Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The ongoing strike by civil servants in Adamawa has paralysed activities at the courts, schools, hospitals and other public institutions in the Mubi Local Government Area for the second day.
The Tide’s source, reports that the civil servants embarked on an indefinite strike on Monday following a disagreement with the state government over wages and improved working conditions.
The source who visited key government offices and schools reports that armed security personnel had been deployed to protect the property there.
At the Mubi North Local Government Secretariat, the main entrance was closed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)officials who were going round to enforce compliance with the strike directive.
Bauchi
Dr Ignatius Kaigama, the Archbishop of Catholic Diocese of Jos, has enjoined priests to serve as models and lead people to Christ.
He made the call in Bauchi during the ordination of five priests at St. John’s Cathedral Church, Bauchi at the weekend.
The cleric told the newly ordained priests that they were called to be like Jesus Christ, hence the need to emulate him in all spheres of life.
The Archbishop also told them to preach the word of God to the poor and those hungry for the word of God.
Kaigama said they were expected to offer sacrifice to God and forgiveness of sins as well as offer bread and wine to Christ.
“You are also to reconcile people who have gone far away from God and bring peace of Christ to the injured families and ethnic groups.
“As priests of God, you are to offer forgiveness of sins on behalf of Jesus Christ, you should be a bridge through which people will pass to God,’’ he said.
Kaigama told them that for them to be able to perform their duties effectively, they must be guided by the Holy Spirit.
Ekiti
Governor Segun Oni of Ekiti State yesterday advised students to study courses which would make them to be self employed.
Oni, who gave the advice at an inaugural lecture at the Ekiti State University of Science and Technology, Ifaki-Ekiti, also admonished the students to shun cultism.
Represented by his deputy, Dr. Sikiru Lawal, the governor charged the students to be employers of labour rather than scramble for white collar jobs.
“The rate of unemployment in the country is a concern to all well-meaning Nigerians, especially those in leadership positions.
“Students should strive to go for courses that will make them self-reliant and employers of labour,” Oni said.
FCT
The NNPC and the PHCN yesterday in Abuja, signed a Gas Supply and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) for gas supply for improved power generation in Nigeria.
The pact is expected to deepen Federal Government’s commitment to rapidly reposition the domestic gas market for sustainability.
Egbin Generating Company Ltd. A subsidiary of the PHCN and NNPC/Pan Ocean Corporation Joint Venture, are joint executors of the gas-to-power agreement.
Speaking at the event, Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Allison-Madueke said the agreement would underpin the supply of 65 million cubic feet of gas per day from Pan Ocean’s Ogharafe Gas Plant to Egbin.
She said the NNPC/SPDC JV and NNPC/Chevron JV would also supply gas to Egbin to boost generation.
Kaduna
The National Blood Transfusion Service NBTS) says it collected 2,989 units of blood from voluntary donors in the past one year.
Dr Abigail Bozegha, the North West Zonal Coo-rdinator of the centre, told newsmen on the occasion of this year’s World Blood Donor Day in Kaduna, that the blood was collected between June 2009 and June this year.
She said 2,516 units of the blood had been distributed to patients in various health institutions in the zone, adding that “the blood went through normal screening and test before being given out to needy people.’’
Bozegha added that the remaining units could not be released for various reasons.
The co-ordinator said the theme for this year’s world blood day campaign was “New Blood for the World’’.
She said blood pressure check, weighing and blood group test services wouldbe provided to walk-in donors free during the week-long event.
Kano
The Kano State Association of Community Pharmacists has urged the management of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to involve its members in the implementation of the programme.
The Chairman of the association, Dr Sadiq Inuwa, made the request in Kano at an interactive session involving NHIS officials, the operators and beneficiaries of the scheme.
“As qualified and registered pharmacists, we request that we be allowed to render our service to the scheme in order to contribute to its success,” Inuwa said.
He said the hospitals and clinics involved in the scheme should not be the only ones to implement it “because we too have a role to play as professionals”.
