The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Adamawa

  • NDLEA: Chadian arrested with 186kg of drugs in Yola

    NDLEA: Chadian arrested with 186kg of drugs in Yola

    The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested one Adamu Muhammed, a Chadian, with illicit drugs weighing 186 kilograms in Yola, Adamawa.

    The State’s Commander of the agency, Mr Yakubu Kibo, confirmed the arrest in Yola on Monday.

    Kibo said that the suspect was apprehended at Jimeta -Yola Modern Market while negotiating for a vehicle to convey the illicit substances to Cameroon for onward movement to the Chad Republic.

    “On August 12, 2017, one Adamu Muhammed, a middle aged man and Chadian, was arrested with five cartons containing Tramadol tablets weighing 186 kilograms.

    “The suspect was arrested in Jimeta -Yola modern market while negotiating for a vehicle to convey the illicit drugs to Cameroon for onward movement to its destination, Chad Republic,” Kibo said.

    In the same vein, the command stated that it equally arrested one Peter Danboyi, at Jimeta Modern Market, for being in illegal possession of one carton of cough syrup with codeine weighing 39.8 kilograms and 11 grams of Rohypnol tablets.

    He emphasized the need for neighbouring countries such as Niger, Chad and Cameroon to collaborate with Nigeria to fight the activities of illicit traders on their borders.

    He said the agency would continue to frustrate the efforts of all those who wish to make Adamawa and Nigeria a drug transit point.

  • Many feared dead in fresh Adamawa attack

    Many feared dead in fresh Adamawa attack

    Many people were feared dead on Thursday in a fresh attack by Boko Haram Islamists in Ghumbili community in the Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa.

    The attack comes a few days after a similar incident in a neighbouring village in the Local Government, known as Mildu, where seven people were killed by the insurgents.

    Confirming the attack, the Chairman of Madagali Local Government Council, Mr Yusuf Muhammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the attack lasted from 11 p.m. on Wednesday to 3 a.m. on Thursday.

    He said that the jihadists burnt no fewer than 60 houses and looted foodstuff.

    “They looted foodstuff, killed livestock and burnt the village completely,” he stated.

    Muhammed said that the exact number of dead and injured people had yet to be ascertained and that villagers who escaped the attack were currently taking refuge at Gulak, the headquarters of the council.

    But the Spokesman of the Police Command in Adamawa, Mr Othman Abubakar, who also confirmed the attack, said that no life was lost.

    He said, however, that houses were destroyed in the attack–the latest in a string of deadly blows on mainly soft targets in Nigeria’s troubled northeast.

    Speaking on the development, the Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Haruna Furo, said that only one person was killed and that many houses were destroyed.

    Boko Haram appears to have raised its onslaught in recent weeks in its eight-year bloody insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives.

  • Presidential committee to deliver 260 truck of grainsto IDPs in Adamawa

    Presidential committee to deliver 260 truck of grainsto IDPs in Adamawa

    The Presidential Committee on Emergency Food Distribution in North East is to deliver 260 trucks of assorted grains to the returnee IDPs in Adamawa.

    Hajia Zainab Mohammed, Minister for State, Budget and National Planning, made this known on Monday at a courtesy visit to Gov. Mohammed Bindow in Yola.

    Mohammed, who is the chairperson of the committee, said that 86 trucks had already been delivered to 3,000 people.

    The minister explained that the committee had conducted  census of the households in the affected area and was to deliver food items to 17,000 households in the state.

    She added that a total of 79,000 people were to benefit from the entire food distribution excercise in the state.

    She said that the distribution would ensure  respect to human dignity as the beneficiaries would get their food items at their door steps.

    According to the minister, the era of queueing for food distribution is over.

    Mohammed commended the governor for supporting the committee to carry out its mandate.

    In his remark, Bindow commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring that insurgency was fought to standstill.

    Bindow also assured the committee of security in the state and advised them to ensure transparency and fairness in the distribution of the items.

