The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • A case for nomads

    A case for nomads

    What efforts are made to protect nomadic people in the country? Thieves raid their cattle. Insurgents attack them. Their children’s education is often disrupted. Any hope for them?

    These were some of the issues brainstormed at a conference in the University of Jos in the Plateau State capital. The National Commission for Nomadic Education played a crucial role in marshalling out the issues.

    The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Rashid Aderinoye, who spoke at the conference, said the challenges of the nomads included “insurgency, cattle rustling, piracy, kidnapping and constant clashes [with] their sedentary communities among others…Presently, nomads have to abandon schools established for them and constantly migrate not only for pasture and fertile lands but also for safety of their lives and properties”.

    He said further: “The contributions of the nomadic groups to the nation’s economy as well as the individual’s well-being cannot be over-emphasised. They provide  hides and skin, cheese, meat, fish as well as other agricultural products, which, apart from boosting national income, also help in meeting the protein and other nutrient supplements needs of the citizens.

    “As stakeholders, it is my belief that this conference will bring to the fore the challenges facing the pastoralists and the attendant consequences on the implementation of Nomadic Education programme. May I therefore urge the conveners of the conference to properly articulate and document the issues and resolutions of the conference with a view to guiding policy makers in taking informed decisions into developing a turn round strategies to uplift the socio-economic wellbeing of pastoralists.

    Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Hayward Babale Mafuyayi, said, “The time has come to review the issue of the nomads. The present government of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will want all segments of the country to be part of the ongoing transformation agenda. The nomadic segments cannot be left behind; they are citizens of Nigeria, their rights should also be protected and defended by all stakeholders. That explains why this national conference is being put together, so as to draw attention to this very important issue. And there is no better place than university of Jos where the nomadic education programme first took off way back”

    Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Ethics and Values, Dr. Mrs Sarah Jibril noted: “Nomads are found all over the world existing functioning in varied perspectives. They are found in varied forms as pastoralists, farmers, hunters, fishermen and workers. As nomads, they go about in varying patterns and employ varied strategies of survival with different life styles pursuing livelihood.

    “The nomads portray varied cultures and patterns of life which are party normal to other sedentary cultures and party unique to their challenges and preferences. Some migrants are more sedentary than migratory while some are more or almost solely migratory and less or hardly sedentary; always moving from place to place”

    Mrs Jibril who delivered the keynote address, said, “Many migrants imbibe migration as a culture and also a means of livelihood, they tenaciously cling to and pass on from generation to generation through indoctrination and apprenticeship as a norm. Every type and form of nomadism has its challenges and benefits to humanity and the society. The challenges and benefits range from social to economic to cultural political and educational perspectives. In Nigeria, seven forms of nomadism are exhibited as pastoralism (cattle rearing), farming, fishing, hunting, almajirism, working and petty trading. Migrant pastoralists move with their cattle in varied forms, while migrant farmers move according to seasons for wet season and dry season agricultural pursuits and benefits.

    “Migrant hunters shift bases on temporary and varied patterns for the pursuit of games. Migrant workers move in varied patterns too as they engage in formal and informal jobs or employment.

    “Something seems to be common to all forms of nomadism which is the instability and temporality of existence in any abodes in time and duration. These have implications on their social, educational, economic and political life and that of their families. Thus, worldwide, nomads easily become a disadvantaged group that does not benefit maximally from any government arrangement for social amenities such as education, health-care and economic empowerment. Nomads are actually a disadvantaged group that suffer much deprivation even though they make invaluable contributions to the society in many respects”.

    Dr. Sarah Jibril said, “Happily, in Nigeria, Government has through the agencies of Nomadic Education and the Almajiri special intervention programme, some of the educational challenges of pastoralists, fisherfolks and farmers as well as the internal immigrant children in Nigeria, (the Almajiri). From inquiry of example of any progress being made in the nomadic education programme in Nigeria, it is heart warning to note that progress is being made in several inspite of daunting, challenges facing the programme for example, progress was reported in the nomadic education programme in 2013 in the areas of programme coverage, number of schools established, pupils enrolment and teachers recruitment to teach the program”.

