Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Director-General (DG) of Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), Hajiya Dije Bala, says the Agency was not responsible for the removal of campaign posters in Bauchi metropolis.
Bala told newsmen in Bauchi that no staff of the Agency was officially directed to remove campaign posters.
The DG expressed surprise that people had resorted to using her staff to achieve their political ambitions.
“I did not direct any of my staff to remove any poster in the state, it is unfortunate that some politicians are using my staff unofficially to remove the posters of their rivals.
“We are aware that some politicians are using our staff to peel off posters meant for political campaigns in the metroplis, but is not official,” she added.
Ekiti
Mr. Dipo Anisulowo, President of Ekiti State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (EKICCIMA) has called on politicians to invest in the economic development of the state.
Anisulowo said at a press briefing in Ado-Ekiti that the state economic development was still at a very slow pace because the state politicians invest solely on politics.
He noted that if the huge sum of money being spent on politics could be spend on economic development, the state would have developed tremendously.
He wondered why politics had become the only major occupation in the state.
According to Anisulowo, the lack of buoyant members in the state chamber is responsible for the low industries in the state.
Besides, he said businessmen who were willing to invest in the state had been prevented from doing so through petitions by those he described as enemies of progress.
Henceforth, singing of the National Anthem during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting has been ruled out, the Acting President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has directed.
Jonathan gave the directive at the commencement of Tuesday’s NEC meeting, which was attended by 24 governors and eight deputy governors.
The Tide’s source observed that the acting President who presided over the NEC meeting, was initially reminded by some governors on the need to sing the anthem, but he did not yield.
He later explained that the banning of the National Anthem and the National Pledge was informed by the advice he received from his protocol officers.
“I was told by the protocol unit that singing the National Anthem during NEC meeting is wrong,” he said.
The Gombe State Government spent about N200 million on the construction and equipping of four skill acquisition centres for women in the three Senatorial Districts in the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Fatima Bello, told newsmen in Gombe that the centres were located in Dukku, Gombe metropolis, Shongom and Akko.
Bello said the centres were established to cater for the teeming number of school drop-outs, casualties of early marriage, hawkers and those who were not opportuned to attend any school.
“We are concerned with these categories of people because we want them to be self-reliant and also to reduce the number of dependents in the society,” she said.
According to her, those enrolled in the centre are being taught kniting, tailoring, hair dressing and cookery.
Kaduna
The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) recovered more than N21 billion as “operating soplus” from 18 corporate organisations in 2009.
The Commissioner for Strategic Communications, Mr Adewunmi Abitoye, made the announcement in Kaduna shortly after officials of the commission paid a courtesy visit to Governor Namadi Sambo.
He said the amount was subsequently remitted to the Federal Government’s consolidated account.
Abitoye said that “operating soplus” was the fund generated by corporate agencies outside the budgeted amount for a particular year.
The commissioner, who represents the West geo-political zone on the commission, said the agencies were expected to remit 80 per cent of such fund to the Federation Account.
He said the funds were recovered after the agencies failed to remit the excess funds to the federation account.
Kano
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, has urged governors of the 36 states not to divert funds voted for development projects to other purposes.
The emir made the call in Kano when the Peer Review Team of the Nigeria Governors‘ Forum (NGF) Secretariat paid him a courtesy visit.
Bayero said that the call was necessary based on past experience when monies voted for development projects were diverted into private accounts.
He, however, observed that if top government officials were able to shun corrupt practices, the country would be better for it.
This, he said, was because corruption was common among top government officials, adding that unless they were appropriately punished when caught, the vice would continue to thrive.
On the current electricity problem, the emir advised state governors to establish independent power plants, while the Federal Government should find ways of tackling the challenge.
Katsina
The DIG “A” Department , Nigeria Police Force, Alhaji Uba Ringim, has expressed the police readiness to provide adequate security during and after the 2011 general elections in the country. Speaking when he visited Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, Ringim said the police force was well prepared to establish peace and order in the country during the 2011 general polls.
“We are training our personnel so that they would be able to move with the challenges of politics in the country,’’ he added.
He, however, said the political situation in the North-West Zone was “very peaceful, especially in Katsina State”.
“The state is very peaceful and the peace situation is due to the state government’s fairness and from the record we receive from the state police command, the state government is all out to protect the life and property of its citizenry,’’ he noted.
Kwara
The Kwara Government has inaugurated a task force to facilitate the distribution of potable water in the Ilorin metropolis. Speaking during the ceremony, recently the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Abubakar Kannike, said the committee would be in charge of facilitating the distribution of water to the various parts of the city.
Kannike, who is also the chairman of the task force, said that 172 water points had been established under the Kwara State Water Support Scheme to ease the water supply problem. He restated the determination Governor Bukola Saraki to make water available to all the nooks and crannies of the state.
According to him, the governor has approved the establishment of 30 additional water points under the Water Support Services.
He said the government had also approved the purchase of two water tankers and the repair of three others, to complement the 10 existing tankers for the smooth distribution of water to the people.
Ogun
Scores of widows, artisans and the aged in Odogbolu Local Government of Ogun received cash and working tools from the wife of the state’s governor, Mrs Olufunke Daniel.
Daniel distributed the cash and tools at Ososa during a forum organised by her pet project, Gateway Front Foundation(GFF).
She appealed to the beneficiaries to use the items and money given to them judiciously.
“It is the intention of my pet project, Gateway Front Foundation, to provide succour for the downtrodden and voiceless citizens of this state,” she added.
Daniel urged indigenes of the state, especially philanthropists, to assist the state government in improving the economic fortunes of citizens.
“We must all work together to move the needy amidst us to the next level, that is how to be our brother’s keeper.
Sokoto
The Police Command in Sokoto State has arrested 12 suspected criminals and embarked on the evacaution of used tyres obstructing the free flow of traffic, a statement said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Lawal Abdullahi, in a statement in Sokoto said the exercise would be carried out in all police formations in the state.
The statement also said that it was part of the measure by the police in crime prevention.
“This is to prevent miscreants and other undesirable elements in the society from taking advantage of such tyres to make bonfires, blockage of the roads or causing havoc in the community.” “It is on record that irate youths on a slight issue take advantage of such tyres as an avenue to cause a total breakdown of law and order,” the statement added.
The statement urged the public to assist the police by removing old tyres from their localities.
The Zamfara State House of Assembly in Gusau has approved a budget of N29.8 billion for the 14 local councils in the state. The House Leader, Malam Mani Mummini, who moved the motion, said that the proposals were rich enough, as they contained development projects in those areas.
Mummini added that some of the councils also focused on the completion of ongoing projects that had direct bearing on the people.
The motion was seconded by Alhaji Yusuf Ahmad Dogon-koli, a member representing Gusau II.
Mummini said that the councils had submitted their proposals to the House at the right time.
He urged the House to approve the budget for the councils to be able to execute development projects at the grass roots.
The House, after going through the appropriation, passed the budget for the immediate execution of the projects.
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,