The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Adamawa

  • IDPs protest over shortage of food in Adamawa

    IDPs protest over shortage of food in Adamawa

    Hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) from Fufore and Malkohi camps in Adamawa staged peaceful protests over lack of food in their camps.

    The IDPs mostly Women and Children on Wednesday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in their plight.

    Adamawa has only two designated camps managed by NEMA and they are situated at Fufore and Malkohi villages with a total number of about 3,000 IDPs.

    The IDPs, who mostly are from Borno, were in the two camps for over two years waiting to be evacuated to their state of origin.

    The IDPs in separate interviews with our reporter complained that many families in the camps were in critical living conditions due to hunger.

    Malam Adamu Bukar from Malkohi camp said that he has one wife and three children and they only eat once in a day.

    “Since early January, when they distributed the normal thirty days food items to us, we have never received anything again.’’ Bukar said.

    According to him, people living in the camp need urgent food intervention, because any moment from now some people, especially children would die of hunger.

    Also speaking, Malam Haruna Bana, from Borno and living in Malkohi camp expressed fear of imminent starvation and malnutrition in the camp.

    Bana said that they received the last food in December 2017 and since then they were not given anything.

    He appealed to Borno government to come to their aid and evacuate them.

    A security officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, at one of the camp also confirmed the situation, saying that the development was a threat to the camp security.

    “On daily basis, the IDPs in sizeable number go out of the camp to look for food, which is a security challenge to the entire people living in the camp,’’ the source said.

    When contacted over the situation, Malam Abbani Imam, the state Coordinator NEMA in charge of Adamawa and Taraba confirmed the development but said the challenge would soon be addressed.

    Imam said that the state office had already informed the NEMA headquarters of the situation and were waiting for the approval to release food to the camps.

    NAN

  • Adamawa PDP spokesman dies

    Adamawa PDP spokesman dies

    The Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State, Sam Zadock, is dead.

    Zadock was killed in the last sectarian violence in the state.

    The State Secretary, Abdullahi Prambe, described the incident as a “big shock”.

    He said: “We were expecting him for a meeting yesterday, but he didn’t show up. He called me but the network was poor, only for us to hear that he was killed in an attack.”

    Prambe, who condemned the incident, called on the government to address issues resulting in such crisis.

    A youth leader, Mr. Paul Turaki, said Zadock was in the car with four people when they were ambushed around Barre village in Demsa Local Government Area.

    A statement by the Army’s spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, said 10 suspects involved in the attack were killed; six were arrested.

  • Enough of senseless killings – Atiku

    Enough of senseless killings – Atiku

    Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has condemned Tuesday’s sectarian crisis in Adamawa, which claimed 14 lives, including that of Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP ) Spokesman in the state, Mr Sam Zadock.

    Abubakar, in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja on Wednesday, also condemned similar crisis in Kaduna and other places that led to avoidable loss of lives.

    He expressed “deep embarrassed and utter shock’’ of the continuing cycle of violence, revenge and counter-revenge by ethnic warriors and militias in the country that had led to needless waste of precious human lives.

    He noted that the reckless disregard for the sanctity of life was not only disturbing, but showed the failure of local leaders to manage differences and grievances.

    The former vice president said that bloodshed could never be the solution to grievances.

    “Our common humanity is greater than our ethnic and religious differences”.

    He added that the frequent resort to violence was inconsistent with the teachings of citizens’ religions about the sanctity of life.

    Abubakar stressed that no society could achieve peace and happiness when love was replaced with violent, destructive hate and bigotry.

    He called for a “cool headed” approach to conflict resolutions instead of incitements to violence by ethnic and religious leaders.

    He also called for increased vigilance and prompt response to early signs of developing violence or conflicts in order to nip such crises in the bud.

    While praising the efforts of security personnel and their sacrifices, Abubakar called for improved strategies and the use of human intelligence to foil mass murderers before they strike.

    He condoled with the Zadock family, families of the other deceased and the PDP in Adamawa over the loss of their loved ones.

    NAN

  • Adamawa and non-payment of retirees’ gratuities

    SIR:It is worrisome that gratuities of Adamawa State civil servants, who retired after putting  in 35years in service are no longer being paid as at when due. It is now more than 10 years that gratuities were paid last leading to the accumulation more than N20 billion arrears. It was only during the administration of former governor Boni Haruna that gratuities were paid to retiring civil servants with certain amount usually given to the state pension board to offset the gratuities of retiring civil servants.

