Eid El-Kabir: Senator Lawan distributes over N200 million to constituency in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

The President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, Ph.D., GCON, Sardaunan Bade, Yobe North Senatorial District, has distributed a 222.5 million cash gift to households drawn from across 60 wards in the six local government areas of Yobe North Senatorial District to celebrate the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir Muslim festival.

In a press statement signed by Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo, FAI, FIMC, FCP, and Fsca Media Adviser to Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, Ph.D., GCON, it was shared with newsmen in Damaturu.

According to the statement, the distribution, which was carried out through a committee set up by Senator Lawan, targeted households and individuals in need within the district and beyond.

“The six local government areas that benefited from the gesture include Bade, Jakusko, Karasuwa, Yusufari, Machina, and Nguru” the statement added.

Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo revealed that cash gifts ranging from $100,000 to $20,000 were distributed to each household, including individuals, with a total of 3,430 households and individuals benefiting from the initiative sponsored by the Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan (SAIL) Foundation.

The statement further said that other beneficiaries captured are traditional leaders, party executives, and stakeholders in Yobe North.

Also to be distributed are food items such as 1,500 carton boxes of spaghetti, 1,140 bags of maize and guinea corn, 1,500 clothing items for children, 800 wrappers for women, 2,000 blankets, 2,000 mats, etc.

“Beneficiaries under this category were also drawn from the six local government areas and extend to orphanages within the Senatorial District.” The statement was added.

According to the chairman of the selection and distribution committee, Alhaji Suleiman Jamo, the gesture was aimed at cushioning the economic hardship faced by many constituents owing to the high cost of living as Muslims celebrate Eid-el-Kabir.

“We understand that many of our constituents are going through difficult times, and this gift from Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan is a token of his support to help them celebrate with joy and peace.” Jamo said.

Dr. Ezrel maintained that Senator Lawan, while commending the committee for a job well done, urged the beneficiaries to use the gift wisely as they enjoy the Eid celebration.

“I wish all my constituents a blessed and peaceful Eid-el-Kabir celebration. May the spirit of the season unite us and bring us closer together” he said.

Eid El-Kabir: Senator Lawan distributes over N200 million to constituency in Yobe

Goya District, Desertification, and the Reality of Tree Planting

By: Balami Lazarus

My pen and I have been longing to write about Goya District, one of the homes of the Kare-Kare people, whose traces are also found in Jigawa and Bauchi states. The kare-kare are known to be a peaceful group of people who have made their marks in the fields of education and business.

Let me lightly inform you that Goya District was created in 1990. The district is part of the Fika Emirate Council in the Fika local government of Yobe State. Pharmacist Alhaji Garba Abdullahi Daya (1932–2022) was the first district head.

It was interesting living with the Dayas as young men in the 1980s and 1990s, where we related well as family friends and neighbors. As neighbors, we were privileged to have near-free drugs and treatments for our minor ailments because Bappa, as he was fondly called, was a respected pharmacist and CEO of Daya Pharmacuetical Chemist Limited Maiduguri. And was always there for us in our needs for our medical attention. The creation of Goya District was a new dawn for the Dayas, where the head and some members of the family relocated to Daya, the headquarter of Goya District.

The human environment has been the most comfortable place to live, where plants and animals formed part of the eco-system as a driving force for human existence. Similarly, the World Environment Day of June of every year has been set aside by the United Nations to raise awareness among the citizens of the world about the importance of the environment and its positive impact on mankind through its eco-system as a change driver.

This year’s theme, “Land Restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience,” was taken seriously with passion by the Goya District for the protection of their environment. The district organized a tree planting campaign recently for land restoration and the control of desertification. This effort was supported by the newly installed district head, Alhaji Musa Garba Daya. “My domain is vast and open, prone to desertification, and we are at the threat of desert encroachment; therefore, tree planting is one of the solutions for checking and controlling desert encroachment.”

Desert encroachment, land degradation, and drought are some of the environmental factors affecting some parts of Yobe and Borno states that are lying on the fringes of the simi-arid Sahara desert. One of the above is a natural phenomenon affecting these areas with its yearly advancement. However, human initiatives and efforts towards desertification control in Goya District go beyond yearly activity. “For us in Goya, it will be a continuous activity. Tree planting and care of our environment are paramount.”.

World Environment Day has always been a ceremonial activity, but my findings on Goya, the Council, and the people show that trees like Neem, Malmo, and Hybrid Mango trees are desperately needed. “Our common goal of making Goya greener and more sustainable for Goya and its people with your help, whether in the form of monetary donations, seedlings, or your active involvement in our Goya District Landscape Restoration Initiative, is welcomed.”.

It is true that our environment needs our collective care and attention if we, as people, take cues from the Goya District Initiative. The beauty of our environment is that humans and animals will benefit from the natural engineering of the eco-system.

Balami, a publisher/columnist (8036779290).

Goya District, Desertification, and the Reality of Tree Planting

FG Orders NSCDC to Take Over Protection of Transmission Lines

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has ordered the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to take over the protection of transmission lines and towers across the nation.

The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunjo-Ojo gave the order on Friday during the passing-out parade of the 2nd batch of mining marshals of NSCDC in Abuja, decrying that: “It is not acceptable for a country to spend billions on power infrastructure for it to be vandalized.”

The Minister while expressing deep concern over the constant vandalism of transmission lines, towers and transformers, described the oft-repeated vandalism of critical national assets as economic sabotage which must be nipped in the bud.

Tunji-Ojo added that: “I will speak with my brother, the Minister of power, the rate of vandalism , the rate of destruction of our critical infrastructure in the sector and a lot of sabotage going on with our transmission lines, our generation points and all the rest has to be looked into.

“It is your job to make sure that no critical asset of government is destroyed and we are ready and I believe NSCDC is up to the task.

“The next time I come here, I want to see my Power Rangers, I mean people that will protect our distribution lines, people that will protect our Gencos people that will protect every power sector. it’s not reasonable, it’s not acceptable for the for a country like Nigeria to spend billions of dollars on power infrastructure all for it to be vandalized no country grows or develops without the power sector so NSCDC it is time for you to play your part.

“In terms of the power sector we will take this sector by sector. I have decided that the solution towards you accomplishing your mandate is sectorization of your responsibility.”

Tunji-Ojo also assured Nigerians that the country would do everything it takes to win the war against illegal miners.

He said: “Today, I can tell you the revenue from the solid mineral sector is not where it used to be, it has improved. The security in terms of our mines has improved and of course Nigeria is a big country therefore, we need to train more, we need to deploy more personnel into making sure that all our mines and all critical assets of Nigeria are well protected.

“We have seen that there is no solution to our problems that Nigerians cannot prefer yes we’ve not yet won the war but we know we will win the war.”

On his part, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake acknowledged that the revenue in the mineral sector has improved after the introduction of NSCDC Mining Marshals.

Alake, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Mary Ogbe, however warned miners to formalise their operations or face the law.

He said that the illegal operations of the miners have continued to cause land degradation.

In his remarks, the Commandant General of NSCDC, Dr Ahmed Audi lamented that the nation’s security especially the mining sector is being threatened by the nefarious activities of illegal miners, bandits, kidnappers, terrorists, among others, noting that this has led to a major setback in the development of the country’s otherwise very lucrative mining sector that is very critical to the country’s socio-economic development.

Audi said: “There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigeria is blessed with abundance of mineral resources which if properly tapped and managed, could significantly boost Nigeria’s revenue base which represents another giant stride towards stabilising the economy.”

He noted that adequate security measures towards strengthening security and safeguarding our collective patrimony needs to be put in place, while insisting that there is need for a robust policy guideline backed by legislation, for a robust regulatory measures to combat and criminalise illegal mining.

The CG explained that this measure will no doubt attract and encourage genuine investors (both indigenous and foreign) to the mining industry.

On the new mining marshals, he said: “I am of the firm believe that this intensive training has sufficiently equipped the participants with the requisite skills and knowledge to discharge their duties diligently and professionally. Let me at this juncture remind today’s graduands of the expectations of Government and to charge you all to maintain a high sense of professionalism, integrity, discipline, civility, humility, and level headedness and to ensure that knowledge gained in the course of the training is effectively utilized to fortify security at all mining sites across the country.

“You are also expected to imbibe the spirit of patriotism, absolute loyalty and to eschew acts or unethical conduct capable of dragging the image of the Corps in the mud as anyone found wanting will be appropriately sanctioned. Furthermore, you are to shun any act of unhealthy rivalry with other Security Agencies but rather regard yourselves as partners in the wheel of progress and development of this great Nation.”

FG Orders NSCDC to Take Over Protection of Transmission Lines