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Tag: Yobe State government

  • Boko Haram: Yobe closes last IDP camp

    Yobe State Government has closed down the last Internally Displaced Persons Camp, ‘Popomari IDP Camp’ in the state.

    Located at a primary school in  Pompomari within Damaturu metropolis, the camp initially had a population of  4, 211 people at the time it was established but the population was reduced to 1,314 after over 2,897  voluntarily left the camp to pursue their livelihoods.

    The Permanent Secretary, Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, Idi Musa Jidawa at the closing ceremony said the people voluntarily wrote to government to vacate the camp and return back to their communities.

    Read Also:Army arrests Boko Haram fuel suppliers

    The Yobe SEMA boss also disclosed that the State government has expended over N140 million for the establishment and take off of the camp, feeding and medical treatment of the IDPs at the camp since its establishment.

    He announced that the state government earmarked for the distribution of 743 bags of 50kg rice, 596 jerry cans of 25 litres vegetable oil, 541 cartons of tomato paste, 370 cartoons of bathing soap, 1000 pieces of mosquito nets, 1,272 pieces of nylon mats, 60 bales of used clothes and a cash assistance of N9, 110, 00 million to the 318 heads of household depending on family size.

    He also disclosed that a total of 42 marriages were contracted within the period in the camp with a total of 195 healthy babies born with 26 dead.

    Investigation however revealed most of the returning are not returning back to their ancestral communities as the security situation in the areas have not improved but have rather chosen to stay wherever they wanted.

    Some of the IDPs who spoke to our correspondent were happy for leaving the camp after three years and three months.

    We can’t continue to live on handouts from government. They have tried for us. We need to go back and start our lives as the rainy season is at hand, Modu Abdullahi from Abiya Tasha said.

    The returnees are mostly from Gujba Local Government from different communities like, Ambiya Kura, Ambiya Bulabullin, Ambiya Tasha, Sharfuri, Shangamari and Turo Kura.

  • Dapchi: Yobe State Government and the rest of us

    The abduction of over 90 girls in a secondary school in Dapchi, Yobe State, is unfortunate.

    More embarrassing however, is the bid by the Yobe State Government to try shrug blame off its shoulder to blame another by saying it is the withdrawal of the military from the area that was responsible for the incident.

    The explanation does not just add up because the more the state government tries to point its fingers elsewhere, the more the rest of the four fingers are asking it to do a little bit of self-examination.
    By saying the abduction occurred because the military withdrew troops from the area is like playing a broken record which sends out some fuzzy sound but fails to strike a rhythm.
    For a governor who continues to receive security votes, this is counter intuitive as it portrays him as a political office holder who does not know the demands of the office he occupies or what the votes are meant for.

    For a state that has been under threats of terrorists for several years and which was only liberated through concerted military actions, it defies logic that at the slightest chance of security breach, the governor would try to impugn on the role the military has played in securing lives and property in Yobe and other states.
    For the avoidance of doubt, the military in the current administration, has done a lot for which the Yobe State Government should be grateful for.

    Before the current administration, the insurgents have captured as much as three local governments in Yobe and have made one of them a base from where they from to time enter into the state capital of Damaturu to unleash mayhem; so much so that it became unsafe for even the governor to stay in the state capital.

    The height of this threat was the takeover of the Government House by the insurgents in one of such attacks until they were flushed out by the combined military operation at the place.

    The military has several times engaged insurgents in fierce fights in the past in both Damaturu and other towns in Yobe and has succeeded in driving them away to the relief of residents.

    Through strategies and continuous actions, the military has weakened their base, scattered their lot, destroyed their weapons and captured their commandants.
    The liberation of territories by troops has made it possible for the state government to conduct its business under a peaceful atmosphere and carry out some projects which wouldn’t have been possible if not for the sacrifice of the military.
    What happened in Dapchi as unfortunate as it was, could be said to be more due to the pampered disposition of the authorities in Yobe and its inability to appreciate the fact a lot lies with them in securing its citizens and that the task of effective security cannot be outsourced wholesale to a federal agency as the immediate communities have relevant roles to play.

