Mambilla Hydro Project: Taraba Govt drums support of host communities
Engr Saleh Mamman, Minister of Power (L) and Governor of Taraba State, Mr Darius Ishaku.
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Support
Abuja, Feb. 11, 2020 (NAN) Gov. Darius Ishaka of Taraba says the support and cooperation of members of host communities will be instrumental to the successful completion of Mambilla hydro electricity project.
Ishaku stated this during the inaugural sensitisation meeting on the Mambilla Hydro Electricity Power project on Tuesday in Abuja.
The meeting was attended by officials of the ministry of power, traditional rulers, commissioners from the state, Speaker and members of the Taraba House of Assembly, and other critical stakeholders.
Ishaku said that the project, a national dream for stable electricity power, had remained on the drawing board for over 40 years.
He added that the meeting was the beginning of the sensitisation phase and critical to the overall success of the project.
“The project is huge and will significantly alter the social, economic and cultural lives of members of the host communities.
“The support and cooperation of the people must be sought and secured from the onset through effective programme of sensitisation.
“I want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his interest and commitment to the project.
“I urge him to write his name on the sands of history as the Nigerian leader who broke the over 40-year jinx on the project.
“However, all the gains and the benefits coming with the project should not be denied the people of Taraba state,” Ishaku said.
The Minister of Power, Mr Saleh Mamman, who is also an indigene of Taraba, advised that nothing must be allowed to hinder the smooth execution of the project.
Mamman thanked Ishaku for his role in helping to shape and facilitate the project while he was Minister of Power and now as governor of the state.
“A Project Delivery Committee on the Mambilla Project has been inaugurated as part of the ministry’s commitment,” said the minister. (NAN)
IDPs: FG pledges to assist Bauchi on recovery, reintegration
Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Bala Mohammed
Recovery
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Abuja, Feb. 11, 2020 (NAN) The Federal Government has pledged to assist the Bauchi State Government on recovery, empowerment and reintegration of Internally Displayed Persons (IDPs) in the state.
Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, stated this when Gov. Bala Mohammed, paid her a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Abuja.
Farouq said that a lot people had fled Borno and other parts of the northeast to Bauchi due to the insurgency, resulting to the huge numbers of displaced persons in the state.
She noted that her earlier visit to IDPs camps in Bauchi was part of the mandate of the ministry, created by President Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure strategic disaster management and responses.
Farouq said that: “We have good team on ground; with the Permanent Secretary, we believe we will leave up to expectations. We are committed and we will do our best to support Bauchi State Government on recovery and reintegration of IDPs.
“Our focus is to move from post conflict to recovery. What I saw in Bauchi when we last visited was encouraging and I wish other state governments will do the same.
“We will look at the communities and issues in Bauchi and do the needful.
“I know that your little resources has been stretched, but we will do the needful; we need to support and empower the IDPs so that they can live and fend for themselves and their families.
“We are also going to ensure that we use the Social Investment programme to support them; reintegration is our focus”.
Also speaking, Mohammed said the state government is ready to partner with the ministry in many areas.
According to to him, the state has been exposed to the migration of people and victims of insurgency from Borno.
“We have got them into camps and fully integrated them, the problem we have now is that our facilities have been overstretched.
“We seek for your assistance; we need help to provide water, means of transformation and empowerment so that they can feel the impact of the government.
“I came here with my Commissioners and Senior Special Assistants. This is to tell you that the whole of Bauchi is here to see you and solicit for your assistance,” Mohammed said. (NAN)
Abuja, Feb. 9, 2020 (NAN) A legal practitioner, Mr Bright Uche, has appealed to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to restore power supply to Afikpo community in Ebonyi.
Uche in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja said that Afikpo North and South had been without power supply for over five years.
He urged NERC to urgently intervene in the power challenge in Afikpo community.
“The absence of power in Afikpo North and South has reached a stage where NERC should declare an emergency. Afikpo is the most populous town in Ebonyi after Abakaliki.
“NERC, as a regulatory body and patriotic Nigerians should ensure that agreement and resolutions to restore power are not just on paper but it should be followed to its logical conclusion,” he said.
According to him, EEDC should know that the Afikpo community is not antagonising or fighting them.
“We are their customers and we want to enjoy the right to be served right as other Nigerians are enjoying.
“EEDC should “do the needful’’ in providing the needed service for us and we in turn will partner with them to ensure the smooth running of electricity distribution in our zone. That is all we are asking for.
