Residents of communities under Atiba Local Government Area of Oyo State could not hide their joy on Friday when Corps members in the council moved round to donate treated mosquito nets to them. The residents came out en mass to receive the materials.
About 500 pieces of the nets were donated to pregnant women and nursing mothers in maternity centres in each community. Some of the places visited included Ago-are, Tede, Sabe, Ofiki, Irawo Owode, Irawo Ile, and Owotoro. The Corps members also sensitised the women on the cause, symptoms and prevention of malaria.
The exercise, the Corps member said, was in line with the cardinal objective of the Community Development Service (CDS) of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), which mandated members to contribute positively to the development of their host communities in the period of service.
Hailing the exercise, the NYSC Local Government Inspector, Mr Muyiwa Akinbode, described the exercise as a good development, urging Corps members to keep up the work and continue to make positive impacts on their host communities.
The sun shone brightly spreading its rays at the Headquarters of the Central Naval Command (CNC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. For a week, the sun rays reflected on the faces of the naval officers and ratings who beamed with smiles as they warmed up for their momentous annual celebration. It was the Navy Week, a seven-day period of various events to herald the birthday of the Nigerian Navy.
The sun itself is significant to the Navy. As seamen and sailors, they always watch with admiration and fanfare every sunset. In fact, a ceremony to mark the sunset has been incorporated into series of events that mark the Navy Week. On June 1st, officers, dignitaries and friends of the Navy gathered in Lagos to honour the ceremonial sunset. The Navy then clocked 59 years old.
•FOC greeting a community leader
In all the Areas of Responsibility (AoR) of the Central Naval Command (CNC), the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Rear Admiral Stanley Ogoigbe ensured that he followed religiously all the activities mapped out for the week. The amiable and agile commander got every officer and rating working in his command involved in the programmes.
Indeed, the people of the Niger Delta region especially residents in Bayelsa State hoped the week never ended. They were major beneficiaries of Ogoigbe’s activities. The week started with a Jum’at prayer and a thanksgiving service.
Ogoigbe at the thanksgiving service extolled the leadership qualities of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Usman Jubril and thanked God for making the Nigerian Navy grow vibrantly for 59 years. He commended the people of Bayelsa describing them as wonderful hosts.
He said the command has enjoyed the peaceful disposition of the state and the cooperation of the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson. He, however, asked the people to support the navy with information to enable the command combat criminality to sustain individual growth, community development and economic advancement.
Undoubtedly, the week helped the CNC to cultivate deeper and stronger relationship with civilians. Ships were opened to visitors in Warri, Delta State and some interested civilians enjoyed a trip to the sea in some of the naval ships.
Among all the events that marked the week, the medical rhapsody was the most exciting. The CNC took its medical mission to Onopa, a community in Yenagoa. Ogoigbe took a team of medical personnel to the community to attend to the medical needs of the residents. In fact, experts in dental care, eye care, pharmacy, laboratory and public health were mobilised to the community.
The experts conducted blood pressure and sugar checks; eye examination and issued free eyeglasses to people with optical issues. Children were not exempted as Ogoigbe led a special team to deworm them. The residents also received lectures on HIV/AIDS, hypertension and environmental hygiene.
Ogoigbe said the medical rhapsody was designed to bring the navy closer to its host communities in line with its social responsibility. He further said it was a demonstration of the navy’s belief in the strategic importance of a healthy population as a component of overall national security.
“This is in line with the present administration’s transformation agenda which places emphasis on good health and national security. It is also my belief that events like this are capable of stimulating the interest if the younger ones in host communities to aspire to a career in the navy thereby strengthening the links between the Nigerian Navy and such communities.
“It is expected that the exercise would live a positive impact on the health of residents. The overall goal of the Nigerian Navy is to facilitate a peaceful and conducive maritime environment to sustain economic development and social wellbeing of the nation”, he said.
He asked the community to assist the navy in its war against criminals. “You should, therefore, be security conscious and alert security agencies of unusual happenings in your environment”, he appealed to them.
Also, the Command Medical Officer, Captain Christy Opara, further explained that the medical outreach is done annually to take care of host communities. “This is one of our areas of responsibility of the Nigerian Navy to strengthen the relationship we have with our communities because we are from one community or the other”, he said.
