Blog

Stakeholders

By Tukur Muntari

Kano, Dec. 25, 2018 (NAN) The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),Kano Operations Office, has commended stakeholders for their support and cooperation in the ongoing ‘Operation Eagle Eye’ in the two states under its operation, Kano and Jigawa.

The NEMA’s Head of Operations, Kano and Jigawa states, Malam Nura Abdullahi, made the commendation in a statement issued in Kano on Tuesday.

NAN reports that the Operation Eagle Eye was launched on Dec. 22 to sensitise motorists and commuters to the dangers associated with speeding and other forms of reckless driving during Yuletide and beyond.

“This great annual event tagged “operation eagle eye” is aimed at sensitising motorists and commuters to the dangers of speeding and any other reckless driving this festive period.

“The operation involves all relevant stakeholders in response activities working on high alert to reduce the rate of road accident along major roads”, he said.

Operation eagle eye is an annual exercise aimed at rescueing activities and strict enforcement on traffic rules and regulations as part of measures to enlighten road users during and after the yuletide.

According to him, the agency will continue to partner with all other relevant stakeholders with a view to ensuring the success of the operation.

“For the purpose of this operation, the NEMA Kano Operations Office which is in charge of Kano and Jigawa states respectively, has deployed its staff to various Highways to man the main route and exit routes.
He assured stakeholders partaking in the operation of NEMA’s profound appreciation for their support and assured them that it would cooperate with them in Disaster Management activities in all the states. (NAN)
MTM/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

Yuletide: Mrs Buhari felicitates with Christians
By Ahmed Ubandoma
Felicitation
Abuja, Dec. 25, 2018 (NAN) As Christians in Nigeria join their counterparts across the globe to celebrate Christmas, the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has extended her heartfelt congratulations to Christian community in Nigeria.
Mrs Buhari, who sent her felicitations to the Christian community through her tweeter handle on Tuesday in Abuja, urged them to use the period to pray for peace, prosperity and sustainable development of Nigeria.
According to the message she retweeted from her Future Assured platform, the wife of the President said: “wishing you a wonderful Christmas filled with happiness and may the coming year be filled with blessings “.
(Log-in to: official tweeter account of the wife of the President @aishambuhari).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Christmas is celebrated every Dec. 25 by Christians around the world to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Christmas is a time when families, friends and well wishers come together to celebrate. (NAN)
AMU/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Security

Christmas celebration at Millennium Park, Abuja[/caption

Christmas: Some Abuja residents turn-up during celebration

Celebration

By Nana Musa

Abuja, Dec. 25, 2018 (NAN) Some residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are taking advantage of Christmas  celebrations to hang out with family members and friends.

The residents, who were having fun at the Millennium Park, Abuja on Tuesday, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Nigerians, especially workers, should make out time, hang out and relax with loved ones.

According to them, sit-outs and other forms of entertainment, should be more often and not only during festive periods.

One of the fun seekers, Mr John Alhassan, said Christmas Day was the birth of Jesus Christ and it should be celebrated well as a season of love.

“It was a difficult year, full of expectations which has not been achieved but thank God for all his mercies”

“I am happy there was no fuel scarcity this year which means the government is working,” Alhassan said.

Another fun seeker, Mrs Favour Ogbona, said Jesus Christ’s birth brought joy, happiness and everything good, she advised  people to hang out.

“I am happy at the turn up of people and some people are yet to come.”

“Having fun also helps our kids to be educationally, morally and socially sound and should not be encouraged only during festivities,” she said.

Ogbona also urged the government to provide more facilities in the park, as it would boost patronage.

NAN recalls that the patronage is high, compared to last year.

Kid fun seeker Isaac Emmanuel, said he was happy going out on a day like this and urged others to tell their parents to take them out.

“Fun centres are not only meant for kids, parents can also use the opportunity to ease stress and bond with families,” he said.

Emmanuel said having fun in places such as the Millennium Park would help promote peace and unity in country. (NAN)

NHM/IA

========

Pastor

By Emmanuel Afonne

Abuja, Dec. 25, 2018 (NAN) Founder of Omega Power Ministry (OPM) Worldwide, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, has revealed the secret behind his success after working as an airport cleaner, security man and a recharge card vendor.

Apostle Chinyere recounted how he started life as a young man about 15 years ago in Lagos, selling mobile phone recharge cards and cleaning toilets at the Murtala Muhammad Airport, Lagos.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his existence had been destined and guided by God.

The 45-year old pastor said the experience of neglect, rejection and poverty changed his perception of life and catapulted him to where he had found himself today.

“I was motivated to doing the right thing because 12 years ago, I was a homeless man, I had nothing; I was selling MTN recharge card in Lagos. I am always pained seeing the poor people suffering.

“The first time I travelled to Lagos, I slept under the bridge. I later became a cleaner at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), where I also cleaned the airport toilets.

“Go to MMA Lagos and ask of Chibuzor, everybody knows me there as a cleaner; it is not a secret. I posted the picture on the church Facebook wall.

“At times, when I am travelling or coming back from my journey, I stop at the airport to greet my former colleagues, and I gladly share what I have with them.

“In fact, I had to establish one of them and he is now doing well in Port Harcourt,” Apostle Chibuzor said.

According to the pastor, his major concern in life having tasted poverty, is to see the children of the poor get quality education no matter the circumstance.

This, he said, led to the establishment of the OPM free schools in Bayelsa, Rivers and Abia as well as a Foundation for Humanitarian Services.

He told NAN that he used the offering and tithes from church members in 150 branches across the globe to ameliorate the sufferings of the poor people and the less privileged in the society.

“We started this free school when we had only one branch of the church about 10 years ago; we also operate a free restaurant, where Muslims and Christians go to eat.

“The free school is located in Bayelsa, Rivers and Abia, and we want to spread it all over Nigeria.

“The OPM Foundation is also behind the construction of free estates where people live without paying a kobo as rent; we have skill acquisition centres where people come and learn different skill.

“We rehabilitate both militants and armed robbers and feed them every day. We also rehabilitate commercial sex workers and also give them accommodation and we are also feeding them.

“They are now doing legitimate businesses,” he said.

NAN reports that the foundation’s other achievements include empowerment, alms-giving and commissioning of a free Computer Training Centre at Elele prison in Rivers.

Others are the award of university scholarship to the poor apart from the free nursery, primary and secondary schools education.

It has also commissioned free tailoring centre and provided water borehole to the people of Rumuji and other communities in Rivers, to alleviate the problem of water scarcity in the Area. (NAN)

EMAF/IA

======

Christmas Celebration: Conservator-General urges Nigerians to patronise National Parks

Parks

By Ebere Agozie

Abuja, Dec. 25, 2018 (NAN) Alhaji Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator-General, National Parks Service, has urged Nigerians to use the Christmas celebration to patronise its parks across the country, to appreciate Nigeria’s natural treasure.

Goni made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

He congratulated Christians in the country in general for celebrating another Christmas.

”I want Nigerians to make out time during this Christmas break to visit the Park closer to them, to recreate and have a happy and peaceful celebration.”

According to him, patronising the parks will go a long way to help develop them to acceptable global standards.

”It will also enhance the revenue drive of the parks, thereby, contributing to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

”We are working to preserve and protect the nation’s natural heritage and the cultural edifices that memorialise them across generations, and if we don’t patronise them, they will go moribund,” he said.

He said national parks enhanced ecological processes and life support system such as soil regeneration, protection of nutrient cycles, as well as cleansing and purifying hydrological cycles, among others.

Goni stressed the need for the country to pay serious attention to its parks because they were capable of generating money for the country.

”All our parks have facilities that will make visitors comfortable.

”Oli Tourist Camp, Kainji Lake National Park in Niger State covers an area of 5,340.82sq.km with 52 standard chalets, 24 hours electricity supply, a conference centre, two swimming pools, a restaurant and bar.

”Chad Basin National Park located in the Sudano-Sahelian Ecological Zone of the extreme North-East of Nigeria between Borno and Yobe States has 12 chalets modestly furnished en-suit facilities for sport fishing, boat cruising and bird watching at night,” Goni said.

He called on Christians and Nigerians in general to use the Christmas period to pray for peace and harmony in the country.

”We must continue to live by example in matters relating to love, peace and progress.

