Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government says it has purchased and distributed assorted grains worth N1 billion to cushion the effect of the high cost of foodstuffs.
Alhaji Sanusi Muhammad, the Senior Special Assistant on media to the state governor, disclosed this to newsmen in Bauchi.
Muhammad said that the gesture would augment the shortage of food created by the drought that occurred during the 2008 farming season.
‘’To cushion the effect of high cost of food items during the period of the scarcity, His Excellency approved the procurement and sale of 16,000 metric tones of assorted grains worth N1 billion.
‘’The purchase was made through a direct contract with the Bauchi State Cooperative Finance Agency (CFA) and the Federal Government,’’ he said..
He said that 131,742 bags of the assorted grains were delivered to the state under the first phase of the contract while 32,035 bags supplied under the second phase of the exercise.
‘’This brings the total to 163,777 bags of 100 kg of grains which were re-bagged to produce 325,625 bags of 50 kgs.
‘’The grains were warehoused at Azare, Bauchi and Boto grain silos before distribution,’’ he said.
Muhammad stated that 600 bags were distributed to each of the 323 wards in the state and another 600 bags to each of the 20 local government areas.
The remaining bags were distributed to state and federal establishments, individuals, organisations, political parties, mosques, churches, unions, associations and emirate councils, he said.
Ekiti
No fewer than 200 AC members in Ekiti have obtained expression of interest forms to vie for various elective positions in 2011.
The state chairman of the party, Chief Olajide Awe, told newsmen that positions for which forms had been obtained were the Senate, House of Representatives and the state House of Assembly.
Awe explained that apart from the governorship position, the aspirants would contest primaries for selection of candidates in three senatorial positions, six federal House of Representative slots and 26 House of Assembly slots. “About 200 AC members in Ekiti state have obtained expression of interest forms to contest elections into the Senate, House of Representatives and the state House of Assembly seats. “Excluding that of the governorship position which the party is currently contesting in court, AC is going to sell and fill forms into other elective positions in the state,” he disclosed.
The AC chairman explained that the party was awaiting directives from its national headquarters for the timetable and the mode of conducting the party’s primaries.
Awe assured members that the party in the state would conduct free and fair primaries that would be devoid of imposition of candidates.
FCT
The Federal Government plans to establish a Direct Labour Agency to provide alternative jobs for internally displaced persons in the country.
The Minister of Special Duties, retired Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, made the announcement when he visited the Internally Displaced Persons Camps (IDPs) in Plateau and Bauchi States.
A statement by Mr Larry Abang, the Information Officer in the ministry, on Tuesday in Abuja quoted the minister as also reiterating government’s commitment to the provision of basic amenities at the camps located across the country.
He said the provision of baisc amenities such as portable water, electricity and accommodation would go a long way to alleviate the plights of the displaced persons.
Olubolade promised that the ministry would collaborate with the Plateau and Bauchi State Governments to ensure that internally displaced persons were fully rehabilitated by providing them with alternative jobs.
Gombe
Drivers of articulated vehicles going through Gombe State have been advised to be careful when approaching Gombe city because of the slopes.
The Gombe State Commissioner for Housing and Transport, Dr Danlami Rukujei, gave the advise on Tuesday in Gombe, while addressing officials of the state branch of Petrol Tanker Drivers Association (PTDA).
Rukujei explained that the topography of the area was dangerous, hence the need for the officials to call their members to order.
“The slope is steep and since there is a relationship between the mass of a property and speed, heavy duty vehicles coming into Gombe metropolis can easily lose control,” he said.
He also cautioned the drivers against giving out their vehicles to their conductors, stressing that although such practice was aimed at training the conductors, the consequence could be disastrous.
The commissioner reiterated government’s commitment toward ensuring the completion of the Gombe by-pass, noting, however, that the human factor responsible for most of the township accidents must be addressed.
Jigawa
The Jigawa government has been advised to sponsor students to study education courses in higher institutions to help tackle the problem of unqualified teachers in the state.
Alhaji Shehu Garba, the Chief Inspection Officer of Education in the Ministry of Education, Dutse zonal office, gave the advice on Monday during an interactive session with members of the state’s Science Technical Schools Board in Dutse.
Garba said that for the government to address the problem of unqualified and inadequate number of teachers, students from the state should be encouraged to read courses that would qualify them to teach.
“We need to use what we have to get what we want; when our children are sponsored like that, they will come back to teach in our schools,” he said.
The Chairman of the board, Alhaji Umar Hadejia, promised that the problem of insufficient and unqualified teachers in science and technical schools in the state would be addressed soon.
Hadejia noted that more than 75 per cent of teachers in public schools in the state were not qualified.
He gave an assurance that the board would do everything possible to re-invigorate science and technical schools in the state.
Kaduna
The Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, has donatedN1million and a parcel of land to the Malam Abdulkarim Islamic Science School, Giwa, Zaria.
