By Correspondent in Minna.
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Niger state chapter, has donated various food and other household items to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Paikoro and Shiroro Local Government Areas of the state.
Our correspondent reports thsy the IDPs, who were forced out from their ancestral homes by armed bandits hibernating in about eight Local Government Areas in Niger state are taking shelter at the Baptist Primary School and UBE School Gwada in Shiroro and at the ECWA Church in Paikoro.
The CAN State Chairman, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Yohanna, said the gesture was part of efforts by the Christian body to cushion the effects of the deprivation and hardship IDPs go through, away from the comfort of their homes.
Presenting the relief materials to the victims of armed bandits attacks, the CAN chairman, represented by the vice chairman, Revd. Ezekiel Ibrahim encouraged them to remain steadfast in prayers for divine intervention and an end to the activities of the evil men.
The CAN chairman encouraged them with prayer ,adding, ‘our prayers are with you always, because we want you to return to your homes soonest’.
Praying God to touch the hearts of all those that the devil has been using to cause security breaches in Niger state and across the country, the Cleric said, ‘issues of insecurity and armed banditry would soon be a thing of the past, adding that 'God has heard our cries’.
While sympathizing with the families of those who lost their lives and those that are still in captivity, Bulus Yohanna said the relief items, consisting of rice, maize, beans, noodles, palm oil, groundnut oil, soaps, detergents, salt and seasonings will go a long way in ameliorating the physical and emotional difficulties they go through on a daily basis.
Receiving the gift items on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Parish Priest of SS Peter & Paul, Kafin Koro, Rev. Fr. Benedict John Adigizi expressed appreciation to CAN and all those who had reached out to them in their moments of trials through gifts and prayers.
Rev. Fr. Adigizi recalled that lots of people were seriously affected and many relocated due to the attacks, adding, however, that, “But with the presence of security agencies, some have started returning and the people have started picking the bits and pieces of their lives”.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago of Niger state has made his first official outing with an inspection of areas earmarked for urban renewal project of his administration and in the process ordering for the demolition of a petrol station for being at a wrong location.
Bago told members of his team on the visit, including the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman Gawu, the Head of State Civil Service (HoS), Usman Abdullahi Gbatamangi, his Chief of Staff, Mallam Sadiq Yusuf, and others emphasized that, realizing urban renewal plans across major towns and cities in the state is possible.
Going round Minna, the state capital shortly after the swearing-in of his first batch of cabinet members and some contractors, Bago said he will not consider political party differences in focusing attention on areas that will be of immense benefit to the generality of state citizenry.
Re-modelling and re-modernizing some major towns and cities to meet present day realities according to Governor Bago have become necessary as long as it is geared towards changing the poor environment and poor conditions the people have been living over the years.
He said, “We want an urban renewal for in all the major cities in the state. We want to introduce bridges and under passes, expand existing road networks, create new layouts and by-passes so that business will thrive”.
Bago argued that people challenge government policies if it shows signs of insensitivity to their plights, adding that, “The people are not happy, they've been living in squalor for a very long time, so if you demolish their houses and you compensate them, they will be fine, they will be happy with you”.
Meanwhile, Governor Umaru Bago has revoked the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of a filling station and ordered for its demolition, because the structure was illegally sited and its location unsafe for the people living around the area.
Governor Bago gave the directive when he inspected the filling station along Ketaren Gwari road, in Minna metropolis, stressing that he had asked them to stop work but they refused hence the revoking of the licence and demolition.
“We have reports of this illegal structure and I have asked the Niger State Urban Development Board (NUDB) to stop them from work but they continued, so we are here to revoke the C of O from today, and mark it for demolition”.
Governor Mohammed Umar Bago further pointed out that, “It's uncalled for, for such a facility to be erected in the midst of people. Having a petrol station in a highly populated place is hazardous to their lives and so it is not acceptable”.
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