National News
Release of North East Masterplan, a Big Statement by Federal Government- KACRAN
Release of North East Masterplan, a Big Statement by Federal Government- KACRAN
By: Michael Mike
The release of the North East Masterplan by the North East Development Commission (NEDC) has been described a big statement of the federal government’s plan to arrest the troubled region from the brink of destruction brought about by the over 12 years Boko Haram insurgency.
A statement on Saturday by the Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) said the launching of the 10 years Northeast Masterplan by the North East Development Commission, a development agency of federal government of the troubled region, is highly commendable.
The statement signed by it’s National President, Khalil Bello said: “We the members of Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria, hereby commend the North East Development Commission for the successful launching of a 10 year development master plan for the North East Region of Nigeria.
“As an active stakeholder in NEDC projects and programmes, we have never hesitated to appreciate and commend the commission for their good works. Obviously, the 10 year development plan is quite commendable as a strategic move to fast track the total and prompt achievement of the commission’s mandate of holistic rapid development of the region, as well as providing modern facilities for enriching the practice development of animal husbandry in the North East.
He noted that; “Since the inauguration of NEDC in 2017 by the federal government, the commission has been adequately visible and eloquent in the discharge of it’s mandate of delivering humanitarian services to the insurgency devastated North East region, without any equivocation. This is quite commendable.”
He highlighted some of the progress made so far made by the NEDC to include, construction of thousands of houses to accommodate the displaced persons in the region; provision of several water points for livestock and their owners, thus ameliorating the problem of acute water shortage, which always often forced our herders to unnecessarily move to many dangerous places in search of water and animal feeds; incorporating herders needs in all their plans, policies and programmes which has largely motivated KACRAN members to have a deep sense of belonging, thereby making them to feel proud as Nigerians, for receiving an equitable share of the commission’s humanitarian guestures and interventions.
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He added that NEDC is said to have spent over N5.6 billion in carrying out 647 projects in agriculture, health and other sectoral projects that are key to nation building/development and also providing food security; has also trained several youths on acquisition of waste recycling skills in Gombe State; North East scavengers have also been trained on stove briquettes production; an education fund for training about 18,000 teachers has also been launched; provision has been made, through a special fund for awarding scholarships to North East students who want to advance their studies in universities and other higher institutions of learning, of which some of KACRAN members are beneficiaries; several roads and bridges have been constructed by the NEDC to link or reconnect towns and villages in the region; the commission is seriously assisting the North East Governors in various ways to enable them successfully shoulder the numerous responsibilities of rebuilding their states, from the ruins of insurgency activities and is always very busy in meaningful initiating various empowerment programmes and giving palliatives to hundreds and thousands of beneficiaries.
(12)It is heartwarming and encouraging to note that the activities of the commission is quite visible, since they are always moving up and down, from one state, city, town or village to another, to ensure timely and urgent interventions in the resettlement of the victims of Boko Haram insurgency.
Mohammed said: “Also commendable is to launch a 30 year development master plan by the Buhari administration. About N31.05 trillion has been earmarked for developing the North East in a period of 30 years. hence the Commission for launching its 30 years development master plan for which about N31.05 trillion was earmarked, so as to successfully rebuild and develop the entire region.”
He said: “We in KACRAN are highly expectant that our needs and wants, will be adequately captured in this development agenda by the commission.”
Release of North East Masterplan, a Big Statement by Federal Government- KACRAN
National News
Nigeria Calls for Collaboration Among ECOWAS States to Develop Tourism Sector in West Africa
Nigeria Calls for Collaboration Among ECOWAS States to Develop Tourism Sector in West Africa
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria government has called for the collaboration among the counties of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to develop the tourism potential of the subregion and place West Africa in prime position to compete with other regions.
The Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, Folorunsho Coker, also called for the streamlining of policies on tourism in countries in the subregion while delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the meeting of experts and stakeholders of the private tourism industry on the monitoring and evaluation mechanism of ECOTOUR 19-29 and the ECOWAS Tourism Accommodation regulator in Abuja on Tuesday.
Coker said: “It’s the season to collaborate not to compete,” adding that: “It’s in the spirit of collaboration that we will grow pan-African tourism.”
He said: “I want to encourage the localisation of policies”, insisting that policies would only be successful when localised.
Coker said all the regulations in the region be streamlined into one that will guide activities in the tourism sector across the 15 ECOWAS member states, urging for the training of tourism operators in the region as well as the introduction of technology in tourism.
He said: “We must embrace technology or it will leave us behind.”
The Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture of the ECOWAS Commission, Massandjé Toure-Liste said the meeting drew aspiration from the ECOTOUR 19-29 action plan, adopted by the Authority of Heads of State and Government which was designed to serve as a roadmap for promoting responsible tourism.
She said: “To this end, our technical meeting today centres around drafting the operational modalities for two critical tools: the ECOTOUR 19-29 monitoring and evaluation mechanism and the ETAR – ECOWAS Tourism Accommodation Regulator.
“The ECOTOUR 19-29 Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism will involve developing operational guidelines and appointing dedicated members or focal points to oversee its implementation.
“Simultaneously, for the ECOWAS Tourist Accommodation Regulator (ETAR) we will define the composition and operational modalities in alignment with Regulation C.REG.2/07/23.
“Our focus on Private Sector Collaboration includes; facilitating dialogue among representatives from the private tourism sector and encouraging strategic alignment and collaboration at the regional level.
Massandjé, who was represented by the ECOWAS Commission’s Director of Private sector, Dr Anthony Elumelu, said: “Additionally, we aim to support private sector players in finalising the process of creating a regional confederation.”
The meeting is expected to end on Friday 17th May, 2024.
Nigeria Calls for Collaboration Among ECOWAS States to Develop Tourism Sector in West Africa
ActionAid Alleges Government Paying Lip-service to Free First Nine Years of Schooling
…Demands Immediate Government Action to End Educational Exclusion of Poor Children
By: Michael Mike
ActionAid Nigeria has alleged that the government is only paying lip service to the avowed policy of free education to children in their first nine years of schooling, insisting that a massive number of children are still being denied their right due to inadequate resources, poor infrastructure, and a lack of transparency in the use of public funds.
A statement on Monday by the Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu demanded an immediate government action to end educational exclusion of poor children in the country.
The statement read: “ActionAid Nigeria vehemently disapproves the failure of the Nigerian government to provide quality education to children from poor backgrounds- one of its most vulnerable citizens. Despite the free education policy that was enacted to cater for children in their first nine years of schooling, a massive number of children are still being denied their right due to inadequate resources, poor infrastructure, and a lack of transparency in the use of public funds. This is a shocking dereliction of duty.
“This obvious inaction by the government is a clear betrayal of the trust placed in them by the citizens. The inconsistent working relationship between federal and state governments has resulted in a catastrophic failure of coordination, prioritization, and curriculum development. This is unacceptable and must be addressed immediately.”
Mamedu added that: The outrageously high number of poorest children who are out of school is a direct consequence of the government’s appalling neglect of public services.”
Mamedu said: “According to the Nigerian Education Factsheet by UNICEF, about one fourth of the children of primary school completion age did not complete primary education. Moreover, there’s a staggering wealth-based disparity, as 97 per cent of children from the richest families complete primary school, compared to just 34 per cent from the poorest families.
“The gap widens in senior secondary school, where 90 per cent from wealthy families complete their education, versus a mere 16 per cent from poor families.”
He lamented that: “There are also significant ethnic disparities- children from Igbo, Yoruba, Ijaw, Ibibio, and Edo backgrounds tend to have higher completion rates, while those from Fulani and Kanuri backgrounds face lower rates of educational attainment.”
He said he firmly believes that “Education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, and it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that all children have access to quality education.”
He added that: “The current state of education in Nigeria is a crisis, and we assert that the government takes immediate action to address these issues and prioritize the future of our children.”
Mamedu said: “ActionAid strongly demands that the government: Implements the policy of free education for the first nine years of schooling effectively, without delay; Improves coordination and prioritization between federal and state governments, to ensure a unified approach to education; Increases transparency in the allocation and use of public funds for education, to ensure that resources are being used effectively; Allocates sufficient funds for infrastructure development and improving the school experience for children, to provide a safe and supportive learning environment.”
He said: “It’s time for the government to step up and fulfill its responsibility to provide a decent education for all, without excuses or exceptions.”
ActionAid Alleges Government Paying Lip-service to Free First Nine Years of Schooling
Six terrorists killed as army troops raid terrorists enclaves
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Operation Hadin Kai of the Nigerian Army have killed six fighters of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) during a raid of a “notorious enclave” in Goniri in Damboa LGA in Borno.
It was gathered that the feat was recorded when the troops of 81 Division Task Force Battalion stormed the terrorists enclave in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force on May 9, 2024.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the The troops successfully cleared Wulma Mashi and Kodow and destroyed structures of the terrorists. The troops went further to clear Goniri and Kokotuma. Contact was made with the terrorists in a small market before Gorere market.
The troops gundown the six terrorists and destroyed all the structures in the area.
Six terrorists killed as army troops raid terrorists enclaves
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