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Author: Ibrahim Kado

  • Customs intercept 280,135 litres of petrol in 7 days

    Petrol

    By Ibrahim Kado

    Yola, June 10, 2024 (NAN) The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), seized 280,135 litres of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) valued at N115 million, its Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi, has said.

    Adeniyi stated this at a news conference, on Monday in Yola, Adamawa.

    He said that personnel of the Service seized the products in the last seven days across the country.

    The feat, he said was achieved through intensive operations by the Operation Whirlwind which seized 105,950 liters while the Federal Operating Units and Marine Commands seized 120,185 liters, respectively.

    According to him, smuggling is sabotage to the Nigerian economy hence the need for cooperation of security agencies and individuals to curb the menace.

    “These activities, if left unchecked, could further deteriorate the country’s economic situation and exacerbate current foreign exchange challenges.

    “The influx of unaccounted foreign currency could be channelled into funding illegitimate activities, including the support of non-state actors engaged in criminal activities against the Nigerian state.

    “These issues have serious implications for national security, making it imperative to check, curtail, and dismantle. Achieving this requires the cooperation and collaboration of patriotic agencies,” he said.

    Adeniyi said that Operation Whirlwind of the Customs Area Commands remained vigilant against illicit activities of smugglers targeting petroleum products.

    The Customs boss said the nationwide operation was aimed at ensuring that Nigerians enjoy the full benefits of fuel price deregulation in line with the vision of President Bola Tinubu.

    “Defend the national currency and reduce pressures that may be attributed to the activities of smugglers.

    “Identify, dismantle and disrupt cartels of smugglers operating within the ecosystem. Raise awareness of the local communities and solicit their support to achieve these objectives,” he said.

    Also speaking, Ogbugo Ukoha, Executive Director, Distribution System, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure (DSSRI) of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), lauded the personnel over the development.

    While describing cross border diversion of petrol as economic sabotage, Ukoha reitrated commitment of the Sevice to collaborate with security agencies to end smuggling in the country (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    IMKlBEKl/RSA

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    Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Rabiu Sani-Ali

  • FG distributes 1m seedlings in Adamawa

    FG distributes 1m seedlings in Adamawa

    Environment

    By Ibrahim Kado

    Yola, June 8, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Environment has distributed 1 million seedlings to stakeholders to plant trees as part of efforts to protect the environment in Adamawa and the country at large.

    Hajiya Safiya Abubakar, controller Federal Ministry of Environment, Adamawa, said this shortly after the Adamawa Mega Trek 2024 organised by Ambassadors of Dialogue, Climate and Reintegration (DCR), in Yola on Saturday.

    She said the seedlings were distributed to higher institutions, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders from June 1 to 7 as the month was set aside for tree planting.

    She urged the benefiting communities to take care of the planted trees by watering and safeguarding them up to maturity.

    Abubakar further appreciated the organisers for creating public awareness and urged other groups to emulate them for environmental protection.

    Mr Richard Inyamkume, founder and president DCR said, the aim of the trek was to create public awareness about the World Environmental Day and mobilise structures towards reducing carbon footprint.

    He called on the public to learn restoration through sustainable ways of living and practice lean conservation by planting more trees.

    He advised government at all levels to always ensure planted trees were protected and nurtured up to maturity.

    “Whenever trees are planted there should be a monitoring committee to safeguard them from animals and water them to grow up.

    “And this will create job opportunities for the young people who will take care of the trees to grow successfully,” he said.

    Inyamkume further called for attitudinal change on negative actions in the society that affect the environment.

    Mrs Sarah Jackson, Executive Director, Against All Odds Foundation, called on the participants to step down the message in their respective communities for a bright future. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    IMK/SA

    Edited by Salif Atojoko

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  • Group takes tree planting campaign to students in Adamawa

    Campaign

    By Ibrahim Kado

    Yola, June 7, 2024 (NAN) Adamawa Activities for Climate Justice, an NGO has taken tree planting campaign to secondary school students in commemoration of 2024 World Environmental Day.

