Blog

Flood
By Nathan Nwakamma
Yenagoa, Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) The Bayelsa Government says it is taking steps to ensure that the anticipated flooding expected in some states does not have adverse consequences on residents.

Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the Bayelsa Commissioner for Information,  gave the assurance on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.

He said that the state government had stepped up activities to mitigate the anticipated flooding of states located on the lower basin of the River Niger,  including Bayelsa.

The commissioner said that the state government,  against the  experiences of  the 2012 flood,  had  set up a flood response team

According to him,  the team comprising of relevant government agencies will go round the state to monitor flood-prone areas and respond swiftly to any emergency situation.

The development is coming on the heels of the alert by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NHSA) that nine states on the axis of River Niger and three others on the River Benue axis are set to experience floods.

Iworiso-Markson said the state government was partnering with stakeholders and experts,  including the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA),  to ensure that flooding was put under control.

He gave an assurance that there was no cause for alarm given the proactive steps so far taken by the government.

The commissioner also said that the state government had provided a call centre with dedicated telephone lines to enable residents in the state report cases of high water level in their areas.

He said that the mobile numbers to contact were 08025814636, 08110413567 and 09037582261.

NAN recalls that the Bayelsa government had in 2012 set up a flood Management Committee headed by Chief Francis Doukpola to disburse the N500 million donated to the flood victims by Chief Mike Adenga.

According to Doukpola, the committee became moribund after the funds and N35 million take-off grant were allegedly depleted.

NAN investigations, however,  indicate that many residents of coastal communities prefer flooding as their fishing vocation enjoy a boom during such incidents.

Mr James Agodi told NAN that in spite of the challenges associated with perennial floods, many pray for water levels to rise and overflow the banks with abundant fish.

“Those of us living near the riverside actually enjoy abundant fish catch during flood seasons as there is no need to go far to get fish.

“The flood waters carry a lot of fish and there would be a catch anywhere there is a net.

“Even those who are not engaged in fishing as their occupation return home at such times to fish.

“ So to us,  the saying that there is an opportunity in adversity holds true,” Agodi said. (NAN)
NN/DOE/OJO
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(Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Mufutau Ojo)

Weather

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Abuja, Sept. 13, 2019 (NAN) The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted that prevailing atmospheric condition could give rise to nationwide rains on Friday.

NiMet Weather Outlook on Thursday predicted prospects of morning thunderstorm and rains over central cities of Abuja, Lokoja, Lafia, Jos, Mambilla Plateau, Kaduna, Minna, Bida, Yola, Jalingo and Ibi.

It added that scattered thunderstorms and rains were likely over most parts later in the day with day and night temperatures of 27 to 33 and 17 to 25 degrees Celsius, 
respectively.

The agency predicted afternoon thunderstorm activities over most northern cities with day and night temperatures of 22 to 25 and 30 to 34 degrees Celsius, respectively.

According to NiMet, southern cities will experience rains throughout the forecast period with day and night temperatures of 22 to 25 and 28 to 33 degrees Celsius, respectively. (NAN)

OYS/TA
Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

Army neutralise 10, bandits arrest kidnapper in Kaduna

Bandits

By Mohammad Tijjani

Kaduna, Sept. 13, 2018(NAN) The 1 Division Nigerian Army Kaduna, said on Thursday that it had neutralised 10 suspected armed bandit and arrested a kidnapper in Chikun and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

The Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Col. Muhammad Dole, disclosed in a press statement issued in Kaduna.

Dole said six bandits were neutralised at Kidandan, along Dogon Dawa road, Unguwan Bilya, Sofa and Unguwan Nakuli villages of Birnin Gwari local government on Sept. 10 by troops.

He said success was also recorded when troops cleared Kidan Isa, Gidan Haruna Mobale and Kuduru, where four bandits were neutralised while others escaped with gun wounds.

According to him, the troops on Operation WHIRL PUNCH under the Division are steadily making substantial progress in their efforts to rid the society of bandits and kidnappers in Birnin Gwari general area and along Kaduna-Abuja road.

“During the recent clearance operations and routine patrols, they raided suspected kidnappers’ hideouts at Kidandan, along Dogon Dawa road, Unguwan Bilya, Sofa and Unguwan Nakuli.

” Likewise in conjunction with the local vigilante groups, some identified escape routes used by bandits and kidnappers along Kuriga and Gayam general area as well as Maganda, Ciki da Parlour and Farin Ruwa, all located in Chikun LGA in Kaduna State were blocked and many were ambushed.

He identify items recovered from suspects to include, AK-47 rifle magazine, 16 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, one Dane Gun, a locally made Pistol, and two mobile handsets.

“During the pursuit, bandits abandoned four motorcycles and some valuable items which were subsequently recovered.”

He identified the arrested suspected kidnapper as Musa, who recently kidnapped one Alhaji Ahmadu and two other persons from Kano.

“The suspect is currently being interrogated: the operation WHIRL PUNCH will continue to exact enormous pressure on the criminals hibernating in these suspected hideouts, until they are either completely cleared or abandoned the area.

He call on the general public to always provide credible and timely information for the continouos success of the operation.(NAN)

TJ/MZA

Traders
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) No fewer than 27,000 traders from Oyo State are to  benefit in the  Federal Government empowerment programme,  ‘Trader Moni.’

This was made public by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during an assessment visit to Gbagi Market in Ibadan on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the scheme is a Federal Government intervention programme for petty traders under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme(GEEP).

Osinbajo said the Federal Government was committed to empowering traders through boosting the prospects of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises(SMEs).

He said that ‘Trader Moni’ was targeted at petty traders across the country.

The vice president gave an assurance that a minimum of 30,000 petty traders in every state would benefit from the programme.

“Each beneficiary would get N10,000 interest-free loans to be repaid in six months.

“ Any beneficiary who repays back the loan in six months would thereafter take more than N10,000,” he said.

Mrs Toyin Adeniji, an  Executive Director at the Bank of Industry(BOI), said the event was to carry out the market activation of ‘Trader Moni’ for the petty traders.

“We are here to engage the petty traders, enumerate them and ensure they get the N10,000 coming through the Federal Government.

“This scheme is one of the many social intervention programmes that the Federal Government has been administering in the last three years,” she said.

She listed some of the other schemes as N-Power,  Conditional Cash Transfer(CCT) and the School Feeding Programme.

Adeniji stated that the response to the programme was tremendous, adding that many traders had already been registered across markets in Ibadan.

Mr Gbenga Afolabi, one of the officials of the scheme, said that no fewer than 27,000 beneficiaries had been registered across the state.

Afolabi stated that some of the beneficiaries, who had registered in the state,  had  started receiving the loan.

Some of the beneficiaries in separate interviews, lauded the government on the initiative, pledging to make good use of the loan.

NAN reports that the vice president was accompanied to the market by Chief Moses Adeyemo, Oyo State Deputy Governor, Mr Olalekan Alli, Secretary to Oyo State Government and other members of the State Executive Council. (NAN)
TAA/OJO
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(Edited by Mufutau Ojo)

Intervention
By Mustapha Sumaila
Abuja, Sep 13, 2018 (NAN) Plan International Nigeria, an NGO, has called for interventions from government and concerned organisations to tackle the plights of adolescent girls in the North-East and Lake Chad region.

Dr Hussaini Abdu, the Country Director of the NGO, made the appeal at the public presentation of “Adolescent Girls in Crisis: Voices from the Lake Chad Basin” in Abuja on Thursday.

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that promotes children’s rights and equality for girls with headquarters in Canada.

The country director said that the organisation had been advancing children’s rights and equality for girls, adding that the organisation supports children’s rights from birth to adulthood.

Abdu explained that research findings from the affected area revealed that the girls needed more than the routine donation of humanitarian supplies.

He said that understanding peculiarities of the support needed by the girls and its extent prompted the NGO to dig more into how the adolescent girls experienced the crises.

The country director stated that the survey also found out how the girls were coping with their peculiar experiences and the kind of support they needed.

According to him, the findings present a more disturbing situation than has been previously disclosed to the public.

“The adolescent girls are exposed to violence and other forms of abuses in several fronts than had been previously known.

“The study on the peculiarities of the girls, aged between 10 and 19, revealed that they are susceptible at home environment just as their outside of their homes.

“The protection some would take for granted at home and in some instances does not exist just as they are in perpetual fear of the militants and also in constant fear of domestic violence at home,” he explained.
(NAN)
MS/OSA/DUA

Edited by Shittu Obassa/Dada Ahmed

Sensitisation

Igbaugba Ehigimetor

Benin, Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) The Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), says it has sensitised 45,075 Muslim youths in 10 states on the true meaning of jihad in Islam.

The National Amirah of FOMWAN, Hajiya Halima Jibril, stated this on Thursday in Benin at a news conference heralding the 33rd FOMWAN National Conference.

The theme of the conference is “Family Life in Islam: Issues and Challenges in a Dynamic Society.”

Jibril said the re-orientation would help reduce youths’ vulnerability to the propaganda of Boko Haram insurgents.

She said the association worked in collaboration with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to provide access to education for 400,000 out-of-school children in rural areas and improve early grade reading for 100,000 children.

FOWMAN national leader expressed the group’s willingness to collaborate with traditional rulers in fighting the menace of human trafficking in the country.

Jubril urged traditional rulers across the country to be in the vanguard of sensitising communities to the dangers of human trafficking and importance of tracking the traffickers.

“By our own acts of commission and omission, we have abdicated our responsibilities, and allowed extraneous factors to redefine the Nigerian family,” she said.

She explained that the association decided to discuss family issues because they were critical to both community and national developments. (NAN)

ESI/OSA/EMO

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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Ejike Obeta

Flood

By George Odok 08037425911

Calabar, Sept. 13, 2018 (NAN) Massive flooding has destroyed more than 175 houses, rendered at least 3,000 people homeless in Cross River, according to Mr John Inaku, Director-General of State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA).

Inaku gave the update on flood situation in the state on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

Inaku, who said that the flood had seriously affected the victims, also told NAN that most of them had since relocated to upper lands for safety.

He, however, said that no life had been lost in the menace,but disclosed that the flood started in the state in July.

According to him, most of the victims are living along the water channels while others in swampy areas.

He said that the agency had embarked on aggressive campaign, to sensitise residents in the state on the need to stop dumping refuse on drainage and building along water channels.

He explained that the flood had affected residents in Boki, Ogoja, Yala, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South and other local government areas in the state.

“Cross River has always been affected by flood during the raining season. Currently, we have over 175 houses destroyed and as a result, over 3,000 persons have been displaced.

“This menace has greatly affected farming activities, especially in Boki, Yala and a few others areas.

“We are looking at NEMA and other corporate organisations to come in and assist the victims,’’ he said.

He listed the flooded areas in Calabar to include, Muritala Mohammed Highway, Ebito, Murray, Target and Nelson Mandela, Atu, Yellow Duke, Parliamentary, Efiote roundabout and Mayne Avenue streets.

He appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist the state with relief materials for the victims. (NAN)

GNO/DOE/DUA

Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Dada Ahmed

Ambode
By Bolaji Buhari
Lagos, Sept.13, 2018 (NAN) The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday said it would   welcome Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode into its fold, if he decided to dump the All Progressives Congress. (APC).

The Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Taofeek Gani, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Gani spoke following reports that Mr Jide Sanwo-Olu, a former Commissioner for Training and Establishments in the state, had been adopted by the APC leaders to succeed Ambode.

The APC chairman in Lagos State, Alhaji Tunde Balogun, had told newsmen on Wednesday that the governorship ticket of the party was open to all aspirants.

NAN reports that the former Commissioner for Works, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, is another aspirant seeking the job of Ambode with Sanwo-Olu.

NAN also reports that all the aspirants have since obtained and submitted their nomination forms.

The PDP spokesman said that the party would be glad to receive Ambode into its fold if he decided to leave APC for whatever reason.

Gani said: “Any forward-looking party would not have rejected its main opponent joining it, especially a big personality like Ambode.

“We are ready to welcome him (Ambode) to our party, if he decides to join for any reason. We are very ready to accept him, if he decides to join us.

“You see PDP is a party for all, so far value will be added. We cannot turn down our opponents, especially a big personality like Ambode.

“Therefore, he is welcome. His joining us will definitely add value and boost our chances to win the state.”

He said the party would accord him all the rights and privileges with the existing members to realise his political ambitions.

NAN reports Chief Deji Doherty and Mr Jimi Agbaje are among those who have picked the PDP nomination forms for the governorship ticket. (NAN)
BHB/GOK
Edited by Olagoke Olatoye