The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Adamawa

  • Army closes border with Cameroun

    Army closes border with Cameroun

    The military said yesterday it had shut hundreds of kilometres of Nigeria’s border in Adamawa State with Cameroon to stop Islamic extremists using the country as a haven and launch pad for attacks.

    Brig. Gen. Rogers Nicholas of the 23rd Armored Brigade told reporters that he was exercising emergency powers because it is “imperative” to seal the border between Cameroon and Adamawa State against illegal crossings.

    He said Customs and immigration officials are working with soldiers and police “to ensure that nothing crosses into Nigeria.” Large stretches of that porous border are generally left unpatrolled.

    The border between Borno State and Cameroon, which Nigerian troops and a jet bomber crossed last month in pursuit of extremists, apparently remains open.

    The move will affect hundreds of traders who routinely cross the border.

     

  • CP warns officers against corruption

    Kano State Commissioner of Police Adenrele Tasheed Shinaba, who resumed in the state yesterday, warned officers and men to shun corruption, harassment and torture.

    Shinaba urged them to dedicate themselves to their duties, saying: ‘’Let me warn you against corruption, torture and human rights violation.”

    The commissioner said his doors are open for complaints, information and objective criticism.

    He enjoined stakeholders to make Kano a secure and habitable state.

    Shinaba was born in 1957 in Lagos State and served as commissioner of police, counter-terrorism unit in Adamawa and FCT Command. He is an alumnus of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS).

     

  • Caught napping

    Caught napping

    •Boko Haram attack on Borno military base undermined the gains of state of emergency

    Ironically, the eruption of grand-scale terrorist violence in Borno State, so soon after the presidency in November extended emergency rule by another six months, was a devastating blow against the military, the very organisation with the responsibility of quelling the insurgency. It is disturbing that the attack could be an ominous sign of what to expect during the new round of emergency, for if the Boko Haram militants could so audaciously and successfully target military locations, then the already terrorised civilian population could be in for worse times.

    It is a measure of the turbulence, which also disrupted activities at the Maiduguri International Airport, that the state government imposed a 24-hour curfew, compounding the emergency. Equally revealing of the urgent situation is the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan held an unscheduled crisis-management meeting with security chiefs at the Presidential Villa. However, it is important to stress that while such a security meeting may be useful, the situation gravely requires more of effective action than talk.

    Just what the Islamist fighters did, through a pre-dawn offensive, to reinforce the climate of fear, not only in Borno, but also in Adamawa and Yobe states, which are equally under emergency rule initially imposed in May, was authoritatively depicted by the Defence Headquarters. According to a statement by its spokesman, Brig-Gen Chris Olukolade, “Military locations, such as Nigerian Air Force Base and some Nigerian Army locations in Maiduguri, were targeted during the attack. Three decommissioned military aircraft as well as two helicopters were incapacitated in the course of the attack. Two Air Force personnel were also wounded while 24 insurgents died during the exchange of gunfire.”

    However, it is noteworthy that eye-witness accounts by residents painted a broader picture of the destruction, saying that the attack was carried out by hundreds of heavily armed militants who destroyed buildings at the base of 79 Composite Group of the Air Force and at the 33rd Artillery regiment barracks of the Army, and that shops and petrol stations were also razed while women and children screamed in horror. It is instructive that a local government official who survived the onslaught said, “Frankly speaking, if the insurgents had wanted, they could have killed all of us…because they came in large numbers …some with explosives, some with rocket-propelled grenades and some with AK-47 rifles.”

    Intriguingly, there are speculations as to the  possible reasons for this latest expression of bestiality by Boko Haram, perhaps suggesting, rather strangely, that the group’s narrow-minded rejection of Western education and unrealistic campaign for Islamisation of the country were not enough to prompt the mindless mayhem. Doubtless, seeking other justification for the violence is to forget inexcusably that the group has been responsible for thousands of deaths since it emerged in 2009 to promote unyielding fundamentalism.  It is said that the factors behind these fresh acts of terrorism allegedly include the recent military capture of a key commander of the group and the need to fight back in the context of continual air raids by the military to dislodge the rebels. Thinking about the immediate causes of the recent aggression is of little consequence.  The basic fact is that this is a group devoted to destruction; and it must be stopped.