The Paramount Ruler of Onopa, His Royal Highness, Clinton Egba, was highly elated. He appreciated the Navy for coming to his community to give free medical services to his subjects
The women leader of the community, Mrs. Ezikine added: “I am overwhelmed. I don’t know how to thank them for this. This is our first time of witnessing this in our community. I am very grateful.”
Also excited are the beneficiaries of the medical mission. Mrs. Glory Jonathan commended the navy for taking good care of their health. “I like what the Nigerian Navy is doing. I just got my child treated, he was immunised against measles. We were also given some drugs”, he said.
Furthermore, Obobo who came for general body checks added: “It is quite interesting for the Nigerian Navy to come to a community like this. We are grateful to them. I came for general treatment. Basically, my blood pressure was up and I didn’t know, but I have been given some drugs to stabilize it. Thank God for this.”
Ogoigbe reeled out the activities of the CNC. He said the Navy in conjunction with other armed forces in combat crimes. Specifically, he said the navy is saddle with the responsibility of tackling crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, sea piracy, militancy, kidnapping, human trafficking and other related criminal activities.
He said the navy is also responsible in protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria and ensuring maritime safety at all time. He said since he assumed the leadership of the command, the CNC has arrested countless vessels and suspects.
Ogoigbe also listed the challenges of his command. He said: “The major challenge is information gathering. We do a lot to get information on criminal activities. We need information to work. People work in secrecy,but we’ve always been breaking in.
“The government has done well but we are still pleading that they should do more. We need boats and ships to be able to dominate the creeks. If I have the number of boats that I need,I can go to bed and get any report. The nation needs to do more to get us assets to combat crime.
Another challenge is further training of the personnel. We need officers good at handling weapons. This should be a basis for promotion.
The Bayelsans in the creeks are getting to know the Navy. Even Deltans, those in Edo and Idah know us. They know there is a force called Nigerian Navy. They come to us with information.
“We make them realise that we care for our people. They come to us because they are aware of what we do here and that is because we brought them close to us.”
U.S. Consul General, Jeffrey Hawkins, has urged alumni of the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI) to continue to impact on their communities.
He spoke when he hosted some youths, community and business leaders at his home last Saturday.
The Carrington Youth Fellowship Alumni Network (CYFAN) was launched at the event. It is made up of young leaders who previously participated in the CYFI, a year-long programme in which outstanding young Nigerians are selected as fellows and grouped into teams to design and implement a project with social impact.
In a statement by the U.S. Consul, Hawkins said he was optimistic that the alumni network would add value to the initiative and continue impacting on their communities.
“CYFI exemplifies the way in which the United States and Nigeria fit together. I have no doubt that the alumni network’s energy and enthusiasm will allow the programme to continue its success,” he said.
CYFAN President, Rhoda Robinson, said that the network would help young people making efforts to solve society’s problems.
“We have pulled our collective energy into the Alumni Network to create a platform where young Nigerians can access support and build their capacity in addressing society’s development challenges,” she said.
Named after a former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington, CYFI is a youth-based initiative that was launched by the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos in 2011.
It brings together Nigerian youths of exceptional vision, skills and experience to design and implement projects that have a positive impact on Nigerian society.
CYFI Board member and Political Officer Erica Chiusano, said the initiative exploits the resourcefulness of young people to make a difference.
“Youth can be the world’s greatest innovators. Ask Carrington alumni, and they will tell you about a time they solved a problem in their community. And if no organisation existed to solve that problem, they created one,” he said.
Twenty Tiv farmers were killed yesterday by suspected Fulani herdsmen at Iorja village, Gaambetiev, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The invaders were said to have also set ablaze 50 houses and destroyed other property worth several millions of naira.
Over 2,000 tubers of yams were reportedly destroyed at Iorja village, whose inhabitants are predominantly farmers.
Yam seeds and various foodstuffs were also destroyed.
Over 15,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the affected villages are taking refuge in Mchia, Abeda Shitile, Anyiin and Tse Abi towns.
Narrating how the attack took place, a community leader, who fled to Anyiin, Chief Yankyaa Ugoh, told our reporter on phone that herdsmen armed with sophisticated weapons stormed the village at 6am and surrounded the houses.
