News

Flood: NEMA Sensitises Stakeholders On Disaster Prevention

Published

1 year ago

July 30, 2024

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has organized a one-day sensitisation programme for environmental stakeholders on flood prevention and waste management in Bauchi state.

Speaking during the programme on Tuesday, Mrs Ummunah Ahmed, Head of Operations, NEMA, Gombe Office, said that the sensitisation became necessary after the Nigerian Meteorology Agency’s prediction of possible flooding in some states and Local Government Areas across the country.

According to her, two LGAs in Bauchi states, Itas Gadau and Toro were listed among high-risk areas, while Seven others like Bauchi, Jama’are, Ganjuwa, Shira, Zaki, Warji and Katagum were listed in moderate-risk areas.

She affirmed that the objectives of the programme was to raise awareness about the importance of proper waste management practices in the communities and educate the public on the adverse effects of improper waste disposal on the environment and public health.

Ahmed added that the programme was to also promote proactive measures for flood preparedness and resilience in communities and to encourage behavioural change toward sustainable waste management practices and flood mitigation strategies.

“Improper waste disposal has severe and far-reaching consequences on our environment, health and climate, hence the reason why experts on environmental issues have been invited to do justice to the given topic.

“As you are aware that flood is always associated with improper waste management, so we are enlightening you, creating awareness among you, so as to avoid flooding.

“If you look at our drainages and waterways, you will find out that they are all filled up with waste, so if we can clean and clear up our drainages, dispose our wastes properly, this is a good measure in avoiding flooding.

“I therefore urge you all to listen to expert presentations, advice and extend the same message to the grassroots,” she said.

She also urged the people living in flood prone areas to move to safer grounds, adding that when there is flooding, people living in sloppy areas would be affected first.

Also, Mr Haruna Suleiman, Chief Environmental Health Officer, Bauchi state Ministry of Health, lauded NEMA for organising the programme, adding that the danger associated with improper waste disposal could not be overemphasised.

“We in the Ministry of Health and Primary Healthcare already have a structure which is the risk communication and community engagement where communities are engaged and sensitised on the importance of proper waste management and the effect of improper waste management to our health.

“We have so many structures in the communities that will help us in communicating this message in order to consider proper waste management as a vital tool in prevention and control of diseases and flooding.

“I would like to advise other stakeholders to have structures at the community levels because community engagement is very critical in whatever you want people to do.

“Without a structure in the community where the community members are part of the implementing body, then there will be problems but you can easily achieve whatever you want to achieve if the community members are participating in your activities,” he said.

Some of the stakeholders in the programme included members from the Bauchi state Environmental Protection Agency, Bauchi state Environmental Management Agency, Ministry of Health and Environment.

Others included members from both the state and Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Army, the Police, traditional and religious leaders, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Orientation Agency, among others.

News

Tinubu Approves Portfolios For 5 NCDC Executive Directors

Published

12 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has approved portfolios for five executive directors on the board of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

Mr Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made the announcement in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

The appointees and their portfolios are: Hajiya Biliquis Jumoke- Administration and Human Resources, Mrs Aisha Rufai Ibrahim-Commercial and Industrial Development.

Others are, Mr James Abel Uloko-Corporate Services, Prof. Muhammad Bashar-Finance and Atika Ajanah-Projects.

The president urged the executive directors to work closely with the governing board of the commission to promote and coordinate sustainable development of the North-Central geopolitical zone.”

News

Court Orders Arrest Of 2 Lawyers Over Alleged Forgery, Impersonation

Published

12 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, sitting at Apo, on Monday, issued a bench warrant against two lawyers charged with forgery and impersonation.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie made the arrest order following repeated failure of the defendants- Victor Giwa, and Ibitade Bukola- to appear before the court to enter their plea to the charge that was preferred against them by the Inspector General of Police.

In the charge marked: CR/150/25, the duo were accused of conspiring to forge a legal document purportedly issued by the chambers of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Prof. Awa U. Kalu, with the intent to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF.

According to the three-count charge, the alleged offence occurred on June 28, 2024.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants forged and signed a letter on the official letterhead of the SAN, requesting the AGF to suspend a scheduled arraignment.

The contentious letter, titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023”, was allegedly addressed to the AGF.

It allegedly sought intervention of the AGF to halt an arraignment that was scheduled before trial Justice Samira Bature of the high court.

The IGP, in the charge, maintained that the two lawyers committed offences punishable under Section 97, 179 and 364 of the Penal Code Act, 2004.

At the resumed proceeding of the court on Monday, the prosecution counsel, Mr. Eristo Asaph, noted that the defence lawyer told the court that the 1st defendant was bereaved, hence his absence for the scheduled arraignment.

The prosecution counsel further noted that it was on the strength of an application by the defendant that the case was adjourned.

He, therefore, wondered why the duo were also absent in court for the case to proceed.

Responding, the defence counsel, Mr. Ogbu Aboje, told the court that the 1st defendant, Giwa, wrote a letter that was accompanied with a medical report dated September 3, indicating that he had a health challenge he described as “Degenerative disorder of the lumber vertebrae,” in addition to his hypertensive condition.

He added that the 2nd defendant equally went to the hospital on Monday morning to keep to a routine appointment for the immunisation of her daughter.

More so, he drew attention of the court to an application the defendants earlier filed to challenge its jurisdiction to entertain the case.

Dissatisfied with the developments, the prosecution counsel urged the court to issue a warrant for the defendants to be arrested y security agencies and produced for their trial.

In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie held that having listened to both parties, he was minded to accede to the prosecution’s request.

He court stressed that the medical report did indicate that the 1st defendant would not be able to attend court, adding that the 2nd defendant did not adduce any material to justify her absence.

Consequently, relying on the provision of section 266 (2) and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), Justice Onwuegbuzie issued a bench warrant for the defendants to be arrested and produced before the court on October 8.
(VANGUARD)

News

Community Attributes Access Road To Reduction In Maternal Mortality In Bauchi

Published

16 hours ago

September 15, 2025

Editor

A cross-section of residents in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State has attributed the reduction in maternal mortality to the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of the Kirjaule–Lame roads.

Mr. Samila Jauro, who spoke on behalf of the community, made the disclosure during a media tour of ongoing Bauchi State projects in the area.

He explained that in the past, no fewer than 50 pregnant women and their babies had lost their lives due to delays in accessing healthcare caused by the poor condition of roads.

“We have lost many of our pregnant women and their unborn babies in the past because of bad roads.

“But the present administration has changed our lives through its infrastructural development,” Jauro said.

While commending the state government, he appealed for the electrification of Kirjauke community.

“We are grateful for the road project, but we still call on the governor to provide us with electricity.

For the past 18 years, we have had no source of power,” he added.

The Bauchi State Government, through the Ministry of Works, in 2023 awarded a 40.5-kilometer road construction and rehabilitation projects in the aforementioned sites.

Speaking on the progress of the projects, the Site Engineer, Mr. Ado Shehu, said the project had reached 75 percent completion.

“The Kirjaule–Lame and Magama–Gumau roads were awarded at the end of November 2023.

“Some portions are already completed, while others are at the second layer and shoulder stage to ensure a successful outcome.

“The duration of the project according to the contract is 36 months.

” But with 75 percent already completed, the project will be finished ahead of schedule,” he said.