President Mohammadu Buhari arrived Damaturu in Yobe State on Wednesday to hold a town hall meeting with community and traditional leaders.
According to Bashir Ahmad, the personal assistant to President Mohammadu Buhari on new media, the president, is set to meet with the Dapchi school girls’ parents later.
Bashir made this known through a post on his official twitter account.
Ahead of the much awaited farming season, young and old farmers in Damaturu, Yobe State capital and environs are upbeat that good fortunes will smile on them this time around.
One person who as this blessed assurance is Bukar Sani, a youth farmer at Garin Gada in Geidam Local Government. Sani, along with his friends looked at the merciless bulldozer as it smashed trees and shrubs standing on its way, moving in a hurry as though it was going to crash.
But the heavy duty machine leaves behind a vast land that stretches to about 500 hectares which Bukar and his friends nod with satisfaction that enough farmland is now at their disposal to carry out their dry farming activities.
It is not the only heavy duty machine in sight. On top of two elevated huge heaps of soil not far from each other with a massive passage in between them is another heavy duty machine building two long heaps to form a water canal that stretches more than three kilometers.
From both sides of the vast land is a six water field water channels connecting the long canal that would service the over 2800 farmers that would be engaged on the scheme.
What excites the farmers more according to Sani is the commitment of KAWADGARBO Road & Bridge Co. Ltd, (the company handling the project) to deliver the project to government to hand it over to them by March this year to start irrigation farming activities on the site.
“We are anxious to see that this project is completed and handed over to the government so that the government can give us the allocation to begin our farming activities. We can’t wait. But what we are really happy is that the Chinese contractor is working hard to finish the project from what we the villagers are seeing,” Bukar said.
Bulama Alkali, 29 has also demonstrated his anxiety over the irrigation project with the hope of achieving great fortunes as soon as it kicks off.
According to him tilling the soil is where the goldmine is and he is determined to break even from the all round year farming scheme Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has initiated in the state for the youths.
For Abdullahi Shehu, farming without adequate rainfall has been very frustrating but the irrigation farming would bridge the gap for us to have adequate water to farm throughout the year.
“With the desert and lack of rainfall, farming in the part of the state has been a waste of time. We work very hard and produce little to consume. Our stories are nothing but frustration. But with what Gov. Gaidam is doing for us in this place, it’s going to be a different story entirely. For us, we know nothing but farming. If we can get water throughout the year, we cannot stop farming. Moreso, this one is going to be different because, government support will enhance production,” Abdullahi said.
It is pertinent to emphasise that the stories of these young farmers from Giedam represents the larger picture of the challenges farmers in the state especially the ones from the northern axis of Yobe face annually in their attempt to engage in farming and food production.
Worried by the perennial and chronic hardship of farmers in the state, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam in September 2015 constituted a five man adhoc committee with a clear mandate of designing and implementing an effective modality for the revival of irrigation farming in Yobe State on a larger scale.
In his vision, government’s involvement in supporting irrigation farming in the state would to a very large extent curb the level of unemployment in the state as well as boost its food security. In the same vein, the governor believed that setting up the taskforce has become imperative due to the emerging climatic change resulting to limited rainfall which often create adverse effect on arable crops production in the state.
From the projection of the project, Yobe State Government is expected to generate job opportunities to over 40,000 youths in the state annually.
According to the governor, statistics show that the state is endowed with a massive 366,000 hectares of irrigation land, unfortunately, only 30,000 to 40,000 are being put to use. A situation he vowed his administration is determined to reverse.
Clearly as a way of sharing the pains of the farmers and with that determination to shift focus due the compelling climate change, Governor Gaidam said, “We consider the development of irrigation as very important in the state because we can no longer continue to depend on rain-fed agriculture in view of the very serious challenges it poses to agricultural development in the state.
“The situation is further aggravated by climate change, shift in growing season and limited rainfall period with the attendant effects on most arable crops in the state,” Governor Gaidam said.