The chairman suggested that patients should be made to purchase the drugs prescribed for them by the clinics from pharmacists, especially where such hospitals did not have standard pharmacies.
He said the same gesture should be extended to the laboratories and X-ray centres outside the hospitals.
Inuwa explained that the measure would boost the patronage of pharmacies.
Katsina
In a bid to promote self reliance and encourage poultry farming, Kankara Local Government in Katsina State has distributed 1,000 chickens to less privileged persons.
Alhaji Ibrahim Kasko, the Council’s Supervisory Councillor of Education and Social Services Department, told on Saturday that the effort was part of its poverty alleviation programme.
Kasko explained that the beneficiaries, mostly women, were selected from the 11 political wards of the council, adding that each of them got four to five chickens.
He noted that 300 goats were also distributed to orphans and other vulnerable families to empower them economically.
The councillor commended Governor Ibrahim Shema and Kankara Local Government chairman, Alhaji Mamman Sani, for their policies aimed at uplifting peoples living condition.
He pointed out that construction and expansion of schools, roads, hospitals as well as provision of water and electricity across the state had proven their distinctive leadership styles.
Lagos
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday in Lagos said it arrested 2,883 suspected drug traffickers between January and May 2010.
A statement issued by Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, Head of Public Affairs of the NDLEA said that the suspects included 2,780 males and 103 females.
According to the statement, 77,796.12kg of narcotic drugs were seized from the suspects.
The statement said that cannabis, popularly called Indian hemp, formed the biggest chunk at 77,267.04 kg.
It said psychotropic substances accounted for 419.59 kg of the seizures, while cocaine and heroin of 82.281 kg and 27.21 kg respectfully, made up the balance.
The statement also disclosed that 674 offenders were convicted by the law courts within the period.
Ogun
The Ijebu-Ode Local Government Council in Ogun has engaged the services of town criers to educate the people on the dangers of dumping of refuse in the drainage system.
Mr Rotimi Ojuyiingbo, Chief Environmental Officer of the council, said that the measure was part of the council’s public enlightenment campaign against dumping of refuse in public drains.
Ojuyiingbo told newsmen in Ijebu-Ode in Ogun yesterday that the dumping of refuse in drains had caused flooding in the town.
He said that the campaign would take the town criers to all the markets and houses in the town on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays of each week.
Oyo
An Ibadan Grade ‘C’ Customary Court yesterday dissolved the five-year-old marriage between Azeez Musibau and Kafilat Musibau on the grounds of jealousy and stubbornness.
Musibau, an Islamic cleric, told the court that his wife was stubborn and had not given him peace of mind to carry out his duties in the mosque.
He also said that Kafilat did not trust him and was always accusing him of having extra-marital affairs with women during Islamic meetings.
The man added that he never understood why his wife thought he was unfaithful, as he had done his best not to let her down.
He told the court that before he became an Islamic cleric, he lost the two children he had from Kafilat.
But Kafilat accused her husband of infidelity by bringing different women into their matrimonial home.
Plateau
The Plateau Government says it has concluded arrangements to “flood” Jos and Bukuru towns with taxi cabs following the ban on commercial motorcycle operation in the two towns.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr Gregory Yenlong, disclosed the plan in Jos yesterday.
Yenlong said that the state government was only waiting for the statistics of the commercial motorcyclists, popularly, especially in Jos, as they would be the prime beneficiaries of the cabs.
The commissioner also said that government would assist interested civil servants and some of the former commercial motorcyclists with loans to enable them buy their own cabs.
He, however, said that government was not considering the option of tricycles for now.
In a bid to meaningfully engage secondary school students in Ogoniland during the Christmas holidays and beyond, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has trained them on petroleum jelly and liquid soap making.
This is even as the Project has partnered with the National Orientation Agency(NOA) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) to keep the students away from crime and other related social vices during the Yuletide, by giving them pep talks that would put them on their toes during the period.
