From Attah Ede, Makurdi
The Benue State Commissioner for Transport and Energy, Barrister Omale Omale , said the State government will soon  launch transport sector policy in order to roll out  transportation programmes for the people of the state.
Barrister Omale who disclosed this to newsmen in Makurdi, said his ministry is equally working towards establishment of a road traffic management agency to curb indiscriminate parking amongst transporters operating in the state.

According to him, the ministry’s core mandate  is to regulate the transport sector in the State and that can only be driven on a strength of clear-cut transport policy in the State.
He maintained that, already the technical and advisory committee on transport sector policy in Benue State are currently working on  a legislative framework that would ensure a comprehensive transport law that can determine how the transport sector  in the State could be managed generally.
According to him, the ministry’s core mandate  is to regulate the transport sector in Benue State and that can only be driven on a strength of clear-cut transport policy in the State.
“Establishment of the agency will promote  traffic regulation, control and ensure smooth traffic flow in the state.
“Part of  this law will be intervention for Benue State road traffic management agency. The road traffic management agency would be saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that transport  related activities in the State  are carried out or conducted in a manner that is organised as proscribed by the law.
“To carry out transport services in the State, the procedures, the routes and the designated bus stop would be a matter of law.
“The agency would be adequately staffed to ensure this law is totally comply with. When that happens, it would also address the issue of indiscriminate parking, to tell town services bus operators where not to park, pick up passengers and even where to stop.
“There will be terminals for those transporters coming  into or going out of Benue State . It is that terminal that they drop or pick up passengers as designated areas rather than indiscriminate parking.
“We are worried over the spate of indiscriminate activities on the town service buses. That was not  the case before now. Town services have been redesigned for Benue State in the past. We have designated areas for bus-stop and then suddenly that was taken off  by distraction on the side of the government.
“Those bus-stops are no longer in use and those designated parks are  non-existent. So part of  the reforms we are undertaking for the ministry is to redesign the city centres in Benue State again.  
“The reorganisation and reformation is currently ongoing. By the time we are  done, the state would launch a pilot scheme and then we can have a total overhaul of the transport which is currently in the hands of the informal sector”, he said .
Barrister Omale noted that Benue State in the past, the transport services were largely in the informal sector and at the same time, there was no ministry of transport, stressing that, now that there is  such ministry, the state government would overhaul the transport system in the state before calling on the private individuals to come and engage in transport business in the state.
 He maintained that Benue requires comprehensive reform of the transport sector with  focus on mass transit and urban transport systems.
“The mass transit is targeted at our urban transportation programme and the component beneficiaries would be civil servants alongside the students and residents within  urban city areas of Benue State. The state would soon launch a pilot one in Makurdi targeting three other intervening  areas in Otukpo , Gboko and Katsina-Ala respectively”.

 By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abuja FCT MPW, said it has concluded arrangements to resume education and orientation exercise for Intending Pilgrims, this weekend  after the fasting of the Islamic month of Ramadan.
The Director of the Board, Mallam Abubakar Adamu Evuti who disclosed this in Abuja stated that activities have been outlined to actualise the success of the operation and ensure that intending pilgrims are well prepared for the spiritual journey to the holy land of Saudi Arabia.

Mallam Evuti explained that the Board would ensure that intending pilgrims get the rudiments of performing hajj in order to have value for their hard-earned money paid to perform the religious obligation.
The Director disclosed that intending pilgrims who have made complete payment should utilize the opportunity to drive the benefit of performing the Hajj.
He disclosed that, as usual, Islamic scholars and relevant stakeholders have already been mobilized for the exercise scheduled to take place from 8 o’clock in the morning each day at the permanent Hajj Transit Camp, located at Basan Jiwa very close to Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja.
He added that the orientation exercises that are conducted in phases would enable the intending pilgrims to get enlightened on the hajj rites as well as guidelines and new policies introduced for this year’s hajj by the Saudi authorities and National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The Director also disclosed that medical screening for the intending pilgrims would be conducted from Saturday 4th to Monday 6th May while inoculation exercise for all the intending pilgrims would be conducted from Wednesday 8th to Thursday 9th May 2024 as part of the requirements for the trip to Saudi Arabia.
He also disclosed that the final phase of education and orientation exercise which involves practicals would be conducted on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th may be a few days before the commencement of airlift to Saudi Arabia for this year’s hajj.
He advised intending pilgrims to participate in all activities earmarked by the Board for proper guidance to get value for their money without any hindrance.
Mallam Evuti, therefore advised all intending pilgrims to crosscheck for their flight schedule and comply with the grouping arrangement as instructed by Saudi Arabia this year.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru Abubakar has called on all African member states to come together and fight terrorism by preventing cross border influx of illegal  arms in the continent.
The Minister made the call while speaking to Newsmen shortly after the close of the two- day High level Africa  counter terrorism summit held in Abuja.

The Minister said: “We have resolved amongst the participating countries that each sub regional body should organise itself and come together as a United Africa to develop means and strategies in partnership with the International Community to tackle terrorism and other related crimes in the continent. ”
He said that the time to act to secure Africa from insecurity is now and God’s Willing that will be achieved in no distant time.
Furthermore, the Minister called for a collaborative approach in intelligence sharing and  information gathering on the sources of funding and arms acquisition by the terrorists. “This will help in checkmating the scourge of terrorism and also in cross-checking the movement of terrorists across borders.”