The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lafia

  • Nasarawa builds technology incubation centre for innovation

    The Nasarawa State Government, has built an incubation centre to encourage innovative enterprise in the state. Prof. Jonathan Ayuba, the Commissioner for Special Education, Science and Technology, made this disclosure in an interview with the News men on Monday in Lafia.

    The centre is part of the State Government’s measures to nurture young persons found to be interested in innovative enterprises. “The centre, when inaugurated, will be responsible for developing talents as a way of promoting science and technology.

    “The Federal Government is happy about the incubation centre and the Minister of Science and Technology will soon come to inaugurate the centres,” he added.

    He explained that science equipment to be used in secondary schools in the state would also be produced in the centre.

    “The government has concluded plans to establish the institute of technical education in Lafia.

    Read Also: Nasarawa employs 2,140 teachers

    “All that is needed in terms of planning was concluded by a team of experts engaged by the government; the institute when established, will award diplomas.

    “All technical schools in the state will serve as feeders to the institute and government will make it a policy for the technical colleges to supply candidates to the institute”.

    According to him, the institute will produce graduates, who are self-reliant and employers of labour.

    Ayuba added that the ministry was collaborating with the ministry of education to get all the courses at the three technical colleges in the state accredited.

    “Some of the courses were given interim accreditation by the National Board for Technical Education and we are putting measures to get full accreditation to all of them,” he added.

    He said that government would also upgrade facilities in the technical colleges, train and retrain the manpower for better service delivery.

    The commissioner said that government had already procured the equipment and would soon get them installed.

    NAN

  • Nasarawa State-owned tertiary institutions suspend strike

    Nasarawa State-owned tertiary institutions suspend strike

    The Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions in Nasarawa State has suspended the infinite strike action it began on Feb. 16.

    Mr Ariks Samuel-Bashayi, state’s Chairman of the union, announced the suspension of the strike while briefing newsmen on Friday at the College of Education, Akwanga, after the union’s emergency meeting.

    He stated that the suspension of the strike was due to the commitment made by the state government through the respective management of the three state-owned tertiary institutions.

    He said, “Though all our demands are not met, but because of appeals and interventions by the stakeholders, the union shifted ground to give room for further discussion.
    “The state government and other stakeholders appealed to the union to call off the strike in order to pave way for further negotiation.”

    Read Also: Buhari advises TETFund on interventions to institutions

    The chairman, therefore, called on all members of the union to resume work immediately pending further directives.

    Newsmen reports that the union had embarked on an indefinite strike since Feb. 16, citing government’s refusal to address welfare- related issues.

    The Institutions involved are: the College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and the Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia.

    NAN

     

  • Time is up for herdsmen attacks – Buratai 

    Time is up for herdsmen attacks – Buratai 

    Chief of Army staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, has disclosed that time is up for herdsmen attacks.

    He said the attacks led to displacement of over 25,000 farmers in Nasarawa state alone.

    The chief of Army staff stated this Tuesday in Lafia when he paid a courtesy call on the governor of the state, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura.

    He said that the army has identified the routes used by the herdsmen in carrying out the killings on the Nasarawa/Benue border and have deployed well-armed officers to man those areas, adding that the military has also arrested some herdsmen who are currently undergoing interrogation.

    He said the operation cat race launched in Benue state will be extended to Nasarawa, noting that within six weeks of its operation, normalcy and peace will return to the affected areas.

    He promised to restore security and maintain peace in areas where the herdsmen menace is on the increase.

    Speaking earlier, Governor Al-Makura said the presence of the military in the affected areas has helped in no small way in restoring peace in the state.

    He promise to give the security agencies the necessary support to clamp down on the herdsmen in order to restore permanent peace and allow the displace persons return back to their homes.

    Governor Al-Makura equally donated the sum of N200 million to the military to help complete the army barracks in Doma local government area of the state.

    Read Also:

  • Buhari’s visit: Security beefed up in Nasarawa

    Buhari’s visit: Security beefed up in Nasarawa

    Security measures have been beefed up in in Lafia and environs as security personnel have been deployed in strategic locations ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Nasarawa on Tuesday.

    A correspondent, who went round the state capital on Tuesday, reported that officers and men of the Nigeria Police, Civil Defence and other security agencies were stationed at all nooks and crannies.

    Read also: Buhari wants Tinubu to reconcile aggrieved APC members

    Reports say that more security personnel had also been deployed in Akwanga, Keffi and Karu Local Government areas of the state.

    Mr Bello Ahmed, the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, had on Monday, said that over 4000 personnel had been deployed in strategic locations in the state.

    The commissioner said that police officers were collaborating with other security personnel to ensure hitch free visit by the President.

    President Buhari is paying a one-day visit to Nasarawa State where he will also inaugurate some projects of the state government.