He said: “They set houses ablaze, shot and killed Tiv farmers who attempted to escape. It was because we were taken unawares that they killed as many people as possible. We have recovered only 20 bodies.”
The community leader said villages reduced to rubble are: Tse bee, Gafa, Ukura and Iorja.
When our reporter visited Mchia, Anyiin and Abeda, women, children and the elderly were seen sleeping on bare floor in primary schools.
There was an imminent outbreak of cholera because of the lack of drinking water and hygienic food.
Police spokesman, Ezeani Austine, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), did not reply to a text message sent to his phone.
Indigenes of communities hosting Dangote Cement Plc, in Ibese, Yewa and Ewekoro in Ogun State are in for better times, as the cement company announced the inauguration of 19 various Corporate Social Service (CSR) projects for them.
In what is regarded as a major boost to its CSR profile, projects by the cement company would cover various social sectors, including water, education, electricity, roads, IT etc.
It would be recalled that the company had some years ago instituted scholarships for indigenes of any of its host communities in any higher institution and secondary schools. Over 90 of them have since benefited from the scholarships.
The management said it was poised to making life more meaningful to all members of the over 16 communities bordering the cement plant and that it would ensure that all projects meet the specific needs of each community.
Executive Director, Stakeholder Management and Corporate Communication, Mr. Mansur Ahmed, an engineer, explained that the projects were agreed upon after a careful deliberation and discussion with the Obas, Chiefs and the youth leaders of the communities so that the project could be relevant to their needs.
He thanked the traditional rulers and other community leaders for their cooperation with the Dangote Cement management, noting that it was as a result of the collaboration that made possible the peace and tranquillity enjoyed in the host communities.
Ahmed promised the community leaders that Dangote Cement would continue to be alive to its responsibilities and urged them to come forward to offer useful ideas and advice that could propel the company to do more for the development of the communities.
He highlighted some of the projects to include: three domestic boreholes for Elere, Babalawo and Kajola Communities; 10 domestic boreholes for Afami, Ajibawo, Aga-Akinronbi, Aga-Owoyele, Aga-Ashade, Abule Oke, Abule Maria, Ijako-Orile, Wasimi-Imasayi and Balogun; four industrial boreholes for Ibese (2) and Imasayi (2); Construction of 10 classrooms for Ibese and construction of another five classrooms for Balogun communities.
He listed others as the award of scholarship to 77 indigenes between 2013 and 2014 sessions for secondary pupils, Polytechnic and University students, who are native of the host communities.
The company is also providing Community Information Technology Training at Ibese, Aga-Olowo, and Ijako-Orile, where two batches have already finished training, while the construction of Ibese/Ilaro road, and that of Ibese/Itori road for all the communities are on-going.
He said these were aside the fact that the grading of community internal road network along Wasimi-Imasayi is under construction and the drain work at Olu of Ilaro/Paramount Ruler’s road, Ilaro, is nearing completion.
The Dangote Group boss also informed that the electrification and transformer replacement at Afami and Ibese has been awarded while the construction of 10 bathrooms and toilets with overhead tanks is ongoing for Balogun community.
He explained that the drilling of boreholes and the overhead tanks is completed, while standby 7.5 KV generators to complement the infrastructure are awaiting installation.
When the contract for the Amansea-Ndikpa-Ndiukwuenu-Awa-Ufuma road was awarded by the administration of former Governor Peter Obi to Stanutti–stocks Construction firm about two years ago, there was jubilation by members of the communities through which the road passed.
The contract was over N8 billion. The completion date was 18 months.
Moved by what the communities perceived as government’s care for their well-being, the communities vowed to give total allegiance and support to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) during the 2015 general elections.
However, their joy was short-lived as they noticed that the road which has suffered over 150 years of neglect is about to be abandoned after contract for its construction was awarded.
The road traverses six communities namely, Amansea, Ndikpa, Ozu, Forest Reserve, Ndiukwuenu, Awa and Ufuma all of which are food baskets of Anambra State.
The fascination and dream of having good road like other communities in the state have given way for lamentations, agony and pains.
When TheNation visited some of the communities, there were mixed reactions over the project. The lamentation was more as a result of probable dashed hope on the two bridges; one at Ndi-ubani that connects Awa community and others and the other at Amansea end which they say may hinder free and smooth movement among them. This is because the two bridges are in bad condition.
