The Nation Newspaper

Tag: communities

  • Delta communities draw up economic blueprint

    Aniocha and Oshimili people of Delta State are set to draw up their own economic blueprint for the development of the area.

    To achieve this, a non-partisan and non-profit making socio–cultural organisation known as Njiko Aniochaoshimili has been convened to organize an economic summit to draw up the area’s economic recovery roadmap.

    According to the convener of the organisation, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, “an Economic Summit by sons and daughters of our area will be held in Asaba to interrogate issues like targeting more efficient and effective internally generated funds from Aniocha Oshimili; identifying agricultural potentials of Aniocha Oshimili Axis, with particular attention to institutional and donor agencies intervention and the impact of IT hub on employment and wealth creation in Aniocha Oshimili.”

    Other areas of interest to the organization include the tourism potential of Aniocha-Oshimili Axis of Delta State; the vision of a model Delta State Capital Territory and prospects for a mega/ commercial city; security challenges in Aniocha Oshimili district and wealth creation and job opportunities through private secto initiatives.

    The socio-cultural organization will also consider the area’s oil sector opportunities with a view to creating the enabling environment for foreign and domestic investment.

    To address these issues at the summit, sons and daughters from Aniocha and Oshomili in Nigeria and some in diaspora have been lined up to lead conversations on these sub themes.

    The group will also address the litany of issues that confronts communities within Aniocha-Oshimili.

    Some of these include; quality of public education, unemployment, housing, transportation, electricity and security.

    The Njiko Aniochaoshimili platform aims to work from the community level, by helping to bring citizens and stakeholders together in order to address these issues, while supporting efforts to create enabling environment for the growth and development of the communities.

    To implement its mission effectively, Njiko Aniochaoshimili will serve as a thought leadership and advocacy group that will work with elected officials in the state and local governments to help address issues that affect the constituents.

    The group will periodically invite elected officials to brief the organization on their contributions and claims of developments in the area, thus holding them accountabl as well as work with elected representatives in advocating for legislations that are inclusive and that help address specific issues that affect constituents.

    Njiko Aniochaoshimili will “provide an online platform for stakeholders in the district to work together and share their ideas and research on the development of innovative solutions that will address pressing challenges within our communities” Azinge said.

    The group will also organise workshops and conferences that address topics of common interest in the district such as Agriculture, Security, Energy, Infrastructure, I.C.T and Education. “Resolutions from these seminars will form part of the recommendations presented to stakeholders in the Local State and Federal Governments”.

    Njiko Aniochaoshimili hopes to foster partnership with similar organisations and agencies at the State and National levels in order to create a powerful network of Institutions devoted to similar goals.

    They will equally “engage in public opinion surveys that obtain data on the needs of the district, such as level of unemployment and access to basic amenities by citizens and residents. This will allow for detailed demographic analysis and the development of solutions that would address these challenges.”

    Njiko Aniochaoshimili will rekindle the “I can do spirit” that the district is noted for and provide solutions that will help reposition Aniocha Oshimili as a prime hub for economic activity, I.C.T development, and agricultural growth in Delta State and indeed Nigeria.

  • Communities get compensation as Lagos acquires 500 hectares for farm estate

    The Lagos State Government has paid five communities in Eluju-Mowo on Itoikin-Epe Road compensation for acquiring 500 hectares of their land for the Farm Estate Initiative.

    The Special Adviser on Food Security to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Ganiyu Sanni, made this known at the Ministry of Agriculture, Ikeja, while presenting cheques to representatives of the affected communities.

    He said the payment was in fulfilment of the promise of the government’s promise to the residents.

    According to him, the action was subsequent to the effort of the government to address various challenges facing agriculture in the state and promote the use of agricultural land for its intended purposes

    Sanni added that the effort was geared towards boosting food security, explaining that land in these communities would be allocated to farmers after the payment of crop compensation.

    He revealed that the government was interested in commercialising agriculture, adding that a drastic move from subsistent farming to a high mechanised farming was underway.

    Urging members of the compensated communities to continue to cooperate and carry their people along, he said their cooperation was key to the development of their communities.

    Sanni noted that farming on the acquired land would be done with modern implements to boost output, adding that the government recently inaugurated its Agricultural Equipment Hiring Centre to complement the state-owned functional agricultural implement unit.

    He said: “The Agricultural Equipment Hiring Centre is targeted towards providing mechanised tools at a reduced rate to farmers, the initiative has been set to reduce drudgery in agriculture; increase farm land under cultivation; promote competition and enhance the value of money for farmers.”

    Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry Agriculture, Dr.Olayiwole Onasanya said the administration would remain committed to ensuring the state becomes food secured.

    He added that government has demonstrated its all-inclusive system by involving members of the various communities, appreciating them for the support they have shown so far.

  • Policemen to serve in their communities, says IG

    Policemen to serve in their communities, says IG

    Policemen will soon be deployed in their communities of origin to enhance community policing, Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris said yesterday.
    He told a meeting in Lokoja that the bulk of the 150000 policemen to be recruited in the next five years would serve in their respective communities.
    Idris, who was represented by Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Finance and Administration Shaibu Gambo, said the move would take the police closer to the people.
    He said the police was faced with shortage of manpower, but promised more policemen and equipment for Kogi to secure the people against rampaging armed robbers and kidnappers.
    The Zone 8 Assistant Inspector-General of Police Jibril Yakubu and the state Commissioner of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, were at the meeting.
    The state Chairman of the Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC), Mohammed Salihu, urged traditional rulers to show more interest in the security of their communities.
    He said police stations and security equipment in various communities should be safeguarded by residents to enhance community policing.
    Kogi branch of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria called on the police to curb incessant frictions between farmers and Fulani herdsmen in the state.
    State secretary of the association Suleiman Muhammed said three herdsmen were killed and 48 cows slaughtered in Omala Local Government Area in the past two months.
    The meeting was attended by traditional rulers, Christian Association of Nigeria, Council of Ulamahu, transport unions and community leaders.

  • Lagos tackles infrastructural challenges in 35 rural communities

    Lagos State government has tackled infrastructural challenges in 35 rural communities.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Mr. Kehinde Joseph, who addressed reporters in Alausa, said “these communities are facing difficulties in the areas of good roads, health facilities, schools, flooding control, among others.

    He said the government received complaints from the communities requesting intervention, adding that they were assisted with the needed infrastructure.

    The special adviser said the government extended financial succour to individuals with challenges, particularly in health, accommodation, education, multiple birth and unforeseen incidents, such as fire outbreak and road accidents.

    Joseph said N163, 258,980 was approved by the governor for disbursement to 1,477 indigent residents to help them.

    He urged Lagosians to change their apathy towards participating in elections, saying their participation in the forthcoming local government poll will influence the outcome because they have the power, through their individual votes, to determine the eventual winners across the state.

    Harping on public protests despite the existence of Civic Engagement Office, Joseph lamented that many of the protests were being staged due to lack of understanding of the channels of engagement with the government.

    He said: “Some protests are unnecessary as the issues involved can easily be resolved by establishing a communication line with the concerned authority

  • Dam: End of water scarcity in sight in Kogi communities

    Living without water for years, the prospect of a dam in Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu area of Kogi State has lifted the spirits of the constituents.

    A federal government dam project backed by the World Bank has been approved in the area.

    A representative of the constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Teejay Yusuf facilitated the project, a development that has thrown the people into a celebratory mood.

    Yusuf, chair of the Committee on Capital Market and Institutions of the House of Representatives, was no less enthused, having fulfilled one of the promises he made to his people, whose long search for the precious liquid was reaching near ridiculous levels.

    With the approval of the dam project, the challenge of water will be greatly reduced, and a good reason why the people gathered to celebrate their son, at the project groundbreaking ceremony in Kabba.

    Yusuf said, “I discovered, painfully, that the non-availability of potable water is perhaps one of the biggest challenges in Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency. From Kabba to Iyara, Ogidi, Iyamoye, Okebukun, Ayetoro-Gbedde and indeed every community, the lack of drinking water was prevalent.

