The Nation Newspaper

Tag: COMMUNITY

  • Community pledges to support incoming administration

    “The Ukwa and  Ngwa people would ensure that Ikpeazu works with the right people that share the same developmental passion for the state, a process he said was the first step to effective delivery of good governance to the people of the state”

    The people of Umuobiakwa Community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State where Governor-elect Okezie Ikpeazu hails from, have pledged to support him for a successful tenure.

    Ikpeazu became the first Ngwa person to be governor-elect after he was declared winner of the April 11 and 25 re-run by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Prof. Ben Ozurumba.

    Some of Ikpeazu’s kinsmen who spoke to the press in Aba admitting that the governor-elect has an enormous work to do.

    But they promised to assist him  to deliver good governance, which he promised during his campaign.

    Mr. Azuogu Nwachukwu stated that they were happy that Okezie won the electoral governorship race at last for every Ukwa na Ngwa man after a tough fight and described the governor-elect as a very humble and caring person who according to him, has what it takes to deliver good governance to Abia people as he promised that he (Ikpeazu) was not going to disappoint Abia people.

    Nwachukwu, who is an uncle to Ikpeazu said he shared the view with PDP governorship candidate that he (Ipkeazu) came to serve Abia people, stressing that the urge to serve the people would move him to fulfilling all his promises.

    Another Ngwa man and Aba based practicing lawyer, Elder Chibuike Nwokeuku said that Ikpeazu’s victory is victory for equity, justice, fair play and victory for every Igbo man to who Aba is his home.

    He said that the Ukwa na Ngwa people were grateful to God for giving them the opportunity which had eluded them for many years both in military and civilian regimes.

    Nwokeuku called on all Abians to join hands with the governor-elect to build Abia state to the status of other neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom and among others that have developed remarkably.

    He said that the Ukwa na Ngwa people would ensure that Ikpeazu works with the right people that shares the same developmental passion for the state, a process he said was the first step to effective delivery of good governance to the people of the state.

    Rev. Leonard Romanus, a member of the Ikpeazu family also opined that the governor-elect’s victory was victory for the Ikpeazu family, the people of Umuobiakwa community and Ukwa na Ngwa people.

    Romanus said that his victory had made them (Ikpeazus’ and Umuobiakwa Community) very happy adding that their family would give him all the assistance he would need to lead Abians with enviable record and remarkable achievements.

    The victory of Ikpeazu had on Sunday morning sparked wild jubilations among PDP family in the state who defied police ban on fireworks and explosives as they light burn fire, shot different kinds of firework amongst others to express their happiness over the victory of Ikpeazu.

    Various youth groups went round the commercial city of Aba in a motorcade that bears a coffin which was tied to it a wrapper belonging to the candidate of Ikpeazu’s closest rival and former MD of Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Otti.

    Unconfirmed report has it that some members of the jubilant group of boys were severely injured in the process.

    Reports that emanated from Umuobiakwa, Obingwa had it that the house of the governor-elect had become a mecca of sorts as politicians and individuals jostling for position have been coming to pay homage to the new man that would be sworn in on May 29.

     

     

  • Life returns to Ibadan community as fleeing residents return

    Life returns to Ibadan community as fleeing residents return

    After the bloody violence that unsettled residents of Adekile, Orita Aperin in Ibadan North East Local Government Area of Oyo State earlier this month,  peace has returned to the community where a senior police officer was murdered by hoodlums. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports. 

    Life is gradually returning to normal at Adekile, Orita Aperin area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital where hoodlums killed a senior police officer who was trying to quell a riot on April 1, 2015. The incident led to an indiscriminate arrest of suspects by the police forcing many residents to flee the area.

    Both economic and social activities were paralysed as a result as the police combed the area for the killers of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) attached to Agugu police station, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ike Nworgu.

    But after the series of arrests including that of the principal suspects, the police seem to have relaxed their actions allowing the residents to resume normal life even as investigations continue.

    Spokesman for the Oyo State Police Command, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu said until investigation into the murder case is concluded, the principal suspects would remain in custody and would not be charged to court.

    It was in the evening of Wednesday April 1, 2015 when a mob attacked and shot dead the DPO on the suspicion that the police were shielding a suspected owner of kidnappers’ den.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Katsina Mohammed, visibly disturbed by the incident vowed to ensure that all those involved in the dastardly act would face the full wrath of the law.

