The National Population Commission (NPC) said that 1,044 facilitators and specialised workforce are currently undergoing training for the 2023 Population and Housing Census in Zamfara.
The Federal Commissioner of NPC in the state, Alhaji Muttaka Rini, disclosed this on Wednesday, when he addressed the participants at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gusau, venue of the training.

Rini said: “As you are aware, you are carefully selected for the training to serve as facilitators at the Local Government Areas (LGAs).
“You are to step down the training to the field coordinators, supervisors and enumerators at the LGAs.
“I am therefore appealing to you to pay attention throughout the training.
“You should know that you are going to write a test at the end of the training and the final selection would be based on performance.
“I equally call on you to be good ambassadors of the commission.
“You should be resolute and also try to be part of the success story of the 2023 census in Zamfara and Nigeria as a whole.”
He said the recruitment for supervisors and enumerators was ongoing throughout the 14 LGAs of the state.
He thanked the management, Principal Trainers and Technical Team of the commission in the state for their commitment to the success of the exercise.
He also commended the Provost and management of the college for their support in making the training a success.
Earlier, the State Training Coordinator of NPC, Dr Musa Gamji, urged the participants to be committed to their responsibilities during and after the training.
“I want to urge you to be polite, patient and tolerant because you are going to face a lot of challenges, going to teach young children.
“Your major responsibility is to step down the training at the LGAs.
“You must be serious and justified in discharging your responsibilities,” Gamji further said. (NAN)

The Gombe State Government says it has concluded arrangements for the implementation of a 32 million dollars erosion control project, to address land degradation and other environmental challenges.

The Newsmen report that the project tagged “Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) is being implemented with the support of the World Bank.

The Project Coordinator, Mr Sani Jauro stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Gombe, Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar III, on Friday in Gombe.

He said the visit was to seek for the royal father’s support ahead of the project launch, adding that the state had secured approval for the implementation of the project with the support of Gov. Inuwa Yahaya.

The Coordinator said the World Bank aporoved 18-month work plan of the project at the cost of 32 million dollars, adding the state government had contributed its counter part fund to facilitate smooth execution of the project.

He that 31 kilometers of drains would be constructed to control gullies at Federal College of Education (Technical) – Arawa – Angwan Uku – Railway – Doma communities.

“In view of the fact that land degradation and erosion negatively affect food production, livelihoods and the soil quality.

“The Inuwa Yahaya’s administration prioritised projects aimed at addressing such environment-related challenges.

“Aside addressing the erosion challenges, there is the agriculture component of the project which seeks to engage key stakeholders towards harnessing the irrigation potentials of the state to boost food security,” he said.

The project, he said, would create job opportunities for the youths through this component as several hundreds of hectares would be cultivated.

He said that part of the requirement of the project was active engagement of community leaders to create awareness and mobilise support for its effective implementation at the grassroots.

Jauro commended the governor for his commitment towards addressing erosion, land degradation and other environmental challenges in the state.

“Under the Yahaya-led administration, the partnership of the state government and World Bank assisted project of Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) had addressed a N2.9 billion erosion project in Gombe State University.

“That particular intervention saved a lot of the state’s varsity infrastructures threatened by erosion; this is commendable and we appreciate the effort of the governor”.

Responding, Shehu-Abubakar pledged support to projects designed to address social, economic and environmental challenges to help improve the lives and livelihood of the people of the state.

He said with the impact of climate change around the world, it was important for such projects to be supported, “so I support the project 100 per cent.

“My doors are always open, and I will also send out the message to ensure the success of the project for the benefit of our people.” (NAN)

The National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sent 15 vessels carrying hazardous materials into Nigeria back to their countries of origin.

Its Director-General, Prof. Aliyu Jauro, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday that the vessels were laden with chemicals and electronics harmful to the environment.

He cautioned that government would not allow any importer to turn Nigeria into a dumping ground for hazardous materials.

“It is allowed to import electronics into Nigeria, but such electronics must be functional and safe.

“Nigeria is not a dumping ground where any waste can be allowed in.

“Most of the items arriving in Nigeria are not good and don’t function well; so only those that are functional and are safe are allowed to be discharged.

“People are able to bring hazardous items into Nigeria because the country’s borders are porous.

“As an agency, we test imported equipment to ensure that they are working perfectly and they are safe for the ecosystem,’’ he said.

Jauro said particularly disturbing was the importation of used refrigerants and chemicals used in refrigeration that should not be allowed into any society because of their risk levels.

He said that some of the chemicals were found to react and deplete the ozone layer, the protective layer that shields the earth from radiation emitted by the sun.

“The use of chlorofluorocarbons in refrigerants and some other chemicals used as fire extinguishers are responsible for global warming.

“Also, some pesticides used in agriculture deplete the ozone layer and have a lot of negative effects on humans and on the ecosystem,’’ Jauro stressed. (NAN)