    ”To ameliorate the sufferings of our people, I reasoned that something immediate- as a short term measure, had to be put in place. You will recall that since 2011 and now, to the glory of God, I have succeeded in facilitating the construction/provision of numerous hand pump and solar powered boreholes in various communities within Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency.

    “Cognisant of the fact that to proffer a permanent solution to the challenge of potable water in our very Federal Constituency, there has to be something bigger, in terms of projects, cost and federal government involvement.

    “This massive project, perhaps the very first in Kogi West, when completed will run through many villages, towns and communities in Kabba-Bunu and Ijumu local government areas as well as some communities in Kogi West Senatorial district,” said the lawmaker.

    Commending others whose support made the water project a reality, including the Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Adamu, and kinsmen in the Federal Civil Service, he called for more collaboration to further develop the areas.

    He said, “You will recall that this sustained synergy has been very useful in our mutual desire to attract meaningful infrastructural, institutional and socio-economic development of our very dear Federal Constituency.”

  • Ondo communities clash over land

    Okerisa-Aruwayo and Iwada, two neighbouring communities near Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State are in dispute over a piece of land.

    Already, concerned residents of Okerisa-Aruwayo have urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and security agents to rescue them from the people of Iwada community as they are reportedly fleeing the community because of incessant attacks.

    Spokesman of the community, Morakinyo Erifoluwa alleged that the ‘invaders’ stormed the village penultimate weekend, driving the inhabitants away from their ancestral homes.

    He said: “On the morning of Thursday, someone told us that the road to our village had been barricaded but we did not believe it.

    “On Friday, however, around 7:00 p.m., we heard several gunshots. We did not know what to do. Everybody ran helter-skelter for dear lives.

    “It was later we learnt that the invaders were from Iwada, our neigbouring village. They have been terrorising us and causing trouble for our people.”

    Morakinyo, who said the village was attacked because of land dispute pending at the Court of Appeal in Akure said the invasion was unreasonable.

    He said: “In March 2015, one of our sons, an undergraduate, was murdered on the land and his corpse could not be recovered till today.

    “On March 23, last year, the Okitipupa High Court ceded a portion of our land to the Iwada people. Not satisfied with the judgment; we proceeded to the Appeal Court for redress.

    “Since the case is before the court, our people have stayed away from the land even as the people of Iwada are harvesting our cash crops in contempt of the court. We wonder why they keep on attacking us.”

    According to him, the case was reported to the head of the community, Chief Albert Epebinu at Ilutitun who mobilised a team of young men to the village and assess the extent of damage done to their properties.

    He said when they got to the village, they discovered that their buildings had been vandalised with food stuffs and valuables carted away, stressing that the case was then reported at the Igbotako Police Station.

    Morakinyo pointed out that policemen were deployed to the scene and they saw things for

    themselves.

    Among items they allegedly carted away were one big power generating set, seven spraying machines; 13 rolls of yam tubers from a barn, 15 (20 litters) kegs of palm oil, garri frying trays, among other things.

    Epebinu confirmed the story of a disputed land between the two communities, and wondered why this should happen when his people have dwelled on the land for over 300 years.

    He pointed out that Okerisa Aruwayo is sharing boundaries with Irowa, Okerisa Lulawo and Iwada and there was no problem among the neighbours.

    However, the Baale of Iwada, Chief Raphael Ajisola said the people of Okerisa Aruwayo were only sojourners on the land.

    He said: “I have a copy of the judgment by the High Court, Okitipupa which ruled that the land belongs to Iwada.

    He denied the claim that the attackers were from Iwada.

    Police spokesman in the State, Femi Joseph a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was aware of the communal crisis, adding that the case was under investigations.

  • Delta communities trade words over abducted man, 34

    The disappearance of a 34-year-old indigene of Isaba community, Emmanuel King Ukiri, is causing tension between his people and their Aladja neighbours.

    Residents of Isaba Kingdom, who are mainly Ijaw, at the weekend, blamed their Urhobo neighbours in Aladja for Ukiri’s disappearance.

