The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Jonathan versus Chibok girls’ parents

    President Goodluck Jonathan last week missed an opportunity to rub minds with some parents of the over 200 secondary schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno State.

    Worried that the girls’ disappearance was causing great pain and psychological trauma to their parents, the Pakistani Girl-Child Education Campaigner, Malala Yousafzai, who met with President Jonathan last week Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja insisted that the President should see the parents.

    But the meeting could not hold on Tuesday as the parents did not turn up for the 4.p.m. fixture. They  were said to have left Abuja in the early hours of the day for Chibok, Borno State.

    Earlier on May 4, a similar meeting convened by First Lady on the abducction saga was fruitless, as many interested parties also failed to honour it. The development  twice drew tears from Mrs Jonathan.

    But it is not clear whether the President was also moved to that point as journalists were not opportuned to be where the news was broken to the President that the Chibok girls’ parents were shunning the meeting. Only his handlers would really know his immediate reaction.

    The President, however, at every given opportunity had claimed that the abduction of the girls is causing him so much pain as he is also a parent.

    Some Nigerians have however pointed out that the President did not need a Malala or needed to wait for three months after the abduction before making moves to see the parents of the abducted girls.

    Reliable sources in the Presidency had claimed that the President’s moves in the past to see the parents were thwarted.

    Speaking with State House correspondents on last Tuesday’s botched meeting, the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe blamed the BringBackOurGirls and the opposition for the development.

    He said: “The meeting was scheduled for 4p.m today at the instance of the request that was made by Malala and the President graciously agreed within 24 hours to meet with them but unfortunately the BringBackOur Girls leadership prevailed on the parents of the girls, stopped them from coming therefore what happened was that they actually shunned the meeting with Mr. President because the foreign media and everybody was waiting for this meeting and since they were no longer coming and they made it expressly clear that they were no longer coming, infact that the girls were just few minutes away from Chibok, the meeting was aborted.”

    “It was the leadership of BringBackOurGirls that brought them to Abuja and that gives them some leverage, they accommodated them, it is obvious now that the BringBackOurGirls in Nigeria are interested in showmanship not genuinely concerned with the plight of the children and that of their parents.”

    Continuing, he said: “That is was has become clinically clear by this action because if the parents of the girls travelled so much from Chibok to get to Abuja, why will it be impossible for them to meet with the President who has graciously agreed to give an appointment within less than 24 hours to meet with them.”

    “We are just coming from the President and he has authorized that an official letter be written to the parents inviting them to formally to come and meet him and it is going to be sometime next week.” He said

    But the #BringBackOurGirls Coalition, which had always insisted that the Federal Government was not doing enough to rescue the girls, last week denied aborting the Jonathan, parents’ meeting.

    In a statement jointly signed by former Minister of Education and coordinator of the group, Oby Ezekwesili, and Hadiza Usman, the group said it was merely informed about the decision of the parents and was not in attendance when the invitation to the Presidential meeting was extended to the Chibok parents.

    The group expressed surprise at what it called “the escalation of the pattern of the campaign of calumny by the government officials on our citizens’ movement, advocating for the rescue of the abducted 219 schoolgirls from Chibok Secondary School, 93 days ago.”

    While maintaining that the parents did not request to see the President, Spokesperson of the Abuja Chibok Community, Dauda Iliya last week said that they only received the invitation from the Presidency after the parents had left Abuja for Chibok.

    He said: “These parents and escaped girls did not come to Abuja at the instance of government or its representatives for a meeting with Mr. President but on the full understanding that they were coming to meet with Malala.”

    “In the course of their interactions with Malala, neither the parents nor escaped girls asked for a meeting with the President or any government functionary, rather the narrative back home was to persistently ask why the President has not visited them in Chibok since the abduction. It is obvious that 12 fathers and 5 girls only constitute about 2% of the parents of the abducted girls and the 57 girls that escaped.” He said

    While the ongoing accusations and counter-accusations would immediately stop as soon as the girls are safely rescued, it is hoped that the next meeting with the parents billed for this week will actually hold and go a long way to ameliorate the problems that followed the abduction.

     

  • Turunku: Queen Amina’s forgotten hometown

    Turunku: Queen Amina’s forgotten hometown

    Of all the neglected sites in Kaduna State, Queen Amina’s hometown, Turunku, is probably the most painful. Centuries after her reign and exploits, the warrior queen continues to stir the mind. Primary school pupils study her as much as researchers probe into her intriguing war past. Today, the queen who mastered the art of warfare on horse back, humbling one community after another, is regarded as one of Africa’s greatest women.

    Shouldn’t her birthplace, Turunku, therefore be a money spinner, an irresistible destination for tourists? But successive governments in the state have routinely looked away from the town, leaving it an ungainly settlement.

    The neglect of Turunku is almost as legendary as its illustrious heroine. First, she was always called Queen Amina of Zaria though she never really lived in the town, which was named after her younger sister. Also, many do not know that the Zazzau emirate did not originally start from its present location, but at Turunku in present-day Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

    What does all that fetch Turunku and its residents? It seems pretty little. The town which would have been generating huge revenues for the state government has been abandoned. The only sign of government’s presence there is the fence round the tomb of Queen Amina’s father. Worse, the fact that the famous warrior queen and her people ever reigned in Turunku may never be known to future generations, due to lack of efforts to protect and promote the site.