This came to the fore as HYPREP recently organised an Ogoni Young Men Mentorship programme and life skill workshop with the theme, ‘Career Coaching: Developing The Young Minds’ at Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The beneficiaries of the programme are essentially members of environmental clubs in 13 schools in four local government areas of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme.
At the event, both NOA and NDLEA gave career talks to the students, aimed at keeping them off social vices like drug abuse and addiction as well as negative peer influences through out the Christmas holidays and beyond.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof NeinibariniZabbey said the Project deemed it necessary to invite the National Orientation Agency and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) to speak to the students in order to shield them from negative peer influences as they are preparing to go for the Christmas holidays.
He explained that the workshop would enable the students to know when the signs of the negative peer influences start coming.
Zabbey, who was represented at the occasion by HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee, said the Project is not only going to train the beneficiaries but also give them the tools and skills that would grow them in the future so that they would start making money for themselves.
Also addressing the students, the Rivers State Coordinator of the National Orientation Agency(NOA), Mr Young Ayo-Tamuno expressed delight for meeting young minds, to discuss issues on values, describing it as a great opportunity.
He noted that there are seven values which constitute the role and commitment of the government towards the citizenry and another seven core values which constitute the code for the citizens.
While commending HYPREP for organising the event, Ayo-Tamuno said team work is key to making Nigeria a better place for all, as both the government and the citizens have their respective roles to play, with each staying committed and focused.
The Chief Programme Officer of NOA, Mr Henry Ayede was the one who actually mounted the rostrum and drilled the students on the seven core values embodied in the National Value Charter for citizens, and stressed the need for them to imbibe them and put them to practice as they grow up.
Ayede listed the values to include discipline, duty of care, leadership, tolerance and respect, transparency, environmental awareness and resilience.
He also underscored the need for the students to imbibe the spirit of hard work and dignity of labour, contending that while hard work and dedication contribute to success, every job can contribute to national development.
According to him, dignity in labour is the foundation of success.
On his part, Mr Bill Ebiokpo of the Media/ Advocacy Unit of NDLEA, who represented the Bori Area Commander of the agency, advised the students to guard against drug abuse and addiction, which he said have far reaching consequences.
The Principal of the Senior Secondary of Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Barrister Bob Agbozi thanked HYPREP for organising the programme, which he said enriched his knowledge and that of the students on the core values guiding the society, saying inculcating such values in young people and teaching them practical skills have contributed immensely to the greatness of advanced countries and even countries like Rwanda in Africa.
He noted that the career coaching would change the behavioral pattern of the students particularly during the Yuletide.
He also thanked NOA for the career talks and urged it to replicate the programme in other places, not only in schools but also in market places.
The training of the students on petroleum jelly and liquid soap making was anchored by an expert, MrsLekpa Abel, with HYPREP workers lending a helping hand.
It was, indeed, a practical session with the students, who came face to face with the production materials of the products.
Donatus Ebi
It was celebration galore as the people of Isu Community in Etche Local Government Area of River State held a civic reception in honour of the Council Chairman, Dr Uzodinma Nwafor .
The epoch- making ceremony which took place recently at the community ancestral home saw the attendance of the political class, the clergy, opinion leaders, the academia, youths, women, elders and chiefs gather to honour their brand new chairman.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Etche Local Government Council, Dr Uzodinma Nwafor expressed gratitude to the people for according him such honour, saying it shows their unwavering support to the development of Etche.
Nwafor announced the readiness of his administration to embark on electrification of Ozuzu clan including Isu community.
The Etche council boss also said the market at Isu will be reconstructed to improve the economic life of the people.
He revealed that the two projects will commence in January as efforts are on to mobilise the contractors.
Nwafor told the mammoth crowd that his major concern remains, peace and unity of the entire Etche, saying security of lives and property remains top on his agenda as no meaningful development can thrive in an atmosphere of violence.
He urged parents to encourage their wards and children to refrain from violence and embrace peace. “Let us allow Etche to be at peace .Don’t allow any body to use you set Etche ablaze. Parents advise your children to stay away from crime .We must stay in peace and unity. Our children must shun violence ,it can’t take us anywhere as a people ,” he declared.
