The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sallah

  • FRSC deploys 1,000 personnel for Sallah

    The Ogun State Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) yesterday said it will begin a special seven-day patrol to check the excesses of motorists during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

    Its Sector Commander, Mr Clement Oladele, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota, saying the exercise would begin on Wednesday.

    Oladele said 1,000 personnel, including regular and special marshals, would be deployed across the state to ensure an  accident-free celebration.

    “Our men will be in  Abeokuta, Sango-Ota, Ifo, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu to mention just a few places.

    “We implore those driving vehicles without number plates to desist from such act because anyone caught will face the wrath of  the law.

    “Those who drive against traffic and use  bad tyres will also face the full weight of the law,” Oladele said.

    He felicitated with Muslim faithful on the forthcoming celebration  and admonished  them to be safety conscious.

     

  • 1,000 people benefit from free healthcare services in Kwara

    1,000 people benefit from free healthcare services in Kwara

    No fewer than 1,000 people have benefited from free healthcare services, including eye examination and care and other different eye ailments in Omu-Aran, Kwara.

    Reports say that the two-day free healthcare services, being the fifth in the series since its inception in 2013, was organised by an NGO, Aro Bamgbose Empowerment Foundation.

    Its Coordinator, Dr Musa Bello, said that it was a programme set up to coincide with the Sallah, Christmas and New Year periods in order to cover large number of beneficiaries.

    Bello said that the programme also attracted residents from the three wards of Omu-Aran and other neighbouring communities of Ajase, Oko, Oke-Onigbin, Oro, Ipetu, Aran-Orin, among others.

    According to him, apart from free diagnosis, treatment and drugs, beneficiaries were also offered basic tips and rudiments on fire safety and prevention.

    He said that the beneficiaries also received detailed counselling on A to Z of Lassa Fever and similar diseases in order to guide against unwarranted infections.

    Read also: Aisha Buhari provides free medical services for 3,000 patients in Zamfara

    Bello said that most of the beneficiaries received free medical test, treatment and drugs for diseases like malaria, typhoid fever, hypertension, arthritis and diabetes, among others.

    He said that the programme was basically targeted at bringing healthcare delivery closer to people in the rural communities, especially the less privileged.

    “The free healthcare services are designed to complement the government’s efforts geared toward improving the health status of people, especially in the rural areas.

    Bello said that the foundation was in the process of making a comprehensive documentation and analysis of its medical findings over the years as a reference point for improving healthcare delivery.

    “It is our hope that this documentary will, in no small measures, assist the governments and other relevant health institutions to strategise and plan ahead.

    “We were able to discover that malaria, arthritis and hypertension are more prevalence among the people.

    “Many of the beneficiaries, especially those from remote villages and communities, are ignorant of their health conditions.

    “This is why the foundation organised this programme as part of its support to ensure unhindered access to improved healthcare delivery to people at the grassroots,” he said.

    In his remarks, Chief Adekunle Oyinloye, the foundation chairman, said that the programme was his way of contributing to the development of the society.

    Oyinloye, who is also the Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank, Abuja, urged Nigerians to always avail themselves of the benefit of free healthcare services being provided nationwide.

    “I got to know that many people, as a result of financial challenge, have turned away from the hospitals in seeking medical assistance.

    “Many of them have become bed-ridden and lost hope, even over an ailment that could not cost more than N1, 000 to treat and manage.

    “So, it is our hope that if we can assist to bear their medical needs to some extent, they can then channel their resources to other things as education and welfare of their wards,” he added.

    NAN

  • FRSC tests 28 motorists psychologically

    FRSC tests 28 motorists psychologically

    The FCT Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) says it has arrested 149 motorists for various traffic offences in the territory during the recent Sallah festivities.

    The Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Wobin Gora, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

    Gora was speaking on the outcome of the FRSC’s special Sallah patrol in the territory held between Aug. 31 and Sept. 6.

    He said that 28 of the offenders were arrested for “critical offences” and were referred to relevant public health facilities for psychological tests.

    “The critical offences are use of phone while driving; route violation; traffic light violation; dangerous driving and overloading.

    “They are so designated because they are the most rampant life-threatening traffic law violations in the country.

    “Fourteen of the offenders referred for the tests returned with negative results, while the other 14 have yet to come with their results.

