Yearly Archives: 2013

Plateau Govt. Warns Residents Against Building On Flood-prone Areas

As Nigeria awaits the rainy season, the Plateau Government on Monday urged residents to desist from building on flood-prone areas to avoid a repeat of the disaster witnessed in 2012.

``Some people have gone back to rebuilding their houses on the same spot where they have been washed away by the July, August and September, 2012 flood, Information Commissioner Abraham Yiljap told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos.

``This is why we are using this medium to enlighten our people that there is the need for them to move away from water ways and flood-prone areas because we don’t want to lose more lives.

``We urge all those affected and other residents to move to higher grounds and as well as to work  with the Local Governments, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) so as not to have a repeat of the 2012 experience,’’ he pleaded

The commissioner said the government was showing increased concerns towards the plight of the 2012 flood-disaster victims towards alleviating their sufferings.

Yiljap said he was satisfied with  the awareness generated by the SEMA, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the State Government.

 ``We are confident the people of Plateau State will cooperate with us so that, together, we can ensure our safety,'' he said. (NAN)

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First Bank Introduces N100 Monthly Charge On ATM Withdrawals

First Bank customers using the Automated Teller Machines for cash withdrawals are to pay N100 monthly, with effect from this month, according to a notice.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports in Abuja on Monday that the notice for the new charge captioned, ``Card Maintenance Fee,” was displayed on some ATM machines in the city.

The notice reads: ``Dear valued customer, in order to serve you better, from March 2013, a monthly N100 card maintenance fee will be charged for all cash withdrawals within the month.’’

Some customers who spoke with NAN, however, condemned the introduction and called for sanctions from the regulatory body.

Mr Joshua Abraham, a trader, said it was unfortunate that First Bank should introduce such a charge.

``I did not even notice, but if that is the case, they want to discourage us.

Mrs Uju  Nwanze, a legal practitioner, said the CBN should stop the charge.

`` This is another way to get back the N100 charges they just stopped recently on use of ATM cards.

``These banks are good at exploiting people, they did not even give prior notice like sending text messages.''

Also, Ejiro Fidel, a civil servant, said First Bank should not copy the new generation banks to rip off customers.

``They did not even care to inform their customers about this development, this is unlike them. Civil servants use First Bank a lot because we believe they are better than most of these new banks.

``What maintenance are they doing on the card, this is very wrong and I hope that those in charge would stop them from doing so.

``I think that they should focus on how to encourage customers to use the card than discouraging them. This new charge is really anti-customer friendly,’’ he said.

NAN recalls that the Bankers' Committee meeting of November 2012, scrapped the N100 interbank charge on use of ATM cards.

NAN also reports that First Bank had on February 11, increased its charges on interbank money transfer, against moves by the Central Bank of Nigeria for a downward review of bank charges on customers. (NAN)

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WHO Seeks Partnership With Jigawa Govt. On Polio

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday called for closer working collaboration with the Jigawa Government in the campaign against polio.

The WHO Coordinator in the state, Dr Sani Maiwada, made the call at the inauguration of the second round of the 2013 State Immunisation Plus Days (SIPDs) in Babura, Jigawa.

Maiwada said such working collaboration was necessary to deal with the issue of vaccines' rejection and other challenges militating against sustainable campaign activities against the disease.

“We strongly look forward to expanding our partnership with the state government and continuing collaboration on this front.

``WHO and other polio eradication partners reiterate our commitment and support to the government and the people of the state toward stopping polio.

“We shall mobilise all resources at our disposal to fight the upsurge of polio to the finish this year.”

He commended the state government on its programme designed to mobilise participation in the polio campaign, adding that, the trend had controlled transmission of the disease in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Jigawa Government had targeted 1.3 million children for immunisation against polio in the ongoing immunisation in the state. (NAN)

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No More Dialogue With FG, Says Boko Haram

For the first time in about 10 months, the leader of Jama'atu Ahlil Sunnah Lid da'awati Wal Jihad, better known as Boko Haram, has appeared in a new video, asserting that his sect has not suspended its violent attacks and rejecting dialogue with the Nigerian government, Sahara Reporters has reported on Sunday. 
 
In the nine-minute video that is being circulated in Nigeria, Imam Abubakar Shekau describes as fraud and lies, the dialogue purportedly being undertaken by one Imam Abdulazeez on behalf of Boko Haram.  He says there none of his officials is known as Abdulazeez and he doesn’t know the said Abdulazeez.
 
"It is a lie, there is nothing like ceasefire or dialogue going on with government,” he says.  “We have never sat in any meeting for dialogue, we have not and it is not true that we are talking with Nigerian government. We don't know the Imam Abdulazeez, he is not speaking on our behalf like he claimed. He is not one of us, I don't know him.
 
"There are procedures of dialogue as it is spelled out in Islam, they are busy arresting our people, small boys and women and so they are not serious with any dialogue and we are also not interested in any talking with them. We are only doing God's work and serving Him and not men."
 
He further maintains that the time for any dialogue effort with the Nigerian government has passed, and that no further talk about dialogue will be entertained by the sect.  
 

He accused the government of continuing to arrest members of Boko Haram, as well as their wives and children, sometimes on the pretext that they are armed robbers.

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JTF Repels Attack On Military Barrack In Munguno – Spokesman

The Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) said on Sunday it repelled an attack by suspected Boko Haram terrorists on the military barrack in Munguno, Borno.

Munguno is about 200 km from Maiduguri, about two hours drive from the capital.

``Information available to JTF indicated that some suspected terrorists attempted to attack a military barrack in Munguno, headquarters of Munguno Local Government Area of Borno State on Sunday.

``The attack was repelled by the JTF troops at the outskirt of the barracks,'' JTF spokesman Lt.-Col. Sagir Musa, stated in a statement in Maiduguri.

He said that 20 of the attackers were killed during exchange of fire with the soldiers.

``The encounter led to the death of 20 suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

``Three four-wheel drive vehicles and eight motor cycles used by the suspects were destroyed and several arms and ammunition were recovered.

``The following items were recovered, seven AK 47 rifles, 10 rocket propeller grenade, two RPG Tubes, large quantities of assorted ammunition and eight assorted magazines,'' he said.

Musa said that the JTF had also arrested suspected masterminds of last week’s bomb blasts in Maiduguri.

``In a related development, based on intelligence reports, a special operation was conducted by the JTF which resulted in the arrest of two suspected high profile commanders of the Boko Haram sect in Maiduguri.

``Those arrested were suspected to be responsible for the Feb. 28 explosions which coincided with the Progressive Governors’ meeting in Maiduguri,'' Musa said, adding that the two suspects were being interrogated.  (NAN)

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