Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has called on traditional rulers in the state to report suspicious movements of people or groups to the appropriate authorities.

Sule made the call yesterday while playing host to the state council of chiefs in Lafia.

The governor, who appreciated the monarchs for their efforts in promoting peace and security in the state, said the importance of peace to societal development cannot be over-emphasised.

“I appreciate your roles in improving the security in the state. Peace is priceless and non-negotiable. It is the requirement for the development of any society,” he said.

Sule urged the traditional rulers not to relent in their efforts in promoting peace in their domains.

He assured them of his administration’s continued commitment to support them at all times.

The governor reiterated his determination to produce positive policies and programmes that would have a direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state.

Retired Justice Sidi Bage, the Emir of Lafia and Chairman, Nasarawa State Council of Traditional Rulers re-assured the governor of their readiness to promote peace in their domains.

Bage, who was represented by the Emir of Keffi, Dr Shehu Chindo Yamusa, assured the governor of their support for the success of his administration.

The German Government, World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have launched resilience and essential services programmes worth €40 million in the Northeast. The UNICEF representative in Nigeria Peter Hawkins said this yesterday.

He said at least 500,000 conflict-affected people will benefit from the humanitarian and development package, which he said, is aimed at enhancing peace and increasing livelihood opportunities.

The programme is also to provide education, health, nutrition, child protection, and sanitation support to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable populations in Borno and Yobe states.

Funded by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development through German Development Bank, KfW, children from 0-23 months, expectant mothers, school-age children, adolescent girls, female-headed households, and people with disability will be targeted under the Resilience and Social Cohesion project to be implemented for three years by the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF.

The multi-year project will leverage ongoing humanitarian support in Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State and Shani Local Government Area of Borno State, while also providing multi-sectoral interventions to address drivers of conflict and fragility. The project will support the strengthening of local governance structures to promote social cohesion through community-based processes and the capacity building of government partners.

In its 13th year, armed conflict in the Northeast zone has levelled communities, destroyed livelihoods, and disrupted essential services for children and adults. Protracted insecurity, high food prices and COVID-19 lockdowns have put more than four million people in need of food assistance. The situation is further exacerbated by the severe impact of violence and unrest on family income, mental health, nutrition, education and other child protection concerns.

Across the region, 1.14 million children are acutely malnourished at a scale not seen since 2018.

“This is a pathway to peace and sustainable development,” said UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins.

“Children and other vulnerable groups will have a lifeline and an opportunity to survive and thrive in communities where livelihood and peace-building activities are present.

“Conflict in any region is potential instability in the rest of the world. UNICEF is grateful to the German Government for supporting pathways to child survival and peace in north-east Nigeria,’’ he said.

The Resilience and Social Cohesion programme will contribute to seven Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of poverty eradication, zero hunger, access to quality education, gender equality, good health and well-being, climate action, peace, justice and strong institutions as well as a partnership for goals.

The new programme will focus on peacebuilding, governance capacity strengthening, sustainable livelihood creation, restoration of infrastructure, and provision of life-saving services to 156,888 direct beneficiaries and 362,307 indirect beneficiaries in both local government areas.

Peter Hawkins said: “WFP welcomes this timely and generous support from the Government and people of Germany. This project will support people and communities facing the peril of conflict and hunger in the Northeast, especially in Borno and Yobe states,” said Ms. Simone Parchment, Deputy Country Director and Officer in Charge, the World Food Programme Country Office Nigeria.

“In these affected states, persistent conflict, climate shocks, high food prices and reduced household purchasing power undermine people’s ability to feed themselves and sustain their livelihoods. This contribution from the Government of Germany will go a long way in building resilience, social cohesion and peace in the affected communities.”

Residents of Makurdi and Otukpo in Benue State have expressed concerns over the recent attacks on Catholic Priests in the state.

Kidnappers have made Catholic Priests their target and the numbers of priests who have been victims are on the increase in the past four months.

Reverend Father Peter Amodu of the Catholic Diocese of Otukpo, Benue South was abducted on July 6, along Otukpo-Ugbokolo Road.

He was on his way to celebrate Mass when gunmen waylaid him and took him to an unknown destination.

However, he was released the following day at about 6:00 p.m. It was not made known if the ransom was paid before he was released.

Condemning the attacks on Catholic Priests, activist and public commentator Abraham Chila called on security agencies to set up a special squad to protect religious leaders.

Chila noted that “Catholic Priests all over the world have nothing of their own and if they are now targets of kidnappers, many young men would not go into the priesthood.

