The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • ‘Now, babies can be spared of HIV’

    ‘Now, babies can be spared of HIV’

    It is possible to eliminate mother to child transmission of HIV in our lifetime, reports OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA

    It was as much for mother and child as it was for the entire humanity. The venue was the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja. The event was organised to prevent the needless transmission of HIV to children. It was basically to show government’s commitment to the elimination of HIV from mother to child, and to tell Nigerians that effective interventions can be introduced to achieve that.

    It was termed the Presidential Launch of the Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (eMTCT) Plan 2015 to 2016. The event featured a roll call of who is who. The President, Goodluck Jonathan was represented by the Vice President Mohammed Namadi.  Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Linus N. Awute, and Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, (NPHCDA), Dr Ado Muhammad, were all there.

    Representatives of traders, religious leaders and many organisations of people living with HIV/AIDS were part of history to end Mother to child transmission of HIV, which is characterised by infection of an infant with HIV during pregnancy, birth or when breastfeeding.

    According to World Health Organisation (WHO), up to 90 per cent of all infants and children with HIV are infected through vertical transmission. In the absence of any interventions to prevent the transmission, between 15 to 45 per cent of infants will be infected with the virus, and currently more than half of these infants who do not receive treatment die before their second birthday. Scaling up an effective elimination of mother to child transmission, or EMTCT, approach globally can reduce rates of transmission to less than five per cent annually, and avert more than one million new HIV infections among children by 2015, while at the same time improving overall maternal and family health.

    Taking this cue, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) worked out a two-year plan on how Nigeria can achieve the eMTCT goal.

    According to the Director General NACA, Prof John Idoko, global focus has shifted from the prevention of mother to child transmission, to elimination. Activities are now centered on eliminating all new infections of HIV transmitted from mother to child by 2015. ‘To achieve this objective, eMTCT activities focus on specifically strengthening activities to prevent HIV infection among women and their partners, and to expand efforts to reach men and to reduce the stigma of the disease in both rural and urban communities. It is also important to ensure access to anti-retroviral (ARV) treatments for every HIV-infected woman and her partner. EMTCT activities will also strengthen linkages that support safer motherhood and reduction of unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV/AIDS. Finally, EMTCT activities will continue to test ways to expand antenatal and post-natal care services, referrals and ways to maximize each contact with clients, and expand capacity-building efforts to enhance the quality of service delivery,” he explained.

    The President said his government took active interest in the eMTCT because it desired that no Nigerian child should be born with HIV nor live with HIV acquired from its mother, for the 2010 National Sentinel Survey for pregnant women attending antenatal care in Nigeria recorded a HIV prevalence of 4.1 per cent, while the population survey carried out in 2012 observed an HIV prevalence of 3.4 per cent. “Nigeria records an estimated six million births annually and out of this number, a huge percentage of deliveries are outside health facility settings. The unfortunate implication of this is the high birth of HIV positive babies in Nigeria, which according to the United Nations, accounts for over 25 percent of the global burden of HIV positive births. Without treatment, 20 per cent of these children will die before their first birthday and 80 per cent will not live to see their fifth birthday.

    “This is unacceptable to the government of Nigeria which recognises that the lives of all mothers and their babies can be saved through a combination of HIV testing and counseling; access to effective antiretroviral prophylaxis and treatment; safer delivery practices; family planning; and safe breast feeding practices,” stated the President.

    Recalling previous efforts, the President who spoke through his vice said: “In June 2011, the Government of Nigeria with other world leaders launched the ‘Global Plan towards the Elimination of New HIV Infections among Children by 2015 and Keeping Their Mothers Alive.’ This plan aims to reduce the number of new infections among children by 90 per cent and to reduce AIDS-related maternal deaths by 50 percent. Following this and other resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Government of Nigeria hosted the Abuja+12 Special Summit of African Union Heads of States and Government on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria which resolved to implement a Post-2015 strategy to accelerate the eradication of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa by 2030.

    “As part of the overall commitment of the Government of Nigeria to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, I launched the President’s Comprehensive Response Plan for HIV/AIDS and Other Related Infections (PCRP) in 2013. The Government of Nigeria has since recognised that the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (eMTCT) is intricately linked with and directly contributes to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals that have to do with gender equality, reduction of child mortality, improvements of maternal health, and combating HIV/AIDS.”

    He said since 2011, the Nigerian Government through the collaborative and supportive efforts of her International Partners has achieved significant progress towards the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV.

