The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Duku JOEL

  • ‘US$13.5 million required for health intervention in North East’

    ‘US$13.5 million required for health intervention in North East’

    • WHO responds to the critical health needs of IDPs in Mafa and Dikwa, Borno State
    The World Health Organization (WHO) has said over $13.5 million US dollars is required as intervention fund to fix the healthcare system destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents in the NorthEast region of Nigeria.
    WHO has also disclosed that out of the amount required, only $2 million dollars have so far been received while appealing to the governments, individuals, organization to make donations that will fill in the financial gap in the health intervention in the region which now stands at 82%.
    As part of the humanitarian emergency response in the region, WHO through the Borno State Ministry of Health has delivered emergency medical supplies to Mafa and DikwaIDP camps. These communities are  out of the 15 areas liberated this year by the Nigerian troops with an approximate population of 75,000 displaced people.
    The medical supplies received comprised of Interagency Emergency Health Kits with enough drugs that can treat 15,000 people for three months. Others supplies also made were Malaria and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) kits.  Only existing health facility in each camp and to mobile teams will benefit from the supplies..
    The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Dr. Abubakar Hassan who received the medical supplies on behalf of Borno State Government extended the gratitude of the state  to the WHO for providing the much needed medical supplies to Mafa and Dikwa camps describing the intervention as timely.
     “Many of the IDP health facilities in the state are in need of such assistance and WHO’s assistance has therefore come in at the right time,” Dr. Hassan said.
    The Nation findings reveal that the camps were selected based on a UN joint assessment mission to Mafa and Dikwa which showed Malaria and Acute Respiratory Tract Infections rates are high in IDP camps, accounting for 33% and 16% respectively.
    The assessment also discovered that patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer and other chronic illnesses were unable to access needed life-saving essential medicines. At the same time, there was generally a limited access to health facilities as many of them became non- functional  as they were either destroyed or abandoned   as a result of insecurity in the areas.
    In his remarks, Acting Country Director of WHO in Nigeria,  Dr Rex Mpazanje said: “WHO is committed to supporting the government of Borno state and other parts of North East Nigeria to continue to have improved access to health services including those in the hardest to access areas through the provision of emergency lifesaving medicines which currently are urgently needed.”
  • Yobe begins polio vaccination in Boko Haram liberated communities

    Yobe begins polio vaccination in Boko Haram liberated communities

    • Survivors hold rally in Damaturu

    While the resurgence of polio virus in Borno State has caused panic and concern over the certification of Nigeria as a polio free nation, similar concerns are also expressed in neighboring communities with peculiar challenges.

    However, the cheering news has emerged that immunization officials have started accessing the Boko Haram liberated communities in Gujba and Gulani Local Government areas.

    The  Executive Secretary Yobe State Primary Healthcare Management Board Dr. Hauwa Goni Fika disclosed this at a polio survivor rally held in Damaturu that health officials have started accessing the hard-reached areas of Gujba and Gulani that were hitherto taken over by Boko Haram.

    “The good news is that our people have started accessing those hard-reached areas of Gujba and Gulani which were no go area because of the Boko Haram crisis,” Dr. Hauwa informed.

    She called on the victims to desist from begging for alms, but rather identify meaningful trades that would change their lives while charging them to be ambassadors of kicking out the disease from Nigeria.

    The Nation reports that the Survivors of the polio victim penultimate week staged a grand rally in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital to sensitize the community on the need to accept the vaccine and kick out the disease out of the state and Nigeria at large.

    The rally, which  had in attendance hundreds of polio victims, including men and women, ridding on their wheelchairs with others on their rollers, members of the Yobe State Social Mobilization Committee, drum beaters and members of the Press  began at the head office of the Cripple Association Damaturu behind KeyStone Bank opposite the Damaturu Ram Market and went through some of the major  settlements cutting through some major streets in the metropolis singing, dancing and distributing pamphlets to the locales.

    The campaign rally also caused some gridlock on major streets as the cripples take over the roads and mount the louder speakers to send their message to the people before it was finally terminated at the NPI office Phase I Damaturu.

    A UNICEF official on the campaign train who does not want to be mentioned informed that the rally was predicated on the resurgence of the polio virus in Borno State, adding that “because of the proximity of Yobe to Borno State, proactive measures are taken to ensure adequate awareness of the virus and its danger to the community and on the people”.

    The source also disclosed that various mobilization and awareness campaigns like community dialogue, engagement of traditional rulers  are going on at the local government level across the state.

    The chairman of Damaturu Cripples Association promised to ensure that his members are actively involved in the campaign against polio various, adding that, the mistakes of the past have opened their eyes to ensure that no new born miss the vaccine in the state.