    According to the state police boss, the slain police officer had gone to Adekile in response to a distress call by one of the residents who alleged that her baby was kidnapped and kept inside a particular building in the area.

    He said CSP Nworgu had visited the area and inspected the building in question but could not find anything related to the lodged complaint, but while he was explaining to the angry youths who had gathered to storm the building to remain calm as further investigation would be carried out, the DPO was attacked and shot in the head.

    Mr Katsina further explained that Nworgu, being a gallant officer before he fell to the miscreant’s bullets, also managed to fire at his attacker who also died on the way to the hospital.

    Though relative calm has returned to Adekile when The Nation visited the area, arrest of suspected culprits was still going on albeit in a subtle form to allay the fears of the residents even as there was tension in the air.

    Residents have started to return to their deserted homes, while commercial activity is gradually picking up in the area. Police Checkpoints mounted on major roads leading to the area have been dismantled. Only few policemen are still keeping watch in some of the hotspots in the community ostensibly to check any breach of the peace.

    Traders have opened their shops for business and life has returned to the community. However, fear of a possible raid by plain cloth security officers is still with the people.

    It was gathered that random raid of some strategic areas where youth usually hide to smoke hemp and drink local gin popularly called paraga remained a regular routine by the police.

    A check on one of such spots by The Nation saw some young boys running and disappearing into the thin air on sighting this reporter. Other residents also stylishly avoided this reporter as they looked the other way in fear of arrest, while some who were approached for interview still refused to grant audience.

    Some concerned landlords in the area, it was learnt, had in the past raised alarm over the suspicious activities of the boys who hide under the cover of darkness to commit atrocities.

    Adekile, where many jobless youths abound, is a notorious area mainly populated by the locals. It is a place densely populated by low income earners and extremely poor dwellers.

    So, it is not by accident that security has become a major challenge in the community.

    Even before the killing of the DPO, the people admitted that there had been regular security patrol and arrest by policemen acting on pieces of information.

    When The Nation visited the scene where the DPO was attacked and shot penultimate Thursday, the suspected kidnappers’ den, which is an uncompleted building with an underground section, had been looted and razed by the mob.

    Also, two structures by the side of the uncompleted building were also burnt as youths alleged that the occupants of the buildings were accomplices.

    A cab operator in the area who pleaded anonymity, ýsaid:” Our business has gone down and people are not patronising us like they used to again. We are now living in fear each day, of either the hoodlums or policemen who have been arresting the residents indiscriminately since the incident broke out.

    “This is a very social area where everybody goes out and comes back safely without any harm or problem until this evil incident happened.”

    Also, a landlord in the area, who simply identified himself as Baba Onile ýlamented that some of his tenants have been arrested unjustly by the police during one of their several raids in the area. He appealed to the Commissioner of Police to call his officers to order.

    “Most of us now live in fear of the unknown and no one could say what may happen to him or her the next day in this neighbourhood, due to the ritual den that was discovered few weeks ago.

    Meanwhile, ýanother trader, who gave her name simply as Iya Alata said the mayhem escalated because some hoodlums hijacked the search of the building by residents and insisted on burning it.

    “What I heard was that a little girl, who was missing for days, was seen with an old man. When people started asking questions, the owner of the house was said to have invited the police to stop the mob action.ý This issue has caused us, shop owners, more pain and harm because so many people have run away from this place,” she said.

  • Community craves secondary schools, roads

    Community craves secondary schools, roads

    Dwellers of Ibeju-lekki have lamented the poor state of accessing education in the community during a sensitisation programme on governance of primary school education for community stakeholders.

    The programme, which is an initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with Human Development Initiative(HDI), is a four-year programme which would be done in four states – Kano, Enugu, Lagos and Abuja. It would be carried out in local government areas of the aforementioned states.

    Speaking at Ibeju-lekki Local Government Education Area, the youth leader of Arapagi, a community in Ibeju, Lasisi Morufu said the community has no secondary school, that and their children go by sea to school in a neighbouring community.

    He said:  “In Ibeju-lekki, the road leading to some areas are not motorable. The children have to cross the river before they get to school. This is a threat to life. This has discouraged some of them from going to school. There is no secondary school in Arapagi. We only have about five primary schools in this area and when these children are done with primary school, they are being posted far from home. Every morning, you will see children conveyed in a boat to cross the lagoon before they can get to school. We are all crying out to government to help us with at least a secondary school here.”

