NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
Community , Entertainment

Foundation unveils 10-point agenda to rebuild Nigeria

141 total views today

By Deji Abdulwahab

The Peace Unity Restoration and Prosperity Global Foundation, in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday unveiled a 10-point agenda aimed at rebuilding the nation to attain greatness.

The Global President of the Foundation, Mr Jeffery Abidoye, unveiled the agenda in Abuja at the Official inauguration of the Steering Committee on Rebuilding Nigeria360’’ Project, FCT Chapter.

Its theme titled “Rebuilding2Rebithing: The Brand New Nigeria of our Dream – A National Priority’’

Abidoye described the agenda as a transformational project that would be implemented for 30 years.

He said that the foundation had partnered with the NOA on value rebuilding, measurable reorientation drive, ethical leadership, responsive and friendly responsible democratic governance across the country.

According to him, the project will give the President Bola Tinubu’s administration an uncommon mileage nationally, continentally and globally.

He added that the 10-point agenda included food security for all, weekly interactive television/radio programme, mentorship on moral education, couple’s clinic to share experiences and youth engagement for community intelligence development.

According to him, others are women’s capacity building and empowerment, senior citizens care, establishment of languages centre and character mentoring and ethical codes modeling clubs in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

“It is our unwavering commitment to the vision, mission and mandate to rebuild and rebirth a brand new Nigeria that will incontrovertibly become the most south after country in the world come 2050 by the mercies of God.

“From the conceptualization since 2013 to 2023, we have committed time, energy, and huge resources to taking the novel and noble project to this crucial stage.’’

In his remarks, the Director-General of NOA, Dr Garba Abari, said that Nation- building was imperative to peaceful co-existence and unity against external aggression as well as enhancing growth and development.

According to him, the concept of Nation-building is the process whereby a society of people with diverse origins, histories, languages, cultures and religions come together within the boundaries of a sovereign state with a unified constitution and legal dispensation. (NAN)

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

Electricity generating plant
Community , General News

Business owners, residents groan over power outage in Nasarawa

77 total views today

By Favour Rotimi

Business owners and residents in Masaka, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State on Thursday urged the Federal Government to intervene in the continued power outage in the area in the last two months.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews that the situation had brought losses to their businesses.

Miss Rachel Obole, Secretary, Ehis Table water, said the power outage had caused the company a lot of expenses than expected in the last few months.

Obole said the high demand for cold water had been a challenge and it had made the factory owner to run the business on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to meet customers` demand.

According to her, the price of a bag of sachet water is different when production is on electricity and generator.

“When there is power supply, the company earns over N32,500 daily but with generator, we make little or no profit,” she said.

A bar owner, Mr Tobechi Ona, said that the effect of the shortage of power supply was taking a toll on members of the community.

“We hardly make sales now because customers are complaining of hot drinks which make them not to enjoy their time.

“I lost over N20, 000 every day because of the power outage which reduced the level of patronage from residents,” he said.

Meanwhile the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company while apologising to members of the community had promised to rectify the problem soonest. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

==============
Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Joseph Edeh

A male hairdresser doing his job
Community , General News

Nigerian men make inroads into women-dominated jobs

131 total views today

By Alice A Afolayan

A number of Nigerian men are gradually pushing for spaces in jobs hitherto dominated by women across the country, a check by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reveals.

NAN reports that men in the country are visibly operating eateries, hair dressing salons, makeup shops, fixing nails and eyelashes.

Some are into formal jobs such as nursing, flight attendant and secretarial duties among others, which were hitherto exclusively for women.

A cross section of those interviewed by NAN on Thursday in Abuja attributed the gender `breach’ to the high level of unemployment in the country.

They said people now no longer choose jobs, and those with skills in any area go for it irrespective of whether they would be viewed as encroaching into women’s territory.

“Unemployment is pushing most men to take up jobs long viewed exclusively as female dominated jobs in Nigeria,” Mr Jacob Tivkaa, an Uber Driver said.

He however said some of the trades such as hairstyling “are well paid jobs and men venture into them and even take it up as full time career”.

Mr Samuel Okai, a cosmetologist in Gwagwalada, said that he ventured into this line of career because of the harsh economic situation he found himself.

“I am not a lazy person, so when I could not find a job, I decided to make good use of myself by becoming a cosmetologist.

