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Tag: Nasarawa State

  • Benue killings: Govt. donates N50m relief materials to displaced persons

    Benue killings: Govt. donates N50m relief materials to displaced persons

    The Nasarawa State Government, on Sunday, donated relief materials worth N50 million to displaced persons from Benue to the state’s border communities as a result of the attacks by suspected herdsmen.

    The state deputy governor, Mr Silas Agara, who announced the items for distribution in Lafia, explained that the materials were procured on the directive of Gov. Umaru Al-Makura for the IDPs in Awe and Keana Local Government Areas of the state.

    Agara said that more than 15,000 persons including women, children and the aged, were currently housed in camps in the area.

    The deputy governor said the relief materials were to ameliorate the hardship being faced by the displaced persons.

    He said adequate security arrangements had been made to avoid diversion and ensure that the items were delivered to the targeted people.

    Agara said government officials and the leadership of the various cultural associations in the affected areas had been co-opted to ensure equitable distribution of the items.

    Items donated include: 100 bags of rice, 2,000 tubers of yam, 50 bags of Garri, 5,000 Mats, 1,000  mattresses, 20 bags of beans, 20 bags of sugar, condiments as well as medical facilities to take care of their health needs.

    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Boniface Ifer, the President of the Tiv Development Association (TIDA), lauded the donor and assured equitable distribution of the items.

  • Court jails two for stealing yam

    Court jails two for stealing yam

    A Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada in Nasarawa State, on Friday sentenced two labourers to six months imprisonment each for stealing 50 tubers of yam.

    The judge, Upside Yaqub, however, gave the convicts, Habibu Kabiru, 25; and Salisu Hamidu, 22, both residents of Old Orange Market Mararaba, an option of N5, 000 fine each.

    Yaqub warned them to desist from committing crimes and ordered that the tubers of yam be returned to the owner.

    The convicts had pleaded guilty to a four-count charge of criminal conspiracy, trespass, mischief and theft.

    Following the guilty plea, the Prosecutor, Agabi Auta, urged the court to try them summarily under Section 347 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

    Earlier, Auta had told the court that the complainant, Utume Clement of Kudu village, Mararaba, reported the incident at the ‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba, on Dec. 22.

    He said that the convicts and one Musa Iliya, now at large, went to the complainant’s farm at Kudu village, Mararaba, and harvested 50 tubers of yam.

    The prosecutor said the convicts were apprehended while trying to put the yam in a sack and were handed over to the police immediately.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 79, 347, 348 and 287 of the Penal Code.

    NAN

     

  • Maku calls for preservation of culture, tradition

    Maku calls for preservation of culture, tradition

    Mr Labaran Maku, a former Minister of Information, has called on all ethnic groups in Nasarawa State to preserve their culture and tradition from extinction to promote peace and unity,

    Maku, a 2015 gubernatorial candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Nasarawa State made the call on Wednesday while addressing different ethnic groups that paid him Christmas homage in his home town, Wakama, Akun Development Area of the state.

    “Our culture is dying; culture is one of the ways of promoting tourism, unity. Culture is one of the best ways of making money as well as promoting unity and there is no longer cultural festival in Nasarawa State.

    “Why are we not having cultural festival again in Nasarawa State,’’ he said.

    Maku said that the call became necessary as a result of the danger posed by lack of proper documentation of cultural history of some ethnic groups in the country.

    “The rate at which some aspects of many ethic cultures are disappearing in Nigeria if not checked and urgent steps not taken, Nigerians will wake up one day and discover that all cultures are gone.

    “It is important to always document the cultural history in order to save Nigerian indigenous cultures from going to extinction.

    “Cultural history and history in general is very important because it enable us to know the past, the present and to plan ahead for the future, hence the need for every tribe to preserve and promote its culture,” he said.

    The former minister urged Christians to use the Christmas period to pray for the peace and unity of the nation.

    “I use this period to charge us to learn from the love our Lord Jesus Christ showed to us by laying down his life for us.

    “This is the type of love God wants us to share among ourselves by living in peace, unity and be our brother’s keeper at all times in the interest of development,” he added.

     

    The ethnic groups that paid him a Christmas homage include Alago, Rindre,  Migili, Afo, Mada, Fulani, Eggon among others

  • NYSC: 20 members get service extension

    NYSC: 20 members get service extension

    The National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ), in Nasarawa State, says 20 corps members are to have an extension of service due to alleged misconduct during the service year.

    The state Coordinator, 2017 Batch B Stream 11, Mrs Zainab Isah, disclosed this on Thursday at the passing out parade in Lafia Local Government Area.