    He continued: “This river, which the children pass through, is now being dredged.  We have concentrated dredging companies and about 10 of them dredging sand from that river. Before they used to use paddle to pave their way on water but that is no longer possible because the river is getting deeper by day. This can lead to loss of lives. This community has been kicking against dredgers; we really need the government to help us.’’

    He noted the shortage of teachers in the community, adding that the problem arose because teachers posted to the area reluctantly stayed because of inaccessibility to good roads.

    “When you have a teacher handling two classes, how convenient is that let alone teaching about eight subjects for each class in a day? Teachers here are really trying their best,” he added.

    The Education Secretary, Ibeju-lekki, Olatunde Talu, who once taught in Arapagi corroborated Morufu.  Nonetheless, he hoped the sensitisation would go a long way in informing the dwellers of their role in education, and hold the government accountable for sound education.

    Participants also frowned against the non-availability of secondary schools, which they attributed to the failure of the government to address their needs.

    Rev.Taiwo Oluwole of Redeemed Church enlightened participants on the role of the councils in primary education. He said the mis-use of federal and state financial allocation for primary education, non-provision of the conducive classrooms and teaching aids, shortage of teachers, among others, were lapses which needed to be rectified for a better primary education.

    Sunday Alade, an engineer, admonished the stakeholders to complement the government’s efforts through proper utilisation and monitoring of infrastructure provided for the community’s benefit. He said communities must see education as a collective responsibility.

    He explained that children were faced with some challenges, such as lack of self-concept, lack of necessary materials, improper guidance and counselling, poor study habits, hostility of teachers to students among others.   Alade admonished parents to avail their children the opportunity to access primary education as mandatory by the Federal Government, in line with the statuted Child Right Act and Universal Basic Education (UBE) Act.

    President, Out-of-School Children Empowerment Foundation (OSCEF) an implementing partner for the USAID programme, Mr Akeem Kelani, said the programme is aimed at educating stakeholders at the grass roots and emphasise the role of local government in primary education.

     

  • Community, church bicker over land

    Community, church bicker over land

    In Agbodi village, a stretch of land between Maba and the Redeemed Camp, on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, two contending forces, the community and the Deeper Life Church are laying claim to about 44 hectares of land. The former said it never sold the land to the church and the latter claimed to have bought the land from the community’s older generation. An amicable resolution, however, could douse the tension the dispute has created, reports SEYI ODEWALE.

    The sleepy community of Agbodi on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway would not have appeared in the news, but for the skirmishes that occurred last month in the area. What perhaps could have registered the community to anyone is a not too conspicuous nondescript green signboard nailed to the fence of a building at the entrance of the community’s expansive land and possibly the existence of the Deeper Life church in the area. And this possibly could have been when the church has its camp meetings at either Easter or Christmas periods.

    However, the community was in the news some weeks back, not for something cheery, but for some acts of alleged lawlessness and brigandage by some youths of  the area against the Deeper Life Bible Ministry Church, whose camp ground is in the community.

    The church in a press conference held recently alleged that the youth demolished its perimeter fence of about 1,500-metre long worth N25million while trying to encroach on its land. In the words of the church’s building committee head, Pastor Alfred Ogene, the land was duly bought by the church from the community. “This land was bought by the Deeper Life Bible Church many years ago. After paying millions of naira to the owners, they issued us their families’ receipt, which we used to get the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) from the last administration in Ogun State. We paid N750million for the papers.

    “But some people, who claimed to be children of the owners, pulled down our fence in 2009, which was worth N10million. We decided to rebuild the fence and demarcate what we had left after they had resold a large portion of the land. But they came back and demolished that one too,” he said at the briefing.

    •Ogunkayode
    •Ogunkayode

    But the community has since picked holes in the church’s claim, saying it is far from the truth. According to the community’s Baale (traditional head) Taiwo Ogunkayode, the church never bought the land from them. The land, which is about44 hectares, Ogunkayode said, was cunningly taken from the community by the church. “In 2008 we just noticed that Deeper Life Church had entered our land and was erecting structures and not that we sold the land to them. We then challenged them. What we noticed then was that there was one Franklin Ehi, who was always coming to the land to hunt game. He used to come from Lagos to hunt on our land. And they said they were interested in our land. The land actually belonged to many families, but being held in trust for them by the Baale.

    “So, they then said we should allow them survey the land first to know its extent before coming to negotiate the value with us. And we agreed with them, but asked them to pay Owo iwoko and Owo ilagbe, which literarily means the money for entering the land and that of charting it. This is the tradition anywhere land matters come up.  It is compulsory for anyone, who wants to purchase land in Yoruba land, to pay these levies to the land owners, otherwise called Omo Onile in Yoruba.