    President Jonathan said the number of HIV counseling and testing sites increased from 1,357 in 2011 to 7,075 in 2013. During the last three years a cumulative total of 8,202,124 people have been tested for HIV and know their status. The number of PMTCT sites increased from 959 in 2011 to 5,622 in 2013, while the number of pregnant women counseled and tested for HIV and received their results increased from 900, 000 in 2010 to 1.7 million in 2013. The PMTCT program coverage increased to 30 percent in 2013 resulting in a 20 per cent decline in new HIV infections among children. “In addition to these, the Federal Government through the Subsidy Re-investment Program (SURE-P) and other programmes has initiated health systems strengthening projects that are critical to achieving the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV in various communities.

    Despite the genuine and commendable progress made in combating HIV/AIDS, Nigeria is faced with several gaps because of her huge population. There are huge coverage and access gaps in Prevention of Mother to Child transmission of HIV.

    Only about 61 per cent of pregnant women attended antenatal care in 2013 and only 36 per cent delivered in health facilities. Government is aware that support from international partners has flattened in the last three years and government has been informed by some International Partners of a gradual withdraw of funding support for some aspects of HIV services in the country.

    The President said in response to these challenges, the will continue to provide the needed level of commitment to ensure progress in combating HIV. “To this end, the Government of Nigeria is committed to the implementation of the plan to eliminate of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV by 2016. The Government wishes to inform Nigerians that it has begun the release of fund for the implementation of the Presidents Comprehensive Response Plan for HIV/AIDS (PCRP).  Government recognises that a huge amount of resources would be required to effectively combat the HIV epidemic which poses significant threats to the Transformation Agenda and Vision 20/20/20. I therefore call on Government at all levels, the Private sector and civil society organisations to support Government in sustaining a robust response to HIV in Nigeria.”

    He used the opportunity to profoundly thank International Partners who have stood by the country all these years and continue to be a formidable ally in the quest to eliminate Mother to Child Transmission of HIV.

    “The Government of Nigeria is particularly grateful to the United States Government PEPFAR program, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development, the Global Fund, the European Union, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the United Nations System to mention a few. I appeal to our International Partners to be patient with the Government of Nigeria as it strives to provide more resources to the many challenges confronting the nation. No Nigerian child should be born with HIV. Together we shall end the AIDS epidemic among children,” stated the President.

    Giving further insight into the reasons for government’s commitment to eMTCT, Senator Anyim said: “HIV in Africa is deepening its hold on our vulnerable population. The effect of HIV on women, young people and babies born HIV positive has turned up unacceptable figures especially in sub-Saharan Africa. It is indeed clear that the fight against HIV would hasten the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and sustainable development.  One of the most devastating consequences of the HIV epidemic is the Transmission of HIV from Mother to Child (MTCT). This route of transmission accounts for a significant percentage of the HIV burden globally. The potential impact of Mother to Child Transmission on the achievement of the MDGs is becoming increasingly clearer. HIV has been recognised as a major contributor to the persistently high Maternal Mortality in Nigeria.”

    Senator Pius said: “Nigeria contributes about 25 percent of the global burden of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV. The elimination of Mother to Child Transmission is therefore a priority health issue in Nigeria. Some of the challenges being addressed are access to quality and comprehensive Reproductive Health services and low uptake of antenatal services especially in rural areas. This has become very important due to the fact that a 61 percent of women access antenatal care but majority of these women deliver outside medical supervision or by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). There are still gaps in integrating Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) services into existing reproductive health programs at various service delivery points. All these have necessitated the need to accelerate the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission in Nigeria, hence, the launch of the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV Plan 2015-2016.”

    He reassured that the government is fully committed to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals as part of the overall Transformation Agenda. “The robust management of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) which received commendation from the International Community is a further demonstration of Mr. President’s commitment to the wellbeing of Nigerians. The President’s Comprehensive Response Plan for HIV/AIDS (PCRP) which was launched by Mr. President in 2013 is currently being implemented. I assure you all that the Government of Nigeria will fully support the implementation of the elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (eMTCT) Plan 2015 to 2016,” said Senator Anyim.

    There and then, the Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (eMTCT) Plan 2015 to 2016 was launched..

  • ‘Goodluck Nigeria’ book hits the rocks

    Who approved the printing of a book hidden under a green paperback with the words ‘Goodluck Nigeria’ circulated during the Youth Enterprise With Innovation in Nigeria (YouWin) programme at the Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja last Monday?

    The author of the white and yellow book was probably hoping to cash in on President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration to run for a second term in the 2015 election.

    However, the writer of the strange book, who is one of the past winners of You-Win programme, was also the writer of the original copy of the green coloured ‘Goodluck Nigeria’.

