News
Stakeholders seek pro-child Bauchi State development plan
By Moses Mark
Stakeholders from Bauchi State have met to seek ways of integrating issues affecting the welfare of children into the State’s Medium Term Development Plan 2021 -2025.
The meeting held in Jos was organised by the state’s Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and supported by UNICEF, with participants drawn from the state’s Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs).
Speaking at the meeting on Saturday, Permanent Secretary in the economic planning ministry, Alhaji Yahuza Haruna
said the event was meant to discuss and analyse the development plan and address any identified gaps.
He added that the meeting also aimed at integrating sensitive issues that affect children, with a view to ensuring their total inclusion.
“Basically we are here to discuss our medium term strategic plan which was developed for the state. This meeting is to analyse the plan and see whether we have been able to include and address the child vulnerability concept.
“You see, when making a plan, there are many users of such plan and all of them will look at it to see if it has adequately addressed its areas of concern.
“As you know, UNICEF works for the welfare of children and that is why it sponsored this meeting to see if the plan has addressed the question of child vulnerability.
“So, our discussion here will focus on the need to ensure that this development plan captures children’s issues in terms of education, health, nutrition, communication, water, hygiene and sanitation, among others,” he said.
Dr Usman Bugaje of the Arewa Research and Development Project, the firm that developed the plan, described the meeting as timely, as it would ensure a holistic inclusion of issues that would lead to the growth and development of all sectors of the state.
“This particular meeting which is supported by UNICEF is apt because it concerns the welfare of children; to know which aspects of the development plan speaks to the issues of children.
“It is a workshop that brings all critical stakeholders together; MDAs, development partners and the those of us in the private sector, to see how to include the issues that have to do with the welfare of children.
“It will also enable us come out with implementable strategies that will further better the lot of the children of Bauchi state,” he said.
Bugaje called on UNICEF and other agencies to ensure proper implementation of the plan for the good of the society On her part, Dr Esther Ahmed, the Director General, Bauchi Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) office, said the meeting aimed at ensuring no one was left behind in the implementation of the strategic plan.
“We are here to ensure that no one is left behind in the implementation of the development plan. This plan has been designed, but we saw the need for the inclusion of issues that affects children.
“So, we are here to see that all the aspects that have to do with the welfare of children are included. Luckily, when you are talking of the child, you are also talking of the mother, so, by this inclusion, Bauchi women will also have a good life through the implementation of this plan,” she said
Earlier in a presentation, UNICEF Social Policy Specialist in the Bauchi Field office,Yusuf Auta, said that the inclusion of sensitive issues that concerns the welfare of children in the development plan would tackle some societal challenges and guarantee a better and safer future for every child.
A popular General Overseer of a new generation Church, Elijah has been arrested by the Octopus (C41) Strike Force unit of Rivers State Police Command for investigation over homosexual allegations.
It was gathered that a video of the Pastor was leaked indulging in the homosexual act to the police by a member of his church.
The member who alleged that the General Overseer attempted sleep with him against his will.
The member who revealed his name simply as Patrick now a complainant said, he wanted to play along after the General Overseer made sexual advancement and captured the nude video of pastor attempting to have carnal knowledge of him.
Armed with the intelligence report, the police traced the General Overseer who is from Rivers State to one of his relaxation spots in Port Harcourt and arrested him.
Sources revealed to our correspondent that the General Overseer has reportedly confessed to other numerous acts of homosexuality involving both male adults and minors within and outside Port Harcourt.
Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation was ongoing.
Against government ban on rallies and organised reception under whatever guise by Kogi State Government, constituents of the Central Senatorial District troop3d out enmasse to receive Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Tuesday in Okene.
According to the pictorials released by the Media office of Senator Natasha, creme-de-la creme could be seen waiting in a scorching sun, not minding the effect.
The massive turn out followed assurance from Senator Natasha ‘s media team that the lawmaker has arrived from overseas and would make it to Okene on Tuesday for Sallah celebrations with her constituents.
A statement obtained by CAPITAL POST in Lokoja on Tuesday, pointed out that the purported ban on rallies and the cancellation of the visit were mere rumours, hence, the embattled lawmaker would pay a visit her constituents.
Part of the statement read: “We are pleased to confirm that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Sallah visit to Kogi Central senatorial district will proceed as planned.
“Despite rumours circulating online, there has been no official announcement from our office regarding the cancellation of this visit.
“As the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan remains committed to engaging with her community and fostering a spirit of unity and cooperation.
“Her dedication to the people of Kogi Central is unwavering, and she looks forward to celebrating Eid-el-Fitr with her constituents.
“We would like to assure the public that all necessary arrangements are in place to ensure a successful and joyous event. We invite all members of the community to join us in marking this special occasion.”
On Monday, CAPITAL POST reported that Kogi State Government issued a statement which was signed bybthe Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo asserting security concerns, hence, the proposed homecoming of Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District should be put off.
He stressed that there security breaches in parts of Kohi West Senatorial District, thus the security was so volatile that Government cannot guarantee peace for now and abused that the proposed reception at Okene should be cancelled.
Also, Kogi State Police Command earlier on Tuesday issued a statement banning any rally within the State, stating that intelligence reports available to it indicated that crisis may spur.
The statement which was signed by Police Public Relation Officer, SP William Ovye Aya and made available to CAPITAL POST, stressed that intelligence reports was indicative of peace and the rally which was organised by Natasha’s constituents should be cancelled.
The statement said: “Following the intelligence report on security threats in Kogi State and the subsequent ban on all forms of Rally and procession by the Kogi State Government, the Nigeria Police Force, Kogi State Police Command has called on the organisers of planned rally at Okene to cancel such event in the interest of the peace in Kogi State.
“The call for cancellation becomes necessary, noting that intelligence reveals that some hoodlums plan to hijack the process and cause disturbance of peace in the State. The Command cannot afford to jeopardize the existing peace the State is currently enjoying.
“In view of the security threat received on the planned rally, the Kogi State Police Command is therefore advising the organisers to cancel the event so as to avoid any breakdown of law and order in the State. As the Command will not hesitate to apply the full wrath of law on any one who causes disturbance of peace and order in the State.”
Constituents trooped out displaying placards demanding justice for Senator Natasha.
It was recalled that Natasha was suspended from the Senate for six months over breach of Senate Standing Orders.
The lawmaker also alleged that the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio was harassing her sexually.
TEHRAN, Mar. 30 (MNA) – The Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesman Yahya Saree said that Yemeni forces successfully hit the Israeli Ben Gurion Airport with ballistic missiles on Sunday.
Saree said that the Yemeni Armed Forces struck the Israeli Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv using Zolfaqar missiles.
“By carrying out this operation, we proved that the US has failed to prevent Yemen from supporting the oppressed Palestinian people,” he stressed.
“American airstrikes do not prevent us from fulfilling our religious, moral, and human duties.”
“With the help of God Almighty, we will continue the anti-Zionist operations until the aggression and siege against the Gaza Strip stop.”
Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine’s struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory’s Palestinian Resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.
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