The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nasarawa State

  • NYSC sanctions 15 corps members in Nasarawa

    NYSC sanctions 15 corps members in Nasarawa

    The National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) in Nasarawa State says 15 corps members in the Batch B Stream 1 had been sanctioned for various misconducts.

    The state NYSC Coordinator, Mrs Zainab Isah, confirmed the action in an interview in Lafia on Friday.

    Isah said that the affected corps members had their service year extended by various periods.

    According to her, 2,224 Batch B Corp members successfully completed their service year.

    She added that the successful NYSC corps members were issued certificates of national service at a low key passing out ceremony held in Lafia, on Thursday.

    Isah explained that the decision to extend the service year of the erring corps members was the recommendation of the state NYSC Disciplinary Committee.
    She said the sanction was to serve as a deterrent to others.

    “We have four corps members who absconded from service. Then 11 of them have various disciplinary cases.

    “I am really disappointed that even with the noble effort of government through this scheme, some people are not taking advantage of what NYSC is offering,” she said.

    The coordinator, however, disclosed that three corps members would be given awards for outstanding performances in their host communities.

    Isah advised the just passed out corps members to be self-reliant rather than wait to seek for white collar jobs.

    “They should go ahead with what we taught them in camp. They should just continue with those trainings and I am sure those trainings will see them through and in no distance time, they too will be employers of labour,” 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 who might have made significant positive impact in the area of their primary assignments.

    NAN

  • Nasarawa warns residents against illegal connection of pipe borne water

    Nasarawa warns residents against illegal connection of pipe borne water

    The Nasarawa State Government, on Monday, warned  residents of the state against connecting pipe borne water without obtaining approval from the government.

    The Acting General Manager of the state water board, Mr Abdullahi Agbo, gave this warning when he visited the state water board area in Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area.

    Agbo urged those who were involved in the illegal connection of water to desist from the act in their interest in order to boost water supply in the state.

    He added that the illegal connection of pipelines had affected water supply in the state negatively, hence the need for the people to avoid illegal connection.

    Agbo reinstated the commitment of the board to continue to provide potable water supply to communities across the state.

    He said that providing water to the communities would not only improve on the people’s living standard but the nation’s development.

    The General Manager said that the state was doing its best to provide potable water to communities across the state.

    Agbo urged the members of staff of the board not to relent in their efforts towards disconnecting illegal water pipelines in their respective areas.

    He also called on the relevant stakeholders to support the State Government in its efforts to improve water supply to communities across the state.

    NAN

  • Nasarawa women demands free healthcare

    Nasarawa women demands free healthcare

    Some rural women in Nasarawa State have appealed to the Federal and State Governments to provide free healthcare services and soft loans to improve their lives.

    The women made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday from their respective communities in Garaku, Kokona Local Government Area.

    They said that improving basic amenities in their communities would go a long way in improving their standard of living and life span thereby contributing positively to overall development of the state and country.

    They noted that the provision of free health facilities in the rural areas would also reduce mother and child mortality rate in the country.

    The women further appealed to the federal and state governments to provide functional boreholes in rural areas to alleviate their sufferings while searching for water.

    They said most of them depend mainly on stream water for drinking and domestic use which is unhealthy.

    The women also advocated for free interest or soft agricultural and economic loans in order to fight poverty, unemployment as well boost agricultural production in the country.

    Mrs Hajara Abdullahi, a resident of Agwada in Kokona Local Government Area, said that lack of standard health facilities in the area has affected the health status and standard of living of women negatively.

    “Everybody is aware that rural women depend on natural resources and agriculture for their livelihoods, as more than half of Nigeria’s population live in the rural area.

    “Everybody is also aware that the rural areas have been neglected by governments of all kind in terms of quality infrastructure.

    “How many rural areas have standard schools, hospitals, water supply and electricity?

    “The absence of these infrastructural facilities has affected our lives and the socio-economic development at the grassroots and the country at large.

    “It is in view of this I appeal to government at all levels to provide social amenities especially free health facilities in rural areas in order to better our living,” she said.

    Another woman in Amba community, Kokona LGA of the state, Mrs Janet Audu, also called on government to give adequate attention to rural development especially in the provision of standard health facilities and water supply.

