Month: August 2023

The Kano State Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr Yusuf Kofarmata, has advised students of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, to avoid drug abuse.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Director of Information, Ministry for Higher Education, Malam Sunusi Kofar Na’Isa, in Kano on Friday.

Kofarmata gave the advice during a meeting with stakeholders at the theatre hall of the university in continuation of his familiarisation visit to state-owned tertiary institutions.

He pointed out that drug abuse was a major social vice that destroy human life, urging the students’ union of the institution to serve as ambassadors in creating massive awareness campaign against the menace.

He warned that the State Government would not spare any student found using or selling drugs in all the state-owned institutions.

Kofarmata also said in order to enhance other curriculum activities, the state government would soon set up a sports committee that would organise sports competitions within state-owned institutions.

The Vice Chancellor of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Prof. Musa Yakasai, congratulated the commissioner on his appointment, which he described as well deserved.

He said the university has numerous challenges, including liabilities worth N2.5 billion and staff pension, inherited from the defunct administration.

He urged the commissioner to intervene in the lingering issues for the development of the institution and education in general in the state.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Victims of rape and other forms of gender-based violence have been asked d to report to the relevant authorities to get help and justice.

Ms Elizabeth Bumkeng, a victim of rape and author, made the call at her book launch in Abuja on Saturday.

The book is titled: “Healing from Within… Reclaiming Life After Sexual and Gender – Based Violence”.

Bumkeng said that not reporting the matter and seeking appropriate help could lead to depression and further complications.

She said that after she was abused, she was traumatised, scared and would always have nightmares and a feeling the culprit will walk away and do same to other girls.

According to her, part of her healing process was reporting the person who abused her; which she described as a step forward towards healing for her.

Bumkeng called on all stakeholders to join in the fight against gender-based violence in the society.

“This is a clarion call for everybody, the civil societies, the community leaders, the village chiefs, the government, the lawmakers, everyone in office in whatever capacity that you are.

“This is a sole responsibility for you and I as a person to fight against sexual and gender-based violence.

“This is not a fight for me alone; as Elizabeth I have started my fight, I have written a book and this book covers ways to help survivors.

“The next step for every one of us here is to spread the news and to help join the fight. This means if you hear someone doing this, you have the right to stop any one.

“Do not say it does not concern me. It concerns each and every one of us,” she said.

She explained that the book talks about how to get healing, the relevant government agencies and their roles, the law and stipulated punishments for offenders.

“So this book is informative and I recommend it for every child, every family, every community, every government agencies, I recommend it to everyone because you need to know about the do’s and don’ts about the laws, the persecution and everything,” she said.

The chief launcher of the book, Mr Nuhu Kwajafa, said the most effective way of helping victims is by punishing the offenders.

He said that the first step is to make the police see the need to take sexual harassment very seriously.

According to him, the police take armed robbery more seriously than rape; whereas in the western world a first time robber without criminal record can be pardoned but nothing of such for a rapist.

“I have dealt with so many cases of rape where the police will tell you openly that your family should go and settle the matter at home.

“So the only way government can support the victim is that government needs to put things in place that will tackle those who are involved in

“This is because there’s no way somebody can heal when the person who committed the crime is walking free.

“Everyone has to support and play their own role. I mean, everyone has a responsibility.

“The media needs to shout it out, the media needs to call the authorities out, the media needs to bring it out that 80 per cent of sexual harassment cases are being killed by the police,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nasarawa State Government has said it will demolish structures built on water ways as part of measures to prevent flooding.

Mr Yakubu Kwanta, the State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on Saturday in Lafia after the August environmental sanitation exercise.

The commissioner who was represented by Malam Abubakar Mohammed, Chief Environment Officer, who is also the Chief Prosecutor of the ministry, said the ministry would be proactive to prevent any disaster.

He explained that the decision to demolish the structures followed NIMET’s recent prediction of possible flooding in 25 states including Nasarawa State.

He said the government had directed residents of flood prone areas to relocate to safer grounds.

According to him, given the way flood had ravaged some parts of the State in the recent past, the ministry would not allow anybody to block the water ways.

“When you block the water ways and prevent water against free flow, you are inviting disaster, because any how it will find its way,” he said.

On the level of compliance with the monthly exercise, the commissioner expressed satisfaction and lauded traditional rulers, chairmen of area councils as well as the security agencies for the success of the exercise.

He said that about the 85 per cent of the residents complied by locking their shops and businesses to partake in the exercise.

The commissioner said the state was temporarily shutdown during the exercise in line with the law, except those on essential services.