    “They said after they must have known the extent of the land, they will start negotiating with us. We agreed based on the trust we had in them, particularly, Ehi, who was their middleman. Ordinarily, it is after someone must have paid for any land before he or she can be allowed to enter the land, no to talk of surveying it.

    “Actually, the issue was before I became the Baale of the town. But when they had completed the survey, they did not fulfill their promise despite our repeated calls on them to do so. When I became the Baale in 2012, the town mounted another pressure on me to address the issue and ask them to pay for the land and since then we have been on the issue, Ogunkayode said in his narration.

    But the church affirmed that the land was actually bought from the community and the only challenge it has is that some of those that actually sold the land to them were dead. “The challenge we have is that some of the men who sold this land to us are already late, and their children are saying they were very young as at the time the land was bought from their families and that they too want to ‘eat’ from the land,” Pastor Ogene said, adding that the land was bought to serve as the church’s camp and conference venue anytime the need arises for such.

    Corroborating Pastor Ogene was the church’s camp administrative manager, Enabulele David, who said the land in question was acquired since 1996. “We started acquiring the land since 1996, apart from paying to the families, the church has equally paid about N750million to Ogun State for global C of O and of course, you cannot start the process of C of O without showing an evidence of family receipt or payment for the land in question. The Baale you met had gone with us to settle some problems when some other people secretly sold our land to some people. This same Baale, called Taye, had gone with us to the police to witness that the land in question had been sold to the church. Not only that, when the former governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel toyed with idea of using our land for trailer park, this Taye was among those that went to the governor to say that the land belonged to them, but had been sold to the church,” he said.

    He continued: “Normally, Owo Ilagbe will come up whenever anyone wants to enter the land and we have paid all those including Owo Iwoko. Now, we want to start erecting structures and we have agreed with them that we will pay them what they normally collect anytime anybody wants to start work on the land. In fact, the owner of that Green land Estate, the late Chief Esuruoso, was aware of the transaction on the land. He was a member of the family. He built on the portion of the land given to him by the family. If he was alive all this none sense would not have happened. In fact, they would not move an inch near the land. Part of the land they are laying claim to belonged to the man and he sold it to us.  This Baale you are talking about collected money from the church he even signed for it. We will not buy anybody’s land without paying for it.”

    Aside claims and counter claims of the ownership of the land, were allegations of attempted murder, breach of public peace and malicious damage of property by the church, its agents and proxies. The petitions, which were written variously to different organisations such as the police, the Chief of Army Staff and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81Division by a firm of Tunde Popoola and Associates, counsel to the community, the church was accused of using armed military men and police to harass, intimidate and take over the community land.

    In a petition sent to the Chief of Army Staff, Abuja, some military personnel were allegedly used by the church to take over the community land. The petition read in part: “Kindly be informed that some unscrupulous uniform men who claimed to be officers from the Nigeria Army had connived with some armed hoodlums to invade Agbodi Village in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State and caused a total breakdown of law and order and forcefully take over the community land.”

    It continued: “The fact of the matter was, there is a land tussle between Agbodi Community and Deeper Life Ministry and the matter is currently pending before Ogun State High Court, Suit No AB/246/14. Rather than defend the matter in court, Deeper Life had chosen to employ the services of a land agent known with his deadly antecedent to invade the community with his hoodlums armed with sophisticated weapons, and with the active connivance of military men caused total breach of law and order. The villagers had been sent on compulsory exile as their lives are under serious threat. The whole place is presently littered with cartridges from gunshots.”

    But the church refuted all the allegations, saying they were ridiculous. According to them, it was the community that brought a land grabber, Ajagungbale, named Owoeye. “The family went as far as bringing an Ajagungbale called Owoeye to the land who, later saw that the family had sold their land to the church. He told them pointedly that you people have sold your land to the church,” Enabulele said.

    He continued: “What Owoeye now said was that the only money they could collect from the church was Owo foundation and roofing, which we calculated at N18million and we paid them N10million, that when we now want to start the foundation we would pay the balance.”

    Similar petitions were also written to the GOC 81 Division of the Nigerian Army on the alleged participation of some soldiers in the purported invasion of the community.

