The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yola

  • Bauchi re-run: Absence of Returning Officer delays announcement of result

    Absence of the Returning Officer in charge of Bauchi State gubernatorial election, Prof. Mohammed Kyari, is delaying the announcement of the outcome of the governorship re-run elections in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as at 7am on Sunday, Kyari, who is the  Vice Chancellor of  Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, was yet to arrive Bauchi.

    His absence has caused apprehension among people of the state, who are suspecting some ‘foul play’ , but the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Ibrahim Abdullahi, said there was no cause for alarm.

    Addressing party agents, observers and journalists in the early hours of Sunday, Abdullahi assured that the mandate of the people was  intact.

    Read also: Benue REC confirms attack on INEC convoy

    He said that results from all the 36 polling units in the 15 Local Government Areas where the re-run elections took place, had been received, and that what was left was for the Returning Officer to arrive and announced the outcome.

    Abdullahi said that he had communicated with Mohammed and therefore assured that by today (Sunday), the result would be announced.

    He urged the people of the state to disregard comments on social media that had been insinuating grand plans to change the result.(NAN)

  • One dies, two injured in Yola street fight

    One person has died and two others injured in a street fight in a community in the Adamawa State capital, Yola.

    The Nation gathered Thursday that the incident happened at the Jambutu area of Yola North Local Government Area Tuesday night during a clash among youths returning home from a party.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Othman Abubakar, who confirmed the incident, named the deceased as John Jada.

    “Youths returning from a night outing engaged each other in a fight at Rumde Baru in Jambutu. One John Jada was fatally wounded and he later died,” the PPRO said.

    He added that two people who were wounded had been taken to hospital while the police arrested three people over the fight, namely Shamsudeen Abubakar, Aliyu Musa and Muhammed Abba.

    The incident came against reduced criminal activities across Adamawa State. The state has been relatively crime-free since the election season began about two weeks ago, something which security personnel recently described as a direct result of the political engagements.

    The personnel said, “The crime-minded ones, as well as the law abiding ones around the state, have been engaged by our politicians. They have no idle time to get to mischief. That’s why the state has been resting from issues of crime.“

  • Tea, bean-cake sellers celebrate Buhari’s victory

    Tea and bread sellers on Wednesday in Yola treated ‘almajiri ‘ pupils to a free breakfast as part of activities to celebrate the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.

    A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who went round the town, reports seeing the pupils queuing up in different tea and bread selling spots, most of them beaming with smiles while waiting for their turn to collect their share.

    One of the sellers, Umaru Ali, told NAN that their joy knew no bound, adding that their gesture was aimed at ensuring the participation of the less privileged in the celebration.

    Female petty traders engaged in frying and selling of local delicacies like bean cake (akara) and ‘masa’ also joined the fray as some of them gave out their delicacies to passer-by for free.

    Read Also: Buhari’s victory a watershed, says Bello

    One of them,  Hajara Yakubu, told NAN that she was a beneficiary ‘trader-moni’ programme of the Federal Government, as such had to give thanks to God that the initiator of the programme had triumphed to continue his good work.

    “I have spoken to many of my friends who benefitted from the programme and they are doing same to celebrate Buhari’s victory,” Yakubu said.

    On their part, most commercial tricycle operators in the town adorned their vehicles with the pictures of President Buhari as  they engaged in their daily business.

    Meanwhile, there was a minor fracas between supporters of Buhari and Atiku along Yola to Gombe road in Numan town as supporters of Buhari trooped out to celebrate.

    Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Abubakar Baba, said the issue was not a serious one and that it had been brought under control.

    “It’s a minor fracas that led to road blockage but our men in that area have moved in with other security agencies to contain the situation,” Baba said.

    NAN

     

  • Atiku promises to accept poll result if…

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar promised on Saturday to accept results of the presidential elections provided the polls are credible.

    He spoke after voting in his Ajiya ward polling unit in Jimeta, Yola.

    Atiku said as a democrat, he has no problem with accepting poll results.

    “I am a true democrat unlike others. So far so good,” he said.

    Read Also: Atiku, wife vote in Yola

    Atiku, who had a brief chat with reporters after casting his vote at the Unit 012 in Ajiya Ward near one of his houses at Old GRA, Jimeta, reiterated that although he was sure he would win, he would accept defeat if the conduct of the poll turned out to be transparently free and fair.

