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Tag: Plateau

  • Plateau to explore solid minerals

    Plateau to explore solid minerals

    Dwindling federal allocations have forced Plateau State to turn to its abundant solid minerals left in the hands of illegal miners. Buoyed by the federal government’s resolve to allow states participate in tapping such rich deposits in their soils, the state governor Simon Lalong said his administration will explore its solid mines.

    “Before the dwindling resources from oil, nobody was bothered about solid minerals,” Lalong said. “We lost so much in the area because we left it to illegal miners. This is the time to look inwards. Plateau was the headquarters of the Nigeria Mining Corporation. That should tell you the importance or significance of mining to the people of [the] state. In those days when people were talking about groundnuts and cocoa, we were hitting our chest and talking about mining. That was why the name Jos became popular. When the prices of oil started falling we said we must go back to mining and agriculture”.

    Speaking further, he said, “I was very happy when the Minister for Solid Minerals Development came to Jos, [telling] me that the best inputs he got on ways of managing the solid mineral sector came from Jos. The day he visited Jos, I was having a wider stakeholders meeting with the people of Plateau and they were also part of it. That meeting shifted from all other things to solid minerals and very heavy contributions came from Plateau State and those contributions helped us at the National Economic Council meeting and that is what is going to form the policy thrust of the administration both at the federal and state levels. So, to me, it is an advantage. Virtually every part of my state is rich with solid minerals. But the law was done in such a way that the states were disadvantaged. People come into your state after collecting licence from Abuja; sometimes, they come with military and police escort, do whatever they want and give the communities stipends and you don’t know what they are taking. This time, the President has a change of attitude, according to the change mantra. He said no, we must follow the law. States must also participate in the exploration and advantage of solid minerals in their states. To me, it is going to boost the economy and have serious impact on my revenue generation. We factored that into our retreat as to how to take advantage of the new policy on solid minerals in improving revenue generation.”

     

  • Plateau PDP rejects rerun results

    The Plateau state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the results of the rerun election in Plateau south constituency held on Saturday.

    State Chairman of PDP, Mr. Raymond Dabo made the position of the party known in a statement issued in Jos on Sunday.

    The All Progressive Congress( APC) candidate Alice Dimlong was declared winner of the rerun elections into the State House Assembly by-election for Pankshin North constituency

    Similarly Pharm Gideon Dashe of APC also won the rerun elections for Pankshin South.

    According to The PDP Chairman, the rejection of the result by the party was based on irregularities that characterized the election in polling units of that constituency.

    He said, “PDP is not only rejecting the results, they should be cancelled out rightly because that result was not the true reflection of what transpired at the polls.

    “Our candidate for the same election, Hon Istifanus Muansat was denied acess to the polling unit, our party agents were chased out, my very self was also not allowed to come near the polling units, but APC members and agents were allowed freely to come in and manipulate the election.

    “Thugs hired by APC chased me away from the polling unit. It was a display of impunity by the rulling APC government, and a flagrant show of power because the Deputy Governor who is not from the polling unit was allowed to be there but any PDP members were not allowed” he said.

    “I declared that what happened today in Pankshin south was not an election. It was impunity of APC to have their ways they way they wanted and all these happened with the support of Nigerian Police. “

  • Plateau, Tornadoes a grudge tie, says Aliko

    Plateau, Tornadoes a grudge tie, says Aliko

    Niger Tornadoes captain and goalkeeper, Mustapha Aliko has said his side are expecting a grudge match against newly promoted side, Plateau United.

    The two promoted sides will kick off the 2015/16 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season today at the Tin City fortress, Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos.

    Both sides clashed in the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super Four final in Abuja with the Minna-based side coming out from the onslaught victorious.

    Aliko said his side will strive to avoid defeat at Plateau United in their debut match in the Nigerian top flight.

    “It is certain to be a derby and revenge match as Plateau United will come all out to make amend the NNL Super 4 final match loss to us in Abuja last year.

    “I know the painful defeat will be fresh in their minds when both sides line up for the NPFL matchday 1 clash on Saturday in Jos.

    “However, we are ready to pull another surprise at their expense with the quality of players in our fold right now. I think we have a better squad at the moment than the side that defeated them in the NNL Super 4 final clash.

    “I quite understand that the encounter will be difficult but our aim is to claim an outright victory or worst case scenario a draw. We have vowed to avoid defeat in our debut in the top flight no matter the challenges as defeat will dampen our morale going into the next matches,” said Aliko to supersport.com.

    Tornadoes are one of the promoted sides to the top flight others are Plateau United, Ikorodu United and MFM FC.