  • Heavy rainstorm puts Damaturu, environs in darkness

    A heavy downpour accompanied with destructive windstorm has destroyed power installations in Damaturu and other communities in the state keeping the state into total darkness for three days running.

    Apart from the destruction on power installation, many private residences and public buildings were equally blown off by the heavy rainstorm that lasted up to three hours on Wednesday afternoon.

    An official at the Power Holding Company of Nigeria in Damaturu who does not want to be named informed that the organization is working round the clock to restore power in the state, adding that, “our main power source which is Potiskum has been restored. That is the good news about the whole issue, but I must tell you that a lot of destruction was done during the rainstorm. About 14 poles were destroyed but we have erected all of them back.

    “Another pint people have to know is that even before the destruction, we have had challenges in the supply because we are not having enough supply from the source,” the official informed.

    There is however hope that the two days blackout in Damaturu, the state capital may be over soon as repairs are almost completed.

    “I am sure before tomorrow our customers will begin to get light within Damaturu. Potiskum, Damagum and other communities along the Potiskum axis are already enjoying light. We are mopping up Damaturu at the moment and that won’t take a long time because some of the lines that were destroyed were actually deadlines that are yet to be powered,” a senior official of PHCN disclosed in Damaturu.

  • Gaidam tasks UniMaid to research on Boko Haram

    Yobe state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has tasked University of Maiduguri to conduct research on the causes and come out with possible solution on the Boko Haram crisis.
    According to him, the university having situated at the heart of Boko Haram insurgency is can play a great role  of establishing  academic programme that would reduce or prevent violent extremism, start socio-economic and psycho-social intervention projects in response to humanitarian crises brought by Boko haram insurgency in the Northeast. 
    The governor, who spoke while receiving Fund Raising Committee of University of Maiduguri for its 40th Anniversary praised the institution for the success it has made so far in producing leaders and scholars in the country since its establishment in 1976.
    “One of the hall-mark of a university is the ability to embark on innovative use of its knowledge base and research findings to address challenges facing the immediate environment.
    “I want to believe that being situated at the central point of Boko Haram insurgency, the university is undoubtedly placed in a better position y]to conduct deep research into the phenomenon of Boko Haram extremism than any other institution of learning. In this regard, we expect the University to think in terms of mounting academic program to reduce or prevent violent extremism as well as start socio-economic and Psyco-social intervention projects in response to the humanitarian crisis brought about by the Boko Haram insurgency…,” Gov. Gaidam said.
    Gaidam also  advised Islamic scholars in the country to take the challenge of educating  misguided and misleading representation of Islam to the youths by some  extremist groups.
    The governor noted his commitment to education and human capital development with the establishment of Yobe  State University  adding that  huge budgetary allocation to education remains the priority of his administration.
    “The investment yielded dividend because Yobe University has scored 100 percent success in its first accreditation exercise. A total of 29 academic programmes were presented. At the end of the exercise, 27 programme were granted full accreditation while 2 were granted interim accreditation” he said
    He pledged to  continue with the  collaboration between Yobe state government and the University of Maiduguri.
    The governor ordered for the immediate release of the sum of N30 million as part of Yobe state support for the 40TH anniversary of the institution.
    Earlier, University`s Vice Chancellor, represented by his Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Haruna Godowoli, had unveiled the reason of the visit to the governor and request his attendance for the 40th anniversary and convocation of the university.
      
    He noted that the university programme was never once interrupted by the Boko Haram crisis in the state.
  • Boko Haram: Over 500 trapped in Gwoza hills at risk

    Boko Haram: Over 500 trapped in Gwoza hills at risk

    • children dying of malnutrition, hunger, diseases

    Close to 600 people hitherto trapped in the Gwoza hills by Boko Haram and rescued by the Nigeria Army are at high risk without humanitarian assistance.

    Our correspondent gathered from reliable sources that some of the people were rescued from the Zalidva hills in Gwoza Local Government of Borno State are currently squatting with soldiers at  a primary school in Pulka, while others are lurking in  petrol filling stations without food, shelter and Medicare.

    More disturbing is the reports that children are dying in droves of malnutrition, hunger and sicknesses, a source disclosed.

    Yohana Adamu, a Zalidva man among the rescued informed that their children are dying for lack of food, water, and lack of medical care, while calling on the Federal Government and Borno State government to urgently come to their aid.

    A vigilante source in Pulka disclosed that “about 303 people trapped in the hills by BH have been rescued by soldier last Sunday, but these people need food, shelter and med care. There is a lot of humanitarian crises here.

    “In addition to that a week earlier, we rescued 274 from Zalidva hills. All are in need of food and medical care since they can’t be evacuated to Maiduguri IDPs camps. People are dying of hunger and sicknesses. These people need urgent assistance from all angels,” the source said.