    He expressed satisfaction with the turnout of voters to exercise their right during the polls hoped all those election officials would do their jobs in all honesty.

    “I am impressed with the turnout of the voters. I hope the electoral officers would be able to cope with the crowd,” Atiku said.

    Alhaji Auwal Tukur, a former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also said he was satisfied with the turnout of the electorate to vote.

    He said last Saturday’s postponement appears not to have had impact on voter turnout this time.

    “I am certain with all that I have seen so far that everything will be well. Where challenges are noticed I am sure it would be resolved,” he said.

     

  • Bindow warns youths against abusive words on leaders

    Governor Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa has warned youths in the country to shun the use of abusive words on elders and leaders in the society.

    Bindow gave the warning at the 20th year anniversary of Islamic Development Center (IDC) on Saturday in Yola.

    He also advised them to desist from making unpleasant comments on their leaders especially on the social media platforms.

    “We should be very careful and cautious about  the way and manner our youths are abusing leaders on social media platforms.

    “The social media platforms should be regarded as means of enlightenment, development, education and peaceful coexistence in the society.

    “But it is unfortunate that today in Nigeria almost 90 per cent of those on social media platforms are using it negatively either to blackmail or cause unrest,’’ Bindow said.

    Read Also: Osinbajo, Bindow meet in Aso Rock

    He also advised the Federal Government to sanitize the system and called on those involved in negative acts to desist from such.

    In his address, Umar Muhammad, the Ameer of the Center, said the center was established 20 years ago.

    Muhammad said that the center had within the last years fostered peace, progress and unity among Muslims and their neighbours.

    “The center has since its establishment in 1998 served as the channel of communication and understanding between Muslims and non –Muslims,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Two fraudsters in DSS’s net over extortion

    The National Social Investment Programme says two fraudsters have been arrested and handed over to the Department of State Security Service (DSS) in Yola, in Adamawa.

    Its Focal Person, Mr Usman Sali, told the Our reporter on Wednesday in Yola that the suspects were arrested for allegedly extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public.

    The National Social Investments Programmes (NSIP) was established by the Federal Government in 2016 to tackle poverty and hunger in the country.

    Read Also:I have no plans to dump APC, says ex-DSS Boss

    Components of the programme include: N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfer, Home Grown School Feeding Programme (HGSF) and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).

    According to Sali, some undesirable elements in the state are going round impersonating as supervision officers of the programme and extorting money from people to recruit them into the programme.

    “Two of such criminals were apprehended and handed over to the DSS for interrogation.

    “Also, in Hong Local Government Area of the state, some suspected criminals, who paraded themselves as agents of the programme, were arrested for collecting N40, 000 from each of their victims.

    “They were arrested and handed over to the police for being in possession of fake forms and selling the forms to people in the area.

    Among the major challenges facing the smooth implementation of the programme’s components in the state is the activities of fraudsters and lack of proper supervision,” he said.

    Sali then urged the state government to show interest in the programmes, saying it was designed to assist the common people.

  • Adamawa APC governorship primary delay persists

    Election materials were yet to reach any ward even in the Yola and Jimeta communities of the Adamawa State capital as late as 6pm Friday,  the day for the governorship primary of the All Progressives (APC).

    One of the three aspirants,  Dr Mamood Halilu Ahmed (Modi) who addressed the press about that time, expressed the fear that the election might not take place in far-flung communities that take much time and rigours to reach.

    The primary election which was scheduled to take place last Sunday was rescheduled for Thursday, with the mode changed from indirect to direct primary, but the Thursday date proved impossible and the committee sent to conduct the process addressed the aspirants in the early hours of Friday and then told newsmen that a credible primary would be under way by mid- day, only for voting centres to remain idle well into the evening.

    Modi, fielding questions from newsmen in his Mbamoi ward home in Yola town,  said the election committee seemed to be overwhelmed by the task in their hands,  and considering the limited time left for the election to be concluded and a candidate determined,  the committee, which comprises 20 members to conduct the election supposedly in 226 wards, might be forced to skip the election in some of the wards.

  • Teachers call for prompt salary payment, better welfare packages

    Some teachers across the country have called on government at all levels to ensure prompt payment of teachers’ salaries and provide them with better welfare packages.

    They made the call in separate interviews during the World Teachers Day celebration in Abuja on Friday.

