The President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najeem Usman Yasin made the plea while speaking with newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State, recently.

Alhaji Yasin, who described most Nigerian roads as death traps regretted that they were in a state of disrepair, which called for government’s immediate attention.

According to him, federal, state and local governments had roads under their various jurisdictions and called on the various government to cater for their portion of the roads.

Alhaji Yasin who said he was recently in Canada, North America to attend a conference on international Transport Federation where over 60 countries were in attendance, described Nigeria as lagging behind in terms of the nation’s transportation system and road network.

The NURTW boss also appealed to politicians to emulate people like Sarduana, Awolowo and Azikwe in their style of politics and guide against what he described as politics of bitterness.

Alhaji Yasin described the late second pepublic Senate Leader and Waziri of Ilorin, Doctor Olusola Saraki as an elder statesman who contributed in no small way to the political stability of not only Kwara State, but the entire nation and urged the political class to sustain his good works.

Omolafe stated this at a meeting of stakeholders of the programme.

According to him, the programme was divided into two the Graduate Internship Scheme and the Community Service Scheme.

He said graduates who were currently unemploy should apply through the website of the programme as they would be considered for employment.

“Under the Graduate Internship Scheme, graduates are expected to fill an online form and submit same online to the Federal Implementation Unit (FIU) of SURE-P

“Also, the Community Service Scheme will have in the first phase 3,000 men, women and the vulnerables empowered. Under the scheme, the State Implementation Committees are to visit all the communities in their states and liaise with the community leaders to identify  projects that would be of interest to the communities.

“Also casual workers would be sourced from their communities to assist in the implementation of the project,” he diclosed.

Omolafe, former Chairman of Akure South Local Government Area of the state, said interested companies that have their companies updated could also register for the programme.    

He said such companies, after meeting the stipulated requirements were entitled to provide training for the qualified graduates under the Graduate Internship Scheme, adding that such graduates would be entitled to allowance while in training.

He said the intention of the government was to take empowerment to the grass roots through the implementation of the programmes of the SURE-P.

According to the statement, a technical committee has been inaugurated to map out the areas most vulnerable to disasters.

Sani-Sidi announced the setting up of the committee when he received the newly appointed Commander, Nigerian Air Force, Abuja Camp, Group Capt. Joseph Malgwi, in his office.

He described the experience from the recent floods as a challenge that required synergy among the stakeholders.

Sani-Sidi said Nigeria had the ability to address different disasters if given the needed cooperation and support.

He  solicited the cooperation of stakeholders and support of international agencies to protect disaster prone communities by building a disaster resilience culture among the people.

“We have mobilised stakeholders and volunteers in the likelihood of fire incidents in market places, farmlands and forests.

Malgwi said his visit to the agency was to strengthen existing working relationship between NEMA and the NAF unit.

State chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Ifeanyi Obi said the law would soon catch up with those recalcitrant operators who worked at odd hours to beat the law.

Chief Obi, while advising commuters to be weary of unpainted taxi cabs, stated that the police have been cooperating with the task force and called for strident efforts to ensure 100 per cent compliance during the yuletide season.

According to him, “our drivers have painted their vehicles, some of them have said that they are experienced more patronage as a result of the painting and I can also tell you that the rate of crime has reduced because of the painting, but there are very few buses that have not been painted and they are still on our roads.”

“These buses work very early in the morning or late at night and ply roads where they know they will not meet members of the task force.  We are working to get their buses painted and if they are not comfortable with the painting of their vehicles, they should leave the state because, we want situation where our vehicles are safe for commuters to travel with and our governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan needs everybody’s help for the peace and security agenda to succeed,” Chief Obi added.

He stated that there has been more than 80 per cent compliance in Asaba and urged drivers of taxis and buses in other towns in the state, especially Warri to ensure that their vehicles were painted if they were confident of their job.

Comrade Obi  disclosed that the task force would move into Warri in the next few days to enforce the painting of the vehicles in Delta colours and after Warri, would move to other towns of the state.

The drivers’ union leader, commended Governor Uduaghan for insisting that commercial vehicles must be painted in the state colours, stating that the union would assist in enforcing that decision and solicited the cooperation of all drivers and security agencies for such to succeed.

The Baale of the community,  Chief Jimoh Ayodele made this known to Community News during an exclusive interview.

The Baale stated that, women in the community are very hard working and known for bush meat trading.

“Baale Ayo Community is known for bush meat trade worldwide but we want government to build a beffiting market for the use of our women,” the Baale added.

The community leader who commended the Olukoyi of Ikoyi land, Oba Yisau Oyetunji Bantale Otunla, Kodaolu 1, for his efforts towards the development of Baale Ayo community and other communities under him also called the attention of the government to the deplorable condition of ‘Mongi-Mongi’ local bridge, saying, “government should  help the residents to construct a befitting culvert on the stream that has seperated Baale Ayo from other communities.

The Baale further appealed to the government to resuscitate the Mini-Water Scheme in the area as it has refused to serve its purpose for long.