”Christmas is a season to demonstrate love for one another, through giving and peaceful coexistence and such love, generosity and craving for peace should extend beyond the season,” he said.

While noting that being alive to witness another Christmas remained a privilege which called for celebration, he advised that the celebration should be done in moderation.

He said it was only through a practical demonstration of love, peaceful co-existence with one another that Nigerians could unite and forge ahead in the crucial task of nation building. (NAN)

EPA/FF/IA

=========

Edited by Fela Fashoro/Idris Abdulrahman

Stigmatisation
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Dec. 25, 2018 (NAN) The Lagos Chapter of Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) has appealed to the National Assembly to enact a law to protect patients against discrimination and stigmatisation.

Mr Peter Obialor, the group Coordinator, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

According to him, there will be hope and a sense of belonging to us all if the legislators allow the law to become a reality.

“I am pleading with our lawmakers at the National Assembly to come up with a law that will protect and guide People living with HIV (PLHIV) against every form of stigmatisation and discrimination.

“After the National Assembly has made the law, State Assemblies can domesticate it so that the implementation will be effective and taken seriously in the country.

“Currently, many children have stopped going to school because of stigmatisation and discrimination,” Obialor said.

He urged governments to also organise scholarship programmes for children facing this condition.

He said: “governments should grant scholarship to youths living with HIV and also come up with empowerment programmes for Orphans and Vulnerable children that their parents died due to HIV”.

He commended the Lagos State Government on efforts done to ensure the state Assembly passed a bill that would stop stigmatisation of HIV persons.

He decried the situation that PLHIV were being sacked from work.

He said: “the increasing stigma on people living with HIV is something very disheartening and has got to even work places.

“When a company or organisation finds out that you are PLHIV, you are finished because you are going to be relieved of your work.

“One thing people should know is that HIV is not a sickness that kills faster like malaria does, it is the fear that kills.

“Also, HIV cannot be transmitted through eye contact nor touching, it can be acquired through sex and sharing an infected sharp objects,” he said.

NAN reports that Nigeria is one of the countries with the largest number of PLHIV. (NAN)
LED/IS
======

Christmas: Fun seekers bemoan absence of recreational parks in Gombe
Parks
By Uwumarogie Peter
Gombe, Dec. 25, 2018 (NAN) Fun seekers in Gombe metropolis celebrating Christmas are lamenting the non-availability of recreational parks and gardens in the  town.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Tuesday, they said the absence of such facilities had been making it impossible to celebrate festivities adequately.

Mr James Uchenna, a trader at Gombe Main Market noted that Gombe, which is a reference point in the North-East, was not supposed to lack such facilities that attracted people.

“ Gombe town is centrally important, especially in the North-East; it is not supposed to lack recreational facilities that bring people together.

“ During festive periods like this, we just stay at home, doing nothing.

“When we call our friends in other towns and they scream to our hearing that they are having fun in a garden or park, it kills our joy here,’’ he lamented.

Elizabeth Dariye, N-power beneficiary in Gombe, said the absence of a park was the reason why people were always scanty in Gombe town during Christmas, adding that there was no reason to stay.

“ I will be travelling tomorrow. This is not because Gombe is not okay for me, but there is no park where you can meet people and make friends.

“When you go to Jos, there are no dull moments for fun seekers. You can go swimming, playing music in garden, meet people of funny characters. That’s what drives happiness in any city,’’ she said.

Hannatu Adamu, a housewife, said she was not happy with the lack of such facilities, adding that it was for same  reason that many people go to their villages during Christmas.

“ People love nature. No one will say he or she hates nature. So when you do not have such place to feed your eyes and relax your minds, then travelling becomes desirable.

“Most people who go to villages do so because there is no place to relax and have fun in Gombe.

“Sadly this year, I do not have money to travel, so I will sit at home with my kids,’’ she said.

Alhaji Abdullahi Malala, a farmer, said it was disappointing for a town like Gombe that enjoys peace in the North-East sub-region, not to have such facilities.

Malala added that recreational parks had a way of uniting the people of a particular entity and creating lasting memories that would stand the test of time.

The people therefore appealed to both government and individuals considering providing recreation facilities in the state capital and other major towns.(NAN)

UP/ASH
===

Shortage of trucks crashes prices of perishables in Jigawa

Perishables
By Nabilu Balarabe
Guri (Jigawa),Dec. 25,2018 (NAN) Shortage of trucks transporting goods to various parts of the country has crashed the prices of perishable items in Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the price of a basket of tomatoes that sold for N5,000 about a week ago now costs between N2,500 and N3,000.

A BAGCO bag of pepper that sold for between N5,500 and N6,000 before, now sells at between N4,000 and N4,500.

Similarly, a bag of chili pepper that sold at N7,500 a week ago now goes for 4,500.

However, the price of a big bag of onions remains constant at N25,000.

The Chairman of Perishables Sellers Association in Guri Market, Alhaji Musa Zugo, attributed the drop to scarcity of trucks conveying the items to buyers.

“ As you can see, the market is flooded with the commodities because very few vehicles are available to transport them to buyers.

“ We normally dispatch vehicles loaded with the items to states such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Onisha, Akure, Ibadan and Benin.

“ This shortage of trucks, which is likely caused by Christmas festivities, has led to the increase in transport fares by at least 70 percent,” he said.

Zugo identified lack of infrastructure as one of the major challenges facing the market.

“ The shops we occupy are few and because there are no big stores, we are compelled to leave our goods on the ground and cover them with torn bags when the market is closed.

“ The absence of drains in the market often leads to flooding during the rainy season,” he said.

The chairman, therefore, called on the local council to develop the infrastructure at the market, in view of its revenue generation capacity.(NAN)

NB/AMY

Edited by Abdullahi Yusuf

Training
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Dec. 25, 2018 (NAN) A faith-based organisation, Nasrulahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT), has trained 200 Muslims in southern Nigeria on sound inter-faith relationship and peaceful co-existence.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the five-day training for southern Nigeria Muslims, which began on Dec. 21, was held at TAAS Group of Schools, Apata, Ibadan.

The eighth edition of the annual religion camp was aimed at enlightening and empowering Muslims on true understanding of Islam for spiritual development and welfare of mankind.

NAN reports that the facilitators of the programme tagged, ‘Understand your Religion Training Camp’, were drawn from Islamic Education Trust and Dawah Institute of Nigeria in Minna as well as NASFAT.

Imam Abdul-Azeez Onike, the NASFAT’s Chief Missioner Worldwide, said the objective of the training was to inculcate the concept of good inter-faith relations and peaceful co-existence in participants.

‘‘As a faith-based organisation, NASFAT, through this programme, intends to make participants to see themselves as Muslims by choice and not by chance.

‘‘To develop their understanding of Islamic religion to be able to come up with counter narratives to some misconceptions about Islam, especially, the notions that Islam is a violence-driven religion,’’ he said.

He asserted that the programme would expose participants to the critical thinking tools in Islam, known as the principle of Islamic Jurisprudence.

Onike said this related extensively to the objectives of Shariah, ethics of disagreement in Islam, cultural imperatives and Islam as well as the lawful habits and prohibitions in Islam.

According to him, participants are also exposed to Islam with purpose, innovations and creativity in Islam, generous tolerance in Islam and handling a new Muslim.

‘‘Others are female genital cut and Islam, clearing of misconceptions about women in Islam among other issues’’.

Alhaja Samiat Mumuni, NASFAT Global Women Affairs Secretary and Dr Rahmat Adisa, 2018 Training Programme Coordinator, expressed satisfaction with the impressive turnout of participants at the programme.

Mumuni said the organisers’ expectation was that participants would leverage on the basic and advanced knowledge acquired during the training in their daily religious obligations.

‘‘We hope participants will exhibit the knowledge acquired in their inter-personal dealings with people around them irrespective of differences in religion, creed or tribe,’’ Mumuni said.

Adisa, who is also NASFAT Global Education Affairs Secretary, expressed satisfaction with the turnout for the edition, saying it showed appreciation of the value derived by participants over the years.

The event, which ended on Tuesday, attracted more than 200 Muslim faithful comprising women, youths and Imams, NASFAT and non-NASFAT members from all walks of life across southern part of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the NASFAT management has said that the second leg of the programme designed for participants from across the Northern part of the country would begin immediately on Tuesday in Kano. (NAN)
TAA/MOL/YEMI
Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Yemi Idris-Aduloju