    The Minna outfit have adopted the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja, Kogi state as their home ground because of renovation work at traditional home, Bako Kontagora Stadium, Minna.

  • Lalong: Plateau yet to get full bailout loan from CBN

    Lalong: Plateau yet to get full bailout loan from CBN

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has said the state is yet to get full bailout loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    He added that only N5 billion of the N20 billion meant for the state was released.

    Lalong, who spoke at an All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) media roundtable in Abuja, said he was doing everything to ensure that the balance of the bailout fund was released to his state to enable him continue his programmes.

    He said he was discussing with the CBN to release the balance of the bailout loan, adding that the state had cleared backlog of salaries owed civil servants.

    “We only owe two months salary.”

    The governor said without the full bailout fund, he paid the salary arrears of local government workers.

    He said: “I was at the CBN pursuing bailout loan for Plateau. The state was supposed to get N10 billion for salaries and N10 billion for infrastructure. But we got only N5 billion and with that, we cleared backlog of salaries.

    “From last May to date we are not owing, except the ones we inherited. If I get my balance of N5 billion within a week, the outstanding debts will be cleared.”

    Commenting on the Treasury Single Account, Lalong said: “Other states may be finding it difficult, not Plateau. We are implementing TSA. Immediately I saw the introduction of TSA by Mr. President, I called my accountant-general and commissioner for Finance and told them they must implement.

    “I am not an accountant and at that time, I didn’t know the implication. But from what I saw about the advantages of TSA, I said let it be implemented in the state. I set up a committee and today it is being implemented. I don’t know why some governors are finding it difficult to implement TSA.”

  • Bayelsa skipper, Salomon Junior joins Plateau

    Bayelsa skipper, Salomon Junior joins Plateau

    Benin Republic international Salomon Junior has sealed his move to newly-promoted Plateau United.

    The former Bayelsa United captain told AfricanFootball.com that was delighted to make the move and looks forward to a great season.

    “I have joined Plateau United. I signed a year’s deal with the club and I am happy to do so. I am in the team’s pre-season camp in Kaduna and I am looking forward to a great season with the club,” Junior informed AfricanFootball.com.

    The 29-year-old defender played for ASPAC, USS Krake (Benin Republic) and ASEC Mimosas (Cote d’Ivoire).

  • Plateau celebrates peace at 40

    Plateau State has turned 40 and its people are in the mood to celebrate but it is more than the usual anniversary party. The people are happy that peace is returning to the state after inter-communal and sectarian crisis threatened to tear it apart. They are grateful to Governor Simon Lalong whose initiatives may have ushered in what now looks like a new order of tranquility.

    The state was created in 2001.

    Residents said they believe the prevailing atmosphere of peace is attributable to the peace initiative of Governor Lalong who took office last May.

    In a press conference held in Cabinet Office Jos to kick off the anniversary celebrations, a group known as Plateau Patriots for Peace and Change said, “It is a thing of joy that the state clocks 40 years in an atmosphere of peace and security.”

    Leader of the group, Pastor Huseini Gotan said, “Our is 40 years of good old memories and rough experience having gone through the good, the bad and the ugly occasioned by ethno-religious crisis and tribal sentiments.”

    He said, “The life of our dear state has been a very bumpy experience, but we have reason to celebrate today because we have conquered peace that has eluded us over the last decades.

    Gotan said, “We deeply appreciate the role played by the All Progressive Congress (APC) administration of Governor Simon Lalong whose peace initiative has been the solution the state has been lacking in all its search for peace over the years.

    “We have also witnessed bad leaders and good leaders in the last forty years, we  therefore feel that the best way to commence the celebration of 40 years of our dear state, we should commend the efforts of our governor, Governor Lalong who is now our hero of peace.

    He said, “Now that we have achieved peace, the glory of Plateau State has been restored fully, our state remains the home of peace and tourism that used to be the acronym before the crisis.

    “After 40 years, we are now on the threshold of hope, peace and greater expectations for good governance and responsible leadership.”

    One low side of the anniversary is the awful shape of the state schools, which the government has described as the worst in the region.

    “The standard of education in the state has not improved from what it was 25 years ago,” said the Deputy Governor, Professor Sunny Tyoden. “The state government, not satisfied with a report of the Transition Committee, I embarked on a tour to see things myself and I came face to face with the reality of things in our schools. To put it straight, our schools are in the state of total decay, the level of infrastructural decay is really disturbing, you would find out that in some of the institutions visited there is no any additional value added to the schools in terms of infrastructure and manpower since their establishment 25 years ago.

