Nigerian Youths are today's leaders, tomorrow is far...

This week I decided to speak the minds of many young Nigerians who are dreaming of a better fathers Land in their life time, which should start from strong participation of the youths in Nigerian political process and governance. During the recent Constitutional Review programme by the National Assembly, we came under the banner of Youth Alliance on Constitution Review (YACOR), a coalition of  30 groups to fine-tuned our  inclusion in the new constitution, removal of the age requirement for elective offices hurt us most . One thing  that took central stage at the twitter conference was the constitutional role of Nigeria youths in democracy, the disjointed, disoriented, disorganized and incoherent pattern of youths involvement in political governance. The constitutional denial of many youths who are eager to make political changes  if given the chance, must be address in the ongoing amendment process. Nigerian youths constitute over 50 per cent of the voting population but lacks the opportunities to correctly participate in the nation's political process expect casting votes that often end in trash bins. This however is contributing eminently to our woes over the years. The current minimum age requirement for elective offices in Nigeria needs to be abolish. Youths are the strength of every nation. Aside being the active age group and dominant of the nation's labour force, Nigerian economy to a large extent depends on its youths due to their awesome efficiency in private businesses and other endeavors within and outside Nigeria which impact on the country's revenue and international relevance cannot be overlooked. It is a well-known fact that youthful exuberance, enthusiasm and energy tend to fuel organizational activities when exhibited in a controlled and tactical manner. Therefore,  of  what reason why youthful participation in politics, power and state resources control should be delayed still when they have few steps away from their graves? The age limit bar must be redress if we want to stop recycling these old hands in new garments that form  our government. We need a  younger generation of successive  and responsible leadership skills to pilot the affairs of the country and the constitution amendment should allow this. At the gathering, many of us (youths) asked for outright removal of age limit or in the alternative reduction of age qualification for contesting election to the office of the president from 40 years to 35 years; governors and Senate (30 years); House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly (25 years). We must not wait till when we are aging and our strength is lost to personal pursuits and accomplishments before we are allowed to undo these mess, the old generation has plunge us into. If the popular excuse remains "wealth of experience". Fellow Nigerians, I think these politicians' experiences are needless, what has the experienced leaders since 1999 led us into, uncontrollable corruption, bad roads, massive unemployment, insecurity and many other chaos situations. Yet we wonder how same people that had failed us still find their way back to power to continue their looting spree, crumbling our brighter future because we are not allow to challenge them at the poll. We can't take this anymore. Obafemi  Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe, Ahmadu Bello where in the youthful age when they made their landmark achievements for this country. How old was General Gowon, Muritala Muhammed when they became head of states? Yet their impacts were felt. 19 years old lady, Proscovia Alengot Oromait of Uganda is the Africa's youngest legislator. Chad Barefoot at 29 and Rep. Justin Burr at 26, are the  youngest senators in the US congress, why are we denied of same? Nigerian youths have many positive things to contribute in governance if given the chance to seek elective post. We can rebuild this nation, we have the strength,  we give a damn about our future ,we are not the leader of tomorrow but leaders of today. We are ready now!   FROM MY INBOX- Some Nigeria Police are monsters killing people anyhow, IGP should address it now, well-done sir- James Ugo Abuja Thoughtful thoughts here, but not all police kills like that we still have good ones here- Ibrahim Ali,Kano. When police are killed you journalists keeps quite, do you know how many officers that had paid the supreme price for Nigeria and their family now suffers neglect- ASP Amodu Jalingo. Better their lives and you will see changes, its not easy to carry arms in Nigeria-no name

Mindless Police killings

It appears that Nigeria Police officers are still in the jungle where animal instincts reigns, or how can someone explain the gross mindless killing of citizens by those armed to save their lives and properties. .

These days, Nigerians are convinced that the easiest and fastest suicide attempt is to argue with an arm carrying police officer. Lives are worthless in the sights of many cops, while numerous killings by triggered happy officers are yet to be resolved.

My earlier thought was to write on the rise in social violence among us (youth), when I got a message about how an Okada rider was shot dead by a mindless police officer in Ikeja area of Lagos.