According to the community leader, the Baale Ayo that had been in excistence since 200 years could not boast of a Police Post for the protection of life and property.

“I want to use this medium to commend the government of the state for promoting welfare of the people at the grass roots level.

Local Government Area of the state.

Ige gave the assurance recently at the Quarterly Ministerial Press Conference organised by the state Ministry of Information and Strategy.

He said the state government was providing transformers to rural communities in order to ensure that dividends of democracy reach the people, thereby benefitting maximally from this administration.

The Special Adviser also explained that the present administration has been liberal with contractors that were engaged by the immediate past administration as they have been made to continue to execute the contracts and delivered without reference to their political leanings.

On the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP),  Ige explained that it was a World Bank sponsored project which had improved the 12km Iwo-Pataara road, 29.7km Orile-Owu-Ago-Owu-Ogedengbe road as well as the 18.6km Mokore Farm Settlement road.

He explained further that each kilometer of the roads has been allocated to a person who could be reached on telephone in order to report and inform him of the damage and need for immediate repair.

Ige advised beneficiaries of the skills acquisition programmes, especially the designers of locally made fabrics to reach out and find markets for their products as only this would ensure their socio-economic well-being as well as that of the state.

Mrs Patricia Falope, the Executive Officer of the organisation, told newsmen in Abuja on Monday that the World Bank recommended that early childhood development was a necessary step to realising the MDGs for education.

“Nigeria cannot talk about MDGs or Vision 20: 2020 without looking at early childhood development.

“We live in a global world and the future will be more competitive for all children; if we want our children to be able to compete favourably, we must equip them adequately.

Nigerian children should not be allowed to fall far behind their counterparts in the developed world.’’

Falope also said that her organisation had been collaborating with appropriate agencies, state and local governments on how to assist in the training of children at the grass roots.

“One thing that we need to do different however is to distribute the focus so that a significantly higher effort is expended on children’s younger years.’’

She also said the organisation would assist both public and private schools in the training of teachers on how to grow total children.

According to her, the organisation is dedicated to promoting optimal development for all Nigerian children with a special focus on child development from birth to six years.

The annual event according to the Chairman, Planning Committee, Chief Kehinde Olasode would feature many activities which include a lecture to be delivered by the Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, Dr. Ade Abolurin.

According to Olasode, represented by the Vice-Chairman, Mr. Festus Kehinde, at a press conference heralding the week-long activities, Abolurin is expected to talk on “The roles of the youth in nation building.”

The choice of Abolurin, according to him, was his ability to rise through the ranks by dedication, hard work and commitment.

The lecture, according to him, would prepare the youths towards building a virile and sustainable development in Nigeria in the nearest future.

He added that the celebration was aimed at raising the political consciousness among youths and prepare them for leadership roles.

The state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, is also expected  to  give a health talk on  HIV/AIDs, in order to improve the health of the people, especially the youths, through advocacy.

The organisers added that a three-day free eye screening, which would include conduct of eye test, surgical operations as well as issuance of glasses at highly subsidised prices.

“When you build the youth, you are inevitably building the nation. It is in the light of this that the anniversary lecture this year is built around them. Before now, youths have not been taken into  consideration.

 “It is a lecture and career talk with a mission to prepare our youths for the onerous roles expected of them as nation builders. So, many people lose their eyes before 40. The lecture on HIV/AIDs is also for the youths and not for the old,” he stated.

The usual beating of Gbedu drum, carnival float round Abeokuta, inter-secondary school football competition and payment of homage to the Agura of Gbagura, Oba Halidu Olaloko would be held to add glamour to the event.

Kehinde maintained that the annual event was to celebrate the rich culture and foster unity among the people of Gbagura.

The celebration would be rounded up with a thanksgiving service at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Gbagura, on Sunday, December 2.

The participants were drawn from Lagos,Osun, Ogun,Ondo,Oyo, Ekiti,Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory.

Minister of Youth Development Inuwa Abdul--Kadir has said that the only key to National Development is for the Nation to explore in to fullest enterpreneurship  scheme as to figth poverty, hunger and unemployment in the country.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) Debt Relief Gains (DRGs) programme for Youth Enterpreneurs in Agro--Business in the South- West states and the North-Central geo- political zones held at the Youth Development center, Ode-Omu, Osun State, the Minister noted that the aims was to ameliorate poverty, hunger, Youth unemployment through Agriculture and local expertise in Agro-Busness.

Speaking with Journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State,  after the fourth national executive council meeting of the association, the Chairman of the association, Comrade Fatai Jimoh, lamented that most leaders of state Houses of Assembly usually opt out of decision to have financial autonomy in states’ legislative arm.

“There has to be two-third of the state Houses of Assembly to endorse any constitutional amendment. So, to get two-third, you need 24 states out of 36 states. They usually have 24 states as required, but at the last minute of taking decision, some two state Houses of Assembly optd out, saying they are not interested in the independence,” he said.