The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Sokoto graduates special marshals

    Sokoto graduates special marshals

    It had the trappings of a military parade. Some 2,200 youths filed past in a well-coordinated march. Taking the salute was Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wammako.

    It was the graduation day of the state’s special marshals who would help manage vehicular traffic, ensure public order and keep the state tidy. It was a well-thought-out plan to fight unemployment as well as help other existing personnel in public duties.

    The people watched and cheered as the youths savoured their day.

    The Wamakko administration said the establishment of the Sokoto Corp Marshals was part of its pledge to create employment for the state youths. The training was financed with the state’s share of funds from the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

    The Marshals are under the watchful eye of a retired Commissioner of Police, Sa’idu Madawaki. For seven weeks, the youths, drawn from the 23 local local government areas of the state, underwent intensive training in paramilitary exercises before being posted to their duty post after being paid some stipends.

    The Nation was informed that the Marshals will help in security duties. Five hundred of them have been deployed to strategic locations within the state capital while others have been posted to other local government areas. They have also been placed on a money salaries in accordance with the regulations in the state civil service.

    Investigations revealed that those in the state capital have already begun working in the areas of their posting within the metropolis such as roundabouts, junctions, public places such as markets and related areas where traffic congestion and activities are high for control and orderliness. It was also discovered that this measure is already paying off as activities of motorists and other road users who are always in the habit of violating traffic laws have being reduced to the barest minimum.

    In the past, road users especially commercial tricycles were in the habit of violating traffic laws. But since the since the introduction of the marshals, activities of such groups have reduced. Their presence at public events for crowd control and maintaining orderliness in recent times has been commended by residence of the state. A commercial car driver, Malam Almu Dan Ige told The Nation that the people of the state need to cooperate with Marshals in the discharge of their duties. He said, “As you can see, the traffic is under control with the coming of these corps marshals. They are now everywhere in town and we are seeing their positive impact. Their coming has reduced some risks on the roads and install some level of sanity at public places. They are working side by side with the traffic wardens and the lights are functioning too to avoid accidents and disobedience of traffic laws. We need to cooperate with them”.

    He said that the creation of the Marshals has also helped in checking social adversity and redundancy among a significant number youths in the state. They have been equipped with patrol vehicles to monitor and control as well as check excesses of road users, public attitude to discipline and environmental sanity.

     

  • Gaidam visits Yobe refugees in Niger

    Gaidam visits Yobe refugees in Niger

    It was a bold step across the international border, but it was one worth taking.  members of the Boko Haram sect have since unleashed such terror on the Northeast, killing so many, injuring many more, but also displacing a large chunk of survivors. Many of such displaced people fled to Cameroon, some to Niger Republic, among other places.

    The trip of Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam to Niger to comfort the refugees there helped to dull the pain of displacement and horror of the insurgency.

    The governor also visited his hometown Gaidam, headquarters of Gaidam Local Government Area,  which was attacked by the Islamists, bringing succour to the residents.

    He has set up a committee to provide immediate relief and support for the people, whose town is following the attack more than a week ago.

    The governor inspected the damage to public and private property caused by the attackers.

    The Nation reports that the Gaidam Market, one of the largest in the northeast, and a local government secretariat, were completely burnt down by suspected Boko Haram attackers. The Divisional Police Office, military camp as well as several houses, shops and vehicles belonging to residents were also burnt down.

    Speaking on the ruins of the burnt down Gaidam Market, Governor Gaidam sent his condolences to the families of those killed in the attack, describing the attack as “heinous, evil and barbaric”.

    As part of measures to ameliorate the suffering of the displaced population, Gaidam directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide foodstuff for the people of the town within three to four days. He also ordered that a committee comprising SEMA officials, two State Assembly members and two commissioners from the Gaidam area, chairman of the Gaidam Market Association and other elders be formed immediately to assess the level of damage with a view to providing a report which the government will use to assist victims.