    Certainly, it is worrying that, once again, the episode reflects a failure of intelligence, which cannot be downplayed. It is difficult to imagine the penetration of such security-related areas without wondering how the military was caught napping.  If emergency rule is to achieve the desired result, the role of effective intelligence is key.  Apparently, given the fact that the group remains well-armed, it stands to reason that it must have powerful backers, and central to intelligence is the uncovering of the sources of its weapons. Additionally, one-in-a-while surprise attacks like the last one, designed to achieve maximum impact, may just suggest that the group is re-strategising. It must not be allowed to succeed.

  • Reps seek medical school in Adamawa

    Reps seek medical school in Adamawa

    The House of Representatives has prevailed on the Federal Government to establish a medical school in Adamawa State.

    The lawmakers have consequently urged the government to upgrade the Federal Medical Centre, Yola to a teaching hospital.

    The decision followed the adoption of the resolution a motion by Aisha Ahmed (PDP, Adamawa) who said of the three states from the old Northeastern state, Adamawa was the only one left without a medical school.

    She said patients from Adamawa had to travel to Maiduguri, Bauchi or Abuja for comprehensive medical care.

    “Building a medical school and teaching hospital in Yola will permanently solve the problem of chronic shortage of specialists in Adamawa State,” Mrs. Ahmed said.

    In addition, the lawmaker expressed concern over inadequate number of medical specialists in Adamawa State and urged the National Universities Commission (NUC) to establish a medical school at the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola.

    She cited the Ladoke Akintola University that runs a teaching hospital despite being a University of Technology.

    The motion was referred to the House committees on Education and Health for further legislative input by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal.

  • Emergency Rule: Mix reactions trail Jonathan’s call for extension

    The proposed extension of State of Emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states by President Goodluck Jonathan was on Thursday greeted with mixed feeling by the people of Adamawa.
    President Goodluck Jonathan on Nov. 6 wrote to the National Assembly seeking its approval to extend the emergency rule imposed on the three states experiencing the activities of insurgents.
    The letter followed the expiration of the six months emergency rule earlier declared in the states in May.
    Buba Ardo, a resident of Mubi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was happy with the return of peace to the area.
    He, however, said he would want to see the emergency rule lifted for so that people, particularly the border communities, could go about their daily activities.
    “I am not happy with the proposed extension of state of emergency, it should be removed while the army should remain to patrol the area,” Ardo said.
    Also speaking, the Adamawa Secretary of Jamatul Nasril Islam (JNI) , Alhaji Gambo Jika, said he was delighted that peace had returned to the state.
    “As far as we are concerned in Adamawa, things have normalised except if there are certain things the security agencies see that we cannot see,” Jika said.
    Also speaking in the same vein, Mallam Abdullahi Damare, Coordinator of North East Interfaith Mediation Centre, said it was high time the emergency rule was lifted.
    He said the security situation in the state had improved to the extent that the emergency rule was no longer necessary.
    The Adamawa Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Moses Taparki, also lauded the return of peace and normalcy in the state.
    He, however, said it was the duty of the security agencies to decide if things were normal enough to lift the emergency rule.
    “If they (security) feel the situation has improve to warrant the removal of the state of emergency they should go ahead to do it but if they feel otherwise so be it”, Taparki said.
    Meanwhile, the Director Press Affairs to Gov. Murtala Nyako, Mallam Ahmed Sajoh, has said the Adamawa government was not in support of the extension of the emergency rule.
    He said rather than a blanket extension, the security agencies should consider the security situation on state-by-state basis.
    He said the security situation in every state involved in the emergency rule regime would determine suitability of lifting the rule in that state.
    “We want the National Assembly to treat the case of each state based on merit. They should look at the situation in each state before taking their decision,” Sajoh said

  • Jonathan seeks extension of emergency rule in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday sought the approval of the National Assembly to extend the state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states for another six months.