    When The Nation visited the tomb of Queen Amina’s father in Turunku, it was covered with weed, even though it was fenced by the government. It was clear that few visitors or tourists will be attracted to the place. Also, the tie and dye wells (known as ‘Rijiyan Rini’ in Hausa) which were used by Queen Amina and her people were also covered by grass, while farmers have taken over the entire area leaving little space by the Turunku-Farakwai roadside. There is nothing to indicate that such a warrior ever passed through the place, let alone reign there.

    When The Nation visited, it was discovered that the villagers had made their own arrangement to conduct would be visitors round the remaining sites, which included the mountain where Queen Amina is said to have lived.

    It was also discovered that there is no designated route to the top of the mountain, but the tour guide attached to this reporter disclosed that there was an easy route to the top. It was an interesting, but scary expedition. At the base of the rocky mountain was the game board used by Queen Amina and her people  to relax. There is also a big, flat rock with several holes, which they used to play the game known today as ‘ayo’.

    Also close to it is what is known as ‘Zakzak’, where Bakwa, Amina’s father from whom she learnt the art of warfare is believed to have buried his sword. It is believed that Bakwa never went beyond this point whenever he saw his visitors off.

    There is also the ‘Dutsen Hiya’ and ‘Dutsen Boyewa. While Dutsen Hiya is said to be the place where she prayed for victory before she went to battle, Dutsen Boyewa is a covering for an underground tunnel where they hid their children during war.

    While these sites still exist, there is no effort to protect them from extinction.

    At the top of the mountain is the rock bed used by Queen Amina and her bodyguards.

    However, while it was noticed that the rock bed was much wider than beds used in those days, the tour guide, Abubakar, told The Nation that people of Queen Amina’s generation were 10 times bigger than their modern counterparts.

    She was the chief protector of her community and this is evident by the placement of her stool located at the northern entrance to her community regarded as Kofar Arewa and another located in the southern entrance to the community known as Kofar Kudu. From these seats, she could see an enemy coming several kilometres away. A big grinding stone said to have been used by the community also sits on top of the mountain. There is also a well to provide water and a poison mortar used to prepare poison for their arrows when preparing for war.

    One interesting discovery was a big hole said to be snake hole in the rock where a big snake is said to have lived for over 100 years. Even though the snake could not be seen, a strange odour which was said to be its breath welcomes visitors to the place. Abubakar told The Nation that the snake usually came out every Sunday and that it stopped coming out since a visiting journalist took its photograph some years back.

    The mention of the giant snake sent jitters down the spine of this reporter and the tour was brought to an abrupt end, but that was not before Abubakar disclosed that there was nothing else to be seen.

    After about three hours journey to and from the seat of Queen Amina, the traditional ruler of Turunku, Alhaji Ahmed Abdullahi told The Nation that if the government had taken serious interest in the sites, climbing the mountains would have been made easier.

    He described Queen Amina as a very successful warrior, saying she always took her war booty to her sister’s settlement in Zaria. He added that over a period of time, her many conquests and subsequent annexation of territories extended beyond the borders of Zaria.

    One of the tour guides who gave his name simply as Ahmed told The Nation that Queen Amina was never married and had no children of her own. He noted that instead of having a husband of her own, the brave Amina always took a temporary mate from the legions of vanquished foes after every battle, spent one night with the man and executed him the following morning to prevent him from ever speaking about his sexual encounter with her.

    Ahmed, a young school leaver who said his ambition is to document the history of Turunku, also said that the legendary “Amina committed suicide during a military campaign at Dekina in the present Kogi State and was buried in Idah”.

    According to him, Queen Amina who had a successful military exploit in Dekina took a temporary husband in the place and could not kill the man after their sexual encounter. He stressed that “a soothsayer had predicted Queen Amina’s coming to Dekina and told their ruler to bury his young daughter and a young man alive to prevent their land from being conquered by the female warrior. And that was what led to her failure to kill the man who spent a night with the warrior queen. The man, it is said, sneaked out in the middle of the night. Worried by that development, Queen Amina refused to return home. She jumped into the river and died at Dekina and was later buried at Idah.”

    Life and times of the warrior Queen

     The Nation’s findings revealed that Queen Amina took after her father as a warrior and leader of her people. Her father, known to the people simply as Bakwa was the 18th ruler of Turunku and their family wealth was derived mainly from trading in leather goods, cloth, kola, salt, horses and imported metals. It was also learnt that Amina’s younger sister, Amamatu who was also known as Zaria left Turunku because of water scarcity and settled in the present-day Zaria, a place that was later named after her.

    Amina who was said to have been born in 1533. In 1576 she became the  ruler of Zazzau.

  •  ‘199 tons of waste evacuated annually’

    As at December 2012, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has evacuated an estimated 199,425 tons of waste from Abuja.

    FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed revealed this while receiving a delegation of the Botswana Defence Command and Staff College, Course 7 that visited the FCT Administration on a study tour.

    The Minister who was represented at the occasion by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Chukwu, an engineer, further revealed that 18 companies are engaged in daily collection of these wastes.

    Mohammed disclosed that the Federal Capital City has been sub-divided into 21 Lots, in addition to the 35 Housing Estates to ensure effective waste collection of the city.