    There is hope. “Our government is on a rescue mission,” he said, “we are going to give the education sector top priority that was why on assumption of office government released funds to rescue its university which was in total mess. Our university could not graduate their students ten years after it commenced admission because their courses were not accredited due to poor lack of necessary facilities.

     

  • Dariye diverted Plateau’s N1.162b meant for land reclamation – Witness

    Dariye diverted Plateau’s N1.162b meant for land reclamation – Witness

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Gudu, Abuja was told Wednesday that the N1.161,162,900 allegedly diverted by former Plateau State governor, Joshua Chibi Dariye was meant for land reclamation in the state.

    A prosecution witness, James Olanrewaju Adewesu, who testified at the trial of Dariye Wednesday, told that court that Dariye applied to the Ecological Fund Office in 2001 for N3, 197,000,000.00 but got N1, 161,162,900.

    The witness, an Assistant Director in the Federal Ministry of Finance, said the decision about whether or not a request for assistance to Ecological Fund Office would be granted was dependent on the Vice President and the Minister of Special Duties.

    Led in evidence by prosecution lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) the witness said, as at the time when the funds were released to Dariye, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was the Vice President, while Yomi Edu was the Minister for Special Duties.

    Adewesu said the approval for the release of N1.162b to Dariye was given by the then Vice President and Minister for Special Duties.

    “As the Principal Accountant, I was in charge of the Central Pay Office. I will go through the voucher and all attached documents to ensure that the payment has been approved.

    “Once I am convinced that the payment has been approved, I will pass it to the cheque Writer to write the payment.

    “Plateau State Government in 2001, had an approval for payment in the Ecological Fund Office to the tune of N1b plus. I was one of the signatories that signed the cheque. The second man that signed in the second category was Mr Topah Ukanah. He is late now.

    “In the minute of approval sent to us, the Permanent Secretary told us the the Plateau State governor was waiting in his office to collect the cheque.

    “After the signing, I took the cheque to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for confirmation. When I returned from the CBN after the confirmation, I received a telephone call from the office of the Permanent  Secretary, Ecological Fund Office, that I should come with the cheque and our delivery register to his office for the release of the cheque to the governor.

    “On getting to the office of the Permanent Secretary, I met the then governor of Plateau State in the office of the Permanent Secretary. And one of the aides to the governor signed our delivery register and I released the cheque to him.

    “The Permanent Secretary who I related within the Ecological Frund Office was Dr. K Nkoma, while the governor who came for the cheque was Chief Joshua Dariye. It was this case that led to Dr. Nkoma’s sack from the service.

    “Aside the defendant (Dariye), no other governor has ever come on his own to collect cheques issued in favour of his state.

    “The Minister of Special Duties approved the N1.161, 162,900 on July 12, 2001. The approval was given by the Minister of Special Duties on July 12, 2001, the cheque was written the same day, the cheque was confirmed on the same day, I released the cheque to the governor the same day.

    “The normal process is for the name of the person assigned by the benefiting state to collect it to be sent to the Perm Secretary, Ecological Fund Office, who minutes the name on the approved letter and send to the Central Pay Office for collection.

    “The cheque was written in the name of Plateau State Govt. The cheque was supposed to be paid into Plateau State govt’s account.

    “After I released the cheque to the governor, I did not know what happened to the cheque later,” the witness said.

    Adewesu identified the person, who signed for the cheque, on behalf of the Plateau State as Victor Delang, described as one of Dariye’s aides while he was governor.

    On cross -examination by defence lawyer, Garba Pwul (SAN), the Witness insisted that the decision to approve any request for ecological fund rested with the Vice President and the Minister of Special Duties.

    On whether the discretion to approve any amount was solely with the VP and Minister of Special Duties, the witness said the operation of the fund was not within his knowledge.

    On whether the Permanent Secretary was still in service, the witness said “I heard that because of this cheque, Dr. K. Nkoma had a problem and since then, I did not see him again.”

    On Tuesday, a prosecution witness told the court how Dariye allegedly shared the N1.162b.

    The witness, Musa Sunday, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said investigation revealed that Dariye gave N1000m to a company owned by Atiku Abubakar – Marine Float; N100m to PDP South-West, which was alleged received by Yomi Edu and N80m, which Dariye allegedly paid to Nkoma, through an account in the name of Union Homes Saving and Loan.

    Trial judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko adjourned further proceedings 12noon Thursday.

  • Plateau rebuilds Jos Main Market

    The Plateau State Government has commenced reconstruction of the Jos Main Market burnt down by a mysterious midnight fire in 2002.

    Governor Simon Lalong had earlier promised to reconstruct the market through private-public partnership (PPP). The government had, therefore, thrown the market project to the public to bid.

