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Tag: northern states

  • Insecurity: UK Warns Against Travel To Seven Nigerian Northern States

    Insecurity: UK Warns Against Travel To Seven Nigerian Northern States

    The United Kingdom (UK) has warned against travels to seven states in the north following the rising spate of insecurity in Nigeria.

    According to a travel advisory on the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) website, the affected states are Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara.

    “The FCDO advise against all travel to Borno State, Yobe State, Adamawa State, Gombe State, Kaduna State, Katsina State, and Zamfara State. Violent attacks are frequent and there is a high threat of kidnap,” the post read.

    “On 26 March 2022, gunmen launched an attack against Kaduna airport, killing at least one airport official in the latest in a series of attacks by gunmen in the north of Nigeria. On the evening of 29 March 2022, an apparent Improvised Explosive Device attack took place against a train travelling from Abuja to Kaduna. Reports suggest that a number of people were killed and that others were abducted by gunmen. Train services are now suspended between Abuja and Kaduna.”

    It further warned that there is a threat from extremists linked to Boko Haram or the Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states.

    “The threat level in North-East Nigeria, including around Maiduguri is increasing, particularly around transport hubs, religious areas, and large gatherings. Kidnaps have taken place on the roads in and out of Maiduguri. As the dry season starts in October, this risk is expected to increase even further,” the advisory further said.

    “If the security situation in Maiduguri were to deteriorate any further, there is a significant likelihood that it could be extremely difficult for you to leave the city. We do not advise travelling by road.”

    “If you’re in the North East against FCDO advice, keep in touch with the authorities and the wider community on the security situation and make sure your procedures and contingency plans are up to date. If you are working in the North East of Nigeria you should be fully confident in your employer’s ability to extract you from the North East in the event of any emergency,” it said.

  • Northern States, Yoruba community leaders appeal for calm, restrain

    Northern States, Yoruba community leaders appeal for calm, restrain

    Shasha Crisis: Yoruba community leader in northern States alleges anxiety, uneasiness
    …Appeal for calm, restrain

    By Gabriel Udeh, kaduna

    Leaders of Council of Yoruba community Northern states and Abuja have passionately appealed for calm and restraint among the people in the region.

    The appeal is contained in a statement issued in kaduna on Thursday following the alleged palpable tension and fear occasioned as a result of reports of Shasha crises occurred in ibadan, Oyo state capital.

    The President of Yoruba community Alhaji Yinka Olapade, who signed the release stated that Shasha crises which originated from the area of Ibadan is generating anxiety and uneasiness in towns and cities around the country.

    Olapade stressed that the statement is in “response to the palpable air of fear occasioned by reports from Ibadan on the Shasha crisis.
    “This event which originated from a Shasha area of Ibadan
    is now generating anxiety and uneasiness in towns and cities around the country”, he stated.

    The president stressed that unconfirmed reports showed that several lives and properties were lost and destroyed during the fracas “which root causes cannot be traced to anything other than deep seated prejudices and primordial sentiments.

    Yoruba community added that while they commiserated with all people affected, “we wish to appeal that we all bury our hatchets and begin to lay a foundation for enduring peace and progress in our society.

    The body therefore appealed for genuine peace processes that should be instituted in Shasha and all other flash points across the country.

    The community stated that the Initiatives already taken by governors, should be actively supported and promoted by all to ensure communal peace and harmony.

    According to the statement, the Federal and State governments should work harder to ensure social harmony, doused out tribal hatred and suspicions and engendering trust amongst their peoples.

    “Our legislators at Federal and State levels should set in motion a review of our laws with a view to removing or reviewing those that constitute impediments to our peaceful co-existence.

    “On our part, we wish to restate our belief in the unity of the country and affirm our conviction that our overall best interest will only be served through an indivisible one Nigeria to which every part and component is unflinchingly committed.