    According to a statement issued by Assistant Director and Chief Press Secretary Muhammad Sule, the minister also disclosed that the FCT Administration has awarded contract for 3 Nos Waste Transfer Station at Mpape, Kubwa and Gudu Districts.

    According to him, construction of perimeter fencing of the 90.8 hectares waste disposal site at Goza was concluded, with 35 per cent completion of Transfer Station Project and 60 per cent completion of the perimeter Fencing.

    The Minister remarked that there are additional three waste transfer stations being planned for Kuje and Nyanya/Karu axis to complement the ongoing three waste transfer stations.

    On strategies for development, Senator Mohammed said that his Administration opted for private sector infrastructure finance called the Abuja Land Swap Initiative.

    He stated that the initiative has given birth to 15 private sector enabled projects providing infrastructure in 2 sector centers and 8 districts in the Phase IV (South) of the Federal Capital City.

    The Minister emphasised that development in this area is based on contractual agreement with 15 Private Investors on the basis of the Land-for-Infrastructure Swap Framework.

    His words: “The total land area for the development is 4,283.2 hectares and projected to require a minimum of $3.8 Billion private sector capital”.

    “The distance of this area is averagely 20 minutes from the city centre and 15 minutes from the Airport,” Senator Mohammed stressed.

    The head of the delegation, Brigadier Shadrack Mokoi thanked the Minister for the warm reception accorded the team.

  • 29 prisoners pardoned, 3,700 prisons officers promoted

    29 prisoners pardoned, 3,700 prisons officers promoted

    IT is a gesture the benficiaries are unlikely to forget. No fewer than 29 prison inmates in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been granted amnesty  by Minister of the Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed. The inmates’ sentences had an option of fine. Also, over 3,700 officers of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) have been promoted across the country.

    The prisoners had been serving in Kuje Medium Security Prison and the Suleja Prison.

    Mohammed, who was represented at the ceremony at Kuje Prison by the General Counsel of the FCT Administration, Mr Ima Okpongete, a lawyer, said the clemency was purposely designed to signpost the Ramadan season.

    The gesture, he said, is in tandem with the disposition of his administration to impact positively on the welfare of the people, particularly the less-privileged.

    In a statement issued by the Special Assistant, Media, Nosike Ogbuenyi, the Minister said he decided to grant the convicts amnesty by offsetting their various fines because he believed that many of them could still be reformed and contribute positively to the development of the society.

    He enjoined the beneficiaries of the gesture to permanently keep away from crime, so as not to return to jail. According to him, their freedom represents their last chance to chart a new path of orderliness, civility and good conduct as responsible members of the society.

    The prisoners were convicted with varying amounts of fines, ranging from N55,000 to N3,000.

    However, due to their lowly economic backgrounds, they were unable to pay the fines and had to be committed to prison. The Minister took the decision to grant amnesty to the prisoners following his recent inspection of the prisons to ascertain the condition of inmates as well as facilities on ground.

    In approving the unconditional release of the convicts, the Minister offset the total of N543,500 being the combined fines of the 29 affected prisoners.

    He also presented the sum of N10,000 to each of them to enable them transport themselves home.

    A breakdown of the amount shows that 10 prisoners whose combined fines totaled N149, 500 were released from Medium Security Prison, Kuje, while 19 others whose total fines amounted to N316, 000 were released from Suleja Prison.

    The Controller of Prisons, FCT Command, Gwagwalada Abuja, Mallam K.O Yusuf in a special letter of appreciation to the Hon. Minister thanked him for the kind gesture, which he described as special Ramadan gift for the affected inmates.

    He thanked the Minister for the cordial relationship existing between the FCT Administration and the Nigerian Prison Service.

    In his remarks, the Deputy Controller of Prisons in charge of Kuje Prison, Mallam Musa Tanko who spoke on behalf of the Prison Service, Kuje and the inmates, thanked the Minister for the kind gesture.

    He particularly thanked him for giving each of the pardoned inmates the sum of N10, 000 stressing that it would help them to start free life afresh. He urged the lucky inmates to ensure that they were leaving the prison confines for life.

    Also present at the event was the Director, Advisory Services, FCT, Mr. Abdullahi Kuyambana.

    Meanwhile the Controller General (CG) of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Ibrahim Zakari has said that the service is operating with other security operatives to avoid jail break.

    Zakari disclosed this in Abuja at the decoration ceremony of promoted officers and men of the NPS.

    His words: “You can be decorated or promoted if you exhibit a high level of diligences, hard work and dedication. They will be entrusted with higher responsibility; it means they will double their effort. They have to work harder. Their loyalty is to be complete. They must be obedient to their duties and they must accept responsibility.

    “Congestion is one of our major challenges in the prisons. We experience this with the Awaiting trial prisoners. This is because of the slow pace of the criminal justice system. But from our end we are building more cells in other to decongest the cells that we have. We are increasing our synergy with other security operatives to ensure that we experience speedy trial.

    “We are seeking the support of lawyers to assist us in this regard. Some of them do not have money.

    “Where you keep criminals under lock and key surrounded by walls they would want to escape. So in prisons all over the world we have the challenges of escape. We have armed squads guarding the prisons across the country. We are training staff. Promotion is a moral booster for officers and I hope this will ginger them.”

