The Nation Newspaper

Tag: kwara

  • CSOs to Kwara: focus on farming

    Civil Society Organisa-tions (CSOs) have urged the Kwara State government to focus attention on agriculture, saying it will complement its drive for internally generated revenue (IGR). The CSOs decried the non-involvement of small-scale farmers in the agriculture budgeting in the state.

    They added that the 2017 Kwara State budget did not take cognisance of women farmers who form a large chunk of producers of over 60 percent of food being consumed in the state.

    “The agriculture budget is not gender sensitive as there is no provision or line items for women farmers and this limits the application of funds to specific issues faced by women farmers; the

    percentage of the state’s total budget allocated to agriculture sector is abysmally low (less than one percent). This falls short of the 10 percent Maputo and Malabo declarations and commitments,” they said.

    Speaking on behalf of the group, Senior Programme Officer, Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication (CCEPE), Abdulrahman Ayuba urged the state government to allocate no less than five percent of the state total annual budget to the agriculture sector.

    He recommended among others that: “The government must realise that the agriculture sector has the potential to contribute significantly to its aim of introspecting and sustaining the economy; moreover, honouring the Maputo declaration is a demonstration of a government of integrity and its commitment of its citizens, especially to the smallholder farmers of which women are in majority.

    “Government must vigorously promote organic farming among smallholder farmers, therefore, it is expected that government will reasonably make budget provision for this purpose in subsequent budget proposals.

    “Extension services of the government should also be strengthened by recruiting new extension agents, building their capacity and providing them with incentives and facilities necessary for their effectiveness in the field.

    “Given the centrality of the budget to the actualisation of that purpose, the citizens must be involved in the process. This should be promoted from the point of identification of needs, conceptualisation of response to such needs, budget formulation, consideration, defence, passage, implementation, monitoring and review.

    “A forum should be created by the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the state House of Assembly, for the participation of smallholder farmers especially women farmers and CSOs in the budgetary processes for ownership and in order to also inform and articulate priorities.”

  • SON is committed to ridding Nigeria of used, expired tyres – official

    SON is committed to ridding Nigeria of used, expired tyres – official

    Mr Sunday Yashim, the Coordinator of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in Kwara, says SON is determined to rid Nigeria of imported fairly used and expired tyres.

    Yashim made the commitment on Friday in Ilorin while speaking with newsmen after a raid on tyre shops where over 1, 000 tyres were confiscated.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the raid was led by the SON coordinator  and was accompanied by men and officers of the Nigeria Police, Civil Defence  and Federal Road Safety.

    The operation was carried out in Sabo Oke, Maraba, Ajase Ipo Road and Offa Garage areas of Ilorin where three shops were sealed.

    Yashim said SON embarked on the raid to rid the state of imported fairly used tyres.

    “We want to ensure that “tokunbo tyres’’ are no longer used by any commercial vehicle or any vehicle at all; by so doing our tyre industry will be revived,” he said.

    According to him, majority of accidents on Nigerian roads are caused by expired tyres brought into the country illegally.

    Yashim said that the risks associated with using expired tyres were many of which the common one was the loss of lives as a result of burst tyres on speed.

    He said the tyres were not made for Nigerian weather, adding that in Europe where the tyres came from, there were three to four seasons and each season had specified tyres for it.

    “In Europe, tyres are produced based on the seasons, for example winter tyres will be used only for winter season after which they will be removed from the vehicle.

    “Nigeria is in tropical region, tyres meant for winter in Europe cannot be used in tropical region like Nigeria.

    “It will not last long and it is dangerous as our temperature will increase its pressure and burst,” he said.

    Yashim said that it was due to the influx of fairly used tyres that the two major tyre manufacturers in Nigeria, Dunlop and Michelin, relocated to Ghana.

    “You can imagine the number of people that have lost their jobs as a result of the influx of used and expired tyres in the country,” he said.

    The SON coordinator said that Nigeria had lost billions of naira to Ghana in taxes which these two companies were paying.

  • Kwara raises panel to investigate communal clash

    Kwara raises panel to investigate communal clash

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has set up a judicial commission of enquiry into the Iloffa/Odo-Owa, Oke-Ero Local Government Area, communal clash.