    She said the affected corps members committed various offences bordering on misconduct during the service year.

    Isah said the punishment meted out was based on the gravity of their offences according to the by-law of the scheme.

    “We have 20 corps members that have disciplinary cases.

    “Some of them missed one allowance or the other because they were not around.

    “Some traveled without permission or they traveled with permission but extended their stay without informing the officers,’’ she said.

    Read also: NYSC promises justice in killing of member 

    She also explained that the allowances they missed would be given to them during their extension of service.

    According to her, some got two weeks extension, some three weeks, while others got longer due to the gravity of their offences.

    It depends on the misconduct and what the NYSC by-law stipulates as punishment,” she said.

    Isah explained that the decision to extend the service year of erring corps members was the recommendation of the State NYSC Disciplinary Committee which will serve as a deterrent to others.

    According to her, 1,957 corps members successfully completed their service year and have been issued certificates.

    She commended the corps members for their patriotism and perseverance during the year.

    She, however, advised them to be self-reliant and employers of labour rather than wait for white collar jobs.

    “You should go ahead with what we taught you in camp, just continue with those training and I am sure those training will see you (through) in no distant time,” she said.

    She thanked the state government for its support to the scheme and urged for its sustenance especially in the area of engagement of corps members with significant positive impact in the area of their primary assignments.

    According to her, five corps members distinguished themselves based on the contributions they made in their places of assignments.

    “They did exceptionally well but we are yet to submit the list to the state government because the NYSC governing board is yet to hold a meeting on it,”she said.

    NAN

  • Fires razes two female hostels at FGC Keffi

    Fires razes two female hostels at FGC Keffi

    Fire has razed down a block of two female hostels at the Federal Government College ( FGC ), Keffi, Nasarawa State.

    The fire, which started around 7.45 pm on Sunday and raged on to Monday morning, reduced the entire structure to ashes.

    “The students were in the dining hall when the fire started. Books and properties of the students were all razed down, Nothing was removed,” a senior staff of the school told our correspondent, craving anonymity.

    The source, however, said that no one was killed.

    “One student, who did not go to the dining hall and was sleeping in one of the hostels, was almost affected.

    “Immediately she sensed the smoke, she jumped through the window and sustained some slight injuries. No one else was affected,” the staff said.

    The source described the incident as “shocking and devastating”, saying that it was the first in the history of the 18-year-old school.

    Our correspondent, who visited the school on Monday, saw smoke still billowing from the rubble of the burnt hostels, while fear-stricken staff and students watched from a distance.

    Teachers, staff and prefects were seen trying to pacify and calm the students, especially the distraught girls that lost everything in the inferno.

    A source said that the incident was particularly devastating to the unity school because first term examinations were expected to have started on Monday.

    “The first term examination was scheduled to start today, but with this development, no one is sure of what to do next. We shall wait for further directives from the Federal Ministry of Education,” he said.

    Efforts to contact the Acting Principal, Alhaji Babatundet Usuma, were not successful as he was said to have traveled to Kano for the annual meeting of Principals of unity secondary schools, while calls to his line kept ringing out.

    Mr Gideon Gutap, Vice Principal (Academic 2), however, disclosed via a telephone text message, that the school was yet to take a decision on the next like of action.

    “Parents will be communicated in due course,” Gutap stated.

    He said that no one was hurt, adding that a meeting was ongoing to consider the next line of action.

    We gather that officials of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) were invited for the emergency meeting chaired by Mr Ezekiel, Vice Principal (Academy 1).

    NAN

  • Tobacco: Stakeholders suggest products’ tax hike to reduce use

    Tobacco: Stakeholders suggest products’ tax hike to reduce use

    Stakeholders have suggested an increase in taxes of tobacco products in the country to reduce its use and generate revenue for the country.

    They made their views known in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State after two days of Technical Working Group workshop on “Tobacco Taxation.”

    The workshop was organised by Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa.

    Mr Austin Erameh, the Programme Officer of CISLAC, told NAN that one of the surest means of addressing tobacco use and control was the use of tax and price system, which he said would also generate revenue for the Nigerian government.

    He said “once you increase tax on tobacco products, prices will definitely go up and when prices go up, the use of tobacco product drops because there will be little money to buy.

    “With that, an individual will have disposable income to take care of their pressing needs.”

    He added that the workshop, with participants from Federal Ministries of Health, Finance, Budget and Planning and relevant stakeholders, reviewed the way forward for Nigeria and concluded that the country needed to review its tax system to reflect a more progressive system.

