Category: Northern Reports

The Executive Director, Research Impact Knowledge and Economy, RIKE SD, Mustapha Ayo Poopola, has called on the federal government to consider including researchers as part of diplomatic corps attached to Nigerian embassies around the world.

Poopola made this call during a press conference in Abuja, stating that their engagement with embassies in foreign countries should be knowledge-based, as government needs to wake up to using the talents in the country for Diaspora purposes.

He said the RIKE SD group is a change agent that has resolved to change the negative development narratives of Sub-Sahara Africa, Middle East and North Africa, using the instrumentality of research, innovation, creativity, inventions and discoveries for sustainable community and enterprise development.

He noted that RIKE SD domain of activities resides with the global Science, Technology and Innovation ecosystem with functional tangential interlinks, including various activity sectors of national economies.

“In practices, we are body of a pan-African not-for-profit knowledge management enterprise with a clear goal of connecting research and innovation systems to our communities to ensure sustainable development.

“Our acronym RIKE SD is unique and symbolic in the global STI ecosystem because of our innovative strategies of problem-solving geared toward society-centred connected community development that guarantee sustainable development in our clime. Africa and other developing nations missed out of the millennium development goals due to obvious dysfunctional knowledge-management systems and adopted of non-adaptive system, using a copy and paste fapproach.

“We are determined to aggregate community challenges for citizen Research, as it will direct impact on the communities.

We are also set to redefine the word ‘Research’ through our community engagement of both state and non-state actors by mirroring policies and practices of government and private sector respectively”.

Poopola said global partners are welcome for collaboration, co-creation coordination, consolidation and cooperation.  We are glad to welcome the incoming administration in Nigeria, African Countries and global development communities in the RIKE SD Impact investment ecosystem as a sustainable platform for the delivery on Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 among others.

An ethanol production company based in Benue State has debunked rumours that it is owned by Governor Samuel Ortom.

Rumours had been making the rounds that Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom had interest in the gigantic ethanol company located on Makurdi-Gboko road at a village called Angbaaye.

However, two weeks ago, officials of the National University of Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) put the company under lock and key for allegedly discharging effluent into River Benue.

But the management of the company, through its Corporate Communication and Public Relations personnel, Steven Numbeve, stated that the company is owned by a Chinese national government by name Liu Yangxi.

Numbeve said: “Governor Samuel Ortom does not own any share in the company as many erroneously believed.”

Throwing more light on why the company was sealed by NEAREA, the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Pure Biotech Company Limited, said: “In April there was an accidental discharge of untreated effluent with sludge from the facility into the River Benue, in Bezu village (its host community).

He said, “The sludge from a by-product (bio-gas) was allowed to move into a ‘Saver pit’ which got filled up when engineers had shut down operations for the day,  and the sludge then filled down the drains into the river without pre-treatment.”

According to Numbeve, the said discharge was not a continuous one as being widely reported, as it occurred just that moment when the facility’s Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) was under a test-run.

“ After complying with stipulated conditions for unsealing in line with NESREA enforcement procedure, including conducting independent physicochemical analysis, ascertaining the functionality of ETP and payment of fines; our company was unsealed and we have since resumed operations.”

He stated that the company is not discharging any effluent into the environment, river or any water body whatsoever, as it has installed a state-of-the-art Effluent Treatment Plant, ETP, and all liquid and solid wastes are pre-treated, recycled, and reused.

The management of the company said it lost millions of naira during the two-week closure of the plant and reinstated its commitment to safety of the environment, especially the host community.

• As 3 Division wins Nigerian Army Inter Formations Combat Cross Country Championship

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, has said troops of the Nigerian Army (NA) must continually train in order to maintain the level of operational successes recently recorded in decimating criminalities in the country.

The COAS was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Nigerian Army Inter Formations Combat Company Cross Country Competition 2023 held at the Small Arms Range Miango, Jos, Plateau State.

He noted that to be successful during operations, troops must be fit, have endurance and be combat-ready to face the adversaries, adding that that was the essence of the combat competition.