    NAN

  • Nasarawa killings, Maku urges govt. to live up to responsibility

    Nasarawa killings, Maku urges govt. to live up to responsibility

    Former Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, has called on federal and state governments to take urgent actions against incessant attacks and killings across the country.

    He told The Reporter in Lafia on Wednesday that until measures were taken to end the recurring killings by suspected herdsmen, the government would be seen as failing in its responsibility.

    Maku, who is the National Secretary of All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA ), spoke at the backdrop of recent killings in Benue and Nasarawa State.

    He advised Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa to take steps towards protecting innocent citizens who were chased out of their communities along Nasarawa/Benue border.

    “The primary responsibility of any government is to protect lives and property but a lot of senseless killings are going on simultaneously across the country.

    “These killings do not speak well of the government,’’ he said.

    The former minister described as “heartbreaking’’ of yet another death of Nigerians in Kadarko, Keana Local Government Area of Nasarawa state on Tuesday.

    Read Also: Maku  calls for preservation of culture, tradition

    “Every life is sacred and should not be taken by another; our cities, towns and villages are vulnerable and our people unprotected.

    “Every citizen of Nigeria should be able to sleep with his or her two eyes closed; it’s a failure on the part of our government when citizens are slaughtered like animals,” he added.

    Maku explained that sending condolence message and condemnation of the act by the government was not enough, saying “I think this deaths are too many.

    “Condemnation alone won’t do, it is time to ask our leaders to protect us as they have sworn to do.’’

    He also said that if government could not protect lives and properties, it had failed in its fundamental mandate.

    According to him, we need to end this violence against ordinary citizens and build a peaceful and progressive society.

    The former minister sent his condolences to families of victims of the attacks and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

    NAN

  • Plateau United FC ready for 2017/2018 NPFL season

    Plateau United FC ready for 2017/2018 NPFL season

    Defending champions, Plateau United Football Club of Jos on Wednesday said they were fully prepared for the new 2017/2018 Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL ) season which begins on Sunday.

    Albert Dakup, the club’s Media Officer, said in Jos that the management has put in place all necessities for a successful outing.

    He recalled that the club had shortly after the end of last season released 12 players whose service were no longer needed.

    “In their stead, the club has recruited 12 new players to strengthen the team for the new NPFL season, as well as its continental engagements.

    Read also: Ikoyi Club fetes ‘Elders’ for 2018

    “Experience was a key factor which was considered in the recruitment of new players, taking into cognisance the continental matches.

    “Based on that, some experienced players like Terna Suswam from Enyimba, Amos Gyang from Kano Pillars, Charles Henlong from Rangers of Enugu, Raphael Ayagwa of Lobi Stars, amongst others, were recruited,” Dakup said.

    The spokesman said also that Plateau United played two pre-season tournaments and some friendly matches as part of its preparations for the new season.

    “We played the NPFL invitational tournament and the Ahlan pre-season tournament.

    “The club began closed camping in Abuja on January 2 and played a friendly match with a Nationwide League One side, Water FC of Abuja.

    “Our first match of the season is away to Nasarawa United of Lafia on Sunday and we are confident that with our level of preparations, we will get a positive result,” he said.

    NAN

  • NDLEA arrests suspected drug baron in Nasarawa

    NDLEA arrests suspected drug baron in Nasarawa

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) in Nasarawa State has arrested a suspected drug baron who was caught  with 108 cartons of  tramadol.

    Mr Sumaila Ethan, the state Commander of the agency, told  newsmen in Lafia on Friday that the seized drug weighed  2,873 kilogrammes.

    He said the suspect was arrested with the drug at a warehouse in Masaka, Karu Local Government Area of the state, on December 7 after being tracked for almost two months.

    The commander explained that tramadol is an opiate drug similar to heroin in its addictive nature.

    Read also: NDLEA arrests 86 persons in Gombe

    He expressed regrets that the drug had  become the most abused psychoactive substance, especially among youths in the state.

    “The youths, unaware of its destructive effects, have made it a drug of choice for euphoric pleasure.

    “Hardly can you search  a commercial motorcyclist, tricycle operator or  driver  and not recover some tablets of high dose, abused and banned tramadol,” Ethan said.

    The NDLEA official  said that with the large seizure, a significant percentage of  the drug  would be out of circulation during the Yuletide in the state.

    He also noted that crime rate would drop in the state as drug abuse had been identified as a major contributory factor in the perpetration of crimes.

    Ethan  admonished the youths  to steer clear of drugs and other psychotropic substances to enable them to live meaningful He said the suspect would be taken to court as soon as investigation was concluded on the matter.

    The suspect, however, declined comments when approached by newsmen, insisting his lawyer must be present for him to speak on the incident.