    He said: “SEMA should bring in officials immediately and, along with members of the committee I just formed, they should come and start work immediately. They should compile a comprehensive report on losses incurred so that the State Government can provide support to those affected”. Gaidam said.

    The governor also directed the Gaidam local government chairman to address immediately the complaint of lack of water in the town that some residents have made to him and also directed the State’s health commissioner to deploy drugs and additional health workers to the town to attend to injured victims.

    Governor Gaidam visited Maine Soroa in Niger Republic where more than 4,000 Gaidam, Kanamma and Yunusari residents had fled to and was conducted round by the Prefect (Governor) of Diffa region, Alhaji Yakuba Usman who said over 4000 people were offered shelter in the area with 1,385 camped and fed by Niger Government while 3000 refugees live with friends and relatives in Maine Soroa town.

    Governor Gaidam while addressing the victims described what happened as “unfortunate and a test from God Almighty,” urging them to take heart and pray to God for the return of peace in Yobe and the country in general. He promised the refugees that the State Government will extend support to them even as he urges them to return home.

    “I have been assured by military authorities that they are deploying additional soldiers and all the needed military hardware to Gaidam area within the next few days. In fact some of the soldiers have already started arriving. By the Grace of God and with your prayers, we will not see a recurrence of the abominable thing we had seen in Gaidam. I urge you to return to your homes. We will remain with you and support you,” Gaidam told them.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam had earlier in his visit inspected the Military base of the area, the Divisional police station, the Local Government Secretariat and the Geidam market as well as damage to public and private property burnt by the insurgents assures them of every support.

    Some of the displaced persons expressed regrets that security forces during the evasion of the town run away as the insurgents continue to  rain terror on them unabated and call for timely government’s intervention to enable them return to their homes.

     

  • Ahmed’s wife helps 400 women

    Ahmed’s wife helps 400 women

    Widows and other less-privileged persons have been the most beneficiaries of the LEAH Foundation jobs plan in Kwara State.

    In the wee hours of 2014, no fewer than 400 women smiled home with jobs tools, thanks to the non-governmental organisation founded by wife of the state governor, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed.

    The items distributed during the empowerment programme included 250 grinding machines, 80 sewing machines, 73 deep freezers with 73 generating plants. Others are hair dryers and coolers.

    Besides, 200 women received cash to boost their trade, while scores of women from the South-South and South-Eastern parts of the country resident in the state received a start-up capital of N250,000 each.

    In all, the Founder of LEAH Foundation, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed said that no fewer than 200,000 widow and less privileged had benefited from the NGO.

    Speaking during the programme in Ilorin, the state capital, Deaconess Ahmed said “today, 400 women selected from different walks of life are benefiting from items that will soon be distributed. Every beneficiary of these equipment got the exact thing that they needed in accordance with a needs assessment which has earlier been conducted all over the state by our field workers.

    “Our sisters from the South-South and South-East zones of the country who have found a home in Kwara will also receive financial support for their businesses.”

    She added that LEAH Foundation has established 29 basic breast and cervical cancer screening centres in government hospitals across the state.

    She added that “954 primary school pupils have been enrolled on the ‘adapt a child programme; 1,038,000 people across the state have been attended to on sundry medical issues by the clinic on wheels initiative.

    “An ultra modern breast and cervical cancer diagnostic centre has been established in Ilorin. It has the full complement of a laboratory. As at date, a total of 8886 women have presented themselves for screening at the centres.

    “On our empowerment drive, over 3,500 women have been empowered at various times with different tools of trade.”

    She said that “our sole desire for this programme which we are rounding up today is to ensure the welfare of all our children as an important requirement for the wellbeing of our families.”

    Her words: “The significant thing about the exercise is that the equipment were not randomly given. Every beneficiary of these equipment got the exact thing that they needed in accordance with a needs assessment which has earlier been conducted all over the state by our field workers.

    “Let me reiterate that our soul desire for this programme is to ensure the welfare of all our women as an important requirement for the wellbeing of our families.