    “But their vehicles are in our custody, and will remain with us until we see the results of their tests,” he said.

    Gora identified speed violation, use of phone while driving and tyre violation as the most prevalent offences in the territory during the period.

    The sector commander also said that the command of the FRSC recorded 16 road traffic accidents involving 23 vehicles and 78 people within the period.

    Three persons lost their lives in two fatal cases, Gora said, adding that 56 others were injured in 12 serious and two minor cases.

    He further stated that 13 of the vehicles involved in the accidents were private, and the remaining 10 commercial.

    He said that the two fatal cases which involved commercial vehicles occurred at Abaji on the Abuja-Lokoja highway.

    Gora noted that there was a general improvement in the attitude of motorists in the FCT, but said the command had intensified its public enlightening campaign.

  • Sallah: 22 killed, 152 injured in Ogun

    Sallah: 22 killed, 152 injured in Ogun

    No fewer than 22 people were killed and 152 others injured in series of vehicle and motorcycle accidents that occurred in different locations on Ogun roads during the Sallah festive period.

    And of the 22 killed in 74 accident cases recorded in Ogun State during the festival, 18 of them are males while females accounted for the remainder.

    According to the Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency(TRACE), Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, he gave 74 as the figure of crashes recorded during the 2017 Ileya Festival which were witnessed by the agency’s Operatives.

    “Motor vehicle cases 43,
    the injured;108 (85m and 23f), those killed;18 (15m and 3f).
    Motorcycle cases 31, those
    injured 44 (33m and 11f), those
    killed 4 (3m and1f).Total cases=74, total injured =152 and total killed; 22,” Akinbiyi stated.

  • Buhari returns to Abuja after Sallah holiday in Daura

    Buhari returns to Abuja after Sallah holiday in Daura

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday resumed official duties at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after Sallah break at his country home in Daura, Katsina State, the Nation gathered.

    While in Daura, the President on Friday performed the Eid prayers along with thousands of Muslims
    at the Daura Eid ground.

    The President on Monday in Daura received associations of farmers, businessmen, youths, elders and politicians from Katsina State, where he assured them of his continuous commitment to serve the nation.

    He attributed his recent convalescence to divine act of almighty God.

    Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State also visited President Buhari in his home town Daura as part of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

    During the visit, the President restated Federal Government’s commitment to guarantee adequate protection of all citizens.

    He said “every Nigerian has a right to live, work and thrive in any part of the country, irrespective of backgrounds.”

    The President on Tuesday received Nigerien President, Mahamadou Issoufou in Daura, Katsina State, where he confirmed that Nigeria was out of recession.

    “Nigeria is finally out of economic recession,” he said.

    Buhari told newsmen after a closed door meeting with visiting Nigerien leader, Issoufou, that he was “very happy’’ to hear that the country was finally out of recession.

    National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday announced that Nigeria was out of economic recession.

    The NBS said this in a Gross Domestic Product (GPD) Report for Second Quarter 2017 released by the bureau in Abuja.

    The NBS said that the nation’s GDP grew by 0.55 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the quarter, indicating the exit of the economy from recession.

    The bureau said that figures indicated the economy was out of recession after five consecutive quarters of contraction since first quarter 2016.

    However, President Buhari said that the real impact of coming out of recession would be better felt when ordinary Nigerians experience changes in their living conditions. (NAN)

  • Aisha Buhari awards scholarships to 60 students

    Aisha Buhari awards scholarships to 60 students

    The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has called on Nigerians to make their children’s education a priority.

    Mrs Buhari was speaking on Monday during the presentation of scholarship to 60 primary school pupils of the less privileged families in Daura, Katsina State.

    She said that the responsibilities of educating a child do not reside with governments alone, hence the need to engage all relevant stakeholders to invest in the education of children.

    The wife of the president said the scholarship was to support the students in the completion of their education with ease.

    She said that education was the fastest way to ensure positive change and progress in any developed societies.

    Mrs Buhari, therefore, called on parents to show more commitment in the education of their children especially the girl-child.

    According to her, only education has the capacity of transforming the lives of not only the child and his mother but the entire community.

    She also thanked the people for their prayers and support for President Muhammadu Buhari, while on medical vacation in the United Kingdom.

    “I am aware of the unflinching support that my husband enjoys as well as the prayers you have been offering for him and for that I wish to express my profound appreciation to you” she said.