    Was the strange book brought to the State House with anticipatory approval or meant to ambush the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala?

    These were some of the issues raised just before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Jonathan on Wednesday.

    Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s strict and no-nonsence stance was clear  before the FEC meeting as she was visibly angry over the circulation of the strange book.

    From her discussion with some top government officials, it was clear that the circulation of the book, which she saw just before the You-Win function last Monday, did not follow due process.

    The Minister did not only bare her mind on the ‘strange’ book, but ordered the stoppage of its circulation in the Council Chamber.

    She noted that the circulation of  the book was not the first time such a fraud was carried out in her name.

    She said: “A lot of atrocities are being committed in my name. CME this, CME that. I don’t know anything about this book.”

    Ordering the aides to stop its distribution to cabinet members, she said: “Please withdraw it.”

  • ‘I escaped when our Boko Haram guards were sleeping’

    ‘I escaped when our Boko Haram guards were sleeping’

    Their escape must be a combination of factors. One was the fear of what might happen if they stayed  with the terrorists; the other, the courage to flee.  Two Adamawa State women captured by Boko Haram insurgents narrate how, against all odds, they evaded their captors, GRACE OBIKE reports

    In Kwabaru camp, Karu, Nasarawa State, where people displaced by insurgency are sheltering, you will find Mrs Mariamu Yakubu and Mrs Mariamu Musa. There is much more to them than their common names. Married with children, they stood face to face with young, bloodthirsty fighters of the Boko Haram sect. One ended up with other women in a dark, dreadful cave surrounded by thorns, outside of which none of them were permitted to go, not even to answer the call of nature. The other, alongside her 10 children, was made to lie face down and asked to produce the key of another person’s car. They escaped but their ordeal will probably live in their minds forever.

    Kwaburu camp has about nine makeshift rooms in which hundreds of displaced persons are quartered. Most of them are women and children but there are also a few men who escaped from the invading insurgents. Due to space constraints, the women and children sleep in the rooms while the men and boys from age 13 and above sleep outside on straw mats in the sand in the open air near the toilet.

    Thirty-five-year-old Mariamu Yakubu, now safe with her 10 children in the dreary conditions of the camp, relived her ordeal, her last child strapped to her back.

    She said that although she had always heard of the insurgents kidnapping young and unmarried girls, she never thought she would ever be a victim. One reason for this was because she was already married and had children. But she was wrong as she indeed became a victim.

    She said she came face to face with the insurgents on her way from the farm when two boys, who had already kidnapped two other women, confronted her, pointing a gun to her head and ordering her to follow them. Mariamu mustered the courage to ask where she was being taken, pledging that she be allowed first to return home and prepare dinner for her children.

    Their reply shocked her. They told her they were going to provide her with a more spiritual husband who will give her better children than those she had.

    “They told me that they will provide me with a more spiritual husband and that I will be able to have better children,” she said. “So, they tied up my hands and dragged me along with the other women and took us to a cave surrounded by a thick bush with thorns. They made us sit in the cave and warned us against trying to escape.

    “When we complained of hunger, they brought us corn and asked us to cook it and eat, but we refused. As if to prove to us that they meant business, they refused to allow us outside even to urinate. We had to urinate, defeacate and sleep in the same place for three days.

    “On the third day, I waited until it was dark and everyone, including the boys keeping vigil outside with their guns were fast asleep before sneaking out of the cave and ran into the bush. I ran inside the bush till I got home. I had injuries all over my body by the time I got home because of the thorns in the thick bush”.

    Her story is slightly different from that of her namesake, Mariamu Musa who had to flee her home with her children and grandchild in the wake of the attack on Gwoza by the insurgents. She was unaware of the whereabouts of her husband and could not abandon her children to their fate. Her biggest shock, however, was when she discovered that the same Okada rider who normally took them to and from the market was the same person who led the insurgents to her residence. Narrating her ordeal, Mariamu Musa said before the attack on the community, she had given up hope of living and was ready to die. According to her, she felt she was too old and lacked the strength to run away from the only home she knew after her husband who was an old solider had since run away when the terror increased, leaving her alone with the children.

    But after she and her family were subjected to a horrible ordeal by the young Boko Haram boys who were well known to them, she knew it was time for her to seek refuge in a much safer place. The boys had made them lie with their faces to the ground demanding the keys to the car parked outside the house. But when they could not provide the key since the owner had escaped with it, they became very angry and started shooting sporadically into the air. Having survived that ordeal, she took her children and left Gwoza to an unknown destination, walking several days and sleeping in caves and bushes, not knowing exactly where she was heading. Mariamu was lucky that the battery of her daughter’s cell phone did not run out and with it, they were able to contact a relative who directed them to the Kwubaru camp where she eventually found her husband. Before rejoining him at the Kwabaru camp, they had spent a few days at a similar camp in Adamawa State.