    •Road leaking to the disputed road
    •Road leaking to
    the disputed road

    When The Nation sought to know if there was a pending suit on the disputed land, the church said it got an order in 2012 to restrain the community from trespassing on its land. It said the court on January 18, 2012 in suit AB/251/08, granted an application “restraining all the defendants, their servants, agent, privies and or whosoever from committing any further acts of trespass or in any way entering any part of the claimant’s parcel of land…situate at Mowe in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State on the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way or from allotting, transferring any part or portion of the said land to anyone whosoever, or from interfering in any way with the claimants possession of the said land.”

    On allegation of thuggery and brigandage both parties are accusing each other of being guilty. The church said two of its members, Frankly Osezua and Festus Orimolade were being made to undergo mental torture and humiliating interrogation by the police. The alleged introduction of police into the matter by the community according to the church made the issue to be messier.

    The church said it was made to sign an undertaking under duress that it will not enter into its own land again. It accused one Banjoko of influencing the police to intimidate members of the church. But the Baale said Banjoko is the head of Shodiya family, one of the four families laying claim to the land, hence his involvement in the matter.

    However, the church said though it obtained an interlocutory injunction to restrain the community, their proxies and agents from trespassing on the land, it has not foreclosed amicable resolution of the problem. “We have made efforts to settle with them. We, as a church, are not opposed to amicable settlement of the dispute. Last year we asked them to bring proposal on the resolution of the dispute and I believe we can still discuss with them. We have bent over backwards to discuss with them. We could have ignored them because we have the documents and the C of O on the land. And the courts are there to make declaration on the land,” Enabulele said.

  • Community pleads for help

    Indigenes of Gbagyi under the auspices of Gbagyi Enlightenment Initiative (GEI) have appealed to government for assistance to enable them continue providing entrepreneurial training for Gbagyi youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other parts of the North Central geo-political zone.

    Founder of GEI, Sarah Tukurah said: “Members of Gbagyi community should unite irrespective of their religious and political differences in order to fight for the welfare of the people wherever they may reside.”

    Tukurah, who made the call in Abuja at this year’s National Gbagyi Summit held recently in Abuja, described Gbagyi aborigines as peace-loving people, even as she  called on well-meaning Nigerians to support the initiative to achieve its laudable projects.

    She reiterated that her leadership would continue to partner with anyone or group in order to move the initiative to the next level.

    One of the guest speakers at the occasion, George Koce, a lawyer, stressed the need for government to give special consideration to the Gbagyi people in the FCT, pleading with the government to place the FCT natives in the quarter system in terms of admissions into universities, especially those within the North Central geo-political zone.

    He also appealed to government to provide job opportunities for FCT natives that are in the majority of unemployed people in the territory. She advised Gbagyi youths to live up to the society’s expectations as leaders of tomorrow by engaging themselves in meaningful ventures.

    An entrepreneurial expert, Mr. Sunday Azaki Katiwoyi, said Gbagyi Enlightenment Initiative is a platform where the Gbagyi as well as Gbari people come together to further their collective interests, without discriminating against one another.

    He said the objective of the initiative is to empower the Gbagyi youths to enable them to become self-reliant through entrepreneurial ventures.

    Katiwoyi, however, urged the Gbagyi people to be up and doing wherever they live, stating that he would not relent in his effort to contribute towards training Gbagyi youths in skill acquisition programmes.

  • Beven Ben-Hirie: A community where ‘shot put’ costs N3,000

    Mr Ode Manasseh is a community leader in Beven Ben-Hirie, a community in Obanlinku Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    He has worked so tirelessly to promote the sanitation of Beven Ben-Hirie, to such an extent that members of the community often acknowledge his efforts and dedication to work publicly.

    Every morning and evening, Manasseh moves from house to house, motivating members of the community to construct toilets for their use.

    His main motive is how to ensure that all the households abide by the Open Defecation-Free (ODF) scheme and that has been the focus of his routine visits to each household within the community.

    As luck would have it, Manasseh has been able to persuade the leaders of the community to enact a law prohibiting open defecation in the neighbourhood.

    Even passers-by are aware of the law, which stipulates a fine of N3, 000 for anyone caught defecating in the open.

    According to UNICEF and WHO estimates published in 2013, a staggering 768 million people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

    The two global agencies claim that the development causes illnesses and preventable deaths of thousands of children each year, while most of the affected people are poor persons who live in rural areas or urban slums.

    Mr Bisi Agberemi, a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Specialist in UNICEF, said that no fewer than 49 million Nigerians still defecate openly.

    He also cited the 2013 National Demographic Health Survey which indicated that no fewer than 29 million Nigerians had access to basic sanitation facilities.

    This, he added, needed to be scaled up via continued sustainability of hygienic practices such as hand washing, so as to achieve an open defecation-free Nigeria.

    “Every year, over 150,000 Nigerian children die from diarrhoea, largely caused by unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene practices.

    “The UN has urged member countries to prioritise investments in sanitation and develop appropriate interventions to end this menace.

    “In response to this call, the Nigerian government has shown commitments to end open defecation by 2025; a target which is not only commendable but also achievable, considering Nigeria’s potential.

    “A country, which has 75 per cent of its households having mobile phones, can easily mobilise the people to have simple toilets and end open defecation,” Agberemi added.

    The Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) programme of the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) targets three local government areas (LGAs) in two states — Cross River and Benue.

    The programme is aimed at ensuring that sanitation facilities are put in place in all public places and institutions such as health centres, schools and markets.

    The main sub-grantees are LGAs and states supported by civil society organisations (CSOs), while the federal, state and local governments are expected to provide counterpart funds to expand the programme to additional three LGAs in each of the two beneficiary states.

    The major activities of the programme are Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS), training for the WASH staff in the areas covered, and it also includes triggering several communities to participate and take ownership of the programme.

    At the just concluded monitoring exercise by RUSHPIN’s Coordinating Team in Cross River, the team observed that there were several toilets under construction, while there was an improved understanding of the CLTS programme.

    Mr Paul Ushie, Local Technical Officer, Concern Universal, the executing agency of the Global Sanitation Fund (GSF), urged local government authorities to accept responsibility for environmental sanitation so as to prevent outbreak of epidemics in their communities.

    He insisted that sanitation was a big issue which should not be left alone for the federal and state governments to handle.

    Ushie stressed that open defecation was the leading cause of faecal-oral transmission of diseases, saying that people should also be mobilised to cultivate the habit of hand washing after using toilets.

    He said the importance of toilets in households could not be over-emphasised, as the existence of toilets reduced the incidences of individuals “consuming” their faeces.

    “When we say people eat their `shit’, what we mean is that when they defecate openly, flies perch on them and carry the excrement to food substances.

    “So, it is very important for every household to have a toilet, as this will enable it to meet the Open-Defecation Free (ODF) criteria,” he said.

    Ushie said that his organisation was striving to ensure that more communities were certified ODF, through the practice of hand washing with water, soap or ash, and construction of fly-proof latrines, among others.

    He also commended the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) programme for funding the WASH project in selected communities, saying that the project had reduced illnesses and hospital visits in the communities.

    However, Mr Patrick Emori, the General Manager of Cross River Rural Water Supply Sanitation Agency (RUWATSSA), urged the state government to pay its counterpart funds for the programme.

    He stressed that this would enable more local councils in the state to benefit from the rural sanitation and hygiene programme aimed at stemming open defecation.

    Emori said that the payment of the counterpart funds had been a major challenge, adding that this had frustrated efforts to include three more local governments in the state in the GSF programme.

    “Cross River Government is to provide a counterpart fund of N337 million for the replication of the programme in Akamkpa, Obudu and Ogoja LGAs.

    “We are calling on the state government to bring its contribution to enable us to implement this programme to meet basic hygiene and sanitation targets, so as to reduce preventable deaths,” he said.

    He said that three local government councils — Abi, Bekwarra and Obanliku – were benefiting from the GSF programme, adding that their participation had engendered positive results.

    He, however, said that efforts were being made by the state government to ensure that the programme was replicated in more local governments across the state.

    Emori said that RUWATSSA had embarked on public sensitisation programmes on basic hygiene practices across the state so as to sensitise the citizens to the benefits of sanitation.

    He also said that priority attention was given to rural areas because 75 per cent of the citizens lived in rural areas, adding that water-borne diseases would be prevented if the rural areas had access to water and sanitation.

    Mr Joe Ekpata, the Desk Officer, Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) in Cross River, said that through the CLTS programme, more communities had been empowered to improve their sanitation and hygiene practices.

    He said since the inception of the GSF programme in Cross River, no fewer than 205 communities had been triggered to adopt Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) practices.

    He emphasised that 36 of these communities claimed that they had attained open defecation-free status.

    Besides, Ekpata said that the GSF programme had facilitated the construction of 536 household toilets, adding that the toilets led to a remarkable reduction in water-borne diseases in the communities.