    Mrs Buhari also used the opportunity to distribute food items such as bags of rice, cartons of spaghetti, and wrappers to the less privileged families.

    “As we celebrate this year’s sallah, it is important to also remember and assist the needy ones especially the orphans.

    Mrs Buhari, who expressed delight in celebrating the Sallah with the less privilege, said the gesture was in line with her promise to assist the vulnerable groups across the country.

    She was also delighted over the large turnout of people.

    The event was attended by the wife of the Katsina state Governor, Mrs Zakiyya Bello Masari and the Emir of Daura Alhaji Umar Farouk.

    Meanwhile, Mrs Buhari is expected to visit the Daura General Hospital, to inspect an ongoing project, the construction of 50-bed children and maternity clinic.

  • Gov. releases N11m to pilgrims in Saudi Arabia

    Gov. releases N11m to pilgrims in Saudi Arabia

    In the spirit of Eid-el-Kabir, Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, has released N11 million to the pilgrims from the state in Saudi Arabia for Sallah.

    The spokesman for the hajj team, Mr Jibrin Gwamna, made this disclosure in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Lafia on Monday.

    The statement, issued on behalf of the Amirul Hajj of the state 2017 Muslim Pilgrims, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahahi, expressed the gratitude of the state pilgrims in Saudi Arabia to the governor for the gesture.

    It reads in part: “We are grateful, as the gesture has improved on our standard of living and we shall continue to pray for the success of his administration in order to enjoy more dividends of democracy”.

    Balarabe-Abdullahahi said the pilgrims would continue to pray for the peace and unity of the nation, President Muhammad Buhari, Gov. Al-Makura and other leaders to enable them succeed in the tasks ahead of them.

    He also said the process of transporting the state pilgrims back to Nigeria had begun and thanked the state hajj team and the pilgrims for their support, prayers and understanding throughout the period of the spiritual exercise.

    The statement enjoined all Nigerians to continue to live in peace and tolerate one another, irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations.

    According to it, peace is priceless and therefore, it is the necessary requirement for the development of any society.

    NAN reports that no fewer than 1,160 Nasarawa State Muslim pilgrims are performing the 2017 hajj in Saudi Arabia.

  • Ambode fetes Muslims at Sallah

    Ambode fetes Muslims at Sallah

    AS part of the Ed-il-Fitri celebration, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the weekend celebrated with Muslims in the state by hosting them in their various local governments.

    Surulere Local Government, Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and Itire-Ikate LCDA combined to hold their event at the National Stadium, Surulere on Saturday.

    At the event were Surulere LG Chairman, Tajudeen Ajide, his Itire-Ikate LCDA counterpart Hammed Apatira and a representative of Coker-Aguda LCDA chairman (Mrs Omobolanle Medinat Akinyemi-Obe), Chief Kolawole Shittu.

    The governor, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Primary Health Care, Dr Femi Onanuga, reiterated that “Sallah is for the commemoration of the Prophet’s faith in Allah.” He noted the lessons of Sallah, urging Lagosians to imbibe it.

    “We must remain hopeful and keep faith in the absolute power of Allah to turn our aspirations into reality. It is, however, very important for all of us to play our part just as Prophet Ibrahim did,” Ambode said.

    The governor assured the people of the commitment of his administration to their welfare and more provision of the dividends of democracy.

    Representative of the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mrs Sherifat Dosumu, a Director, praised the First family for hosting the celebration by taking it to the people. She urged the people to show their appreciation to the government by supporting its policies.

    Beside wining and dining, the event was spiced by Koran recitation, quiz contest, prayers for the state’s First Family, the state and the nation, and presentation of gifts.

  • Buhari seeks Nigerian elites’ sacrifices for nation’s unity

    Buhari seeks Nigerian elites’ sacrifices for nation’s unity

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday charged the elite in the country to make meaningful sacrifices that will engender unity and progress of Nigeria.

    He made the call while hosting Muslim faithfuls to a lunch as part of events to mark the Eid-Adha (Sallah) celebration at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Buhari, who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said that the Federal Government was committed to the promotion of the country’s unity and will do everything to ensure that Nigeria remains one indivisible nation.

    He said “Our nation’s elite must recognize that we must all make sacrifice for the country to move forward and united. We will make the enviable black country in the country.

