PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2014
PAGE 3
News
Ramadan Timing Day 6
Members of #Bring Back Our Girls, organised a National Press Conference on the 79 days after the abduction of Chibok school girls, yesterday at the Unity Fountain, in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa
How I survived Kaduna bomb blast – victim From Femi Oyilola, Kadnna
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radio repairer at Bakin Ruwa, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis, Lukman Bello yesterday narrated how he escaped death when suspected bomb exploded on Tuesday night at Askolaye on his way home. Lukman was among the two victims that got injured when the blast occurred as he narrated his ordeal on how he escaped death by whisker. The blast that rocked the peaceful neighborhood of Askolaye caused chaos as residents ran for safety. It was gathered that the incident occurred around 7: 30
pm as people were rushing to go home to break their Ramadan fast. Peoples Daily gathered from Lukman on his hospital bed where he was receiving medical attention how he got himself injured by particles severally on the body. "I was on my way home around 7:30 pm after I closed from shop on that fateful day when I heard a laud sound that razed heavy dust behind me. When I turned back the sky was covered with dust. "After the laud sound I tought it was a car tire that got boost and I didn't even know I was hit by particles from the
blast. It was later that I saw blood on my body. So I Immediately removed my shirt, there I discovered I was injured. "I was rushed to a nearby chemist by people nearby who went to rescue me. Later I was taken to Model primary health care Centre Unguwar Sanusi for more medical attention," he said. Asked if he was the only person seriously injured in the blast, he said " I was the only person closed to where the blast occurred except for another lady that was also passing by. I learn her injury was minor compired to mine so she was treated and discharged few hours later," he
said. Asked how he was feeling, he added: "Presently, I am feeling alright; but as you can see, I am still on drip. But I thank God for being alive," he lamented. Similarly, the state governor Muktar Ramalan Yero visited the scene on Wednesday morning to ascertain the damage personally. The government arrived the scene of the blast in company of heavy armed security personnel around 10: am where he sympathized with the residents of the area over the unfortunate incident as he condemned in stronger term what he described evil act.
Senate confirms Shekarau, Adeyeye, others as ministers By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
S
enate yesterday confirmed the former Kano state governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, Abdu Bulama (Yobe State), Stephen Oru (Delta State) and Prince Adedayo Adeyeye (Ekiti State) as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Recall that last months, President Goodluck Jonathan forwarded the names of the nominees to the Senate for their confirmation as ministers. At the Senate plenary yesterday, the four nominees were successfully screened and confirmed without objection from the three Senators representing their respective states. Shortly after their confirmation as ministers, the Senate
President, David Mark, charged them to see Nigeria as their constituency and not their states or political parties. According to him, "We hope that whenever they are given portfolio, they will see Nigeria as their constituency and not their states or political parties". Responding to questions from the lawmakers on how to tackle the problems of unemployment, poverty and criminality in the country, Shekarau, who has been tipped to takeover Education ministry, suggested that skills acquisition should be reintroduced in the school curriculum. This, he said, would enable students to be trained to acquire certain skills that would help them to be self reliant when they leave school, without necessari-
ly depending on government for employment. He noted that unemployment was the fundamental cause of indiscipline, agitation and violence, which is currently traumatizing the country. The ex-governor further pointed out that the skills acquisition programme was initially inculcated in the 6-3-3-4 system of education, but regretted that the frequent military intervention in Nigerian politics never allowed it to work. He implored government to revisit the 6334 education Programme and ensure its full implementation in order to get the desired result of education in Nigeria. He also stressed on the need to improve on power generation as a pragmatic step towards
boosting the industrial sector, asserting that the manufacturing sector could never be developed without adequate power generation in the system. Shekarau further stated that the issue of unemployment must not be left for government alone, arguing that it is the business of government, the private sector and individuals to create employment. Also, proffering solution to the multifarious socio-economic problems facing Nigeria, another minister, Abdu Bulama, described education as the key factor for national development and integration. He urged government to make education number one priority in the list of its programmes for national transformation.
Towns Magrib Alfijr Abuja 6.58 4.55 Aba 6.55 4.58 Abakaliki 6.52 4.57 Abeokuta 7.09 5.16 Akure 7.02 5.06 Ankpa 6.56 5.00 Argungu 7.11 5.04 Auchi 7.01 5.04 Awka 7.02 4.59 Azare 6.49 4.42 Bama 6.38 4.28 Bauchi 6.50 4.47 Benin 7.04 5.05 Bichi 6.57 4.50 Bida 7.04 5.00 Birnin Gwari 7.03 4.58 B/Kebbi 7.12 5.04 Biu 6.41 4.35 Calabar 6.49 4.55 Damaturu 6.41 4.34 Daura/Kazaure 6.59 4.35 Dutse 6.51 4.47 Enugu 6.53 4.57 Funtua 7.01 4.53 Malumfashi 7.01 4.53 Gembu 6.46 4.41 Gombe 6.44 4.39 Gusau 7.00 4.56 Gwadabawa 7.11 4.57 Hadejia 6.49 4.42 Ibadan 7.13 5.09 Ife 7.08 5.06 Ilesha Baruba 7.10 5.05 Ilorin 7.06 5.07 Jalingo 6.41 4.39 Jere/Suleija 6.58 4.54 Jos 6.55 4.48 Kabba 7.03 5.00 Kafanchan 6.57 4.51 Keffi/Nasarawa 6.57 4.51 Kaiama 7.12 5.08 Kafin Maiyaki 6.57 4.48 Kaduna 6.56 4.54 Kano 6.52 4.49 Katsina 7.00 4.51 Kontagora 7.06 5.03 Lafia 6.52 4.51 Lagos 7.11 5.12 Lokoja 6.56 5.03 Maiduguri 6.34 4.32 Makurdi 6.53 4.50 Minna 7.00 5.01 Missau 6.46 4.41 Monguno 6.37 4.24 Mubi 6.36 4.31 Nguru 6.46 4.39 Ningi 6.50 4.46 Okene 7.06 5.01 Ogbomosho 7.11 5.09 Onitsha 6.59 5.04 Oyo 7.13 5.11 Port Harcourt 6.58 5.08 Potiskum 6.44 4.37 Saki 7.05 5.11 Sagamu 7.06 5.17 Sokoto 7.06 5.02 Umuahia 6.57 4.56 Warri 6.56 5.12 Wukari 5.44 4.51 Wurno 7.10 4.57 Yenagoa 6.38 4.34 Yola 6.35 4.34 Zaria 6.57 4.55 Cotonou-Benin 7.15 5.14 Ndjamena-Chad 6.26 4.21 Niamey-Niger 7.21 5.13 Zinder – Niger 6.58 4.40 Younde-Cameroun 6.39 4.40 Garoua – Cameroun 6.33 4.33 (Source: Timing Committee, Islamic Research and Timing Organisation Kaduna)