News
Residents in Borno urged to stop construction of sewage pits outside their compounds
Residents in Borno urged to stop construction of sewage pits outside their compounds
By: Bodunrin Kayode
The Director of Public and Community Health of the Borno State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Mala Abdulwahab has called on residents of the state to stop building sewage pits outside their homes.
The Director lamented recently that some residents even channel faeces from their homes into general drainage systems in the metropolis and that he noted has contributed to the spread of a lot of communicable diseases in the state.
Mala made the observations during a recent round table review on the prevalence of zero dose children with Bulamas of eight affected council areas in the state.
Dr Mala called on residents to stop the wrong practice of building their soakaways far outside their residential homes into government lands and streets not designed for such purposes.
He called on the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) to do more in ensuring that the badly affected gutters of the city are cleared from dangerous garbages and pollutants which can cause infections like polio and many other diseases.
Mala expressed dissatisfaction about the State of some of the gutters in the city of Maiduguri which has become direct avenues for sewage to be emptied from some houses adding that it is high time residents stop construction of soakaways outside their compounds but rather take them into their compounds.
The Director called on residents to repent from some of these deliberate acts by changing their ways concerning the weaknesses in the hygiene level of greater Maiduguri which was badly exposed during the last September flood which enveloped the entire city centre.
Mala regretted that up till now, a lot of kids have not taken the penta dose of the vaccines slated for age (0 to 59) months adding that they should do something about changing the wrong narrative prevalent in the state.
The Director called on the Local immunization officers (LIO’s) to listen to the challenges of the people as they carry out the campaigns adding that results can only be gotten when there is collaboration between them and the residents.
He said that there was need for the next batch of campaigners in conjunction with the LIO’S to work hard to clear off these challenges which increases the prevalence of zero doses in the state.
Mala further called for the extension of their times within the schedule of routine immunization where necessary adding that the LIO’s and their teams should really mind how these lingering lapses can be corrected for success to be achieved against the next campaign.
On their approach to expected resistances from residents, he advised them to be as modest as possible even as they avoid any temptation of over dressing coupled with outright display of flamboyant life styles in the name of serious grassroot campaigns like this.
Dr Mala advised that messages from immunization officers would only be accepted when there is freedom of expression from traditional rulers and the council of ulamas.
The director of community health regretted that some of the LIO’s are weak adding that they are supposed to be stronger than they are being portrayed within the contemporary primary health sector
Reactions from the round table
During a question and answer session after a presentation by Ishmael Auwal, participants were advised to reduce the prevalence of too much English language in their campaigns stressing that English has increased the bane of misunderstanding among some locals adding that there is need to embed local language translators into the system when developing such plans.
According to Auwal, most of the children placed in this categorization can be found both in the rural and urban areas of these seven primary council areas and most of them speak only the local language in their council areas.
The major zero dose council areas are Damboa, Gubio, Jere, Mmc, mafa, konduga, Mongunu and Gamboru Ngala.
Penta to him is a major package because it contains five in one vaccines wrapped inside for the children to consume.
Residents in Borno urged to stop construction of sewage pits outside their compounds
Christian Northern Group Receives NOA’s National Values Charter Plaque
By: Michael Mike
The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Isa Lanre-Onilu has presented the National Values Charter Plaque to the Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) in recognition of the group’s unwavering dedication to national unity, patriotism, and its exemplary conduct as a corporate citizen that transcends religious divides to promote inclusivity.
Receiving a delegation of the NCYP who pay a courtesy visit to the NOA headquarters, the DG lauded the group’s patriotic stance and contributions to nation-building.
He particularly praised their courage and foresight in supporting the Tinubu/Shettima presidential ticket during the 2023 elections, a decision taken in the face of opposition from many, especially within the Christian communities in Northern Nigeria.
He said: “I have known this group for quite some time. Notably, you took a principled stand to support President Tinubu’s Muslim-Muslim ticket when many others opposed it. Today, the wisdom behind that decision is becoming evident through the visionary leadership being demonstrated—fair representation in appointments, reform-driven governance, and a commitment to inclusive development.
“This alone makes you worthy of the National Values Charter recognition, which embodies the principles of citizenship and patriotism.”
Earlier, the Chairman of NCYP, Mr. Isaac Abrak who led the group, emphasized that the group comprises Christian professionals from the 19 Northern states and the FCT -Abuja, who actively participate in politics to improve the welfare of citizens across the region and Nigeria at large.
He noted that the group’s political choices are guided by merit, equity, and the vision of building a tolerant and united society, particularly in enhancing relations between Christians and Muslims in political spaces.
Abrak identified the transformational impact of President Tinubu’s leadership, particularly referencing his tenure as Governor of Lagos State. “His strategic use of local government structures and the reformation of street youth, popularly known as ‘Area Boys,’ into productive contributors to society helped raise Lagos’ Internally Generated Revenue from N6 billion to N11 billion monthly. These bold reforms underpin our support for the full implementation of the Supreme Court verdict on Local Government Financial Autonomy.”
He stressed that the local government financial autonomy is a pro-people policy that must be anchored by the people through grassroots engagement. Mr. Abrak offered NCYP’s extensive leadership network—spanning national, state, local government, and ward levels with a workforce of over 30,000—for partnership with the 774 NOA offices nationwide to drive advocacy and implementation of this critical policy.
“The NCYP remains connected to the grassroots,” Abrak said. “We are ready to collaborate with NOA to raise public awareness and ensure that local government autonomy delivers development to the doorstep of every Nigerian.”
In his concluding remarks, the NOA DG urged all Nigerians to continue supporting President Tinubu’s administration, citing landmark projects such as the 700 km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the establishment of Regional Development Commissions as initiatives that will spur economic growth and provide intervention across all regions.
Christian Northern Group Receives NOA’s National Values Charter Plaque
Notorious Armed Robbers/Car Snatchers Arrested in Abuja, Firearm and Stolen Vehicle Recovered
By: Zagazola Makama
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has made significant progress in its efforts to dismantle a notorious armed robbery and car snatching syndicate, following the arrest of several suspects on April 11, 2025.
Police sources told Zagazola Makama that the operation led to the recovery of a stolen Mercedes Benz C180 (color green), along with a Beretta pistol and a cutlass, which were seized from the suspects.
While some of the suspects have been apprehended, efforts are ongoing to recover additional stolen vehicles and capture the remaining members of the criminal group, who have fled the scene.
Notorious Armed Robbers/Car Snatchers Arrested in Abuja, Firearm and Stolen Vehicle Recovered
Armed Bandits Kill One, Abduct 50 in Tungar Dada Village Attack in Sokoto
By: Zagazola Makama
A bandit attack on Tungar Dada Village in the Moriki District of Zurmi Local Government Area (LGA) in Sokoto on April 13, 2025, has left one person dead and 50 others abducted.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred at about 0400hrs, when a group of armed bandits stormed the village, shooting and killing one individual while abducting 50 villagers to an unknown destination.
Security officials have confirmed the death and are actively pursuing leads to rescue the abducted victims and apprehend the suspects.
Armed Bandits Kill One, Abduct 50 in Tungar Dada Village Attack in Sokoto
Christian Northern Group Receives NOA’s National Values Charter Plaque
Nigeria, UNDP Deepen Commitment to Strengthening Democracy in West Africathrough the Regional Partnership for Democracy
Engr. Joseph Onaiwu Uworuya: Celebrating a Legacy of Love, Wisdom, and Strength at 70, By Augustine Osayande, PhD
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions3 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns1 year agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Politics8 months agoKashim Shettima: Of Sentiments, Their Opinions, and the 21 billion Naira VP’s Official Resident