“Afikpo community should not be neglected in power supply. We are ready to put in the necessary efforts to ensure that the prolonged blackout in Afikpo is a thing of the past,” he said.
Uche also called on TCN to ensure that contracts awarded on projects to restore power to Afikpo were effectively executed.
He appreciated the efforts of the current administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, in improving electricity in the country.
“We are appealing to him to do more. We have been suffering lack of power for so many years. The people and businesses in Afikpo are suffering because of absence of power.
“People that have plans to establish companies and factories in Afikpo to boost economic activities of the area are not forthcoming or dragging their foot due to absence of power.
“This is a big blow to Afikpo; thus NERC, TCN and EEDC should come to our rescue to ensure we have power to boost economic activities and contribute to lifting our people out of poverty,” Uche said. (NAN)
Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development
Partnership
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Abuja, Feb. 8, 2020 (NAN) Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, says the ministry will partner USAID and the World Bank to finance programmes for persons with disability and women empowerment.
A statement by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Halima Oyelade, on Saturday in Abuja, said Farouq disclosed this in Washington DC, during the US-Nigeria Bi-national Commission meeting.
“Persons with disability and women empowerment programme will especially cater for the welfare of the physically challenged in the country and vulnerable women.
“The programme will be run in concert with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
“The programme will be delivered through the conditional cash transfers, which is targeted at the most vulnerable segment of the society.
“The Ministry will work with the World Bank to convene a conference on disability and women empowerment led by the Federal Government, Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs, Women Affairs, other relevant bodies, and the African Development Bank,” the statement quoted her as saying.
The Minister explained that her ministry was working to sharpen the modalities for implementing the programme on disability and women empowerment programme.
“The Ministry and the World Bank Mission in Nigeria will also convene a meeting to discuss modalities and areas to reallocate funds within the International Development Association,” she said.
The Minister was also quoted as stating that she held meetings with USAID, World Bank and US Institute for Peace (USIP), where they identified areas for collaboration and various forms of support.
“They all expressed willingness to share experiences and research outcomes in the critical areas of post-conflict recovery and community reintegration and resettlement programmes of the ministry.
“They are willing to provide technical support and resources in building a coordination framework among all MDAs for quick take-off of the ministry,” the statement said. (NAN)
8.4 million pupils benefit from School Feeding Programme, says minister
Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (R), and Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Minister of State, FCT, at the Inauguration of the FCT School Feeding Programme at LEA Model Primary School, Karu, FCT.
Pupils
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Abuja, Jan. 31, 2020 (NAN) Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, has said that 8.4 millions primary schools pupils are benefiting from the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), across the country.
Farouq stated this in her keynote address at the inauguration of the NHGSFP in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Friday, at the LEA Model Primary School, Karu in Abuja.
She congratulated the minister and people of the FCT for supporting the successful commencement of the School Feeding Programme in the territory.
“The NHGSFP is currently benefiting more than 8.4 million pupils in 56,000 public primary schools in 35 states across Nigeria.
“More than 107,670 cooks have been empowered and over 200,000 small holders farmers linked to the programme through the supply of locally sourced ingredients to improve the nutrition and quality of meals for our children.
“In the FCT alone, 73,000 pupils are being fed in 402 schools by 796 women. The benefits of this are evident.
“With over 8.4 millions eggs consumed weekly and 94 metric tons of fish, the school feeding programme provides local farmers with predictable markets for their products, leading to stable income.
“The children enjoy good health and diversified food which makes it more likely that they will stay in school, perform better and improve their adult job prospects.
“At the community level, the programme promotes nutrition education, better eating habits, and encourages the diversification of production with special emphasis local crops.
“The Ministry is committed to ensuring that the strategic objectives of all the social intervention programmes are achieved,” Farouq said.
She appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for his unwavering efforts in eradicating poverty, supporting and sustaining the National Social Investment Programmes.
“I wish to reiterate that the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring that every child counts in this noble course.
“As we launch the FCT HGSFP today, I wish the territory a successful and sustainable implementation of the programme,” Farouq said.
Pupils of LEA Model Primary School, Karu, Abuja during the inauguration of the FCT School Feeding Programme
Similarly, in her address, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Minister of State, FCT said the FCT Administration is laying an important building block in securing and ensuring that even the most disadvantage children are free from malnutrition in the territory.