  • Yobe vaccinates 5m animals

    Yobe vaccinates 5m animals

    Over five million animals have been vaccinated in Yobe State, in keeping with Governor Ibrahim Gaidam’s health policy.

    It took less than two years into his administration for the governor to start implementing the plan to provide the residents with a good health plan, especially the free medical care for children under five and expectant mothers. Gaidam also followed up with free vaccination for animals. His health policy was widely celebrated by the people of the state

    The governor spoke of the need to have healthy animals at a mass vaccination campaign at Dikumari village on the outskirts of Damaturu, the state capital. He assured that no animal will remain unvaccinated in the state and directed the Ministry of Animals and Fisheries to ensure that the exercise covers all the local government areas in the state.

    Gaidam also expressed happiness over the improved relationship between pastoralists and farmers in the state, announcing that government will construct two international livestock markets in Garin Alkali and Nguru, to boost livestock production and revenue.

    He called for strict monitoring of influx of animals into the state to check the spread of diseases. He said “the vaccination of the animals in the state is apt”.

    Programme Manager of the Yobe Livestock Pilot Development Programme, Dr. Mustapha Gaidam said the gesture has considerably improved livestock production in the state.

    He said: “I wish to inform you that despite the security challenges that we have in the state, livestock production has been on the increase because of the free vaccination initiative of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam for animals in the state. This has in turn also boosted trading in this sector significantly. The inter-town roads constructed by the state government have facilitated easy movement to these areas with large concentration of goats, sheep and cattle. There are livestock farmers in every household in all the 17 local government areas of the state. Naturally, our people have the passion for livestock farming and we have been supporting them with drugs, food supplement and adequate water to improve the capacity of the farmers.”

    Dr. Mustapha said the programme also trained farmers on animal health and fattening, pointing out that the excise has improved the quality and value of livestock with good returns to the farmers. He said further that “We have also recorded improvement in meat and dairy production. Yobe is definitely moving away from subsistence farming to commercial livestock farming.”

    He stressed that 5.2 million livestock have been vaccinated against various diseases since 2009 to date in the state. He also said that 1.7 million cattle, sheep, goats and dogs also benefited from free mass vaccination  in the 2013, adding  that  ”800,000 herds of cattle were to be vaccinated against Contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia (CBPP) and Black Quarter (BQ). He stressed that 900,000 sheep and goats will be vaccinated against pest de petit ruminants and 2,500 dogs will be vaccinated against rabies,” he said.

    The programme manager said an intensive sensitisation campaign is been carried out for livestock farmers across the state for participation in the mass vaccination program of the state. One of the reasons for the mass vaccination according to Dr. Mustapha Gaidam is to protect the animals against any cross border disease because of the cross boundary grazing of the animals into neighbouring countries like Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Mustaphq also said that “The cross boundary nomadic livestock husbandry practice makes the livestock vulnerable to diseases”.

    Speaking on the perennial farmers and herdsmen conflicts, the programme manager disclosed that Yobe State has demarcated over 1000 kilometres of cattle routes and beaconed same to check against encroachment and conflicts among these group of people. “We have consistently cultivated mucuna beans and stylosanthesis in Dilawa, Gumsi, Tarajem, Alagarno, Mashio, Gumsa, Nasari/Jakusko, Gujba and Nguru grazing reserves to promote livestock food supplements,” he said.

    He solicited the cooperation of livestock farmers, opinion leaders and veterinary officers to work for the success of the 2013 vaccination campaign in order to ensure increased meat and dairy production in the state”. He noted that the volume of traders from all over the country visiting Bayamari, Potiskum, Gaidam, Yusufari, Garin Alkali, Gashua and Nguru livestock markets had increased significantly.

    A beneficiary of the free vaccination campaign Umar Musa, a resident of Dikumari village told our correspondent that he has never benefited from any free vaccination of animals from government since he started rearing animals. He explained that he spends the sum of N30, 000 annually for the vaccination of his animals, stressing that the financial burden is now off his shoulders. Umar thanked the governor for the gesture but added,” I hope that all the other Fulanis in faraway places in the bush will also benefit from this gesture.”

  • Lawmaker’s jobs tools lift Kwara community

    Lawmaker’s jobs tools lift Kwara community

    It took the agrarian community by surprise. Most residents of Omupo community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State were said to be going about their daily routines when some political heavyweights in the state visited.

    It was not a political campaign rally. Their representative in the House of Representatives, Dr. Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim, was coming to town to give the people jobs tools. With the tools, they will be able to fend for themselves and, possibly, become employers. Senator Bukola Saraki, a former governor of the state, was among the visitors.

    The community is one of those under the Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal constituency which is under the control of the All Progressive Congress. It was also an event organised by the lawmaker to present his scorecard to the people apparently ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    Dr. Adebayo is not unaware of the threat posed by the Peoples Democratic Party to the aspiration of the APC in the area and only a comprehensive scorecard will ensure victory for them in the elections.

    Several items were presented to the people by the lawmaker. They include three Sports Utility vehicles (SUVs) for APC chairmen in the three local government areas; eight cars for party faithful; 100 TV sets for ward chairmen and coordinators; 373 units of grinding and sewing machines; 370 sets of small generating set and 370 units of clippers. Others are 25 units of freezers; 10,000 copies of exercise books, 15,000 units of clothing materials; 15,000 units of T-shirts, face caps and souvenirs.