    She said, “The atrocities that I witnessed in Gwoza are more than I can tell you. They invaded our village in August, shooting sporadically and everybody ran away scared. They killed our children, especially the boys. When they see a boy of about ten, they will just kill or kidnap him. We the women ran into the forest and hid behind the rocks in order to avoid them. But they will still come after us shooting. We lived in the mountains for three days; then they sent a message to us that they are not killing women and that we should return home. But when we returned home, they started going from house to house attacking women. In my compound, we were 23, with two of us being older women and some young girls who had small children. One day, two young Boko Haram boys entered our house and asked us to give them the key to the car parked outside. We told them that the owner was not around and that he went out with his keys. They threatened to shoot us if we didn’t give them the keys. So, I knelt down and started crying, begging them not to kill us. But they shot inside the room several times to scare us. They asked one of the young girls to carry her baby on her back and follow them but we all cried and pleaded with them before they went outside and scattered the car before leaving”.

    She said further: “One of the boys that attacked us was a boy that I knew very well. He was the small okada boy that was always carrying me to and from the market almost every day before they began to attack us. I cried and said God so it is our own children inside this same Gwoza that are killing us like this? They asked us if we were Christians or Muslims and when we told them that we were Christians, they told us that they were going to kill us because we were the ones that they were looking for. I began to cry and beg them not to harm us. We were afraid of what will happen next and so, we stayed inside that room for ten days without going outside, without any food or water. The children were crying because they were hungry. One the 11th day, we escaped from the house and ran into the bush and walked for three days on foot inside the bush from Gwoza to Mazaghalli and then continued till we arrived Michika. After we left, they broke into our houses, stealing our properties. Eventually, it was someone who knew this place that brought us here because my daughter went to school and has a handset. so she was able to use it to call people that helped us. If not for the help, of people, we would have starved, they are always contributing to us, this one will bring seasoning, and this one will bring corn, this one yam to feed us here, that is how we have been surviving so far.”

    Interestingly, inside the IDP camp where these two women live with hundreds of others lives little Reuben, grand son of Mariamu Musa. During this encounter, lit was obvious that the one and half year old child was unaware of where he was or what was happening around him. Even though he, along his relations lost their homes to the insurgents, he appears happy laying with his rubber band. It is also evident that several of the kids in the camp have developed serious distrust for visitors having gone through so much in their life time than most adults outside their region will ever experience and have escaped death on several occasions with the parents and family they trust.

  • Karu General Hospital takes off

    Despite has come the way of residents of Karu in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs as the much-awaited Karu General Hospital has taken off.

    The development will save people seeking health care the stress of having to travel to places like Nyanya, Asokoro, Maitama and Wuse to access services.

    The Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Demola Onakomaiya made this known when he paid a visit to the hospital.

    Onakomaiya said that the hospital took off on October 2, 2014 with the commencement of clinical services at the Behavioural Medicine Unit.

    He noted that the development marked the commencement of services to patients with psychological and behavioural challenges and to date, a total of 69 patients have been diagnosed and treated.

    The Secretary added that the era of referring patients with psychological and behavioural challenges to Kaduna Psychiatric Hospital was over as the Karu Specialist Hospital has both human and material resources to diagnose and treat different forms of psychological and behavioral challenges.

    According to a statement issued by Head, Public Relation Unit, HHSS, Badaru Yakasai, Onakomaiya said the Hospital has a dedicated building for behavioral medicine and is the only one of its kind in the whole of the Middle Belt of Nigeria.

    He added that the Behavioral Medicine Unit of the Hospital is equipped with the state of the art equipment including Electro Encephalon Grain (EEG) Machine, Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) Machine and Laboratory Equipment in addition to good satellite Pharmacy that is stocked with specialized drugs and has a number of specialists including four Consultants, one Senior Registrar, senior Medical Officers and other support staff.

    Onakomaiya further added that behavioral services in FCT Administration’s hospitals have now been centralised as the Units formerly rendering such services in Asokoro, Kubwa and Wuse Hospitals have been closed down, except that Wuse still provides out-patient clinics two days in a week.

    This, according to him, will create more room for other services in those sister hospitals.

    The Secretary assured residents of the FCT that the FCT Administration under the leadership of Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed will do everything possible to ensure that other Departments of the Hospital commence Clinical services soon.

     

  • Minister to resolve resettlement issues

    Minister to resolve resettlement issues

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration is set to resolve issues arising from resettlement of villages, one of which is encroachment on the right-of-way in the f ace of road construction.

    FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, disclosed this, saying that his administration is committed to resolving such encroachment on the Right of Way that impedes on-going roads construction in such districts.

    According to a statement issued by the Asst. Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, the development, the Minister said would enable the contractors handling the provision of infrastructure complete their jobs.

    He reiterated that all the stakeholders would be carried along in the process to ensure that all parties are satisfied and given a sense of belonging in line with the vision of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

    According to him, the affected districts include Guzape I and II Districts (that is, Guzape and Kuruduma villages); Idu District (Paipe village) as well as Karmo District (Karmo village).

    Mohammed stated that other affected districts include the Abuja Technology Village (Aleita, Pyakassa and Chika villages); Kagini district (Kagini, Kaba, Guida and Saburi Vilages); Jahi district (Jahi I & II, Kado Kuchia) and relocation of tipper garages.

    He revealed that at the Mbora district, the issue would also be addressed at EFAB Estate and Tzango village; while at the Maitama Extension District, the issue of Barack fence would also be resolved.

    The Minister said that the government recently achieved the reconstruction of the failed portion of old Karmo road, which is aimed at alleviating the sufferings of residents, particularly motorists along that route.

    He announced that his Administration has completed the outstanding engineering infrastructure to Gudu District Phase II, final design of Interceptor Sewer Schedule V, final engineering design of bridges for Dakwa District as well as final engineering design for Arterial Road S30, Collectors A and B and other Access Road to Phase II of Federal Capital City, Abuja.

    His words: “The FCT Administration in tune with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan has completed the Subsoil and Geophysical Investigation of Daki-Biyu, Jahi, Duboyi Districts in the Phase II of the Federal Capital City, Abuja.

     

  • Concern as residents shun pedestrian bridges

    Concern as residents shun pedestrian bridges

    As it was in the old days, so it is now. After the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) committed huge resources to build pedestrian bridges across its major roads and prevent people from being knocked over, little seems to have changed. Many road users shun the bridges and still make the dash across the busy roads in spite of the obvious dangers. This is a worry for the authorities and safety campaigners.

    Frequent deaths and injuries triggered calls for the overhead bridges in the first place. Almost every week, there were casualties either in the morning or evening and the drivers often sped off.

    The FCT has one of the best road networks in the country. Some of them are in Area 1, Area 3, Mabushi and Lugbe-Airport Road, among others. But they soon became death scenes as careless users were hit.

    The number of deaths arising from these incidents became unbearable. Social campaigners and interest groups flooded the media, especially the radio, to make the case for bridges. The authorities heeded the call and started building. But months after the bridges were completed and flagged off, a good chunk of the public still prefer the old order. They have been jettisoning the bridges. They brace for it, look this way and that and make the dash.

    There have been deaths, though not as much as there used to be before the pedestrian bridges. The FCTA has taken action to discourage pedestrians from risking the dash. One action the authorities took was to block the roadsides near the bridges with a mesh.

    This has had little effect. In the course of gathering this report Abuja Review discovered that pedestrians have attacked the mesh, seeing them as obstacles that must be removed.

    This was peculiar to some of the expressways where the obstruction could be found. It became so alarming that even if the trimmed part got fixed by the relevant authority, before dawn, two other sections of the iron net would be trimmed down. These things happen every day, much to the worry of the Authority. Some concerned individuals went as far as counseling the public on phone-in radio programmes to avoid the awful act and use the bridges.

    Recently, a police team was sighted at Area 3 waiting patiently to nab defiant pedestrians. Abuja Review noticed the police were so careful in their approach. Their vision was clear. First to arrest offenders who chose to cross the expressway rather than use the pedestrian bridge and secondly, to ensure the offenders were not chased to the expressway such that theywon’t be knocked down by coming vehicles.

    A taxi operator, Mr. Paul Obi told our correspondent what led to the incident. Being a commercial driver, he was always plying some of these roads. He said, though, the overhead bridges were too far from the spots the pedestrians used. He observed that scavengers popularly known as Babanbola, often in the night, cut down the barricades. He narrated his experience, saying, ‘do you know last week Saturday, one of these Mai’baro wanted to help convey a woman’s  goods across the road, but the next thing he did was to just use his barrow to draw the net and push his wheelbarrow through. These are the things people do and push the blame on the government.”

    A commuter, Enobong Macanson expressed worry why residents in the territory could be so stubborn. He said it was the same residents that clamoured for the construction of overhead bridges, certainly for their safety but have refused to use it.