Commenting on the issue, Mr. Okezie Awa Nwike, from Awa community in Orumba North Local Government Area, told our correspondent that no single person from their area is happy with the situation.
“That contract is not ongoing. We are not sure whether the problem is from the contractor or the state government. The situation of the road has worsened.
“We voted for APGA during the just-concluded elections with the hope of being repaid through the construction of this road. But that dream is dead.
“We have been gnashing our teeth because the road has been abandoned and we are neglected again. This is unfortunate,” Awa Nwike said.
However, the President-General of Ndiukwuenu community in Orumba North Local Government Area, Hon. Chidozie Okoli expressed divergent view from Nwike’s, adding that the project is ongoing.
He told The Nation that the duration to complete the road was 18 months, lamenting that already, 24 months had elapsed without its completion.
However, he said if the road is completed, it would be a new horizon in the communities as there was no easy means of evacuating their agricultural produce as a result of the dilapidated road.
He said: “We feel happy because we had been going through lots of difficulties for lack of access road in these areas, but the intervention of the state government has given us a glimmer of hope.
“But the pace is slow. The expectation of its completion is not being realized. The South African company should be serious on the construction of the road for the communities to heave a sigh of relief.”
Some of the community leaders such as 78-year-old Chief Michael Nwafor, 75-year-old Andrew Nwankwo and Pa Christopher Okeke were of the same view.
For the elders in the Ndiukwuenu community, they rolled out their drums to celebrate the award of the contract, but the government is trying to make them regret their actions.
“All we want our Governor Willie Obiano to do is to look towards the direction of our people because he will lift our spirits with the completion of the road.
“Nobody had remembered us in this area before now, but since we have entered the book of the government, all we are saying is that the sense of belonging that has been extended to us should be seen to be real,” he said.
Pa Andrew Nwankwo said: “It will not be good if our governor allows us again to rot in jail, because staying in this area without movement is akin to imprisonment. Therefore, we plead with him to assist us. Let him not abandon us the more.”
•The cattle market along the road
Though, members of Hausa community who do their cattle business along the Amansea end of the road in Awka North Local Government Area, claim the road is still good, they also believe that the state government should hasten up the project.
The road traverses the cattle market at Amansea where over 1,000 members of Hausa community live and transact their businesses.
For the former chairman of cattle sellers in the area, Hayatou Kojeli, the place they occupy now was not carved out by the state government. Rather, by the community.
He believes that if the road is put in good condition, it would help them explore other areas in the state like Orumba North and South respectively.
However, he believes that if the state government could relocate the cattle market while the road stays like this, it would not help them in their business.
Kojeli said: “What we want is a modern market where all the food stuffs such as tomatoes, onions and carrots from the North will be assembled, while people will come to the place to buy them in quantities instead of allowing them to go to the town and spoil the roads the more.”
Also, the Vice-Chairman of the cattle sellers, Alhaji Ali Hamadama, told our correspondents that the condition of the road is not affecting their businesses.
He, however, called on the government to fast-track the construction work on the road to help the rural men and women from different communities, adding that the road is not all that bad.
Groups from the host communities of the National Examinations Council (NECO) headquarters in Minna, Niger State, have dissociated themselves from the purported rejection of the appointment of Prof Monday Joshua as the new Registrar/Chief Executive of the council.
A delegation from the host community, Gidan Mangoro, and another group from Minna paid a solidarity visit to the new Registrar on Monday and assured him they were not averse to his appointment.
The visit came on the heels of a protest last week by the Niger State chapter of Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC) that opposed the appointment of non-indigenes as NECO chiefs.
Mallam Ahmed Adamu, spokesperson for Gidan Mangoro Community said the community has nothing against the new registrar.
He pledged their cooperation and solicited for assistance in the area of employment for the unemployed in the community.
Similarly, leader of the other group, Alhaji Danladi Maikaza said that they were more concerned with being given a fair share in appointments than bickering over who heads the council, bearing in mind that NECO is a national institution.
The groups pledged their unalloyed support to the new registrar and wished him God’s guidance in the discharge of his duties.