    Presenting the items to the beneficiaries, Dr Ibrahim urged the beneficiaries to use the items given to them to unify the APC at all levels. He told the gathering that he has spent about N130 million on empowerment scheme, scholarship and bursary award for students in his constituency during the year under review. He said that “Registration of students for the junior West African Examinations Council (WAEC), bursary awards to various students of tertiary institutions including law school and school fees assistance to thousands of students within the constituency and beyond has so far amounted to nothing less than N30 million. So far, nothing less than 10,000 people have benefited in the financial assistance for various purposes including burials, naming, medicals and festive packages ( Eid Fitri, Eid Kabir, Christmas and New Year; year in year out as well as relief materials running into nothing less than N90 million.”

    He listed other constituency projects and empowerment programmes to include sinking of thirteen motorized boreholes; seven hand-pump boreholes; rehabilitation and expansion of waterworks (dam), supply of eighteen energised transformers; supply and installation of 136 solar streetlights. The House of Representative member said further that during the period under review, he constructed 5 nos of classrooms; construction of modern acquisition/vocational centre for training of unemployed youth in Ilemona, Oyun local government area; facilitated the employment of thirteen youth as well as the donation of eighteen vehicles to party stalwarts, loyalists and aides and twelve self-sponsored Hajj/Umrah slots for the Alfas and Imams. He paid tribute to Senator Bukola Saraki who he described as his inspirational backbone, the state governor, AbdulFatah Ahmed, party stalwarts and members for their encouragement.

    Speaking at the event, Senator Saraki appeal to all elected or appointed office holders to let the people at the grassroots feel their impact, adding that politicians who distance themselves from the people cannot wine election. He noted that the political structure of the state held sway because of the love that exist among the people of the state, saying that the people of the state are now politically awaken and it would be difficult for anybody to take over the state from the existing platform. The former governor called on political office holders in the state to redouble their empowerment and mass mobilization drives to ensure the victory of the party in the next year’s general election. Speaking on the 2015 elections, Senator Saraki ask the people to be wary of those he regarded as ‘Abuja politicians’ who will only come around during elections. He said: “I told you severally my people in Kwara state election will come and go. My people don’t let anybody to come and deceive you. Our royal, women and youth, we are here all seasons, we don’t come and we don’t go. Since May 2011 till date who do you see? Now you will see many people, but you know those who are consistent.”

    The Elerin of Erin-Ile (Oyun LGA), Oba Abdulganiyu Ajibola described Dr Ibrahim as a man of vision and mission. He said: “He is a humble man who is full of accomplishments. He contributes very well in the National Assembly. He consults constantly with his constituency and makes contributions that reflect the opinion and aspirations of his constituency. I think we are lucky and happy to have him as our representatives. He executed many projects in Erin-Ile community like drilling of boreholes, solar lights, supply of transformers and building of classrooms with toilets. He promised and fulfils, this man has been supportive of the youth. He is taking care of the needy and we the traditional rulers are also well taken care of from his personal resources,” the first class monarch added.

    Also speaking, Elese of Igbaja (Ifelodun LGA), Oba Amodu Arepo said: “Hon Ibrahim is a gift to this generation and to the people of Igbaja. As legislator representing our constituency, he has performed creditably well within the period he has spent in the House of Representatives. He has provided for us in Igbaja land 500KVA transformer, five hand-pumps in five wards and a motorized borehole at the Elese’s palace. He is a God-fearing and humble person. I wish to use this opportunity to appeal through him to the National Assembly with the support of Senator Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to look into the creation of another local government from the present Ifelodun local council which is too large as we spend about fours to get to our council headquarters.”

  • Insecurity: Plateau shuts major streets

    Insecurity: Plateau shuts major streets

    The last time the terrorists struck in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on May 20, they chose a crowded part of Murtala Muhammed Way. Over 100 people died in the twin blasts, many more injured.  A large number of people were either buying or selling on one of the city’s four major business streets at the time of the explosions. That is why the state government and the security authorities have closed the major streets to trading. The affected routes are Murtala Muhammed Way, Ahmadu Bello way, Rwang Pam Street and Tafawa Balewa Street, which are usually busy round the clock.

    The terrorists set off two bombs on Murtala Mohammed Way targeting the crowd. The explosions brought down most of the shops along the street.

    Why was there such a huge crowd there in the first place? It is one of the major streets near the sprawling site of the burnt ultra-modern Terminus Market. Since the market was not rebuilt, former shop owners and others found business space anywhere they could, provided it was near the famous market site. The traders’ crowd began to spread to nearby streets, Murtala Mohammed Way being one of them. Old Bukuru Park and Bauchi Road also host the influx.

    As a result, security agencies had to cordon off the affected streets for weeks. Following the closure of business activities on Murtala Muhammed Way, traders who survived the blasts relocated their business to the next street, Ahmadu Bello Way. In a few weeks there was another heavy concentration of people at Ahmadu Bello Way, triggering concern that in the event of another attack on that street, there could be more casualties.

