Nation
The State
Ondo
As part of efforts to redue infant and matenal mortality rate among residents of Ondo State, the government has concluded arrangement with the World Bank for the execution of a N1 billion special healthcare programme in which pregnant women would get personalised care from trained health workers across the state.
Under the arrangement, to which the global body would be contributing counterpart funding of $3.4 million, each pregnant women registered with the project would be assigned specific healthcare worker and be provided with telephone line to reach the assigned officer in case of emergency or distress.
Already, 5,000 such lines that would charge no cost, if it was made to specified health workers who would also be issued with same, have been provided by a GSM telecom Company. The lines will be made available to pregnant beneficiaries in collaboration with the state government.
Part of the initiative is also the establishment of Health Rangers Scheme to be equipped with communication gadgets and mobility machines and who are to maintain constant contacts with pregnant women assigned to them individually to monitor their health and other immediate assistance when needed. The novel idea, which the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, had said would assist the government to monitor the health of the citizens, also included provision of more health facilities at each political unites of the state to make such facilities available within the people.
Gombe
Gombe State Commissioner for Education, Aishawu Ahmad Bose, has accused teachers in the state of aiding and abetting examination malpractice in the last Senior Secondary certificate Examinations (SSCE) and the National Examinations council (NECO).
Ahmad made this known while addressing teachers at the Education Resoruces Centre in Gombe explaining that despite the ugly trend, only about five percent of those who sat for the last SSCE got qualifying results for admission into tertiary institutions.
She told the teachers that they were perpetrating the dirty act to cover up their shortcomings since they could not give their best to their studies preparatory to the examinations.
According to Ahmad, the state government will not tolerate such ugly practice anymore and will deal ruthlessly with anyone caught aiding students to cheat in exams.
She further directed the teachers to ensure they did their jobs diligently rather than involving in fraud.
Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has given the state government 90 days ultimatum to pay the teachers’ 2009 annual increment, else the union would embark on strike. NUT state Chairman, Ahmed Maisakala, said some teachers had spent up to 10 years without promotion while 1,000 others under the Federal Teachers Service Scheme had spent eight months without any pay.
Maisakala called on the authorities concerned to hasten up and ensure that the eight months salary arrears was paid and the backlog of promotion cleared in order to motivate the affected teachers.
Taraba
The current suspected cholera outbreak in Jalingo, the Taraba State Capital, has reportedly claimed 35 lives as at the last count. But state health officials have disputed the figure, saying that only six people have so far died in the epidemic.
A visit to some health centres in the town showed the children within the ages of five and 12 constitute the bulk of the victims on admission in the wards.
However, state health officials could not confirm if the deaths were actually from cholera, as results of laboratory tests carried out some victims were still being expected.
According to a list made available to The Tide at Turaki Model Primary Health Care Centre, Jalingo, by the Health Officer, Lawal Illiyasu Matindi, force persons out of the 23 cases reported in the centre died.
A number of deaths has also been recorded at the Sabon-Gari and Matindi Health Centre in the state.
“We cannot actually claim that it is cholera. For now, we believe it is gastro-enteritis,” Matindi explained.
Osun
Traditional rulers from Osun State have stormed the National Assembly in furtherance of their agitation for the creation of Oduduwa state from the present Osun State.
They were received by the president of the senate, Chief David Mark at the Senate Committee hearing room one, where they presented a handbook articulating their demand to Chief Mark.
Leaders of the delegation, Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa, Oba Oladele Olashore, who stood in for the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okumade Sijuade, delivered an address on behalf of the people of Osun State.
In his address, Olashore stated that the agitation for the creation of Oduduwa state as a response to the yearning and aspiration of the people of the state with the active support of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
According to him, “In the last seven months, we have engaged in serious consultation to ensure that every section of the present Osun State is involved in the agitation and demand.”
The monarch added that 13 out of the 30 local governments in Osun state are involved in the proposed state which covers a land area of 1.7 million people. They said the population and land mass of the proposed state are large enough when compared with some existing states in the country.
“We assure you that the proposed Oduduwa state with the proposed capital in Ile-Ife, has enough human and material resources to maintain itself without becoming a parasite and to contribute meaningfully to the overall development of the country,” he said.
Responding, Mark described the agitation as a legitimate one and urged all agitators to go about their demand by peaceful means.
He charged the Osun State House of Assembly to lobby other state assemblies for necessary support for the actualization of the demand.
Ogun
Governors of Ogun, Edo and Ekiti states have paid tribute to the late nationalist, Dr. Tunji Otegbeye.
Governor Olugbenga Daniel of Ogun State described late Dr. Otegbeye as an icon of democracy, a true nationalist and one of the pillars of the Nation.
Daniel, in the statement signed by the Secretary to State Government, Mr. Adegbemi Onakoya, said the elder statesman was a great politician, who contributed immensely to the making of modern Nigeria “and was a worthy example of a detribalized Nigerian whom the present and coming generation should emulate.”
Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, expressed shock over the death of Otegbeye.
Oshiomohole in a statement by the state’s Commissioner of Information, Hon. Abdul Oroh, said “he was critical to organising the Nigeria students movement as a formidable platform for combating colonial rule.
His contribution to the struggle for Independence was most marked in the pioneering roles he played in the Nigeria Socialist Movement and the Labour Movement.”