    A statement by the Secretary to the State Government Isiaka Gold said the commission is headed by the Chief Judge, Justice Sulyman Durosinlorun Kawu.

    The judicial commission’s terms of reference include:

    • investigate and ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the clash between Iloffa and Odo-Owa;
    • ascertain the extent of loss and damage to life and property;
    • determine the conduct of any person(s), group of persons or associations, who contributed to the crisis;
    • investigate and identify persons or group of persons, other than security personnel, who wielded and used arms in the crisis, and recommend appropriate sanctions;
    • identify any external/extraneous factors/involved in the crisis, and determine the level of involvement or roles of the monarchs of both communities.

    Others include to make appropriate recommendations, including sanctions if need be, to prevent a recurrence and ensure peaceful between the communities.

    The panel will be inaugurated by Governor Ahmed tomorrow at the Council Chambers of the Government House in Ilorin, by 12 noon.

  • Kwara, NGO to provide free cleft lip surgery

    Kwara, NGO to provide free cleft lip surgery

    The Kwara State government is collaborating with Oral Health Advocacy Initiative (OHAI), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), to perform free surgery for patients of cleft lips and palates in the state. Smile Train, a United States NGO, is co-sponsoring the programme nationwide with OHAI.

    Already, no fewer than 300 persons with cleft lips have been operated upon by the OHAI team in Baruten Local Government Area of the state, it was gathered.

    At the launch of Cleft Week in Ilorin, the state capital, Programme Director, OHAI, Dr. Ver-or Ngutor said, “Cleft lips and palates are variations of a type of congenital deformity caused by abnormal facial development during gestation period leading to non-fusion and continuity of facile structures before birth. The defects can also occur together as cleft lips and palates.”

    Dr Ngutor revealed that several epidemological studies have been carried out in different parts of the world, adding that about “6,000 children are born with this defect yearly in Nigeria.”

    He said, “Surgery as the immediate option treats disfigurement but it is also beneficial in managing both physical and psychological perspective of this condition as it results in increased self-esteem, self-confidence and satisfaction with one’s own appearance. OHAI takes this surgical correction of this defect to the very doorsteps of these patients by seeking out strategic partnership with government, concerned individuals, organisations and the media to meet our imperative objects giving everyone a chance at full social and economic integration.”

    The programme director said the NGO had taken the initiative to Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Cross Rivers, Enugu, Kebbi, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara states.

    In a remark, Programme Director, for West and Central Africa, Smile Train, Mrs. Nkiruka Obi said the free surgery is “a wake-up call to all tiers of government. There is a whole lot of people who are suffering in silence. We also need not just the support of government

    but the support of the media. The media need to help us push the message out that oral health is critical to general wellbeing of individuals. Clefts could be solved just by simple surgery.

    “We should not stigmatise or discriminate against people who have clefts, rather we should actually help and give them support and refer them to Smile Train partner hospitals closest to them and they will be given complete free medical treatment; which is of course safe and of high quality.”

    Mrs. Obi said that OHAI has “in the last couple of years carried out over 2000 free and safe quality surgeries on cleft patients. OHAI is a global leader in quality healthcare in Africa.”

    Said she: “Smile Train is the world largest cleft charity and we have a single vision which is to ensure that every child born with cleft in any part of the world is given a second chance to live a full and productive life.

    “We have a very unique strategy, which is to use teach a man how to fish model; whereby we come into a community and empower the local medical professionals who in turn are trained and they are able to provide free comprehensive cleft care to cleft people there all year round.

    “And for us coming here today, we have partnered with Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) called Oral Health Advocacy Initiative (OHAI). They have been partners since 2011/2012. Today they have brought us to Kwara state where they are doing comprehensive cleft care to people.

    “We are here to inform the people of the state that no child should be left to suffer with cleft, because OHAI with Smile Train are here to provide free and high quality cleft surgery to anybody who is willing to be helped.

    “For us it is an initiative which is laudable because we know that cleft children have feeding problems, speaking problems and they suffer a lot of stigmatization. The irony the whole is that these children can be given a new smile within 45 minutes surgery. And that is why we are here.”