    She said further that “Nomads in Nigeria by 1991 census, is a sizeable proportion of its population. Challenge for an economically advancing country is all-involving and all-inclusive all round education and skills development. Migrants in their various categories have contributed and are contributing in varied ways to Nigeria’s economy. Migrant pastoralists produce the beef and diary products like butter, cheese, milk, ‘nono’ etc. Migrant farmers produce numerous food crops and vegetables such as: Amarathus, Spinah, Cocoyam, Cowpea, Garden egg, Peas etc. Migrant fisherfolks make fishes full of protein value available for us all to be nourished. Nomadic education programme viability bribancy and sustainability are crucial elements of programme that would stand the test of time and survive dauty challenges. The first and most mind bogging big question is: How can Nomadic education program and Vision 2020 be attained in this situation?

    Nomadic education programme is a laudable one and there is no way it can be attained without adequate finances and solution to the varied social and crisis situations so also the vision 2020 and its objectives to stimulates Nigeria’s economic growth and lunch the country on to a path of sustained and rapid socio-economic development”.

    Participants at the conference agreed that the nomadic segment of the country are worst hit in the wave of growing crimes and insurgencies. They expressed concern that the effect of insurgencies and cattle rustling has made nomads in the northern part of the country more unstable to benefit from the government nomadic education policies. It was also agreed by stakeholders that deliberate efforts should be made by relevant agencies make the nomads play vital role in the economy of the nation. And that there is the need for government to see how the group can benefit directly in the ongoing transformation agenda of the present administration.

  • Jonathan flags off workers’ houses

    Jonathan flags off workers’ houses

    As part of efforts to reduce housing deficits, President Goodluck Jonathan has flagged off about 10,000 units of apartments in Apo Tapyi District, Abuja. The plan is under the Nationwide Workers’ Housing Scheme.

    Jonathan, who inaugurated the scheme, said his administration’s target is to deliver about 100,000 housing units in the Federal Capital Territory and the 36 states of the federation.

    The President said the initiative was part of the Transformation Agenda to provide adequate and affordable houses to Nigerians particularly workers.

    He said, “The Federal Government will continue to partner with the private developers to provide affordable houses to bring down the cost houses in the country”.

    Jonathan lauded the efforts and the seriousness to the scheme by the developer, Good Homes Development Company Limited and urged other developers to emulate the entrepreneurial skills of Good Homes.

    While appreciating the kind gesture of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to partner with the Federal Government on this very important project of providing shelter to the workers, he urged all Nigerian workers to key into the scheme to enable the government make this houses available at the scheduled time.

    According to a statement issued by the Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, the president also used the occasion to call on the Labour Unions in the country to always exploit avenues of discussion and negotiations first before embarking on any strike; stressing that strikes cause hardship to the ordinary people.

    Welcoming guests to the occasion, the FCT Minister Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed remarked that the right to shelter is an economic, social and cultural right as recognized in many national constitutions and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; noting that it is in recognition of this right that President Goodluck Jonathan Administration placed high premium on provision of housing for all in the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

    Senator Mohammed stated that over the period of time, FCT has been dynamic in providing initiatives such as Accelerated Development, Affordable Housing and District Development to address prevailing housing deficit.

    According to him, “the Land Swap initiative represents our strategy for leveraging private capital in the provision of infrastructure and housing with the expectation of development of 15 districts to provide houses for more than one million residents and creating 500,000 new jobs with capital inflow of about one trillion naira in the next five years”.

    On the Nationwide Workers’ Housing Scheme, the Minister revealed that the FCT Administration gave a waiver of about N28 billion on the land premium and about N550 million waiver on building plan approval.

    He emphasised that his Administration gave these waivers to make the houses even more affordable to the workers who are the end beneficiaries.

    Speaking at the occasion, the NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar thanked the Federal Government for this wonderful partnership, which he restated, would go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the workers.

    He appreciated the waivers by the FCT Minister and urged the developers to reflect the waivers in the prices of the houses to be delivered to the workers.

    The Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi at the occasion expressed the loyalty of the Civil Servants to the Federal Government.

    The Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development and Supervising Minister of Labour and productivity, Mrs. Akon Etim Eyakenyi and Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki SAN, respectively also spoke at the occasion.

     

  • Yuletide: Suswam upgrades infrastructure

    Yuletide: Suswam upgrades infrastructure

    A pleasant surprise awaits those travelling to Benue State for the end-of-year holiday. Since November bulldozers and other machinery have been ploughing up and shaping up major roads and streets in the state, especially those in the capital Makurdi and its environs. Streetlights are also being fixed.

    The moribund solar-powered streetlights have come to life, illuminating Makurdi at night.

    Iorchia Ayu Road, Wurukum, one of the majority roads, which is an entry point into the capital, has been reconstructed by contractors Hajiag Nig. Limited.

    Another major street that is a delight to drive through is Osuman Ihyembe Street in Wurukum.

    Benue State Commissioner of Works, Chief John Ngbede told our correspondent that Governor Gabriel Suswam’s administration takes continuous infrastructural upgrade seriously.

    Motorists said they were happy that the pot-holes were being fixed.

  • ‘We have lost hope’

    ‘We have lost hope’

    Even for survivors of the insurgency, some wounds may never heal. Some families do not know whether their breadwinners are alive or dead. At their camps, they are short of everything they need. OLUGBENGA ADANIKIN captures the agony of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Federal Capital Territory

    Fatimah Abdulahi, 20, is a mother of two beautiful girls. She is married to Yusuf Abdullahi, a farmer from Adamawa State. They are blessed with Fatima aged two and Zainab, who is just three weeks old. The couple lived peacefully until the enemy struck, forcing them from their home.

    Fatimah and her two children had a sordid experience before they escaped, sleeping in the bush for two days before evading the assailants. They have since joined the huge crowd of people who fled to the nation’s capital for safety.

    She and her daughters are not under any imminent threat from those who chased them out of their home, but something is missing. Where is her husband and father of her girls? Fatimah said she was not sure if her husband was alive or dead.

    Mr. Job Pitman, a 52-year-old father of nine, from Shendam Local Government Area, Plateau State, is another displaced person in Abuja.

    He recalled how his family initially sheltered under a cashew tree and lived under the worst circumstances during the rainy season. He shared the tree shade with about 200 people, he said.

    “They (their attackers) came to pursue us where we were staying. They demolished the bacha (a small makeshift wooden house). So we lived under a cashew tree. It was Madam Adaorah who came to our place to see how we were surviving and asked if it was human beings living under the tree and I answered yes.

    “We don’t have money but even if we had money, we cannot go back because of the crisis. Election is near but we cannot vote because our voter cards are in Jos. We want government to just come to our rescue and help us like this woman is helping because we have lost hope. They should help us with a place to live,” Pitman said.

    Another victim, Mrs. Hanatu Peter, 25, from Jos also lamented how she slept under the bridge with her husband and a-three-year-old daughter before she went to Kuchingoro. “We relocated from Jos because of the crisis. My husband does not have any work, so we stayed at Kuchingoro in a small batcha (makeshift woodhouse). Before then, we were sleeping under the bridge with my three months old baby. So we have been managing before God sent this aunty to us. Every time she will bring food and cloth to us and check on us.

    “I want government to build a place for us and create jobs so that we will be able to feed ourselves.”

    It is clear these groups are vulnerable. The terror has thorn their families apart, leaving indelible marks in their history. The minds of their infants have been fouled with sordid experiences.

    The Northeast is the worst hit by the Boko Haram Islamist sect, which has crippled socio-economic activities of the region. Some residents who escaped to neighbouring nations are either subjected to modern slavery or recruited into terrorist camps. According to reports, not less than 5, 000 people have lost their lives between July 2009 and June 2014 while over 650, 000 persons were displaced with an increase of 200, 000 since May 2014.

    The terror left thousands in anguish and despicable situations. Clearly, the wound will take a while to heal. The United Nations annual global trends report revealed an increasing 51.2 million displaced persons across the world, compared with 45.2 million recorded in 2012. This incidentally became a worrying trend that calls for peace and resolution among areas of high conflicts.