In the same vein, Ekiti State governor, Engr. Segun Oni, through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre in Ado-Ekiti described Otegbeye as “a patriot, who devoted his entire life to the emancipation of the down-trodden while he also worked tirelessly with other leaders for the pre and post colonial development of Nigeria.”
Also two frontline politicians, Chief Ebenezer Babatope and Dr. Olapade Agoro have eulogised the late elder statesman.
Babatope described him as “a fervent nationalist and Pan Africanist who actively participated in the independence struggles of many African countries.”
Agoro said the death of Otegbeye was painful and inevitable. “He was a great believer in the cause of the Yorubas in oneness of Nigeria and one of the few remaining political loyalists of the sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo ideological school of thought.”
Kano
Amidst speculations of an impending plan by the Federal Government to hike prices of petroleum products, an Islamic Cleric in Kano, Sheik Aminu Adam has cautioned President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to shelve the idea in line with his divine covenant with the citizen.
Sheik Aminu Adam, Deputy chief Imam of Al Furqan Juma’at Mosque who made the plea during a Friday sermon to hundreds of thousands of Muslims worshipers in Kano said that Nigerians already have enough dose of hardship, pointing out that under the existing harsh economic scenario ‘any further attempt to muscle Nigerians further is man inhumanity to man’.
The cleric reminded Nigerian rulers of their divine responsibility to the masses, maintaining that they should jealously guard against their interest all the time.
Sheik Aminu Adam specifically called on the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar and the 36 states Governors to intervene on behalf of the hapless masses.
Badagry
Security Agencies operating at the Seme border- Badagry have ordered a stop to the indiscriminate crossing of the border by commercial motorcyclists, okada in local parlance.
A source told our correspondent in Seme Border that the government agencies took the decision at its monthly meeting because of the ‘adverse security implication’ of the motorcyclists.
The source added that there had been incessant complaints by security operators over the manner in which the commercial motorcyclists took passengers across the border without undergoing security screening.
The source alleged that in the past, officers on patrol had been knocked down by the commercial motorcyclists who speed recklessly across the borders in an attempt to foil the screening of their passengers by security operators, adding that the Seme border is an escaping route for wanted politicians and bank chief into neighboring country.
He said that the initial decision was to stop the operation of okada at the border but this was revived because of the likely hardship innocent travellers who patronized them might suffer.
The source also revealed that to sanitize the border area, the agencies outlined a measure that required the commercial motorcyclists to drop their passengers in the baggage area of the ECOWAS building where they would undergo screening.
The commercial okada are expected to push their bikes across the border and wait for their passengers to go through arrival and departure procedures a situation that has yield so many results.
The source also revealed that the latest development resulted to the arrest of over ten suspects by the National drug law enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on various crime ranging from, illegal possession of 160 pieces of Thomas cook Travelers cheques in 100 Euro bill and 49 pieces of America Express Travelers’ cheques also in 100 Euro bill, 9,000 fake dollars and large quantity of weed suspected to be cannabis imported from Ghana and many other criminal cases recorded by various government agencies.
Abuja
Nigeria – A Nigerian official says at least 80 people died when a petroleum tanker truck exploded and set nine other vehicles alight on a road in southeastern Nigeria.
Nigeria Road Safety Commission spokesman Ben Ekenna says 12 bodies were badly burned and five people were injured in the blast in Anambra state on Friday. He says the petrol-carrying truck leaked into a deep pothole which then attracted heat from the exhaust pipes of nearby cars and set off the explosion.
Fatal traffic accidents are common in Nigeria, where decades-old roads are normally pitted with potholes and drivers frequently fail to observe traffic-safety regulations.
Nigeria is one of Africa’s biggest oil producers.
The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
South East Caucus of the Senate has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu considering his commitment to achieving a practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly angered by the Senate’s rejection of the need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent 1993 elections stormed out of the Senate Chambers and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South), as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .
Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says the Nigerian Military is committed to facilitating sustainable food security in the country through the establishment of farms.
Musa said this in Abuja yesterday during the unveiling of the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products Logo.
He noted that the agricultural sector played crucial role in guaranteeing food security which was requisite for sustainable national security.
He said that the adverse impact of climate change, environmental degradation and conflict across some parts of the country had continuously threatened food security with dire consequences on national security.
According to him, to address this, the Defence Headquarters in May 2023, conceptualised the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products initiative.
“This is with the aim of keying into the federal government’s efforts at addressing food security challenges in the country.
“The initiative which aligns with the ‘People Centric’ policy thrust of my leadership concept is aimed at creating job opportunities and enhancing rural infrastructural development while significantly contributing to food security in the Country.
“Considering the extensive consultation, planning and preparation made by the committee thus far, I am optimistic that the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products initiative will have a positive transformative impact on host communities while enhancing national security.
“With similar initiatives replicated across the country, I envision a future characterised by modernised farming techniques in which the agricultural sector significantly contributes to economic growth and national development.”
The CDS enjoined all members of the Armed Forces and the general public to embrace the initiative and maximise its associated gains.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, for his sterling leadership and relentless pursuit of national peace, security and economic prosperity.
He also appreciated the efforts of members of the committee who worked assiduously to actualise the initiative.
Earlier, the Chairman, Defence Farms Committee,