    The state of emergency, which was imposed by the Federal Government on May 14 following rising insecurity in the affected states, will elapse on November 12.

    Jonathan’s request was contained in a November 5 letter, titled: Re-Extension of the Period for the Proclamation of a State of Emergency.

    It was read yesterday at plenary by Senate President David Mark.

    The President noted that security agencies, with the support of the residents, had “achieved considerable success in containing the activities of the terrorist elements.”

    The letter reads: “May I respectfully draw your attention to the State of Emergency Proclamation 2013, in respect of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, which was approved by the National Assembly.

    “By virtue of the provisions of Section 305(6) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the Proclamation aforementioned will elapse after a period of six months from the date of approval, except the period is extended by the National Assembly.

    “As a result of the laudable efforts of our security agencies and the support of the citizens in the affected areas, we have achieved considerable success in containing the activities of the terrorist elements. However, some security challenges still exist in a few parts.

    “Consequently, it has become pertinent to request the approval of the Senate for an extension of the state of emergency for a further period of six months, during which time it is expected that normalcy would have been restored.

    “In view of the foregoing, I most respectfully request the Senate to consider and approve by resolution the extension of the Proclamation of the State of Emergency by a period of six months, with effect from November 12.”

  • Adamawa denies killing of 30 on Borno Road

    Adamawa State Government yesterday denied the report that a wedding convoy was attacked and then groom and 29 others killed on the road from Michika to Maiduguri in Borno State by men believed to be Boko Haram, members.

    The incident, according to reports, happened on Saturday on the Bama-Boki road.

    The  Director of Press and Public Affairs to Governor Murtala Nyako,  Mallam Ahmad Sajo was quoted as saying there was nothing like that, adding that  he believed   some dark forces were at work to ensure that the emergency rule currently imposed on the state is extended.

    But former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed outrage at the “senseless and incessant killings of innocent people by bandits.”        Reacting to the killing of over30 members of a wedding party, including the groom, who were returning from Michika to Maiduguri, said “this level of lawlessness and wanton destruction of life by callous and devilish criminal gangs should be embarrassing to all Nigerians”.

    In a statement yesterday, Atiku said it was beyond comprehension to imagine how killing innocent people could bring happiness or relief to any normal human being.           He said all the religions of the world preach the sanctity of life and that nothing could justify taking the life of even one innocent person.

  • Adamawa: Fighting on all fronts

    Adamawa State Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako, has a penchant for picking fights. He is currently locked in a fierce fight with President Goodluck Jonathan. The root cause of the dispute has nothing to do with the president’s delivery of democracy dividends or lack of it. It is about him being denied “total control” of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Adamawa State chapter.

    Another battle is his fight with Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. His quarrel with the national chairman of the PDP is the root of the crisis in the ruling party and has spilled over to the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

    Knowing the implication of a national chairman coming from his state, Nyako had fought the choice of Tukur, until the superior firepower of Tukur’s supporters overpowered him. Like Tukur, Nyako wants his son to be the next governor of the state. What is baffling watchers of Adamawa State politics is why Nyako, who many have “declared a failure’’ is hell-bent on making his son governor, when he has not creditably discharged the mandate given to him by the people,

    To the people of Adamawa State, the fight against the president and other prominent sons of Adamawa like Senator Jubril Aminu, who was instrumental to helping him to power, Alhaji Hassan Adamu, Chief Joel Madaki, among others, is nothing compared to what they experience day –in-day out at the hands of the governor.

    Last week, his Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Kobis Aris, descended on Tukur. He said: “Tell me anything good that has come out of the party since he became the chairman. Rather he has brought the party to ridicule.” This is the sort of diatribe that anybody opposed to Nyako receives.