Responding, Joshua said that, before he arrived Minna, he was told that the people of Niger state are hospitable.
He maintained that hosting NECO should be seen as a privilege and that the host community should protect it with all zeal.
Joshua reminded them that they have a responsibility to protect NECO- its physical structures and personnel, especially as the examining body has no doubt stimulated economic activities.
No fewer than 23 communities in Kaduna State will access clean water. This because the generation and treatment facilities of the precious liquid will soon come to life in the state.
That much has been guaranteed by the state government.
It will be a milestone in the state. For nearly two decades, water has been a huge challenge. In 1999, a former governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi requested the Federal Government to rehabilitate and expand the Zaria Water Supply Scheme.
The arrangement was for the Federal Government to (i) rehabilitate the water works;(ii) construct a new 186MCM dam (iii) build a new 150 MLD water works; (iv) construct transmission mains and service reservoirs.
•Parts of the water works
The state government, on its part, was only to rehabilitate and expand the pipeline distribution network.
The Federal Government awarded contracts for the construction of a dam and the rehabilitation of the water treatment plants of 50m litres daily and 10m litres daily (10MLD) which were operating below 30%.
President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration awarded these contracts but the projects suffered budgetary constraints and were not completed on schedule.
Eventually the late President Musa Yar’Adua introduced the Water Exit Policy and thus transferred the rehabilitation of the existing water treatment plants to Kaduna State when it was about 80% completed.
Similarly, the construction of the 150 MD water treatment plant and the construction of the service reservoirs became the responsibility of the state government in addition to the pipeline distribution network rehabilitation and expansion
Administration of the then Governor Namadi Sambo awarded the contract for the construction of 150 MLD water treatment plant at the total cost of N15.7 billion. The 150 mld water treatment plant was then billed to be completed in 2011. During the administration of the late Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, the contract was revised upward and it also suffered delays as a result of the killing and the kidnapping of foreign personnel of the contractor and the late Governor Patrick Yakowa made frantic efforts to refocus and continue implementing the project.
Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has equally promised to complete the contract. He said his administration would complete (i) the construction of a new 150 MLD water works; (ii) construct the transmission mains and service reservoirs and (iii) to rehabilitate and expands the pipeline distribution network and sanitation facilities.
However, Issues arising from Zaria water works recently have become alarming as allegations and counter allegations keep emanating from all nooks and crannies. Recently, allegations from some quarters was that the project has been abandoned and officials of Kaduna State government were enriching themselves at the detriment of the helpless masses who have been waiting to drink portable water at the completion of the multi billion naira projects.
The gigantic water project when completed is expected to provide water to the entire Zaria city and five other local governments, totalling 23 communities, if completed has the capacity to serve Zaria residents and other neighboring local government areas.
The project is grouped into four construction stages which are 150 million water treatment plant; the construction of transmission mains and service reservoirs; rehabilitation and extension of distribution network.
The Nation’s fact finding mission to Galma Dam in Kubau and Zaria water works revealed that works are ongoing at the sites of the multi-billion naira water project and it is set for completion by 2015.
It is a fact that, the pursuit for substantive and veritable amenities by the electorates in any government is very paramount, most especially in developing countries since such efforts if hinged on the virtues of constructive criticism could reinforce the sensitivity of the Government in policy making.
Recently, a group of Zaria residents alleged that, the water projects was since abandoned and without value to them, since they still depend completely on the commercial water vendors popularly called ‘’Mai ruwa’’ It was one project initiated by the State Government with the objective of providing sustainable water supply and sanitation to the people of Zaria. More so, it aims at ensuring that the state attains the targets for portable water and sanitation as enunciated in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) document.
Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, the Commissioner for Water Resources Honourable Ado Dogo denied the allegation, saying, the projects will be completed this year.
The allegation and denial informed our Correspondent’s fact finding mission to the project sites. At Galma Dam, a project of the Federal Government located in Kubau Local Government, the Dam’s Project Manager, Mr. Itzik Zeevi revealed that the Dam with a capacity of 186million cubic meters, a catchment capacity of 250million cubic meters, with an embankment of 2.7 KM, and with a height of 28meters is 98percent completed.
He also disclosed that, the second and third phase of the projects, which are Irrigation and proposed Hydro power, expected to generate 2.7megawatts of electricity will soon commence.
