The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bassa

  • Breaking: Lalong declared winner in Plateau

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared incumbent governor of Plateau State and Candidate of the All Progressive Congress APC Barrister Simon Lalong winner of the 2019 Governorship election.

    The total results was declared at exactly 4am on Sunday at the end of the collation of results which lasted between 9pm on Saturday night through the early hours of Sunday.

    The governor was declared the winner by the Returning Officer, Prof Richard Anande Kimbir, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue state.

    Lalong emerged winner in the March 9th election and also emerged winner in the May 23rd supplementary election.

    READ ALSO: Rerun: PDP kicks over Kano polls, as Lalong leads in Plateau

    By the total results, Gov Lalong defeated his major rival, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, General Jeremiah Useni (Rtd) .

    Lalong polled a total of 595, 582 votes to defeat the PDP candidate Useni who scored 546, 813 votes .

    Results for the nine LGAs that took part in the supplementary poll, including Langtang South, Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Jos North, Kanam, Mangu, shendam and Pankshin showed that Lalong scored 12,327 new votes, while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Jeremiah Useni, earned 8,487.

  • Kogi distributes relief items to flood victims at Omala

    The Kogi State Government on Friday donated foodstuffs and other relief materials to victims of the recent flood disaster in Omala Local Government Area of the state.

    Speaking with newsmen at the distribution centre in Omala, Mr Sanusi Yahaya, the State Coordinator, Emergency

    1,182 households comprising 7,090 persons were affected by the 2018 flood disaster in Omala LGA.

    The state government had earlier distributed relief items to flood victims in Lokoja, Kotonkarfe, Bassa, Ajaokuta, Ofu, Idah and Igalamela/Odolu LGAs.

    Represented by Mr Godwin Onu, the Director, Account, Kogi Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Yahaya assured the victims of government’s commitment to alleviating their sufferings.

    Yahaya, who doubles as the state Commissioner for Environment said that the second phase of the distribution would come from the Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    He therefore advised the victims to remain calm, receive the items in good faith and share them accordingly without fomenting any trouble.

    Read Also: Kogi govt upgrades Ologidi stool

    Earlier, Mr Yakubu Ocholi, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Emergency said that the state government through SEMA, had earlier visited the affected riverside communities for needs assessment and documentation.

    He said that six communities in Omala would benefit from the first phase of the distribution of the relief items, with an assurance that the items would get to the victims directly.

    Ocholi added that the federal and state governments were collaborating with other stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the re-occurring flood issues in the state.

    Mr Phillip Ocheni, who spoke on behalf of the victims appreciated the state government for the gesture and

    Items donated to the victims include bags of rice, beans, flour, guinea corn, maize, cartons of tomatoes, beverages, salt, red oil, Semovita, soaps/detergent, mattresses and mats.

  • I will remain fair to all Nigerians – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja said that his administration will continue to be fair to all Nigerians.

    He made the remark while receiving a delegation of Bassa Traditional Rulers and Elites led by His Royal Highness, Alhaji Bako Ebiredelu Dogwo at the Presidential Villa.

    According to him, his administration has ensured even distribution of political appointments to reflect diverse interests across the country, regardless of the voting patterns of the 2015 presidential elections.

    The President in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said the Nigerian constitution clearly maps out the need for representation in every government, and he had adhered strictly to the tenets of the law.

    He noted that Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Science and Technology, Labour and Employment, and Industry, Trade and Investment emerged from states that he did not record much votes in 2015, but they were given strong portfolios in the cabinet based on their competence.

    “As humanly possible, I have tried to be fair to all. And I am very pleased that in spite of the complaints of technical marginalization, you have agreed to vote for me in 2019,’’ he said.

    The President assured the delegation that he would look into the issue of poor representation of the Bassa people in government.

    “Thank you for all the nice things you have said about me and the administration. I have taken note that you don’t have leadership in any of the parastatals,’’ he added.

    In his remarks, the leader of the delegation said Bassa people had consistently voted for the President over the years, and “will do it again in 2019’’.

    “You are a great asset to Nigeria. The Bassa nation will use all the resources available to us to ensure you are re-elected in 2019,’’ he said.