    The threat of a suicide attack led to a temporary closure of some of the adjoining streets by security agencies when it was rumoured that some Improvised Explosive Devices or IEDs may have been planted there. The military operations lasted almost a whole day. Affected streets include Murtala Mohammed Way, Ahmadu Bello Way, Beach Road, Bank Road, Yantaya Junction, ECWA Good News Road, Old Bukuru Junction, Terminus Junction, Rwang Pam Street, Kashim Ibrahim Junction by Ahmadu Bello Way, Ahmadu Bello Way (including Hamaz and Unity Bank Junction), Murtala Mohammed Way (University of Jos old campus), and Beach Road by Zenith Bank.

    The Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis, codenamed ‘Operation Safe Haven’ which led the military operation on these streets, said, “While the STF will not relent on its part to ensure that peace is achieved and this phase passes quickly, it relies on the provision of prompt information to ensure that no group of terrorists will cause harm to the populace.”

    Though the security agencies refused to disclose their findings in the military operation, it was learnt that a number of high-capacity explosives were evacuated from the streets during the exercise.

    But as soon as the military operations were over the traders returned to the streets for business. This has compelled the security agencies in collaboration with the state government to contemplate applying force to decongest the city centre. The state police command had earlier issued a quit notice to all traders around the Terminus Market. This was followed by an announcement by the state government that a task force was about to start evacuating traders from the troubled zone.

    State Commissioner for Information, Olivia Dazyem at a media briefing, said, “The general public will recall that in the aftermath of the last bomb blast in Jos and other security challenges, the Plateau State government came up with some measures aimed at ensuring safety and promoting peace and security within the Jos city centre. These include the ban on street trading, operation of illegal motor parks and indiscriminate parking of vehicles along major streets in the city centre.

    “Also government had earlier placed a ban on the operation of commercial motorcycles within the greater Jos Master Plan Areas.

    “In order for all stakeholders to appreciate the gravity of our security challenges, government and security chiefs met with leaders of traders Association and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on the 25th of June 2014. At the meeting, it was resolved that the streets within Jos city center should be cleared of illegal traders, hawkers and motor parks and indiscriminate parking of vehicles be stopped to avoid a repeat of the collateral damages to lives and properties that accompanied the 20th May 2014 twin bomb blasts.

    “Based on this resolution, a task force was on the same day inaugurated by the state commissioner of police to enforce the ban.

    “Since then, security chiefs have been monitoring closely the security situation in the state as there have been threats of security breach. The strengthening of the task force has become urgent and necessary.

    “It is based on this that the Plateau State police command has put the general public on notice that the task force is set to swing into action immediately. For example, operators of illegal motor parks, illegal traders, and motorists engaged in illegal parking around Terminus areas down to Plateau Riders, Ahmadu Bello Way, Tafawa Balewa, ECWA Good News, Old Bukuru Park, Murtala Muhammed Way, Rwang Pam Street, and Gangeri road are strongly advised to comply.

    “Shop owners along the mentioned areas and other motorists are also advised to find alternative areas to park their vehicles.

    “I also wish to inform occupants of the JMDB shopping complex along Murtala Muhammed Way that experts from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development have declared the facilities unsafe. This is due to the impact of the 29th May bomb blasts. Those renting shops at the complex are advised to contact JMDB and the Ministry of Commerce for further directives. For the avoidance of doubt, alternative shops are available at the Kwararafa New Market and the Kabong Satellite Market.

    “I wish to say here that all these measures are in no way punitive aimed at ensuring public safety, sanity, economic prosperity and the general well being of all people.

    “Therefore, I wish to solicit the support, cooperation and understanding of all to make Jos the hub of business and an example of plateau state being the undisputed home of peace and tourism.

    With this development, the famous Jos business streets are gone for fear of Boko Haram. But the affected traders are not pleased with the enforcement of the ban. Chinedu Onu who owns a shop at the affected streets said, “In as much as we don’t want suicide bombers to seek the opportunity of heavy traffic of people and strike, we don’t also want government to close this market because everybody in the city prefers to shop here; people are not used to the alternative market where they are forcing us to go”

    Most of the women who sell vegetables along the streets are not happy either. They said their family depends on the little gain they make from their petty trade.

    Esther Marcus said, “Instead of driving us from the street, they are supposed to provide security for us, if we leave here we will never have space in the new markets, government is just punishing us”

    It was tough for motorists as the task force moved out to enforce the ban, almost all the streets within the city centre were cordoned off to keep traders away. Motorists were left with few roads to ply and the traffic gridlock was another terrible experience for citizens.had earlier issued a quit notice to all traders around the Terminus Market. This was followed by an announcement by the state government that a task force was about to start evacuating traders from the troubled zone.

  • Alumni’s N1b for Kwara schools

    The Old Boys of Government Secondary School, Ilorin (GSS) have a great plan for their alma mater, which is counting down to its centenary celebrations. They are giving the school N1 billion for its infrastructural development.

    The National President of the alumni association, Alhaji Nurudeen Alabi told reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, adding that the old boys would intervene in the refurbishment of classrooms, building of upgrading of the school information technology centre (ICT) etc.

    He also urged old boys associations in the country to complement government efforts in the educational sector by giving back to their alma mater.

    This to him is the way out of the parlous state of the country’s educational sector.

    Alhaji Alabi decried the rising insecurity in parts of the country, saying it is capable of threatening the educational fabric of Nigeria.