    On the other hand, a number of reasons have been identified why members of the public would always prefer the conventional way. While some attributed robbery on the bridge as a major cause, others complained of health issues.

    “Some people have issues probably with their legs and cannot climb the stairs and the contractors do not make provision for those on wheelchair”, Phoebian Oludamilola said. For Adio Titilayo, some individuals see the road crossing as faster and easier but dangerous.

    Macanson told  our correspondent that some people have a phobia for heights. So, for that singular reason, they will always go for the normal road crossing.

    Gift Chapi stressed that some of the pedestrian bridges were built far away from the park.

    “I think it is because some of them has height phobia so they will prefer to use the road. Aside, there are no proper orientation to change that mind set of the people because it’s more of a culture. Some of the pedestrian bridges were even built far away from usual spot so people will rather prefer to cross rather than walk the distance.”

    Bushrah Yusuf also emphasised some of the bridges were not situated at the designated bus stops. So, most commuters saw it as a stressful exercise walking down the distance to the bridge. “Some complain of the stress of climbing especially the old people who speak of leg pains whenever they climb the bridge.” Moreover, aside from the listed reasons, Adetola Jensimi basically attributed laziness and impatience as major contributing factor.

    She said it was more attitudinal. “We are all guilty as charged but one thing I have come to notice about we Nigerians is that we always look for fast means. I think the reason is not far fetched from the fact that many see the pedestrian bridge as quiet stressful and tiring to climb….”

    However, a commercial driver, Mr. Ifeanyi Igbokwe came up with a different story. To him, the blame was to careless drivers who have accident, hitting the fragile barrier. He said reckless drivers often hit the barricade, destroying the grid. Igbokwe asked government to ensure the projects are supervised and maintained for at least one year. This, according him, would enable easy fixing of the damaged barricades.

    “At times, it is mostly caused by motor accidents. Most timeS, when I want to drop people by the bridge around the evening, they will resist and prefer I drop them by the normal spot people are used to.”

    Miss Etta Chidinma also narrated how a colleague was attacked in the evening around 7 pm on her way back from the office. She said the lady went through the overhead bridge but got robbed of her personal belongings.

    Based on her experience, she said it would have been better if the FCTA could put in place adequate security measures to protect pedestrians. She suggested that the authorities could partner the Department of State Security (DSS) who are mostly in mufti to arrest culprits.

    “The moment it is 7:30 pm, people are no longer safe using the bridge. As she was coming down from the bridge, the bad boys just came from nowhere, snatched her bag and pushed her away. Some even use knives.”

    Some have called on the FCTA to increase awareness and sensitisation campaigns, apart from the existing measures to encourage commuters to adopt the overpass. The gesture, they said, will go a long way in reducing road carnage in the territory and instil a new culture in the residents.

  • Inside Kaduna master fabricators’ home

    Inside Kaduna master fabricators’ home

    Name what you want and they will fabricate it within minutes. Their raw materials are usually disused items: discarded soft drink cans, wires and anything aluminum-based. Such is their proficiency that many say they are second only to the famous technologists of Aba, Abia State. In the North, however, everyone agrees that the fabricators of Panteka Market have no rival.

    Its popularity in Kaduna State and across the North is based on nothing else but the fabricators’ phenomenal use of local technology to produce a variety of products and turning waste to wealth.

    When our reporter visited the market, the technology of their displayed products was striking, especially because the craftsmen never to school.

    A 30-year-old man told the reporter that it takes him less than 10 minutes to produce four big aluminum pots.

    Ahmed Modibbo, leader of the aluminum pots fabricators took the reporter through the process of aluminum pot production. The first step, he said, is collecting aluminum material, like cans, deodorant containers and wires, among others, and melting them into liquid.

    According to him, “it is compulsory to subject the aluminum to constant heat. So, we have a fanning system made with bike wheel, which is connected with a pipe to the melting pot. When the fire gets to the highest degree, the aluminum will start melting into liquid and dripping into a container kept under the pot through a hole.

    “After that, the liquid is collected and poured into another pot where it is further subjected to heat. Inside the workshop as you can see here, clay sand is moulded round a sample of the pot, with required inscriptions on the sand.”

    North Report’s crew was still at the ‘mini factory’ when the highly heated aluminum liquid was poured into the four carved sand to solidify. Amazingly, within five minutes, four big pots were ready for use. But it requires finishing, which is giving to another section to file and make the pot shine.

    Modibbo who said he inherited the trade from his father, said he and his team produce minimum of eight big aluminum pots a day, depending on the availability of aluminum material at their disposal. He also disclosed that, each of the big pots is sold for N10,000.

