The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abuja

  • Abuja farmers for training

    The tough challenges faced by farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) may soon be over if feelers from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture are anything to go by.

    With improved mechanised methods, the farmers will no longer have to till the land from dawn till dusk to cultivate limited farm produce while the nomadic Fulani herdsmen will not need to walk for miles to feed their livestock.

    The Federal Capital Territory through the Ministry of Agriculture and the FADAMA III project, our correspondent gathered, have intensified efforts in reducing the hardship faced by such farmers and educate how to make farming a lucrative business.

    FCT natives who are mostly farmers are being assisted by the administration to learn and adopt the mechanised system of farming which is more productive and less stressful.

    According to the Minister of Agriculture Akinwumi Adesina, “The Ministry will invest N3.5 billion for mechanised agriculture because farming must be modernised to renew the structure of the demographics that is involved in agriculture.”

    With this new development, FCT farmers will benefit from the units of tractors and centres for distribution in the country and with the policy, farmers get coupons that is in their cell phones which they use to rent the tractors at such centres.

    Through the FADAMA III project in Kwali Area Council of the FCT, which was visited by the Minister of State for the FCT Olajumoke Akinjide on June13, it is interesting to note that natives of Bonugu in Kwali who are basically Fulani farmers and herdsmen are being trained in different groups comprising of men, women and youths on large ruminant upgrading, where they are taught on the process of artificial insemination to upgrade their cattle.

    They are also trained on small ruminant production like the sheep, on how to preserve their milk (the Nono), fish production, poultry management and also feed processing for their livestock.

    The Fulani community who came dressed in their best and excited to showcase their achievements, insisted that they developed a special interest in the large ruminant upgrading through artificial insemination after witnessing the success recorded by the FCT FADAMA III project in its programme with some groups at Paikon Kore Grazing Reserve.

    According to Jeodal Gondal, president of the FADAMA Community Association in Bonugo Kwali, “before the intervention of FADAMA during the dry season, we moved our cattle as far as Ankpa in Kogi State in search of pasture and water. However with the borehole and drinking trough provided through FADAMA’s support, the problem of water for our animals is now a thing of the past. The project has also supported us with feed crushing machine which we will use to crush grains stuck for the feeding of our animals during the dry season.”

    In another community in Kwali called Bukpe, women were trained in cassava production and ways of producing the cassava flour in large quantity. The FADAMA programme trained them on processing, frying and the best ways to preserve and package their cassava flour for the wider markets. One of the women leaders of Bukpe community after their presentation to the Minister of State Olajumoke Akinjide was so excited for the progress she had made and ran to hug the minister without permission but was restrained.

    The minister praised the participants for their commitment and said that the future is bright for agriculture and can provide the much needed employment that the country craves for. She also discouraged the farmers on the mismanagement of wealth by marrying more wives when

    they realise that they are making more money because those wives will produce more children that will further put a strain on the wealth.

    According to her, “when men make money, they marry more wives but the woman make money, she takes care of the family.”

  • Art museum for Abuja

    Art museum for Abuja

    Dr. Abdul Muku is the Director-General of the National Gallery of Art (NGA), a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Culture responsible for the promotion of visual art in Nigeria. In this chat with Edozie Udeze, he touches on a number of issues that affect the sector and what NGA has been doing to fulfill its statutory mandate, including plans for an art museum in Abuja

     

     

    What do you think is the contribution of the distinguished public lecture series organised by the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) to the growth of the art?

    Oh, the lecture itself is very important to us and to the National Gallery of Art (NGA) in many respects. It is gradually creating the necessary awareness in the visual art sector in Nigeria. This is why we have always said we should encourage any group of artists who want to do a programme to help move the sector to the next level.

    So, this lecture is very important to us and that is why we are fully involved in it. The lecture, giving the caliber of the lecturer and the theme he handled, you could see how it gingered on the audience. Artists have to learn from it, so also we at the NGA.

    The topic raised a lot of issues, one of which is that African artists should not be in a hurry to sell off their works. What is your take on this?

    Yes, that is correct. Artists should wait a while for their works to breath, or, if you like, mature. That is why we at the NGA are trying to get this embellishment of the art. In other words, a certain percentage of the art will be set aside for this embellishment. That means that there will be plenty of money for us to pick from, to promote, preserve and project the art.