    For most states it is a thing of pride when their indigenes are appointed to high offices. Such appointees are celebrated via newspaper adverts congratulating them. A state delegation could also be put together to thank the president. The state government would also traditionally hold a banquet to honour such appointees.

    So when Air Marshall Alex Badeh was appointed Chief of Air Staff, he must have looked forward to being received by his state. Unfortunately, Governor Nyako didn’t think much of the appointment. So to date he has refused to host or officially receive the Chief of Air Staff, nor attend any function hosted by him – including the burial of his mother. Sources close to the Adamawa State government say hosting the Chief of Air Staff would have amounted to recognising that there is a higher authority than Governor Nyako.

    But if this is what is at issue here, it would be really baffling. After all, the governor was Chief of Naval Staff more than 27 years ago. So what is the big deal about being a Chief of Air Staff?

    Those who know the two men say Badeh has continued to accept the lack of recognition from his governor, who being a former military officer, should have in “espirit d’corps” celebrated him.

    It would appear though, that the root of the crisis lies in the projects that the Chief of Air Staff since his appointment has embarked upon in the state. One that has reportedly angered Nyako – is the Air Force College project that the Nigerian Air Force is executing in the state. There are those who say the governor is angry that the Air Force school is raising questions about his failure to pay attention to education. The project is nearing completion and will be ready for the first intakes in September 2013.

    Apart from other benefits, the project is providing employment opportunities for the indigenes. But it is the questions being asked by the people that has gotten Governor Nyako worried – leading to subsequent allegations that Badeh was interested in becoming the next governor, hence the location of the project in Yola town, as a showcase of what he was capable of doing.

    The other project is the re-opening of the Air Force Strike Force Base. The facility, which was closed down during the Ibrahim Babangida government, was ordered re-opened by President Jonathan due to the war against insurgency. The North East is the hotbed of the militant Boko Haram group. The Chief of Air Staff didn’t re-open the base because of any cheap politics. Whatever he does, according to his associates, is in the best interest of Nigeria. For instance, the school was not built in his village or local government area.

    The upgrading of the base with the injection of more fighter planes, patrol aircrafts and helicopter gunships has brought back life and is positively impacting on the local economy.

    Alex Badeh, as Chief of Air Staff, has never forgotten his roots. A man with conscience who remembers what the society gave to him decided to solve the water problem confronting his people. His village of Vimtim in Mubi North Local Government Area has a notorious water problem, leading to avoidable deaths.

    Attempts to solve the problem through the sinking of boreholes had woefully failed. Experts advised the state government that only an earth dam will solve the crisis. Tired of waiting for the government, elites from the town rallied friends who contributed to the building of an earth dam. Those in the know say that Badeh used his goodwill. But he was not the only indigene who got support for the project.

    It would appear that the big problem the Chief of Air Staff has is that he is embarking on projects that have direct impact on the lives of his people. This is making people ask questions as to why the state government cannot measure up to standard.

    Adamawa State has produced several service chiefs and Inspectors-General of Police. It is the home state of General Gibson Jalo who was Chief of Army Staff under President Shehu Shagari. There is also Air Vice Marshal A.D. Bello, the late Air Marshal Ibrahim Alfa, President Babangida’s Chief of Air Staff, and the present governor who was the Chief of Naval Staff under Babangida. Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta and Ibrahim Suleiman have been Inspectors-Generals of Police. Of them all, only Alfa is remembered for using his position to attract projects to the state.

    Badeh sees his appointment as an opportunity to touch lives. This was what motivated him to institute a sports competition in his local government to challenge the youths to “do something” with their lives. The last edition had the great Kanu Nwankwo as a special guest of honour. For the youths of the area, seeing a superstar like Kanu in person was more than a dream come true.

    Clearly, it is the effect of these programmes that is causing problems for Nyako. His people understand that even if the Air Chief is not a candidate he can “influence political direction.’’ This is why he is seen as a threat.

    For many people who are aware of the non-recognition of the chief by the Nyako administration, the press release by his Director of Press, Ahmed Hajo, alleging that the Chief of Air staff should mind his job and not get involved in politics was a huge surprise.