    Much as the military can be called upon to intervene in terms of crisis, the prevention of such incidence lies with the political and civil authorities.
    It is common knowledge in military operations that when a troop enters and frees a territory, what remains is for the civil authority to mobilize and organize the place to ensure a return to normalcy and forstall a likely breach.
    These are achieved through actions such as monitoring and constant assessment of the situation using the police and other security agencies, coordination of intelligence gathering and data as well as instituting framework to sustain the peace.
    But with the benefit of hindsight, it appears the Yobe State Government did none of that but was waiting for the military to mount a 24|7 sentry which is not possible given the number of places that require military presence in the face of security challenges in the country.
    The Yobe State Government knowing fully well that the dregs of the insurgents still abound, should not have allowed a concentration of school girls at a place without adequately making security arrangements.
    Aside that, since the issue of the terrorists has become a recurring decimal in that axis, one would have expected that a security buffer should have been stationed for quick mobilization whenever there is an unforeseen attack.
    But is seems the Yobe State Government only wants to be pampered while it glosses over its own responsibilities.
    But the time for trading blame has passed, what is required now is for genuine commitment towards rescuing the girls and this is where the full cooperation of the government and the people of Yobe is needed.
    As this is going on efforts must be made to secure other places using intelligence and civil order because there is no way the military can be in all the communities in Yobe all year round.

    Ainoko is a public affairs analyst and contributed this piece from Kaduna.

  • DAPCHI:  Parents demand release of missing children

    DAPCHI:  Parents demand release of missing children

    Angry parents of abducted students at Government Girls Science Technical College Dapchi have demanded the true position of their missing children from Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam.

    Ibrahim Gaidam on Thursday visited Dapchi to meet with the parents of the missing girls and Dapchi community to commiserate with them over the unfortunate incident.

    The parents who gathered at the front of the palace of the emir of the town were however not satisfied with the message of the governor as many of them left the palace in anger tears and sorrow.

    According to some of the parents, their grief and annoyance was aggravated by the “hopeless” message the governor presented to them.

    “The message of the governor was clearly hopeless and full of lies. How can he tell us that he is not sure whether our children are missing or not, one of the parents said?

    The minister of information Alhaji Lai Mohamed also led the Federal delegation to Dapchi where he met with Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam at the school.

    The minister who fielded questions from reporters at the school said Boko Haram have been defeated. He added that Boko Haram was looking for oxygen to breath having been pushed out of Sambisa and other fringes.

    On the number of girls missing, the minister said, “What we know as at today (Thursday) is that some of the girls are still unaccounted for. That is because some of them are still trickling back to the school,” the minister told journalists without giving detail of the number of girls rescued or seen.

    “What we know for a fact now is we cannot account for some students but since two days ago students have been reporting back to school.

    We also have it on record that some of them have phone from their hiding place, some from Damaturu, some from other locations. But, as things develop we will let you know.

    But, we cannot categorically say ‘X’ number of students have been abducted but we can say not all students have returned”, the minister said.

    He said the responses from the military and Yobe State government was commendable. “Since this thing happened, I’ve been in touch with the governor, the theatre commander and the GOC (General Officer Commanding).

    “I think we should take it in context, to me, the most authoritative position is the one given by both the governor, theater commander and the GOC. What we know is that some students cannot be accounted for. That is because some of them are still returning back”, he added.

    The Minister  also said  the attack on the school by the insurgents is just to embarrass government and attract attention across the world, stressing that  “with the determination of the gallant soldiers the days of Boko haram is over.

    In the meantime, Yobe State Government have apologise for the statement earlier issued on the rescue of some of the abducted girls.

    In a statement signed by Abdullahi Bego, the Spokesman to Gov. Ibrahim, Gaidam, said they were misled by a top security agent on the issue.