    Some of the teachers said they derived joy from their profession as they watched their students become successful in life, however, their work must not go unrewarded.

    Mr Shuaibu Abdulrahman, a teacher and director, School Services, Federal Ministry of Education, said he loved the teaching profession and has no regret being a teacher.

    Abdulrahman, however, said the issue of teachers’ salaries could not be overlooked because of the vital role teachers play in the society.

    “It is possible for teachers to collect better salaries in Nigeria but this depends on our value system and government political will.

    “If we value the teacher most, then, they will be paid properly and timely, however, this lies in the hands of the government, and this would make best brains rush into the teaching profession.

    “Teachers are not being paid by anybody except God, so government should do something to help the teachers as it concerns our welfare.

    He also called on the government to provide adequate facilities in schools, adding that to achieve quality education students must learn in conducive environments.

    Similarly, Mrs Ifeoma Eze, a teacher with Federal Government Boys College School, Apo, FCT, appreciated the government for encouraging teachers through the Presidential Teachers award of excellence given to deserving teachers and schools.

    Eze, however said the government needed to do more in terms of prompt payment of teachers’ salaries.

    “ This present administration is trying for teacher, government has increased the awards given to teachers but they can do more by paying teacher as and when due.’’

    According to her, salaries of some newly recruited teachers have not been paid for up to ten months now because of the new system of capturing and regularisation introduced.

    Mr Oluwatofunmi Akano, Principal, Federal Government Girls College, Yola, said government needed to make teachers’ welfare a priority.

    Read Also: Buhari to teachers: Be agents of positive change

    Akano said that the special salary scale for teachers, which had lingered for a long time should be made realistic, so that teachers would be motivated to do more.

    “No teacher No nation; teachers are the ones that mold everyone to be who they are in different spheres of life.

    “The teacher should get more reward here, not only in heaven; the government should make teachers’ welfare a top priority.

    She commended the Federal Government for increasing the prize award this year to teachers.

    According to her, this year is better than last year’s event; just one car was given out last year, but this year government has given out two cars and a bus and other prizes.

    Also, Mr Titus Oluroguntayo, an official of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), said that teachers deserved better treatment and should be accorded the required respect.

    “We want the government at the federal, state and local government levels to treat our teachers with dignity and respect. Teachers should not be relegated to the background.

    “Teachers are the molders of future characters.

    “The government officials, the doctors, the lawyers, even those people who leave the shores of this country to look for greener pastures were all trained by teachers,” he said.

    The World Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually on Oct. 5, aimed at appreciating the efforts of teachers worldwide and deliberating on their challenges and way forward.

    NAN

  • MAUTECH gets first female registrar

    Hajiya Halima Mohammed, on Wednesday, assumed office as the new registrar of Modibbo Adama University of Technology ( MAUTECH ), Yola.

    Malam Sa’ad Aliyu, the Acting Information Officer of the university, announced in a statement in Yola on Wednesday.

    He explained that the new registrar assumed office after her appointment was ratified by the institution’s Governing Council at its 91st regular meeting.

    Read Also: MAUTECH: Scaling the funding hurdle

    He said Mohammed, who became the first female registrar of the university, was formerly the Deputy Registrar, Information and Publicity.

    The acting information officer also said that Dr Tukur Abba is now the substantive university Librarian.

  • Flood: 3 feared killed, hundreds displaced in Yola

    No fewer than three people have been killed and hundreds of people displaced following a monsoon rainfall in Adamawa.

    A heavy rainfall was recorded in some areas of the state on Thursday night.

    The News Agency of Nigeria gathered that the affected areas included Yolde-Pate, Jambutu and Loko in Yola South, Yola North and Song Local Government Areas of the state, respectively.

    Reacting to the development, the Executive Secretary, Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) Dr. Muhammad Suleiman however said that only one person lost his live in the flood.

    “One person lost his life, while over one hundred people mostly women and children displaced in the recent flood at Yolde-Pate in Yola South Local Government Area.

    “Many people are also affected by the flood in Loko village and Jambutu area in Song and Yola North Local Government Areas of the state,” Suleiman said.

    He said that Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), especially from Yolde-Pate, were camped at the primary school in the area.

    The scribe said that the agency has provided relief materials to the victims and appealed to humanitarian actors in the country to come to the aid of the victims.