    “We are seeing here the immense cost of not ending wars, of failing to resolve or prevent conflict.

    “Peace is today dangerously in deficit. Humanitarian gestures can help as palliatives, but political solutions are vitally needed. Without this, the alarming levels of conflict and mass suffering that is reflected in these figures will continue,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres.

    According to the Initiator of YellowJerrican Save a Child Foundation, Adaora Onyechere there was need for change of approach to address IDP needs. She emphasised how improper care of the vulnerable group could intensity insecurity in the territory. As for her, government ought to create a reliable database in that respect. Relevant NGOs and government agencies should harmonise their activities to properly address the needs.

    “The urban procession of these displaced persons is not only a major template for an increase in violence and crimes but also a corrosive fabric for rebellion and anti-government, premeditated activities through these persons who are highly gullible and detrimental to the fabric of Nigeria’s politics and government’s transformation agenda.”

    At Waru district in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abuja Review learnt that about 2, 000 refugees had stormed the community to live with their relatives or friends just for survival. A few months after, about 1, 856 persons also left the crisis-thorn region for the community. Since the town was becoming more dominated, it captured attention of philantropists and government agencies. Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) and Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs) paid visits to them to show them love. Though, an official of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) discredited the figure. According to her, about 200 displaced persons were recorded in the community.

    Meanwhile, during the launch of the Presidential Committee on Victims Support Fund (VSF) for the IDPs on July, 2014, the committee, chaired by Danjuma was able to rake about N80 billion. Danjuma alone made a donation of about N1.6b. It was recorded the highest single donation to the fund. Perhaps, that was the rationale he was made Chairman and custodian of the Fund.

    The VSF was mandated to develop appropriate strategies for the fund raising, ascertain persons, communities and economic assets affected by Boko Haram terror activities. Other responsibilities include assess and determine the appropriate support required in each case, to manage disburse or administer support to the victims as appropriate. It also include addressing related challenges as may be appropriate and advise government on other matters necessary or incidental to support victims of boko haram terror activities.

    Ironically, as the committee began its implementation, things became twisted. The IDPs demanded a change of approach. They wanted to be empowered and provided with basic necessities, rather than just being fed with staple foods. The IDPs disclosed that the relief materials were commendable but ephemeral.

  • N100m spent on anti-Ebola school campaign

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Education Secretariat has said it mounted one of the most successful anti-Ebola school campaigns in the country, spending N100m in the exercise.

    It said that the money, which was released to the secretariat prior to schools resumption, was used to purchase anti-Ebola kits and information materials to all the schools in the FCT, which enabled FCT schools, unlike some schools in some parts of the country, to resume early enough.

    The secretariat also said that in its bid to eradicate illiteracy from the FCT, the administration has provided adult literacy and vocational education for FCT residents which has so far enrolled 13,702 learners across the six Area Councils in 2014, with a payment plan of N10,000 monthly allowance to part-time facilitators.

    Secretary of Education FCT, Mallam Kabir Usman revealed this at the 2014 annual education secretariat media luncheon in Abuja where he said that the issue of perimeter fencing in the FCT schools is being given adequate attention especially in the face of security challenges being experienced in the country.

    He also said, “The outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which was a public health emergency was also successfully tackled in the FCT. As a matter of fact, we were one of the handfuls of states in the country that was able to meet the resumption deadline of 22nd September 2014. This of course would not have been possible if we had not met all the health requirements of the Ebola respond team in the country which were closely monitored by the Nigerian Union of Teachers NUT).

    “The Minister approved for immediate release the sum of N100 Million for the purchase and distribution of anti-ebola kits and information materials to all our schools. Prior to resumption therefore, all our schools were fully equipped with the temperature scanning machines, hand sanitizers, information handbills and posters on the disease and so on.

    “In conjunction with the Health and Human Services Secretariat, we trained our teachers on preventive measures in fighting the disease and how to properly use the equipment that were distributed.

