Metro

Bauchi: Commissioner Charges Parents On School Enrollment

Published

3 days ago

June 29, 2024

Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Dr Jamila Dahiru has called on parents and guardians to make sure they send their wards to school.

The Commissioner made the call on Friday at the end of schools visitation embarked upon by the ministry.

According to her, it was not ideal for the state government, having placed education in its topmost priorities by investing resources to upgrade school facilities without students to learn.

“It is sad to mention that we are seeing the need to improve on the enrollment because you don’t just want to come and build structures with no one to teach.

“We are calling the attention of parents, that people can send their children to these schools because honestly, we cannot continue to invest resources to upgrade school facilities without students to learn.

“So, please, this is a clarion call to everyone that we can exchange these learning possibilities for our students.

“We have a whole lot of schools with good infrastructure and a dedicated government that is super ready to come in and transform the system but then we also have a nonchalant attitude from some of our communities sending their children to schools,” she said.

The Commissioner also explained that her visit to some of the schools among many others was to understand the condition of learning, the environment, the students, and the teachers themselves.

She added that the visit was also to see areas of improvement as the government was determined to improve and transform the quality of education in the state.

“As you can see, in various schools, we have different stories to tell such as concerns areas of improvement around infrastructure, areas of improvement around teachers participation and enrollment.

“So far so good, we are happy with what we see because it’s a step forward as we have seen where we can improve and we have seen where we are doing very well.

“In terms of student attendance, we are very happy with the population in Tafawa Balewa Local Government.

“We have also seen an indication that we need to improve in the aspect of enrollment in Alkali Local Government especially for our boys and this is also an indication that we can sustain the status quo in the areas of enrollment in Tafawa Balewa Local Government,” said the commissioner.

Some of the Schools visited included; Government Secondary School (GSS), Duguri in Alkali Local Government, Government Science Secondary School (GSSS), Bununu in Tafawa Balewa LGA.

Others were; Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Gital in Tafawa Balewa LGA, Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), also in Tafawa Balewa and Government Girls Day Secondary School (GGDSS) Gyamas in Dass LGA.

Metro

Trucks, Passengers Stranded On Auchi-Benin Highway For Days

Published

9 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Editor

Hundreds of articulated vehicles have been left stranded on the busy Auchi-Benin highway for over four days owing to the deplorable state of the highway.

The long queue of the stranded vehicles spanned over 10 kilometres from Aviele to Iyamoh axis of the highway.

The Aviele section of the road, like several other parts of the over 140km highway, has collapsed.

Some of the drivers, particularly those conveying perishable goods from the Northern part of the country to South, lament their loss.

A driver, Mallam Isa Adamu said he has spent four days on the road and had to dispose off his perishable goods cheaply in order not to incur complete loss.

Another driver, Murtala Isiaku said several of his livestock have died owing to long stay without food and water.

According to him, “I tried getting some edible grass for them here to survive, of course, it’s like several persons pursuing fewer materials.

“I am not the only driver carrying goats and other animals, we all have to struggle for the little available to take care of our animals.

“While some have sold off their goods cheaply, I have also seen some discharging their cows here to enter into the bush with the help of herdsmen they hired here.”

Meanwhile, a motorist with a popular transport line in Auchi who identified himself as Lucky, said the blockage has necessitated them to take a longer route to Benin from Auchi.

“For days now, we have not been able to go to Benin through Ekpoma because of the blockage.

“Several protests have been made to get government’s attention to fix this road, yet, things seem to be going from bad to worse.

“This bad Aviele section is only an addition to several other bad portions of the highway from Auchi to Benin.

“We are in for a terrible time this season as the rain is yet to set in fully,” he stated.

It will be recalled that on Monday, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi terminated the contract of the three contractors handling the project from Benin to Obajana in Kogi state for poor performance.

Metro

Bandits Terrorizing Benue Gunned Down In Shootout With Police

Published

11 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Editor

Two members of the bandits terrorising the Sankera axis of Benue North East District have been killed in a shootout with the Police at Tse Uza, Mbatyula Council Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, LGA, of the state.

The gang members were killed following the invasion of their camp by police operatives who received credible intelligence on their hideout.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene in a statement Monday in Makurdi said various arms and ammunition, camouflage uniforms, motorbikes, communication gadgets and other items were recovered from the bandits.

The statement read, “Benue state Police Command has continuously intensified efforts to clampdown on bandits in Sankera axis of the state in the last three months.

“Several operations carried out led to the arrest of suspects that have been charged to court while others were neutralized in the course of exchange of fire. Arms and ammunition have been recovered and many camps dislodged.

“As part of follow up operations, the Operation Zenda JTF invaded a criminal hideout at Tse Uza, Mbatyula Council Ward, Katsina-Ala LGA June 30, 2024. And upon arrival at the camp, bandits engaged the Police in a gun duel to resist invasion into their camp but were overpowered by the superior fire power of the Police team.

“Two of the bandits received gunshot injuries, they have been confirmed dead by a Doctor and their corpses deposited at the General Hospital Ukum, while other suspects escaped.

“Exhibits recovered from the camps includes, two Pistols loaded with ammunition, three locally made short guns, 13 motorcycles, camouflage uniforms, six walkie-talkies, one Toyota Corolla and one tricycle.

“The Commissioner of Police, Benue state Command, Hassan Yabanet who commended the bravery exhibited by these officers, has also enjoined the people of Sankera to avail useful information to the Police about the suspects at large who may be seen with gunshot injuries. He also reiterated his commitment to fight crimes in the state.”

Metro

KEDCO Throws Dangote Varsity Into Darkness Over N248m Debt

Published

11 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Editor

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has disconnected the power supply to Aliko Dangote University, Wudil, over an outstanding debt of N248 million.

The Managing Director of KEDCO, Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Monday that the company had no choice but to take action.

He said that the institution only made payment of N20 million out of the outstanding N248 million.

Yusuf vowed that the power supply would only be restored if the management made “appreciable payment’.

He further explained that KEDCO was spending heavily to purchase power from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), hence the need to redouble efforts toward revenue generation.

“I urge all institutions, including federal and state entities, as well as agencies, to settle their outstanding debts.

“We have measures in place to ensure collection of monies owed us,” Yusuf said. (NAN)