  • Adamawa APDA holds inaugural meeting, tasks members on 2019 elections

    Adamawa APDA holds inaugural meeting, tasks members on 2019 elections

    The Adamawa chapter of the newly registered Advanced People’s Democratic Alliance (APDA) on Saturday held its inaugural meeting in Yola with a call on members to mobilize for the party’s victory in 2019 elections.

    Speaking at the meeting in Yola, the state Protem Chairman of the party,  Alhaji Umar Bello said that the party  was the “new  messiah” for Nigerians.

    Bello said that as a new political party that was committed to taking power at all levels, members must be ready to prove to Nigerians that it was committed to to bring the needed change.

    “The success of any brand lies in the strategic approach of its handlers to articulate a massive campaign programme aimed at creating awareness about its effectiveness, reliability and most importantly its quality which in turn leads to its acceptability.

    “As a new political party which strives to clinch power both at the center and in  most or all the Nigerian states, a concerted effort must be dissipated to convince Nigerians that APDA is their new messiah and the only viable alternative,” Bello said.

    Bello said that the party would commence mass mobilization and sensitization in Adamawa by going from ward to ward.

    “We are going to embark on mass mobilization campaign down to unit level across the state so that victory shall be ours in 2019 by the grace of God.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that  members of the state executives inaugurated along with the chairman  included Mr Sunday Wugira as Secretary, Umar Bakari, Organizing as Secretary,  and Gideon Gangfada as Publicity Secretary.

  • Adamawa vaccinates over 20,000 livestock in 2017

    Adamawa vaccinates over 20,000 livestock in 2017

    Adamawa Government has vaccinated over 20,000 livestock against contagious diseases across the state.

    Alhaji Isa Barima, state commissioner for Livestock production, stated this on Sunday at the ongoing pilot workshop on improved and modern feed for cattle in Yola.

    The workshop was organised by the Nigerian Incentives Based Risk Sharing Systems For Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) for livestock farmers across the country.

    50 farmers from Adamawa, Bauchi, Oyo, Imo, Delta and Katsina States as well as the Federal Capital Territory would be part of the pilot project.

    Barima said that the vaccination was aimed at protecting livestock from diseases such as black leg, malignant edema and leptospirosis (an infectious disease of humans and of horses, dogs, swine, and other animals).

    He said vaccination was also given against Foot and mouth disease, brucellosis (a bacterial disease caused by various Brucella species, which mainly infect cattle, swine, goats, sheep and dogs) and tuberculosis.

    “In line with the Federal Government Grazing Reserves programme, the state government had so far vaccinated over 20,000 cattle herds across the state.

    “The development is part of government policy to start full implementation of the Programme for the production of healthy beef meat, milk among others to increase wellbeing in the state,” Barima said.

    He said the state government had allocated over 15,000 hectares of land to the Federal Government for the full implementation of the grazing reserves programme.

    Alhaji Aliyu Abbati, NIRSAL General Manager, said that the cardinal objective of the workshop was to boost the country’s enormous potentials in livestock production.

    Abbati, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Faruq Turawa, said that the organization’s mission was to educate small and large livestock farmers in the country on how to boost their businesses.

    “The organization is to bring together livestock farmers, especially cattle breeders in the country to harness their abandoned enormous potentials.

    “The Programme is designed as Anchor Borrowers Scheme, where livestock farming will be modernized and developed through modern Artificial Insemination Fattening. Milk production is also part of agriculture that needs to be harnessed,” Abbati said.

  • Adamawa saves N800m from three road contracts

    Adamawa saves N800m from three road contracts

    The Adamawa Government says it has saved more than N800 million from three road contracts awarded by the Murtala Nyako administration between 2013 and 2014.

    The state Commissioner for Works, Mrs Lilian Stephen, made this known on Wednesday while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Yola.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Nyako governed the state from 2007 to 2014.