    “I therefore want to enjoin all beneficiaries of this programme to make judicious use of the items that have been given to them. It is only by doing that it would bring benefit to the family and our communities as we anticipate. It is also the only way to encourage us and other people and see that more people can benefit from this gesture in the near future.

    “To all and sundry, it is time for all of us to sincerely collaborate to plant new seeds of care and kindness, most especially in forlon groups- women, widows and physically challenged persons. Someday, the harvest will be different. We would have frustration replaced with hope, the seed of despair will go into extinction and the paradise we ever hoped for will be handed over to us.”

    In a remark at the event, Governor Ahmed hailed the foundation for touching the lives of the widows and less privileged in the society.

     

  • Jobs for 2,550 Kaduna youths

    As part of efforts to reduce unemployment and youth restiveness, the Kaduna State government has employed about 2550 women and youths under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). This is in addition to over 7000 of the women and youths previously engaged by the government.

    Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero expressed relief at the occasion, saying that the employment of a sizeable number of youths help keep many from thuggish behaviour and drug.  Many believe that this development will reduce the volatile nature of the state especially ahead of the 2015 general elections. Analysts believe that since the government has given the youths a life, as it were, by making them vital in nation-building, they will certainly reciprocate the effort.

    They argued that previous governments in the country, particularly Kaduna State, introduced many policies aimed at empowering thousands of unemployed youths which did not yield much result, as unemployed youths still roamed the streets. It was some of these youths who ended up in the hands of unpatrotic politicians who used them as thugs.

    The employed youths were selected from the 23 local government areas of the state comprising six males and four females from each of the 255 wards of the 23 Local Government Areas.

    Clad in SURE-P jackets at Umar Musa Yar’Adua Hall where they were given employment letters, the youths who are to be responsible for sanitation on major roads and public institutions, also act as security watchdogs in the community just as they will  control human and vehicular movement during occasions and public functions. That is not all. They will equally sensitise  and enlighten the public on peace, unity, drug awareness, good governance and civic responsibilities, were happy to be government employees.

    Governor Yero, while speaking during the flag-off of the Youth and Women employment Development programme held at Shehu Yar’Adua Multi-Purpose Hall,  urged the beneficiaries  to take the opportunity offered them seriously. He urged them to add values to their lives and not solely rely on monthly allowances alone. Yero said  government’s efforts was geared towards ensuring that youths were gainfully employed in order to encourage productivity and guide against involving in social vices such as drug abuse among others.

    To achieve this and similar programmes, the governor revealed that the state government has deposited the sum of N2billion with Bank of Agriculture (BOA) and Bank of Industry (BOI). The implementation of the programme rested on Ministry of Youth and Sport and Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    On the forthcoming general election, Governor Yero urged youths in the state to shun politicians who are bent on causing trouble. He said there are certain group of politicians whose planning day and night is to clinch the seat of power through any means particularly through violence and all sorts of trouble-making. Yero also urged the youth to be law-abiding citizens, shun all social vices and be respectful to elders according to him doing so would guarantee a secure future for them. Speaking further he said “my administration give priority to human capacity building than road construction, if we build roads and failed to build the capacity of people, who then would used the roads,”

    Speaking earlier, the state commissioner for Youth and Sports Dr. Yari Peter Everton said  a total of 2,550 youth and women across the 23 local government areas of the state benefited from the youth and women empowerment programme. He said the programme was conceived to transform and Improve the quality of lives of the youth and to also provide the youth opportunity to contribute their own quota to the development in their various communities.

    “The youth and women would be engaged in the following areas, Sanitation of major roads and public institutions, act as security watchdogs in the community, control of human and vehicular traffic, sensitise on peace, unity and drug awareness, among others”. He urged the beneficiaries to avail themselves the opportunity to serve their community for development socially, politically and economically.

    One of the beneficiaries, Bulus Iliya expressed gratitude to the state government for the kind gesture and promised to carry out their duty diligently to justify the confidence the government have in him. Haruna Usman and Talatu Yakubu also promised to be alive to their responsibility, just as they commended the state government for the gesture.

     

  • Fallen soldiers’ kids seek end to insurgency

    Fallen soldiers’ kids seek end to insurgency

    It is difficult trying to survive without one’s parents…It is our prayer that the insurgency in the Northeast will soon be a thing of the past and the areas affected would be rebuilt.”

    This was the prayer of Master Abdullahi Mohammed, a primary school pupil who lost his father to insurgency attack.

    Mohammed was one of the pupils who largely depend on humanitarian support from Support Our Troops Foundation.

    He continued: “Laying down one’s life in the interest of one’s nation is largely regarded as a national honour and we pray that their labour put in while containing the insurgents will not go in vain. We pray that their souls continue to rest in peace. May the almighty God continue to grant them eternal rest.”

    Mohammed’s voice wavered as he said that prayer on behalf of other children whose fathers also died while fighting Boko Haram insurgents. It was clear they need help.

    Madam Patience Atekhide also lost her husband last year to the unrest in the Northeast. Her husband was in the military. Since then, she has trying hard to take care of her two female children. She hails from Edo State.

    Succour has come her way, as the military responded.

    About 150 bags of rice, 300 branded school bags, 1,000 books and 50 computers were given to all the children and widows by Support Our Troops Foundation. The late soldiers were indeed heroes who died for a good cause in line of duty.

    The event was put together to support the victims’ family especially, children of military personnel who died in the cause of protecting the territorial integrity of the nation.

    The widows got bags of rice and other relief materials. Prior to this period, another beneficiary who did not want her name in print said the military had shown much love by offering them clothing materials, groundnut oil, bags of rice among others. Meanwhile, the Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) which embarks on this initiative was initiated by the former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, supported by the Defence Minister, Lt-Gen. Aliyu Gusau but founded by Mrs. Funmi Ogbue to cater for the needs of these people left behind by their father.

    While the beneficiaries commended the foundation for the gesture, Ogbue emphasised the need to support the vulnerable group. She stated that it was the vision of the foundation to create a national culture of pride, patriotism and belief in the brave people who make up the nation’s Armed Forces – and to see that pride demonstrated in the practical support it offer them.

    When it was time for the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, represented by Defence Spokesperson, Chris Olukolade to give his speech, he sought the opportunity to restore hope of the deceased families. He was particular about providing every needed support to motivate the military and their family. To him, generousity of the founder was one that has backing of the entire red brass in the military. His appreciation appeared insufficient when he called other corporate organisations and individuals to support the initiative. “I will like to appreciate this expression as it is coming at a time that our children are beginning to prepare for school. There are families that are either victims or involved in curtailing the activities of terrorists. We are aware that the federal government has a package to address the situation of victims, to see this as directly supporting our troops.

    “We sincerely appreciate it and identify with it. I can only give a commitment on behalf of Chief of Defence Staff that we will continue to encourage not just the activity to support our troops but all Nigerians who will like to express their supports for our troops in a trying period such as we are going through.”

    The gathering, which had in attendance other top military officers served as an opportunity to rekindle spirit of the men and women in uniform. Badeh restated his commitment assuring the people that the ‘Nigerian military is committed to ensuring that it does not disappoint this nation in a crucial time such as this.’ “All we need from Nigerians are understanding and supports for us to achieve our constitutional mandates of ensuring the defence of the territorial integrity of Nigeria and the Nigerian citizens wherever they are found in the world.”

    A beneficiary who did not want her name in print described the gesture as ‘very nice’ and reasonably good. However, she implored the military to endeavour to assist in paying tuition fees of their children. According to her, the military has done excellent job by providing them with foods among other needs but the future of their wards, she said was much more important. “They promised us that they will pay for the school fees of our children. Like mine, it happened last year. Up until now, I am the one trying to pay the fees. I have never seen their support for the school fees.” Asked if deliberate efforts were made to contact the appropriate authority, she said, “I have been to the army headquarters more than twice but they promised to pay the fees by next year.”