A Catholic faithful, Brother James Omale called on parishioners to form vigilantes and protect their priests.

“Let all Parishioners form a volunteer Guard and protect their priests who are increasingly becoming targets of kidnappers,” he said.

Police spokesperson Kate Anene, a Superintendent of Police advised people to be vigilant and report suspected movements to the police.

The Vice-Chancellor of Bingham University Karu Nasarawa State, Prof William Qurix has urged African universities to embrace entrepreneurship education.

The V-C said this at the 2nd Global Annual Meeting of the Forum for Innovation in African Universities hosted by the Centre for African Entrepreneurship and Leadership (CAEL) at the University of Wolverhampton at the weekend.

At the forum, Prof. Qurix highlighted some achievements made by Nigerian Universities and particularly the proposed review of curriculum by the National Universities Commission in which entrepreneurship education has been emphasised.

The Forum brought together leaders of African Universities, academics, business and government officials from different parts of the world to examine how African Universities can transition into entrepreneurial universities post COVID-19.

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According to a statement by Bingham University, the theme of the conference aligned with the emphasis on embedding Entrepreneurship Education in core curricula offered in the African higher education sector with a view to promoting economic development.

Keynote Speaker, Prof. Peter Okebukola, who examined the state of education in Africa pre and post-COVID-19, noted that African Universities were doing well but required more effort in adapting to post-COVID-19 challenges.

Okebukola, a former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), urged African universities to embrace technology and deploy it appropriately to education.

The Director of the Centre for African Entrepreneurship and Leadership, Dr Paschal Anosike acknowledged the successes recorded by the Centre which include the inauguration of the Forum.

The Forum, which was declared open by a former Commissioner of Science Education, African Union, Prof. Sarah Agang, received the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Sandra Samuels, OBE who later hosted participants at the Mayoral luncheon.

Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni yesterday condoled with the families of seven people who died in a car accident in Buni Yadi Local Government Area of the state.

Buni offered his condolences in a statement issued by his Director-General, Press and Media Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, in Damaturu.

The police command in the state had earlier confirmed the accident which occurred on Tuesday on Buni Gari to Bara Road at about 8:00 a.m.

The command’s spokesman, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, said the accident involved a golf car which somersaulted, killing the driver and seven passengers as well as injuring four passersby.

The governor said he was deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident.

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He, however, cautioned motorists against flouting road traffic rules, saying an increase in road accidents in the state must be checked to save lives.

“Some of these accidents are avoidable if traffic laws are observed and vehicles plying the roads are adequately maintained to be road worthy.

“Motorists must always take precautionary measures and pay attention to road signs to ensure free flow of traffic without obstructing other road users,” Buni said.

The governor directed the state road traffic agency (YOROTA) to ensure adequate enforcement of traffic laws on all roads across the state.

“It has become necessary for the agency to ensure that traffic laws are observed and respected to curb the spate of accidents, and save lives wasted on the roads,” he said.

Buni prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the deceased and grant their families the fortitude to bear the loss.

The governor has directed the state’s Specialist Hospital to provide free medical services to the four injured people.

He also directed the state Emergency Management Agency to support the families of the deceased and those injured.

One of the oldest and longest-serving traditional rulers in Nasarawa State, Aren Eggon Dr Bala Abaine Angbazo is dead.

Dr Angbazo joined his ancestors in the early hours of yesterday at the age of 89.

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The firstborn of the deceased James Angbazo confirmed the development to our correspondent. He said the monarch, 89, died in the early hours of yesterday after a prolonged illness.

The paramount ruler was born at Wakama District of Nassarawa-Eggon Local Government Area of the state in 1933 and ascended the throne on July 11, 1981, and ruled for 41 years.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished notorious areas housing some shanties adjacent to the Federal Government College in Kwali Area Council of the Territory.

FCTA officials accompanied by joint security operatives demolished illegal structures, mainly shanties built with zinc and woods used for block moulding, selling of petroleum products,  food, and drinking joints, all operating under an electric high tension wire in the area.

Others affected were makeshift structures and clusters of kiosks erected by artisans, POS operators and petty traders inside the premises of an uncompleted shopping plaza, bearing FCDA/DC demolition notice dated 5/8/2020, along the corridors of Kwali axis of the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway.

The affected occupants were allowed some time to remove their wares and belongings before the bulldozer cleared the structures.

Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah, who led the enforcement team, said the place in recent times became a serious security concern to the government, as several criminal activities were traceable there.

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Attah said it was discovered that these shanties were heavily harbouring criminals, leaving the government with no other choice than to come and clear them.

He said: “What informs the decision to storm Kwali, an area which I think we haven’t visited in several decades is the fact that we have security concerns here.

“Three months ago, we had an extremely ugly incident, as this particular dangerous spot, where the police and other security agencies had tried to come in, to carry out a raid against criminals; they had an exchange of gunfire with some persons here.

“Although they made massive arrests, we discovered that these shanties heavily harbour criminals. Because they are illegal structures, we had to come and clear them.

“There are several issues here about the safety of lives and property, as whatever built here just directly under the power high tension cable amidst several other illegalities.”

On whether the dislodged people were duly notified, Attah said: “You could see removal notices and markings on walls, as we marked everything three weeks ago, and we came and remarked again last week. He said: “What the FCTA is sending out as a message to everyone is that our coming to Kwali, we are hoping to reach Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Bwari Area Councils, is that the entire 7,315 square kilometres of the FCT are all areas where enforcement can take place.

“The enforcement is not just limited to AMAC and Bwari alone, but to the entire FCT. So, we are going to every single area, and we will be cleaning and removing all shanties and kiosks, especially those that are harbouring criminals that are wreaking havoc on this city.”

An the aftermath of the crisis that rocked the Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the last primary in the state, the North-West zone leadership of the party said it had initiated reconciliation moves for the unity of the party and its success at the forthcoming general election in the state.

The APC National Vice-Chairman (Northwest), Salihu Lukman stated this at a meeting of party stakeholders in the state, in continuation of his interactive session with party chieftains and members in the zone.

Kano State chapter of the party has been in fraction following irreconcilable differences among the chieftains of the party over the party primary elections and control of the party structure.

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Addressing the party stakeholders at the meeting in Jano, the National Vice-Chairman stressed the need for a strategic reconciliation initiative that will address the post-primary elections grievances where some of the contestants that did not make it felt offended in one way or the other.

In a statement by the zonal Publicity Secretary to reporters yesterday in Abuja, Malam Musa Mailafiya Mada said the zonal chairman told the participants some measures put in place at the zonal level to ensure unity among critical stakeholders and the role of leadership at various levels in achieving and sustaining unity.

“The party’s stakeholders in Kano singled out, among issues raised and discussed the unity initiative as a vital step towards achieving the desired objectives in the forthcoming general elections and beyond.”

Kano State Governor, who was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff/the Head of Service of the State, Usman Bala, expressed his optimism over the manner through which the party’s affairs are being handled at the zonal level.

The United Nations (UN) yesterday stated that Nigeria is currently not on track to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The area of concern includes social protection for the vulnerable, especially women and children.

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, who made this known during the Africa Social Impact Summit organised by Sterling One Foundation alongside other partners, called for concerted efforts to meet the country’s development aspirations.

He said: “The theme of this summit is “Rethink, Rebuild, Recover — Accelerating Growth for the SDGs.” This is apt after a difficult couple of years for Nigeria, Africa and the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As Africa’s largest country by population and size of economy, Nigeria is important to the success of the 2030 Agenda, on this continent and globally.

“As it stands, Nigeria is unfortunately not on track to reach many of its SDGs by 2030, a situation compounded by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The same is true across many African countries.

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“Within the UN, we would argue that inclusive social impact can only be achieved through the right mix of economic growth, social protection and an environment conducive that includes basic health and education services.”

According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe, before 2030, we have a lot to do and this summit is to drive regional inclusive conversations, and dialogues and bring together key policymakers, stakeholders, private and public sector for us to come up with a new path for us to ensure that we can accelerate these goals, leveraging innovation, digitisation, collaboration and partnerships.”

The Board member of Sterling One Foundation and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman, said: “When we look at the available resources in the world to solve problems, in most parts of the world, and certainly in Africa, less than 20 per cent of those resources will ever pass through the government. And today, impact investors and non-governmental organisations control less than five per cent. Until we can bring the 75 per cent to the table, we will continue to struggle to get the kind of impact we want.”

A group, Alago Cultural Revivals Association (ACREA) has commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for nominating his deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe as his running mate in the 2023 governorship election.

According to a statement by the ACREA Chairman, Alhaji Shuaibu Okposhi attributed Dr Akabe nomination to his loyalty, commitment and honesty to his boss.

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He said the Alago nation and indeed ACREA are solidly behind him and called on all the citizens of the state to queue behind the Sule/Akabe joint ticket in 2023.

The ACREA Chairman who bagged the chieftaincy title of Eho woh za khosuko khotu Apani commend Governor Sule for massively transforming the state in all the state sectors of the state economy.