    The royal father said the President’s effort at securing the country was commendable, urging him to also sustain the anti-corruption war.

    “We are happy with your administration, which is all inclusive without discrimination. Keep promoting equality,’’ he added.

    He, however, called on the President to reciprocate the love and affection of the Bassa people, who are spread across Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Niger states and FCT, by ensuring that they get fair representation in government.

     

  • Gunmen kill four construction workers in Plateau

    Gunmen on Wednesday killed four construction workers at Angwan-Rogo village in Jebu-Miango area of Bassa, Plateau State.

    According to reports the workers were fetching sand for an ongoing construction work when the gunmen attacked them.

    Confirming the attack, Mr Terna Tyopev, spokesman of the Police Command in Plateau, told our reporter that the attack took place “around 11 a.m.”

    “Yes, we received information of an attack on Angwan Rogo village; we can confirm that four persons were killed by the gunmen.

    “We can also confirm that the men were labourers excavating sand for their construction work when they were attacked,” he said.

    Tyopev, who claimed that the attackers were herdsmen, identified the deceased as Adam Sunday, 38, Jatau Akus, 39, Chonu Awarhai, 39, and Marcus Mali, 22.

    He said that the command had mobilised more personnel to beef up security in the affected area, adding that the corpses had been deposited at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos.

    The Police officer said that investigation had commenced into the incident, and vowed to arrest those responsible.

    He advised Plateau residents to report any suspicious movement to the security agencies.

    NAN.

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct expatriate, kill policeman in Kano

  • Lalong urges FG to complete electricity laboratory in Bassa

    Lalong urges FG to complete electricity laboratory in Bassa

    Plateau Governor Simon Lalong has charged the Federal Government to complete the National Electrical Equipment Testing Laboratory, Bassa in view of its relevance to effective power supply.

    Lalong gave the charge on Thursday in Jos, in a keynote address at the third edition of the National Council on Power ( NACOP ) tagged “Completing Power Sector Reforms”, currently holding in Jos.

    “The laboratory will ensure effective testing and certification of electrical assets and equipment before use, which will guide against the use of substandard components,” he said.

    He said that the project, which was abandoned in 1990, should be completed and put to use to minimise incidences of disasters caused by electricity sparks.

    The governor also appealed to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babaunde Fashola, to use his office to quickly replace the 150MVA transformer, which was razed down by fire at the Jos transmission sub-station, last week.

    He said that the transformer needed to be replaced to avoid the consequences which included total darkness to the four states – Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and Benue – covered by the Jos Electricity Distribution Company ( JEDC ).

    Mr Wuyep Jaafaru, Commissioner, Ministry of Water Resources and Energy, who presented a paper on Plateau State Policy and Strategy on Renewable Energy, said that the policy represented government’s commitment to improving the lives of citizens.

    Ja’afaru said that decentralised electrification technologies like embedded generation, extension of distribution grids, mini grids and stand alone systems, powered by renewable energies, would be used to supply electricity in the state.

    He added that other sources like solar, wind, bio mass and small hydro, generally backed up by conventional generational sources that are already used, like the chemical storage, shall be used as transitory solutions to supply electricity reliably.

  • Lalong: culprits in Bassa attacks ‘ll be punished

    Lalong: culprits in Bassa attacks ‘ll be punished

    plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has warned troublemakers, saying culprits in the Ancha Bassa Local Government attacks will be punished, to act as a deterrent to others.

    He spoke yesterday at the Government House, Jos while addressing Fulani communities under the aegis of Miyetti Allah and Irigwe people of Bassa Council.

    Lalong urged the people to shun violence.

    He said: “I advise citizens to live peacefully with one another.”

    The governor, who prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died, enjoined the indigenes to embrace peace.

    He urged security operatives to be on the alert.

    The Director-General, Peace Building Agency, Mr. Joseph Lengmang, condemned the incident, describing it as a setback.

    He said the meeting created an avenue for an honest interactive session, to find a solution to the Bassa skirmish.

    The Fulani spokesman, Muhammad Nura Abdullahi, who is the state chairman of Miyetti Allah and Sunday Abdul, president, Irigwe Development Association, decried the attack. They agreed to prevent a recurrence.

    The men hailed the government for its efforts to solve the crisis.