    The statement read in full:

    “The public may recall that we issued a statement last night in which we announced that some of the girls at Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) Dapchi who went missing after Boko Haram terrorists had stormed their school last Monday were rescued by officers and men of the Nigerian Army who are currently executing the war against the Boko Haram Insurgents.

    “We issued the statement on the basis of information provided by one of the security agencies that is involved in the fight against Boko Haram and which we had no reason to doubt.

    “We have now established that the information we relied on to make the statement was not credible. The Yobe State Government apologises for that.

    “His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam was in Dapchi today where he met with community leaders and the Principal and staff of the Girls’ College. The governor also addressed the parents of some of the schoolgirls that are still unaccounted for where he told them to pray and exercise patience as the government and security agencies at all levels continue the work to address the unfortunate situation.

    “His Excellency Governor Gaidam has also directed Education Ministry officials and the school administration to work closely with the security agencies to establish the actual number of the girls that are still unaccounted for and to contact parents and the community for possible information that could be useful in the investigation.

    “His Excellency Governor Gaidam shares deeply and personally in the grief about the unfortunate event at the Girls’ College and, under his leadership, the Yobe State Government will continue to do everything necessary in partnership with security agencies and the federal government to address the situation”.

    Read Also:111 schoolgirls missing at Dapchi after Boko Haram raid

  • 2018 budget dialogue: Yobe/PERL convene stakeholders meeting

    2018 budget dialogue: Yobe/PERL convene stakeholders meeting

    Yobe State Government Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning with support from Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL) DFID funded project has convened a meeting of key stakeholders as part of preparations for the 2018 budget for the state.

    The meeting which has held at the Yobe State Cultural Centre along Maiduguri road in Damaturu had participants drawn from the state ministry of finance, civil society’s organizations, the State House of Assembly, community leaders, the media and other key stakeholders in some line ministries in the state.

    In his address at the event, the Hon. Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning in the State, Alhaji Idi Barde Gubana stressed the need for citizenship participation in the budget planning process.

    According to him, community participation in the budget process is the best practice all over the world as the people get involved right from the beginning of the process, adding that such practices circumvent wastage and guarantees better budget implementation.

    Alhaji Gubba explained that Yobe State through his Ministry is working hard to produce very realistic budget figures and appropriation away from what use to be in the past.

    Some of the speakers who spoke at the even applauded the initiative of the organizers for engaging them at the rudimentary stage of the budget for the state.

    The Representative of the Speaker, Yobe State House of Assembly, Bukar Mustapha who is also the House Committee Chairman on appropriation pledged the commitment of the House in ensuring the full implementation of the budget through the exercise of their oversight function.

    In his remarks, PERL State Program Facilitator for Northeast Musa Waziri said his Organisation is happy with the State Government for giving citizens the opportunity in budget participation and governance, while calling for more education of the citizen insurgency  recovery processes and initiatives.

    He noted that PERL will continue to partner with the state government in fostering good governance and citizenship participation in governance.

  • Reactions as Yobe sign contract for over N11 billion cargo airport  

    Reactions as Yobe sign contract for over N11 billion cargo airport  

    Yobe State Government Friday signed an agreement with JM & AS Enterprises Limited for the construction of the over N11 billion cargo airport to be located in Damaturu, the state capital, the first of its kind in the entire northern Nigeria.

    The signing ceremony which was held at the office of the commissioner of Works Transport and Energy had in attendance the commissioner of Works, Transport and Energy, Alh. Lawan Shettima, and other top officials of the ministry and representative of the contractor.

    The works commissioner, Lawan Shettima in his address informed that the contractor to stick strictly with the specifications of the contract term to avoid compromising the quality of the work.

    The Nation reports that on Wednesday, 13/09/2017, Yobe State Executive Council rose from her weekly Executive Council meeting where it approved among other projects the construction of a cargo airport in Damaturu at the total  cost of 11,327,120,487.24.

    But news of the airport project was received with mixed feelings among the people in the state as many Yobeans took to the social media to criticized government action for the approval of such a huge sum of money for the project.