    In the end, the works cannot get out of the shores of this country. We really need to pursue the enabling law vigorously in order to set things right.

    We do not have any museum of the art in Nigeria and yet we have the largest art market in Africa. What is the thinking of government in this regard?

    Thank you very much. That was what I was telling the SNA president, Oliver Enwonwu, few minutes ago. He has thrown a challenge to us. Even the SNA wrote a letter to us to start the construction of a museum or a big art gallery office in Abuja. We are doing a memo on that. In fact once I get back to Abuja today, we will complete the memo in that regard, then send it to Mr. President for his approval. Once this is done, we are going to provide the best art gallery for the sector.

    When this is done what sort of art work will you keep there?

    All media works – all the works that have been completed and the committee in-charge feels they are good enough. The selection committee will be in charge of that responsibility. Already we have some works in the national gallery and those ones will be there too. We have over three thousand works in our custody as at today. Besides that, any one we pick that can go through the committee will be included in the gallery.

    What was the idea of actually establishing the NGA?

    It is primarily to promote the visual art. The statutory law establishing it points out its responsibility as solely promoting and encouraging the visual art in Nigeria. It is to also co-ordinate the activities of the sector and see how government can assist in the development of the sector.

    But is NGA truly doing all that?

    Yes, we are doing the best we can to promote the sector. A while ago, I said it that we have a lot of association in the art, which is not bad anyway. This is so because they assist either to address specialisation for quick results or they all line up behind SNA to achieve the desired goal. But in all, there has been better co-ordination in the sector. Then, we have been doing that ever since we came on board.

    However, if all artists line up behind the SNA, the co-ordination will be better and everybody will appreciate better what government is doing in the sector. Once that is done, it will create more wealth in the visual art sector.

    You have been asked to vacate the premises of National Theatre. What is your reaction to this?

    Ehm… Sincerely, I think the truth is that from what government is saying what is happening around National Theatre is not too good. This is particularly with the water logged areas and so on which are eyesore when it rains. So, they want to see how those places can be repaired. In other words, they want to make the place look good and come up to international standard.

    The Theatre will remain as it is. The only thing is that they will fix it in a way that it becomes completely functional. They want to follow the initial design of having a five-star hotel around it. Government has agreed that some of the parastatals that are going out now will be recalled when the job is completed. We want to move out for the place to be sanitised. For now, government has prepared an alternative office space for us. It is a temporary place pending when the renovation is done.

    Is this affecting the functions of the NGA in any way?

    No. It does not. The only thing I want to say is that when the job is finished, it will increase activities in and around the Theatre.

     

  • Probe of Abuja ex-CJ: Court asks NJC to stay action

    Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has cautioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) against taking further steps on the probe of former Chief Judge (CJ) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Lawal Hassan Gummi, pending the determination of his suit.

    Justice Bello, at the resumed hearing in a suit by Gummi, yesterday directed parties to respect the principle of les pendis (which discourages parties in a pending suit from taking further steps in respect of the subject of the dispute).

    The judge said any action taken or decision reached, which affects the res (subject of dispute) while the case is yet to be decided, would be reversed or quashed because it will amount to subjudice.

    “I remind parties in this suit to respect the principles of les pendis, as the court has the powers to reverse and quash any decision taken during the pendency of the case,” he said.

    Justice Bello’s warning was informed by complaints from Gummi’s lawyer, Chief Okunade Olorundare (SAN), that his client, now the Emir of Gummi in Zamfara State, was still being summoned to appear before the panel set up by the NJC to probe allegations of misconduct and abuse of office against him.

    He argued that Gumi was still being invited, despite his pending case before the court.

    Hearing of the interlocutory motion has been fixed for July 2.

  • Please, make Nigeria indivisible

    Please, make Nigeria indivisible

    Today in Nigeria, 2015 has become detraction. Those in power are hardly working for the people any longer, but more for themselves. The focus of the remaining two years of tenureship is now more on power retention.

    It as if accomplishment of electoral promises and attainment of people’s desires are no longer of value. The nation is now filled with desperation for occupying political seats rather than working to put smiles on the face of the depressed people whose vote brought them into power. Insecurity is everywhere and the poor are getting poorer. As it were, politics is bringing in strenuous tensions, making distress to envelope the land the more.

