Category: Northern Reports

The West Africa Network for Peace building, WANEP, yesterday urged government and stakeholders in Gombe State to involve women in peace and security according to the Local Action Plan of the United Nations Resolution, UNSCR 1325.

WANEP officials led by its National Coordinator, Mrs Bridget Osakwe, said this in Gombe during a workshop for various stakeholders from Balanga and Kwami local government areas of the state.

The Local Action Plan UNSCR 1325 adopted in October 2000, reaffirms the important roles of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and post-conflict reconstruction.

Nigeria launched its National Action Plan in 2004, adopted it in 2013 and implemented it for the period 2013-2017.

This was subsequently reviewed after several gaps were observed to incorporate emerging issues in Nigeria.

Following this development, states in Nigeria were encouraged to adopt and implement their action plans in their states and local government areas, taking into account their peculiarities.

Gombe State Government launched its action plan in December 2017, tagged He-for-She Campaign and Peace Architecture.

The focus of the UNSCR 1325 is to minimise the hardship, difficulties and atrocities committed against women during conflicts and disasters.

Two LGAs in Gombe: Kaltungo and Yamaltu Deba, drafted and launched their Local Action Plan in 2018, with specific documents and the peculiarities of the areas.

A similar document has been prepared for Balanga and Kwami LGAs by various stakeholders, organised by WANEP.

It urged the two local governments not to leave the documents on their shelves but localise them for the attainment of the set objectives of the plan.

The Communications Coordinator and Policy Analyst, Youth, Peace and Security, Global Network for Peacebuilders, GNWP, Katrina Leclerc, said the role of GNWP is to produce laws and policies, with applicable outputs to produce one or a mixture of local action plans from laws and policies, which are either changed or adopted to include women peace and security principles and commitments in pre-existing framework available in the area.

“So, we train localisation experts, through our partnership with local partners, WANEP Nigeria, for example and produce localisation guidelines, which we will be doing in Nigeria in the coming months. We also monitor and evaluate progress at local levels in partnership with you and WANEP,” Leclerc explained.

She said there is need to adopt key localisation principles such as the inclusion of all local actors like civil society, local authorities, government, media, traditional and religious leaders and the security sector.

Mrs. Halima Mahdi, the Lead Women Mentor in Gombe State and one of the stakeholders who drafted the Local Action Plan for Kaltungo, Yamaltu Deba and now Balanga and Kwami LGAs, called for deliberate and decisive measures for their implementation in all the four LGAs.

The Katsina State Government is set to commence the distribution of 5.2 million Insecticide Treated Nets, ITN, in collaboration with the Society for Family Health, SFH, to its citizens, come March 3.

The Deputy Project Director of Society for Family Health and Campaign Manager for LLN Distribution Campaign in Katsina, Mr. John Ocholi, who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Katsina, said the distribution of the ITN products is designed to tackle the challenge posed by malaria in the state

He said, “Society for Family Health, working with all the partners, plan to distribute 5.2 million free ITN to all the 361 wards; every house hold will be covered.”

“Unlike the previous exercise where households were first given cards and later went to distributing centers to collect their ITN, this time around the distribution will target single phase approach, where the household will be visited once, mobilise the number of people in the house and given their nets, so as to observe COVID-19 protocols and prevent contacts and overcrowding.

The campaign manager further disclosed that the team has already commenced the implementation process of  mass ITN distribution with the training of about 209 personnel from all the 34 LGAs, which will be followed by more necessary arrangements towards the flag-off of the distribution.’’

Mr Ocholi also announced that 12,000 personnel will be engaged to carry out the distribution process.

According to Ocholi, the last house to house distributions were made in 2011, 2014, and 2018.

Most fuel stations in Abuja are still clogged with vehicles and long queues, as petrol scarcity continues to bite harder in the FCT.

Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the situation at the federal capital on Saturday, report that long queues were noticeable at fuel stations as early as 5 a.m.

Fuel stations belonging to major marketers and those belonging to the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had long queues stretching to the highways in some cases.

Some motorists who spoke with NAN expressed worries and anxiety as to the day the scarcity would end.

Mr Ifeanyi Chukwudi, a motorist, blamed the NNPC for not explaining to Nigerians the reason behind the fuel scarcity, even after promising to inject 2.1 billion litres of petrol into the system by the end of February.

“Today is Feb. 26; the queue in Abuja is unprecedented. Since the coming of this administration, we have not witnessed such queues. So what is responsible? The NNPC should explain,’’ he said.

Mr Biola Akande, a taxi driver, said he got to the fuel station as early as 5 a.m., but met a long queue, adding that such development would not augur well for the country and the economy.

He urged the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency provide lasting solution that would end the long queue.

On Feb.16, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari, promised that the scarcity would end by the end of February.

He made the promise before the House of Representatives Committee on NNPC (Downstream), investigating circumstances surrounding the importation of adulterated fuel into the country.

In Kaduna, the story is the same, as long queues at filling stations persisted on Saturday, after the perceived increase in petrol supply suffered a lapse.

There had been an epileptic supply of petrol from Monday through Thursday to most filling stations across the state, which stalled from Friday.

However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has informed the public that it has begun the supply of fuel to easy transportation for travellers, and business owners.

Some of the stations however complained that they only got supplied once.

“It took a long time for us to get fuel from them. As they supplied the first tank of fuel on Monday, we expected them to repeat same on Wednesday, but till this moment, we have not heard from them,” a filling station manager said.

Some car owners said they spent five to six hours waiting for fuel, but, all their efforts were in vain, as most of them parked their cars and left.

According to him, some impatient car owners resorted to buying from black marketers at exorbitant prices.

Although some commuters pleaded with the Federal Government to ease the cost of transportation, they vowed that it’s better for them to stay at home, than to spend their life savings on transportation.

Two bandits were killed and several injured in a shootout between the Police tactical teams and terrorists in Sahon-Rami village in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State.

The shoot out occurred after the terrorists had attacked the village and killed three people.

The Nation learnt that the terrorists had invaded the community at about 10 am on Friday, shooting into the air and causing people to run away in fear.

The police tactical teams and vigilantes mobilised to the community when the bandits were about leaving the community and engaged them in a fierce gun battle, killing two terrorists and injuring several others.

The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident, saying that two corpses of the terrorists were recovered by the tactical teams.

“Scores of the bandits were neutralised and others escaped with gunshot injuries into the forest, while two among the bandits’ corpses were left behind due to the firing power of the tactical teams and were subsequently recovered.”

He said that the gallant performance of the tactical teams and the Vigilantes were commended by the Niger State Commissioner of Police, Monday Bala Kuryas, urging them to sustain the tempo.

The National Female Student Association of Nigeria (NFSAN) has given the Federal Government until February 28, 2022 to resolve the issues which led to the declaration of a one-month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The body of female students urged the warring parties to resolve every conflicting issue and allow students to return to school by Monday, 28th February 2022.

NFSAN President, Modupe Adetiba, said failure of the Federal Government and ASUU to heed to NFSAN’s demand would result in a nationwide demonstration of grievances in a most unpleasant manner.

She lamented that the one-month strike declared by ASUU has halted the commencement of exams in various universities in the country.

Adetiba said: “In furtherance of the above, we will collaborate fully with NANS and mobilise our female students to join NANS on Monday 28th February on the proposed mass action against the incessant ASUU strike. We will no longer take the back seat while our progress is deterred by reckless and careless handling of issues of national importance like education.

“We reiterate our commitment to maximising the happiness of our members, and we will openly oppose any policy or actions that defy such. Therefore, we charge the government to abate this crisis as soon as possible, as we will resort to open confrontation should this hardship linger….

“As a representative of the Nigerian mass heralding the emblem of dignity for all Nigerian Female Students, it will be so inconsiderate of us to let things slide. We fault the Federal Government, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Labour for substituting the comfort and happiness of the Nigerian citizenry with misery and pain. For what it’s worth, the people deserve a better living as promised by the current administration on assumption of office.”

She listed the institutions the strike has affected their exam schedule to include, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The gale of defections from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) Gombe State continued yesterday, with the exit of former majority leader in the State House of Assembly, Markus Samuel, even as the party publicity secretary, Moses Kyari, said the party remains unmoved.

Hon. Samuel’s resignation is coming on the heels of the resignation of another member of the party, Rambi Ibrahim Ayala within the same week.

A source close to the state legislators said the gale of defection from Gombe APC is just a tip of the iceberg, as no fewer than five APC members in the House have concluded plans of dumping the ruling party.

Confirming his resignation in a telephone interview, Markus Samuel, who represents Pero-Chonge State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, said he took his time without any duress to jot down his exit letter from the party.

“I have also called His Excellency, the Governor to inform him about my issues and why I am checking out of the party,” he said.

According to him, more APC lawmakers out of the 20 in the House will soon announce their departure from the party.

Earlier this week, the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Mr. Moses Kyari, dismissed the defections as an exhibition of desperation by members jostling for positions they cannot get in the party.

According to him, “Party is not moved or worried a bit by the actions of desperadoes.”

He said, the APC has concluded all arrangement to receive thousands of well meaning masses into its fold from the 114 electoral wards of the State.

He added that the party had been strategising behind the scenes.

“A political party is just like a market where there are entry and exit points. If you are leaving, don’t cause confusion. Exit peacefully, we can’t stop you. If you are leaving today, 10 people are coming in; so why do we need to worry? The party has been strategising behind the scenes,” he boasted.

Traders at the Wuse Zone 3 Abuja computer village have protested against threats of ejection and what they term “illegal construction and fraudulent price hike by the Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL).”

The shop owners, who claim ownership of their individual shops, said AICL is trying to demolish the structure and replace it with twin three story building structures that would be resold to them at exorbitant rates of N1.2 million per square meter in 30 square meter shops.

They said the developer of the structure has so far defied court injunctions and began digging in the middle of the night when shop owners retire for the day. They also accuse them of plans to construct structures on the parking lot and sewage system of the complex.

Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman of the complex, Engineer Gbenga Odubayo, said they have been threatened to pay N36 million within six months for the shops when completed or face ejection.

He said: “The building has been here since 1990 and we have been here for over 30 years doing our business. AICL came around and informed us that they want to pull down this building and build about three story buildings and about four other buildings at the back, including on the sewage. If you look around, we have problem with parking space because of the crowd that is attracted to the complex, (therefore) building an additional building will create traffic lock jam.

“Secondly, building on the sewage is very dangerous for us here. If they create more buildings, we might lose our customers if they don’t find where to park to patronise us. We have been asking them to show us that they have the authorisation to build here and we have not seen anything that shows the structures have been approved. Instead they are trying to invade the place in the middle of the night from 12-3am. We have a case in court and they have been duly served and the court gave an injunction that they should not enter this place.

“They said if they finish the proposed building, a square meter will be N1.2 million minimum and we are to pay within six months. The minimum square meter for the shops will be 30 square meters; if you look at it, that is about N36 million already and the square meters of most shops here right now is 10, 20, 50 and 100, depending on the size….”

When contacted by newsmen, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer AICL Abubakar Pai, said the matter is in court and he cannot comment because he has to get in touch with officers in charge of the project to understand the situation.

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Musa Bello has tasked security operatives to improve security situation in the territory and get rid of killings and kidnappings.

Bello gave the charge during the FCT monthly Security Committee meeting.

He also urged them to work in a coordinated fashion to rid the city of miscreants who harass residents and carry out criminal activities within residential areas.

The FCT Administration, the Minister said, will continue to accord them all the necessary support they require in the discharge of their responsibilities of ridding the FCT of violent crimes and criminality.

According to a statement issued Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye, the minister was quoted as saying: “I task security operatives to improve the security situation in the territory against serious crimes, especially in the satellite towns where the activities of criminals, especially kidnappers have become a serious source of concern in recent times.

“There is an urgent need for our security agencies to improve on the implementation of the strategies being deployed in tackling the security situation in the Federal Capital Territory”.

The minister commended and expressed the appreciation of the FCT Administration to the security agencies for ensuring the peaceful conduct of the FCT Area Council elections which took place on February 12, 2022.

Bello also welcomed the submission of the Area Council Chairmen to pay adequate attention to the implementation of the Community Policing policy of the government, saying it will help in information gathering and ensure the overall security of the FCT.

Members of the public were also enjoined by the Security Committee to take extra caution to prevent fire outbreaks in their places of residences and business.

They were reminded that fire outbreaks were more likely to occur during the dry harmattan season and should follow all fire prevention measures laid out by the relevant authorities.

The meeting was attended by the heads of the various military and paramilitary agencies in the FCT, community, religious and traditional leaders as well as senior officials of the FCTA.

The Katsina State Government has called on the Federal Government to deploy more troops and sophisticated equipment to speedily end banditry attacks, especially amongst innocent communities in the state and their neighbours.

The Secretary to the Government of Katsina State, Dr. Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, who made the above call when he received newly posted Commissioner of Police to the State Command, said the State Government was committed to providing the necessary logistics supports to security agencies to win the fight against terrorism and other heinous crimes across the state.

He said the Masari led administration would not relent, until peace prevails in all nooks and crannies of the state before the end of its tenure.

The SGS further commended the efforts of the security agents in tackling the lingering challenges and charged them to do more as many rural areas were still under severe threat of the terrorists.

He also reiterated his call for coordinated and simultaneous attacks on the terrorists’ dens rather than waiting for them to attack innocent communities.

He said, “You are expected to put on your wealth of experience in the service to curtail the activities of the terrorists, especially in the front line local government areas.”

Earlier, CP Idrisu Dauda Dabban informed the SGS that he was in his office to solicit for government’s continued support and cooperation in the discharge of his duties.

He said he was aware of the level of insecurity in the state and stated its commitment to ending the crisis.

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits have allegedly abducted the District Head of Pushit, Mangu LGA of Plateau State, Da Chief Dikyet Gupiya on Thursday 24 February, 2022 at about 9am.

The Nation learnt that the gunmen broke into the residence of the traditional ruler, while he was watching news and whisked him to an unknown destination.

No demand has been made by the abductors at the time of filing this report.

Efforts to get information from the Police Public Relations Officer, Plateau State Command, Mr. Gabriel Ubah, on the issue proved abortive, as he neither picked calls nor responded to text messages.

However, in response to our phone call, the STF spokesperson, Major Ishaku Takwa, said he hasn’t received any information regarding the abduction.

This is the third occasion a traditional ruler would be abducted in about three months in the state.

The Paramount ruler of Pyem Chiefdom in Mangu LGA, HRH Charles Mato Dakat was abducted in December, 2021 while the District Head of Vom, Jos South LGA, HRH Da Gyang Balat was abducted early January 2022.