    They said their missing son was allegedly abducted and murdered by suspected residents of Aladja on April 3.

    In a statement at the weekend in Warri, Delta State, President of Isaba Kingdom’s youths, Moses Ogugu, said Ukiri, whose mother is also an Urhobo, was allegedly abducted by suspected Aladja indigenes and later killed.

    The statement said: “The name of the man is Emmanuel King Ukiri. His father is from Isaba in Isaba Kingdom while his mother is from Ekete and Ejewu in Udu Kingdom. He is an Okada (commercial motorcycle) rider. He is 34 years old. On April 3, Aladja residents caught him on DSC Expressway and kidnapped him to Aladja and killed him at 11 p.m.”

    But President of Aladja youths, Wisdom Onatomre, denied the allegation.

    He described it as a cover-up by Isaba residents to reduce the weight of a similar incident they allegedly committed against an Aladja indigene.

    Onatomre said: “If someone is kidnapped on DSC Expressway, how is it Aladja’s fault? I can assure you that the DSC Expressway they are talking about is a busy road. I have never heard that anyone has ever been kidnapped from there.

    “Anytime they do something, they’ll look for a way to cover up. Nothing of such happened. I can swear with my life, there’s nothing anyone or youth from Aladja will do that I, the youth president, won’t know.

    “On April 6, we were at the Government House Annex to sign a peace accord. Why didn’t they mention this there? The brother of the Ukiri they are talking about was also there and he signed as well. There was nothing like that. They are doing this to cover up what they did before. “

    Police spokesman Andrew Aniamaka, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said there was a missing person’s report on the matter.

    He called for caution on matters involving communities to avoid jeopardising the peace-building process.

  • Imo’s ‘autonomous’ communities

    Those conversant with the traditional setting in Imo state would have been wondering when the word ‘autonomous’ crept into the Igbo lexicon in the classification of communities. It is a vogue in that state to identify traditional communities, many of which preceded the advent of the white man, with the tag ‘autonomous’.

    Thesaurus defines autonomy as: independence, self-government and self-rule. Is it being suggested that these communities gained independence from a former master-traditional community? Or, they have been liberated from a former lord in the same fashion Africa freed its people from colonial rule?

    These were bona fide villages in their former communities with common ancestry, full rights and privileges. They had their own village chiefs and other heads with a government-recognised traditional ruler. What is then the propriety of the term ‘autonomous communities’ when they were hitherto not under any form of subjugation or oppression?

    The absurdity of the classification is further underscored given that even when a new community is carved out of an existing one, both the old and the new are still classified as autonomous communities. Which raises the question: autonomy from whom?

    The term crept in when the then Mbakwe administration carved as separate entities two or three communities that had been fighting amongst themselves as a solution to years of acrimony and bitter hostilities. These communities had a history of age-long bitterness, and the intention of the government was to put an end to it. It then created new communities out of them, which it termed autonomous.

    That singular act was, years after, to open a floodgate for intense agitations as those who envied the traditional chieftaincy institution saw it as a veritable avenue to realise their dreams. Soon, agitations qua agitations mounted. Demands ranging from the selfish and ego-boosting to the ridiculous became the order of the day. And given the very well known republican nature of the Igbo man, virtually any and every hamlet wanted an autonomous community status. Subsequent civilian governments, apparently succumbing to political pressures embarked on a bazaar of autonomous communities’ creation.  With one creation, more demands mounted on the government, and the situation became chaotic.

    With an initial number of less than 200 autonomous communities in 1979, Imo today has nearly 700 autonomous communities with demands still mounting. The last time I checked, there are well over 100 recommendations from the previous State House of Assembly. And the list of villages and hamlets that want the autonomous community status are on the increase.

    The reason generally canvassed for this mad rush for more autonomous communities is that they convey development quicker to the rural areas. It is also argued that it increases their share of the dividends of democracy from the government. You are quickly told the last time government had things to share; communities that have been split got more than those that have not.

    So the more a community is split the more it gets from the government, the argument goes. With this kind of logic, it is not surprising the avalanche of agitations that regularly mount on the government.  You are, in addition, confronted with certain policies of the government that water the logic for more autonomous communities.