    The Former Defence Minister, Obanikoro thrilled the gathering with words of motivation. He enlightened the public on immense sacrifices made by the military to ensure safety and unity of the nation. The sacrifice, he emphasised should be replicated by supporting their wives and children they left behind.

    “This gesture is to show an expression of love, appreciation and recognition for men and women in uniform, those who have paid the supreme sacrifice in the defence of our nation Nigeria. When I conceived this idea, I invited Mrs. Ogbue to come up with programmes to achieve this aim, she has not disappointed me.

    “This support for the military is something that is embedded in the innermost part of me. It comes naturally because service to humanity itself is the best service you can render anywhere in the world. But when you are now prepared to support rendering of that service with your life, then you have taken it to another level completely.”

    ”I salute those who have lost their lives to ensure that this great country remains a stable and progressive society. I want to say with more emphasis that those fallen heroes must always be celebrated. That Nigeria is stable, that we are progressive to a reasonable extent is the work that these men and women are doing in every part of the country. We Nigerians need to encourage them by giving blind support. We appreciate you and we love you.”

  • Memorable Yuletide on the plateau

    Memorable Yuletide on the plateau

    Residents of Plateau State did something unforgettable this season. Despite the terror unleashed on the capital Jos or elsewhere in the state, the people were simply determined to celebrate the Yuletide. In the run-up to the festivities, security agents had issued several warnings that terrorists could yet strike again.

    The people would have none of it. Not that they were foolhardy; only that they seemed resolute that bloodthirsty gangs would not take away their joy. They could well have been inspired by the Holy Book and asking, Terrorists, where is your terorr?

    Last year, bombers believed to be members of the Boko Haram sect detonated devices in the heart of Jos, which killed scores of people and injured many more. A few weeks back, they hit again. It was, therefore, reasonable to approach the festivities with caution and avoid crowded places, more so when law enforcement agents had warned that there could be more attacks.

    Jos residents, and even those outside the capital, would not be intimidated. They reached for their best clothing, got together with relatives and friends and made the most of the holidays. They visited parks, the zoo, even went on a boat sail.    They came out to celebrate like they never did.

    Considered as a largely Christian community, residents of the Tin City made this Christmas the biggest festival of their lives. A resident, Michael Mannah told The Nation that Boko Haram cannot stop them from celebrating.

    He said: “Look, my brother, we have to celebrate this Christmas because we cannot throw our joy away because of fear of Boko Haram, suicide bomb or whatever attack aimed at Christians. We must celebrate. There are calculated attempts by enemies of Christianity to always deprive us of the joy of Christmas and New Year. But this time we are not scared, come what may. We have to celebrate”.

    Another resident, Rev. Isaac Thomas, said, “Plateau people are so religious, they believe in the words of their bible, they believe in the protection of God Almighty and so they fear nobody. All these attempts to scare people from their religion will no longer work. In 2010, Christians were bombed on the eve of Christmas, in December 2014 again they made more attempts to create fear in them with more bomb explosions. People are already used to all this, so they are no longer scared.”

    The people ate, drank and made   merry. Popular tourists centres across the city were filled as residents took time off to cool off. There was no age limit in this outing; the old and young were out for fun.

    The Solomon Lar Amusement Park, the Jos Wild Life Park, Jos Museum, Rayfield Resort, etc, had more visitors than ever during the Yuletide.

    In the past few years, Christmas celebrations in Jos were marked under tension due to the ugly experience of 2010. It was on the eve of Christmas of that year that the first major bomb blasts went off simultaneously at a pub, killing about 90 people. The bombs were discretely  planted in three different locations and all of them were detonated at the same time. Most families in the city therefore spent that Christmas and New Year holidays burying loved ones or catering for the wounded at various hospitals in the city. The incidents marked a dark era in the history of the state.

    Residents of Jos city who never experienced such attacks lived with horrific memories of the blasts for a long time. The horror dampened the festivities of the following three years in succession.