    “The water in our community is stinking and causing diseases as most women leave their houses early in the morning in search of drinking water especially during the dry season.

    “I am appealing to the government at all levels to provide us with free and standard health facilities and potable water supply in order to improve our standard of living,’’ she said.(NAN)

  • Nasarawa sacks polytechnic rector, others

    Nasarawa sacks polytechnic rector, others

    The Nassarawa State Government has sacked the rector, registrar and bursar of the state polytechnic, Lafia with immediate effect.

    A statement by Malam Mohammed Abdullahi, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), issued to newsmen in Lafia on Thursday, also said the government would investigate activities at the institution since 2014.

    The government directed the Rector, Silas Gray, Registrar, Labani Joseph and Bursar, Abdullahi Akya, to proceed on compulsory leave.

    “The government has taken the decision in pursuant to its desire to reposition the state-owned tertiary institutions.

    “And in compliance to the relevant laws establishing all the state owned tertiary institutions and as a Visitor to all the tertiary institutions in the state,” he said.

    The statement further directed the three officials to handover the affairs of their offices to their respective deputies.

    It added that fact-finding committees would be inaugurated soon to investigate activities of the polytechnic, College of Education, Akwanga and College of Agriculture, Lafia from 2014 to October 2017.

    Read also: ‘Nasarawa Polytechnic generates N120 million IGR annually’

    NAN

  • Nasarawa scraps customary court of appeal

    Nasarawa scraps customary court of appeal

    The Nasarawa State Government on Monday announced the merging of the state’s Customary of Appeal with the High Court.

    Gov. Umaru Al-Makura announced the merger during the retirement and valedictory court session in honour of Justice Jibril Idrisu, the President of the state Customary Court of Appeal.

    Al-Makura, who was represented by his Deputy, Silas Agara, said the decision was based on the advice of the National Judicial Council ( NJC ).

    “Government has observed that over the years, the Customary Court of Appeal has continued to record less number of cases.

    “And this recurrent experience at the court is below the average numbers of cases to be disposed in any judicial year and is equally below the national standard,” he added.

    Al-Makura said that “in view of this ugly experience,’’ NJC had written to the state government in 2016 on the need to merge the court with the state high court.

    He added that based on the advice by NJC, “the government had to take this painful decision of merging Customary Court of Appeal with the state’s High Court.’’

    He said the government has set up a committee chaired by the Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General, Yusuf Shehu, to work out the modalities for the merger and summit its report in two weeks.

    “The committee would work out plans to transfer the remaining Judge of the Customary Court and other staff of the court to High Court and place them in the appropriate positions,” he added.

    He said that the government would initiate a process of repealing the law establishing the court and amend the High Court law to accommodate the development.

    Earlier, the retired judge appealed to the state government to allow the court to continue to operate due to customary issues in the state.

    Idrisu, who noted that each state had its challenges, said that other states still have their customary court operating.

    NAN

  • Court orders six strokes of cane on man for stealing ladder

    Court orders six strokes of cane on man for stealing ladder

    A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Friday ordered that 28-year-old man, Ibrahim Yunisa, be given six strokes of cane for stealing a ladder.

    Yunisa, of no fixed address, had pleaded guilty to one-count charge of theft and begged for leniency.

    The Judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, told the convict that he mitigated the sentence because he pleaded for leniency.

    Sadiq said the court might not be lenient with him the next time he appeared.

    Read also: http://staging.thenationonlineng.net/police-arraign-man-stealing-cooking-pot-ibadan-poly/

    The Prosecutor, Mrs Florence Avhioboh, told the court that the convict committed the offence on Oct. 12.

    She said the theft was reported at Karmo Police Station by Jacob Friday of Mararaba area in Nasarawa State.

    She added that the convict, who was found with the ladder at Dape village, Abuja, could not give satisfactory explanation on how he got it.

    Avhioboh said Yunisa had confessed that he stole the ladder at a building under construction in Abuja, an offence against Section 288 of the Penal Code.

    NAN

  • Nasarawa suspends board secretary for alleged missing fund

    Nasarawa suspends board secretary for alleged missing fund

    The Nasarawa State Government, on Friday, said it had suspended the Secretary of the state scholarship board, Abdulwahab Suleiman for alleged missing of fund.

