The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bello Mohammed

  • Over 500 residents benefit from NYSC free medical services

    Over 500 residents benefit from NYSC free medical services

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has provided free medical services to over 500 residents of Akun Development Area of Nasarawa State, the state Coordinator, Mrs. Zainab Isah, has said.

    Isah said this on Tuesday in an interview in Akun.

    The state coordinator said that the Scheme Health Initiative Rural Dwellers (HIRD) programme was designed to assist poor Nigerians, especially those at the rural areas unable to cater for their medical treatment.

    She said that the programme would also strengthen national unity and integrity in improve the health conditions of the people of the state, especially rural dwellers.

    “As you can see, the drugs will be given to the community free of charge, medical services free of charge and everything we are do to in the community is free of charge.

    “The programme will benefit rural dwellers because it takes healthcare delivery to their door steps.”

    Isah added that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation, hence the need for the programme.

    The state coordinator commended the Federal Government for funding the programme and called for its sustenance.

    Also speaking, the Head of the Medical Team in the state, Dr. Bello Mohammed, explained that the free medical outreach was part of the Community Development Service to their host state.

    Responding, Sunday Anzaku, one of the beneficiaries, commended the NYSC for the gesture and called for its sustenance.

    He said that the gesture would go a long way toward improving their health and standard of living of the rural dwellers.

     The free medical services involved testing, counselling, consultancy services and drug administration, among others.

    NAN

  • FG distributes relief materials to IDPs in Nasarawa

    The Federal Government on Friday distributed relief materials worth three million naira to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nasarawa State.

    At the distribution exercise in Lafia, Hajiya Sadiya Faruck, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, said the gesture was to reduce the hardship of the IDPs.

    The commissioner, who was represented on the occasion by Bello Mohammed, the Assistant Director, Field Operations, called for proper utilisation of the items.

    She explained that the IDPs were indigenes of Taraba State, who were displaced as a result of the sectional crisis that had affected the state since 2013.

    “The gesture is the Federal Government’s response to mitigate the suffering of the IDPs. The government is giving similar support to IDPs in all the states affected by the crisis.

    The commissioner listed the items distributed to include: grains, clothings, shoes, drugs and educational materials.

    Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of the state, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the support.

    Al-Makura, who was represented by Mohammed Abdullahi, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), assured that the State Government would ensure judicious utilisation of the items.

    Two of the beneficiaries, Salisu Ibrahim and Hazatu Aminu, expressed gratitude to the commission for the gesture, which they said had put smiles on their faces.

  • PDP appoints Jibrin as acting BoT chairman

    PDP appoints Jibrin as acting BoT chairman

    The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has replaced the embattled chairman of the Board, Haliru Bello Mohammed with Senator Walid Jibrin.

    Mohammed is currently standing trial for his alleged involvement in the $2.1 billion arms purchase scam, allegedly spearheaded by the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki who is also standing trial over the scam.

    Until his elevation on Wednesday, Jibrin was the Secretary of the BoT and he is to occupy the position in acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive chairman.

    He still remains the substantive BoT Secretary for the time being.

    The decision changing the leadership of the BoT was conveyed by Jibrin at a briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

    It was also listed in a communiqué issued after a meeting of the BoT held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

    The party organ also declared its unflinching support for the Northeast zone of the party to occupy the position of substantive National Chairman, to replace Prince Uche Secondus who is the acting chairman.

    A court in the Federal Capital Territory had in November 2015, ordered Secondus to vacate the position within 14 days, but Secondus said he has filed an appeal against the order.

    Addressing journalists on the development, Jibrin said the Northeast zone would meet next week to pick a national chairman to replace Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu who resigned in May last year.

     

  • Religion divides delegates

    Religion divides delegates

    The religious divide between Christians and Muslims played up yesterday at the ongoing National Conference.

    The knotty recommendations of the Committee on Religion on the Establishment of Religious Equity Commission and the scrapping of Pilgrims Welfare Commission could not be resolved.

    A former Defence Minister and dlegate, Bello Mohammed, moved a motion last Wednesday that members be grouped to determine whether or not to scrap the Pilgrims Welfare Commissions.

    But the former minister soft-pedalled yesterday when he asked to be given more time to conclude the consultations he initiated on the matter with some stakeholders at the conference.

    The suggestion did not go down well with some delegates, who demanded immediate resolution of the contentious issue.

    Chief Mike Ozekhome, a member on Federal Government’s Addendum, moved a motion that Religious Equity Commission be established while states wishing to have the Pilgrims Welfare Commission should be allowed to do so.

    The lawyer said his motion followed wide consultations with other delegates and stakeholders.

    Most Muslim delegates from the North opposed the motion. They insisted that there was nothing new in the motion.

    Mohammed Kumalia argued that the motion did not bring up any new thing.

    He noted that if allowed, Ozekhome’s motion would create the avenue for delegates, who were dissatisfied with any recommendation, to bring up such motions.

    Mr Festus Okoye, who represents civil society groups, also moved a similar motion.

    He said the conference should adopt the recommendation for the establishment of Religious Equity Commission and allow states wishing to have the Pilgrims Welfare Commission to establish theirs.

    But Prof Awwalu Yadudu opposed the suggestion.

    The expert said he had a counter-motion.

    Some delegates opposed Prof Yadudu’s counter-motion on the grounds that he did not give the mandatory seven-day notice for his counter-motion, as specified in the Rules Book of the conference.

    Former Kebbi State Governor Adamu Aliero contended that Muslims would be short-changed, if the conference adopted the suggestion that only states that wanted the Pilgrims Welfare Commission should be allowed to do so.

    The former governor said he once stayed with a pilgrim from Enugu State during Hajj.

    According to him, if the establishment of Pilgrims Welfare Commission is made optional, Muslims, who are in the minority in some states, will suffer.

    Aliero proposed that the establishment of a Pilgrims Welfare Commission should not be made optional for states.

    Former Akwa Ibom State Governor Victor Attah said the conference should not impose laws that could rightly be operational in some states on the entire federation.

    He noted, for instance, that the Land Tenure Act in the North was not the same as the Land Tenure Act in the South.

    As the argument raged on, Prof Akinyemi said the establishment of Pilgrims Welfare Commission should not be made optional for the states.

    The motion was roundly defeated.

    Akinyemi ruled that since the motion was defeated, the issue should be kept in view for further consultations.