“I have been in this line of business for 10 years and I am glad that I started. I am now an employee of labour. I have about six staff and seven trainees under me.

“I make averagely about N60,000 daily and I pay my staff much more than the national minimum wage. In our line of business, we pay the staff members per hour, so I pay my staff five thousand per hour,” he said.

A resident of Garki, Mrs Victoria Folowosele, said the male hairstylists she patronise were very good at their job.

“Most male hairstylists are really good in some specific hair do and nail treatment than some females.

“The world is changing, I remember back in the days when we look at male stylists as gay, but this is not the situation now.

“Sometimes when they fix your hair, you’ll think you’re wearing a wig because the weavings underneath isn’t pronounced, and when you pack the hair upward, the whole thing just looks real.

“I think these guys have studied hair making after seen where female hairstylists are missing it,” she said.
Mr Victor Oloruntoba, a confidential secretary, said he was comfortable with his job.

“I don’t believe that there are specific jobs for women and males. My belief is that as long as you are good and okay in a job, and that the job gives you the money you need, then do it; I am okay with my job,” he said.

Mrs Rejoice Ukoh, a civil servant, said she was comfortable with male nurses ”because they are more caring in carrying out their duties, while some of the female nurses are often harsh and hard to deal with”.

Also, Mr Layi Bakare, a businessman, however said he finds it queer for men to engage in trades that were largely reserved for women, such as cosmetology, secretarial jobs and as flight attendants.

“I look at them as if they are gay; I don’t support men in this line of jobs at all,” Bakare added. (NAN)

==================
Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Maharazu Ahmed

Community

Rural access roads will reduce post-harvest losses, transportation cost, accident rates – KADRAAMP

104 total views today

By Sani Idris

The Coordinator of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project in Kaduna (KADRAAMP), Mr Zubairu Abubakar, has said that accessible roads in rural settlements would reduce post-harvest losses, cost of transportation and accident rates in the state.

Abubakar said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Kaduna.

NAN reports that RAAMP is a third-generation rural access road project, which is keyed into by 19 states, including Kaduna, and aimed at strengthening the institutional and financing base for sustainable management of state and rural road network.

RAAMP is funded through contributions from the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

The project is being supported by the International Development Association (IDA), a subsidiary of the World Bank, and the L’Agence Francaise de Development (French Development Agency) in the form of loans.

Abubakar explained that due to inaccessibility of storage facilities and good road networks in the rural areas for the movement of farm produce to markets in the urban areas, farmers usually encounter great losses after harvesting.

He added that good road networks, if provided through the project, would reduce traveling time and the cost of transporting food items from the rural areas to the urban centres.

He noted that the world bank assisted project which would be counter funded by the Kaduna state government, will ensure food security, thereby eliminating barriers to food abundance and ensuring prosperity of rural farmers.

He also noted that the RAAMP would provide employment and opportunity for business activities.

“In the course of the construction of rural roads, skilled and semi-skilled labour will have to be employed.

“Accessibility to rural areas will open up many opportunities, lack of access makes a lot of people shy away from exploring business opportunities in rural areas,” he said.

The Coordinator further explained that the five-year project started in 2022 and would last till 2027, adding that Kaduna state would benefit immensely from the construction of rural roads and rehabilitation of existing ones that have failed.

He also said that river crossing structures in the rural areas would be constructed while existing ones would be rehabilitated.

“All these will improve trade where agricultural produce are sold,” Abubakar noted.

Abubakar, however, said they were being careful with areas that have challenges of insecurity.

He said they engaged a Consultant to do identification and prioritisation, where they would begin with areas that have less security challenges.

“The project is for five years. As time goes on and with security situation improving, the work will reach all the locations. The state government is doing its best in ensuring security in the state, as it improves, we move on,” he said.

He lauded the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU), the State Project Monitoring Committee (SPMC) and the State Project Implementation Committee for doing well towards the success of the project.

He called on the rural dwellers to be patient, noting that the project will cut across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, especially places with potentials for farming activities and markets farm produce.

NAN reports that the Kaduna Government, in June 2023, moved to develop bills for the establishment of Rural Access Roads Agency (RARA) and State Road Fund (SRF) to ensure development and maintenance of the rural roads in the state.