    But, from the administration of former governor Murtala Nyako to the present administration of Governor Mohammed Bindow Umaru Jibrilla, not a dime has been given to the pension board for the gratuities to be paid.

    The disturbing aspect is how the bill is being accumulated and yet, the government is not doing anything to offset it and yet more people are still retiring. It is imperative for the present administration to start paying the accumulated bill of those who have retired from the service in order for them to start life afresh. This can be done by giving the pension board N500million every month to clear the huge bill staring the government in the face.

    If nothing is done to offset the huge bill of gratuities owe by the retirees of Adamawa State, it would lead to catastrophe as incoming administrations will face a big problem in trying to offset the liability.

    Although bailouts were given to the states on more than three occasions, but in Adamawa State nothing was done to offset the retirees liabilities; not even a dime was given to the pension board to pay.

    It is pathetic and sad that a person would spend his entire life in public service with a hope, that at the end, he would get all his entitlements so as to open another vista of life, only to end up with no hope of getting his or her entitlements during his lifetime.

    The government need to be proactive in seeing that retirees are paid their entitlements like their gratuities and monthly pension on time.

    In fact, what is happening in Adamawa State is enslavement of those who meritoriously worked for the state. It is baffling for someone who retired for five years and he or she is yet to collect any gratuity to enable him or her to carry on with life by engaging in a profitable venture to keep body and soul together.

    This denial is making those still in service to be having a rethink in public service as things are daily going down and with no hope.

     

    • Usman Santuraki,

    Jambutu, Jimeta-Yola.

     

  • Police arrest Six over Herdsmen/Farmers conflict

    Police arrest Six over Herdsmen/Farmers conflict

    The Police Command in Adamawa has arrested six suspects in connection with the latest conflict between herdsmen and farmers in Simba and Shure villages of Song Local Government Area of the state.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdullahi Ibrahim, disclosed this on Tuesday in Yola while briefing newsmen.

    Ibrahim cautioned people in the state against taking the laws into their hands and urged them to report any suspicious characters to security agencies.

    Meanwhile, the Adamawa Government has condemned the recent incident during which several lives were lost.

    Read Also:  Police investigate alleged killing of man in Enugu

    A statement by the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ahmad Sajoh, said government would do everything possible to bring the culprits to justice.

    “The government feels disturbed that at a time when normalcy is returning to the other parts that were engulfed in crisis, a new wave of attacks is taking place in areas that have been peaceful.

    “This is unacceptable. Government will do everything possible to deter further expansion of theater of conflict in the state,” Sajoh said.

    He commended security forces for their prompt action that ensured the speedy control of the situation.

    “Government is equally doing everything possible to support the police and other security services to apprehend and bring the perpetrators to book,” the commissioner said.

     

    NAN

     

  • FG to construct 300km rural roads in Osun

    FG to construct 300km rural roads in Osun

    The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the World Bank are to construct 300 kilometres of rural roads in Osun under the Rural Access and Mobility Project ( RAMP ).

    Adelere Oriolowo, the Project Coordinator for RAMP-2 in Osun, disclosed this to newsmen shortly after a pre-bidding meeting held in Osogbo with interested contractors for the RAMP project.

    Oriolowo explained that, the State Project Implementation Unit ( SPIU ), had already invited bids from eligible and reputable contractors for the expression of interest on the project.

    Read also: Osun monarch counsels youths on mentorship

    He said the project would be jointly financed by the World Bank and French Development Agency ( AFD ) in line with World Bank Procurement Regulations.

    Oriolowo pointed out that the past RAMP projects had impacted positively on the lives of rural dwellers in the state.

    The project coordinator explained that the RAMP-2 project would include: site clearance, earthworks; provision of lateritic sub-base course; chemical stabilization; 35mm asphaltic concrete, among others.

    He lauded the administration of Gov. Rauf Aregbesola for its prompt payment of lead funds and other commitments which made donor agencies to show interest.

    He said the rural road projects were recently approved for four participating states, which include: Adamawa, Enugu, Niger and Osun.

