Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
An Adamawa High Court presided over by Justice Bamare Bansi, has ordered the Bureau for Public Enterprise (BPE) to pay Adamawa revenue board N73.71 million as tax.
The sum was tax that accrued to Savanah Sugar Company, Numan, in Adamawa between 2002 and 2008 when BPE bought over the company and later resold it to Dangote Group of Companies.
Under the agreement, BPE was to inherit all liabilities of the sugar company and offset same before re-selling it to Dangote.
Records made available to newsmen at the Sugar Estate in Numan, revealed that BPE failed to offset the liabilities when it sold the company to Dangote in 2008.
Benue
The Benue State House of Assembly has passed 25 out of 36 bills it received in two years, the Speaker, Mr Terseer Tsumba, has said.
Tsumba made this known while addressing newsmen in Makurdi on Wednesday at the ongoing accountability briefing to mark the three years administration of Gov. Gabriel Suswam.
Out of the 36 bills, 35 were sponsored by the executive and one was sponsored by a lawmaker.
According to him, the sixth assembly which commenced business on June 4, 2007 had within the period lost two members of staff.
Bauchi
A political group, IBB Democratic Coalition (IDC), has called on Gen. Ibrahim Babangida not to relent on his determination to contest the 2011 presidential election.
The group, rising from its maiden meeting in Bauchi on Friday, therefore, called on Babangida to quickly tour the 36 states of the federation.
A communique signed by the coordinator of the group, Alhaji Bello Arabi and Malam Ibrahim Bello, Secretary, said that this would enable Babangida to unfold his agenda for Nigerians.
The group also said that it was committed to the sustenance of democratic rule.
Ekiti
The Ekiti Government has donated 200 teak and melina seedlings to Irele-Ekiti Community in Ikole Local Government Area of the state to boost its tree planting campaign.
The campaign was organised by an NGO, the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Church of Ekiti Diocese.
Making the donation in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Forestry, Prince Olatunde Olatunji, said the gesture was “in line with the state government’s policy of encouraging communities engaging in tree planting exercises for economic and environmental purposes”.
Gombe
No fewer than 646,700 expectant women and children below age five are to get free longer lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets from the Gombe Malaria Control Booster Project (MCBP).
Dr Abel Arnold, the MCBP Project Manager, said in Gombe on Tuesday that more than one million of such nets would be given out during the forthcoming Nets Distribution Exercise scheduled for June 16 to June 19.
Arnold said at a one-day workshop organised for journalists in Gombe on the role expected of them in the fight against malaria that the use of the nets was one of the ways of preventing malaria, especially among pregnant women and children.
He expressed regret that due to ignorance on the part of most people, especially the grassroots, the nets had not been put to proper use “even when they are being provided free of charge.
Jigawa
The pioneer chairman of the PDP,Chief Solomon Lar, has expressed happiness on the return of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the party.
Lar stated this on Friday in Dutse during the inauguration ceremony of nine housing units built by the Jigawa Government.
The houses were dedicated and named after the then G9 which metamorphosed to G18 and later to the 34 who formed the PDP.
Lar said that Atiku never left PDP, adding that it was PDP that left him.
“I am happy to see Atiku here; he is back to his home, PDP, of which he is one of the founding members and he will remain permanently with PDP’’ Lar noted.
Kaduna
Gov Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State said on Friday that the government would establish three fertiliser blending plants in its three Senatorial districts.
Yakowa said this during the launch of fertiliser sales for the farming season at Awai Village in Soba Local Government Area of the state.
He said that when established, the blending plants would enhance the availability of the commodity at all times and at cheaper rates.
“This is a clear indication of the administration’s drive toward the development of the agricultural sector of the state.
Katsina
Some towns in Katsina State have been facing acute water shortage since the past two months, although the state government has purchased three drilling rigs.
Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that the capital, Katsina and other towns, including Daura, Malumfashi, Mani, Kankia and Dutsin-ma were worse hit by the problem.
The situation has resulted in borehole owners and water vendors making brisk businesses in major towns in the state.
In the Katsina metropolis, water vendors who purchase the commodity at N100 per truck of 10 jerry cans now sell at N30 per jerry can.