    Our correspondent who monitored the social media noticed that many were of the opinion that the money should have been invested in other meaning ventures that would impact directly on the lives of the ordinary people in the state.

    While others described the project as a ‘terrible calculative  development error’ for the state, some see it as a complete misplacement of priority from the Gov. Gaidam led administration to embark on such a project wondering the economic viability and how it can impact of the lives of the teaming common people of Yobe State.

    Some of the people observed that  the project is completely out of the Yobe State Economic Reform Agenda (YOSERA) which is more of  a guiding document for the economic development of the state, adding that neighboring states like Jigawa and  Bauchi made the same mistake which   they are regretting at the . “How can you have an airport that you cannot maintain”, one of them asked.

    Some people are of the opinion that the project will not see the light of the day.  Their opinion is that it will amount to a waste of resource for the state just like the billions of naira Late Mamman Ali sank in the boarding primary schools.

    The Nation also gathered from diverse opinions    that the airport project is one significant development that the state will witness since her creation 26 years ago.

    The proponents of the projects argue that the absence of airport has rubbed Yobe State of so many opportunities especially during the Boko Haram insurgency where visitors both local and international prefer to fly to Maiduguri and do their business leaving Yobe in the loop. Because of the absence of an airport in Damaturu, the President and Command in Chief before his election in 2015 could not visit Yobe for his nationwide campaign. This is one big embracement for us too many,” another person had argued.

    “Yobe is the only state in the north east without an airport and the state is losing seriously for this. A clear example is that Yobe has been left out in the scheme of things when it comes to visitors coming into the state for investment. Similarly during the insurgency, NGOs always visit state capitals with airport and some relevant decisions are often reached in support of host states. Borno and Adamawa states have often been placed on advantage for having airport ahead of Yobe. To add to it, during the 2015 general election, only Yobe state in the whole Federation did not host Mr. President because there is no airport. Only God knows what his coming would have benefited the state in their state capitals have been considered.”

    But the Commissioner of Works, Transport and Energy while defending the action of his governor for the project said, “Gov. Gaidam is in a hurry to develop Yobe. We cannot wait for development to come to us. This is the time for Yobe to take her rightful position in the comity of developed states in the country.

    “As for those who are criticizing this project on the social media, Mr. Gov. cannot shift his focus in delivering Yobe from the woods. For those that are doubting whether there is no money or whether the project would be abandoned, they will be disappointed because, the Governor has even said the state is in a very good financial capacity to pay the contractor 90%. As I speak with you now, Yobe is not owing workers or any form debt. Our gratuities and pension of workers are issues that Yobe does not have as other states.

    “For the economic benefit of the state, just be reminded that Yobe is the major producer of Gum Arabic in the country and we are looking at the future of the market with Europe, Asia and the United Arab Emirate with the coming of this airport. We also want to take advantage of the Federal Government policy in shifting from the oil to the non-oil sector and this airport will transform Yobe into a huge commercial hub for the country,” the Commissioner explained.

  • Yobe approves construction of cargo airport

    Yobe approves construction of cargo airport

    Yobe state government has approved the construction of a cargo airport in Damaturu at the total cost of 11,327,120,487.24.

    The state commissioner for Education Alh. Alamin Mohammed disclosed this to newsmen after the meeting of the state executive council in Damaturu on Wednesday 13/09/2017.

    Mohammed Alamin also informed that the state government has approved the procurement of two 1.8 Toyota Corola models for College of Nursing and Midwifery and College of Health Science at the cost of N99,900,000.00.

    Other approvals made as contained in the briefing include the purchase of tow Toyota Lexus Jeep as staff cars for the governor at the cost of N156, 000,000.00.

    The council also approved the furnishing of five secondary schools newly rehabilitated by the state government at the cost of N440, 274,022.40.

    Government has also approved the renovation of Bayamari Primary School at the cost of N238, 769292.84 which will be converted to Command College of the Nigerian Army.

  • Post insurgency: Yobe holds humanitarian submit for key actors

    Post insurgency: Yobe holds humanitarian submit for key actors

    As part of its post insurgency and recovery plan for the Boko Haram insurgency in the state, Yobe State Government  has convened a humanitarian submit for all stakeholders in the humanitarian community to discuss better ways of humanitarian coordination in the state.

    The submit which took place in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital at the WAWA Hall of Government House Damaturu has the theme, Consolidating Humanitarian Recovery Plans.

    The event which was put together by the State Committee for Reconstruction, Resettlement and Rehabilitation headed by the State Deputy Gov. Engr. Abubakar Aliyu brought together all humanitarian actors in the state including traditional rulers, local government chairmen, Civil Societies Organizations, Faith Based Organizations across the state.

    In his address to the event, the State Governor Ibrahim Gaidam said the meeting is a positive step towards having a master plan of intervention that will mitigate wastages and duplication of efforts which will have direct impact on the victims.

    “…we however believe that a streamlined and well-coordinated intervention in humanitarian support and socio-economic assistance will maximize the desired impact on the victims, reduce wastage and ensure value for money. This therefore informs the need to have an intervention master plan such that no felt need of the victims shall be left out, or assistance of any agency or organization discounted,” Gov. Gaidam said.

    The governor also stated that the assistance being received from International and local donor agencies have been a source of consolation for him and the people of the state.

    Speaking on the enormity and scale of the crisis and its attendant consequences, Gov. Gaidam noted that, given the monumental humanitarian crises before us, no government, agency or Non-Governmental Organization, however endowed, can handle the situation alone”, which is while the gathering was convoked.

    Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam also observed that the task of rebuilding, and rehabilitation of the destroyed communities by the Boko Haram insurgents will be made easier as according to him the committee has, “set the stage that will provide window of opportunity to governments, Development partners, inter-governmental Organizations, humanitarian bodies and individual to identify and explore areas of interventions”

    In his welcome address, the Chairman of Yobe State Committee for the Reconstruction, Resettlement and Rehabilitation of Victims of Boko Haram, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu said his committee was faced with conflicting demands due to lack of proper coordination and understanding among the affected people and the actors involved.

    He stated that the lack of an effective synergy and coordination of all agencies and actors in the humanitarian activities in the state informed the need for the committee to put up the summit, stressing that a comprehensive document is expected to be produce that will be called ‘Yobe State Government Post Insurgency Integrated Intervention Plan’, encompassing all the various sector of the intervention.

    Engr. Aliyu called on all participants to give out their best so as to achieve the objective of the meeting for the victims of terror in the state.

    Goodwill messages were presented by other actors in the humanitarian community including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Victim Support Funds (VSF), Presidential Committee on North East Initiative(PCNI), etc.

     

  • DFID donates medical equipment worth N73.5m to Yobe

    DFID donates medical equipment worth N73.5m to Yobe

    The UK Department for International Development (DFID) has donated medical equipment and furniture worth N73, 543,358 million to Yobe State Government.

    The medical equipment which were handed over to the State Government through the State Team Leader of MNCH2, Mr. Zanna Omar Ali and were received by the State Commissioner for Health Dr. Bello Kawuwa on behalf of the State Government.

    While presenting the equipment, Mr.  Zanna Omar Ali, said the equipment were aimed at assisting the state government in strengthening the health system in the state.

    According to him,  MNCH2 program, since inception in 2014, has made various interventions  into Yobe state health sector through renovation of health facilities,  provision of outreach services, procurement of drugs, staff training, and strengthening  community engagement, strengthening routine immunization in the state, and provision of structures for sustainability and ownership.

    He added that the program has also carried out interventions in; “improve health governance through capacity assessment, planning and budgeting and procurement of medical equipment, and medical supplies”.

    In his response, Commissioner of Health in the state, Dr. Muhammad Bello Kawuwa assured the donors that the equipment will be deployed to all health facilities across the state.

    He praised DFID for its commitment to the health needs of the people of the state, adding that the equipment will enhance safe delivery of women across facilities in the state.