    He urged civil society organisations across the country to step up interface with
    government on tobacco control agenda to achieve the goal of drastic use of tobacco by Nigerians.

    Dr Toma Malau, a participant from Federal Ministry of Health, expressed optimism that if tax on tobacco was raised, its use would reduce and Nigerians would live a healthy live.

    He, therefore, urged relevant authorities to review taxes on tobacco products.

    He noted that “the outcome of this workshop is incredible. The expectation is that within the next couple of months, hopefully by the grace of God, tobacco taxes should be reviewed to reduce its patronage and encourage healthy living.”

    Mr Basheer Abdulkadir, another participant from Federal Ministry of Finance, said with positive experiences from other countries, increase in taxation on tobacco would double government revenue, hence the advocacy for increase.

    He said “experiences from countries like Turkey, South Africa, South Korea, Egypt show that increase in taxation on tobacco products can double government revenue.

    “We learnt that South Africa’s revenue increased nine fold between 2005 and 2009 following increase in tobacco products’ taxes.”

  • 40 electricity transformers vandalised in Nasarawa in 10 months – AEDC

    40 electricity transformers vandalised in Nasarawa in 10 months – AEDC

    Mr Ameen Shakur, Nasarawa State Regional Manager, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company ( AEDC ) says that no less than 40 transformers are vandalised in Lafia, capital of Nasarawa state since January.

    Shakur disclosed this on Wednesday when the executive and members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists ( NUJ ) Nasarawa State Council visited the company in Keffi.

    He decried the high rate of vandalism of electricity installations in the state, adding that the menace was impeding AEDC’s efforts in delivering effective service to the people of the state.

    “We have recorded over 40 transformers being vandalised since January in Lafia alone and that is what is happening all over the state.

    “It is high time customers took ownership of the equipment because they are located within their areas and are serving them.

    “There is nothing wrong with customers asking questions when they see suspicious persons around electricity installations,” Shakur said.

    According to him, a 500 KVA transformer costs N4.5 million, aside cables and other accessories.

    “It is imperative for the customers to know that the installations first belong to them, although being the company property, thus the need to protect them should be paramount.”

    He said the cost of replacing the vandalised substations was huge and appealed to customers to bear with the company

    The state regional manager assured them that the company was addressing the problem gradually due to the number of cases involved.

    Earlier, Suleiman Abubakar, Chairman of the Chapel appealed to the company to improve on its services in the state to meet the demands of the customers.

    Abubakar called for the provision of prepaid meters to address over billing and non-payment of electricity bills.

    NAN

  • Nasarawa introduces e-payment for corps members’ allowance

    Nasarawa introduces e-payment for corps members’ allowance

    The Nasarawa State Government is to introduce e-payment system to pay N5, 000 monthly allowance to corps members serving in government establishments in the state.

    Mr Samuel Akala, the Special Adviser to Gov. Tanko Al-Makura on Youths, Students and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs), disclosed this in Akwanga on Thursday.

    Akala said the new system was to address complaints by corps members on delay in payment of their monthly allowance.

    He said that the state government had already commenced screening of corps members to ascertain their actual number in the state as a prelude for the introduction of the new payment system.

    Akala said government would also collate data of banks and other details of corps members to ensure hitch-free take off of the scheme.
    “Now, the governor discovered that payment of allowance to corps members has not been transparent.

    “Some corps members keep complaining all the time that they have not been paid their allowance,’’ he said.

    Akala said with the introduction of the new system, payment of corps members’ allowance would be centralised and made for easier.

    He commended the governor for giving adequate attention to the welfare of corps members and urged them to reciprocate by dedicating themselves to their duties.

  • Phone repairer receives 22 strokes of cane for stealing palm oil

    Phone repairer receives 22 strokes of cane for stealing palm oil

    A Mararaba Upper Area Court, in Nasarawa State, on Monday ordered that a 21-year-old phone repairer, Michael Adeku, be given 22 strokes of the cane for stealing four litres of palm oil.

    Adeku, a resident of Yelwa Aso ‘B’, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, was convicted after pleading guilty to a two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft.

    The Judge, Mr Ibrahim Shekarau, warmed him to desist from such act.

    “I, hereby order any of the court officials to give him 22 strokes of the cane,” he ordered.

    Prosecutor Donald Heman, had told the court that the convict criminally trespassed into a shop belonging to Edwin Anunobi, at Calvary Road, Behind Police Station.

    Heman said the convict entered the shop and stole four litres of palm oil valued at N4,500.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 348 and 288 of the Penal Code.

    Read Also:  Court jails man 12 months for stealing cell phone