Kogi
The Kogi State House of Assembly on Wednesday called on the state government to constitute a high-powered disarmament committee to mop-up weapons in the hands of warring youths.
The House made the call at a plenary following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, representing Okene I constituency, in view of violent clashes involving youths across the state.
Bello said that the phenomenon had constituted serious security threat and outright breakdown of law and order “on virtually every nook and cranny of the state for the past four years.”
Kebbi
The Emir of Yauri in Kebbi State, Prof. Muhammad Zayyanu, has called on Gov. Saidu Dakingari to provide social amenities for the people of his emirate.
Zayyanu, who led a delegation of title holders and top functionaries from the emirate on a visit to Dakingari on Friday in Birnin Kebbi, said the emirate lacked good roads and a water supply scheme.
He called for the rehabilitation of the only dam in the area, considering the relevance of water to human beings and animals, adding that such amenities would facilitate rapid development.
The emir expressed regret that in spite of the presence of River Niger in the area, potable water had not been adequately provided for the people.
Dakingari assured the emirate that some amenities would be provided, stressing that he would personally monitor and ensure that bureaucratic matters did not prevent the area from getting the facilities.
Kwara
The Kwara Government has again assured the people of the state of its determination to provide sustainable and affordable houses.
The state Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Dr. Adebayo Ishola, renewed the pledge on Friday in Ilorin.
Ishola spoke at a meeting in his office with Chief Bode Afolayan, the chairman of the firm handling the construction of the estates in the state, and the General Manager of the state housing corporation Architect Salihu Sulieman.
Ishola said that the administration of Governor Bukola Saraki was committed to effective delivery of sustainable and affordable housing scheme in the state.
Lagos
The New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP) has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to fully implement the recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee.
The party also called for the reconstitution of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the appointment of credible persons into the commission.
The NNPP, in a message to commemorate “Democracy Day” said: “ The voice of the people on electoral reforms must be respected if the nation’s democracy is to survive.”
Dr Boniface Aniebonam, the party’s National Chairman, signed the statement and made available to newsmen in Lagos.
Ondo
The Ondo State House of Assembly in Akure on Wednesday advised the state government to employ 200 guards to check encroachment in government forest reserves.
The Assembly upheld the recommendation of the House Committee on Agriculture, which had been mandated to come up with solutions into the problem of encroachment in forest reserves.
Oyo
Mrs Omotolani Ogundipe, National President, Prisons Officers Wives Association (PROWA), on Friday attributed the difficulty in sourcing funds for its projects to stigmatisation of ex-convicts.
Ogundipe said this while speaking to newsmen in Ibadan on the sidelines of the inauguration of Oyo State chapter of Prisons Inspectors Wives Association (PIWA).
She said members of the association found it difficult to solicit for funds from philanthropists because the stigma attached to ex-convicts was extended to prison officers and their wives.
Osun
Gov. Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun on Saturday urged the opposition to cooperate with his administration to move the state forward.
Oyinlola made the plea while addressing the people of the state in a broadcast to mark the seventh anniversary of his administration in Osogbo.
The Osun Governorship Retrial Tribunal on Friday declared Oyinlola of PDP the validly elected governor of the state in the 2007 poll.
The declaration was based on a petition filed by
Mr Rauf Aregbesola, the AC candidate in the election.
The governor expressed his readiness to work with the opposition if it was prepared to contribute to the development of the state.
He urged all political parties to close ranks to achieve a common goal of developing the state.
Plateau
Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau said his administration would not leave any project uncompleted at the end of its tenure in May, next year.
Jang made the promise in his Democracy Day message to the people in Jos on Saturday, saying: “The era of abandoned projects has come to an end in Plateau.
“Let me assure the people that our administration will complete every project that we started all over the state before the end of my first tenure.
“Some projects were not commissioned this month because Democracy Day is low-keyed but they will be commissioned in October as part of the activities marking Nigeria’s Golden Jubilee.’’
Jang commended Nigerians for imbibing the culture of democracy, which had led to 11 years of uninterrupted civil governance in spite of enormous challenges.
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,