Speaking at the third price giving day of the school on Monday at Giwa, Kaduna State, Idris said the donation was part of his commitment to educational development of the state.
The emir urged public spirited individuals in the society to assist the school with facilities and equipment to enhance its academic standard.
In his message, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Kaduna State , Alhaji Abubakar Tanko expressed delight with the conducive learning environment in the school.
Tanko commended the management, staff and students for their cooperation and assured the school of government’s support.
Earlier, the principal of the school, Malam Umar Dabo-Hussamatu, expressed optimism that the final year students of the school were expected to get the minimum admission requirement into tertiary institutions.
The principal said the school had received a bus from Giwa Local Government apart from monthly subvention to the school, adding that the boy’s hostel was constructed by the PTA.
Katsina
A Borno-based NGO, Grace Fellowship Africa (GFA), has commenced the training of Katsina women on how to extract oil and powder from the Moringa tree locally called ‘Zogale’.
The Tide’s source reports that about 200 women from all the local government councils are participating and that a similar exercise would also be conducted in Daura and Funtua Senatorial Districts.
The wife of the governor, Hajiya Fatima Shema, said the training was designed to empower women with the necessary skills to them self-reliant.
Shema said the programme would cover the technicalities of extracting oil, powder which are the medicinal properties of the Moringa leaves, usually cooked for consumption.
“Katsina State is blessed with large quantities of the Moringa tree; we cook the leaves for consumption and sale.
“We did not know that other useful items can be extracted from the tree.
“Now we are going to be trained on how to exploit the other value of the trees,” she said.
She called on the wives of the chairmen of local government councils to introduce the programme in their areas.
She advised the government to introduce similar programmes in Girls’ schools.
Kebbi
The Kebbi Government has inaugurated committees for each local government in the state to ensure prudent management of the N1 billion agricultural loan .
The loan was granted by the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) in conjunction with Federal Ministry of Agriculture, as part of the initiatives to boost food production.
The Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, who inaugurated the committees in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday, said the 21 local governments would receive the loan from a commercial bank.
Aliyu said the amount to be disbursed would be determined by the number of qualified beneficiaries from each local government area.
He said the loan scheme was established to promote commercial agricultural enterprises and to fast track upgrading of the sector.
“The loan will be disbursed through the issuance of credit facilities at single digit interest to commercial farmers,” he said.
He said the sole administrator in each of the councils would serve as chairman of the committee in every council while the directors of agricultural services would serve as secretaries.
Kwara
Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara has identified the lack of effective supervision, as a factor militating against effective teaching and learning in the school system.
Saraki stated this on Monday, while explaining the education reforms embarked upon by his administration during an interactive session with journalists in Government House, Ilorin.
The governor, noted that the performance rating, qualitative and aptitude test as well as evaluation of behavioural objective used by teachers were equally faulty.
He said that there was the need to improve the teachers and the quality of teaching, through training programmes.
The governor maintained that the education sector was in a state of total collapse at the inception of his administration in 2003, hence the critical steps taken to save the sector and the future of the young ones.
He said that the state was one of the leading states in education reforms, having successfully achieved sanity in the sector through its education sector reform which addressed some of its identified lapses.
According to the governor, schools were equipped with relevant textbooks in core subjects such as English and mathematics.
The Oyo State Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr Emmanuel Elegbede, has said that the use of organic fertiliser by farmers will save Nigeria billions of naira.
Elegbede told newsmen in Ibadan that the use of organic fertiliser would help farmers increase output, as well as enhance the quality of the soil.
“If Nigerian farmers fully imbibe the use of organic fertiliser, the implication for the future is that less budgetary allocation will go into the purchase of inorganic fertiliser by the government and politicians,’’ he said.
The AFAN chairman said whenever the farmers embraced organic fertiliser, it would spell a death knell for politicians who used distribution of the present inorganic fertiliser as weapon to coerce votes from farmers.
Elegebede said that as a result, government would be able use the allocation for inorganic fertiliser to provide for other public infrastructure.
“With the use of organic fertiliser, farmers do not need to do shifting cultivation all the time, more so when the right soil for the right crop had been discovered. Everything will just be natural,’’ he said.
Plateau
The Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau State has donated relief materials to its residents who were victims of the November 2008 violent crises that occurred in parts of Plateau.
The materials, which were distributed by the Council Chairman, Dr Sale Kanam, include 120 bags of assorted grains, blankets, wrappers and buckets.
He advised the people not to be engaged in any form of violence and to always report any disagreement that could result into conflicts to the appropriate authorities.
Kanam cautioned the people against peddling rumours, and advised them to always focus on issues of peace and development.
Alhaji Sule Kantana, the Supervisory Councillor for Social Services, advised the people to always work toward promoting peace and creating conducive environment for the socio-economic development of the area.
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