    Stephen said that the funds were saved following the re-variation of the contract by the state government.

    According to her, the Aliyu Mustapha Way, which was earlier awarded at the cost of N2.6 billion, was reviewed downward to N2.2 billion, saving N444 million.

    She added that the Malamre road contract, awarded at the cost of N1 billion was reviewed to N960 million, saving the sum of N40 million.

    The commissioner further said that government saved N345 million on Army barracks/Mayo Inne to Mayo Belwa road project, bringing the total recovered funds to N829 million.

    Stephen said that the savings were achieved due to the prudent and transparent nature of the present administration, adding that all the contracts had reached their completion stages.

    “It is very uncommon that contracts are reviewed downward, especially in the present economic situation where dollar exchange rate has gone higher.

    “Gov. Mohammed Bindow’s administration is practical and this is just on three contracts.

    “I want to assure you that the administration will continue to comply with due process on the award of contracts as prudence is the watchword of Gov. Mohammed Bindow’s administration,’’ Stephen said.

    Also speaking, Alhaji Umar Daware, the Commissioner for Commerce, said that the council had proposed the establishment of Adamawa Investment and Promotion Agency (AIPA).

    Daware said that the proposal was to stimulate investment as well as create employment opportunities in the state.

    He added that the council had nominated the Ministries of Commerce, Justice and Finance to develop the blueprint for the take-off of the agency.

    Meanwhile, Dr Loius Hamanda, the newly sworn in Head of Service, said that he would engender a result-based state civil service.

    Hamanda said that the civil service must be given a new orientation which is in line with the `change mantra’ of Bindow’s administration.

    He assured the governor of loyalty and fairness in carrying out his duties.

  • I met only N1,500 in LG account, says Chairman

    I met only N1,500 in LG account, says Chairman

    The Chairman, Mubi North Local Government in Adamawa, Alhaji Musa Bello, said on Monday that he met only N1,500 in the account of the local council when he assumed office.

    Bello told newsmen in Mubi that he also inherited a liability of over N200 million.

    “I met only N1,500 in the council’s account and a liability of over N200 million, while the Internally Generated Revenue of the council, then, was N150,000 weekly,’’ the chairman said.

    According to him, he had to use his experience as a former councillor in the local government to mobilise the business community to pay appropriate taxes, to shore up the council’s internal revenue.

    Bello noted that at the time, the council had faced drastic revenue shortfall which made it difficult to even pay salaries.

    “We set up a committee and were able to boost the local revenue, which we use in executing a lot of projects within the short period we assumed office,” he said.

    According to him, the local council had drilled 13 boreholes and rehabilitated 104 others using internally generated revenue.

    He listed some of the projects executed by his administration to include evacuation of drainage to avert flooding and construction of six feeder roads.

    Bello said that activities were picking up after the insurgency which affected social and economic activities in the local government.

    He said that residents were waiting for government to carry out rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes, as pledged by the Presidential Committee on North East.

    Bello commended the state government for the construction and rehabilitation of 14 roads in Mubi town.

    “I also want to commend the contributions of Non-Governmental Organisations, National Emergency Management Agency, Victims Support Fund, North East Regional Initiative, UNICEF, Red Cross, Rescue, Oxfam and others.

    “I commend foreign countries that have been assisting our people in various areas including health, education, water supply and sanitation,’’ he said.

    The chairman also lauded the contributions of the military and other security agencies which facilitated the return of peace to the area.

    “The council is always in touch with the military and other security agencies to ensure the sustenance of peace, ’’ Bello said.

  • CVR: Adamawa to declare public holiday

    CVR: Adamawa to declare public holiday

    Dissatisfied with the voter turn-out, Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa says he would declare public holiday to enable eligible citizens of the state participate in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR).

    Bindow said this while receiving some Adamawa traditional rulers who paid him Sallah homage on Monday in Yola.