    Ahead of the so-called Democracy Day last week, it was as if people were waiting for official announcement to confirm the death of Nigeria as a nation. But thank God that on that day, President Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President David Mark were reported as declaring Nigeria as indivisible, talk less of dying, despite the escalating challenges.

    Making public presentation of his mid-term report in Abuja after which some of the ministers had rolled out heartening financial indicators, which among others was that Nigeria has become the highest investment destination in the continent, the president said contrary to the position of the opposition parties, he had achieved so much in the two years of his administration.

    Mr. President self-applauded his administration’s performance. He challenged the media to use his 234-page report as a confirmable tool for any objective assessment. “I plead with all of us, especially those who want to assess and write about it to develop criteria because without a marking scheme, you cannot mark anybody’s paper. Develop your own, compare with previous governments. Develop your marking scheme and mark us.” Perhaps he is unaware of the numerous online hands now placed on websites to respond to virtually all criticisms in the media.

    In seriousness, Mr. President ought to know that Nigerians need no marking scheme to know that under him, the rate of unemployment has gone up, security of lives and property and the welfare of the citizens have receded discouragingly. In truth, what scoring format does one need to know that despite the ostensibly inspiring economic figures rolled out by the ministers, the average Nigerian is worse off today than before PDP took over power in 1999?

    The core basis of the nation’s afflictions has been that most of those who find themselves in leadership position hardly lead by example. The realism is that good leadership deficit has constituted the greatest clog in the wheel of national development and progress.

    As an opposition party said, “performance is like a pregnancy that cannot be hidden.” Other than swelling corruption and desperation to retain power at all cost, how much of practical performance in power, security, job creation and vital infrastructural developments is already making impact on the life of the people today?

    It is non-performance that is pushing desperate aggression and the fight of imaginary enemies much more within the ruling party. With sincere and wise people on the president’s side, the battle with Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi should not be as dismal as it is. Perhaps they are blind to see the unnecessary conflict thinning the integrity of the president while Amaechi is being lifted higher.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo who preferred to be part of Jigawa State May 29 show than being with the president in Abuja called for change in leadership. He was quoted: “You know you can help somebody to get the job, but you cannot help him to do it. If somebody cannot do the job, we have Sule Lamido who we are confident can do the job.”

    Before this, Obj who reigned and ruled over Nigeria in totality of more than 13 years, had earlier condemned the increasing level of indiscipline in PDP leadership. Although THE GUARDIAN editorial reminded us how he contributed to the foundation of the indiscipline, the newspaper also recollected:

    “To say that PDP “lacks sufficient discipline” may well be the least that could be said of the party that has ruled Nigeria for 12 years, with very little to show for it. Poverty in the land is acute and widespread, corruption is endemic, critical infrastructure decrepit and insecurity of lives and property prevail in a huge magnitude. The PDP-led government has also not found solution to the problem of epileptic power supply. The situation deteriorates by the day without much hope of a respite.”

    With this contention, how then can Nigeria be saved from being dragged to primitivism? If the Bible says that a soul that sinneth shall die, why can’t the present leadership focus more on cleansing the nation from impurity so that it will not finally disintegrate?

    It will be in the nation’s interest if political office can become less attractive and corruption eliminated. It is clear today how politics is fuelling corruption. The desperation to occupy political office is largely to loot, plunder and embezzle. Politicians are not seeking for power to serve anymore. From federal to local level,

    the few in power corner the resources of the land and leave the masses with the crumbs.

    When there is leadership error, the common man will suffer the consequence. If sincere steps are not taken to correct the ills in the system – starting from the top, there might not be restoration of the people’s confidence in government. Ultimately, when citizens are not given desired measure of goodness of the land and assured of protection, the country will be pushed to crumple.

    As those in power might be pretending not to know, many Nigerians are not blind and are not foolish. People are aware of the level of corruption, insecurity, insincerity, joblessness and poverty. They will become totally disillusioned if the leadership failed to resolve the afflictions.

     

    FEEDBACK

    Re-Amaechi God-given victory.

    Let PDP work hard for magical change of electorate minds before 2015 elections. Otherwise, the leaders’ colossal self-inflicted damage will ruin them. The NGF election exposed their shoddiness in handling credible elections. The president is rattled and more errors are bound to be committed. Please let us watch the video tape of the election and compare it with Gov. Akpabio’s doctored voters’ register or endorsees. INEC should borrow his style to save cost. From James, Jos.