    Mr Ezekiel Gomos, Chairman of State Project Implementation Unit (IPU), said twelve companies bidded for the project following the government’s advertisement of the project.

    Mr Gomos, who disclosed this in a meeting with representatives of the biding companies in cabinet office yesterday, said: “Government is fully determined to partner with private investors to re-build the market.

    “The essence of the meeting is to assure the private investors who are ready to partner with government in the project of transparency in the selection process after the necessary evaluation of strength and capability of each of the biding companies.

    “The reconstruction of the market is part of the industrialization policy thrust of the Gov Lalong led administration. But government alone cannot fund the multi-billion naira project unless it partners with willing investors.

    “The market project mean a lot to government and this government will waste no time in getting the market back so as restore the lost glory of the state.”

  • Judges sit on stools, litigants on bare floor – Plateau CJ

    Judges sit on stools, litigants on bare floor – Plateau CJ

    Chief Judge Pius Damulak of Plateau said in Jos on Monday that judges sit on stools while litigants sit on bare floor in many rural courts in the State.

    Damulak made the remark when the state’s Commissioner for Justice, Mr Jonathan Mawiyau, visited him.

    “The judiciary is the most sensitive among the three arms of government, but it has suffered age-old neglect; its infrastructure is just a sorry sight.”

    Damulak said the decay affected the entire state, but that the courts in the rural areas were the worst hit as judges and their members sit on little stools to handle cases.

    “If you go to the courts in the rural areas, there is no furniture at all. “The judge, with the members, sit on very little stools while the people sit on the ground to listen to cases. “In one local government, we had to bend to enter the court because the roof of the court was supported with sticks.

    “There, the roof leaks and whenever it rains, the judge has to go to a nearby house to sit; that is how bad it is,’’ he said.

    He said apart from the sorry state of infrastructure, judges were finding it very difficult to run their offices as subventions were not paid to them.

    According to him, salaries are usually delayed, and judges always forced to borrow to run their offices.

    “For 13 months, we have not been paid overhead costs; we have been borrowing and sometimes judges are compelled to ask litigants to pay for stationery,’’ he added.

    Damulak stated that some judges cannot use their cars because they had become unserviceable, and regretted that such judges had to share public transport with litigants.

    “Judges are entitled to new vehicles every four years as contained in their condition of appointments, but the vehicles we are using have been with us for the past 10 years.

    “When this government came in, it bought vehicles for members of the House of Assembly as well as the commissioners including you (commissioner), but the judiciary was forgotten”, he added.

    “The judiciary is also supposed to be ICT-compliant as it is done globally, but here in Nigeria, particularly in Plateau, we don’t have internet in our offices and courts.”

    He said high court judges do not have official accommodation, and had not been paid housing allowances as stipulated.

    Damulak expressed the hope that the new government, headed by a lawyer, would give some attention to the judiciary, “so that its services will improve.’’

    In his response, Mawiyau said his visit was to solicit their cooperation to ensure the free flow of justice. “Justice is that essential commodity that is needed by the society.

    “Without justice, certainly there will be no peace; and if we are able to deliver justice to the masses, we will solve much of the security problems in the state.’’

    The commissioner said the state government was aware of the situation in the judiciary and assured his hosts that the executive arm would address them. He promised that the ministry would diligently prosecute cases, pointing out that justice delayed was justice denied.

    “We are working toward making the ministry and the judiciary ICT-compliant to ease the handling of cases,” he added.

     

  • Lassa Fever: Plateau battles to save 2 victims

    Plateau state government has confirmed that its medical team is battling with two confirmed cases of Lassa Fever at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH)

    The government has also confirmed that the disease has claimed two lives in the state since 8th January when government discovered the first case of the outbreak in the state.

    State Commissioner for health, Dr. Kuden Kamshak who stated this while giving update on the spread of the disease in Jos on Sunday said the state government has successfully managed the spread of the disease in the state.

    Dr. Kamshak said, “So far the disease has killed two people, not three as earlier reported.

    “Out of the two deaths we reported last week, only one of the victims tested positive to Lassa Fever, the blood sample of the second victim tested negative in Benin where we took both sample for confirmation.

    “The first death was recorded in a private hospital in Mangu and the second death was the victim that died in JUTH.

    “But right now we have two confirmed cases of Lassa Fever and the patients are being managed at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH)

    “Then we have isolated about 70 people whom we suspected had contact with the two people already killed by the disease. They are close relations of the two victims as well as some health workers who had direct contact with victims.

    “We are keeping such people under close surveillance so as to curtail the spread of the disease and so far we are happy to report that the virus has not spread. Our medical team are working round the clock to overcome the situation.” Kamshak stated.