    Declaring the free surgery open, the state Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Suleiman Alege expressed the state’s preparedness to readily collaborate with OHAI to improve healthcare delivery in the state. He hailed the initiative and urged others to emulate the kind gesture of OHAI.

  • FRSC records 197 arrests during Eid-el-Fitr festival in Kwara

    FRSC records 197 arrests during Eid-el-Fitr festival in Kwara

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Kwara said on Monday that  it arrested and prosecuted 197 motorists for violating traffic rules  during the last Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

    Mr Sunday Maku, the FRSC  Sector Commander in the state, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin  that the offenders committed a total of 204  traffic offences across the 16  local councils  in the state.

    He said  private and commercial vehicle owners were among the offenders.

    “Some of the offences committed by the motorists were dangerous driving, refusal to use seat belts, over loading, expired vehicle particulars and lack of speed limit device in their  vehicles.

    “The offenders were tried by  special mobile courts established at various locations in the state.

    “The command also  recorded four road crashes during the period, with  one person  dead  while 10 were injured,’’ he said.

    Maku further  said that 89 vehicles  were impounded during the period for not being road worthy among  other offences.

  • Calm returns to Kwara warring communities as govt. imposes curfew

    Calm returns to Kwara warring communities as govt. imposes curfew

    Relative calm has returned to Iloffa and Odo-Owa communities in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara after the outbreak of hostilities among the two neighbouring communities last Thursday.

    The crisis, which erupted from a market bordering the communities resulted in the killing of two persons and destruction of properties.

    The crisis was said to have escalated due to disagreements among the community leaders over the introduction of the traditional new yam festival in the said market.

    Meanwhile, the state government had imposed curfew on the two warring communities as part of measures to curtail the crisis.

    Alhaji Isiaka Gold, the Secretary to the State Government, announced the curfew
    in a statement after an on-the-spot assessment of damages in the communities.

    He announced a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew with immediate effect.

    Gold stated that with the curfew, all human and vehicular movement in the two affected communities had been barred.

    According to him, the state government is also ordering the suspension of any activities relating to the yam festival in Oke Ero Local Government Area of the state.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the situation on Sunday reports that many houses and shops remained under lock.

    A combined team of police and army were seen patrolling the metropolis to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

    Gold added that the curfew was to assist security agencies to contain and prevent the escalation of the conflict, as well as restore peace.

    He reaffirmed government’s determination toward ensuring adequate security for citizens and urged residents of both communities to remain calm and continue to conduct their lawful affairs in peace.

    He, however, warned that the full weight of the law would bear on any individual or group found to have initiated, participated or otherwise contributed to the violent conflict between the neighbouring communities.

    Government had resolved to institute a judicial commission of inquiry to unravel the immediate cause and perpetrators of the act, he added. (NAN)

  • Housewife offers N120,000 bride price to quit five-year-old barren marriage

    Housewife offers N120,000 bride price to quit five-year-old barren marriage

    A housewife, 33-year-old Seliat Abeeb, on Thursday in Omu-Aran, Kwara, offered to pay the bride price of N120, 000 demanded by her husband as a condition for dissolving their five-year-old barren marriage.

    Seliat, who lives at Ago Olushola area in Otun, had on June 14 approached an Omu-Aran Area Court, seeking the dissolution of her marriage to Abeeb.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the money represents her bride price and other expenses incurred on Seliat as
    claimed by Abeeb while their union lasted.

    Seliat had in her petition told the court that she was no longer interested in the union that had yet to produce any child.

    “I was forced to marry him against my will. I know quite well that my husband had spent some money on me.

    “I am ready to pay the N120, 000 he demanded as condition for my release. He cannot use the huge amount to deter me from leaving.

    “I am no longer interested in the union,” the estranged wife told the court.

    Abeeb had earlier pleaded with the court to assist in reconciling him with his wife, a move Seliat vehemently resisted.

    He, however, demanded N120, 000 as a precondition for her release.