The Nation also observed that, a settlement has already sprang up as a result of the alma Dam, and is named after the Gilmor Construction Company. Abdullahi Sani also known as ‘’Mai kifi’’ a resident of the Gilmor community said ‘’I am a farmer and also a fisherman I came here to fish, am a registered fisherman in the Dam and we are about 200 of us, the business is seriously moving here, at least I have water to irrigate my maize and I also fish’’.
Meanwhile, at Shika Dam, located in Zaria, Engineer Binta Aliyu Yakubu who took our Correspondent on a guided tour of the Low lift pump, extensively articulated the prospects so far and the Challenges. According to her, “the 150 Million Litre per Day (mld) Regional Water Supply being constructed by the state government at Kakeyi village, near the existing 50mld Water Works is meant to tackle the protracted water supply scarcity in Zaria.
“The project is grouped into four construction stages, namely: a new 150 million litre per day water treatment plant; the construction of transmission mains and service reservoirs; rehabilitation and extension of distribution network; and network extension to six other local governments comprising of 23 communities, if completed has the capacity to serve Zaria residents and other neighbouring local government areas. Work is 88 per cent completed and by next year that is 2015 the work will be completed,” she added.
Mr Yakubu, an engneer, further explained that, “the Dam is ready, the water treatment plant is almost ready but this one relies on another one this is phase one and then we have phase two, because when you finish the treatment unit you have to transport the water to the service reservoirs in the town and we have the transmission main that will convey water from this treatment plant to reservoirs for that, the Government secure a loan from Islamic Development Bank, the loan is ready we are even in the process of procuring consultants and awarding the contracts. The loan is 81 million US dollars, then the third phase is that of distribution line, the water will flow by gravity to the distribution mains and to the end users. The Government again has secured another loan from the African Development bank and that one is about 101million US dollars and that is the third lines for distribution lines and sanitation facilities, so we call it water supply expansion and sanitation project’’.
She maintained that, the project was meant to provide sustainable water supply to effectively serve Sabon Gari, Kubau, Soba, Kudan, Makarfi and Giwa in addition to Zaria local government.
Similarly, during the last visit of the Kaduna Governor, Ramalan Mukhtar Yero to the project site at Zaria, work was adjudged to have reached over 80 percent completion with an assurance that it would be completed on scheduled time. From what was gathered from the site engineers and government officials handling the multi-billion naira project during the visit. While on tour of the water project, Yero reiterated commitment to improved water supply noting that it is one of the main objectives of his administration.
The governor strongly believes that no meaningful development could be achieved if the people do not have access to potable water supply. “We have gone far in our efforts to solve the water problem being experienced in Zaria and environs. He also noted that increasing the production capacity without addressing the distribution network, transmission mains and service reservoir will not yield the desired result.
He explained that the government partnered with the African Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank to consolidate the gains of the multi-billion Naira Zaria Regional Water Supply Project.
In the the same vein, the Country Director of AfDB, Dr. Ousmane Dore who was on tour of the project with Governor Yero assured the governor of providing support and concluding the project on schedule. He assured of the commitment of AfDB to ensuring the project will rekindle the expectation of the over two million people from Zaria and 6 other local government areas to benefit from the water project when completed.
Meanwhile, on the fears raised on how to transmit and distribute the water to be produced, the Governor said there was no cause for alarm as the dam and water treatment plant under rehabilitation has reached 95 per cent and 85 per cent completion respectively.
At the end of the tour, Yero hinted that the first phase of the civil work for hydropower and irrigation component is completed and promised that the supply of turbine development of 400 hectares of land would be completed soon.
Also speaking, the paramount ruler of the host community Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris expressed anticipated joy on the completion of the project, assuring the state and Federal Government of the support of his people. He observed that the people of Zaria who have suffered water shortage and sanitation would smile after the project is completed and put to functional use.
According to him, it is a pointer to the commitment of government to the socio- economic condition of the people. “The government has shown clearly that it intends to solve the problem of water shortage and help the people to reciprocate by being law abiding,” the Emir stated.
Though Zaria is ancient city with various higher institutions spread around the city, the residents and students had to grapple with the untold hardship of either buying water daily, dig wells, boreholes and occasionally fetch from rivers, which are most often times polluted, water scarcity was one common problem the residents face.