    Dear Sir, I concur with your piece on Amaechi’s God-given victory. Nothing to add or subtract. Sentiment and desperation are ample words in Jonathan’s dictionary. Victory is really God-given. As for Akpabio, his first name is Godswill. By this he should know that God gives and takes. Your write up actually made my day. May you continue to inspire us with stimulating and thought-provoking mind. From Dr. Apelologun, Ilorin.

    Hello Sir, that is a wonderful write up. Akpabio should know what Chibuike means in Igbo language.

    – 2348033339232

    “The nation that once had the potentiality of greatness has been stagnant for too long” was your last statement. Pres. Jonathan might not have done well. But if in those past long years those whom ACN are trying to take us to had governed well, this nation wouldn’t have been in this sorry state. That you and ACN are trying to package us back to Egypt is gravely unfortunate. You are not a young boy. If you’ve been watching Nigeria event with objective mind, you’ll know where our problems are from. From Amadi Ibeleme

    Mr. Soji, your write-up in The Nation is a perfect fact of what happened and what is going to happen. Thank you and God bless. From Chris Ukpere, Abuja.

    Your piece spoke my mind. – Akibu Hassan, Ijebu-Ode

    Dear Soji Omotunde, Sir, not only am I pleased with your write up on Amaechi’s God-given victory, I also want to encourage you for good work. This election was monitored online by Nigerians. So, who are those fooling the president? From Solomon Vambe, PH

    If you are an apologist of Amaechi, just tell us. You do not know the man called Amaechi, but we know him well. You are a Yoruba man that shut your mouth during OBJ’s misrule and wants to use Amaechi against GEJ. It won’t work as it will only dig his grave politically. – 2348055331902

     

     

  • CBN promises hitch-free cash-less banking in Rivers, Abuja, others

    CBN promises hitch-free cash-less banking in Rivers, Abuja, others

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is working towards making the introduction of cash-less banking in five states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on July 1, hitch-free, its spokesman, Ugochukwu Okoroafor, has said.

    The states are Rivers, Kano, Anambra, Ogun and Abia.

    Speaking with The Nation, Okoroafor said with the Lagos experience, the roll out in those states would be successful. He said more publicity and Point of Sales (PoS) terminals would be deployed when the project takes off in those states.

    Okoroafor said: “Part of the arrangements made so far include; increasing the number  of Point of Sale (PoS) terminals in these states, making enough publicity to create awareness and the need to embrace the cash-less idea, among others. We have learnt our lessons and we do not want a repeat of what happened in Lagos when cashless was introduced early last year. I can say that we are ready for the take off of cash-less project in the seven states.”

    According to him, problems that marred the exercise in Lagos have been outlined, discussed and solutions adopted to make cash-less successful.

    CBN, he said, was working with banks on the deployment of PoS terminals, adding that wide consultation is going on to ensure prompt and adequate delivery.

    “The banks have the responsibilities to deploy PoS terminals, hence the decision of the CBN to involve them strongly in the exercise. We are seriously working with them on the issue. Also, CBN, banks and the Bankers’ Committee are putting in place measures to create enough awareness by way of educating people via various channels before and after July this year.”

    The Chairman, National Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF), Mr Emmanuel Obaigbona, said the body was ready to ensure the success of electronic payment transactions.

    Obaigbona said  NeFF was charged with educating and informing banks on various electronic fraud issues and trends; proactive sharing of fraud data/information among stakeholders to ensure prompt responses and limit losses and formulation of cohesive and effective risk management strategies.

    The cash-less policy, whose implementation began in Lagos in January, last year, is aimed at reducing the dominance of cash in the system. The policy specifies penal charges for individuals and corporate organisations that want to withdraw or lodge cash above prescribed limits.

    Under the policy, the CBN pegged the daily cumulative cash withdrawal or deposit limit for individual accounts at N500,000 per day and N3 million per day for corporate accounts.

     

  • Foundation upgrades Abuja cemetery

    Foundation upgrades Abuja cemetery

    THE Al-Muhibbah Foundation, a non-governmental organisation coordinated by the wife of the FCT Minister, Hajia Aisha Bala Mohammed, has inaugurated the Christian wing of the Gudu Cemetery, Apo, FCT.

    The foundations’ Director of Programmes, Hajia Ladi Ibrahim, who represented the chairperson/founder, recalled that “the foundation, while inaugurating the Muslim and the pagan sections at the foundation’s two years anniversary last year, did promise that the Christian wing will be inaugurated in due course; a promise that is being fulfilled today.”

    Commenting on the numerous landmarks and achievements of the foundation, the chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Israel Akanji said: “I am so happy that the promise made by Mrs. Mohammed sometime last year at the inauguration of the Muslim wing of the cemetery has been fulfilled. May Almighty God continue to bless and protect Hajia Bala Mohammed.”

    He used the occasion to emphasise that his association, in collaboration with Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), will oversee the use of the newly inaugurated wing of the cemetery in line with universally-accepted best practices; noting that the era of impunity on burial sites; especially this Gudu Cemetery by members of the public and relations to deceased will be curtailed.

    Reacting, Hajia Zainab Umar of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) called on other NGO’s in the territory to emulate Al-Muhibbah Foundation’s humanitarian services and benevolence to mankind; adding that other NGO’s must rise up to cater and take care of man’s final and permanent resting places(cemeteries).

    Hajia Mariam Lari Adamu of FCT Muslim Welfare Board praised the virtues of Al-Muhibbah’s Foundation; stating that Allah has a great reward for people and organisations that respond to the plight of the needy and mankind in generally.

    Al-Muhibbah Foundation erected the perimeter fencing of the Gudu Cemetery, constructed and built inter-locking access roads including solar-powered lights and gate house to the cemetery.

    In a related development, the foundation was at Kuje Area Council, FCT, to inaugurate and hand over the perimeter fencing of over one hectare to the Al-Ansar (The Helpers) Orphanage and donated food items worth several thousand of Naira to the home.

    Hajia Ladi Ibrahim, Director of Programmes who represented the organisation posited that the foundation is driven by a passion to assist the needy.

    Responding, Hajia Hadiza Abubakar, Naibatal Amirah, said Al-Ansar (The Helpers) is an Islamic non-governmental organisation established in 2003 with the aim of assisting and empowering the less-privileged members of the society; especially women and children and to run an Islamic-oriented orphanage in the FCT based on the fundamental principles embodied in the glorious Quran.

    She thanked the Al-Muhibbah for reaching out to them in their moment of need.

  • New deal for Abuja widows

    New deal for Abuja widows

    THE cloud of despair has lifted over widows in the nation’s capital. Elizabeth Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has come to their aid, bringing food, clothing and jobs tools.

    The food and clothing will take care of immediate challenges on the home front while the jobs tools will put the widows in business, making it possible for them to look after themselves and their families in the long term.

    It is a new deal for the women who lost their husbands and breadwinners.

    Most of the widows could not believe what they were given at the event.

    One of them, Mrs. Hanna Oma told Abuja Review that the foundation came to her rescue when her husband suddenly died while she was not doing anything to feed the family.

    She said: “I have known Elizabeth Foundation for over three years now. When my husband died, the pastor of my husband’s friend that works here invited me to come and register. So, when I came, I registered my name and my children’s names and since then she (the founder) has been helping us pay school fees. When we have any challenge in the family and call upon her, she will answer, she helps us solve the problem by the grace of God.

    “Since I met her, she has been helping with payment of our house rent, clothing, and on Christmas Day celebration.

    She calls us to come and rejoice with her. She buys things for the children and sometimes she gives us money. She also tries to encourage us on the challenges in the home. She helps us immensely; especially in the area of paying our children’s school fees which she has been shouldering up to university level.”

    Another widow, who did not want to disclose her name also said: “She has paid my house rent, children’s school fees and helped us even with foodstuffs. The foundation includes outsiders who are not necessarily members. We have been going outside and inviting everybody. As far as you are a widow, you can register with the foundation.’’

    According to the Senior Special Assistant to the Senate President on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Matters, Mrs. Nehi Okunmwendia, government will assist the widow.

    She said: “Like we said during the skill acquisition programme, the office of the NGO has areas like education, poverty alleviation and good governance on which it focuses attention. They say that there is dignity in labour. So, we want to help them to actualise their dreams. This is because some people have talents but don’t know how to go about actualising them.