    “God has planned that we remain one indivisible nation strongly united. All the noise we here today is part of the building process of Nigeria.

    “All we are hearing today are the noises of that great nation that God is about to give birth to,”.

    “Mr president is unable to attend because he is celebrating Sallah at home in Daura. He has not been in Daura ‎for over a year now. So, this is an important home going for him.

    “The significance of this celebration is the willingness Abraham to make the great sacrifice ‎of possibly the dearest thing to him, his son Isaac.

    “Obviously, anyone who knows anything at all about the kinds of things that…..it is a willingness to ‎make a great sacrifice. And Abraham (Ibrahim) was able to make that sacrifice. And he made it in order to be able to fulfill his own destiny and the destiny of his people,” he said

    He added “The message today is that our nation’s elite, Muslims, Christians and all ethnicity must recognize that we also must make sacrifices, the sacrifices that are necessary ‎to attain the destiny that God has brought unto our people.

    “I am one of those who is extremely confident that our nation ‎will remain united. Because I am convinced that God’s plans and purpose for Nigeria is that we would be the preeminent black nation in the world.

    “This is the type of country that God has ordained. ‎Where we have diversity of opinions, diversity of ideas. People saying their own things here and there. But, He has also planned that this country will remain together, and that we’ll be a nation that is gifted just as we have the oil, the gas, and the most arable lands than most continents.

    “This is a country that has all of what other countries will travel and spend money ‎looking for the sort of resources that we have. All of the tourism resources that we have people will travel everywhere looking for it.

    “Is a nation of men and women so creative and prosperous. That we will feed the entire continent and create opportunities ‎for the world.

    “All the different ethnic groups are important in that arrangement. On every ethnicity, incredible minds, brilliant and creative people doing all manner of things.

    “Our energies and resources shouldn’t be spent again on debate about division. Our manifest destiny is to be a great nation, not to be a nation where we are talking about division.

    “We must focus out time, our energies and our resources on being that great nation that God has called us to be. I think we have started building that country already.

    “Despite all the noise that we hear, all that noise is part of the building. Everybody knows that you cannot have birth without noise. No woman delivers a baby without some noise and without some pains.” he stated

    The President also explained that the noise currently being heard in some sections of the country we eventually lead to birth a great nation.

    “What we are hearing today are the ‎noises and the pains of that great nation that God is about to give birth to.,” he added.

    Present at the event were the minister of Interior Abdulraman Danbazau who represented the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly (Senate),  Senator Ita Enang, Senator Osita Ozunaso and Chief Segun Oni who represented the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun among others.

  • Sallah: LAWMA launches 24-hour refuse evacuation

    Determined to rid Lagos of heaps of waste, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), has launched a 24-hour refuse haulage service.

    General Manager of the agency, Segun Adeniji, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that waste managers were working round the clock to sustain a clean environment during and after Sallah celebration.

    He said in anticipation of an increase in waste generation during and after the celebration, the agency had deployed its waste managers to work round the clock to ensure prompt waste evacuation.

    “We are out in the streets carting away refuse, even before Sallah and we expect that during this celebration, there will be an upsurge in waste generation.

    “We are ready for it; for us there is no holiday. We are also working with the Ministry of Environment, our supervisory ministry and the various local governments to intervene and ensure that the environment is clean for the benefit of Lagosians,” he said.

    The LAWMA boss called on residents to bag their waste, especially animal waste to avoid pollution of the environment and to facilitate easy evacuation.

    Adeniji warned against dumping refuse on the road median or on the road, saying it will impede free flow of traffic.

    “Our mini trucks for inner streets are still very functional and it is aimed at meeting residents living in tight streets where the Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators’ big trucks cannot access.

    “We still go into the streets and residents will soon see the new system to be introduced and once it starts, we will be seeing an entirely `new’ Lagos.

    “Our major challenge is waste being dumped in the drains and canals, we are still appealing to our people to bag their waste and keep them safe near their houses for evacuation,” Adeniji also told NAN.

    He said as part of the LAWMA tradition during festive periods, refuse bags were shared at mosques in some parts of the metropolis to encourage people to bag their waste.

    “We distributed few waste bags, about few thousands were given out especially to our street sweepers and at the prayer grounds.”

    Adeniji advised residents to call LAWMA’s toll-free line — 7755 — for intervention and back up trucks.