NAN also reports that Gov. Uba Sani, on September 2, flagged off road construction of Tachira-Kadarko, Tachira-Mayi Kawon Assu and Makabun-Aya-Lagum rural roads, covering a total of 17.5 kilometres in Kaura Local Government Area of the state. (NAN)
Edited by Vincent Obi

Community

Kwara Govt evacuates street beggars from Ilorin metropolis  

48 total views today

 

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

 

The Kwara Government on Wednesday commenced the evacuation of street beggars from the Ilorin metropolis.

 

 

 

Speaking at one of the locations of the exercise, Mrs Kemi Afolashade, Kwara Commissioner for Social Development, said the areas affected are: Tipper Garage, Tanke, Offa Garage, Geri-Alimi and Challenge in Ilorin.

 

 

 

She said that these were areas where the street beggars were domiciled, adding that the exercise was one of the core mandates of her ministry.

 

 

 

Afolashade said the leadership of Gov. Abdulraham Abdulrazaq prohibits street begging and therefore beggars are prohibited to stay in these areas.

 

 

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the exercise, the commissioner rescued a mentally challenged woman sleeping under the bridge.

 

 

 

The commissioner who provided food and other needs to the mentally challenged woman also offered to rehabilitate and empower her with a vocation of her choice. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Gregg Mmaduakolam) Julius Toba-Jegede

Delta State Governor, Mr Sheriff Oborevwori,
Community
53 total views today

By Ifeanyi Olannye

Delta Government says it has taken delivery of 13, 800 bags of rice out of the the 17,400 bags being expected from the Federal Government as palliatives to cushion the impact of petrol subsidy removal in the state.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Kingsley Emu, disclosed this on Monday during a meeting with State Steering Committee for Palliative Programme in Asaba.
He said that the entire burden of the palliatives was born by the state  government, adding that the federal government was only a facilitator of the debt which would be paid over 20 months period by the state government.
Emu, who doubles as the committee chairman, said, “the state government was taking full responsibility for the palliatives, the Federal Government only acted as the facilitator by extending loan to the state which will be repaid in 20 months.”
He said that the bags of rice came in 50kgs, adding that 16,500 bags of maize and fertilisers are also being expected.
He said that the maize would be a major buffer for poultry and fish farmers who are spending heavily on feeds at the moment.
He said though the remaining bags of rice were being expected, but the committee had concluded plans to commence distribution of the items received.
“The distribution of the palliatives will be through the Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) wards structure.
” That is the DSIEC 500 distribution points as each of the 25 Local Government Areas has 20 wards.
“This is to ensure that the vulnerable population, in every nook and cranny of the state is reached.
“Distribution sub-committees has been setup for each ward and local government area for effective distribution.
” In addition, all House of Assembly Members and Honourable Commissioners will also monitor the activities in their respective domains,” Emu said.
The SSG said that the distribution mode is that 40 per cent would be for everyone at the ward level.
“While 20 per cent will go for the poor and vulnerable households, 25 per cent for direct intervention by the state to the highly impacted including Persons Living With Disabilities and widows.
“Then 10 per cent is  reserved to shore up urban wards and 5 per cent of the palliatives as contingency to local government areas,” he said.
In addition, Emu said distribution of palliatives through the payment of N5.5 billion promotion arrears to state workers  had started in August and will run for four months.
“Again, N10,000 monthly approved for no fewer than 50,000 state public servants, which also began in August for three months.
” Government also approved the  recruitment of 2,000 primary school teaching and non-teaching staff across the state.
“The governor approved commencement of three working days rotational scheme for civil servants on SGL 1 – 14, while staff on SGL 15 and above are to work out what is convenient for them in their respective MDAs.
“However essential duty staff must man their duty posts uninterrupted.
“Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori approved N40 billion pensions payment for local government workers, which will start this September,” Emu said.
He said that discussion is in advanced stage on the purchase of tricycles (keke) bi-fuel engine (petrol & gas) which would be distributed across the three senatorial districts.
He noted that government was engaging several organisations to provide inter and intra city commuter buses, exploring a Public Private Partnership (PPP) option.
NAN reports that other members of the state steering committee include Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs; Senior Policy Adviser; Special Adviser (Transport); Special Adviser (Community Development) and Director of Protocol.
Others are: the Principal Secretary to the Governor; Head of Service; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture; Mr. Isioma Okonta; Alfred Ebrenevin; representatives of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC); and representatives of civil society groups.
The SSG said that there are sub-committees at the LGAs and ward levels to help with the exercise.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng).
===========
Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede
Community

Ekiti LG boss urges security agencies to extend surveillance

73 total views today

 

By Adedeji Egbebi

The Chairman, Ikole Local Government Area, Ekiti, Mr Sola Olominu, has urged security agencies in the state to extend surveillance to all the communities in the council.

 

Olominu gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikole-Ekiti on Monday.

 

He waned that incessant kidnappings and killings of innocent people by criminals and ritualists would no longer be tolerated by his administration.

 

The chairman described the unfortunate incident that occurred on Aug. 30, in Itapaji-Ekiti, where one person was killed and two others kidnapped as an act of wickedness.

 

He assured the family of the victims that thorough investigation would be carried out by the police and the perpetrators would face the wrath of the law.

 

“I want to urge our security agencies, especially the police to assist us in arresting all the perpetrators of Itapaji-Ekiti ugly incident.

 

“It is an act of wickedness to kill an innocent person who left his house to find a means of sustaining his family during this challenging period.

 

“I sympathise with the family of the deceased and I equally prayed that God will arrest the perpetrators of the wicked act.

 

 

 

“My administration will support the security agencies with the necessary logistics needed to carry out the investigation effectively,” he said.

 

 

 

Olominu urged residents living in communities located at the border of the state to be more security conscious, adding that any strange movements should be reported to the nearest police station. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

 

Edited By Chinyere Bassey/Julius Toba-Jegede

Secondary School Students
Education , Community

Stakeholders urge FG to revitalise education sector

92 total views today

By Blessing Ibegbu

Some stakeholders in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, have urged the Federal Government to revitalise the education sector.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Karu, that there was an urgent need to revive the sector in the country for better equitable quality education.

Mr Daburi Misal, a staff of Bingham University, who applauded the appointment of an educationist as minister of education, believed that the minister would ensure a better education system.

“The new minister of Education is a Professor of law, very experienced with the Nigerian educational landscape, so my expectations of him are very high.

“I expect him to make a very huge impact by solving the numerous challenges in the education sector. Principal amongst them is the issue of funding for research,” he said.

Misal said nations that are doing well all over the world in terms of development owe their successes to investment in research.

Misal also urged the minister to prioritise the welfare of personnel in the sector in order to maintain stability and retain our best hands.

“The country has continued to lose valuable personnel to constant search for greener pastures. We cannot make headway as a nation if we cannot retain our best minds.

“We cannot progress if the funding for education continues to fall below the 26 per cent threshold of UNESCO recommended budgetary spending on education by governments,” he said.

Mrs Folashade Vincent, Proprietress of Wemicent International Schools, Koroduma Island, Karu, Nasarawa State, urged the minister to ensure adequate funding and proper infrastructural development to enhance learning in Nigerian schools.

Vincent emphasisedon the need for the reformation of the education sector by reviewing the present curriculum and proper training of teachers.

“Our curriculum should be reviewed because for decades, we have been using same curriculum. There should be an improvement.

“Compulsory training and retraining of teachers should be given priority. Most teachers are not in tune with current trends in the sector. You cannot give what you do not have.

“Training of teachers should be inculcated into the curriculum and funded too, thereby making it easier for the teachers,” she said.

Vincent urged the minister to put an end to the Academic Staff Unions of University (ASUU) strike by initiating positive changes in the sector.

“Let the Nigerian youths and students be able to attend Nigerian universities without fear, rather than running away to seek better university education elsewhere,” she said.

Mr Linda Dabit, a teacher, said that the state of education in the country calls for a state of emergency in the sector.

She urged the minister to look into the area of infrastructure, welfare and training in the education sector, especially secondary and primary.

“I was privileged to supervise a NECO examination in different schools, and I discovered that there are insufficient classrooms and chairs for students and pupils to sit on.

“We need more schools to be established and more classrooms. Imagine, the whole of Nyanya in FCT, it’s only one Senior secondary School in spite of the dense population.

“Teachers welfare should be given utmost priority; steady workshop and training to update their knowledge and also every allowance due to them be cleared,” Dabit said.

Dabit commended the government for the implementation of the 65 years teachers` retirement age.

“I believe that the president Bola Tinubu`s administration through the new minister as an academia would revive the sector. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

================
Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Joseph Edeh

Community

Kaduna communities not benefiting from constituency projects due to poor implementation – CODE

61 total views today

By Sani Idris

The Community Monitoring Team (CMT) of a Pan African NGO, Connected Development (CODE), says on Friday that community members are not benefitting from constituency projects due to poor implementation.

Mrs Ladi Bonat, Coordinator of the CMT in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State, stated this during a town hall meeting on Friday in Lere.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was on Deepening Citizens Interest in Government Spending and Addressing Accompanied Corrupt Practices (DeSPAAC) project.

The DeSPAAC project was being implemented by CODE with support from MacArthur Foundation to mobilize communities and empower them to provide effective public oversight on government spending.

“Our people have not reaped the full benefits of constituency projects due to poor implementation, abandonment and corrupt practices by officials and contractors executing the projects.

“Such individuals have often gotten away with their actions because citizens, communities and activists have not paid sufficient attention to government spending on project implementation,” she said.

She explained that CODE had established the CMTs, made up of members from different community structures, mobilise citizens, train and empower them to track the implementation of the constituency projects.

She said that the members of Lere communities and other stakeholders have adopted CODE’s Follow the Money strategy to track government spending on various projects in the communities.

“The results have been quite impressive as citizens have been monitoring the implementation of constituency projects, leading to completion of some of the projects while engaging government officials on abandoned ones.

“We are now in the third year of the project, and we are taking steps to sustain the momentum and deepen the outcomes of the implementation of the DeSCAAP project in the LGA,” she added.

Bonat explained that the town hall meeting was organised to review the performance of the project, strengthen engagement with government, and present key findings of monitoring activities in the last two years.

She added that the meeting was also organised to present constituency project nomination monitoring tools for effective monitoring and reporting.

“The goal is to ensure communities take active interest in government spending in critical social sectors of education, health, water, sanitation, and hygiene and use the Follow the Money tools to track implementation of projects.

“We also want to empower our communities with knowledge and skills to be able to engage government officials on how to get their demands across and have their views respected.

“We equally want to strengthen synergy between communities, government officials and anti-corruption agencies.

“There is also the need for the government to respond to community advocacy and take action to positively address situations relating to project selection and implementation,” she said.

The CMT coordinator also stressed the need for citizens to actively participate in budget preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation for quality service delivery.

This, according to her, will ensure that the needs of the people are met, ensure transparency and accountability in the delivery of constituency and other projects implementation.

“We also want to strengthen the commitment of community members, CMTs, Community Development Charter (CDC) Champions, and other stakeholders to sustaining the DeSPAAC project outcomes in our communities.

Earlier, the project assistant, CODE, Zaraphat Haruna, had explained that the organisation was established in 2012 to empower marginalised communities to demand for quality goods and services from the government.

Haruna said CODE was achieving this by creating platforms for dialogue and building citizens’ capacity to hold their government accountable through its “Follow the Money” initiative.

“CODE currently influences dialogue, transparency and accountability in governance in nine African countries,” she said.

NAN reports that the meeting was attended by the CMTs, CDC Champions, government officials, community and religious leaders, women, youth, implementing agencies, and other stakeholders. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

SA/FDY

======

Edited by Philip Yatai

Community

Flood: NEMA distributes relief items to 7,811 households in Bayelsa

71 total views today

 

By Ruth Oketunde

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief items to victims of the 2022 flood, as well as vulnerable persons in Bayelsa.

 

Mr Mustapha Ahmed, Director-General, NEMA, represented by Mr Justin Uwazuruonye, Head, Abuja Operations Office, NEMA, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Friday in Abuja.

 

He said that the distribution carried out in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency, was part of the first phase of the Special National Economic Livelihood Emergency Intervention of the Federal Government.

 

According to him, the Federal Government approved the items to assist the 7,811 households to cushion the effect of the flood disaster.

 

He said the items distributed included food and non-food items, such as tools for livelihood support, agriculture seedlings, rice, beans, vegetable oil and blankets.

 

Others are: Mattresses, Seedlings, Pesticides, Fertilisers, sewing machines, grinding machines and sprayers.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Julius Toba-Jegede

 

 

X
Welcome to NAN
Need help? Choose an option below and let me be your assistant.
Email SubscriptionSite SearchSend Us Email