    The RAMP-2 project coordinator stressed that contractor that scaled the bidding process must work to specifications.

    NAN

  • Adamawa recruits 200 nurses

    Adamawa recruits 200 nurses

    The Adamawa Government said it recruited 200 nurses to be deployed across the state.

    Commissioner for Health Dr Fatima Atiku, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola yesterday that the recruitment was part of measures by the state government to boost healthcare delivery.

    According to the commissioner, the step is in line with the state government’s declaration of state of emergency on the health sector.

    She said that “following the declaration of state of emergency on health sector in 2017, we recruited 200 nurses to be deployed across the state.”

    Atiku added that other measures being taken included massive rehabilitation and construction of some health facilities across the state.

    She mentioned the Yola Specialist Hospital, Mubi General Hospital and the Numan General Hospital as some of the rehabilitated health facilities.

    She said the Ganye, Shelleng and Garkida general hospitals would also be renovated soon.

  • Firemen quench night fire in Yola market

    Firemen quench night fire in Yola market

    A fire outbreak that occurred on Wednesday night at Yola market has been put out by men of the Adamawa State Fire Service.

    The State Chief Fire Officer, Alhaji Adamu Abdullahi, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Yola.

    Abdullahi said his men were able to quench the fire which started from a grinding machine in the market.

    “The fire only affected some grinding machines and part of grains shops,” Abdullahi said.

    He said that no life was lost and no serious injury was recorded during the incident.

    NAN reports that the cost of damage to property has yet to be ascertained as shop owners are still assessing the destruction done to their wares by the inferno.

  • Police couple, two others killed in fire outbreak in Adamawa

    Police couple, two others killed in fire outbreak in Adamawa

    A police Inspector, identified as Bobbo, his wife, Sgt. Grace, their daughter and a constable have been burnt to death in an early morning fire at Karewa Police Barrack in Yola.

    The Adamawa Command Public Relations Officer, Othman Abubakar said the incident occurred around 1:00 am and the cause of the fire is being investigated.

    “Inspector Bobbo, his wife Sgt. Grace, their daughter and a newly recruited constable who is a relation that is squatting with them were all killed in the unfortunate incident,” Abubakar said.

    Some residents of the barracks who spoke to our reporter said efforts to put off the fire and rescue the victims were not successful due to the burglar proof in the house.

    “Many people have installed burglar proof due to petty thefts being experienced in the barrack,” a female resident who spoke under anonymity said.

    Meanwhile, Adamawa Deputy Governor, Mr Martins Babale has visited the barrack to sympathize with the residents over the incident.

    NAN

  • Lawmaker calls for probe of EU assisted water project in Adamawa

    Lawmaker calls for probe of EU assisted water project in Adamawa

    Alhaji Abdulrahman Abubakar, member representing Mubi South Constituency in Adamawa House of Assembly, has called for the probe of the multi-million Naira European Union (EU) assisted Water Project in Mubi South Local Government.

    Abubakar made the call  on Sunday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola.

    He said that the probe became necessary following the sudden change of plan regarding the project after the state  government paid N398 million counterpart fund.

    According to him,  the project has to do with the construction of a dam in Gella, the headquarters of Mubi South local government which has been experiencing acute portable water supply.

    “A feasibility study has been done for a dam which is the only solution to water supply problem to Gella and environs, but what we are hearing which is unacceptable to my constituency is that the dam project has been jettisoned and what we are to get now is a borehole instead of a dam.

    “The new plan which looks like a fraud is that a borehole will be sunk in Gude village where pipe would be laid to connect it with Gella.

    “Over 100 boreholes had been sunk in my constituency in the past to address the problem of water but in vain, making one to wonder how additional borehole can be a solution,” Abubakar said.

    The lawmaker said that he had complained to the state Ministry of Water Resources on the matter but the reaction of the officials was not convincing.

    “Their reaction looked like they are deeply involved in this disturbing development.”

    The lawmaker who is the House Committee Chairman on Finance and Appropriation, said he would move for the return of the state counterpart fund paid for the project.

    “As the chairman of Adamawa Assembly House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation, I will call for the refund of Adamawa’s N398 million counterpart fund,” Abubakar said. (NAN)