While still grunting on this, the following day the senseless  killing had  moved to Muritala Muhammed International Airport, where another young man was shot dead by a police officer after a hot argument between both.
A friend who witnesses the scene said he was shock to the bones but take to his heels to avoid being the second victim of the unwholesome incident.
Same time last year at the wake of subsidy protest in Lagos, happy trigger  Segun Fabunmi,  Divisional Police Officer of Pen Cinema, Agege, had shot promising Ademola Abe, a 28 year old fashion designer till date  justice is yet to be served and I doubt if the policeman is still in custody or walking a freeman.
Abe might be luck unlike other unfortunate victims, his statue now stands in at Yaya Abatan area of Ogba in Lagos where he met his untimely death.
Also in Nasarawa State ,two youths have been sent to early grave by the police and I wonder if we should fold our arms I watch police officers to continue killing innocent souls with bullets bought to protect us and our properties while criminals rules our streets.

The reported police killing this year alone are more than 10 (as at time am writing this piece )and we are just a few days into the new year.
The police authority needs to address this issue urgently, its beyond sitting in Abuja to launch a code of conduct that a cadet or recruit will never get to read nor understand.
Police officers on the street needs re-orientation, our arms (because there are brought by tax payers money) are now terrorizing us in the hands of police, policing  is not about been ruthless or transfer of whatever  aggression to innocent citizens. 

Its about communicating and partnering with the public to make the society safer for us all.

Lastly Fabunmi, yes  'the late Abe's killer cop' should be brought to justice, to serve as deterrent to other 'I will shot you nothing go happen' officers, we have them many among our cops.

Jonathan, before we talk about 2015

My Thoughts with Ayodele Samuel (published by today's Peoples Daily Weekend) 08074420617 (SMS only)  Jonathan, before we talk about 2015 Many  Nigerians during the illness and evacuation days of Late President Yar'Adua rose to ensure Jonathan was given his right to be made Ag. President,  But today, he has taken away our rights to good  governance  as  Nigerians. We were fascinated about his 'my brother and sister' speeches and a couple of days the constitutional crisis got attentions  of every Nigerian, but I never believed in him, I was wary of a fisher man son, who trekked long  distance  without shoes  to school. As a journalist, I knew Nigerians would be carried away by his pitiful campaign messages promises which my friend Dr. Doyin Okupe told me he fulfilled in 2012 though  I took exception. The fact remains; Jonathan's government has continue to make many Nigerians  cry. Even at times I felt like leaving the country and come back 2015 perhaps Nigerians may decide to kick him out of Villa. Unpatriotic! You say. Let face it! Nigeria is in a big mess; our country is drowning at the speed of light, yet these prodigals in government are insensitive to our plights. As a fresh graduate, I can beat my chest that our major problem as a country is UNEMPLOYMENT, because if solved, it's a solution 20 other problems we face as a nation but this government, led by Jonathan is slow in creating the jobs but fast in stealing our money. Take for instance, the BRISIN project (The Basic Registry and Information System in Nigeria (BRISIN), a multi-billion naira project conceived to provide the fundamental infrastructure for information flow from grassroots to the national level)  was to generate 10 million jobs in 10 years, but under Jonathan administration the project is suffering its worst neglect. Our manufacturing sector if working at maximum capacity will create 20 million jobs, but today under Jonathan administration more companies are folding up, investors are not coming, therefore, our youths remain unemployed. With gainful employments Boko Haram will run out of suicide bombers. You said it a lie! Remember, some kidnappers confesses that if only they could earn N20,000 per month, the trade won't be an option. Corruption is on the increase, imagine, no one is in jail on the subsidy scam till date. We keep reading about the pension scam too yet culprits walk freely on the streets. Our government continues to deceive us with unimaginable achievements and you wonder if you live in same country Jonathan governs. Our roads are death traps. Nigerians are dying daily on bad roads with contracts awarded to most powerfuls of the country. we import even tissue paper and tooth pick sticks in Nigeria, little improvement in agricultural sector is distort with importation of 60 billion naira worth of mobile phones from China and America, for unknown 10 million farmers, excluding  my grandmother-  a cocoa farmer because she has two functioning popular brand phones to herself.    Nigeria can't continue to be govern  by this clueless leaders, we need original freshness. A breath of jobs creation, a revival of our dead textile industries, reopening of our manufacturing companies, a strong government against corruption, all these are still possible before we talk about 2015, Mr. President.

Jonathan fulfilled campaign promises in 2012, claims Okupe

I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Doyin Okupe 'Jonathan Attack Lion" where he told me among other audience that President Jonathan delivered his  campaign promises in 2012, i can't but look back year 2012, where we had the worst of dividend of democracy, while many thanks to journalism "we are forced to listen to liars many times", here is my published work after the meeting Jonathan fulfilled campaign promises in 2012, claims Okupe   On fulfillment of campaign promises Jonathan's Okupe, refuted claims that President Jonathan has not fulfilled mos t of the promises he made to Nigerians during the election that brought him into power saying, he was optimistic that the year 2013 will be the "year of Nigeria's glory. He also added that Nigerians were seriously lamenting before the coming of Jonathan, but according to him, the lamentations have started to decrease. "To say that Nigerians lamented the most in 2012, that is not true. There were lamentations before. The President on assumption of office said the days of lamentations are over, so in gradual sequence, the lamentations started to decrease. Gladly enough, stage by stage, most of the promises he made are being fulfilled gradually. "2013 is a year of Nigeria's glory. The president has said it. Good things are coming to Nigeria. There will be growth in all ramifications. There will be regular power supply" he said.   On Boko Haram Okupe said even though the President has not foreclosed direct interface with the group, the dialogue would have to be constructive with highest level of sincerity. He said the Federal Government was not against dialogue but that the real representatives of the sect must first of all be identified before genuine dialogue can take place.  "I believe that most Nigerians are interested in dialogue and that this ultimately would be the best way of resolving the issue, but dialogue would have to be constructive. You have to identify genuine people and when the proper stage is set for dialogue, the government would surely be interested", he sai d. Even so, the President said more than 70% of the intended action of the sect is being foiled by security agencies, adding that Aso rock has the capability to secure and protect the people of the country. "The Federal Government has curtailed the insurgency, it's no longer escalating. There is containment with both the numbers and locations. Don't forget that insurgency is not easy to contain anywhere in the world, but the government has a responsibility to protect the people and it's doing just that. "So, we should be careful with the way we criticize the President; we should measure our utterances. You don't destroy a country because you want to criticize the Federal Government. Boko haram only spread to seven states when it began and has been contained to three stat es. How then can people be saying that the country is not safe?" He asked.   On Anenih's appointment as NPA Chairman Reacting to condemnations that trailed last week appointment of Chief Anthony Anenih as the Chairman of th e Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), the Presidential spokesperson said that there was nothing wrong in appointing the veteran politician to use his vast experience to guide the professionals in NPA. He said the various allegations leveled against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain have not been proven in the court of law and that records have shown that they are all lies.  He particularly mentioned the billions of Naira that Anenih was alleged to have collected when he was the Minister of Works, saying that the money was only budgeted by the ministry and was not released. "Why then should people be accusing him of embezzling money when the money was not released?" he queried.    On FG's action on fuel subsidy Okupe assured Nigerians that the coming year will be the country's year of glory and that the Federal Government did not make a mistake in its handling of the fuel subsidy issue in January this year. He said the Jonathan's administration is a very responsive government and that, according to him, explains why the government, after due consultations bow to the wishes of the Nigerian people through the reduction in petrol price from N141 to N97 per litre. "I am not being pompous or irrational but I don't agree that government made a mistake given the way it handled the fuel subsidy issue. As responsible government, if you do something wrong and you come to the realization, you should agree that you make a mistake, but in that particular situation, from government perspective, it wasn't a mistake. I don't think government made a mistake; I am speaking from government's position, I don't think it was an error. Government backed down to the wishes of the people which are a responsible thing to do in a democracy".   On refineries He also spoke on the nation's refineries saying just like an old car, the refineries in the country are old and instead of spending money on frequent maintenance, the best option is to sell it off and purchase a new one. On why the federal government did not partner with those operating illegal refineries in the creeks to raise the refineries to a standard level and make them legal, Okupe said the operation of illegal refineries has nothing to with national growth and development. "The refineries are working and I believe that even in re cent times, the recent figure that we have is that majority of the refineries we have are very, very old. The least of them is about 30 years in age or more. So, we are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. The best thing to do is to do away with these refineries. It is like having an old car and you don't have money to purchase a new" http://peoplesdaily-online.com/index.php/politics/politics/political-interviews/10702-jonathan-fulfilled-campaign-promises-in-2012-claims-okupe

2012: The untold hardship of Nigeria's Manufacturing sector

Ayodele Samuel, Lagos The Nigerian manufacturing sector performed 'poorly' in the out gone year, as experts say the manufacturing sector contributed only 5 per cent to the nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), in its Business Environment Report 2012 disagreed with the Federal Government's claims of significant economic growth on the nation's economy, while the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) recently said  no fewer than 800 companies in Nigeria closed shop between 2009 and 2011 mainly due to harsh operating business environment.   NACCIMA president, Dr. Herbert Ajayi said, "More than half of the surviving firms had been classified as ailing, which poses a serious threat to the survival of the manufacturing industry in the country. Capacity utilisation in industries hovered around 30 per cent and 45 per cent on the average, with 100 per cent overhead costs. "Political and economic factors contribute greatly to the decline in the manufacturing sectors. For instance, poor infrastructure and epileptic power supply are also key impediments to the industry. The industry as a whole operates on more than 70 per cent of energy it generates, using generators and operating these generators greatly increases the cost of manufacturing goods in Nigeria", he stated. "Other factors include increase in the prices of petroleum products used by industries, multiple taxation, unabated smuggling and inadequate access to finance, both local and abroad", he added. Corroborating Ajayi's views, National President, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Mr. Chuku Wachuku  told Peoples Daily that many companies operated  below capacity in 2012 because of unstable power supply, inadequate funds and high labour costs. This, he said, has increased businesses' expenses, reduced productivity and hampered economic growth making many firms to shut down or relocated to neighbouring countries. He said the manufacturing sector is facing challenges in the face of the economic crisis that has accentuated the loss of competitiveness against manufactured products from China. The blackouts are negatively impacting the economy, which is grappling with a combination of slow growth, a weak currency, high inflation and the effect of flooding that is expected to drive up food prices. While the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has not released its official position for 2012,  its President, Dr. Kola Jamodu, in  September 2012 said there was an increased investment as well as improved turnover for the industrial sector of the economy within the last one year. His view however drawn conflicting reactions from other stakeholders. According to data obtained from the office of the Director-General, West African Institute of Financial and Economic Management, "In developed countries where the real sectors are thriving, manufacturing contribute as much as between 35 and 40 per cent to the GDP. For instance, in Malaysia, the manufacturing sector contributes about 45 per cent to the GDP. Our manufacturing sector must function optimally to generate more jobs if we are to realise the Vision 20:20:20 target. According to the data,"At present, about 30million youths are unemployed in Nigeria . The economy is growing at  almost 8 per cent, but we still have rising level of poverty of about 70 per cent. The rate of unemployment stands at about 24 per cent, which is about 35 percent among the youth.  Though increasing unemployment rate is a global phenomenon, we must tackle it in Nigeria". "The inflation rate is 12.8 per cent. So, what we are experiencing as economic growth rate is only marginal increase. Every year, government prepares the entire budget depending on income from crude oil. So, the economy is still heavily dependent on oil, while the manufacturing sector, which has the potentials to create jobs and generate more revenue, is not given the required attention. The rate of unemployment is growing faster than the growth of the economy. Increase in rural unemployment is also disturbing" the data stated.  Small and Medium Scale enterprises (SMEs), according to experts, contribute nearly half of the nation's GDP and accounts for over 25 percent of employment in the country. Also, the recent release from the Enterprise Baseline Survey 2012 stated that there are 17 million SMEs in Nigeria , employing 32.41 million persons and making a contribution of about 46.54 per cent to the GDP. Also, the CBN has been in the forefront of building a synergy between the financial and real sector of the economy, in order to enhance accessibility to capital for operators of SMEs in the country. The initiative is to ensure that the operators of SMEs have access to low cost funds to boost their operations and for start-ups to enhance expansion of smaller units of businesses across the country. This will bring about long-term benefit of boosting domestic production capacity for local manufacturers, such that they are able to carry out operations with reduced cost. In April 2009, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) created the N200 billion Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme Fund to stimulate growth in the SMEs sub-sector, with subsequent approval of N500 billion Intervention Fund in 2010 for the manufacturing industry. According to the LCCI report, major challenges faced by the  manufacturing sector was rising cost of production due to high cost of capital and alternative source of power as well as  increasing cost of labour due to scarcity of required skills and new minimum wage legislation expansion, leading to importation of technical skills required by the industries. The report however urge the Federal Government to ensure that SMEs and manufactures get loan at single digit and eliminate delays associated with loan processing, stressing the urgent need to responsibly check the influx of fake, imitation and sub-standard goods into the Nigerian market. http://peoplesdaily-online.com/index.php/business/business/commerce-industry/10775-2012-a-dismal-year-for-nigerian-manufacturing-sector