    This time, though, the people decided to put the ugly past behind them  and celebrate to the fullest. As soon as they returned from church services, they headed for their relaxation spots across the city. Some families moved out of their homes with their foods to tourist spots of their choice for a picnic. Some families, Christian groups, organised parties at the Jos Wild Life Park, some at the Rayfield Resort or the spacious Solomon Lar Amusement Park.

    It was a Christmas to remember in the city. The celebration was, however, not about visiting the Wild Life Park or the Amusement Park alone. Some preferred to go for a boat ride. Yes, boat ride because the city is not all about rocks. There are dams in the city that give you the exact feeling of a beach. One such is located at the Rayfield Resort which is a large body of water. It is a lake of a sort, but large enough to travel around it and to also travel through it. The lake was created through the historic mining exploration carried out by the Colonial Administration in Nigeria between 1902 and 1970. It is one the numerous mining ponds reclaimed by the Plateau State government because of its large size. There are two speed boats anchored on the lake which take tourists on a fun ride through the length and breadth of the lake. It has a good beach suitable for ceremonies. Churches go there to perform baptism on their members, couples too  for their wedding receptions, while others prefer their birthday parties there and the like.

    The site, owned by the Plateau State Tourism Corporation, has a well-decorated pub, complete with a life band section, barbecue corner and restaurants, among other facilities. There are offices for bookings for any of the services. But the most patronised was the speed boat ride. That particular section attracted children, adults, young and old. Every residents took their time to go there and have that kind of Sea-side experience.

    Most fun-centres in the city came alive during the Yuletide. Places like K-Rocks in Tudunwada, West of Mines, Rayfield Resort, Avis at Yakubu Gowon Way, La Pink at Zaramaganda, Uptown Garden at Hwolshe, Solomon Lar Amusement Park along Lowcost Road, Civil Service Club, etc. There are also several Garden located around the Forest Reserves of the Jos Meseum and Zoo. Exotic wine shops were the most patronised during the celebrations.  The cold weather creates such markets. Residents go for foreign wines, gin, Whisky, Brandy, Vodka, Rums and the like. Popular among them is the Exclusive Wine Centre at DB Zang Road by Hill Station Hotel Junction. The place gets busy at dusk and is mostly patronised during festivities like Valentine’s Day, Easter, Christmas or individual programmes. The patronage was more during the Christmas.

    The locals did not lack places to obtain the home-brewed wine known as ‘Burukutu’ in local parlance. There are numerous brewing centres for that and the product was available throughout the period and even beyond. At the same time, palm wine was in abundant supply.

    There were categories of Jos residents that preferred the golf clubs. For them, three standard facilities came in handy: the Rayfield Golf Club, Laminga Golf Club and the military-owned Rhino Golf Club located at Rukuba Barracks. These clubs are mostly patronised by retired Generals, administrators, retired a civil servants and top politicians. After going round all the holes and obstacles on the green grass field of the gulf club, they ended up at the Bar of the Club where all brands of beer and wine were readily available. The clubs were a beehive of activities.

    Another centre of attraction in Jos  was the state government-owned Solomon Lar Amusement Park located along Domkat Bali- Ratya Road. Residents flocked there, but they also went elsewhere, a testament to their resolve to make the make the most of the Yuletide.

     

  • Indigenous people urged to fight marginalisation

    Indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the auspices of Greater Gbagyi Development Initiatives (GG-DIN) have stressed the imperatives of unity and fighting marginalisation.

    Prince Gimba Gbaiza, President of GG-DIN, who spoke on behalf of the organisation at its annual convention in Abuja, said that the aim of the convention was to assess the impact of the struggle for the liberation of Gbagyi people to determine whether it has succeeded or not.

    According to Gbaiza, the convention was also to speak about the unity of FCT indiginenes in actualizing their desired goals, saying that FCT indigenes have been suffering marginalization in the hands of government for a very long time.

    “Unfortunately, we are still experiencing marginalization in the FCT. We are saying that by the grace of God, as other states indigenes are benefiting from the state and federal government, we the indigenes of the FCT, should also be benefiting in the FCT and the federal government.