    The desk officer, nonetheless, underscored the need to strengthen collaboration with all stakeholders to avoid duplication of efforts.

    Mr Oliver Okon, Programme Manager, Concern Universal, in the course of a visit to Bekwarra LGA, urged all WASH officials to show more commitment towards improving hygiene and sanitation in their communities.

    He said that the goals of ending open defecation and improving basic hygiene could only be achieved through the commitment of the officials.

    “Moreover, there is a need for continuous efforts at building the capacity of WASH officials to enable them to meet the demands of the RUSHPIN programme,” he said.

    Okon, however, commended the officials for their efforts to increase the number of communities which were triggered by the CLTS project.

    “The triggering process involves the task of sensitising communities to the need to construct toilets and engage in hand washing with water, soap or ash.

    “We urge WASH officials to continue to sensitise community members to the benefits of hygiene,” he said, adding: “increased commitment is, however, needed to sustain this project.”

    All the same, observers express the optimism that all the communities of Cross River State will soon be open-defecation free.

    They insist that with the implementation of the Community-led Total Sanitation (CLTS) programme of the Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) in most of the communities, the state will definitely attain the feat.

  • Community groans as ASUU goes on strike

    Community groans as ASUU goes on strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the Kogi State University (KSU) has begun an indefinite strike, following an alleged delay in paying its members’ allowance as contained in the 2009 agreement between its national body and the Federal Government. MOHAMMED YABAGI (300-Level Mass Communication) reports.

    When should workers go on strike to press home their demands? This is the question begging for answer.

    Each time the Kogi State University (KSU) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) goes on strike, Anyigba, a sprawling Igala community, becomes a ghost town; commercial activities are paralysed because the university makes the town tick.

    The ASUU strike is over the non-implementation of earned academic allowances as contained in the 2009 agreement between its national leadership and the Federal Government.

    ASUU chairman Dr Abdullahi Musa Yusuf, confirmed that lecturers were on strike over the allowance, noting that the amount owed  them is over N1 billion.

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Hassan Isah, refuted the claim, saying the inability  to implement the agreement was not the management’s or the government’s fault, but ASUU’s.

    He said the computed earned academic allowances submitted to the management and  forwarded to the government, was done last November. The management, Prof Isah said, forwarded the document to the government in January after it confirmed its accuracy.

    The VC said the institution was one of the first to implement the 2009 agreement after it was signed, appealing to the lecturers to go back to the negotiating table with the government rather than embarking on a strike.

    •Prof Yusuf showing documents to back ASUU’s claims
    •Prof Yusuf showing documents to back ASUU’s claims

    But, Dr Yusuf said the strike became imperative after the government allegedly reneged on its promise to pay the allowance.

    He said: “We have made efforts to dialogue with government on this matter but we are getting cold shoulders from them. Those who held talks with us on behalf of government did not seem to take us serious. As I always say, strike is always our last resort. In as much as we are humans, we are also parents who would not be happy to see our children sit at home. But our hands are tied.”

    Prof Isah said the government is committed to resolving the issue in the shortest time. “I appeal to the ASUU members to evaluate the cost of the strike. Management has not been resting on its oars in ensuring that the issue is addressed harmoniously. They should consider that Governor Idris Wada is an education-friendly governor. He just got the computed document and he would implement the agreement,” the VC said.

    ASUU also claimed that its members were overtaxed between November 2011 and September 2012, to the tune of N104,934,709.99. In a letter with reference number KGS/BIR/PIT/VOL.I/317, ASUU wrote the Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue, seeking a refund.

    But in a reply, the Internal Revenue Board said: “After careful study of your request, we discovered that, contrary to your claims, staff of Kogi State University were never over-taxed, particularly during the period of November 2011 to September, 2012 as claimed in your letter.

    “Kogi State, during the period, including your counterparts in the state civil service were made to pay 2.5 per cent of their gross salary as tax, whereas, you (the lecturers) were paying tax based on the concession earlier granted (waiver of Peculiar Allowances). This did not translate to being over-taxed.”

    The strike is biting residents of Anyigba hard. They are appealing to the lecturers to return to work.

    A resident said: “Without the university, our commercial activities crumble. In fact, commercial activities suffer whenever the school is on strike or students go on vacation. Since this action is internal, we appeal to the lecturers to use other means to push their demands.”