    Speaking at the commemoration on Friday in Yola, the team leader, Amina Tukur, said the celebration is in collaboration with African Activists for Climate Justice and Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP).

    She advised the students to embrace three planting to save the environment from the challenges of climate change.

    She called on them to understand that environment is a platform for life including plants and animals.

    Tukur also urged the students to be patient in taking care of the trees to grow up to maturity.

    Alh. Aliyu Jada, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment represented by Musa Usman, said issues of climate change is the responsibility of everyone.

    According to him, government is doing everything possible to protect the environment by signing executive order to stop felling of trees for charcoal production.

    “It is our own responsibility to also complement government efforts by planting more trees and stopping all negative activities against the environment,’’ he said.

    He further commended the organisers for the campaign.

    Ahmed Dada, the Executive Director, Dada Education Foundation said that climate change was negatively impacting life and encouraged the students to plant more trees.

    He said the state government had planted trees worth millions of naira over the years but they could not survive due to poor management, hence the need for the students to plant trees and nature them to maturity.

    Mohammed Musa, the Principal, General Murtala Mohammed Collage (GMMC) Yola,  who spoke on behalf of selected schools thanked the organisers and gave assurance that they would take care of the seedlings up to maturity.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the selected schools were GMMC, Government Secondary School Bekaji, Karewa, Capital School, and Government Girls Secondary School Yola (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    IMK/OIF/IU

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    Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/ Isaac Ukpoju

     

     

  • USAID tasks Adamawa officials, CSOs on sustainability of intervention

     

    Sustainability

    By Ibrahim Kado

    Yola, June 7, 2024 (NAN) The USAID State2State activity has called on Adamawa officials and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to sustain its various reforms in the state to improve service delivery in education , health and WASH sectors.

    Suzanne Myada, Adamawa State2State Team Lead, made the call at the Year four Quarter three Public Financial Management (PFM) roundtable discussion with stakeholders in Yola, Friday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the roundtable was “Strengthening the Policy, Planning and Budget Linkages for Improve PFM”.

    Myada said State2State had been in the state since 2020, reforming key areas for effective service delivery, and the intervention would be rolled out in August 2025.

    She listed some of the reforms to include PFM, Cash Management, Citizens Engagement, Monitoring and Evaluation, Budgeting and Budget Management forms.

    According to her, sustaining the reforms will  help to ensure transparency, accountability and effectiveness in the state.

    “When partners come in to the state, remember they will not stay forever.

    “So, everything we are doing is not for State2State. it is for Adamawa. Take full ownership of the reforms to improve service delivery in education, health and WASH,” she said.

    Mr Abubakar Usman, Coordinator PFM Support, earlier said that among the objectives of the roundtable was the need to increase ownership and sustainability of State2State PFM intervention in Adamawa.

    “To discuss the implementing policy, planning and budget Linkages and how state can use to develop MTFF, MTBF and MTSS,” he said.

    Mr Emmanuel Bwala, Citizens Engagement and Capacity Building Consultants, said most of the reforms reviewed in the state were audited and now is up-to-date need to be fully implement.

    “Government should be up and doing on my implementation of the reforms for the effective service delivery and the benefits of citizens in the state,” he said.

    Makallan Akila, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, appreciated USAID for the intervention and assured to do everything possible for effective implementation for the development of the state.

    Mr Shafa Salma, who spoke on behalf of the CSOs, said the meeting was timely and that it increased the consciousness of MDAs to know the importance of CSOs as partners in progress.

    He assured continued collaboration and networking with MDAs for effective service delivery for the citizens (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    IMK/VIV

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    Edited by Vivian Ihechu

     

  • UNICEF, Agency inaugurate tree planting campaign in Adamawa 

     

    Planting

    Guyuk (Adamawa) June 6, 2024 (NAN) The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with Adamawa State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), has inaugurated a tree planting campaign in Guyuk Local Government Area of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the campaign is to mark 2024 World Environmental Day with the theme “Accelerating Land Restoration, Drought Resilient and Desertification Progress”.

