Metro
Abuja Palliatives: FCTA Distributes 12,000 Bags of Rice in 6 Councils
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By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday, kicked started the distribution of 12,000 bags of rice and maize to vulnerable households across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Distribution of the palliative food items, scheduled to take place for two days, commenced at Kwali, Kuje and Abaji Area Councils on Monday.
Speaking on behalf of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in Kwali, Secretary, Area Council Services Secretariat, Bitrus Garki explained that the exercise was part of the FCTA’s distribution of palliatives to vulnerable residents, adding that each Area Council would get not less than 2000 bags of rice and maize.
“You may recall that about two weeks ago, the FCT Administration organised an event where some of the food items were distributed to various groups.
“This includes Area Councils, representatives of 17 Chiefdoms, religious organisations, civil servants and vulnerable groups.
“The feedback we received from that exercise was incredibly encouraging, which is why we are expanding the distribution today.
“Today, we are gathered here to carry on with this noble gesture, aligning it with the renewed
hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which aims to instill hope for a better future for all Nigerians.
“Under this phase of the distribution, we are bringing the items closer to the people, ensuring direct outreach to the vulnerable groups, taking place simultaneously in all the six Area Councils of the FCT,” he said.
The Secretary urged the beneficiaries to utilize the items for the betterment of their families, advising them against selling the items, stressing that the gesture was meant to provide sustenance in this challenging times.
According to him, the initiative was an integral part of the Federal Government’s approach to mitigate the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy which unfortunately has resulted in increased food market prices.
“We recognise the challenges faced by our fellow citizens and it is our responsibilities to address these hardships and provide necessary support during these challenging times.”
Like in Kwali, the message was the same in Kuje and Abaji Area Councils, where the Secretaries of Agriculture and Rural Development, SociaL Development Secretariats; Lawal Kolo Geidam, and Ibrahim Aminu, respectively.
Chairman, Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chia, commended the Tinubu and FCT Minister for the support and promised to ensure equitable distribution of the palliatives to the target beneficiaries.
Corroborating Geidam, his Kuje counterpart, Abdullahi Suleiman Sabo, assured that the food items would get to every vulnerable person in his Council.
Sabo noted that his Council was known for integrity and honesty, believing that he would give account of his stewardship to God one day, even as he pledged to ensure intended beneficiaries would items are meant for get them,
He equally expressed gratitude to Tinubu and Wike for the items, decrying that though Kuje boasts the largest landmass in the FCT, it could not reap from its agricultural potentials due to insecurity which continues to bedevil the Council.
Beneficiaries who spoke to us at the three Area Councils, also commended the President and FCT Minister for the palliatives.
Philip Maikasuwa, a leader of disabled persons in Kuje, however, appealed for consideration for gainful employment.
Another beneficiary, Rashidat Tauheed, a graduate of FCT College of Education, said that the disabled persons would never forget the gesture. She also appealed to be gainfully employed.
Metro
Jos School Collapse: CWON Holds Trauma Healing Session for Parents, Survivors
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From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria (CWON) has organized a trauma healing session for survivors of the Jos Saint Academy School collapse alongside parents who lost their children in the unfortunate incident.The National President of the organization, Dame Mary Gonzum noted that the effort was part of their psychosocial support and counseling services for victims of the school building collapse as a follow-up to the assessment of the condition of the victims during their visit.
Gonzum speaking during a one day trauma session held at the Secretariat of the Justice Development and Peace/Caritas Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese located along Zaria Road in Jos the Plateau State capital said the trauma healing session was in continuation of their intervention to students who experienced the building collapsed.”Today, a trauma healing session was flagged off with a seminar on how to go about handling the trauma that victims of the Saint Academy School Busa Buji in Jos are passing through.”We will later select those that are so traumatic and need help to continue with the process of healing because it is not something that will end in a day or two but will need sometime.”The surviving students who experienced the building collapsed, parents of the students are all here because some parents are so traumatic, we have one other woman that lost two children”This trauma became necessary because when we went visiting in the hospitals, we observed that some of them are really traumatic. Like the other boy, his mother said up till today he kept telling his mother that he is seeing dead bodies, and anybody he sees he will say is his classmate.”Some of the affected parents while sharing their encounters after the incident said they hardly sleep in the day or night time. Some manage to sleep for two hours and they’re awake, and from the little lectures we received today it is clear that there is a problem,” She noted.The President calls on the government to ensure that those saddled with the responsibility of approving, inspecting and supervising structures are meant to do their job with all diligence to avert future happenings again.Some of the affected parents including; Hasana Suleman Sale who lost two of her children recalled with pains the unfortunate development that claimed the lives of her two children. She expressed gratitude for the trauma healing session which she said came as a means of consolation and strength for her to overcome the trauma she is passing through.Metro
Catholic Church Welcomes New Apostolic Nuncio
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The Catholic Church in Nigeria has welcomed the newly-appointed Apostolic to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty.
Crotty, an Irish, was appointed by the Vatican.
He will oversee the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the church in Nigeria.
The position, an ambassadorial status, advances cohesion in the body of Christ.
In his welcome message for Crotty on Tuesday, the President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, said that the Church was glad to receive him.
The CBCN president, who is also the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, said,” With joy and gratitude to God, I extend a hearty welcome to Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, clergy, religious and lay faithful in Nigeria.
“We are thankful to His Holiness, Pope Francis, for appointing Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria to build on the good works of his predecessor, Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi.
“His appointment is a testament to the strong spiritual bond between our countries,” he said.
He said that although Crotty was the first Apostolic Nuncio from Ireland to serve in Nigeria, many Irish missionaries had played significant roles in spreading the gospel in Nigeria.
“We appreciate Archbishop Crotty’s acceptance of serving in Nigeria and assure him of our full support and cooperation.
“We pray for a fruitful mission and a blessed tenure for our excellency,” he added. (NAN)
Metro
Boundary Commission to Provide Infrastructure Along Disputed Boundary Areas
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The National Boundary Commission (NBC), says it has concluded plans to provide infrastructure in flash locations along interstate boundaries to encourage integration and cooperation.
The Director-General of the commission, Mr Adamu Adaji, stated this in an interview in Abuja on Wednesday.
Adaji said that the commission would look at flash point areas and provide infrastructures that would encourage cooperation and integration among border communities.
He said that the goal was to see how the commission could bring people in border communities together to share from a common facility.
This, according to him, will douse tension and bring some kind of understanding among border communities.
“The bounder communities will share the facilities, which in the long run will bring the people together and eventually reduce tension and boundary conflicts.
“This is a way of encouraging integration and cooperation by encouraging people to come together, relate with one another and engage in beneficial commercial activities.”
Adaji said that a similar initiative was test runed with a borehole, constructed boundary corridor in Ado Local Government Area of Benue state, where it shared boundary with Ebonyi.
“We have also been able to construct some market stalls in the Ebonyi sector of the boundary between Ebonyi and Cross River,” he added.
“So, our appeal is for people to appreciate, cooperate and understand that boundaries are not barriers.
“The boundary line will not stop somebody from owning properties across and that is what we want to partner with the states to educate people along by the boundary corridors. (NAN)