He also revealed that between 34,000 to 50,000 hectares had been identified which could create job for hundreds of citizens in the state.
The state is endowed with 14 seasonal and perennial Rivers and streams with the Yobe River being the longest, covering a distance of over 200 kilometres which needs to be tapped to the fullest.
To further demonstrate his commitment to the realisation of the irrigation projects in the state, Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam underwent an international study tour with the Chairman of the Irrigation Taskforce Committee, Engr. Gambomi Goni and other key government officials to the Peoples Republic of China where he visited the cooperate headquarters of RainFine Irrigation Company, one of the leading irrigation companies in China to draw some international best practices to inject into the Yobe Irrigation Scheme Project.
Some hunters from Gur village in Biu Local Government Area of Borno in conjunction with hunters from Damaturu on Thursday intercepted suspected Boko Haram terrorists cattle rustlers and killed one of them.
Army Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman said in a statement on Friday that the encounter took place at Burashika village in Biu.
Usman said the hunters recovered one AK-47 rifle mounted with magazine of two rounds and 48 cows, 58 goats, 36 sheeps and 12 donkeys.
He added that the recovered livestock had been handed over to security operatives in Gur village, pending identification by their rightful owners and handover.
About eight soldiers have been feared killed after Boko Haram lunched a dastardly attack on a military base in Sasawa, a community close to Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.
The spokesman of 3 Div. Nigerian Army Col. Kayode Ogunsanya confirmed the attack but could not give details of the casualty figure. He however mentioned that “there was casualty on both side of the army and the insurgents”.
An anonymous soldier who survived the attack told our corespondent in a phone interview that eight soldiers including an officer and a civilian were feared to have been killed the attack.
He also added that many soldiers took to their heels after sighting the insurgents driving into the community with about seven gun trucks and other riding on motorcycles.
“I can authoritatively confirm to you that there was an attack at dawn yesterday at Sasawa and eight soldiers including an officer as well as a civilian were killed during the raid.
“The insurgents over ran the military base having come with seven gun trucks took the soldiers by suprise.
“Many of our colleagues ran for their lives because the fire power of the insurgents was much and our guys have to take cover,” the source informed.
The source also revealed that the soldiers at Kukareta sighted the insurgents heading to Sasawa but could reach their colleagues to alert them due to poor communication system.
A resident of Sasawa, Alhaji Shehu Goni Sasawa confirmed that the insurgent attacked and killed many soldiers.
Alhaji Goni called on the military to take proactive steps and smoke thideouts of the insurgents which is well known to them.
“I am afraid many of the security forces may have been killed because they insurgents laid siege for very long time.
“We have been telling the military about the hideouts of these guys but they have been treating it with kid gloves” the locale lament.
Sasawa is one of the communities that was under the control of the insurgents before being liberated by the security forces with an established military base.
The military base has suffered several attack’s by the insurgents.
Yesterday”s attack is the fourth since the beginning of this year.
…As state govt fights false rumour of immunization in Damaturu
Normalcy has returned to public primary schools in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital as the state government battles with the false rumour of allege immunization of children by some unknown persons.
Our correspondent gathered that most public primary schools in the state were closed with rumors that some unknown persons have infiltrated some primary schools within the metropolis administering immunization to unsuspecting children.
According to some version of the report, what is more worrisome is that the, the vaccinators were administering the vaccines either on the neck of the child or close to the umbilical cord of the children with huge monetary reward. The rumour which spread like fire compelled parents to rush to the schools to pick up their children for fear of the unknown danger resulting from the immunization.
As a part of measures to curtail the rumours and bring confidence to the parents, the State Commissioner for Yobe State for Health Dr. Bello Kawuwa described the labour as unfunded and blatant lies coming from mischief makers.
Dr. Bello explained that no donor agency in the state except the state government is responsible for all immunization activities, adding that for any intervention, the support is only channeled through the state ministry of Health.
He stated that a team from the state ministry of Health, the chairman of Damaturu local government, the police, civil defense corp., NGOs in the state convened an emergency meeting which it was discovered that the rumors are lies.