    Mallam Mohammed Abdullahi, the Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government (SSG), made this disclosure in a statement he made available to newsmen in Lafia.

    He said the suspension, which took immediate effect, would give room for the repositioning of the board to enhance effective service delivery.

    When the agency contacted both the suspended secretary and Mallam Tijjani Ahmed, the state Commissioner for Education for their reactions, the duo declined comments on the matter.

    The two government officials, however, said they would not say anything on the issue since the police had started investigation into the matter.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Idrisu Kennedy, confirmed that the case had been reported to the state police command and investigation had since commenced.

    NAN

    Read Also: Nasarawa to deploy security operatives to schools

  • Sultan of Sokoto denies rumours of poison vaccine

    Sultan of Sokoto denies rumours of poison vaccine

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has dismissed speculations that vaccines for polio and other communicable diseases cause the death of infants.

    The paramount traditional ruler said this during a courtesy visit to Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Tuesday in Lafia.

    He advised politicians to stop politicising issues relating to health care for selfish reasons.

    It was reported that Abubakar III, who is also the President General of Jamaatul Nasril Islam and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, is in Lafia for the 3rd Quarter Meeting on Polio Eradication Routine Immunisation.

    He expressed displeasure at reports that vaccines for immunisation have been contaminated to poison certain groups of people and followers of certain religion in the country.

    He described the reports as false and warned those spreading the rumours to stop discouraging innocent Nigerians from participating in the immunisation exercise to protect them against polio and other communicable diseases.

    “There are two things we must never politicise and they are health and security issues because they affect everybody irrespective of religious or tribal background.

    “I was so saddened when we heard that the vaccines contain poison to eliminate certain races.

    “We must never play politics with people’s lives. The vaccines are not meant to kill anybody but to protect Nigerians from these communicable diseases.

    “We will never support anything that will hurt anybody. So I urge our politicians and others to stop playing politics with the lives of anybody,” the Sultan appealed.

    He also urged traditional rulers, religious leaders and other well meaning Nigerians to help enlighten others on the vital importance of immunisation to end the endemic status of some communicable diseases in the country.

    On the mandate of the committee, Abubakar III explained that the committee was his vision set up eight years ago to fight polio and other communicable diseases especially in Northern Nigeria.

    Health is the most important thing to human beings. No matter how strong, brilliant and smart you are, if you are not healthy, you are useless.

    “That is why we set up this committee eight years ago to fight polio and other communicable diseases,” he said.

    The Sultan commended the Nasarawa State Government for its enviable contributions to the health sector especially primary healthcare.

    According to him, the contributions of the state government to health care prompted the committee to choose the state for its third quarter meeting.

    “The last meeting we held was around July in Sokoto. It was there we heard of the strides made by the state government in the health sector and decided to hold the next meeting there.

    “We thank the state governor and his able lieutenants for giving us tremendous support,” Abubakar III said.

    Responding, Gov. Al-Makura thanked the Sultan and other members of the committee for choosing the state for the meeting.

    “We are proud and grateful for your advocacy and campaign on health which you have personally embarked on across Nigeria.

    “Your efforts on polio and other communicable diseases are efforts that have saved us from dooms day.

    “We have nothing to give you but appreciation. We cannot thank you enough for your selfless service to the nation.

    “I would like to encourage you to keep up the good work,” the governor said.

    Al-Makura, however, appealed to the committee and state governments in Northern Nigeria to take seriously the threat of Monkey pox so as to prevent it from spreading across the region.

    “We should not take lightly this issue of monkey pox, especially for some of us in the North.

    “I want to assure you we will commence enlightenment and sensitisation of people to take to immunisation.

    “I want to also assure that Nasarawa state will continue to collaborate with this committee in order for it to achieve its objectives,” he said.

    The governor also pledged that the health budget of the state for the remaining lifespan of the current administration would be given adequate attention to tackle health challenges across the state. (NAN)

  • Police, PCN partner to rid Nasarawa of unlicensed drug dealers

    Police, PCN partner to rid Nasarawa of unlicensed drug dealers

    The Police Command in Nasarawa State with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria ( PCN ) and the Nigeria Association of Patent and Proprietary Medical Dealers ( NAPPMED )  has agreed to jointly rid the state of unlicensed drug dealers.