    Said he: “The decay in infrastructural facilities in schools is a nationwide problem in Nigeria. The way out is for all who have benefited from the schools to rise up to the occasion by assisting government in giving back to their alma mater.

    “Government alone cannot do it because there are so many areas of contending needs. So the old boys are the prime movers in addressing the decay; thereafter they also identify all the stakeholders.

    “The issue of insecurity in parts of the country is certainly a threat to the educational sector. The way out is for our leaders to have the political will because mere wish to solve the problem may not be the way out. Of course every member of the society should rise to the occasion because this is a challenge that can threaten the very fabric of the society where somebody is going to school and you are not sure of his safety and security. It creates a lot of questions. So the earlier government sees it as a major problem, as a cankerworm the better for the educational sector of the country.

    “You can imagine the plight of parents of the affected schools and even those who are not parents, because what is happening there can happen elsewhere; so it is an issue that must be holistically confronted otherwise it might affect the very fabric of education in the country.”

    On the centenary celebration, the association president said that “situation of things in most schools in Nigeria now are not as they used to be in the years back and as stakeholders we think we have a gap to fill to complement same in the government efforts.

    “It behooves on every responsible person of the old boys to rise to the occasion; to see that missing gaps that exist. We have a vibrant old boys; so we have been trying to identify critical areas we can intervene as save our school, so that we can restore lost glory.

    “The celebration will stretch for a week starting from the October 23rd to November 1st of this year. Basically, we intend to mobilize our members and our well wishers as well to assist us in filling the gaps so that name and glory of the schools can be maintained. This has been the driving motive for us.

    “The first intervention is the one that will directly affect the academic attitude of the students. In the olden days if you were a student of that school you were almost certain of coming out well. The magic was simply that the school was well equipped. We are also looking at getting the laboratories well equipped; getting decent classrooms for the school for teaching to more interesting and upgrading of information technology centre (ICT) of the school etc Perimeter fencing of the school.”

  • Lawmaker donates buses to Kwara PDP

    Lawmaker donates buses to Kwara PDP

    The senator representing Kwara South at the National Assembly, Simeon Ajibola, has donated four Sienna buses to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to aid its campaign for the 2015 elections.

    It was gathered that three of the buses are meant for the party secretariats in the three senatorial districts of the state and one in the state’s party secretariat in Ilorin, the state capital.

    The senator also gave out 950 bags of rice as Ramadan gifts to members of the party in all the wards in the 16 local government areas of the state.

    Speaking during the presentation of the materials in Ilorin, the state chair of the party, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo represented by the publicity secretary, Chief Rex Kolawole, also announced the donation of another bus to the party by Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Makanjuola Ajadi.

    He said that the donation would put the party in good stead for the task ahead in 2015.

    He also said that one of the political leaders in the state, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, also donated bags of rice for distribution to party members in the state.

    Akogun Oyedepo, who enjoined other politicians in the state to always reach out to people in their areas towards endearing them to ideals and programmes of the party, said that politicians who is out to serve his people must be prepared to sacrifice for the people.

    He expressed gratitude to Senator Ajibola for the gesture, promising to put the vehicles and other materials to good use and for welfare of the party supporters.

    The donor, who was represented by one of his associates, Elder John Yusuf, said the items were part of the pledges made by the lawmaker during the fund raising programme organised by the party recently.

    He described Senator Ajibola as a loyal party man, who had never wavered in his support for the PDP in the state.

    At another empowerment programme and distribution of food items to members in Offa and Oyun local government areas of the state, the PDP was optimistic that the senator’s gesture could bring victory for the party in the 2015 general elections in the state.

    The PDP chairman in Oyun Local Government Area, Taiye Olaniyi, commended the lawmaker’s efforts in reaching out to members in 193 wards in the state.

    The party chairman urged other chieftains of the party in the state to emulate development strides of the lawmaker, saying that the assistance of every PDP leader to members during Ramadan would help sustain party structure towards achieving success.

    He also used the occasion to implore party members to go out in large number and participate in voters’ registration exercise, saying that was the only way they could justify their support for the party during the election.

    Hon. Olaniyi also appealed to all PDP governorship aspirants in the state not to take politics as do or die affair, saying that God bestows power to whoever He likes and advised that the party should support whoever emerges as candidate.

    Also speaking, Senator S S Ajibola, who was represented by his special assistant on Legislative Matters, Alhaji Fatai Akorede, charged the wards leaders to always play the politics of inclusiveness, saying the current situation of the party in the state calls for cohesion of all stakeholders.

    “The victory we are are clamouring for can only be achieved if we all work together as one to ensure victory for the party come 2015,” he added.

    Akorede also said that Senator Ajibola had always support the mobilization of the party members during the local government congresses, adding that the lawmaker always loved to assist people at the grassroots.

  • Kaduna revives food processing factory

    Kaduna revives food processing factory

    What does Kaduna State get from its abundant tomatoes? Pretty little indeed. Its farmers are among the largest producers of the crop in the country, yet neither the growers nor the state have reaped bountifully from it. Every year, most of the farmers’ harvest is wasted. Why?  Only a fraction of what is produced is sold or consumed, and there are no storage facilities. In season, a basket of tomatoes is sold for as little as N2,500.