    The governor said that the level of people’s participation in the exercise across the state was discouraging and appeal to all eligible citizens to come out and be registered.

    “The decision is to give chance especially to people from Northern and other parts of the state who lost their voter registration cards either during Boko Haram crisis, flood and other disasters to re-register.

    “The State Government is going to declare a two-day public holiday to enable all eligible citizens of the state to participate in the ongoing CVR.

    “The State Executive Council in the next meeting will fix the appropriate date for the holiday,’’ Bindow said.

    He therefore called on eligible people of the state to come out and register to enable them exercise their rights during elections.

    Earlier in their separate remarks, the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo, and the Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Isa Ahmadu, commended the governor for infrastructural development in the state despite financial constrains.

    The traditional rulers pledged their support and cooperation to the government for peace and development to reign supreme in the state.

  • UNICEF to establish G4G in 100 Bauchi schools

    UNICEF to establish G4G in 100 Bauchi schools

    The United Nations For Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi office, says it will support the establish Girls for Girls (G4G) initiatives in 100 schools across the state.

    The Chief of Party of UNICEF, Bauchi office, Mr. Abdullahi Kaikai disclosed this on Friday while briefing newsmen to celebrate the 2017 Day for the African Child in Bauchi.

    He said that the establishment was in collaboration with the Bauchi State Universal Basic Education aimed at empowering girls with knowledge, skills and confidence needed to enroll and remain in school.

    Kaikai said that UNICEF would also ensure that one million additional girls were enrolled into schools under the Girls Education Project, Phase 3 (GEP3).

    “The G4G will empower girls with information and knowledge to help build their capacity to stand up for themselves.

    “UNICEF is also working closely with the Bauchi state government under the GEP3 to ensure that one million girls are enrolled in school across the state.

    “It is well known that when you educate a girl, you educate a nation,” he said.

    He called on states such as Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Plateau and Taraba to send all their children to school, especially the girls.

    Speaking on the child protection, Kaikai said “one of the ways the states will ensure protection for the child is by domesticating the Nigeria Child Rights Law,” he said.

    He said that out of the 12 states that were yet to domesticate the law, four – Bauchi, Adamawa, Jigawa and Gombe, all from the Bauchi Field office were yet to domesticate the law.

    Kaikai said that from January to June, UNICEF had committed 20 million dollars to the states under the Bauchi office in various women and children activities.

    He called on all states under the Bauchi office to make policies to enact laws that would protect the rights of the children.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2017 theme for the Day of the African Child is: “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for Children in Africa: Accelerating Protection, Empowerment and Equal Opportunity.

  • Blast kills two children, injures five others in Adamawa

    Blast kills two children, injures five others in Adamawa

    The Chairman of Hong Local Government in Adamawa, Alhaji Haliru Lala, has confirmed the death of two children in a blast in Fadaman-Rake Village.

    Lala told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Yola that five others were also injured in the incident which occurred late on Thursday evening.

    He said that some children playing by the road side were given a polythene bag containing explosives, which was later exploded by an unknown person passing by in a car.

    “In all, seven of them were affected; two died on the spot, four are on admission while one sustained minor injury and has been treated.”

    The chairman expressed the concern of the council over the incident suspected to be the work of insurgents.

    He said that the council had therefore, directed the Mobilization Committee to commence mass enlightenment on the need for parents to caution their children against accepting parcels and gifts from strangers.

    In another account, a resident of the village who simply identified himself as Adamu, said that the strangers who gave the bag to the children were riding in a Toyota Starlet car.

    “They gave one of the children the bag and told him that it was sent by his father to take home.

    “While taking it home with his friends, the curious boys, most of them between six and seven years, decided to open the bag before reaching home and it exploded,” Adamu said.

    Meanwhile, the Spokesman of the Police Command in Adamawa, SP Othman Abubakar, has confirmed the incident.

    NAN reports that the incident is the first of its kind in area since its recovery from Boko Haram occupation in 2014.