published in Peoples Daily Newspaper August 16 2012, Page 20

Tobacoo: My Friend ,Our Media

As I settled down with a friend inside a dark corner at Big Brother Café opposite the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba Lagos, South west Nigeria, what was going through my mind was the many workshops I have attended on tobacco at the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN). My friend is a chain smoker. If allowed he will smoke out his life… as he puffed into the air, I changed our topic ‘Ore’ (meaning friend in Yoruba our local dialect) why do you smoke? Daddy and Mum never smoked? Where do you learn how to stick your mouth? “The Media did this to me” how? I wanted to hear more but he wasn’t willing to talk about his smoking habit all he added was “Movies, I watched movies alot when I was young and the ‘best guy’ smokes so I …” my friend puffed away to another table, visibly not interested in my topic. The mass media have a major role to play in rebuilding our societal values, like my friend- who learnt smoking from the media obviously needs help from the same media. What we see has a great influence on our thinking and behaviours but what are we seeing through the media- corruption, prostitution, smoking like my friend many other bad habits. Yes! Children picked them from the media -that movie we watched, that advert we saw coupled with what our ‘broda adugbo’ area uncle did, formed our orientation, we all wants to belong, we want to be ‘happening’. Tobacco is killing a lot of Nigerians, The Network for Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT) Africa spokesperson, Philip Jakpor, lamented that the activities of the tobacco industry was particularly noticeable in low and middle income countries like Nigeria which accounts for 80 percent of the annual six million tobacco-related deaths in the world. He said journalists have crucial roles to play in exposing the tobacco industry's efforts at undermining the implementation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and public education on the dangers of smoking. But Nigeria Independent Tobacco Association  (NITA)  on its part says about 10,000 jobs will be at risk in Nigeria if the World Health Organisation (WHO) goes ahead with its proposal at the World Tobacco Growers’ Day. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/10/nita-members-may-loose-10000-jobs-if/ "There is a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry's interests and public health policy" Jakpor said. The Media majorly movie producers, Ad directors should wake up from their damaging slumber. Portraying people with bad habits as ‘great men’ should stop, our society is losing out its morals- young people believe so much in the media, their daily activities are built around these ‘media mentors’. We need to start building a sane society through sane media content.

In Jalingo: safe water is scarce like petrol, and expensive as gold

"Water, they say is life", and according to science, the human body constitute of 70% of this liquid substance, as such water tops the priority list of the demand of mankind.  The World Health Organization (WHO)  said 80% of diseases plaguing humanity are due to use or consumption of unsafe water.

"Over 1 billion people globally lack access to safe drinking-water supplies, while 2.6 billion lack adequate sanitation; diseases related to unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene result in an estimated 1.7 million deaths every year," WHO report says.

It is generally believed that the accessibility of sufficient quantities of  portable water and safe sanitation facilities to a household determines the quality of life of the people and potential for poverty alleviation. This leads to the welfare improvement and is generally linked to a decrease in infant and maternal mortality, increase nutritional values and environmental hygiene.

In Jalingo, accessing portable water by residents remains a major battle forcing residents of the city to rely on local vendor popularly id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5819394726337101682" />