    “Since she is bent on leaving and having spent so much on her and her family, she should pay the stated amount to secure her release,” Abeeb insisted.

    The judge, Mr Abolade Banigbe, in his ruling, said the court did its best to pacify Seliat but to no avail.

    “We have no option than to dissolve the union.

    “The case was earlier adjourned for settlement among the parties, but with the turn of event, the court has no option than to
    dissolve the marriage.

    “I have tried my best in this circumstance to see that the couple remain one, but the woman stood her grounds.

    ““he union between them cease to exist from now,” Banigbe declared.

    Banigbe, however, awarded the sum of N50, 000 to be paid to Abeeb as against the N120, 000 he demanded.

  • NDF executive pledges to develop Darts as a sport

    NDF executive pledges to develop Darts as a sport

    The Vice President of the Nigeria Darts Federation (NDF) ‎, Alhaji Amuda Alabi, says the new executive will work assiduously to ensure the development of Darts as a sport in the country.

    Alabi stated this on Tuesday in Ilorin while receiving ‎Kwara State Darts players and coaches that paid him courtesy visit.

    The NDF Vice President said the new executive would map out strategies to strengthen the game in the country and pledged to assist the athletes to excel in their career.

    Alabi, therefore, called on wealthy individuals and corporate bodies to contribute their quota to the development of sports through sponsorship of championship.

    The NDF vice president‎, who explained that government alone, cannot shoulder the responsibility of developing sports, charged the players to strive to improve their performance on daily basis.

    He promised to use his experience to attract competitions and sponsors for the game in the State and at the National Level.

    Alabi commended the athletes for their commitment and dedication, urging them not to relent in flying the flag of the state.

    Speaking on behalf of the athletes, Ope Omole thanked God for the success of the election and urged him to use his experience to attract competitions and sponsorship to the game.

    Omole, who later presented souvenir to the vice president, and pledged that the athletes would make the state proud.

  • Offa poly promotes 317 workers

    Offa poly promotes 317 workers

    The newly constituted Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara, has  approved the promotion of 317 academic and non academic staff.

    The spokesman of the polytechnic, Yinka Iroye, said on Thursday that those promoted included 133 academic  and  184 non academic staff  who were due since 2016.

    Iroye added that the promotion was at the instance of the Rector, Dr Lateef Olatunji,  who was appointed in January.

    He said  the new rector, upon assuming office, canvassed  for the approval of the outstanding promotion list at the inaugural meeting of the new governing council headed  by Chief Oseloka Zikora.

    Iroye  said the council had  met with junior and senior workers of the institution where union leaders also  called for the approval of the promotion.

    He said the council chairman commended the rector for ushering in notable developments  within his few months in office.

    The council chairman, according to Iroye, also admonished the staff to be diligent while  ensuring  punctuality at their duty posts.

  • Man docked for allegedly pushing compatriot to drown in lagoon

    Man docked for allegedly pushing compatriot to drown in lagoon

    A tailor, Sulaimon Babatunde, was charged before an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly pushing a man to drown in the Lagos Lagoon.

    Babatunde, 24, who resides at No. 135, Isale Gambari St., in Ilorin, Kwara, was docked on charges of conspiracy and murder.

    Magistrate Helen Omisore ordered that the accused should remain behind bars for the next 30 days, pending an legal advice from the office of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions.

    Earlier the Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Cousin Adams, told court that the offences were committed on June 5 at about 10.00 p.m. at Carter Bridge on Lagos Island.

    He alleged that the accused had beaten the deceased, whose name was simply given as Ahmed severely before dumping him into the lagoon to die.

    Adams explained that the victim and the accused had previoulsy been members of a cult in Kwara.

    “Babtunde claimed that the deceased had caused the death of his two months old baby sometime in January and upon sighting him, he solicited the help of two of his friends, who are now at large.

    “The trio bundled Ahmed into a dark corner where they beat him up before carrying him to the lagoon side and throwing him inside,” the prosecutor stated.

    According to him, the offences contravene Sections 165 and 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Babatunde’s plea was not taken by the court.

    The magistrate ordered that the accused should be remanded in custody.

    She adjourned the matter until July 24.