    However, Modibbo said the greatest challenge they face in the job lack of support from government, arguing that, countries like Singapore, China and Japan are industrial giants today, because of efforts of craftsmen like us. But, unfortunately our own government lays emphasis on paper qualification and not productivity.

    His plea to the government is to create an enabling environment for craftsmen to strive in their creative world and support them through provision of working tools and protective wears, which would help reduce accidents in their work.

    According to him, “as you can see, this work is dangerous and risky. Sometimes, we have accident, if one is not careful, some of the insecticide or deodorant cans we put in fire do explode and injure us. But, if we get protective jackets and industrial wears from government, the accident will certainly reduce. So, with government’s support, there is nothing we cannot produce in this market”.

    Modibbo’s claim was later confirmed by North Report, when it visited another section of the market, where ‘Ice block’ making freezer is fabricated. This section is equally very busy with highly skilled, but apparently not educated craftsmen at work.

    One of the leading craftsmen who identified himself as Ashimu Baba, but popularly called ‘Engineer’ among his colleagues said, everything used in constructing the freezer is sourced from within Panteka market. The materials used include iron sheet, aluminium sheet, compressors and cooling pipes among others.

    Baba explained that, though the freezers are locally made, they produce ice blocks faster than the imported ones. And the freezers sell for between N100,000 to N700,000, depending on the size, number of compressors and quality of materials used in producing them.

    Panteka can become the industrial haven of Northern Nigeria, considering the variety products being produced in the market. From household materials like candle, candle stand, kerosene lamp, cooking stove, utensils to industrial materials like shovel, rake, digger and working tools are produced in the market. It was also gathered that, automobile parts are produced in the market.

    Panteka is an untapped goldmine for Nigeria. Federal Government and its relevant agencies need to put necessary machinery in motion to reap the benefits of this unique market.

    In the interim, the government needs to wade in to ensure that standard and safety are complied with to reduce hazards associated with the wonderful inventions taking place in Panteka Market.

    Be that, that as it may, Panteka will continue  to remain the ‘China Market’ of Northern Nigeria.

     

  • Yero retools schools

    Yero retools schools

    The ugly face of schools in Kaduna State is giving way, thanks to the Mukthar Ramalan Yero administration. The policy of fixing the schools, according the Director General, Media and Publicity to the governor, Ahmed Maiyaki, is to tackle deficiencies in such key areas as manpower, infrastructure and construction. The institutions are being equipped and stocked with books and scholarship awarded to graduate and post-graduate students.

    As part of this effort, the government recently approved post-graduate scholarship worth about N800 million in foreign universities. Concerned about the delay in the completion of the Kaduna State University Teaching Hospital to offer clinical training for students of the state owned university, the government, according to Maiyaki, has entered into partnership with the International University in Kampala, Uganda where 29 students from the state University are currently undergoing their clinical training.

    He said, “29 medical students from the state university have already enrolled at the prestigious International University in Kampala, Uganda for their clinical studies as part of the MBBS programme. The second sets of beneficiaries have emerged and would be sent to reputable universities across the World to acquire additional qualifications for the purpose of improving the human capital of the state”.

    Maiyaki told The Nation that following the sack of some unqualified teachers in the state and the directive to others to upgrade their qualifications or leave the service, the government was concerned about the gap being created in the the teaching service in the state and made move to fill those gaps.

    He said, “I am sure that you are aware that the last administration carried out a verification of teachers and discovered that some of the teachers in the state were not qualified. Some of those teachers were asked to go and upgrade themselves while those who could not be redeemed were asked to go. The exit of those teachers created a vacuum which needed to be filled. So, in order to fill that vacuum, the government, in the last few months, employed over 1,800 teachers while providing training and retraining for teachers in the core science subjects.

    “The State Government has entered into collaboration with the National Teachers Institute (NTI) for the training and retraining of its workforce in the areas of science based subjects, diploma qualification and regular Teacher’s Summit in partnership with other development partners annually. This was aimed at improving the atmosphere of teaching and learning. This is already yielding results with improvement in results of candidates that sat for major examinations in the State.

    “In 2014, Kaduna State emerged third best in the country on the list of States with the highest number of students that passed the West African Examination Council (WAEC) organised Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

    Students from the state also performed to the pride of the entire nation at the International Quiz Competition held at Bangkok, Thailand and other international and local debates and quiz competitions”.

    The state university, he said, has enjoyed a lot of attention from the present administration in the state. He explained that the law setting up the university made it a dual campus institution, stressing that this made the development of the Kafanchan campus of the university as important as the main campus.