    “As peace-loving people let us all rededicate ourselves and pray fervently for unalloyed
    peace and collective progress of Nigeria”, it stated. End

  • The 19 northern states Supports Minister for Education on his decision

    The 19 northern states Supports Minister for Education on his decision

    All the 19 states in northern Nigeria have backed the decision of the Minister for Education, Adamu Adamu to further postpone reopening of schools across the country indefinitely.

    The Minister had earlier announced government’s decision to allow schools reopen in order for final year students to write their exams, giving strict guidelines that should be followed in compliance with covid-19 protocols.

    Adamu however announced Thursday that Nigerian schools will remain closed indefinitely until such a time when coronavirus infections must have reduced substantially, a decision that has triggered debates across the country.

    Already, the Governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde has openly disagreed with the Minister over the directives, saying it was meant for Federal Government schools, insisting that schools in the state will give opportunity to final year students to write their exams, especially the one being conducted by the West African Examination Council, WAEC.

    But commissioners of education in the 19 northern states, in a communiqué after a virtual meeting on the matter on Thursday, said the Minister’s reasons for keeping schools closed was appropriate in ensuring that children remain safe while efforts were being made to make schools safe from Coronavirus (COVID-19) before reopening will be considered.

    The communiqué was sent to ALSC Friday and was signed by Shehu Usman Muhammed, Commissioner of Education, Kaduna State/ Chairman, School Exchange Programme.

    It stated that part of the reason for their decision was that there is the need for the Minister to coordinate meetings in the education sector to find common ground and agree on safe reopening of schools, adding that the Federal Government needs to support states in putting safety measures in place for school reopening as parts of its COVID-19 Social Intervention Project, considering that many states may not have the financial strength to embark on such a huge capital extensive project as such could be done with support from development partners or through loans.

    See full contents of the communiqué

    The Commissioners of Education from the 19 Northern States involved in secondary schools’ exchange program (SEP), on July 9, 2020, held a virtual meeting to discuss pressing issues, including school reopening and other matters affecting the education sector. Several challenges confronting the schools under SEP were enumerated and discussed, with a view to finding lasting solutions and strengthening the education sector.

    The meeting has in attendance 13 states namely; Kaduna, Bauchi, Gombe, Niger, Nassarawa, Adamawa, Taraba, Kogi, Kwara, Katsina, Kano, Borno and Jigawa.

    2.00 Observations

    1.The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu’s stand on postponement of school reopening was commendable and we are in full support of the decision.

    2. The ministers’ reasons for keeping schools closed was appropriate in ensuring that children remain safe while efforts were being made to make schools safe from Coronavirus (COVID-19) before reopening will be considered.

    3. There is the need for the minister to coordinate meetings in the education sector to find common ground and agree on safe reopening of schools.

    4. The Federal Government needs to support states in putting safety measures in place for school reopening as parts of its COVID-19 Social Intervention Project, considering that many states may not have the financial strength to embark on such a huge capital extensive project. This could be done with support from development partners or through loans.

    5. The ban of child begging in the name of Almajiri system of education by northern state governors was commendable.

    6. However, States should come up with a legal framework to enforce the ban and carry out massive awareness campaign to enlighten the public and enlist the support of parents and caregivers.

    3.00 Resolutions

    1. Challenges affecting the School Exchange Programme should be addressed by various state governments to ensure high standard of learning in the schools.

    2. Sports, quiz and debating competition among schools in the region will be reintroduced and other interventions implemented to bring back the lost glory of the students exchange programme.

    3. We resolved that schools should be opened only when it is safe to do so and when states have complied with the minimum COVID-19 safety protocols as outlined by the NCDC.

    3. We will participate in WASSCE and other examinations only when it is safe to reopen schools and when coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education.

    4. States should carry out a wholistic assessment of schools to determine their readiness to reopen and submit report to their respective governors for consideration.

    5. The states should also take steps to provide critical facilities required for reopening of schools as specified by the NCDC.

    5. Schools’ infrastructure, such as dilapidated classrooms, students hostels, source of safe water, sanitary facilities, including hand washing equipment and security should be improved, while clearing of grasses and fumigation of the schools surroundings should be conducted to support learning and ensure safety when schools resume.