    Investigation revealed that a greater percentage of the people rescued are children and women.

     

  • Insurgency: Over 3,600 IDPs return to liberated communities 

    Insurgency: Over 3,600 IDPs return to liberated communities 

    More than 600 households comprising of over 3600 people earlier displaced by the Boko Haram crisis in a Yobe State have returned to their liberated Communities.

    Yobe State has over 300,000 IDPs scattered across the state, including about 28,000 living in IDPs camps.
    Our correspondent who visited some of the liberated towns observed  that life has  picked up in Katarko and Gujba communities hitherto taken over by Boko Haram.
    With the return of the IDPs, Yobe State Government through the Resettlement Committee has embarked on the provision of food relief materials and the restoration of basic amenities like water and food with two sub-committees putting the issues in the frontline.
    The sub-committee on the restoration of water to the liberated communities headed by the General Manager of the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Bukar Lawan has so far resuscitated three boreholes in the two communities of Kartarko and Gujba with additional ones coming on stream in Buni Yadi, Buni Gari, Gotala, Gotomba etc.
    In the same vein, the sub-committee on distribution of relief materials headed by the Hon. Commissioner for Home Affairs Information and Culture Aji Yerima Bularafa over the weekend took four truck load of assorted food and none food relief materials to the returnees of the two communities.
    The  food items distributed include; rice, beans, millet, maize, noddles and vegetable oil while the non food items were; blankets, mats and bathing soap.
    The items were handed over  to the Village Heads of the two communities by Aji Bularafa charge them to ensure that every returning IDP gets a share from the materials.
    He assured them of the commitment of the Yobe State Government to continue to provide succor to them as they pick up the pieces of their lives.
    In his remarks, the Chairman of Gujba Local Government Kyari Batrama expressed happiness that his people have started returning to their ancestral communities to re-start their normal lives.
    He called on the Federal Government to assist Yobe state in bringing back some of the essential amenities like the health facilities, schools, electricity and water that were destroyed by the Boko Haram insurgents.
    The Executive Secretary of Yobe  State Emergency Management Agency Musa Idi Jidawa called on donor agencies and spirited Individuals to partner with SEMA in order to bring succor to the distraught IDPs returning back to their communities.
    According to him, “the job must be seen done to the finish”, adding that: “The donors, NGOs and our partners have worked tirelessly to keep these people afloat throughout the difficult times they were displaced. It is therefore important to point out that this last stage of resettlement is very crucial I the life of these people and so the job must be seen done to the finish.”
  • Army releases 275 Boko Haram suspects in Borno

    Army releases 275 Boko Haram suspects in Borno

    The army on Friday released 275 detainees after clearing them of being members of the Boko Haram sect.

    The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major Gen. Hassan Umaru handed over the detainees to Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, at a ceremony in Maiduguri, the state capital..

    Umaru said the detainees included 271 Nigerians.

    Two of the released foreigners are from Cameroun and the other two from Niger Republic.

    Umaru said: “Today we are releasing 275 persons who have been in detention over suspicion of being involved in terrorism.

    “Our crack team of joint investigators has screened and cleared the persons that are in the process of being released here today.”

    Umaru said the detainees included 142 males, 49 females, 22 under aged and 50 children of cleared females.

    “The persons being released comprise 142 males, 49 females, 22 under aged, 50 children of cleared females, two Nigeriens and two Cameroonians,” the theatre commander said.

    He said they were released in line with the principles of justice and fair play.

    Receiving the detainees, Shettima commended the military for a job well done.

    He said: “Today bears a sense of professionalism, justice, equity and fairness of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

    “The 275 suspects were picked from several locations at different times and were adjudged to be clean after through investigations.”

    Shettima said the action had confirmed that the military was a respecter of the law.

     

  • Boko Haram: Senator challenges military to stop propaganda

    Boko Haram: Senator challenges military to stop propaganda

    Senator representing Borno Central at the National Assembly Baba kaka Bashir Garbai has called on the military to desist from  propaganda tool of deceiving people over the success and otherwise of their operations against the Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.

    Sen. Garbai who took the center stage of national discourse yesterday after his assertion that the insurgents are still holding the state to the juggler has again on Monday disclosed that  the propaganda tactic of the military is completely misleading the public over their success   against the Boko Haram operations in the state and other parts of the region, while calling on the military authorities to stop the propaganda tool and face reality.

    The embattled senator had yesterday expressed his concerns over renewed attacks on communities of  Dalori, Alomari, Mmube Mairi, Malari and other surrounding villages near Maiduguri by insurgents in the couple of days ago said something must be done urgently to save the people from the clutches of the insurgents.