“We only allowed those with permission from relevant authorities and those on essential services to pass, and move around during the exercise,” he added.

He therefore, called on members of the public to always keep their environment clean to guard against outbreak of diseases.

Meanwhile, 86 persons suspected to have violated environmental sanitation laws across the state were arrested and prosecuted by various mobile courts in the respective LGAs.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs), under the auspices of TAF Africa, an NGO, has appealed to the Government of Cross River to fix a date for Local Government Election in the state.

This was disclosed by Dr. Jake Epelle, Convener, TAF Africa, on Saturday in Calabar during a workshop to train leaders of various disability groups on skillful and impactful advocacy to build their capacities.

Epelle said that it was time for the present administration in Cross River to put out a date and time for the LG polls.

He said that the election would help Gov. Bassey Otu in his roadmap to building a virile state.

“We chose Cross River because we want to support the state through our project to have inclusive election, governance and Civil Society Organisations, (CSOs) that will champion the cause of disability inclusion in its entirety.

“The opportunities that will come out of this effort will go to PWDs with equity, because I can assure you that if PWDs are not united, we will get nothing In fact, some politicians will take advantage of the crisis and do nothing for us.

“Although TAF Africa has limited resources, with our effective management and goodwill, we can get a lot of things done as it concerns equipment for PWDs for the LG polls in the state,” he said.

Epelle maintained that they wanted Cross River to be the first state to have a concrete and inclusive framework that would drive governance from the grassroot.

On his part, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, Secretary to the Government of Cross River said he was willing to link PWDs to the state government for them to get easy access.

Owan-Enoh noted that disability does not mean lack of ability because for every element of disability, there is so much potential and ability behind it.

“I have offered to be an ambassador for the PWDs in Cross River, to speak for them and help them get what they deserve.

“PWDs should come out of their shells, forget about their conditions and identify their potential like every other humans and contribute their best for the development of the society.

Similarly, Prof. Mike Oshie, Chairman Cross River Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) said disability does not mean lack of capacity, adding that many PWDs in the commission had delivered when given opportunities.

“We have PWDs as staff in the commission and they participate during the elections. For the equipment needed for them, we will work with TAF Africa to help us in that area.

“The commission already has an electoral guideline but with this new development I have sent it to PWDs to review for us to adopt for a better LG poll,” he noted.

Some of the PWDs who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) said the workshop was enriching and would help them push better towards inclusion and integration of PWDs in the society.

They said apart from learning to live as contributors in the society and not like liabilities, they had learnt to engage in diplomatic advocacy to achieve their aims instead of resorting to violence.

NAN reports that TAF Africa, formerly The Albino Foundation is an umbrella body of PWDs at the national and international level for advocacy through programme designs.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Police Command in Kano on Saturday said it confiscated 820 cartons of suspected fake and expired drugs at Malam Kato Market in Fage Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, in Kano, the drugs were recovered from two warehouses at the market.

He listed the drugs to include 514 cartons of eemistxmin/emstifer syrup, 219 cartons of 5mg Lisinopril tablets, 7 cartons of 5mg amlodipine tablets, 87 cartons of 50mg atenol and 40 cartons, 3 cartons of Frusemide injection.

Kiyawa said the drugs were evacuated and handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) by a team of detectives deployed to the scene by the state Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel.

He charged residents to always report suspicious persons and items to the police for prompt action.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Gov. Babagana Zulum of Borno has announced the donation of N36 million to be shared at N30,000 each to the 1,215 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed to the state.

A statement on Saturday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau, said that Zulum made the donation during his visit to the NYSC orientation camp in Maiduguri.

Gusau said that Zulum also allocated 100 bags of rice, 10 cows, 10 bags of 100 kg of beans and 10 gallons of cooking oil for special meals to be prepared for the corps members during their ongoing three weeks orientation.

“We want to extend palliatives to members of the National Youth Service Corps.

“Each one of you will receive the sum of N30,000, that amount will be credited to your accounts as soon as your bank details are provided to me.

“In addition to that, we have provided you with 100 bags of rice, 10 bags of 100kg beans, 10 gallons of cooking oil and 10 bulls,” Zulum was quoted as saying.

He urged the corp members to adhere to camp rules by living peacefully among themselves and engaging in acts that would foster peace in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NYSC orientation resumed last week in Borno after 13 years of suspension due to insurgency.

During the swearing-in ceremony at the orientation camp, Zulum announced the commitment of his administration to make the state the most friendly to corps members.

He also assured them that they would have good memories to share about Borno after their service year.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria