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Tag: Plateau

  • COVID-19: UBA donates N28.5m to Plateau Govt.

    COVID-19: UBA donates N28.5m to Plateau Govt.

    The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Foundation on Monday in Jos donated N28.5 million to Plateau Government as part of efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

    The foundation made the presentation during Gov. Simon Lalong’s meeting on COVID-19 with the state legislature and state officials of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at Government House, Jos.

    Speaking during the presentation, the regional manager of UBA North Central, Mr Steve Gadzama, said the gesture was the bank’s contribution to the state’s COVID-19 Emergency Trust Fund.

    Gadzama said the bank had also built and furnished the isolation facility in Plateau Specialist Hospital and donated two incubators to the ward.

    In his response, Gov Simon Lalong expressed gratitude to UBA for setting the pace in contributions to the fund, saying the State Government was going to fall back on the gesture as a back-up as the disease had potentials of affecting the economy.

    Lalong appealed to public spirited Nigerians to contribute to the fund while commending business moguls such as Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola and Jack Ma for their contributions to combat the virus in Nigeria.

    He said that the meeting with the legislature was critical to ensure that policies regarding safe gaurding the health of Plateau people were successful.

    He said Plateau had not recorded any confirmed case of the Coronavirus, but that it was imperative to ensure that people complied with governnment directives on preventive measures.

    The governor said that the measures would be reviewed as required.

    Speaking at the meeting, the state Commissioner of Health, Dr Nimkong Ndam, said Plateau had been selected as one of the additional centres for testing COVID-19 in the country making it 13.

    Ndam said studies had shown that drugs such as hydroxylchloroquine, azithromyicin and zinc sulphate had been discovered to be helpful in the treatment of COVID-19 , saying the state government had made provision for them.

    Ndam said infrared thermometers were being used at the entry point of Plateau from Abuja, to check the passengers entering the state and monitor them in advent of high temperature.

    He said recent results of five suspected cases of COVID-19 in the state had turned negative, saying the state would begin training of health workers on Tuesday selected from different hospitals, adding that protective equipment had been provided for them.

    In his presentation, the chairman of the state economic team, Mr Ezekiel Gomos said that COVID-19 required prudent use of resources in the state, explaining that the federal government allocation to states would decrease.

    He said the state government should reduce the overdependence of revenue derived from oil by boosting agricultural activities in the state especially the production of vegatables and grains where it had comparative advantage.

    He said the state should reduce its capital expenditure by 65 per cent, prioritise health care expenditure, establish a framework to involve chairmen of local Governments in preventive measures and seek special fund from development partners and agencies to support the health sector.

    NAN reports that the speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon Nuhu Abok and the chairman of APC in Plateau, Chief Latyep Dabang urged Plateau residents to comply with preventive measures as directed by the government, saying the residents should not be complacent because of no record of the virus in the state.

  • Four Chinese, 39 others tested negative to Coronavirus in Plateau

    Four Chinese, 39 others tested negative to Coronavirus in Plateau

    Plateau State Commissioner of Health, Nimkong Larndam says there is no confirmed case of coronavirus in the state.

    Three Chinese nationals were quarantined in Wase local government area of the state over suspicion that they may have contracted coronavirus.

    But during a press conference on Sunday, the commissioner said the 43 persons in isolation all tested negative.

    He said they will be isolated for a period of 14 days in order to further confirm their status.

    “We have four Chinese miners who just returned from holidays in China, since they came from another country that is heavily infected with the virus, they could be suspected to have the virus. But the Chinese were screened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, they were also screened in Abuja airport, and in those screenings, they proved negative,” he said.

    “Even though the suspects were not positive, such people are supposed to be isolated for 14 days. So we have isolated them between now and 11th of March.

    “It is not only the four Chinese that we had to isolate, all the people that had contacts with the Chinese on their return to Wase have to be fished and isolated too.”

    Larndam said the suspects will return to their normal lives once confirmed that they have no symptom of the virus.

    The commissioner urged residents of the state to carry out their normal activities, adding that all measures have been put in place to cater for emergencies.

    “So, the fact that we have to isolated these suspects is not a confirmation that the virus has been detected in the state, we are only being very cautious,” he said.

    “As we monitor those 43 we have isolated, at the end of the 14 days, if they do not show any symptom of coronavirus, we will allow them to enjoy their normal life.

    “But so far, there is no reason to panic, the situation in Plateau is under control.”

    The first coronavirus patient in Nigeria, an Italian, is under quarantine and receiving treatment at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos state.

  • Four Chinese quarantined in Plateau over Coronavirus

    Four Chinese quarantined in Plateau over Coronavirus

    The Plateau State Government has quarantined four Chinese nationals in the state in line with measures to forestall the spread of Coronavirus (COVID -19).

    State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nimkong Ndam, said the nationals were miners working in Wase Local Government Area of the state.

    “They are four nationals, one arrived on Feb. 25, while the three others arrived on Feb. 26. On questioning them, they said they came from China, enroute Addis Ababa Airport to Abuja airport, where they were screened by health officials,” Ndam said.

    He said the uproar that their arrival had caused was just speculations which would be confirmed after their isolation for 14 days, as they had not shown any symptoms of the virus.

    He assured the public that health officials were on ground to ensure all measures were taken to curtail the spread of the virus which had killed more than 2000 lives in China, since it was first reported in December 2019.

    Similarly, Chairman of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Plateau chapter, Dr Titus Dajel, called for more stringent measures at entry points of the state, to control the spread of the virus in the state and the nation.

    Dajel, while reacting to news about the suspected Coronavirus patients in Wase Local Government Area described the incident as unfortunate.

    He said thorough checks by relevant authorities should be conducted on foreigners entering the country, especially from countries with the Coronavirus.

    “We urge the public to exercise caution and high level of hygiene and avoid crowdy areas and environment.

    Nigeria’s confirmed coronavirus case was first reported on Friday of an Italian working in a cement factory in Ogun State.

    The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said there are four laboratories in the country where suspected cases could be tested.

  • Lalong threatens to dethrone Plateau monarchs

    Lalong threatens to dethrone Plateau monarchs

    Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong, has threatened to dethrone any traditional ruler that allow their citizens to cause violence and killing in their respective domains.

    The governor added that any traditional ruler that cannot manage his people would also be dethroned.

    The governor’s warning is coming days after gunmen attacked Kulben and Kwatas villages of Mangu and Bokkos Local Government Areas of the state and killed dozens of people.

    The governor wandered why people could be killed at will without arresting the perpetrators of the killings, stressing that if such act should continue, the society would never be at rest.

    Speaking on Saturday at the installation of traditional rulers of Long Dorok, Long Jaktoe and Long Derteng in Shendam local government area, the governor said, “I have repeatedly emphasized the need for traditional rulers to be alert to their duties of preserving the culture and traditions of the people and also sanitizing them to live in peace with one another.

    “When there is crime in your domains, you must work with your people and expose the criminals. If you don’t, l will hold you responsible and ensure that you are investigated. This is the kind of thing l directed about the killings in Bokkos where, to my dismay, no one was arrested despite the murder of people. This cannot be allowed.”

    He charged the new chiefs to use their positions to ensure peace, development and mutual coexistence amongst the people.

  • Police confirm Plateau attack, says 13 persons killed, 5 injured

    Police confirm Plateau attack, says 13 persons killed, 5 injured

    The Plateau Police Command said that gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have attacked Kwatas village in Bokkos Local Government Area of the state, killing 13 persons and injuring five others.

    ASP Ubah Ogaba, the Police Public Relations (PPRO) of the command, confirmed the incident in statement issued on Monday in Jos.

    He said that the incident occurred Sunday night.

    “Yesterday, at about 8:30 pm., we received information that at about 7:30 pm., unknown gunmen suspected to be herdsmen, attacked Kwatas village in Bokkos.

    “As a result, 13 persons were killed, while five others were critically injured and are currently receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Bokkos.

    “Immediately the command received the information, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the state, Mr Isaac Akinmoyede, deployed a team of detectives, conventional policemen and other personnel to the affected area.

    “He directed them to restore peace and effect arrest of the perpetrators of that dastardly act,” he said.

    Ogaba called on the residents of the area and the state in general to be law abiding, adding that the police would do all within their power to bring the perpetrators to book.

    He urged those with useful information that would aid the police to apprehend the criminals, to make it available.

  • Tribunal upholds Lalong’s election as Plateau governor

    The Plateau Governorship Elections Petitions tribunal in Jos on Wednesday affirmed the election of Gov. Simon Lalong.
    Sen. Jeremiah Useni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is challenging the election of Lalong in the March 9, governorship poll.
    Useni prayed the tribunal to declare him winer of the elections alleging the disparity in the names supplied by Gov. Lalong in form CF001.
    Delivering judgment, a panel three justices led by Justice Halima Salami, held that the petitioners could did not adequately prove their case.
    The tribunal held that the information made in form CF001 by Lalong bothering on the disparity of name, was not fundamental in nature.

    The tribunal also held that the petitioners, failed to prove their allegation of electoral irregularities bothering on falsifications of results and over voting against Lalong and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
    Speaking after judgment, Mr Pius Akuboh, SAN, Counsel to the APC and Gov Lalong, commended the tribunal for the verdict.
    Akuboh said that the tribunal commendably dealt with all the issues raised raised and canvassed by the parties from all angles.
    “This include the qualification of the second respondent to contest the election, allegation of over voting, corrupt practices and non compliance to electoral law.

    “Painstakingly the tribunal considered interlocutory matters raised by the respective counsels to the parties.
    “We are satisfied that the judgment is in our favour specifically with respect to the qualification of the governor.
    “The tribunal unequivocally found as a fact that the governor did not give false information fundamental nature in aid of of his qualification,” he stated.
    Also speaking, Mr Edward Pwajok, SAN, Counsel to Useni and the PDP, said that they were not satisfied with the verdict of the tribunal.
    ”There are many bus stops in judiciary and that we will challenge the verdict in a higher court.
    “The tribunal has done its work but it is long journey, today’s verdict is just a first step.
    “However, we appreciate the people of Plateau and to state that the first petitioner, Sen. J.T. Useni remains confident in the Nigerian judiciary.
    “Thank God there are higher levels as the judgement itself has already formulate many grounds for appeal.
    “Because some of the findings were not in sink with the conclusion reached.
    “For instance, on the issue of the qualification of the governor, the tribunal found out that the lied on oath on the information he supplied in form CF00,” he stated.

  • Graphic photos: Herdsmen launch fresh attack in Plateau community, kill three

    Graphic photos: Herdsmen launch fresh attack in Plateau community, kill three

    There was pandemonium on Monday as gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded Hukke Village of Miango District, Bassa LGA of Plateau State killing three people.

    According to the spokesman of the Miango Youth Development Association, Lawrence Zongo, those killed included two women and a community Leader.

    Zongo said the communities had decided to embrace peace especially after interventions by the Plateau State Peace Building Agency before the latest unfortunate attack. He said the attackers are from Funture village also in Bassa LGA.

    “The attack was a surprise to us after we agreed to accept peace process by the Plateau State Peace Building Agency last Saturday.

    Names of the deceased are; Mrs Ladi Wuh 45 years, Mrs Laraba Audu 36 years old deaf, Eld. Musa Yevuh 40 years community leader of Hukke.

    The suspected Fulani herdsmen who came for the attack are from Funture village of Bassa LGA.

    We will continue to be peaceful & law abiding but government should be more responsible in protecting lives and properties of rural communities, Zongo said.

  • Plateau SUBEB boss decries absence of N-power teachers in schools

    Plateau SUBEB boss decries absence of N-power teachers in schools

    The Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has decried the absence of teachers posted to the Federal Government’s N-power scheme to teach in public primary schools in the state.

    Prof. Mathew Sule, the Executive Chairman of the board, who made the remark while monitoring resumption of schools at Obasanjo Model School, Hwolshe, on Monday in Jos, said the teachers’ truant act was detrimental to the objective of the scheme of complementing the state government’s efforts at improving the standard of education.

    “This is morally wrong, where people are posted to schools and they do not attend to their responsibilities, we have no choice but to report them to the appropriate authorities.

    “If they cannot come to school, they should be taken to other places, we want orderliness, they must go by the school rules and create a conducive learning environment for the children,” Sule said.

    He alleged that some of the N-power teachers has multiple engagements, thus unable to have time for the teaching scheme, saying they were not justifying government resources given to them through the project.

    He, therefore, advised them to disengage from the scheme if they could not cope with its responsibilities, saying they must justify the allowances given to them as many unemployed persons were looking for such opportunities.

    The chairman, however, commended parents for the large turnout of pupils in the schools, saying it was an evidence that they heeded to the board’s plea for early resumption and immediate take off of the 2019/2020 new school session.

    He urged the pupils to be punctual to school, be of good conduct, respect their teachers and study hard to improve on their last session’s grades.

    He said he would ensure that the teachers adopted the improved pedagogical skills to improve learning and enhance SUBEB’s monitoring exercises, to ensure good performance by teachers.

    In her response, Mrs Martha Gyang, the head teacher of the School, pledged their commitment to discharge their duties diligently and report teachers who failed in such compliance.

    Blessing Marcus, a Grade four pupil of the school, thanked her parents for providing her with text books while promising to get better grades in the new session.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the SUBEB boss monitored school resumption in Obasanjo Model School Hwolshe compromising of Schools A, B and C in Jos South Local Government Area.

  • Plateau to close IDP camps by year end – Lalong

    Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, Monday assured that all the IDP camps in this state will be vacated by the end of the year.

    The governor said that his administration decided to handle the issue of IDPs in three phases and so far, the first two phases have been concluded.

    He said that he is working on the third and final phase of total resettlement.

    Lalong noted that his administration started by considering the security of the displaced persons who may be frightened of returning to the place that they were first displaced.

    He said that he is working fervently to return peace and security to communities in the state.

    The Governor spoke in Abuja when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen.

    He said, “I set up a road map since last year and appointed a committee to quickly see to the return of all IDPs to their various communities, we started in phases, we did phase one and two.

    “For those whose houses where not totally destroyed we handled it and asked them to return, that reduced a lot of the population in the camps, for the second phase many of them requested to rebuild themselves and brought a budget for the purchase of materials, we provided for them and some went back and rebuilt.

    “The most important thing in situations like this is to first of all consider their security, it is not easy for one who has seen what they did to rush back which is what we are trying to handle, we are in the process of providing a mobile police unit in some areas, I am in touch with the Inspection General of Police and very soon it will kick off.

    “Some of you saw me when we were trying to address the security situation and addressed the national livestock policy, the policy is inclusive of security and how to help those fighting. I have assured them at my state that by the end of this year that is my hope that nobody will be in IDP camp in Plateau state.”

    Dame Tallen urged the governor to be the first to take the issue of gender equality seriously by appointing more female commissioners and special advisers.

    Her words, “We will work together as a team to take Plateau to the next level, I want to commend your good works in the Plateau particularly in the area of security which is top in the federal agenda, you have done well in ensuring peace on the Plateau.

    “Your state is doing well in the area of the girl child education but we are pleading with you to do more because educating the girl child solves a lot of problems, I plead with you to take the issue of gender equality seriously, I appeal to you to be the leading state in the appointment large number of females as commissioners and special advisers so that I can boast and tell the other governors that my state is leading.”

  • Gunmen kill 54-year-old man, injure one in Plateau

    Gunmen kill 54-year-old man, injure one in Plateau

    Unidentified gunmen have killed one Mamman Bayaro, 54, and injured Mohammed Ibrahim at Kadunu Village in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau.

    DSP Terna Tyopev, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Jos.

    Tyopev said the incident occurred on Sunday.

    “Yesterday, at about 7:45p.m., our Division in Mangu received a distress call that unknown gunmen attacked one Mamman Bayaro, 54, of Kadunu Village in Mangu LGA.

    “As a result of the attack, the victim was shot on his chest and when he was rushed to the Allah Na Kowa Hospital in the locality for treatment he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

    “Also, one Muhammadu Ibrahim of the same Village was shot on his left leg and is currently receiving treatment at the same hospital,” he said.

    The PPRO said efforts were on to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act to make them face the full wrath of the law.