    “So, we want to bring out that potential to enable them empower themselves. If we train them, we give them capital to start.

    “So, we are trying to reduce poverty in Nigeria. The Senate President has a passion for that. Actually, whenever they have such conventions for widow, the Speaker usually asks them to find something to do, which is how we want to empower women so that when their husbands die, they will be able to take care of the children and themselves.

    “Government cannot do everything. That is why we have all these NGOs that can help in this aspect. We don’t give money directly; we try to understand what kind of skill they want to engage in, get the specification, start it for them and get a group to monitor them because you cannot just give someone money without monitoring to ensure that everything goes well.”

    The founder, Mrs. Angel Adelani was in tears when explaining how she started the foundation with little support.

    She said: “The challenges were majorly funds because if I have funds, there are a thousand and one things that I will like to do.

    “My most pressing need for now is a plot of land. I would want government to give me a plot of land where I can build houses for them and try to empower them. My advice to widows is to hold on tight because God is able to meet them at the point of their needs. Their focus should be on God. It’s not very easy for them. They have emotional, financial and social problems. They are stigmatised as widows because they happen to be from Nigeria.”

  • NGF poll: Governors split over Amaechi

    NGF poll: Governors split over Amaechi

    Barely four days to the election of a new chairman for the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), the 36 governors are evenly split on the re-election of Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    Despite the pressure from the Presidency, 18 governors are in support of Amaechi’s return; 18 are not.

    Intense lobbying began at the weekend to prevail on a governor to break the tie because a simple majority is required for a winner to emerge.

    All efforts to prevent the Forum from going into election on May 23 collapsed on Friday as the two sides insisted on the poll.

    Amaechi has secured the support of Southwest governors (this does not include Ondo State); four Northwest governors; Three Northcentral; Three Northeast; two Southsouth; and One Southeast.

    Those against Amaechi are banking on four votes from Southsouth; four from Southeast; three from Northcentral; three from Northwest; three from Northeast; and one from Southwest.

    According to a source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, moves to appeal to the two sides to resolve their differences have failed.

    The source said: “Despite intervention by some former governors to prevail on the governors not to go into outright election, which could split the NGF, they have all remained adamant.

    “While Amaechi is seeking re-election, the opposing camp is putting up Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State or, at worst a compromise candidate in Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State.

    “So far, the votes are split 18-18 apiece. This is why intense lobbying has started. A winner can emerge through only simple majority.”

    A PDP governor from the Southsouth, who is co-ordinating the anti-Amaechi campaign, relocated to Abuja last week to embark on one-on-one lobbying of Northern governors.

    “The heat is so much on those trying to unseat Amaechi. And the development in the last one week in Rivers State has also made Amaechi to gain more sympathy,” a source said.

  • 2013 United Nations Global Road Safety Week

    2013 United Nations Global Road Safety Week

  • FRSC flags off campaign on safe driving in Kaduna

    FRSC flags off campaign on safe driving in Kaduna

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), on Monday flagged off a one-week public awareness campaign on safe driving in Kaduna tagged, `Operation Shield’.

    The campaign was flagged off at the Kakau toll gate on Kaduna-Abuja highway by the Assistant Corps Marshal, Zone 1, Theophilus Charles.

    He stressed that the awareness was to educate motorists on what they needed to do while on the road.

    Charles said motorists who violate traffic regulation would be punished while some of them “would be kept for certain period of time before they are allowed to go”.

    “The essence of operation shield is to achieve zero traffic crash. We don’t want to have any road traffic crash in this period and beyond, that is why we are doing the mobile patrol.’’

    In his remark, the Kaduna State Sector Commander, Mr Olumide Olagunju, said the special patrol was mounted to “drastically reduce the rate of accident along the road”.

    Olagunju said the programme would also educate road users on the dangers of over speeding, overloading and the use of seat belt, adding that pamphlet and handbills would be distributed.

    He identified speeding and over loading as contributing factors to road crashes, adding that speed and over load often led to loss of control by drivers.

    Olagunju also advised drivers on the use of seat belts, saying it reduces the severity of injuries during crashes.

    “If a crash should occur and you are on seat belt, it would reduce the severity of the injury to 50 per cent”, he said, and called on motorists to be safety conscious and to always obey traffic signs.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that handbills on safe driving were issued to drivers, while those who violated traffic regulations were instantly fined