    The Senator who has visited the villages to sympathize and console with the fleeing villagers at Dalori, Alomari and Malari yesterday has appealed to the victims to take what happened to them as an act of God.

    His words: “I came here with other representatives from the National and State Houses of Assembly to sympathize and condole these villagers that were attacked and sacked by Boko Haram insurgents.

    “Just yesterday, another adjourning villages of Alomari, Malari and Mmube Mairi were attacked, leaving scores dead and injured before setting their houses ablaze. So who are we deceiving?

    “As you can see, my people have lost everything, including their livestock, grains and
    other food items in the presence of our military and other security operatives at the theatre of the war, yet the military claimed that they have defeated/degraded boko haram which is not true”. He lamented.

    He further stated  that contrary to  the claims of the Nigerian Army reclaim several captured Borno communities; three councils of Mobbar,Abadam and Kala/Balge are still under the control of Boko Haram.
    “The facts on ground indicated that the military has to rise to the challenges of these insurgents that are still occupying some of our communities in 21 Local Government Areas of Borno state.
    “The only council areas in this state that are liberated by the military; and safe for our people to live and carry on their various socio-economic activities without fear of any attacks, are Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Bayo and Kwaya/Kusar.

    “It  is not yet ‘urhuru’ for both the Federal Government and themilitary on degrading Boko Haram terrorists’ activities in Borno state.
    “The levels of devastation to both lives and property in these two villages, is beyond one’s imaginations for any intervention and assistance from the State and Federal Governments.

    “Already, all the villagers have fled to Maiduguri for safety; and you are saying that
    the military have liberated all Borno communities, and asking Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to relocate back to their communities is very unfair.

    “Their communities are still unsafe, and asking IDPs to relocate is simply making them vulnerable to further attacks”. Garbai explained.

    He insisted that  “apart from Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Kwaya Kusar and Bayo that are free from the occupation of insurgents, Mobbar, Abadam and Kala Balge are fully under Boko Haram control, while the remaining 21 Local Government Areas of the state are partially liberated”.

    Senator Garbai was on the visit in  company of some House of Representative members including Hon. Kadiri Rahis representing Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) went to  destroyed palace of the District Head of Dalori, Alhaji Lawan Dalorima where he  prayed Allah to grant Aljantul Firdaus to those who lost their lives during the attacks and wished the injured ones quick recovery.

    He made a personal  donated  of 1000 sets of wrappers,  Shedda (men clothing) and the sum of N2 million to alleviate their immediate hardship, while other lawmakers donated food items and cash to the victims.

    He assured the feeing residents and other victims of insurgency that the Bill on the establishment of North East Development Commission (NEDC) has already passed the 1st reading at the floors of the National Assembly, and very soon it will scale 2nd and 3rd reading to become a law for its implementation towards rebuilding the entire region that was hitherto destroyed by insurgents in the last six years.

     

  • Senate delegation donates N10m to IDPS in Maiduguri

    The senate delegation to Maiduguri, Borno State on Monday donated the sum of N10m to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

    The senate delegation led by Senate President, Bukola Saraki was in Maiduguri to see first hand, the plight of the displaced people told governor Shettima that their coming to Maiduguri is to commiserate with the people of the state and a show of solidarity for the people of the state.

    Details later…

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  • Yobe PDP primary: Ngama, others kick

    Yobe PDP primary: Ngama, others kick

    Four Yobe State governorship aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have rejected the primaries held Tuesday evening at the Legacy House in Abuja.

    A former Minister of Police Affairs, Adamu Maina Waziri, emerged the standard bearer.

    But the other aspirants alleged that they were edged out of the primaries.

    The aggrieved aspirants, led by a former Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama, disassociated themselves from what they called a “purported primary election”.

    Addressing reporters in Damaturu, the state capital, Ngama said: “…The purpose of this press conference is essentially to address specifically our teeming PDP supporters in Yobe State and fellow Nigerians on our collective position and disassociate ourselves from the purported primary election held this evening (December 9) at the Legacy House in Abuja on the following grounds:

    “The purported election was conducted in contravention to the provision of Section 50 of the constitution of the PDP as well as the electoral guidelines of 2014 issued by the party.

    “The list of the delegates, who ought to have voted at the purported election, was not made public to the aspirants.

    “None of the three aspirants was informed of the venue, time and necessary arranged preceding the conduct of the primary elections.

    “Out of the total of 670 delegates, only 21 participated in the purported primaries. From the foregoing, it is clear that the whole process of the purported elections was manipulated for the purpose of achieving a pre-determined aim, that is, the emergence of a particular candidate.”

    Maina described his election as the will of God.

    He urged the other aspirants to work with him to defeat the APC in the state.