    Mr Williams Wakili, UNICEF WASH facilitator in Adamawa, at the inauguration on Thursday, said that “the day goes beyond symbolic gesture”.

    According to him, the day is focused on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience, as the nation faces degradation, desertification and drought.

    “So, the day is about fostering a culture of environmental consciousness, responsibility and actions aimed at preventing damage to the environment through human activities and protecting the earth“, he said.

    In his remarks, Tanko Audu, Adamawa Commissioner for Water Resources, said it was a fact that desert encroachment had eaten deep into the earth, hence, the need for afforestation.

    Audu, who was represented by his Permanent Secretary, Mr Mundi Ibrahim, called on the people in the area to stop indiscriminate failing of trees, and to ensure planting of more trees to protect the environment.

    Also, Mr Emmanuel Esly, Programme Manager, RUWASA, called on the people to make great impact in restoring the environment for more rainfall.

    According to him, without rainfall, there will be a lot of challenges in the environment and changing times have changed the environment to something else.

    “There is the need for people to do their best to restore the environment by planting more trees,” he said.

    Similarly, Dishon Dan-sanda, the traditional ruler of Guyuk LGA, thanked and appreciated Adamawa government, UNICEF, and all stakeholders for the steps taken to protect the environment.

    “Therefore, I will make sure to enforce these to the letter with the aim to protect our environment, and I will not tolerate indiscriminate felling of trees without planting another”, he assured. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    IMK/VIV

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    Edited by Vivian Ihechu

  •  LG poll: ADSIEC pledges level playing ground for political parties

    LG poll: ADSIEC pledges  level playing ground for political parties

     

    Election

     

    By Ibrahim Kado

     

    Yola, June 4, 2024 (NAN) Adamawa Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC) has pledged  level playing field for political parties ahead of July 13 Local Government Council elections.

     

    Mohammed Jabu, Chairman of the commission, gave the assurance while briefing newsmen in Yola on Tuesday, shortly after a meeting with political parties.

     

    He said that the commission was ready to conduct free, fair and credible elections for the development of democracy in the state.

     

    “With assurance of Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri, we are going to conduct free, fair and credible elections across 21 Local Government Areas of the state”, he said.

     

    According to him, the commission had already submitted a budget proposal for the election waiting for approval.

     

    He added that the amount for nomination forms was what the electoral law stipulated such as   N250,000 for Chairmanship and N50,000 for councillors.

     

    Bello Babajo, Chairman Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) said, all political parties were ready to partake in the election.

     

    He called on political parties to come out and purchase the nomination forms, urging them to play the game according to the rules for a peaceful election (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    IMK/GOM/YGA

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    Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam/Gabriel Yough

     

     

     

     

  • Foundation empowers widows in Adamawa

    Foundation empower widows in Adamawa

    Widows

    By Ibrahim Kado

    Yola, June 4, 2024 (NAN) An NGO, Women at the Well of Living Water Foundation, Adamawa chapter, has empowered 10 widows and struggling families with foodstuff to alleviate hunger.

    Jessica Edmund, the Founder of the group based in the UK, said during the distribution of the items on Tuesday in Yola, that the move was to alleviate the sufferings of the beneficiaries, following the current inflation in prices of food items.

    Edmund, who was represented by Kate Ransom-Stephen, the Adamawa Coordinator of the foundation, said “today, we are here to help people with foodstuff and teach them how to catch fish to succeed in life.

    “knowing that the situation is hard that is why we are here to cushion the effects of hunger among our people.”

    Bishop Ransom Stephen, the Adamawa Grand Patron of the foundation, said the gesture was timely, going by the current economic situation.

    He thanked the foundation for the gesture and prayed the founder succeeds in her future endeavours.

    Stephen called on other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the gesture by assisting less privileged persons in their respective communities and beyond.

    Victoria Favour, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, appreciated the foundation for the gesture and prayed for its success. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    IMK /BEKl/HA

    Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu