News
Wike’s Light Rail In Abuja
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
Since the conception of the location of the new Federal Capital Territory FCT to be located in Abuja , over three decades away, the establishment of ‘Abuja light Rail Project ‘ popularly known as ‘Abuja Metroline’ was conceived to ease movements of people, goods and services through a model transportation of rail system, to complement the vehicular ones from the satellite towns and six area councils of AMAC, Kuje , Gwagwalada, Kwali, Abaji , and Bwari.
Even though , the well drafted project was abandoned after so many decades untill the appointment of Barrister Nyesome Ezenwo Wike as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT in 2023, after the swearing in of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The project was also executed and completed by the Wike led FCT administration in his view to provide alternative route and transport to also decongest the city center, with unwanted elements and pave way with those with genuine business to have their way as at when due.
On assumption of duty , he inspected the abandoned project and invited the contractors to resume work with a view to commissioning it in the one year administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, a promise he kept .
True to his words the project was completed and commissioned by the President and put to use free of charge for consecutive six months for commuters plying the rail and coordinated by the Nigeria Railway Corporation NRC
Located in the heart of the city centre, the Central Business District,CBD, the Abuja Metroline’ Rail Project , the first light rail in the whole of West Africa covers 12 networks within the Abuja metropolis, with stops at the airport, Wupa, Idu, Bassanjiwa, Kukwaba I, Kukwaba II, and the Abuja metro.
Alot of enthusiasm and relief came the way of Abuja residents as the free movement of people and goods came at a time when the cost of fuel was no longer affordable, due to the removal of fuel subsidy and increase of over one thousand percent of the cost of fuel .
The original plan of the FCT administration became realistic due fo the decongestion of the city centre with vehicles and people as a result of the completion, commissioning and the utilisation of the once moribund project of Abuja Metroline’ Rail Project that was only known by description and not utilisation.
As of the end of 2024, commuters in Abuja could enjoy free rides on the Abuja Metro Line, a decision made by President Bola Tinubu to ease commuting and celebrate the first anniversary of his administration that brought a lot of relief to commuters resident in Abuja and will gradually spread to other part of FCT and bey
The projected cost of the entire proposed 290 km (180 mi) network, to be developed in six phases, was US$824 million, constructed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), with 60% of the cost funded by loans from the Exim Bank of China, while 40% will be written off by the FCT administration/federal government.
With the new facility, the cost of movement to and from the city centre, the planned decongestion of particularly those who does not have business in the city centre and people with legitimate and good intentions has affected the smooth operations of the new rail transport system.
What Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has done , is to again prove cynics wrong that nothing works in the country, as he brought a lot of revolution to both infrastructure and manpower development into the FCT.
When completed will accommodate alot of businesses and people as well as ease of doing business across local and international spheres with the FCT administration and the Federal government.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
A Not-for-profit organization under the aegis of Institute For Leadership Education For African Democracy (ILEAD), based in Chicago, United States, has called on all hands to be on desk to counter the problem of drug abuse and addition among school children.
A co-founder and Legal Researcher of ILEAD, Barrister Tolulope Oneya, made this call in a telephone conversation with our Reporter.
Oneya lamented that drug use and abuse has become a pandemic that needs to be addressed urgently, noting that there are varying factors that have contributed to the use and abuse of drugs and other substances which includes: experimental curiosity, peer pressure, and lack of knowledge about the dangerous effects of abuse of drugs and other substances.
Profering solutions to the problem of drug abuse among children, she said: “Education and reorientation are keys: creating awareness about the side effects and the consequences of addiction.
“The children need to understand the consequences of drug and abuse of other substances.”
Oneya explained that ILEAD, as an organization motivated by its passion and commitment to sustainable democracy in West Africa where every person no matter who or where you are from enjoys the dividend of democracy, there is need to call the consciousness of our children as the leaders of tomorrow that we look up to, and lend hands in all ways within our capacity to discourage drug abuse, for the children to understand its effect on them now and in the future.
She further said that to commemorate this year’s Children’s Day, ILEAD has earmarked an essay writing competition, which will engage participants to critically look at the issue of drug abuse and use of other substances as it affects their peers and community, and come up with ideas of how to tackle this menace.
“There are cash prizes for the first, second and third runners up of the essay competition,” she informed.
Oneya said ILEAD is collaborating with Relief For Women and Children Initiative and Mudhouse Realtors Ltd, and is open to sponsorship and collaborations.
She further explained that the essay writing competition will be an annual event to celebrate the Children’s Day.
“At every children’s day celebration, we will be exploring societal issues such as climate change, artificial intelligence, social justice, and global health as it affects our children,” she added.
To fight drug use among children, Oneya advised: “It’s a complex issue; parents must be present and must not shy away from having conversations about drug abuse.
“Parents have the ability to instill powerful values, create positive safety nets, and lessen the risk factors that children face every day.”
She called on children to resist peer pressure, as the dangers and adverse effects of drug use may be irreversible.
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
With the determination to turn the tide of negative figure of Out of School Children OOSC been bandied by experts across the globe with particular reference to Nigeria put at 17 Million, were concerted efforts to reduce the trend appeared insurmountable , the new leadership of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC under Dr Aisha Garba , the World Bank trained Education expert has vowed to reverse the trend.
With both local and international exposure to tackling the basis of Out of School Children OOSC conundrum along with both local and international stakeholders, it will address the attempt to bring to fore the incidence to national calamity.
Drawing from the national discourse been proposed by the new leadership of UBEC to enable it achieve quality Basic Education, no doubt will galvanize and encourage more programs that will improve the positive consequences as against the negative parameters.
She avered the possibilities of reversing through concerted efforts , cooperation with the stakeholders and staffers of the commission at all levels, through hard work , policy framework, productivity and dedication to duty.
Since Charity they said , Begins at Home, no doubt the encouragement and cooperation of staff of the commission a and determination towards achieving the set objectives through a revolving policy thrust that will drive Basic Education is realizable.
While reeling out the local and international statistics of the performance of Basic Education as the foundation to other forms of the subsequent ones , she expressed reservations on the trend of the current development, while seeking for brisk and uninterrupted development with their cooperation.
She expressed regrets on the impact of Basic Education that had become a selective trend and privilege, rather than the rights of every Nigerians to attain Basic Education across board., not minding the class, gender , economic status as captured in local and international articles that boardered on Basic Education.
The most worrisome according to the new UBEC boss , it is not resolving Out of School Children OOSC problems, but even those in school are not learning properly or lagging behind,, which has become another dimension.
She expressed more troubles on the impression by the World Bank, and UNICEF through its assessment and capital index, while reassuring the staffers that with collaboration, cooperation and synergy, it is obvious the trend will be reversed.
No doubt, the zeal , pronouncement and actions has already started reshaping the conduct of the organization under the new leadership of Dr Aisha Garba as the Chief Executive Officer CEO, Executive Secretary (ES), of tue Universal Basic Education Commission UBEC.
The statement further reads .
“The newly appointed Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission,UBEC, Aisha Garba, has assumed duty with the promise to deploy strategies to advance delivery of quality basic education for the millions of school-aged children in Nigeria.”
“Garba who spoke during a meeting with members of management and staff of the commission recently in Abuja, emphasised that education is the right of every Nigerian child regardless of religion, class, gender or economic condition as captured in the Article 26 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
“She lamented that with approximated 17 million children, Nigeria has one of the highest number of out-of-school children in the world, constituting a staggering obstacle to the nation’s progress towards universal access to education for every Nigerian child.”
“Garba added that even when children are in school, they are lagging behind in learning outcomes.”
“According to a World Bank Capital Index, students in Nigeria score 309 on a harmonized test score scale, where 625 is considered advanced attainment and 300 represents minimum attainment.”
“And according to UNICEF, the primary school completion rate for Nigeria was at 59% in 2020 for boys and 51% for girls. The secondary school completion rate is even lower, with boys at 42% and girls at 36%.”
“Access to higher education is still a challenge: while about 2 million candidates sit for the JAMB examinations every year, only about 500,000 are accepted,” she stated.”
“The UBEC boss, extended appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ministers of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa and Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad for her appointment to serve the nation.”
“She highlighted the importance of partnership and collaboration to drive development of Basic Education in the country.”
“Garba said: “Today, being my first meeting with you as Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission which was set up in 2004 with a mandate to formulate and coordinate all aspects of the Universal Basic Education programme and establish minimum standards for basic education in Nigeria.”
“My goal is to deliver on this mandate which includes strengthening collaboration, partnerships and institutional learning for effective service delivery.”
“Together, we will work to increase access, improve quality, provide conducive and safe learning environments, supply adequate teaching and learning materials, and adopt the concept of ‘best fit’ in addressing specific basic education challenges, state by state and region by region (not a one-size-fits-all solution),” she stated.”
“She added that the commission under her watch would seek multi-sectoral approach to address the demand and supply-side barriers to basic education which has continued to exacerbate the challenge of out of school children.”
“According to her, UBEC would work collaboratively with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Commissions and Development Partners on reforms and interventions to increase access and significantly reduce the high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.’
“She listed some key action plans to include the deployment of appropriate interventions, use of technology, construction of critical infrastructure and the upgrading of school facilities.”
“We will ensure the integration of children with special needs, promote education for the girl-child, and work with relevant partners to make schools safe and conducive for learning.”
“In addition, we will work with local government education authorities and community stakeholders in expanding access to basic education in rural, disadvantaged and hard-to-reach jurisdictions. We will work closely with state governors to increase the uptake and utilisation of the UBEC Matching Grants through strategic partnerships and engagement,” she said.”
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
Bashir, one of the sons of a former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai, in a now deleted tweet, threatened increased bloodshed in the Christian-dominated Southern Kaduna if the people continue to attack Fulani.
Mr El-Rufai tweeted this on Tuesday in response to an X user, @qykali, who berated his father, accusing him of supervising ethnic cleansing of Southern Kaduna people for eight years as Kaduna State governor.
“Look at this Giraffe neck calling the president Pablo whereas your midget dad is a Fulani irredentist who engaged in industrial scale ethnic cleansing of people of southern Kaduna for the eight years he was Governor,” @qykali tweeted,
Triggered by @qykali’s tweet, Mr El-Rufai responded saying, “It is your stupid mother that is an elephant. And Southern Kaduna residents will keep seeing sheghe if they continue to attack indigenous Fulani herdsmen. Oloshi.”
“Shege,” an Hausa word, used by Mr El-Rufai suggested Southern Kaduna, a hotbed of violent killings by Fulani herdsmen and bandits in recent times, will not know peace, a threat many on X condemned, forcing Mr El-Rufai to delete the offensive tweet.
An X user, @EmmyPromise71, said Dear @BashirElRufai, are Southern Kaduna residents not dead enough? To even say that your father hasn’t come out to condemn this senseless comment of yours shows the kind of person he is. WHAT? Like really?”
“If Bashir El Rufai can confidently say this about Southern Kaduna with his full chest. Do you think your people down west or south will be safe from the Fulani herdsmen,” @timmonsion said.
A former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission and critic of Mr El-Rufai, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, in a tweet, said “So, get this: #VileLittleMan, @elrufai, is now officially opposition and his son is already threatening the people of #SouthernKaduna with #MassMurder. Guess what will happen when they get into the @NGRPresident. These people are sociopaths; #Genocidaires.”
This tweet followed another vile and controversial tweet from Mr El-Rufai, who once said the mysterious disappearance of Abubakar ‘Dadiyatta’ Idris, a critic of his father, was a good consequence for lying to the public.
Amid trending #WhereisDadiyatta on X in December 2019, Mr El-Rufai described Nigerians pushing the campaign on X as clowns, claiming that Dadiyatta was suffering for the consequences of lying.
“The same clowns who encouraged him when he was creating false stories and capitalising on lies that could endanger lives solely for political ends are the same individuals trending hashtags asking #WhereisDadiyata. Dangerous lies in the public space have consequences,” Mr El-Rufai said.