    He noted that DFID through the MNCH2 has been supporting the state in Immunization, improved quality of health services through training, mentoring, coaching etc.

    He described the donation as time especially considering the huge investment and commitment of the state government in overhauling its entire health sector.

     

  • Yobe appoints provost medical college for state varsity

     

    …Recruits 90 teachers

     

     

    Yobe State Government has approved the recruitment of 90 more teachers to boost the educational standard in the state.

     

    The category of teachers to be employed according to the Head of Service to the State Dauda Yahaya include both degree, NCE and diploma holders where they will be posted  to Science and Technical Schools Board (STSB) and Teaching Service Boards (TSB) of the state.


    The statement requested  all  candidates that have applied for various job opportunities with the Yobe State Government to  check with the office of the Head of Service at Governor’s Office for details and guidance.


    In another development, the Head of Service informed that, “ Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has also approved the appointment of Prof. Babagana Ahmed as Provost of the newly established College of Medical Sciences of the Yobe State University (YSU), Damaturu.


    “Until his appointment, Prof. Ahmed was an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist with the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).


    “Other appointments approved by the governor for the Yobe State University, include, Dr. Mahmood Kayode, an associate Professor from the University of Ilorin to the Faculty of Law of the Yobe State
    University; Dr. Yagana Babakura Imam as senior lecturer in YSU’s Business Administration Department and Dr. Abubakar Bukar Kagu, a chief magistrate with the State Ministry of Justice, as senior lecturer in the Yobe State University’s Civil Law Department.


    “His Excellency Governor Gaidam has also approved the appointment of Alkali Umara Usman as Provost of the College of Agriculture, Gujba,” the statement said.


    Until his appointment, Usman was acting provost of the College before his appointment as substantive provost of the institution.

  • Boko Haram: PINE security/stabilization sub-committee visits Yobe

    …Receives security brief from state govt

     

     

    Yobe State Government on Monday received members of the Security/Stabilization and Peace Building sub-committee of the Presidential Initiative on North East (PINE).

     

    The State Deputy Governor Engr. Abubakar Aliyu who received the delegation at his conference room in Damaturu enjoined members of the committee to dedicate time and go round the state to the affected areas so as to have firsthand information on the level of destruction caused by the insurgents.

     

    According to him, an assessment visit of the committee members to the affected areas “will provide necessary guideline for developing well-conceived and participatory strategy and implementation framework for rebuilding the affected areas in our state in particular and the North East Region in general”.

     

    Engr. Aliyu also gave the assurance of the state government to the committee to enable it succeed in its assignment, while calling on all MDAs and relevant stakeholders in the state to give every support and assistance by giving out useful information that would facilitate the success of the committee’s work.

     

    He also took time to inform the delegation of the efforts made so far by the Yobe State Government with the restoration of peace in the liberated areas, which include the rehabilitation of health, water and educational facilities in such communities.

     

    He added that several welfare packages were also provided to IDPs retunees to their ancestral homes after almost six years of exile among other things.

     

    Earlier, the leader of the delegation Brigadier General Habila Ventenaba (Rtd) informed that his committee was in the state to get adequate security brief so as to develop a workable frame work that will enable other sectors of PINE and other development partners to lunch heavy intervention programs in the North East.

     

    He noted that no society can strive with a chaotic atmosphere, while stressing the commitment of his committee to give a proper guidance for a smooth implementation of the programs in the region which has been ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgent using their professional expertise.

     

    “We as members of the security sub-committee believe that we cannot have any meaningful development without a safe and secured environment. It on this note that   as forerunners we have to come to the field and  assess the security situation in the states of the north east that will facilitate and provide the necessary condition for Intervention by the Presidential Committee on North East in collaboration with the state governments and other development partners.

     

    “We are here to receive briefings relating to security that we will carry back in Abuja and start drawing up  plans for other sectors of the PINE and development partners to move into the North East and begin the implementation of their programs,” Brig. Gen. Ventenaba explained.