called Mai ruwa and few streams for water, while public water supply remained exclusive for the rich in the state. Wurom Musa, is a one of the slum communities in Jalingo, and is inhabited mainly by farmers and traders. Here the only source of water for domestic consumption is a local stream about 7 killometers  away. away. What would have served as a safer source of water supply- a two  hand-pump boreholes donated to the community 5 years ago,  had collapsed In another slum community, Barade ward, there are tales of woes and anguish  whenever the Lamorde River, the only source of water in the area,  dries up, typically  during dry season. When this occurs, residents of the  community are left with no other option than to buy from 'Mai Ruwa' water vendors, whose source of water is unknown. In another community, Agangagwasa, a resident, ,  Julian Bala narrated that getting water for domestic use is a major challenge. "because here is a new area with plenty people, water is our problem, when the wells in the area  are dried up, it's a difficult  to get water because, we trek long distance searching for water as if you are looking for petrol, its saddening because water board is not here" Another resident, Mrs. Franca Osita told me that  she starts her day by searching for water, "I  have to wake up early and walk to   the stream to get water, or else buy from the water vendors and then prepare the children for school before resuming business, this is usually difficult for me" She called on the government to show more concern to the untold suffering water scarcity has brought upon the people, by making provision for more boreholes and making sure that the taps are running again. The Ward head of Mayo-Gwoi Village, in peri urban Jalingo, Mr. Aliyu Jassa, said the lack of access to portable water in the city is harming their health. " Due to lack of water from the taps, some of us depend largely on  Mai ruwa, and those who cannot afford to buy, have to depend on the river. Unfortunately we've had cases of cholera that have resulted to the loss of lives, especially pregnant women and children, I almost lost my children too, but thank God for quick intervention" Hamman Yakubu a retired bank official, on his part lamented the hike in price of water by local vendors.  "Me and my family consume not less than three trucks a day at N200 per a truck of ten jerry-cans each, but we are at the mercy of the water vendors, who sometimes hike the price of the water at will," adding that  it's  too expensive for an average citizen in the state who earns less than N18, 000 per month, considering  other family expenses like sending the children to school. Mr. Yakubu also noted that though there are pipes laid down for distribution to homes, but too expensive to embark upon, as it will cost N60,000 for the installation per home; adding  that the pipes have rusted due to non-usage resulting to  health hazard for the few consumers. Other residents across the city bemoan the recurrent shortage of water and overdependence for water supply on Mai ruwa whom sources of water is not known to the consumer. Chairman of Taraba state water vendors, Mr. Muhamadu Ahmed said "there are over 20,000 members of the association scattered in various location of Jalingo" Danlami Musa a water vendor said, he  sells as much as fifteen trucks a day and due to the high demand of the product he often have to go in search of water from the stream, stating that sometimes the water from the borehole is not sufficient to go round. Secretary of the Association of water vendors in Jalingo, Mr. Iliya Jacob who had been in the business for more than 14 years said his service is an alternative to government. " I have been providing water for this entire area for 13 years, people troop in from distances to come here for water, sometimes we have to give them for free, as a humanitarian service, we see the untold hardship on our people, we regard our services as an alternative to the government, because most people cannot afford to buy trucks of water per day, there is no other option for getting portable water"  he added. He identify causes of water scarcity in city as "dryness of well and stream majorly during dry season and well water  changing color during raining seasons, and sometimes due to the activity of the pumping machine, it drains water from the ground which often cause some temporal water shortage from the ground, and leads to dry wells." The Area Manager of Taraba Water Supply Board, Jalingo district,  Mr. Bitrus Rimanshon  admitted to ravaging  water shortage in the city: "the product don't seems to be available, however the government is doing its best to meet up with the challenges." The Government is doing its best, the Taraba water supply board is operational on a daily basis, but coverage is not much, due to the growing population of the city, the coverage area is presently at 32%," Some of the challenges facing the State Water Board according to investigation includes obsolete machines that needs renovation and replacements,  inadequate funding , deficiency in human resource development, and manpower that has reduced from 600 to 324 since the creation of the state. Other challenges according to Mr. Rimanshon  , is the need to upgrade the facilities  for water distribution, stating that  only six out of the fourteen boreholes  in the Board are functional. Calling on the  the government to subsidize water supply, in the state  rather than putting  more money  in providing drugs, Mr Rimanshon  said the proper funding of the Board and efficient supply of safe water will help prevent diseases. A government official who does not want his name in print confirmed that that the State Government recently  accessed a loan from the African Development Bank, to enable it upgrade the water supply  coverage in the state from 32% to 75% . The story is contributed by Ayodele Samuel, and published under the pro poor WASH stories project implemented by the Water and Sanitation Media Network Nigeria, with the support of West Africa WASH Media Network, WaterAid, and Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council.