“We are going to roll out plans in due course to address childhood malnutrition within and outside the school system in the territory.
“The NHGSFP links local farmers to the education sector by facilitating their access to school feeding markets.
“The programme in the FCT is also targeting 120,300 pupils drawn from 326 public primary school across the six area councils.
“Henceforth, pupils will feed daily with foods containing the six required nutrition, from primary one to three.
“I want to assure all stakeholders that they will be carried along in the implementation of the programme,” Aliyu said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the event attracted relevant stakeholders including traditional rulers, Chairmen of area Councils, officials of FCT Education Board, among others.
NAN also reports that the primary school was established in 1942 and currently has 1,391 pupils, 58 teachers mostly from N-Power, and 33 standard classrooms. (NAN)
Minister says 4m Nigerians benefited from Social Investment Programme
Programme
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Abuja, Dec. 21, 2019 (NAN) Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, has said not fewer than four million Nigerians have benefitted from the National Social Investment Programme, so far.
Farouq disclosed this at in interactive session with the Focal Persons of the National Social Investment Programme, on Saturday in Abuja.
She explained that in June 2016, the World Bank Group approved US 5 million dollars International Development credit to support the establishment of programme targets at economic development in the country.
Farouq added that the Federal Government pledged an additional US 1.3 billion dollars from its budget to create the Social Safety Net Programmes which came to be known as National Social Investment Programme.
“Since then, over four millions Nigerians have directly benefited from job trainings, financial assistance and social development through these programmes.
“These aforementioned programmes are some of President Muhammadu Buhari’s strategy to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
“As you are aware, the Federal Government understands the need to focus more attention on youth empowerment by creating the enabling environment for job opportunities and capacity building,” she said.
The minister said that the gathering of the NSIP Focal Persons was to strategise on achieving a clean management and operational framework with a clear and improved communication strategy in line with the objectives of the programmme.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Tijani Umar, had said that the establishment of the NSIP in 2015 by the Federal Government was to tackle hunger and poverty across the country.
He said that the programmes were designed to stimulate productivity and growth, especially in the local communities across the country.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Focal Persons for the NSIP, Malam Bala Usman, appreciated Farouq and Umar for their passion and commitment to the NSIP, adding that the efforts toward lifting Nigerians out of poverty was yielding results.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event attracted no fewer than 38 Focal persons from the states and Federal Capital Territory. (NAN)
Abuja, Dec.8, 2019 (NAN) Dr Hannatu Adamu Fika, former Executive Secretary, Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board, has called on public servants in the country to shun corruption and contribute to making Nigeria great.
Fika made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during a dinner party organise in her honour to celebrate her retirement in Abuja.
She said that challenges in life were normal but one needs to be upright in carrying out his or her responsibility as a pubic or civil servant.
“When you build a house for a public servant, you have added value to his or her life.
“I want to call on public servants to be transparent and shun corruption in the course of their work for the development of the country.
“However, I will continue to urge the staff I have worked with to continue to follow the line of doing the right thing so that we can have a corrupt free public service in Nigeria.
“Those in the Housing Loan section should not relent to touch true lives of pubic servant in the area of provision of housing.
“I have exited but am not tired; I am moving into another stage where the Centre for Leadership and Economy Development, an affiliate with UN have given me the Chair Person of their governing board.
“I am now going to concentrate on issues of women and youths development, ” she said.
However, Fika said she would continue to pray that the Federal Integrated Staff Housing Programme known as FISH grows from strength to strength.
“So that civil servants who are hard working but their salaries cannot take then home would be able to benefit through that system so that they can have their own homes”.
Also speaking to NAN Ms Didi Walson-Jack, Permanent Secretary in charge of Niger Delta Ministry said Fika is intelligent, willing to advice and always on top of her subject matter.
“She has created impact in the public service through provision of housing for public servants and other wonderful things she did to help them”
NAN reports that the occasion attracted some former permanent Secretaries, Heads of Civil Service of the Federation, FG Staff Housing Loans and many friends and well wishers.(NAN)
CMY/MTM
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Boundary Commission says, Benue Taraba crisis to be over soon.
Deputy Governor of Benue, Mr Benson Abounu (L) and Deputy Governor of Taraba, Mr Haruna Manu at the Joint Meeting of Officials on Benue/Taraba Interstate Boundary.