    Has the state always ignored this challenge? No. The establishment of the Ikara Food Company by the state government was meant to put to use the tomato produced in commercial quantity in the area. But like many other state-owned firms across the country, the food company whose idea was mooted by the government of Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa in the Second Republic remained dormant since its inauguration by former military president, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida during the Tanko Ayuba regime.

    It was Balarabe Musa who saw the need to tap into the vast potentials available in the state to create jobs for the teeming youths. But the company never took off before he was impeached and it remained a dream until the Tanko Ayuba military government revived and completed the project. It was commissioned by General Ibrahim Babangida at an elaborate ceremony where the civilian government of the late Alhaji Mohammed Dabo Lere was introduced to the people of the state. The commissioning of the plant was among the last activities of the Tanko Ayuba government in the state before handing over the reign of government to Alhaji Dabo Mohammed Lere.

    The Ikara Food Processing Company is back, under a Public Private Partnership, which some reckon will ensure that the tomatoes produced in the state are no longer wasted.

    The state deputy governor hinted earlier on the reopening of the factory when he told reporters that the government had concluded negotiations with a foreign firm to take over the company on a PPP arrangement as part of government’s effort to generate employment and improve the revenue base of the government.

    Governor Mukthar Ramalan Yero said while handing over the company to the new owners, Springfield Agro Limited that the move was part of his administration’s commitment to continuity and actualization of all projects initiated by past administrations in the State. Governor Yero said “our administration remains focused in achieving the objective of boosting investment by encouraging private sector participation, in the economic growth and development of the State. As you may be aware the State Government is fashioning out its Policy Framework on Investment, Commerce & Industry (PFI&CI), tailored towards providing the much needed enabling environment for private investors to do business with ease in Kaduna State. Apart from tomato, Kaduna State is blessed with other important crops, such as maize, cassava, ginger, groundnut, and mineral resources, whose value-chain development could be a source of employment for our teeming unemployed youths, create wealth and reduce poverty. We are committed to supporting MSMEs, who would venture into agro processing, so as to take full advantage of this.”

    An elated Yero said that the state government was negotiating with other foreign investors with a view to ensuring that other state owned companies are put into productive use. He stressed that as a way of explore the value chain advantage of the crops available in the state, negotiations have reached advance stage with potential partners towards reopening the Makarfi Sugar Company, the Kachia Ginger Processing Company, the Zaria Pharmaceutical Company and Kafanchan Flour Mills. He said “apart from tomato, Kaduna State is blessed with other important crops such as maize, cassava, ginger, groundnut, and mineral resources, whose value-chain development could be a source of employment for our teeming unemployed youths, create wealth and reduce poverty. We are committed to supporting MSMEs, who would venture into agro processing, so as to take full advantage of this”.

    The governor asked the operators of the Ikara Tomato Company; Messrs Springfield Agro Limited to revamp the company as contained in the agreement entered with the State Government saying “I must congratulate Springfield Agro Ltd for emerging successful out of many Companies that bid for Ikara Food Processing Company Limited. Your selection was purely based on merit, and we hope you will not let the State Government and the people down. It is also pertinent to inform Springfield Agro Ltd that, though Ikara Food Processing Company Limited was established 33 years ago, it is still in good condition and operational. It is therefore your responsibility to ensure proper maintenance culture of the factory, machinery and equipment. It is now your responsibility to properly secure facilities at this factory against theft and vandalism. Above all, the Lease Agreement that was signed today should be strictly adhered to for the benefit of both parties in the agreement.”

    The Nation gathered that the company has an installed capacity for processing of 16,950 tons of tomato, 5,760 tons of mangos, 5,120 tons of oranges and 780 tons of pineapple per annum which are to be sourced locally. The factory also has 700 hectares of land purposely for tomato farming.

    The state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Joshua Shekarau Uchissa said the leasing of the company was a step in the right direction, adding it is expected to generate employment, create business activities and boost farming. Managing Director of Kewalram Group, owners of Springfield Agro Limited, Mr. Tarun K. Das expressed the commitment of his company to ensuring the viability of the company. He said that the management were committed to reviving the company and will immediately move into action.

    An agricultural expert and environmentalist, Shedrack Madlion told The Nation that the leasing of the company was a step in the right direction. He wondered why it has taken the state government such a long time to realise the potentials available in the area and the need to reopen the factory. He noted that although government has no business running companies, the decision to give the company to private investors was commendable and implores them to hasten negotiation with investors so that the other companies can be reopened. He said “as you know, Kaduna has one of the best gingers in the world and the ginger factor has established by the state government had never been put to productive use. If you go to the southern part of the state, you will see large quantity of ginger wasting and the farmers keep cultivating without benefiting adequately from what they cultivate. The same thing applies to the people of Ikara and environs who farm tomato. Before now, you will see a lot of tomato wasting, but with the reopening of the factory, the farmers will have a ready market for their tomato”.

    Some of the farmers in the area spoken to expressed happiness about the reopening of the factory. One of them, Mohammed Ikara said “I am happy that this factory will soon begin to work. I will have a good market for my tomato now. Before now, we use to sell at a very cheap rate so that they will not waste. But now, I am sure that we will make some good money from our sweat. Our boys too will have jobs to do and our area will be opened as many people will be coming here to do business.”