    He dismissed claims that the government was not interested in developing the Kafanchan campus, adding that the Yero administration has committed a lot of resources to the campus which houses the Faculties of Environmental Studies and Agriculture as well as the School of Basic Studies. Other projects already completed in the university include the development of Kafanchan Campus for take-off of Environmental Sciences and Agriculture programmes, rehabilitation of various classroom blocks, conversion of existing hostel blocks to academic office buildings, rehabilitation of residential quarters, construction of Multi-purpose complex, construction of Convocation Square, construction of various model twin lecture halls. development of  Faculty of Science Phase II, development of Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, development of university library, development of Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences building, development of Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences complex, Faculty of Arts building complex and 500 sitting capacity Lecture Hall and Entrepreneurship Centre.

    He said that the government was determined to fully develop the education sector in the state and has began the construction four new science secondary schools in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). The schools to be located in Koreye in Sabon Gari Local government, Manchok in Kaura Local GovernmentAarea, New Millennium City in Chikun Local Government Area and Rigachikun in Igabi Local Government Area will cost about $17.2 million. When completed, the schools are expected to train students from the state in science and technical subjects. In addition, the government, he said has built two more Tsangaya schools in Jere and Birnin Gwari area of the state as part of efforts to take almajirai out if the streets. These schools are expected to compliment the first Tsangaya school established by the government in Sabon Barki Local Government Area and named after the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

    He said further that “Governor Yero also approved N90m for the purchase of computer science equipment for senior secondary schools, which was distributed in March. Government also plans to increase students’ bursary and a committee has been constituted to assess and improve allowances of students. The government, through the Universal Basic Education (UBE) expended over N1.2 billion on Whole School Development Strategy in 46 primary schools across the state renovating and constructing classrooms, toilets and offices for primary schools as well as junior and senior secondary schools across the state”.

     

  • Praying away Jonathan’s sycophants

    President Goodluck Jonathan in many quarters has been described in the past as a good, gentle, easy-going and peace-loving person.

    But other persons have also noted that the President’s apparent simplicity has not tallied with some steps and measures taken by his administration.

    A recent case they pointed out is the blockage of the National Assembly gate and tear-gassing of elected federal lawmakers and representatives of the people.

    The number three and four citizens of the country, the Senate President, Senator David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, respectively, they observed, were not spared the shameful act carried out by security agencies of the government under the pretence of keeping thugs away from the complex.

    The contradiction of the gentle nature of the President and the seemingly wicked moves carried out under his administration has remained irreconcilable to many political observers over the years.

    Some of them have attributed the faulty moves by the administration to sycophants and bad advisers surrounding the President.

    The Presidency itself is no longer in doubt of the presence of sycophants misleading the President.

    During an early morning prayer for Jonathan’s 57th birthday, a prayer point was raised against sycophants surrounding and misleading the President.

    Leading the prayer session, Pastor Omale of the Aso Villa Chapel, said: “All the sycophants, Judas’ in the camp of Jesus Christ you will expose and uproot them in the name of Jesus.”

    Also praying for the first family and the nation, he said: “As he steps into the year that many people have predicted one wicked and malicious thing, indeed if you are the God that created Nigeria, and we know you created Nigeria, every evil wish against Nigeria, every plan to distablise Nigeria, every gang-up, every conspiracy, you said surely they will gather but not by me, as many that gather against you for your sake they shall be scattered, for the sake of Nigeria, any connection, any conspiracy to destabilise Nigeria, keep Nigeria unrest, give those people their trouble in the name of Jesus. Cause that Nigeria will come out stronger in 2015 and beyond.”

    “For your son keep him, protect him and guard him, be with our mother the first lady, uphold and energise her, that she will give necessary support to your son. Every member of the family it shall be well with them, those loyal leuitenants you have raised for him, serving with him in one form or

    the other you will keep them in Jesus Name. Amen.” He prayed

    Nigerians, no doubt, are saying a loud Amen in their closets for the sycophants misleading the President to be exposed and shown the way out for the betterment of the nation.

     

  • Jonation, old CJN, new CJN

    November 20 was special for President Goodluck Jonathan, the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, and her successor Mahmud Mohammed.

    The trio will not forget it in a hurry.

    The day was the 57th birthday of the President while it was the 70th birthday of the immediate past CJN, Mukhtar, who is the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria.

    The date was important to the new CJN, Mohammed, because it was the day he was conferred with the National Honour of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), officially took over from Mukhtar and also sworn in as the14th indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who served as Master of Ceremony at the occaion highlighted the three celebrations and declared that the day was a special day.