Commission
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Abuja, Dec. 5, 2019 (NAN) The National Boundary Commission (NBC) says the interstate boundary crisis between communities in Taraba and Benue would soon be over.
Mr Adamu Adaji, the Acting Director-General of the Commission, made this know during his opening remark at the Joint Meeting of officials on the Benue and Taraba inter-state boundary, on Thursday in Abuja.
Adaji said Benue and Taraba shared common cultural and historical antecedence, adding that boundary conflict had created bad blood between them.
He said that boundary dispute between Benue and Taraba dated back to 1976, when Gongola was created.
According to him, the then Wukari Division, made up of Wukari, Takum and Donga Local Administrative Areas were carved out of Benue and merged with Sardauna and Adamawa Provinces to form the new state
“The good news is that the present administration, at both the Federal and State levels, are committed and determine to bring the impasse to a permanent end.
“Between 1994 to 1997, progress was made on tracing and demarcation of the boundary but was truncated by crisis and security challenges. Same thing again happened between 2005 and 2008.
“NBC, Benue and Taraba Government held several meetings and the Technical Committee comprising of members from the Commission, Benue and Taraba brought out recommendations to resolve the issues.
“Soon, the boundary between Benue and Taraba will be demarcated with 200 main pillars which will be done between February and June, 2020.
“The segment of the boundary is categorised as a. Logo/Wukari and Ukum/Wukari sectors b. Katsina-Ala/Wukari and c. Katsina-Ala/Takum sectors and finally Kwande/Takum sector.
“We shall also sensitise border communities to understand that demarcation is not to encourage war but rather to indicate limits for administrative convenience,” Adaji said.
Speaking earlier, the Deputy Governor of Taraba, Mr Haruna Manu, said that the unclear nature of border between Benue and Taraba had led to a lot of crisis in the past.
He said there were efforts by the Taraba Government to ensure that peace returned to the border communities in the two states, adding that the Benue Government had also did well to restore peace.
“This joint meeting to ensure proper demarcation is a golden opportunity for the two states and NBC to bring to a permanent end to crisis caused by border issues.
“I want to assure you that after the demarcation of the boundary and a Tiv person finds himself or herself in Taraba, such a person remain indigene of Taraba.
“He or she will not be sent back to Benue and will enjoy the full rights of indigene of Taraba,” Manu said.
Similarly, the Deputy Governor of Benue, Mr Benson Abounum, said there is need for effective advocacy to the border communities, stressing that they needed to understand the essence of the demarcation.
He noted that the demarcation with beacons were not about a dividing wall between Benue and Tarabar but rather for effective political and socioeconomic administration.
“What we need now is to get our people to agree to the demarcation. If beacons at put at the border and people are not enlightened, they will remove the beacons, so there is need for advocacy and agreement by the two side.
“The seriousness of the governments of Benue and Taraba saw them engaging in several meetings to ensure that the border crisis between the two state become a thing of the past.
“The Benue and Taraba Government and the border communities need to be committed to the course of peace that the demarcation will bring,” he said.
News Agency of Nigeria report that the event brought together traditional rulers from the border communities in Benue and Taraba, state government officials, Local Government Chairmen and officials from the NBC and Office of the Surveyor-General.
After the meeting, a communique would be released to intimate the public on the next step to take to solve the border crisis between the two states.(NAN)
Abuja, Dec. 5, 2019 (NAN) The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has appealed to 17 communities in Benue and Taraba to support the demarcation of border areas to eliminate factors contributing to border crisis.
Mr Adamu Adaji, Acting Managing Director of the NBC, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja.
He said that the purpose of the Joint Meeting of Officials on the Benue and Taraba Inter-state Boundary was to work toward ending border crisis between border communities in the two states
“We want to appeal to the communities to support this idea of border demarcation so that we can get the boundary demarcated once and for.
“We also want to appeal to Benue and Taraba to sustain the bilateral dialogue we are having and in addition sensitise the affected communities so that they would understand the concept of boundary.
“We will commence sensitisation of the border communities in the first quarter of next year; after that, we will commence demarcation; we have enlisted the support of the government at the Federal and State levels.
“Boundary cannot separate one from his property in another state. If you are in State A and have property in State B, you have access to it unhindered,” Adaji said.
The NBC boss pleaded for cooperation from Local Government Chairmen and officials of the state government to guarantee the rights of everybody in their domain, regardless of tribe, after the demarcation exercise. (NAN)