He thanked the people for their support as well thank their son, former commissioner for Energy ,Okey Amadi for being a Pilar of his political sojourne.
Earlier, the Isu opinion leader and Principal, Community Secondary School, Mgbosomini in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area, Mr Chijioke Amadi said the honour done Etche chairman was a collective division of his people.
Amadi described the council boss as an illustrious son who has contributed immensely to the wellbeing of the community.
He declared that his community and the entire Etche will keep supporting him because he is doing well.
Amadi urged the people to keep praying for him and the Rivers State Governor to succeed in delivering dividends of democracy.
Senate has set up an adhoc committee to investigate the demolition of buildings in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT by the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, just as it summoned the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to appear before it to explain the reasons behind the demolitions, which have left many residents stranded
The resolutions followed a motion by Senator Ireti Kingibe ( FCT), who expressed concern over the illegal demolition of structures in the nation’s capital and called for an immediate stop to further demolitions.
The Red Chamber particularly ordered the FCDA to halt ongoing demolitions of property in the Territory within the next two weeks pending the report of its adhoc committee constituted to probe the issue.
The adhoc committee, to be chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru; Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, Senator Sahabi Ya’u, Senator Victor Umeh, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Idiat Adebule and Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, as members.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who announced the composition of the committee, gave it two weeks to submit its report.
Akpabio while reading the resolution of the Senate, said: “The Senate urges the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to stop further demolitions of structures, except those ordered by courts of competent jurisdictions, until the adhoc committee constituted by the Senate to ascertain the propriety or otherwise of the exercise concludes its investigation and interface with the FCT administration within the next two weeks.”
Kingibe in her lead debate said that in recent times, the demolition exercise in the FCT was no longer based on reasons that necessitated the demolition.
She urged the Senate to be further concerned that the current demolition in the FCT was not in line with due process of court orders to demolish.
“As such, a cross section of individuals had suffered untold hardships occasioned by massive demolition, which has led to a loss of properties worth billions of naira.
“Also concerned that at the moment, an estate by name, Messrs Paulosa, for which late Colonel Paul Osakpawan Ogbebor is the chairman, is currently under revocation and demolition. And from reliable information, the said plot of land was allocated to him in 1984 with requisite title document.
“And further concerned that the owner of this estate was a patriotic Nigerian who served the nation meritoriously and one of the first intakes of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, with registration Number 001,” Kingibe said.
She urged the Senate to accordingly resolve to urge the FCT administration to halt the ongoing revocation and demolition of the said property, “as it does not fall within the purview of the reasons for the massive demolition being carried by the FCDA.”
Senator Kingibe also advocated thatall demolitions should follow due process while the Senate set up a committee to investigate the matters arising from the demolition.
However, Senator Sunday Karimi ( Kogi West) in his contribution said the Senate needs to hear from the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, before ordering a halt to the demolitions.
“If you look at this motion, the presenter said, a specific land allocation was mentioned belonging to one Paul Ogbebor.
“We don’t know anything about this thing and we are just coming because of this to tell the minister to stop?
“There is need to investigate this matter before giving any directive. We must hear from the minister. But we have to hear before we say stop demolition.
“Let’s hear from the Minister. You cannot shave a man’s head at his back. We need to hear from the Minister,” Karimi said.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), however disagreed with Karimi, saying that the request that the Senate should call on the FCT minister to halt further demolitions was in order.
He said: “Mr. President, with respect I disagree with Mr. Karimi. I think we need to be fair to everyone. There is before us an allegation that says certain steps are to be taken which will culminate in demolition. Are we saying that we should allow the place to be demolished while we are trying to look into it?”
In his response, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio agreed with the chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters, saying “my thought is in line with yours. If we just say, continue the demolition, and then we start investigation, what are we then investigating?”
He, thereafter, read the resolution of the Senate calling on the FCT Minister to halt further demolitions of property in the FCT pending the investigative report of its adhoc committee chaired by the Deputy Senate President.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi