PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
Page 9
News
Farmers laud Jigawa for supporting flood victims
L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari, and King of Jordan, His Majesty Abdullah Hussein, during a bilateral meeting between the two leaders at the 70th session of the Unite Nations, on Monday in New York
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armers in the Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa have praised the State Government for the support the government extended to people displaced by flooding in the area. It will be recalled that the government disbursed more than N3.3 million to 249 people affected by the recent flood disaster in various communities in the area. The money was distributed to families, whose houses and farmlands were ravaged by the flooding, to mitigate their hardship. A cross-section of the farmers gave the commendation while speaking in an interview with the Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Guri, near Dutse. One of the victims, Malam Ali Musari, described the support given by the government as commendable, noting it that would go a long way to alleviate the suffering of the flood victims. Musari said that over 250 famers were affected by the flooding. He said that the assistance would enable the victims to repair their houses damaged by the flood. “We commend the State Government for its support to the flood victims, it will cushion the effects of the flooding,” he said. Another flood victim, Maila Ajarma, also called on the government to clear grasses at the Hadejia River to clear water channels. “The flood is due to the ravaging typher grasses, which outgrow on the river, block water channels and expose the communities to disaster.” Ajarma noted that grass clearing was imperative to check flooding, encourage agriculture, fishery and ease water transportation. Commenting on the matter, Alhaji Banbandi Sale, the Permanent Secretary, Special Services Directorate, said that the money was disbursed to flood victims at Musari, Adayani, Abir and Gajiya communities. Sale, who visited the affected communities, explained that some 60 families received N20, 000 each, while 186 other victims were given N10, 000 each. He said that the State Government had also donated N30, 000 to the family of a victim, who lost his life in the disaster. According to him, the government has adopted measures to check flooding. Hundreds hectres of farmlands and houses were also destroyed in Malammadori, Kafin-Hausa and Kirikasamma areas of the state. (NAN)
Kebbi gov’s wife commiserates with families of dead pilgrims From Ahmed Idris Birnin Kebbi
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ollowing the recent stampede which claimed over 700 pilgrims involving two pilgrims from Kebbi State and over 80 Nigerian pilgrims at the grand mosque Mina in Mecca while performing this year Hajji, the Wife of the Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Zainab Bagudu Shankafi has expressed a deep sense of sorrow and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah over the pilgrims death. She condoled and commiserated
with the government, families and people of the State on the passing away of state and Nigeria pilgrims. In a press statement issued to newsmen and signed by her Special Assistant, Hon. Hayatuddeen Ahmad Bawa, said that the wife of the governor, who described the incident as a sad event, is regrettable, unfortunate and unforgettable. Her Excellency, therefore, prayed for the repose of the departed souls and to their respective families, the fortitude to bear the loss.
“Kebbi State and indeed the country have lost galaxy of resourceful, patriotic and selfless individuals whose contributions to peace building and development will continue to be remembered. Hon Justice Abubakar Abdulkadir Jega a senior Judge of the Court of Appeal and member of Kebbi State Government delegation whose demise in the stampede came to us as a rude shock and has bereaved kebbi state of one of its most outstanding, illustrious citizen “,she added. The statement also said that the
state government and the Nation’s Judicial sector has lost an erudite, committed and incorruptible jurist whose immense services to the State and Nigeria is exemplary and legendary. she the admonished the Judicial Authorities and the Government of Kebbi State to honour his memory Dr Zainab Bagudu urged the bereaved families to take solace in Allah over the painful exit of their loved ones, and called on the good people of Kebbi State to offer special prayers for the departed.
Save local languages from extinction, monarch urges Nigerians
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traditional ruler in Nasarawa-Eggon town of Nasarawa state,Bala Angbazo, has advised Nigerians to speak mother tongues to their children in order to save the local languages from going into extinction. Angbazo who is the chairman, Eggon Traditional Council gave the advice on Tuesday in Nasaraw Eggon, while hosting language translators of Nasarawa Broadcasting Service (NBS) in Nassarawa-Eggon.
According to him, “if local languages are not communicated to the children through speaking and writing, they (languages) would soon disappear from the surface of the earth. “Even though it is an added advantage for Nigerians to learn other foreign languages, it is also good to preserve and pass the local languages to the next generation,” he added. He warned that unless the issue was taken seriously by all stakeholders “people will lose their
language, culture and identity”. He added that local dialect would also help in informing the people at the rural areas about the policies of government and and the happenings in the society. He commended the language translators for the significant role they were playing in educating and enlightening people at the grassroots. “The news in local languages is seriously putting smile and bringing joy to most people in the state, who do not have the
opportunity of acquiring formal education,’ he added. He therefore promised to support all media houses translating news in local languages in the state,and called on the managements of the stations to introduce more programmes in local dialect. Earlier, Abubakar AhmedUmar, Chairman Language Translators of NBS, said they were at the palace to pay homage to the royal father as the custodian of Eggon culture in the state. (NAN)
By Umar Muhammad Puma
Erosion in Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government Areas of Abia State” sponsored by Rep Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (PDP Abia), noted that the livelihood of these communities depends on farming which has been adversely affected by gully erosion. “The rampaging gully erosion in these communities have damaged both the economic and social well being of the people, and have also destroyed their
means of livelihood. “Despite the suffering of the people all these years, the government has failed to hearken to their pleas, and thus believing that unless an immediate intervention is made before the end of 2015 rainy season, many houses could cave into the gullies, roads swept off, with the likelihood of loss of lives and the attendant halt in economic activities, “she said. In urging the House
to be expedient with the implementation of the resolution, she also appealed to the House to make provision for such occurrences in the 2016 budget. The Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara in his ruling referred the motion to the committees of Environment, Work and Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) when constituted for further legislative actions.
Erosion: Reps urge FG intervention in Abia T
he House of Representatives yesterday urged the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Works and other relevant agencies to come to the aid of people of Isuikwuato and Umunneochi local government areas of Abia state, who were threaten by gully erosion. The House in a motion entitled “Devastating Gully