The General Manager of Kaduna State Water Board, Engineer Kabiru Ahmed Rufai, who spoke to newsmen recently on the level of work at the dam site, said the 150 million litres per day water plant will soon be completed and ready for use.
He said, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero was ever determined to complete all ongoing projects initiated by previous administrations in the state, especially the Zaria Water Works, considering its desired impacts on the residents.
Indigenous people of Dagbalo and Akpajenjiya communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have concluded arrangements to send a petition against the Minister of the territory, Senator Bala Mohammed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague over what they described as inhuman and undemocratic treatment.
Leader of Dagbalo community in Apo, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Rev. Danjuma Tanko who made this known to journalists at a press briefing in Abuja, expressed sadness over the continuous silent of the minister on the situation against the natives, saying that about five Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) have been consulted over the matter to make necessary arrangement to sue the minister to the ICC.
Tanko said, as a result of selfishness, greed and corruptible means of acquiring wealth, the administration has cause an untold hardship to the communities, making reference to the incident that occurred about two years ago on July 30th 2013, when pick van fully loaded with armed soldiers invaded their communities and forced them out, demolishing their houses, farm lands, destroying their economic trees in one day.
He said that the singular act of wickedness was perfected as a result of lucrative position the community occupied and the FCT administration’s interest made it easy to abuse the natives of the communities without human face to provide an alternative for the people.
“It’s in the light of this embarrassing behaviour of our leaders, which made us to see the necessity of the rule of law and it should be allowed to be the protector of the common man. We are also calling for oversight probe of the FCT Minister, for him to account for all the money budgeted for six years in the of resettlement and compensation of Abuja indigenes,” he said.
He also accused the minister of using forceful tactics to take over of their homes thereby causing hardship and death to natives of their communities, saying that the time has come to put a stop to the wickedness that the FCTA is inflicting on their communities.
“Our major reason for taking the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed to the ICC is to make them account and pay for all the mal administration done to our people. What is the minister’s interest to acquire lands for himself, children and friend at the expense of the original owners.
“I want to make it abundantly clear to Nigerians that Federal Government has never in any way acquired the Abuja land. What the FCT administration is doing is to use force to seize our land without any meaningful compensation and some the places suffering displacement includes, Maitaima, Karu, Nyanya, Kubwa, Jabi, Karmo, Gudu, Garki, Gwarinpa and several other communities,” he said.
Tanko further called on the president not to appoint any person who is not an indigenes of Abuja as a Minister of the FCT, in order to avoid ressetlement catastrophe in future.
The Lagos State Government has handed over 51 transformers to rural, riverine and semi-urban communities across the state to boost electricity generation and distribution.
Handing over the transformers at the Elsewedy Electric Nig. Ltd premises in Badagry, Lagos, Commissioner for Rural Development Cornelius Ojelabi hailed members of the House of Assembly for getting Governor Babatunde Fashola to accede to the communities request.
He said the government came to their aid because the Eko Distribution Company (EKDC) and Ikeja Distribution Company (IKDC) could not meet their needs.
The state, he said, has been providing transformers for the electrification of rural communities, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure over the years, despite that being the Federal Government’s responsibility.
Ojelabi said: “When the Federal Government privatised power generation and distribution over three years ago, the state government felt it cannot be providing infrastructure for private company’s business. More so, when the over N10 billion used in providing infrastructure over the years to aid power generation and distribution was not refunded by the Federal Government after the privatisation of the power sector.
“When the private companies cannot solve the problem as expected, the governor being a responsible and responsive governor cannot but yield to the yearnings of the people in the procurement and installation of the transformers.”
He urged the chiefs, leaders of Community Development Associations (CDAs) and youths to take charge of the transformers when installed.
“Government will continue to cater for your needs till the last day of this administration as promised by the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola,” he said, adding that government had carried out several developmental projects in Badagry.
Ojelabi said: “A government that is promoting a safe community and providing an enabling and conducive environment for business to thrive is worth supporting.”
Chairman, House Committee on Energy and Mineral Resources Lanre Ogunyemi thanked the state for supporting private electricity power generation and distribution firms.