He called on the general public not to panic but to rely on credible channels of getting information rather than unnecessary just as he called on them to disregard the rumors.
Dr. Bello, a medical doctor said he was surprised that over his years of experience and study as a medical doctor that he hasn’t found any medical history relating to the immunization on the neck and in the lower abdomen of a child.
Yobe State Government Friday signed an agreement with JM & AS Enterprises Limited for the construction of the over N11 billion cargo airport to be located in Damaturu, the state capital, the first of its kind in the entire northern Nigeria.
The signing ceremony which was held at the office of the commissioner of Works Transport and Energy had in attendance the commissioner of Works, Transport and Energy, Alh. Lawan Shettima, and other top officials of the ministry and representative of the contractor.
The works commissioner, Lawan Shettima in his address informed that the contractor to stick strictly with the specifications of the contract term to avoid compromising the quality of the work.
The Nation reports that on Wednesday, 13/09/2017, Yobe State Executive Council rose from her weekly Executive Council meeting where it approved among other projects the construction of a cargo airport in Damaturu at the total cost of 11,327,120,487.24.
But news of the airport project was received with mixed feelings among the people in the state as many Yobeans took to the social media to criticized government action for the approval of such a huge sum of money for the project.
Our correspondent who monitored the social media noticed that many were of the opinion that the money should have been invested in other meaning ventures that would impact directly on the lives of the ordinary people in the state.
While others described the project as a ‘terrible calculative development error’ for the state, some see it as a complete misplacement of priority from the Gov. Gaidam led administration to embark on such a project wondering the economic viability and how it can impact of the lives of the teaming common people of Yobe State.
Some of the people observed that the project is completely out of the Yobe State Economic Reform Agenda (YOSERA) which is more of a guiding document for the economic development of the state, adding that neighboring states like Jigawa and Bauchi made the same mistake which they are regretting at the . “How can you have an airport that you cannot maintain”, one of them asked.
Some people are of the opinion that the project will not see the light of the day. Their opinion is that it will amount to a waste of resource for the state just like the billions of naira Late Mamman Ali sank in the boarding primary schools.
The Nation also gathered from diverse opinions that the airport project is one significant development that the state will witness since her creation 26 years ago.
The proponents of the projects argue that the absence of airport has rubbed Yobe State of so many opportunities especially during the Boko Haram insurgency where visitors both local and international prefer to fly to Maiduguri and do their business leaving Yobe in the loop. Because of the absence of an airport in Damaturu, the President and Command in Chief before his election in 2015 could not visit Yobe for his nationwide campaign. This is one big embracement for us too many,” another person had argued.
“Yobe is the only state in the north east without an airport and the state is losing seriously for this. A clear example is that Yobe has been left out in the scheme of things when it comes to visitors coming into the state for investment. Similarly during the insurgency, NGOs always visit state capitals with airport and some relevant decisions are often reached in support of host states. Borno and Adamawa states have often been placed on advantage for having airport ahead of Yobe. To add to it, during the 2015 general election, only Yobe state in the whole Federation did not host Mr. President because there is no airport. Only God knows what his coming would have benefited the state in their state capitals have been considered.”
But the Commissioner of Works, Transport and Energy while defending the action of his governor for the project said, “Gov. Gaidam is in a hurry to develop Yobe. We cannot wait for development to come to us. This is the time for Yobe to take her rightful position in the comity of developed states in the country.
“As for those who are criticizing this project on the social media, Mr. Gov. cannot shift his focus in delivering Yobe from the woods. For those that are doubting whether there is no money or whether the project would be abandoned, they will be disappointed because, the Governor has even said the state is in a very good financial capacity to pay the contractor 90%. As I speak with you now, Yobe is not owing workers or any form debt. Our gratuities and pension of workers are issues that Yobe does not have as other states.
“For the economic benefit of the state, just be reminded that Yobe is the major producer of Gum Arabic in the country and we are looking at the future of the market with Europe, Asia and the United Arab Emirate with the coming of this airport. We also want to take advantage of the Federal Government policy in shifting from the oil to the non-oil sector and this airport will transform Yobe into a huge commercial hub for the country,” the Commissioner explained.
Not fewer than two persons have been confirmed dead while three other sustained various degrees of injury on Sunday as gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram opened fire on travelers along Damaturu Biu high way, security and military sources have said.
A military source who spoke on condition of anonymity informed that the insurgents had buried IEDs along the highway.
Our correspondent gathered the travelers took off from Damaturu on their way to Biu located some 121 Kilometers east of Damaturu the Yobe state capital when they encountered the Boko Haram terrorists’ midway into the journey.
The source added that the militants opened fire indiscriminately on the travelers while in attempt to escape from trampled on IEDs e which went off killing two persons on the spot.
The three injured were rushed to the Damaturu specialists’ hospital by security forces on patrol along the road.
A hospital source at the Accident and Emergency ward of the Damaturu Specialists’ Hospital confirmed that three peoples have been treated and referred to the Federal Medical Centre Gombe on relative request.
Sunday’s attack on the road further cast doubt on the safety of the Damaturu-Biu road opened to travelers last year by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai after Buni Yadi was recaptured from the Boko Haram insurgents by security forces.
It has also increased fear along the only road connecting Borno and Yobe state to other north east states of the country.
The Maiduguri-Gwoza – Yola road and Maiduguri- Damboa – Biu road have long been opened for commuters but continue to record cases of Boko Haram attack as several travelers have either been killed or kidnapped in different Boko Haram ambush.
The Eid-El-Fitr festivities were celebrated peacefully in most states of the Northeast, as security was tightened in Borno and Yobe – the two states worst hit by the activities of insurgents.
Reports by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) indicated that vehicular movements were restricted in the two states for certain period, to avert any ugly incident, especially during the congregation prayers.
Borno Police Command had announced total ban on vehicular movement during the prayer time, resulting in the closure of most roads in the metropolis.
Security personnel were also deployed to prayer grounds to screen worshippers thoroughly at the entrance.
Some worshippers interviewed hailed the security agents for their efforts in ensuring security at the prayer grounds.
The police had deployed 2,000 personnel across the state to ensure adequate security during the celebrations.
In Yobe, the congregation prayers were conducted peacefully, just as a 12-hour restriction on vehicular movements was also enforced across the state.
Armed security men and vigilante groups were placed at strategic locations to keep vigil on movement of people to the prayer grounds.
In the past, cases of suicide bombing were experienced at prayers grounds in Damaturu, especially during the peak of Boko Haram insurgency.
Some Muslim faithful in Damaturu expressed gratitude to God for the peace enjoyed in the state throughout the one month Fasting period.
In his Sallah message, the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, urged the people to use the period to pray for the country and improved health for President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We should also, as good citizens, more than ever before, and be prepared to work and act together in our resolve for the attainment of a happier and more prosperous future for our State and indeed our great country, Nigeria,” he said.
The situation was also the same in Adamawa, another state that had grappled with the menace of Boko Haram insurgents.
NAN reports that no ugly incident was recorded across the state, just as rainfall forced a shift in the venue of the congregation prayers, from open prayer ground, to Yola Central Mosque.
The rainfall also affected the staging of durbar at the palace of the Lamido of Adamawa, usually associated with such celebrations.
Receiving members of various groups and associations who paid him Sallah homage, Gov. Muhammadu Bindow said reports reaching him from security agencies indicated that the celebration was hitch-free across the state.
Bindow urged the people to remain law-abiding and continue to support government at all levels.
“I also want to use this opportunity to urge our people to participate actively in the ongoing update of voters register because reports reaching me showed that participation is not encouraging,” the governor said.
In Gombe, celebrations went on peacefully, but it was not business as usual for commercial vehicle operators, who lamented the dearth of passengers.