    NAN

  • Partly cloudy, thunderstorms, rains expected on Tuesday

    Partly cloudy, thunderstorms, rains expected on Tuesday

    The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted partly cloudy weather conditions with isolated thunderstorms in the central states’ cities of Makurdi, Abuja, Jos, Lafia, Mambila and Yola on Tuesday morning.

    NiMet’s Weather Outlook by its Central Forecast Office (CFO) on Monday in Abuja also predicted thunderstorms over Yelwa, Jos, Abuja, Kaduna, Ilorin, Minna and Lokoja in the afternoon and evening hours.

    It added that the central states would experience day and night temperatures in the range of 28 to 32 and 17 to 23 degrees Celsius respectively.

    The agency predicted that southern states would experience chances of morning thunderstorms and rains with localised thunderstorms and in the afternoon and evening hours.

    It states that the southern states would have day and night temperatures in the range of 28 to 31 and 20 to 28 degrees Celsius respectively.

    According to NiMet, northern states will experience partly cloud-to-cloudy conditions in the morning hours with sunny to partly cloudy conditions later in the day.

    “The region will experience chances of thundery activities with rains over Jalingo, Bauchi, Gombe, Gusau and Yelwa with day and night temperatures of 31 to 35 and 20 to 24 degrees Celsius respectively.

    “We expect cloudy and partly cloudy conditions in the northern cities while thunderstorms and rain showers are likely over most places around the central cites and southern states in the next 24 hours,” NiMet said.

  • Nasarawa to deploy security operatives to schools

    Nasarawa to deploy security operatives to schools

    Nasarawa State Government would soon provide security in more than 400 public schools to protect students, teachers and facilities from hoodlums.

    The state’s  Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Tijjani Ahmed, said.

    Ahmed made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia on Tuesday.

    According to him,  the government is taking proactive measures to safeguard schools in view of
    rising rate of  kidnapping going on in other states of the federation.

    He said conventional security agencies would complement the efforts of members of Nasarawa State Youths Employment Scheme ( NAYAS ) that would be deployed to public primary and secondary schools.

    He added that “NAYAS officials would be deployed to over 400 public secondary schools and primary schools in the state.

    “The state government believes that the combined efforts of security provided by Parent Teachers Association( PTA ), the conventional security agencies and NAYAS should be able to properly secure our schools.”

    Ahmed disclosed that the state Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, had already approved the erection of parameter fencing in all public schools.

    He further said that more than 3,000 chairs would be distributed to public schools apart from 7,000 mattresses and 3,500 beds worth N222 million that would go to 28 boarding schools in the state.

    The commissioner added that the government would soon distribute registers, scheme of work, dossiers, and other instructional materials to schools.

    He explained that government had evolved machinery to ensure effective supervision of teachers and school heads to ensure high standard in the education sector, attributing  the failing standard of education in the state to the lack of supervision.

    He said “all area offices are directed to go round schools unannounced to put everybody on his or her toes.

    “Defaulting staff members would be duly sanctioned  in line with civil service rules and regulations.”

  • Maku, others say peace, tolerance are panacea to Nigeria’s development

    Maku, others say peace, tolerance are panacea to Nigeria’s development

    Former Minister of Information Labaran Maku and other stakeholders in Nasarawa State, have called on Nigerians to leave in peace and tolerate one another to ensure unity peace and development of the country.
    They made the call their separate Sallah messages in Lafia on Saturday.
    They said that peace was the only ingredient that would bring about unity and development in any society.
    Maku, who is now the National Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said the diversity among Nigerians should be a source of unity and not disunity.
    He said that the almighty God knows the reason why He created human beings with differences of tribe, religion and race.
    “God also knows why He chose to make all Nigerians despite our diversity to be citizens of the same country.
    “If God wanted all Nigerians to be the same tribe and religion, He could have created us as such.
    “So why will anyone hate the other person simply because he is of a different tribe or religion,” he asked.
    Maku, therefore, urged all Nigerians to continue to live in peace with one another and work hard toward ensuring one indivisible country.
    Similarly, Yusuf Agabi, gubernatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 in Nasarawa State, called on all Muslim Ummah and indeed all Nigerians to love one another.
    He said that the Nigerians should always manifest the lesson of Eid-el-Kabir, which implied sacrifice and love for others at all times, and not just during the period.
    He also called on Nigerians to continue to pray to God to grant President Muhammadu Buhari good health to enable him bring the country out of the current security and economic challenges.
    On his parts, Mohammed Okpede, Member representing Doma North at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, urged herdsmen and farmers to imbibe the spirit of the season and embrace peace.
    He said that both farmers and herdsmen needed each other for life to thrive smoothly hence the need for farmers to ensure that cattle routes were not blocked and herdsmen not to deliberately destroy farm produce.
    He, therefore, urged Fulani and other community leaders to preach peace among their subjects in order to give peace a chance the way it was in the past.