    When you hear the argument that creation of autonomous communities quickens development, it is only an expression of what they stand to gain from the government. It is not an indication that people of the new communities will now pool resources in the fashion of the community development efforts that part of the country was hitherto known for- such that culminated in the construction of the Imo airport project.  Such community development efforts have since given way to dependence on the government. And in communities where these agitations are rife, you can hardly find any effort at collective development. People are reluctant to contribute to projects for fear that the agitators may eventually go with them if they secure autonomy. So it can be safely argued that the quest for autonomous communities is a disincentive to community development efforts.  Otherwise, we should have seen such efforts brought to bear in the development of the communities from which these demands are emanating.

    And if a community cannot meaningfully embark on development projects with its advantage of size and population, it remains to be imagined the magic it stands to pull through when it is now fragmented. If the issue is really about development, why will that not progress in the present communities or the sections from where such demands are emanating? Ironically, the argument about autonomous communities quickening development is based on the misconception that government has infinite resources to dispense and the more the communities, the more they get. It is a time bomb that is bound to destroy the society.

    Beyond the reasons that are publicly canvassed, these unbridled agitations have their root in envy, disrespect for constituted authority and the vaulting ambition by any and every charlatan to become a traditional ruler. It is symptomatic of the raging confusion in the so-called Ezeigbo title floated by some Igbo residents in places outside their ancestral homes. Where there is peace, acrimony and civil strife are simulated to provide the grounds for agitations.

    With nearly 700 traditional rulers, the Ezeship institution has already been bastardised, denigrated and whittled down in influence. You need to visit a public function of traditional rulers to behold the ridicule and chaos that have become the fate of that revered institution. Yet, demands for its further degradation continue to mount. Matters are not remedied by the penchant of succeeding houses of assembly for embarking on a bazaar of autonomous communities’ creation. No responsible government can afford to watch this descent into anarchy. It is incumbent on the Rochas administration working in concert with the state house of assembly to put a halt to this madness. It is the duty of government to restore sanity and order to the traditional institution by discouraging this slide into unmitigated fission.

    With stipends paid recognised traditional rulers, government increases the burden each time it creates new communities.  This gives the impression that it has limitless resources to pay. Even if it is capable of paying, there is still a limit beyond which we cannot continue replicating the so-called autonomous communities without destroying the fabric of the society. We are faced with foreboding prospects of every village, every hamlet or family becoming an autonomous community unless the government halts the madness.

    It is ironic that many of the traditional rulers who benefitted from the mindless replication are now vehemently opposed to further splitting of their communities. Perhaps they have seen the futility of uncontrolled balkanisation of communities. This underscores the point that there is a limit beyond which that exercise cannot be stretched without dire consequences.

    The government must come up with very stringent measures to discourage the fledgling market of autonomous community agitators. Imo people should be encouraged to channel their energies to more productive endeavours rather than rancour and schism. We cannot afford to destroy the society by consenting to the selfish hankering of the burgeoning tribe of agitators.

     

  • Tensions brews between Delta communities over man’s disappearance

    There was heavy apprehension yesterday in Aladja community, Udu Council Area of Delta State, following the disappearance of a 40-year-old plumber, Kingsley Paya, who had gone to work on his farm.

    Leaders of the community alleged that the father of four might have been killed or kidnapped by some yet-to-be-identified armed men, suspected to have come from the neighbouring Isaba community, Warri South-West Council Area. Both communities have adversarial relationship for years.

    Aladja is an Urhobo community. Isaba is an Ijaw community. It denied the allegation, describing it as a lie and yet another ploy of Aladja to escalate trouble.

    The Youths President of Aladja, Wisdom Onatomre, said  Paya went to his farm to collect his harvested plantains.

    “One of our sons, Kingsley, went into his farm early this morning and the only thing we heard from that area were gunshots. All these happened around 5 to 6am. So, when it was day break, we strolled to the area and that was when the army there told us that the guy parked his car and rolled a wheelbarrow into the farm; that’s all we know and up till now we have not seen him.