    •Isah speaking to our reporter
    •Isah speaking to our reporter

    Mohammed Isah, the vice chairman of the university’s Okada Riders Association, said their business has been affected. He said: “Anyigba is a university town and our businesses here largely depend on students’ patronage. Without them, commercial activities are paralysed. We urge the interested parties to reach an agreement and call off the strike.”

    Yusuf Mustafa, a business man, bemoaned the action, saying there had been no patronage for his trade since the strike started.

    He said: “The effect of the strike cannot really be described in words. If I want to describe it, I can say that it is devastating. Our business has stagnated and we don’t know what to do about it. This strike is affecting us seriously.”

    A recharge card vendor, Kenny Ayinde, said she used to sell more than 14 packs of cards of different networks when the school is in session. This is no longer the case. She hardly sells four packs of cards daily now.

    “Business is no longer moving. You can see that some of our colleagues have also closed shops (points at some lock-up shops). We hope we won’t suffer hunger before the strike is suspended.”

  • Firm donates drugs to police, community

    Drugs worth N2 million were donated to the 7 Squadron, Police Mobile Force, Sokoto and the  Wajakke community in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto State by the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN).

    The donation comprised assorted drugs which were presented to the respective beneficiaries by the Managing Director, Mr Alf Karlsen who was represented by the company’s Head of Human Resources, Alhaji Abubakar Bala.

    Making the presentation, Karlsen said the gesture was part of the corporate social responsibilities of the firm.

    The drugs included antibiotics, anti- malarial, analgesic; anti-fungal and four prostate leg supporters.

    The Managing Director said: “This is part of our goals to complement the efforts of the government in providing the health care needs of the people.

    He further explained that the gesture to the beneficiaries was in appreciation of the existing cordial relationship between the firm and the host communities.

    Receiving the donation, the Commander of the Mobile Police Squadron, Mr Yusuf Danlami, represented by Mr Isah Kabiru recalled the long standing cordial relationship between the Squadron and the organisation, even as he also commended the firm for its sense of commitment to fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities by extending the gesture to them.

    He also promised to utilise the drugs judiciously, pledging to continue to work round the clock to ensure the security of lives and property of the people of the state.

    In the same manner, Chairman of Wamakko Local Government Area, Alhaji Ahmed Kalambaina who spoke through the Director of Health, Alhaji Garba Aliyu commended CCNN for the gesture, promising the judicious use of the drugs.

     

  • Ericsson, Tigo, others partner on community empowerment

    Ericsson, Tigo, others partner on community empowerment

    Ericsson, Tigo and Coca-Cola have partnered to float a programme they said would empower rural communities.

    The pilot project will bring mobile connectivity to EKOCENTER, a social enterprise initiative designed to empower community well-being by bringing safe water, solar power and mobile communications, as well as basic goods and services to underserved communities.  The pilot project will be conducted in collaboration with Tigo Rwanda and German start-up company, Solarkiosk.

    Chief Sustainability Officer, Coca-Cola Company, Beatriz Perez, said: “EKOCENTER is an innovative social enterprise that endeavors to help communities thrive by providing further access to resources.  Engaging new partners to join this journey adds skills and expertise beyond our core enhancing the value for the people in these communities. Connectivity has become a fundamental part of thriving communities and economies. We’re excited about the solutions Ericsson can deliver to EKOCENTER, solutions we believe will foster positive change.”

    Vice President Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility at Ericsson, Elaine Weidman-Grunewald, also said about the initiative:  “Mobile broadband can address a wide range of issues that hinder development – from poverty to lack of electricity and safe water, to financial exclusion and gender inequality”.

  • Community thanks NUC on varsity

    Offa community in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State has praised the National Universities Commission (NUC) for approving Summit University.

    Summit is one of the nine private universities approved by the federal government.

    The community under the aegis of Offa Descendants Union (ODU), also congratulated Offa indigenes. The group implored them to remain committed to keeping to self help and communal efforts.

    A statement  by ODU Secretary-General, Mrs Wosilat Macarthy, said Summit University would not only enhance the socio-economic and education life of the state and the nation, but further create job opportunities for the people.

    Macarthy appreciated the resilience of the proprietor, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (AUD), for locating the university in the community. She said people of Offa would remain grateful to God as they are optimistic He will do more for them.

    She also lauded AUD national vice president, Alhaji Tiamiyu Olatinwo, whose untiring efforts resulted in “realising this long dream”.

    She also gave the Offa monarch, Aremo of Offa, Mufutau Gbadamosi and Prof Jamiu Oyawoye a pat on  the back for their doggedness in getting the institution approved.