FG disburses N210m to 10,490 indigents in Kaduna
The Federal Government has disbursed N210 million to 10,490 indigents in Kaduna State under its Conditional Cash Transfer Programme.
The programme, run by the Buhari Administration under the National Social Investment Programme, was introduced in 2016 to tackle unemployment, poverty and hunger in the country.
Alhaji Mahmoud Zailani, Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Rural and Community Development, in a statement made available to journalists in Kaduna, said the beneficiaries, from nine local government areas of the state received N5,000 monthly between in February and May.
Zailani listed the local government areas to include Ikara, Kubau, Lere, Birnin Gwari, Chikun, Kajuru, Kachia, Kauru and Sanga.
Also, the Federal Government says it has commenced the review of the National Environmental Sanitation Policy, developed and launched by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005, to improve and promote sound environmental sanitation practices in the country.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Leon Aliboh, said this at the National Critique Workshop on the Review and Update of the National Environmental Sanitation Policy, Guidelines and Action Plan in Abuja.
Aliboh, represented by the Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Mr Charles Ikias, said that the ministry, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) developed the policy and its supporting documents.
“The policy document is now 13 years old and due for review. No wonder we are gathered here today to critique and update it for validation,’’ the permanent secretary said.
He said that the policy adopted a sectorial approach to address the sanitation challenges in various settings such as homes, schools, markets, abattoirs, among others in the country.
“The needs include excreta disposal, solid waste management, pest and vector control, food sanitation and hygiene education in a holistic manner.
“The National Action Plan provides the operational framework, enunciates strategies, programmes and time bound activities and also assigns roles and responsibilities to the different tiers of government and other relevant stakeholders for effective implementation.
“The advent of new sanitation technologies, innovations, emerging sanitation issues and challenges in implementation make it necessary to review and update the policy documents to meet present needs and challenges.
“With an effective and efficient framework to tackle the myriad of environmental sanitation challenges, sustainable development goals will be greatly achieved.’’
The Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Baba Shehu-Lawan, urged relevant stakeholders to implement the policy after its formulation and review.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has expressed readiness to collaborate with the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on training, intelligence, radio communication and logistics support for its personnel.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said this when he received the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Nigeria, retired Maj.-Gen. Wagar Kingravi, at the army headquarters in Abuja.
Buratai recalled that both countries had enjoyed military collaborations, including exchange of training at junior and senior staff courses at the National Defence College (NDC).
He said that the army was ready to continue to partner with Pakistani’s army in order to tap from its wealth of experience, especially on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency.
He also commended the Pakistani armed forces for assisting the Nigerian Army with radio communication equipment deployed in the fight against insurgency.
Earlier, Kingravi said he was proud of the relationship between the two countries, especially in military cooperation.
He said Nigeria and his country shared similar challenges, noting that the cooperation would help both countries to tackle them.
According to him, the Pakistani army has the capacity to train a battalion of Special Forces of the Nigerian Army.
The High Commissioner, however, commended the Nigerian Army for successes recorded in the fight against terrorism.
