The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • FCDA retrieves 700 stolen manhole covers

    FCDA retrieves 700 stolen manhole covers

    The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has retrieved about 700 stolen manholes and gully covers from the court through the intervention of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

    Executive Secretary of FCDA, Alhaji Shehu Ahmad, said vandalism of manhole and gully covers has become an issue of concern to the FCT administration, adding that the administration had intensified efforts with the security agencies to tackle the situation decisively.

    He said the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has made a declaration to the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in FCT, to protect critical infrastructures such as manholes and gully covers, cables and street lights.

    Read Also; ICPC retrieves N900b stolen constituency funds

    He said: “The manholes have been clearly stolen, criminals were arrested and the materials were taken and deposited with the NSCDC as an exhibit because the issue is in court.

    “For over three to four years, we have been battling to retrieve them government to government not until last week we are able to break harder through the intervention of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). AGF ordered the court to release those exhibits so that we can replace some of them back because have a larger chuck of them over 600 to 700 pieces but it will not do much by the time we collect them and start replacement on a stretch of a road we need more than a thousand.

    “When we collect them we can provide them for those areas that are a lit bit more secure. Even within this premises, we can say we can replace some manhole covers with some confidence but outside this area, we cannot guarantee.”

  • Senatorial candidate lifts PWDs

    Senatorial candidate lifts PWDs

    By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), senatorial candidate for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Anthony Ezekwugo, has donated 50 wheelchairs and 750 bags of rice to Persons With Disabilities, (PWDs), in Abuja.

    Making the presentation at Angwan Guaragu also known as a community for disabled people, in Karmajiji, Abuja, Ezekwugo said aside from his political ambition, he has always felt compelled to assist the less privileged.

    Read Also: NEMA donates relief materials to flood victims

    He said: “This is what I have been doing for the past two years— every month, I do outreach to the less privileged. Today I remembered the people of Karmajiji; the people with disabilities so that they will benefit. God willing, when we will be in the Senate, we should be able to do more, give these people scholarships, and build more schools for them so that they can train their kids. If their children are empowered, they can take care of their parents.”

  • Benue doctors suspends strike action

    Benue doctors suspends strike action

    By Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

    The Association of Residents Doctors (ARD), Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), said they will no longer proceed on strike action.

    ARD had given notice of strike action to the Chief Medical Director of BSUTH, Prof Terlumun Swende, on Monday.

    Read Also; Fed Govt to review salary structure of doctors, health workers

    But in another letter signed by the ARD President Dr Usha Anenga and General Secretary Dr Kator Iorpagher to the CMD, yesterday, the duo said the decision to suspend the strike action was after a meeting with the Deputy Governor Samuel Ortom, Benson Abounu.

    They said Abounu told them that Governor Samuel Ortom promised to pay the 2022 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) within the next 10 days which the congress accepts.

  • Ex-Kwara Deputy Speaker, others defect to APC

    Ex-Kwara Deputy Speaker, others defect to APC

    Scores of members of opposition political parties in Kwara have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The defectors were led by dozens of erstwhile generals in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party, New Nigerian Party (NNPP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC). Leading the pack of the defectors are former Kwara Deputy Speaker Hon. Mathew Okedare; former Commissioner for Tertiary Education under PDP Barrister Abdullahi Alikinla; former Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Engr Musa Yeketi; Personal Assistant to former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Political (PAPOL) Alhaji Hassan Gegele; PDP women leader in Ifelodun LG Adenike Ayilara; former Special Assistant to Senator Bukola Saraki on Domestic Hon. Bolakale Ajanaku; Otunba Olabode Oyedepo popularly called Bode Deway; SDP House of Assembly aspirant from Offa Mr. Ahmed Akorede; PDP House of Rep aspirant for Asa/Ilorin West Hon. Ahmed Bayero; YPP Vice Chairman in Asa Hamzat Dolapo; Abu Jimoh Plumber; Bola Afolayan from Ekiti LG; and Alhaji Abdullahi Sarumi, among others.

    They attested to the impressive performance of the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration in education, healthcare, workers’ welfare, rural-urban infrastructural development, women and youth empowerment, and safety nets for the poor and the vulnerable.

    AbdulRazaq with several top government officials and party chieftains such as Kwara APC chairman Sunday Fagbemi; and Director General of the APC Campaign Alhaji Yahaya Seriki, received the defectors.

    Welcoming the defectors, AbdulRazaq congratulated the new members of APC for their decision and assured them of fairness and equal treatment.

    “We welcome all the decampees and appreciate you for your conviction and your trust in our party. We are going to work together to achieve success. We will treat you all fairly as members of our party. As you can see, PDP is now empty. They only deploy social media to feign popularity,” he said.