Speaking with NAN in Gombe, Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers, Malam Ibrahim Bala, said the situation at the various park in the state was worrisome.
Bala, who attributed the problem to the economic hardship in the country, said the motorists were ready to reduce fares if they would get passengers.
Muslims in Jos enjoyed a peaceful Eid-el Fitr celebration yesterday, with security tightened in some parts of the Plateau capital.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited some strategic areas in the city, observed that more security personnel were deployed to ensure the safety of worshipers and fun-seekers at recreation centres.
The Chief Imam of Dutse Central Mosque in Jigawa, Sheikh Sani Birninkudu has advised Muslims to desist from making divisive comments capable of creating hate and disharmony among people.
Birninkudu stated this in a sermon to mark Eid-el Fitr prayers in Dutse yesterday.
The cleric advised Muslims to fear God, reminding them that they would be held accountable for their deeds in the hereafter.
The Yobe Government has issued a 12-hour restriction on the movement of vehicles in the state from 10.p.m. on Saturday to 10 a.m. on Sunday to ensure security during the ‘Eid prayers.
The government made the order known in a statement issued by Abdullahi Bego, Director of Press to Yobe Governor in Damaturu on Saturday.
“Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam has approved the placement of restriction of vehicular movement throughout the state as part of measures to ensure secure and hitch-free Eid-el-Fitr prayers marking the end of the Ramadan fast.
“Accordingly, all vehicular movement in the state is restricted with effect from 10.00p.m. tonight (Saturday 24th June 2017) to 10.00a.m. on Sunday (25th June 2017).
“The restriction is, however, conditional on the sighting of the new moon tonight and confirmation that the Eid-el-Fitr will be tomorrow, Sunday.
“If the moon has not been sighted and the Eid will be on Monday, the restriction will apply from 10.00p.m. on Sunday (25th June 2017) to 10.00a.m. on Monday (26th June 2017),” ,’’ Bego said.
He said the restriction order was placed in the interest of public safety after consultations with heads of law enforcement agencies in the state.
He warned against people driving vehicles to prayer grounds and stressed that “no vehicle will be allowed in any Eid prayer ground throughout the state.”
Meanwhile, Gaidam, in an Eid el-Fitr message to the people urged Muslim faithful to use the season to pray for the country and improved health for President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We should also, as good citizens, more than ever before, be prepared to work together, and act together in our resolve for the attainment of a happier and more prosperous future for our state and indeed our great country, Nigeria.”
He commended the Buhari administration for its commitment in the fight against insurgency and concerted steps it had taken toward repositioning Nigeria on the path to glory and prosperous economy.
In the recent past Boko Haram insurgents had used occasions of religious celebrations to attack worshippers in churches and mosques.
Yobe is one of the frontline states that have suffered attacks from the insurgents.
Yobe government has commenced the domestication of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (AJCA) as part of measures to recover the setbacks suffered by the justice sector from the insurgency era.
The AJCA provides for the administration of criminal justice system which promotes efficient management of criminal justice institutions and speedy dispensation of justice.
It also provides protection for the society from crimes and protection of the rights and interest of the suspect, the defendants and victims in Nigeria.
Alhaji Ahmed Mustapha, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice disclosed this on Sunday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu.
He said: “Gov Ibrahim Gaidam has also approved the setting up of the Administration of Justice Committee.
“We have the Administration of Justice Commission at the federal level and the Administration of Justice Committee at the state level.”
Mustapha said the process of domesticating the act has reached advanced stage and would be submitted to the state assembly for passage into law.
The commissioner said courts were forced to close down while judges, lawyers and litigants avoided the courts during the insurgency era.
He said that this brought untold consequences on administration of justice, adding that it also affected the rights of those awaiting trial and other litigants
“We are grateful for the improvement in peace and security, the courts are now sitting and lawyers from all over the country now attend the courts,” he said.
Mustapha said that the new atmosphere would redress some of the problems suffered in the administration of justice and contribute to the post insurgency era reintegration.