Author: The Messenger Voice

By V. AL-PEA

On Tuesday 20^th December 2011 the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Da Jonah David Jang presented a budget proposal of over 112 billion naira for the 2012 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly.

The budget, which was tagged ‘Budget of Continuity and Inclusive Growth II’, contained a proposed capital expenditure of over 67 billion naira with a recurrent expenditure of 44.3 billion naira.

 The budget is another phase in the process of implementing developmental goals as outlined in the Ten Point Agenda of his administration, which is anchored on the Three Pillar Policy of human resource development, infrastructural development and financing options.

In the education sector, 15 secondary schools, five in each of the three senatorial zones are funded with five billion naira each. In the health sector, six separate multi-million projects, such as the first phase of a new specialist hospital in Barkin Ladi local government area, receive two billion naira. The completion of ongoing road projects, which include Old Airport junction, Rayfield Bukuru road to Dogo Karfe and ten other major roads, will consume over seven billion naira.

While Operation Rainbow receives 1.6 billion Naira, the Nigerian Standard newspaper is to receive 250 million naira for the procurement of new printing presses. Meanwhile, 1.5 billion naira is for the completion of the abandoned stadium at the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Way, Jos.

While 300 million naira was allocated for fertilizer subsidy, 500 million naira allotted for 50 tractors, which are to go to the three Agricultural Services and Training Centers (ASTC). At the same time, three million naira was budgeted to fund the electrification of 25 towns and villages.

John Clarke Dabwan promised that the House will take up the budget bill and give it prompt attention.

By V. AL-PEA

Recent long queues for fuel in Jos are indicative of yet another gasoline scarcity that hits Plateau State at the onset of holiday seasons. Most of the fuel stations in Jos are closed, with only very few selling. This means that gas retailers are either without the commodity or they are creating an artificial scarcity to force prices up.

It should be mentioned that Mr. Agwu, the Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), had warned owners of fueling stations to desist from hoarding petroleum products and to avoid selling above the stipulated approved prices of 65 naira per liter, or else risk being penalized by the law.

Wishing to remain anonymous, a staff member of Con Oil situated along Murtala Mohammed Way spoke to TMV. According to him: “The problem is not from us, the marketers. We also hardly see the products to buy at this period”.

When TMV asked why the products are difficult to come by during the holiday season, an NNPC Mega Station employee had no response. Meanwhile, a liter of petrol is selling for 85 to 100 naira at the black market. Motorists continued to express displeasure with the fuel shortages since Nigeria exports petroleum to other nations.

One woman expressed her particular disappointment about the fact that security operatives and government officials brazenly shunt the queue without any regard for others who have been waiting in line for hours. Even at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Mega Station, the motorists’ queues stretch about 1650 meters away from the station.

Along the roads through town, passengers hoping to get a ride stand with frustration writ largely on their faces. Few commercial drivers are on the roads to pick them up due to the fuel shortages.

By V. AL-PEA

Tuesday 6^th December 2011— Sixty-six people were arraigned in a Magistrate Court in Jos in connection with the recent violence in Barkin Ladi local government area of Plateau State.

The charges leveled against the accused include criminal conspiracy, rioting and possession of dangerous weapons and ammunitions. Ten of the suspects arraigned before Chief Magistrate Helen Danboyi pleaded not guilty to the charges and their cases were transferred to the Federal High Court.

As we previously reported, the conflict began after Hausa settlers first attacked Barkin Ladi natives, but a sizable number of the people arrested are said to be Plateau natives. TMV will be working to get a breakdown of the arrested people and will report accordingly.

Magistrate Danboyi ordered the accused to remain in prison custody pending arraignment before the High Court.

By V. AL-PEA

A court date of December 15^th 2011 was scheduled for three men who were apprehended for alleged possession of bombs. The men had pled guilty on December 6^th 2011 to the presiding Judge, Justice Ambrose Allakowa in the Federal High Court, Jos after being arrested in Dengi, Kanam local government area of Plateau State.

According to the information obtained by TMV, the men are described as Ibrahim Saleh of Wose village in Azira, Awe local government area of neighbouring Nassarawa State. Another suspect is Usama Shuaibu of Omra Karim, Lamido local government area of Taraba State. The last person is Hassan Isiaka, whose home state and local government we’ve been unable to obtain. The authorities said that they have conspired to transport explosives materials composed of dynamite, detonators, drilling rods and cords and they were apprehended at Dengi, Kanam local government area of Plateau State. They were apparently being transported from Kanam to Alkeleri in neighboring Bauchi State.

After the suspects, who were intercepted by men of the State Security Service (SSS), entered a plea of guilty, the prosecution, Ibrahim Makama asked for a date to tender exhibits retrieved from the suspects and statements obtained from them by the SSS.

Justice Allakowa turned down attempt for bail since the accused had already pleaded guilty to the charges.

By V. AL-PEA

BOMB EXPLOSIONS KILLS FIVE AND INJURED MANY

Saturday night, December 10^th 2011, several explosions once again riddled Jos and threw the city into confusion as residents worried about what might ensue.

The first explosion was heard at about 10:30pm around the Tina Junction when people gathered to watch a soccer match. Although no life was lost at that particular explosion, some of the spectators sustained injuries. The timely arrival of the Anti Bomb Squad prevented more casualties as they quickly detected and defused another timed bomb.

Shortly afterwards, a second bomb exploded at another soccer party around Odus near the Nigeria College of Accountancy. The bomb, which mutilated and instantly killed a spectator, was only 250 meters away from the first explosion. The blast also injured two others spectators who later died after arriving at hospital, TMV learned.

Barely 5 minutes after the second explosion, a third bomb went off at another viewing center near the Old Legislators, about 150 feet away. Three persons lost their lives and many others sustained various degrees of injuries. Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for these attacks.