Commending the organisers of the competition for adhering to the prescribed standard of military exercise, the Chief of Army Staff expressed optimism that the lessons learnt from the combat competition  will go a long way to improve not only the performance of troops in the future, but also serve as a means to enhance troops’ physical and mental well-being towards successes in their future military expenditures.

Congratulating the General Officer Commanding 3 Division and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN, Major General Abdulsalami Bagudu Ibrahim, for the successful hosting of the event, the COAS expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for his unrelenting support to the Nigerian Army.

He further commended the participants for the teamwork, discipline and spirit of sportsmanship displayed throughout the competition.

Presenting trophies to the champion and winners, the COAS urged the participants to embrace the culture of individual fitness training and spirit of teamwork.

 Participants for the competition were drawn from all the divisions of the Nigeria Army. It featured a 5 Kilometers combat race through difficult terrains, beam heaving, Sit-Up, Push-Up, Vertical Rope Climbing as well as  Step Up Bench Test and 15 kilometers combat cross country race.

At the end of the competition, 3 Division emerged first in the order of merit, while 2 Division came Second and 6 Division came third.

Highpoints of the event was the presentation of trophies and awards to individuals and formations.

As part of preparations for the 2023 Hajj, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has met with stakeholders in the Aviation Industry as well as air carriers at the Hajj House conference Hall, Abuja.

The meeting was to shore up arrangements instrumental to seamless Hajj airlift.

The NAHCON chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan disclosed steps already taken by the Commission to curtail drawbacks in the airlift once it commences.

He also gave the good news that President Muhammadu Buhari had graciously agreed to a 65% waiver on aviation charges to the air carriers.

To ensure ceaseless supply of Jet A fuel the NAHCON chairman said the commission has made arrangements with Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC); and advised the carriers to meet NNPC for briefing and perfection of the arrangement.

He said the Commission has also been in consultation with aviation experts for professional advice and will remain in consonance with the industry’s advise in the interest and safety of Nigerian pilgrims.

The Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Capt. Musa Nuhu who was present at the meeting stated that his organisation has inspected all designated Hajj airlift airports for security and functional facilities.

He called on the selected carriers to adhere strictly to the terms and conditions of engagement that they would sign. They were also advised to meet up with the requirements that would be spelt out in the agreements as NCAA was ready to sanction non compliance.

A non-governmental organisation, Hyacinth Alia Support Foundation (HASUF), has taken its outreach to the people of Uga, Mbakuha, Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Speaking at RCM Primary School Uga, venue of the outreach programme which lasted for two days, the Chief Executive Director of HASUF, Lady Susan Achiaga, said the foundation was founded to ensure the continuity of the Benue State Governor-Elect, Rev. Fr Hyacinth Iormen Alia’s humanitarian services.

According to her, the foundation offers medical, psychosocial and welfare support for the aged, support for the education of children, testing and treatment of Malaria, HIV as well as Blood Pressure (BP).

She said: “Our focus is on the aged people. We provide free medical services with emphasis on the aged; we sensitise the society on abuse and violence against the older people and educate them on healthy diet as well as ensure they are treated with dignity.

Lady Susan while educating the people on violence against the aged and the need for them to live on healthy diet, told them that old age is a blessing and enjoined them to collectively join the campaign on violence against the aged.

Responding, the traditional ruler of the area, the Tyoor Mbakuha, Zaki Chief Dominic Anchile, said he was happy to receive the NGO in his locality. He appreciated the team for finding his people worthy of the outreach programme, adding that it was a sign that the Rev. Fr Hyacinth Iormen Alia administration will take off on a sound note.

There was distribution of exercise books and writing materials to the primary school pupils, distribution of Tom Brown special diet to the aged and children in the area, de-worming of both children and the elderly, ringworm treatment of affected persons and testing and treatment of Blood Pressure (BP), Malaria test and treatment and HIV test.

The beneficiaries appreciated Hyacinth Alia Support Foundation and called on the NGO to extend the gesture to other communities.