled Nigerians in large numbers to the seat of government.

    The President should go beyond this and do everything to make the Presidential Villa accessible to more Nigerians. To eliminate the gap, a good starting point will be the creation of a Presidential Park accessible to pre-screened Nigerians.

    Last lap

    With 11 days to the commencement of the March 28 Presidential and April 11 Governorship and other elections, President Goodluck Jonathan has started the final round of campaigns towards the polls.

    Campaigns by political parties and their candidates, to a large extent, slowed down following the shifting of the elections from February 14 and 28 to the new dates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which cited inability of the military to guarantee security for the elections.

    Before the postponement of the elections, President Jonathan has taken his campaign tours to almost all the states in the federation except Yobe State and the Federal Capital Territory, where the final campaign was scheduled to hold.

    As he has consistently maintained that May 29 handover date is sacrosanct, it is hoped that no reason would be played up again to necessitate any further shift in the election dates. Many individuals and groups have already warned of dire consequences of any further postponement.

    The political parties and their candidates did not completely lie low following the announcement postponement of the elections.

    President Jonathan has used the period to personally meet with some stakeholders he believed can sway more votes for him in some geo-political zones.

    He visited Lagos State and some other states in the Southwest where he met with traditional rulers and royal fathers.

    With 11 days to the elections, the President is also concentrating on some states in the north, including Kaduna and Adamawa, where he was billed to meet Emirs and other traditional rulers to shore up support for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan has also hit the roads to seek support of the women for her husband and the PDP.

    It is hoped that the polity will not be over-heated again as the dates of the elections come close as witnessed before the shift in dates.

    The President must ensure that the May 29 handover date is really sacrosanct as Nigerians are anxiously waiting to put the elections behind them.

  • Firm donates drugs to police, community

    Drugs worth N2 million were donated to the 7 Squadron, Police Mobile Force, Sokoto and the  Wajakke community in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State by the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN).

    The donation comprised assorted drugs which were presented to the respective beneficiaries by the Managing Director, Mr Alf Karlsen who was represented by the company’s Head of Human Resources, Alhaji Abubakar Bala.

    Making the presentation, Karlsen said the gesture was part of the corporate social responsibilities of the firm.

    The drugs included antibiotics, anti- malarial, analgesic; anti-fungal and four prostate leg supporters.

    The Managing Director said: “This is part of our goals to complement the efforts of the government in providing the health care needs of the people.

    He further explained that the gesture to the beneficiaries was in appreciation of the existing cordial relationship between the firm and the host communities.

    Receiving the donation, the Commander of the Mobile Police Squadron, Mr Yusuf Danlami, represented by Mr Isah Kabiru recalled the long standing cordial relationship between the Squadron and the organisation, even as he also commended the firm for its sense of commitment to fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities by extending the gesture to them.

    He also promised to utilise the drugs judiciously, pledging to continue to work round the clock to ensure the security of lives and property of the people of the state.

    In the same manner, Chairman of Wamakko Local Government Area, Alhaji Ahmed Kalambaina who spoke through the Director of Health, Alhaji Garba Aliyu commended CCNN for the gesture, promising the judicious use of the drugs.