    “Inasmuch as we are concerned, the government is still marginalizing our people, because other states of Nigeria have three to five senators and more members in the House of Assembly. But, in the FCT, we have one senator and two House of Representatives members.

    “We are also appealing to the government to always to carry along traditional rulers and indigenous youth associations in the FCT, to see how we can move the people forward. We need to reach out to our political office holders and make them more responsible to fight for the plight of indigenous people of the FCT,” he said.

    GG-DIN Head of Operations, Baba Elisha, also explained that they are using the convention to let the people and government know that the spirit for the fight for freedom is still in GG-DIN, urging FCT indigenes that whatever has been taken from them by government, they should not resolve to self help or violence.

    “We are doing everything possible to liase with relevant authorities to alleviate the plight of people of the FCT. We are using the convention to let the people know that the government in power is willing to listen to our plight that self help will not work, rather, it will only destroy us,” he said.

    Alhaji Musa Barde, the Hakimi of Galadimawa, who was present at the convention commended GG-DIN for the struggle, saying that would encourage FCT indigenes on how to take care of their culture, that despite the globalization going on in the country, they should not forget their culture.

  • ‘Our concern is reaching out to the needy’

    ‘Our concern is reaching out to the needy’

    Some went home with food items, some kitchenware, electronic articles or clothing materials, among others. But for the event, the beneficiaries, who were mostly poor, would have found it difficult to buy those items in the market.

    For about four years now, Canaan Ministries International otherwise known as Champions Church, Ilorin, Kwara State capital, has, in this fashion, been helping its less endowed members and the needy outside the church.

    The church sells household materials, food items, kitchenware and other articles at give-away prices to members of the public.

    At this year’s edition, the buyers bought tickets which qualified them to access the materials on display.

    Items sold this year included clothing materials, electronics, food items, both domestic and factory fans as well as home and kitchen appliances.

    On hand to declare this year’s sale open was the founder of the ministries, Rev Emmanuel Adebayo-Oset.

    He told The Nation after making his own purchase that:“The programme started since 2010 and we thank the lord. The purpose is to reach out to people in the love of God. There are many people who, because of certain circumstances, are living from hand to mouth. We know indeed it is part of our responsibility as a church of the lord Jesus Christ to be a blessing to others. Our concern is to reach out to people, lift them, encourage them and demonstrate to them the love of Christ.

    “The purpose is to impact on people’s lives and let them know that God loves them, because of the situation in the country now many people are having it tough. Our concern is to let them know that God has not and cannot forget them; we want them to know that God is concerned about them. In our own little way we are reaching out to them in the love of God.

    “But on a broader scale, beyond a programme like this we want people to know that no matter what they might be going through, the love of God as demonstrated in Christ Jesus is able to handle their problems.

    “For people to overcome their challenges, they have to draw closer to God, but unfortunately, most people don’t because Satan knows that if they can draw closer to God they will be able to experience God’s touch and change in their lives.

    “The gesture is without prejudice to congregation or even religion. There are many people out there who are not Christians. It is for all comers. At times like this, it should be part of our responsibility as  people of God to demonstrate His love. The language of love is easily understood by all anywhere in the world.

    “There is no one who does not want to be loved and the highest form of love is God’s love. I think that all Christians all over the country should have this vision. It does not necessarily mean that should do it as we are doing it. It should be something that is universal to all Christians anywhere.

    “Love exists in the church of God in Nigeria but we can do better. Romans 5:5 that love of God is shed above in our heart by the Holy Spirit; one thing is for somebody to have something in his heart and another thing to demonstrate it. I think the lord wants us to demonstrate it more. Many things people do if they will just use the avenue of love the world will be easy place to stay. From the bible the first responsibility we owe everybody is love. Before you even speak to them, love them, help them. By the time you have helped them and they have been ministered to it will be a lot easier for them to listen to your message.

    Rev Adebayo-Oset blamed the pervasive corruption and other vices in the country on loss of long-held values and primitive acquisition of wealth.

    He added that: “Many of our people have lost the old values that we were born into. Unfortunately, the first culprits are our leaders. Naturally, in a family, in an institution you look up to your leaders. Our leaders over times have misled our people.

    “I am not too old but by the grace of God I am old enough to know that things were not like this in Nigeria. People were not so materialistic. Imagine people stealing money that belongs to pensioners. That is a wicked person. Anybody who does that can kill. Those people don’t even need to talk God almighty will curse the swindler.

    “Our people no longer know the meaning of contentment. Our parents were ambitious but they knew the meaning of contentment. Our people have lost connection with the values that held society together. Our parents were ambitious people but were decent. A decent person will know that by the time you have two or three houses you don’t need anything more. What is happening in our country is that through our leaders our people have been corrupted.”

    He said “I want to appeal to Nigerians to come back. Maybe we shouldn’t even wait for our leaders. They have played the prodigal son. Let Nigerians know that the life of a man does not consist in the abundance of his possession.

    “Let our people know that acquiring things that are not yours is an invitation to God’s anger. Illegal acquisition does not fill the soul. Jesus said that life is more than raiment, the body is more than meat. Our people have got engrossed in materialistic things and that is why they are deluded. Because of this inordinate pursuit of wrongdoing some sicknesses that were align to us are now becoming our lots. We are in a hurry because we want to amass stupendous wealth. There is glory in simplicity. It is one thing to be ambitious and another thing to have inordinate affection for material things.”

  • ‘We want good roads’

    Residents of Dukwal Community in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) have called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to support the community by building accessible roads to enable residents move their farm produce to the markets easily.

    The village head of the community, Mallam Dauda Sam made this call when he received a delegation of women media professionals under the auspices of Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), during the Strengthening Women’s Empowerment to Deepen Girl Child Education (SWEDGE) project organized by the Society For Community Development (SCD) in collaboration with Action Aide Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday.

    Sam who lamented the absence of access roads in the community for residents, who are predominantly farmers to transport their produce to markets around the area, said it has made life difficult for the people.

    He also revealed that members of his community were yet to benefit from the federal government’s fertilizer scheme and seed distribution plan since its inception, after collecting and filling the forms for the 2013/2014 farming season.

    He said, “We have never benefited from the federal government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) or the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), even though we are a farming community with a population of almost one million inhabitants.

    “The greatest challenge of the community is the poor road infrastructure which does not allow farmers easy access to markets after harvest, lack of a secondary school which denies the children better education and the lack of power supply to pump the only working borehole in the community provided by AMAC.”

    Also speaking, a member of the MWAN, Dr Chioma Iheanacho, said the service was for the community to see the essence of educating the girl child while also offering their services as women professionals.

    “As a woman medical doctor, when they see me rendering this service, they know their children can also be educated to better their lives and that of their communities,” she pointed out.

  • Community gets borehole

    The Strong Tower Zone of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has sunk a water borehole in Buzukure community in Kuje area council to reduce the residents water challenges.

    In his remarks during the commissioning of the borehole, the Assistant Pastor of Province 7, Adebisi Kolawale, Pastor in Charge of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), said the donation was in line with the church General Overseer’s vision of helping host communities in meeting their physical.

    Kolawale said, “Our general overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, some years back, felt it is not good for the church to be preaching the gospel and winning souls when there are pressing needs in the community that are not met.

    “He noted that if the church can go a little bit further by providing physical needs to benefit the community, where the church is domiciled, it will be of tremendous benefit. That was what brought up the idea of CSR.

    “Our father in the Lord has made it mandatory that everywhere we go the people in our community, we must have something to benefit from the church and that is one of the goals we have pursued in FCT Province 7, under the supervision of Pastor Matthew Sule, who is the Provincial Pastor of the province.”

    In his remarks, the pastor in charge of Strong Tower Zone, Chucks Ojeifo, said the church decide to sink a borehole for the community because it identified a genuine need for borehole by residents.