    “We could not go into the bush; so, we couldn’t ascertain how the place he went to look like; whether there was blood or see any clue.”

    However, the Youths President of Isaba, Moses Ogugu, in a telephone conversation on Wednesday, said there was no way an Isaba person would traveled about 10 kilometres to either kill or kidnap anybody, especially with soldiers on guard.

    Ogugu said: “There’s nothing like that. They are lying. I called the Aladja youths president, Mr Wisdom, this morning when I heard about the story and he said the man parked his car at the army checkpoint of Aladja and went into his farm there. That place is about 10 kilometres away from Isaba and there’s no way an Isaba person will go that far to kill or kidnap someone.

    “Do they have a witness? They are just looking for trouble. That’s how they came to Isaba on February 6 to behead one of our sons and up till date government has not done anything about that. Anytime they come up with lies like this, you will know that they want to start another problem.

    “My take is since government has provided security on that road, both in Isaba and in Aladja, they should go to both ends to ask the security men what they saw, not just pointing fingers at innocent people.”

    Delta Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, told The Nation that a case of a missing person had been reported by Aladja people, adding that there was no report of shooting

    “We have a case of missing person in Ovwian/Aladja area. Actually, a young man, an Ovwian/Aladja person, went to his farm  and of course you will expect that since his people didn’t see him, they have every cause to be apprehensive

    “For now, we are treating it as a case of a missing person. What we have is that he went to his farm and has not come back, the natural apprehension will be ‘what could have happened’. We have no report of any gunshot,” he said.

  • Ebonyi flooded communities demand compensation

    The three communities in Ebonyi and Enugu states donated land for the siting of a dam. Seven years after, their compensation was yet to be paid. Worse, as they allege, their communities were flooded last year. There was no help from anywhere. That was why they protested to the Federal Government, which acquired their land for the dam project.

    The communities are Ishiagu in Ivo Local government area of Ebonyi state, Ukey and Okpanku both in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State.

    The communities said that they have been suffering following the loss of their farmlands to the federal government which is their only source of livelihood.

    According to them, the construction of the dam also worsened their already precarious situation as the dam caused artificial flooding of their communities and farmlands last year which destroyed their crops and other properties worth millions of naira.

    They spoke when the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu Kazaure paid an inspection visit to the dam site.

    The multi-purpose dam is being built over the Ivo River for irrigation, water supply and power generation purposes.

    In a welcome address by Ukey Autonomous community presented by Nwagbara Patrick, the community said they were in support of the construction of the dam but called for adequate compensation to people who lost crops, land and other properties.

    He said, “It is imperative to bring to your notice that the enumerated crops have not been paid for, we solicit for your intervention in this regard.

    “This land acquired by the federal government for this project is the commuities major source of livelihood and since it has been taken away, they have nothing to sustain themselves ahgain. We appeal to you to come to their aid by paying some amount to individuals or community monthly”.

    “The community is also using this platform to bring to your notice that many buildings along the road leading to the dam were destroyed without compensation. We therefore appeal to you to intervene on the matter”.

    “The community is requesting for a standard hospital due to the possible outbreak of different diseases as a result of sitting the dam”.

    Mr Uchenna Orji, who spoke on behalf of Ishiagu community called for adequate compensation for the people promising that the community will be peaceful in their agitation for their rights.

    While noting that the community was never consulted before the citing of the dam, Mr Orji also called for an environmental impact assessment to be carried out in the area before moving forward with the construction of the dam.

    Dr Julius Aja, President General of Okpanku Community Town Union said over 100,000 persons from his community was affected.

    He called for the construction of a bridge to enable the villagers access their farmlands which have been cut off by the artificial flooding caused the building of the dam.

    The Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Kelechi Igwe said that over 10,000 hectares of farmlands in Ebonyi were submerged by the flooding with over 20,000 persons rendered homeless as a result of the flood.

    “Farming is the main stay of the people and these people were reduced to beggars due to the flooding and the risk is that the youths could turn to crime to make ends meet. So it becomes very necessary to as soon as possible compensate them for their losses”.