    “They came up with a slogan – ‘O Suwa’ (We are fed up). They are truly shameless for comparing their 16 years to our three and a half years in office. They boast of constructing a fly-over bridge at the post office. They are liars. They never told Kwarans that the Federal government funded the project.

    Read Also:Kwara promotes 9,175 civil servants in three years

    ”The same thing applies to Ilesha Baruba Chikanda road construction and the Airport. We are building huge projects with our own money as an administration while delivering  basic amenities to our people, including workers’ welfare. ”We cannot entrust the future of our state to those who once ruined a bank. They will destroy our state, if we make that mistake. Let them know that you’re not tired of good government and steady spread of infrastructure across the state,” the Governor told the mammoth crowd.

    AbdulRazaq mentioned some of his administration’s scorecards across sectors and enjoined the participants to remain resolute to deliver
    the State for APC at the polls. Prince Fagbemi, on his part, said Kwarans have all seen the huge gap between the past and present administrations in terms of inclusive
    growth and good governance, and have vowed never to allow the State togo backward.

    He said the comeback bid of PDP was targeted at denying the citizens what they are already enjoying under AbdulRazaq, restating the government’s scorecards across sectors.

  • River Park estate issues C-of-Os to house owners

    River Park estate issues C-of-Os to house owners

    River Park Estate, Lugbe, Abuja has commenced the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy to house owners in the estate.

    Chairman, River Park Estate, Lugbe, Abuja, Paul Odili said this was the first time an estate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) would be issuing C-of-Os to house owners in the FCT.

    While thanking the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello for making the issuance of the C-of-Os a reality, Odili said the estate had been pursuing them in the last seven years.

    Odili said: “The importance of C- of -O cannot be overstated. It is a document issued to land owners and property buyers as legitimate proof of ownership. It also spells out what the land can be used for. It can equally be used for many purposes including as collateral. I am grateful to the FCT Minister for making it possible for River Park Estate to get this very important document which it is issuing to house owners in the estate.

    Read Also; Abiodun inaugurates 2.35km Arepo-Journalists Estate Road

    “River Park Estate will be law-abiding and adhere to all the rules and regulations guiding estate development in Abuja. We are poised to close the housing deficiency in the country. Currently, River Park is expanding to Kabba District, along Kubwa Road, Abuja.

    “River Park Estate, uniquely located along Airport Road, is one of the foremost estates in Abuja. It has well-laid-out streets and state-of-the-art buildings, a functional police station and 24-hour security. It also has an 18-hole golf course and a shopping complex among other modern facilities.”

  • Masari in tears during budget presentation

    Masari in tears during budget presentation

    Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, broke down in tears yesterday while presenting the 2023 budget proposal to the legislators.

    The budget estimate is the last Masari would be presenting to the house, as he would be vacating office when he completes his second tenure next year.

    Masari broke down towards the end of his speech.

    He said he would miss the cordial relationship his government had with the house, even as he commended the support he enjoyed from members of the business community during his seven-plus years as governor.

    Read Also; 2023 Budget: Bauchi allocates N10b to SSG’s office, N5b for Agriculture

    “I will not hesitate to express my sincere appreciation to the people of Katsina State for giving us the opportunity to serve them for eight years. I am sure our performance in the first four years must have encouraged you to elect the APC for another term of four years. “Alhamdulillah, we did not fail in our responsibilities to improve your lives and the condition of your livelihood within the available resources,” he said.

    Masari said no government can succeed without a functional, dynamic and robust judiciary.

    He thanked the royal fathers for their support and fatherly advice on issues affecting the people.

    “As the 2023 elections draw nearer, I call on the people to elect APC Candidates at all levels for the continuation of the people-oriented projects, programmes and policies the APC Governments at all levels are implementing,” he said.

  • Fed Govt to spend N32b on 57.5km roads in Kebbi

    Fed Govt to spend N32b on 57.5km roads in Kebbi

    The Federal Government has begun construction of 57.5 kilometre township roads in Jega and Aliero Local Government Areas of Kebbi.

    The Federal Controller, Federal Ministry of Works, Kebbi Field Headquarters, Mr James Bugu said this yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi.

    He said the project is expected to gulp over N32 billion.

    Bagu, a civil engineer, explained that the construction of the roads had already commenced, adding it was expected to be completed in two years.

    Read Also; FEC approves N400bn for East-West, other roads

    He said: “The project which will gulp over N32 billion has a contract period of 24 months for both local government areas.

    “This contract is in line with the present administration’s commitment to addressing infrastructural deficits in the country.

    “It is also aimed at providing the much-needed impetus to stimulate economic growth and ease of doing business with other states.”

    He advised the contracting firms to keep to the terms of the contractual agreement by ensuring quality jobs and respecting the completion period.

    Bagu also urged the people to make judicious use of the project to boost business activities in the benefitting communities.

  • Lawmaker calls for implementation of Child Right Act

    Lawmaker calls for implementation of Child Right Act

    A member of the House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has called on state governments to implement the Child Rights Act (CRA).

    Onyejocha representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency of Abia State, in a statement in Abuja, appealed to the government at all levels to double efforts and investment “in the protection of children as well as provide the necessary legal policy framework to protect them against abuse.”

    Read Also: U.S. repatriates $20.6m Abacha-linked loot

    The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives joined other world leaders and international organisations to commemorate the World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse.

    Onyejeocha expressed worries that “despite the passage of the bill, most children in the country don’t enjoy such rights, leaving a lot to be worried about their future.

    Onyejeocha also called for more awareness, just as she advocated the introduction of Child Rights Education in the school curriculum for children to be equipped with knowledge about child rights.

    “They are the future of our society and they need to begin to know their left from their rights even at an early age. I think this is key in building a more civilised society,” she said.

  • Number of unpaid women workforce hits 14 per cent

    Number of unpaid women workforce hits 14 per cent

    The data of women not paid for the work they did in the country in 2021has been put at 14 per cent.

    The research carried out by the Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA) for the development Research and Projects Centre’s (dRPC’s) Partnership for Advancing Women in Economic Development (PAWED) also stated that 77 per cent women received their income through cash.

    The report added that a whopping 47% of women think it’s not possible at all to come up with 45,000 Naira in 7 days to meet a sudden need.

    This data was made public in Abuja at the Policy and Innovation Centre (PIC) Gender and Inclusion Summit 2022, themed:  ‘Connecting the dots for gender inclusive society’.

    The PAWED report stated, “A 2019 follow up study on Women’s Financial Inclusion by the  Central Bank of Nigeria and EFina titled  – Assessment of Women’s Financial Inclusion in Nigeria – showed that, one year after the launch of the Revised Strategy, not much progress had been made.

    The assessment noted that Nigeria’s “gender gap is larger than in most other countries, and whilst financial inclusion is increasing for both men and women, the gender gap is widening….financial exclusion16 stands at 36% for women and 24% for men.

    “The relative gender gap related to financial inclusion is 20-30%, placing Nigeria below its peers. Since 2012, although women’s exclusion has dropped, the gender gap has grown, revealing that men’s inclusion has improved more rapidly than women’s.

    “By 2021, a similar research by EFina conducted for the dRPC’s Partnership for Advancing Women in Economic Development (PAWED) project, painted a grim picture of women’s financial exclusion in the following terms:

    “77% women received their income through cash, 44% of women receive income on a daily basis; 22% weekly; 16% monthly; and only 4% annually. Only 8% of men are not paid for their work while 14% of women are not paid….

  • Sule expresses concern over unskilled engineering graduates

    Sule expresses concern over unskilled engineering graduates

    Nasarawa State governor, Engr Abdullahi Sule has expressed fears over university/polytechnics graduates of engineers in Nigeria with zero technical and craftsmanship knowledge.

    Sule stated this yesterday in Lafia during the 27th Nigerian Association of Engineering Craftsmen (NAEC) National Engineering Conference/AGM Lafia 2022.

    The conference was under the auspices of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) with the theme: The Role of Nigerian Craftsmen in Enhancing and Sustaining Engineering Standards and Ethics.

    Governor Sule, who was the Chief Host of the conference, expressed dissatisfaction with current graduates of engineering profession who have zero technical and craftsmanship knowledge to help drive the Nigerian economy.

    “I don’t know where we got it wrong but from the beginning, some of us who went to technical school in the ’70s, the idea was for us to actually have craftsmanship knowledge and the certificate at a time was more than a degree or PhD Engineering.”

    He said it was his craftsmanship knowledge that sustained his studies in Indiana University of America while studying for a Bsc Engineering.

    “I studied Welding and Fabrication at Government Technical Collage Bukuru, Jos Plateau State in the 70s and was the best student in my set, while in America for a degree programme, I got a job at Alkowa Aluminum Company in America as a welder which sustained me to remain in school.

    “We have since missed the road. Today we find graduates of engineering with zero technical or craftmanship knowledge, who has not seen an elect machine or vertical building machine before, but they call themselves engineers because they acquire the certificate.

    “I have the opportunity to employ some of them in Dangote when I was the GMD; I have the opportunity to employ them in AP when I was the MD and even in Jos Steel Rolling Company when I was there”