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Tag: Nasarawa

  • Benue massacre: Ortom lied; killer herdsmen not camped in Nasarawa – Al-makura

    Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Tuesday refuted claims by his counterpart in Benue State, Samuel Ortom that killer herdsmen on a killing spree in the state (Benue) are camped in Nasarawa State.

    Ortom had after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Villa on Tuesday told State House correspondents that the killer herdsmen under the aegis of the Miyetti Allah cattle breeders are from neighbouring Nasarawa State.

    Ortom said the anti-open grazing law, which his administration signed into law last year had brought peace, until the herdsmen attacks.

    “And since we started the implementation, there has been relative peace among farmers and herdsmen; they were doing well until this militia coming from this Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, came and attacked us. And they are known, we know where they are. As I talk to you they are in Tongua in Awe local government that is where these people are camped and coming to attack people.” he added

    But Al-Makura swiftly denied the allegation, saying his state was not harbouring the killer-herdsmen.

    He said: “I’m really taken aback; this statement is most unfortunate. I will like to use this opportunity to say that there is nothing like that whatsoever. If anything, the Tonga that the governor is talking about in Awe Local Government is now the safe haven for displaced persons.

    “As I speak with you today, there are more than three IDP camps in Awe local government that quarters and caters for the number of people that have migrated from Benue to Nasarawa.

    “To be specific, they are more than 7,000 people that are camped in Tonga. So it’s very ironical that a place that is supposed to be an area that has become a safe haven for IDPs can now be called where militias are camped.

    “In that case, the militia don’t need to go as far as Benue. They have the prey within the vicinity of Tonga to attack. I think this is most unfortunate.” he said

    He added: “Yesterday, we held over seven hours of rigorous interfacing with seven governors, service chiefs and some ministers and all our security operatives within the states and around Benue, and my colleague could not tell me this, he could not approach me and give me an idea if there is anything that he saw or is worried about.

    “Besides, from all the discussions we had yesterday, there was no concrete security report stigmatising any part of Nasarawa State as habouring people that are coming to attack Benue.

    “I feel what should be of concern to us as leaders is the plight of the people and any of such statement that is inflammatory is likely going to cause more confusion to what is already there.

    “As it is, it is the implementation of the anti-grazing law in Benue that has caused the problem and now Nasarawa State is being infected by the problem notwithstanding that we are being our brothers’ keepers and good neigbhours.

    “I had to cut short my leave and come to find ways of helping my colleague. We have called all our security to meet to find ways and means of helping Benue and if all efforts we have done and with all the relief materials we have given and the protection to the IDPs that were created, that certain parts of Nasarawa State can now be stigmatised with this allegations is to say the least most unfortunate.”

    Al-Makura added: “We will still continue to render whatever assistance that we can give to the IDPs from Benue because we have some Tiv people that live in Nasarawa in virtually all the three or four local governments that share boundary with Benue State, we are duty bound as a responsible administration to cater for all.

    “And the Tonga he is talking about is a town within three states, that is Goa in Benue, Shanda, Ibi and there is River Benue besides them. So, anybody can fly through the River to go and attack in Benue. And don’t forget the obscurity of the wilderness and is very porous and anybody can move from any part to any place to attack any place.

    “So, as far as I am concerned, it is unfortunate there is nobody keeping anybody anywhere in Nasarawa State.”

  • Nine dead as FG confirms Yellow Fever outbreak in Kwara, Nasarawa, five other states

    The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, in its 2018 report has confirmed the outbreak of Yellow Fever in seven Nigerian states with over nine deaths so far.

    The NCDC in its situation report released for the first epidemiological week in 2018 said the ailment has so far been confirmed in 12 local government areas across seven states.

    The states are: Kwara, Kano, Niger, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Kogi and Zamfara.

    The current outbreak started in Ifelodun Local Government Area in Kwara State with the first case detected in a seven-year-old girl in in September, 2017.

    The girl had no previous history of yellow fever vaccination. She also had no travel history outside her state two years before the illness.

    Since that incident, a total of 16 states, Abia, Borno, Kogi, Kwara, Kebbi, Plateau, Zamfara, Enugu, Oyo, Anambra, Edo, Lagos, Kano, Nasarawa, Katsina and Niger, have reported suspected cases.

    According to NCDC, as at January 2, a total of 358 suspected yellow fever cases had been line-listed out of which 230 blood samples collected and sent to the laboratory for confirmation.

    The agency said out of the samples collected and tested in five different Nigerian laboratories, 63 tested positive to the disease and one was inconclusive.

    The same 64 samples were then sent to the WHO laboratory.

    “Of the 64 (positive and inconclusive) samples sent to the World Health Organisation, WHO laboratory in Dakar, Senegal for laboratory confirmation, 32 were positive, 24 negative and seven results are still pending,” it stated.

    NCDC also said that the total number of deaths in all cases (suspected, probable and confirmed cases) is 45, with nine listed as confirmed.

    The report said the predominant age group affected are 20 years and below, accounting for 67. 8 per cent and the male to female ratio was 1.6 to 1.

    To curb the spread of the disease, the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, after the first case in Kwara state had said the federal government will embark on a nationwide vaccination against the disease by December, last year.

    He said the vaccination was as a result of the current outbreak in Kwara State and it signified that many Nigerians are not immune to yellow fever.

    Yellow fever is one of the vaccine preventable diseases which is expected to be given to children during the routine immunisation. The routine yellow fever vaccination was introduced to Nigeria’s expanded programme on immunization, EPI, in 2004.

    Adults are also required to be vaccinated and issued a yellow fever card or certificate which is meant to be asked from travellers arriving from countries with risk of the disease.

  • We’ll do all it takes to win NPFL title, Nasarawa United coach says

    We’ll do all it takes to win NPFL title, Nasarawa United coach says

    Kabiru Dogo, Head Coach of Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia, says his club’s target for the new season is to do all it takes to win the league title.

    Dogo told TheNewsGuru (TNG) in Lafia on Wednesday that he would also do all he could to motivate his players to ensure this.

    TNG reports that the “Solid Miners’’ finished fifth in the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    “I will do all I can to motivate the players to maintain a winning streak all throughout the season, starting from the first home match against defending champions Plateau United Football Club.

    “We did not do badly last season. Out of 20 clubs, we came fifth. The only thing was that we did not win either the league or secure a continental spot. I want to assure you that we will come out fighting hard this season.

    “Plateau United is a very good team and we are happy to be playing them first. They are our neighbours.

    “We know it will be a difficult game, but we plan to approach the game with a positive mindset so as to secure the three points and kickstart our journey towards the title,’’ Dogo said.

    The head coach added that, for the club to achieve its goal, preparation for the new season must be in full gear.

    He thereby appealed to the club’s management to give the team full support as it prepares to kickstart its 2017/2018 season at home against Plateau United in few weeks’ time.

    “I am not satisfied with the way we are preparing, and every success depends on good preparation.

    “That is why I am appealing to the management to give us full support, so that we can achieve our goal. Nevertheless, we will use what we have to get what we want,’’ Dogo said.

    He stated that the transfer of some of his players to other clubs would not in any way affect the team’s determination to succeed in the new season.

    The coach pointed out that while some players left, players from other clubs were also recruited to join the club for the new season.

    “The issue of football is all about movement in and out. Some people have to go, and some others will come in.

    “But I believe we have capable hands to replace those who left and handle every position in the team,” he added.

    Dogo therefore appealed to the Nasarawa state government, as well as the club’s management and supporters, to give the team their full support in the new season.

    He said this would boost the morale of players and officials to achieve the goal of winning laurels and earn a spot to play continental football.

    “The government has been trying for us, but we want more.

    “We want more from the government, management and from our supporters so that at the end of the season, we can achieve what we set out to achieve,”the head coach said.

  • Nasarawa Govt freezes accounts of MDAs

    The Nasarawa State Government has frozen the accounts of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) over non-compliance with its directive.

    The state’s Accountant-General, Mr Zakka Yakubu, disclosed this to newsmen in Lafia on Thursday.
    Yakubu explained that the suspension of all financial transactions was due to their inability to comply with an earlier circular directing MDAs to submit their account balances and other financial documents.

    He added that his office wrote all MDAs to submit their balances from various accounts and to also make refund of unspent monies, but they failed to respond.

    “I am under the directive of Governor Umaru Al-Makura to inform all MDAs that all transactions in their accounts are hereby suspended.
    “In view of that, all MDAs are expected to forward all their bank account balances and other documents to my office immediately,” said the accountant-general.

    He stated that the needed information, including bank accounts of the MDAs, would enable his office close the state account for 2017 in line with global best practice.

    “All revenue collections made during the financial year must be brought into account on or before Sunday, Dec. 31.
    “All impress issued during the financial year must be retired and any unretired amount would be classified personal and recovered from the salary of the impress holder,” he said.

    Yakubu added that the government would appoint board survey to examine the transactions of MDAs and reconcile the documents to be submitted and the balance in their accounts.

    The accountant-general also disclosed that the state had received N4.5 billion as the last tranche of Paris Club refund to the state.
    According to him, N2.9 billion out of the money is for the state government while N1.6 billion is for the 13 local government councils in the state, based on the documents obtained from the Federal Government.

  • We pay 60% of LG workers in Nasarawa for idleness – Commissioner

    The Nasarawa State Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Haruna Osegba, has said more than 60 per cent of local government workers in the state are receiving salaries for doing nothing.

    “We have discovered that over 60 percent of staff at the local government levels are not going to work, but only come to receive salary at the end of the month,’’ he told newsmen on Tuesday in Lafia.

    Osegbe who met with members of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in the state, said the government had established a machinery to check the situation.

    The commissioner said the government was worried that the salaries of local government workers were being paid in a piecemeal in the last one year even though most of the workers do not even go to work.

    “We have put a machinery in motion to check this trend and anyone found culpable would face serious disciplinary action,” he added.

    Osegba said that the ministry would promote “all dedicated local government workers to boost their morale.’’

    He said that the state Local Government Service Commission had conducted a screening of genuine local council workers and would release the list of those cleared soon.

    The commissioner further said that the government was doing its best to restore full salary payment to all local government workers as of when due.

     

    NAN

  • Policeman shoots wife, maid, then kills self

    Policeman shoots wife, maid, then kills self

    The Nasarawa State Police Command said on Sunday that a police officer, Thomas Agada, in the early hours of Sunday, shot and killed himself at Masaka in Karu Local Government Area of the state.

    The command’s spokesperson, Kennedy Idirisu, told news men in Lafia that late Mr. Agada served at the Police command in the FCT, but resided at Masaka, where the incident occurred.

    Mr. Idirisu explained that before killing himself, the deceased had shot and injured his wife and maid at their shop around De Memories Hotel in Masaka.

    He said the wife and maid were currently receiving treatment at the Asokoro General Hospital in the FCT, adding that investigation had begun to ascertain the motive behind the shooting.

    “We cannot say for sure now what could have led to the dastardly act but we believe that the wife, currently being treated would, be of great help to our investigation, once she stabilises,” Mr. Idirisu said.

    Source: NAN

  • Nasarawa Govt. to shut illegal private schools

    The Nasarawa State House of Assembly said on Friday that it would collaborate with the state Ministry of Education to close down all illegal private schools to improve the standard of education.

    Mr Daniel Ogah-Ogazi, the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Science and Technology, made this known when the state Commissioner for Education appeared before the committee to defend her 2017 budget.

    Ogah-Ogazi assured of the assembly’s readiness to partner the executive in order to improve on the standard of education in the state through quality legislation.

    “In order to improve on the standard of education in the state, we will collaborate with the state Ministry of Education.

    “We will visit all private schools across the state as part of our oversight function to know the registered and unregistered ones.

    “During the oversight function, we will also know schools that meet up with the required education standard and the ones that did not meet up.

    “We will not hesitate to close down any private school that did not meet up with the required education standard.

    “We will continue to enact laws that have direct bearing on the education sector as well as on the lives of the people as no nation could achieve meaningful progress without sound education,” he said.

    Ogah-Ogazi urged the commissioner to sanction any school that was involved in sharp practice of any kind.

    He also advised the commissioner and her team to continue to monitor and ensure effective supervision of schools and to ensure that quality job was done in the interest of the education sector.

    Earlier, Hajiya Ramatu Abubakar, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, said the government would continue to key into positive education policies to improve quality of education in the state.

    Abubakar assured of the ministry’s commitment to continue to ensure effective supervision of schools.

     

    NAN

  • 89 students renounce membership of cults in Nasarawa

    Eighty-nine cultists from five tertiary institutions in Nasarawa State have renounced their membership.

    The National Coordinator of National Campus Cult Eradication Foundation, Samuel Ejembi, disclosed this to journalists on Sunday in Lafia.

    According to him, the group which is a non-governmental organisation, is working in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force to eradicate and rehabilitate cultists.

    He said that the cultists were students from the Federal University, Lafia; Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia, College of Agriculture, Lafia, College of Education, Akwanga and the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, respectively.

    He said that, “eight of the cultists are from FUL, 43 from NAPL; eight from COAL, 15 from COEA and 23 are from NSUK.”

    He said that with the support of the Inspector General of Police, the group recently rehabilitated 53 cultists from different cult groups across various tertiary institutions in Benue State.

    “Since inception in 2011, this NGO had helped and rehabilitated 12,000 cultists from various tertiary institutions in Nigeria,” he said.

    The Assistant Inspector General of Police, in charge of Training, Sani Muhammed, said the leaders of the NGO were former cult-members who renounced their membership voluntarily.

    Muhammed, who is the Assistant Grand Patron of the group, said the police was supporting the group to eradicate and rehabilitate ex-cultists and encourage them to have a new lease of life.

    He advised members of the public, especially, the youths to desist from cult activities, saying it could prevent them from being recruited into the police and other law enforcement agencies.

    One of the cultists, who renounced his membership, Kingsley Samuel, said he joined the group from his secondary school through the influence of his friends but had regretted all that he had done.

    Samuel advised other cultists renounce their membership before it is too late.