    “Although the virus has been eradicated in Nigeria, we are not resting on our oars as the distribution of these materials will continue until the health authorities tell us it is safe to stop.

    “Closure of 459 sub-standard and illegal schools, 196 in January and 263 in September 2014, across the 6 area Councils and a proposal for the certification and accreditation of 78 schools has been forwarded to the FCT Minister for approval.

    “The FCT department of Mass Education (DME) has the mandate to provide adult literacy and vocational education for FCT residents; it recruited 500 part time facilitators to man 407 learning centres across the FCT and created awareness through mobilization and sensitization visits to Area Councils, Traditional and Community leaders and market women.

    “Enrolment of 13,702 learners across the six zones in 2014, expansion of literacy services to six Nomadic communities with an enrolment figure of 189, 48 males and 141 females. The integration of formal education curriculum into Qur’anic schools (IQE) with 56 centres and total enrolment  of 2,081 learners across the zones and the FCT DME offers one of the highest pay of N10,000.00 monthly allowance to part-time facilitators.

    “For the 2014 fiscal year, the sum of N255,445,900 was approved for disbursement as scholarship to deserving students by the Minister. In the meantime, all bureaucratic conditions have been met pending the release of the funds. These include the collation and collection of completed application forms for short listing and screening of applicants for the 2013/2014 award session.”

  • Politicians urged to avoid violence

    The Chairman of Gwag-walada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Jibrin Giri has called on politicians in the area to be patient and shun violence.

    Giri said that violence has caused a lot of damages in various areas in the country and called on them to preach peace to their followers, which will help in the development of the council.

    He stated that various actions by politicians have brought about chaos in the council and called on them to always be conscious of what they do and make sure their actions benefit the people.

    Giri also called on the residents to continue to be law abiding citizens, in order to ensure a peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections in the area.

    He further appealed on residents of the council to support his administration, as he has a lot of projects on hand that would benefit the people.

    “I am calling on all politicians to remember that they should always act peacefully and shun corruption. They should remember that the council is their home and work towards making it a peaceful place to live in,” he said.

     

  • Exemplary care for Borno IDPs

    They have little to worry about except their homes. The camp food is good and a combined team of security agents looks after them while expectant and nursing mothers get special attention. Even school age children are taught at the camps, thanks to the Borno State government. The only thing missing is the comfort of their homes. There is also quality medical care for ailing ones. Such is the story of internally displaced persons or IDPs in the state. In several parts of the region and even the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the plight of people forced out of their homes in the Northeast by rampaging Boko Haram fighters is pitiable.

    Recently, Borno State First Lady Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima visited various IDP camps in the metropolis where she donated assorted food items comprising of packets and cartons of bourn vita, Milo, Nido and spaghetti to nursing mothers at the IDPs NYSC Orientation Camp Maiduguri.

    Over 5000 IDPs from Damboa, Bama Konduga LGAs are sheltering in various camps in Maiduguri metropolis.

    The IDPs Camp Committee Chairman Alhaji Abba Yarema Bukar and Secretary of the Committee Alhaji Abba Kolomi said that the commitment of Governor Kashim Shettima to the welfare of the IDPs in the state is “unprecedented” through the continuous supply of relief materials to the camps.

    He also commended individuals, groups and associations that believe in the cause with the governor in the plight of the IDPs in the state, while commending the Borno State Emergency Agency (SEMA) for their efforts in coordinating the welfare of the displaced persons.

    “The  State Emergency Management Agency SEMA under the directives of the state governor Alhaji Kashim Shettima has started delivering 1000 pieces of blankets, 1000 mattresses, foodstuff, rice and other food items to the 4000 IDPs from Damboa Local Government Area, 1000 IDPs from both Bama and Konduga councils at the camp.

    “Even the state Deputy Governor Alhaji Zanna Mustapha has just visited us today and inspected the food and stores where the committee kept sufficient food for  daily cooking for the  feeding of  the IDPs. If you can visit our stores, you will see that we have enough food items. The food is in large quantity and we do cook standard meals for them. We slaughter a cow for them and buy dry fish in large quantities to cook for them also along with their meals every day. We have provided them with enough blankets because of the cold weather condition at the moment and mattresses as well as leather mats as earlier  directed by the governor.

    “We have also provided adequate health care delivery services to the IDPs throughout the camp clinics which are manned by the Doctors Without Borders and a few medical and health staff of the state Ministry of Health. We also have ambulances at the various camps in the event of emergencies or referral cases,” Bukar said.

    Speaking on the security of the IDPs, the chairman said, “We have also ensured that proper and adequate security is provided at the camps. You can bear witness that we have soldiers, police, local hunters and BOYES, the Civilian JTF, providing enough security at the camp,” he added.

    Bukar also disclosed that four  pregnant women have delivered at the camp in the past 30 days and five people passed away naturally, one of them from injuries in a car accident outside the camp.

    The Secretary of the committee, Alhaji Abba  Kolomi  added that the education of the children in the camp has not been compromised through the efforts of the state government and  with the support of the UNICEF and Voluntary Individuals at the camp do have  lessons for primary pupils and JSS students.  He informed that a playing ground for children is also provided in a much organised manner in the mornings and evenings for Physical Education lessons.

    The Chief Cook at the camp, Hajiya Niimatu Kabir Mohammed corroborated Kolomi’s information, saying, ”In fact, we have enough and we cook quality and balanced diet food for the IDPs three times a day. We cook breakfast for them, we cook lunch for them and we also cook separate dinner for them.

    “Most times, we even change the way we cook rice, beans, spaghetti, biski or semovita. We have red stew okro soup or taushe soup mixed with beef or fish. Very rich and nourishing food is being served the IDPs daily here at the camp. The IDPs can confirm that themselves”, Niimatu said.

    Bukar Aisami, chairman of Konduga IDPs at  the NYSC Orientation Camp, was full of praises for  the state government, noting that the Shettima administration has done much to lessen their pain.

    Regardless of the care and comfort provided at the camps, Aisami still prays for the end of the insurgency so that his people can return home and pick up their their lives again.

    “We are adequately and properly being taken care of by the state government. We are indeed very grateful to the governor for feeding us and providing us with blankets, mattresses and mats. For providing us with health facility at the camp including van ambulance, doctors and drugs. We don’t have any problem except that we want to go back home. We are eager to go home although we are being catered for here properly even better than home but home is home no matter how sweet and comfortable this place is,” Aisami informed.

  • ‘Blame our problems on youth neglect’

    Leaders routinely leave out the youth in governance and that is why the country is facing all sorts of problems.

    That was the position of the Talban Lafiagi, Salihu Sulaiman, an architect and lecturer, in a paper presented at the 10th anniversary of Lafiagi Youth Movement (LAYOM) in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    In the paper entitled “The Involvement of Youths in Governance,” Sulaiman, of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), urged governments at all levels to include the youths in their efforts to tackle governance problems.

    He also urged the youths to “be more pragmatic in our approach to being involved in governance. My call is that the existing youth unions and associations should tap into the provisions in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for the growth of our pauperised communities. That way, when the unions and associations are seen on the ground and the people see what they are doing and can assess their potentials for greater things that can be done, then more people will buy into their aspirations including their political objectives if any.”

    The Talban Lafiagi encouraged the Nigerian youths to dissipate energy on socio-economic grassroots mobilisation; enlightenment issues on electoral reform and the expectations of community-based organisations (CBOs); participate in budget preparation and implementation; engage in project monitoring; ensure good governance at all levels and tracking the MDGs to ensure good governance.

    He said, “Specifically, the youths must at all times gather to stimulate continuous dialogues on governance issues by emphasising the important role youth can play in addressing issues of corruption; encourage youths to demand for accountability and concrete actions from their governments in addressing problems of corruption; motivate young people to be agents of transformation within the communities to address governance problems and encourage youths to participate in development which is key to breaking the cycle of poverty and ultimately changing entire societies.”

    The Deputy Provost, Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Dr Jida Idris hinged the country current travails on “the inability of government to provide adequate employment for teeming population of the Nigerian youth.

    “The youths are being used during political engineering and at the end they are dumped by the so-called political leaders.”

  • Replacing oil with agriculture

    Revival of agriculture in Nigeria has not only been described as the new money-making sector, but has been tipped to replace the oil and gas sector.

    Over the years, petroleum has been the mainstay of the Nigerian economy with agriculture relegated to the background.

    While the administration aims to diversify the economy through its many agricultural programmes and the establishment of commercial farmers and agribusiness leaders known as Nagropreneurs, the government is certain that the effort will take Nigeria to lift the country to higher heights.

    In the new effort, Nigeria also plans to collect all the hoes, cutlasses and obsolete equipment in every part of the country and place them in a museum. The tools would be immediately replaced with tractors and other modern agricultural equipment.

    Seven young farmers were on parade during the Official Launch of the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP) and Fund for Agricultural Finance in Nigeria (FAFIN) at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja last Tuesday to give their testimonies on how their businesses have been boosted in the last three years.

    At the occasion, President Goodluck Jonathan was not only described as the ‘Koko Master’ by Nigerian top musician, D’Banj, but he was also given award and referred to as Nigeria’s number one farmer.

    Recalling the past three years in the sector, Jonathan said that the implementation of the agricultural transformation agenda has created many jobs and led to the production of 21 million metric tons of food in the period, above its earlier target to add 20 million metric tons of food by 2015.

    Looking ahead, he said: “The Youth Employment in Agriculture Program (YEAP), which I am flagging off today, will further change the face of Nigeria’s agriculture. YEAP has been designed to create a new generation of 750,000 young commercial farmers and agribusiness leaders (Nagropreneurs) that will make Nigeria’s agriculture more efficient, profitable and competitive.”

    “They will become the CEOs of their own farms and agribusinesses, create jobs in the rural areas and reverse the trend of high rural to urban migration. They will help to change the mindset of the younger generation on agriculture.”

    “These Nagropreneurs will become models and champions for our newly launched National Agriculture Schools Initiative, as they project to younger school children, the image of agriculture as an attractive and wealth creating sector.” he said

    The Minister of State for Finance, Isa Yuguda, at the occasion, maintained that all statistics reeled out in the sector are verifiable and showed that the transformation agenda is working.

    But the only evidence the masses on the street want to see is for the increasing food production in the country to force down the prices of foodstuffs in the country in line with the forces of supply and demand.

     

    Paying last respect to Ashiru

    Members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) might not have dressed in black or white cloths last Wedesday to mourn the former Minister of Foreign Affiairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, but it was a gloomy session when tributes was paid to him.

    Many good things were said about the deceased with no one in the Chamber recalling any negative thing or encounter with Ashiru who died in South Africa on the 29th of last month from brain tumor complications.

    Ashiru, who was said to have impacted positively on the Nigeria foreign policy during his tenure was relieved of the appointment on the 11th September, 2013 along with other 8 ministers.

    The former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku had told journalists then that the changes in the cabinet were due to the President Goodluck Jonathan’s commitment to delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians by bringing in new hands and ideas and that it had nothing to do with the crisis in the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) then.

    While 15 cabinet members inluding President Jonathan paid tributes to Ashiru during the sesson last week, only the Minister of Agriculture, Adesina Akinwunmi, who hails from the same state with the deceased, Ogun State, could not hold back his tears.

    Adesina, who referred to the deceased as his ‘Egbon’ (senior brother), was given the role to second the moton for one-minute silent in honour of the deceased.

    Struggling to hold back the tears, Adesina said: “His passing is a huge loss to the nation, Nigeria has lost an outstanding diplomat, one of its very finest, the one I amiably called the ambassador of ambassadors. As minister of foreign affairs, he represented Nigeria extremely well on the global stage, he is a giant in diplomacy, under him Nigeria got so many of international recognitions.

    “He was a senior brother, we shared the same name, Ayodeji. He was therefore my mentor, a friend, a wiseman I went to always for counsel. His doors were always open, his heart always open, warm at all times. I always enjoyed his presence in readiness always to help others. I called him Egbon (senior brother), he will in turn to my surprise call me Honourable minister. And the world of diplomacy is empty today because of his death. Sun re o, Egbon, sun re o! May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

    President Jonathan said; “So he worked very hard. He assisted me in terms of the foreign policies and so on and streamlined most of our relationship to most countries within and outside Africa. In terms of international values, I will say he worked very hard if you listen to others who have made comments. The UN is a typical example, Nigeria was voted back as a member of the Security Council within four years, it is a feat most countries has never attained.”

    “We would have had some problems with the World when the President of Sudan Omar Albashir came visiting during our centenary celebrations. He came in and the world was alerted, and they were looking at Nigeria. Although he left, still we had issues with the world but he had to move immediately with the Attorney General of the Federation and was able to calm the situation because of the personal relationship he had with the global players. We thank him for that.”

    “Today we have lost ambassador Ashiru God knows best why he took him at this time that his services are still needed by this great nation,” he said.

     

  • Caught in tribal crossfire

    Caught in tribal crossfire

    After playing the good host, providing settling places for both the Fulani and the Agatu, the Bagana people of Kogi State are fleeing from their homeland just to escape the violent clashes between the settlers, reports JAMES AZANIA 

    The Bagana never bargained for this. When some Fulani and Agatu families from neighbouring Benue State stopped by, asking for a place to pitch their tents, the Bagana community in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State did not hesitate to oblige. Now, a bitter conflict has broken out among the visitors and their hosts are fleeing because their community has become too hot for them.

    They have continued to count their losses since they took that decision to host the two tribes now engaged in a battle. They did not see this coming but their magnanimity appears to have boomeranged and they are gradually becoming part of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country.

    Since accepting the Fulani and the Agatu in their midst, the Bagana people have been displaced as they are forced to flee their homes following unrelenting conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and Agatu militias. The situation has resulted in a steady outward movement of the original inhabitants of Bagana to other areas they consider safe. The community has been mostly deserted as a result.

    Some residents said that the latest attack took everyone unawares, and that over 200 suspected Agatu militias from neighbouring communities, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the cattle market in Bagana, shooting intermittently and sending people scampering for safety. Two people reportedly died in the attack, while several others were injured. Eighteen cows were said to be carted away in two pick-up vans.

    An eyewitness told The Nation that the attack was the latest in a series of assaults, forcing a great number of the locals to flee to other areas for fear of being hit in the crossfire.

    A source in the community who pleaded not to be named, said despite playing host to the Fulani and Agatu, the Bagana community has at various occasions been at the receiving end of skirmishes between the two parties. The Fulani and the Agatu, he explained, have been estranged over some unresolved issues back in their original communities in Benue State, following which some of them relocated to Bagana and environs in Kogi.

    Speaking on the incident, the Seriki Hausawa of Bagana, Alhaji Audi Seriki said he has handed everything over to God and expressed optimism that the lingering crisis will soon be over and the people return to their homes. He said, “We have handed everything over to God and we know He alone can resolve this. Our people have left because of attacks but we are optimistic that all will come to an end and our people can return to their places and in peace”.

    Investigations revealed that the recent clash started on a market day in the community when cattle dealers were allegedly attacked by the suspected Agatu militias.

    When The Nation visited the community, it was more like a ghost town. Most of the residents were nowhere in sight, except some youths who were seen keeping vigil around the town.

    It was gathered that the Agatu militias had warned members of the community to send away the Fulani from Bagana after attacking the community in May, killing four persons and 32 cows.

    Another source claimed that rumours of renewed hostility between the warring parties led to the exodus of the people to other villages.

    The source said: “We heard rumours that the Agatu people were preparing for another attack but nobody knew when it would come. People started to move out to safe areas. We did not know when this their attack will come and when they attacked it was surprise, and you know that not everybody can leave Bagana. In fact, we are tired of these people because it is like they don’t like peace. They are not ready for peaceful co-existence”.

    Although soldiers were drafted to some of the crisis areas, their presence has done little to completely check the attacks or douse tension in the area.