The bomb blasts occurred in one of the Christian populated areas of the city where last year, a Christmas Eve bomb blasts claimed lives and maimed many.

These callous bomb blasts are coming on the heels of statements by  security agents warning the public about impending attacks. The statement had said that the security agencies were on top of the situation and further advised residents of Jos North and the state at large to be vigilant as security.

Taking measures towards ensuring violent free Christmas celebration, the Special Task Force (STF) has announced an imposition of a ban on the activities of motorcycle operators both private and commercial within the city metropolis, effective from the 20^th December, 2011 to 5^th January, 2012.

The Special Task Force (STF) has since deployed security operatives to the troubled spots and TMV observed that normalcy has since returned as people were seen going to Church the on Sunday Dec 11^th. 

By V. AL-PEA

A bill prohibiting same sex marriage and related matters has passed, despite pressures from Western nations, namely the United States. It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights for further legislative work. The bill, which was sponsored by Senator Domingo Obende representing Edo North in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, has polarized the Nigerian human rights community.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Obende maintained that the spread of gay marriage is like pornography and terrorism and must be stopped.

People found guilty of indulging in same sex marriage risk a jail term of 14 years with no option of fine. Also, persons who witness, aid or abet the solemnization of a same sex union or support the registration risk a jail term of 10 years. Similarly, gay clubs or organizations such as rights groups have been made illegal

During the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Australia last month, British Prime Minister David Cameron declared his government would slash aid to countries that do not recognize gay rights. According to him, countries that receive British aid should “adhere to proper human rights,” which includes legalizing gay marriage. Unfortunately for him, his comments have generated the opposite result. Soon after his comment, the president of Ghana objected to the idea.

Shortly after the passage of the Nigerian bill, the human rights watch group Amnesty International was the first organization to react against it, calling on Nigerian authorities to scrap it. “By broadly defining ‘same-sex marriage’ as including all same-sex relationships, and targeting people who ‘witness’, ‘aid’ or ‘abet’ such relationships, the Bill threatens the human rights of a large number of people,” Amnesty International said.

Speaking further on the issue, the group’s Director of the Africa Programme, Erwin van der Borght, said, “Nigeria’s House of Representatives should show leadership and uphold the rights of all in Nigeria by rejecting this reprehensible Bill. If passed, this measure would target people on the basis of their identity, not merely their behaviour, and put a wide range of people at risk of criminal sanctions for exercising basic rights and opposing discrimination based purely on a person’s actual or presumed sexual orientation or gender identity.”

A brief survey by TMV showed that the bill is a welcomed development by a majority of Nigerians. “Same sex marriage is a complete negation of the Bible,” pastor Sam Johnson said. Mallam Sani Umar, an Islamic cleric was also quick to say that the holy book of Muslims abhors in totality such practices.

By V. AL-PEA

The executive governor of Plateau State, Da Jonah David Jang has inaugurated a 12-man special tax collection committee to boost internally generated revenue of the state.

During the inauguration on Friday 2^nd December 2011 at the government house in Rayfield, Jang told the members to focus on the private sector as well as the local government for revenue generation.

“Our new approach to revenue generation is not only restricted to the state level, but will also go down to the local government in view of the fact that our development will be holistic in practice,” Jang said.

He also added that the committee was created to fast-track development of the state and he advised them not to compromise the obligations given them. “I must warn against any pilfering and corrupt tendencies that will hamper this effort,” Jang said. “Government will severely deal with those found involved in such practices.”

By V. AL-PEA

In a follow up to our article, “The Violence in Barkin Ladi”, TMV revisited the town over one week after the violence subsided. While many buildings remain destroyed, day-to-day activity appears normal with people buying and selling at the Barkin Ladi Market.

TMV also noticed that The Divisional Police headquarters was empty, though it was a refugee camp for hundreds a week ago. The internally displaced persons have either gone back to their residence or sought refuge elsewhere if their property had been destroyed.

Samuel Mahoss, a Barkin Ladi resident whose house was destroyed, took TMV to see the charred remains of his property. He called on the government to aid them in rebuilding their burnt houses, as he lamented his losses. According to Mahoss, the death toll in the Angwan Company neighborhood, was 33, including women and children. Mahoss prayed for this to be the last time such an incident would occur.

At the Kok neighborhood, a predominantly native area, virtually all houses were burned. Twenty-eight persons, mostly women and children, were killed and an undisclosed number are receiving treatment in various hospitals for injuries ranging from gunshots to machete cuts. The Councilor representing the Ward in the local government secretariat reportedly lost four of his children in the callous attacks.

As the Hausa neighborhoods were inaccessible for security reasons, TMV was unable to confirm the number of natives reportedly killed in that section of town where the riots began. Likewise, many Hausas lost their lives in the native section of town, but we have been unable to gather an account of the number killed.

At the First Baptist ‘Church, soldiers stood watch next to an armored military tank. There remains a large presence of security officers in Barkin Ladi, hoping to prevent another flare up.

By Daniel Mills

Read the article titled “Nigerian Schools in Plateau State” here.

In a follow up to our first report on education titled, “Nigerian Schools in Plateau State”, we mentioned that we received a cold response from Plateau State Government. We also explained that our goal is not to antagonize the government and that we are committed to providing honest reporting so that the state would better serve its citizens.

Since then, an aid with the government contacted us requesting to know the location of the school featured in the photograph in the article. He then commented that we had the right to fairly report on matters in the state. When we called him to see if he verified our report, he informed us that our findings in the article were accurate.

We think it is important to make this note because our original article on education caused friction between the Plateau State government and TMV. We hope that their investigation of our reporting has confirmed that TMV would report fairly and that there would be no further friction. We are also pursuing an interview with the Commissioner of Education to inform our readers about the state’s initiative on education.