    The parties reached the agreement in Lafia on Friday when PCN and NAPPMED members paid a courtesy visit to the Police Commissioner in Nasarawa State, Mr Mohammed Kura.

    The delegation was led by Mr Vincent Mamah, Nasarawa State President of NAPPMED , and the State Officer of PCN, Mr Okpalaeke Nwora.

    Kura said collaboration among the groups was long overdue because of the need to rid the state of unlicensed drug dealers, who distributed fake and substandard drugs to unsuspecting Nigerians.

    “This arrangement is long overdue and I am very happy we will be working closely together.

    “As far as I am concerned, the police need you just as you also need the police.

    ‘’So, let us work together to make our society safer, ‘’ he said.

    Kura said to achieve success in ridding the state of unlicensed drug dealers, the police, PCN and NAPPMED must engage in constant intelligence sharing on activities of unlicensed dealers in order to bring them to justice.

    “We want to have intelligence reports from you so as to perform our duties and bring them (unlicensed dealers) to face justice.

    “If you see any of them and have credible intelligence report of their activities, you need to inform us so that we can do the needful and safeguard innocent Nigerians,’’ he added.

    Earlier, Mamah said the visit was for the groups to welcome  Kura on as the new Commissioner of Police and seek new ways of fighting unlicensed drug dealers.

    “We are here to associate ourselves with you because one way or the other, our work has to do with the police.

    “Our job is to oversee the activities of those selling drugs and ensure that they follow the right steps and sell good quality drugs,’’ he said.

    Mamah called for a stronger collaboration with the police to rid the state of unlicensed drug dealers.

    He gave an assurance that the association would ensure that registered members of the association conformed to the law.

    On his part, Nwora said PCN would step up efforts to fight illegal medicine vendors and unregistered drug dealers in Nasarawa State.

    He said the effort was aimed at ensuring improvement in the quality of drugs distributed in the state.

    “As a government regulatory agency, PCN is concerned about the quality of care given to Nigerians by ensuring that the right things are done by the right people in the right places,’’ he said.

    Nwora attributed successes in efforts to regulate activities of illegal medicine vendors to the strong partnership with the state government, security agencies and the traditional institutions.

    He, however, decried the high rate of unregistered drug dealers in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and described the area as the ‘den of unregistered medicine charlatans’.

    “We are calling for a closer working relationship with the police and other security agencies by providing security cover.

    “We also believe that a lot of sensitisation is still needed to enlighten Nigerians on regulations concerning the drugs business,’’ Nwora said.

    We recall that PCN has  shut 254 illegal pharmacies and patent medicine stores in Nasarawa State in the last three years.

    NAN

  • NDE trains 150 unemployed youths in Nasarawa

    NDE trains 150 unemployed youths in Nasarawa

    The National Directorate of Employment ( NDE ) says it has commenced three months free intensive training of 150 unemployed youths on vocational skills in Nasarawa State.

    Alhaji Dauda Idris-Wase, the NDE Coordinator in the state made the disclosure at an orientation course organised for the beneficiaries on Tuesday in Lafia.

    He said that the training was to equip the youths with skills that would make them employers of labour and contribute to the overall development of the country.

    According to him, participants will undergo three months intensive training in computer appreciation, G.S.M. repairs, tie and dye, beads stringing and event management, among others.

    “The orientation course is being organized to sensitize the participants on what the training entails and what is expected of them during the training

    “The training will run concurrently in the NDE three skills acquisition training centres situated in Lafia, Keffi and Mama.

    “The Director-General of the NDE, Dr. Nasir Argungu is very keen in seeing unemployed youths become useful to the society through proper skills acquisition.

    “It is better for government to teach one how to catch a fish than to give one fish to eat.

    “We are calling on unemployed youths not to depend on white collar jobs but embrace Federal Government’s skills acquisition programmes in order to become self-reliant,” he said.

    Idris-Wase advised the beneficiaries to take the training seriously as a stepping stone to establishing their own businesses.

    Mallam Usman, who spoke on behalf of the participants, lauded the NDE for the gesture and promised that they would be of good conduct throughout the training.

    The participants were selected from the three senatorial districts of the state.

    NAN