    Typically, many have said: “So, after all, he knows there is a Chief of Air Staff after all the denial? There has been a denial in the Nyako administration that the Chief of Air Staff is from Adamawa State. There is nothing to recognise him as a worthy son of the state – not even a courtesy call.”

    The chief, according to sources, had had at least five events to which the state government was officially invited. These include the thanksgiving service by the chief on his appointment, the burial of his mother, the hosting of the chief by his Course 21 mates. There was also the reception by the Adamawa Forum to which Nyako was invited and in his usual manner refused to attend.

    Friends and indeed Adamawa indigenes are scandalised that the state governor would make such a statement against Badeh. They allege that what Nyako wanted was to get the president to remove the Chief of Air Staff. But the president understands the opposition of Nyako to the appointment of the chief and his refusal to honour him.

    The president had sent representatives to Abia, the home state of the Chief, of Army Staff and to Delta State the home state of the Chief of Naval Staff and none to Adamawa State because the state has refused to host him, according to sources in the presidency.

    The power struggle between Tukur and Nyako is understandable, but extending it to the Air Chief is something people are finding baffling – especially as there is no reason for a fight.

  • Adamawa accuses Fed Govt of cheating states

    The Adamawa State Government has accused the Federal Government of diverting money that should have been paid into the Federation Accounts into enriching itself, despite its lion’s share in the present sharing formula.

    The Adamawa State Government made the accusation in Gombe, the Gombe State capital, during the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) advocacy workshop on Economic Diversification and Enhanced Revenue Generation for the Northeast.

    Geofrey Garba, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, presented the position of the state at the workshop.

    He said: “Examples of Federal Government’s short-changing fiscal practices are the NLNG dividends, excess crude oil account, Federal Government’s independent revenue, Education Tax Fund and privatisation proceeds.

    “These add a lot of money to the Federation Account, if paid in. But it ends in adding to the Federal Government’s income only.

    “In view of the above, the Adamawa State Government recommends that the sharing formula should be reviewed thus: Federal Government’s share from the Federation Account be stepped down to 42 per cent.”

    The spokesman noted that state and local government shares should be stepped up to 33.56 per cent and 24.44 per cent.

    According to him, the present arrangement in which the allocation is 52.68 per cent, 26.72 per cent and 20.60 per cent to the Federal Government, state and local governments, is not only a rip-off of the other two tiers but is also obsolete and should be reviewed “to ensure conformity with changing realities”.

    Garba argued that the state’s position was anchored on the fact that “the states are in need of more funds than ever before to counter security and ecological problems”.

    He added: “Other serious issues for consideration are floods in many parts of Nigeria, which make life difficult for millions of people.”

     

  • Adamawa trains 500 volunteers

    No fewer than 500 volunteers have been trained on early detection and prevention of tuberculosis (TB) in the 21 local government areas of Adamawa State.

    Addressing participants at the opening ceremony in Yola, the Coordinator of state TB Control Programme, Dr Stephen John, said the training was going on simultaneously at two other centres, Mubi and Ganye.

    He said that the aim of the training was to improve patients’ access to TB services through social mobilisation and community-based participation.

    “The workshop is to empower TB patients and communities through proper education of its members to identify and refer suspected TB cases for early diagnosis and treatment,’’ he said.

    John said that the training was organised by the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs with the aim of encouraging communities on the sustainability of TB control programme in the state.

    He said that the volunteers would be equipped with skills in the identification of suspected cases and referrals for diagnosis and follow-ups.

    He added that the training would also equip the volunteers with the ability to observe treatments, recognise danger signs and referrals and provision of health promotion and education skills to assist in tracking defaulters.

    He also said that the volunteers would be trained in the collection and transportation of suspected sputum samples to microscopy centres.

    In his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Dr Salihu Bakari, said that the training was part of the state government’s contribution to the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme.

    He urged the participants to apply the knowledge acquired to protect their communities from the menace of tuberculosis.