Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Adamawa secured the conviction of some 64 suspects by the courts in 2010, according to Alhaji Hassan Zungeru, the state Commandant of the agency.
He told newsmen in Yola that 146 suspects were arrested for various drugs-related offences in the year, three of whom were womn.
Zungeru said four Indian hemp farms, measuring four acres, were also discovered and destroyed, while 606.11kgs of illicit drugs were confiscated within the period.
He said that the seized drugs included 551.33kg of cannabis sativa, 54,682kgs of psychotropic substances and 108 grams of cocaine.
Zungeru said 160 drug addicts, including five Cameroonian nationals were counselled and reformed, noting that the agency had intensified its patrol to check the menance of hard drugs in the border state.
Bauchi
Corps members engaged in voter registration in Bauchi have complained about the high cost of transport they bore everyday to convey materials to registration centres.
Mr Jami‘u Okyimi, a corps member posted to Rugankera polling unit in Bauchi Local Government Area, said he spent N1,000 daily in conveying the registration materials.
“We find it very difficult to carry the registration materials from the registration camps to the various polling units.
“INEC promised to provide the transport for us but up to now we have not been paid.
“We spend our money to convey the materials to the far villages in spite of the heavy weight of the machines and other materials,“ he said.
Mr Akim Olayide, also a corps member registering in Dindima polling unit of Bauchi Local Government Area, said he spent more than N1,000 daily to convey the materials.
“My major problem is charging our batteries. As you can see now my batteries are weak.
“I have to pay okada (commercial cyclist) to convey me to the camp in order to recharge my batteries before going back to continue with the registration.
“We also have problem of the under-age. Some under-age children always come here for registration and we find it difficult to stop them because of the language barrier.
“I cannot communicate in Hausa Language fluently, especially when it comes to offering explanations,“ he said.
Borno
The Borno State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has threatened to boycott activities involving security agents in the state over harassment of its members.
A statement issued by the union quoted Alhaji Abba Kakami, the Chairman, as giving the warning after an emergency meeting of the council in Maiduguri.
The statement said that the union had observed a new trend whereby journalists on lawful duties were being harassed and intimidated by security agents in the state.
It said that the harassment had continued in spite of complaints made to security chiefs in the state.
“A journalist with the Borno State Television (BSTV), Alhaji Bajura Mustapha, was assaulted by a military officer on Tuesday in Maiduguri.
“Similar cases are being reported daily by our members on official assignments, we are tired of the situation.
“We are demanding for an immediate apology over the issue, and we are saying enough is enough,” the statement said.
It demanded a written apology and compensation from the military authorities in the state “before we take the next line of action’’.
FCT
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has said that it was training non-computer literate officers to meet with the aspiration of the service to attain excellence in service delivery.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of NIS, Mr Joachim Olumba.
The statement said the service was adopting the strategy to increase the number of qualified personnel to drive its ongoing e-immigration projects.
The e-immigration projects include e-passport intervention and e-registration of foreign nationals of African and ECOWAS countries in the 774 local government areas.
“The officers currently undergoing training are to blend with those with high technical competence, who are not only well versed in computer operations but are also highly proficient in operating e-passport production machines,” it said.
According to the statement, keeping the official passports of junior personnel in the custody of senior officers is necessary to avoid any ugly incident of the disappearance of any immigration staff, which could embarrass the service in particular and the nation at large.
“In order to achieve this, the selection and deployment processes are executed in a painstaking manner, taking cognisance of the confidential reports on all short-listed officers,” the statement added.
The Nigeria Immigration Service had fixed April as the last month for the issuance of the e-passport to Nigerians both at home and in Diaspora.
Gombe
Governor Mohammad Goje of Gombe State has approved the elevation of 13 traditional rulers from second class to first class status, bringing the number of such category of royal fathers in the state to 15.
Before now, only the Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Shehu Abubakar and that of Kaltungo, Alhaji Sale Muhammad, were first class traditional rulers.
The elevation of the traditional rulers was announced in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Bage.
It said the gesture was in the exercise of the powers conferred on the governor by “Section 10 of the Gombe State Creation of Emirates, Districts, Villages, Wards and Emirs and Chiefs (Amendment) Law of 2004”.
The statement added that the gesture was in appreciation of the traditional rulers’ “loyal and conscientious service to the state, and the desire of their respective communities”.
Those elevated are the Chief of Tangale, Dr Abdu Buba-Maisheru; Chief of Waja, Alhaji Danjuma Muhammad; Chief of Cham, Dr James Chachus; and Chief of Dadiya, Alhaji Adamu Galadima.
Others are the Emir of Dukku, Alhaji Abubakar Rasheed; Emir of Akko, Alhaji Umar Atiku; Emir of Deba, Alhaji Abubakar Mahdi; Emir of Yamaltu, Alhaji Hassan Usman; and Emir of Pindoga, Alhaji Adamu Yakubu.
Kano
The Northern Igbo Youths Council (NIYC), has said that it would embark on a two-day prayer session for peace and stability to prevail in the country.
The Secretary of the Programmes Organising Committee of the council, Mr Ben Nwosu, made the announcement in a statement in Kano.
The prayer session was tagged “Ndigbo Pray for Nigeria”.
The purpose of this prayer is to seek divine intervention in the affairs of our nation, Nigeria, which is currently passing through a period of socio-economic and political trauma,” he said.
The secretary said that the spiritual exercise was also intended to ask God to “restore peace, unity, love and progress in our fatherland”.
Lagos
The Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) on Thursday in Lagos raised an alarm over the volume of imported catfish.
Dr Abba Abdullah, the National President of FISON, told newsmen that 80 per cent of the imported catfish contained several storage chemicals which could be harmful.
“Recently, we noticed that this species of fish was being sold in markets across the country.
“It is very unfair for government to allow this, while our farmers are here producing fish with no markets for them,” he said.
Abdullah, however, urged the Federal Government to look for ways of enhancing the number of fish species in the nation’s territorial waters.
“We have 14 million hectares of surface water and 60 billion cubic metres of underground water but it has not been fully utilised for fish production.
“If we use 5 per cent of the 14 million hectares, we should be able to meet the fish demand of Nigeria and other parts of Africa,” he said.
Ogun
The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Board Chairman, Chief Boyelayefa Debekeme, has said former President Olusegun Obasanjo saved the corporation from early collapse.
Debekeme disclosed this when board members of the corporation visited Obasanjo at his hilltop residence in Abeokuta.
“The entire FRCN family is fully appreciative of your efforts to save it from early collapse with the 32 FM Project, which has now brought government very close to Nigerians.
“Work on this project has reached an advanced stage and the corporation is determined to ensure it is completed within our tenure.
“Several of our structures are in their last years of operation and budgetary provisions are hampering our quest for reinvigorating the corporation,” he said.
Debekeme a former Speaker of the Bayelsa House of Assembly, expressed the determination of the board to sustain the Obasanjo legacy by expanding the outreach of and access to radio broadcasting.
“This board is already working closely with the Minister of Information and Communications, Mr Labaran Maku to address the situation,” he stated.
Responding, Obasanjo said that FRCN remained the most accessible medium of communication to Nigerians.
“Radio has this overwhelming outreach to all and sundry and that’s one of the reasons we gave it the kind of attention we gave it during my presidency,” he stated.
Ondo
A group of armed robbers on Thursday attacked two commercial banks in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Eyewitnesses told newsmen that the hoodlums, some 20 in number, came in two buses.
They said one of the buses was used in blocking the road, once they had taken positions at the UBA and Oceanic banks on the popular Broad Street, Okitipupa
They shot sporadically into the air for about 30 minutes, forcing people to scamper for safety.
An eyewitness told our correspondent that the robbers succeeded in carting away large sums of monery from the banks.
Plateau
The unending Jos crisis, has taken its toll on business generally, as car dealers complain of low patronage.
Our correspondent, who went round some of the car vending points in Jos and its environs on Thursday, reports that there were series of complaints, with dealers saying that business was at its worst ever.
Some of them blamed the decline in business on the persistent violence that had disrupted all facets of life in Jos.
Others, however, blamed the lull in business on the fact that people were just emerging from festive seasons.
Mr Emma Olaiya, the Executive Director, Emma Motors International, told newsmen that majority of buyers usually came from the eastern part.
“Before the bomb blast and the recent crisis in the state, most people come to Jos to buy cars; some come to swap their old cars with others.
“But since the crisis erupted, most of my customers are too frightened to come to Jos,” he said.
He, however, expressed optimism that business would pick up by February as peace was gradually returning to the state.
“I expect business to bounce back in February; my only fear is the incessant crisis. I only pray that peace will be fully restored to the state soon. Once there is peace, business will flow,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Sunday Okocha, of Okocha Motors, also attributed the low patronage to the crisis.
“Most people do not have money for cars now after much expenditure during the festive season.
“Again, one cannot blame the customers; people are still uncertain if peace has returned to Plateau. In fact, many are relocating from Jos, due to insecurity,”Okocha said.
Jos has been enveloped in all manners of violence in recent times that had left hundreds dead and many others rendered homeless.
Sokoto
An international NGO, RTI-LEAD Nig., says it will rehabilitate 66 water facilities between January to March this year in collaboration with the six ‘champion’ local governments.
Alhaji Tijjani Mohammed, the Deputy Chief of Party of the organisation, said that the project would be implemented in Dange/Shuni, Wamakko, Illela, Isa, Bodinga and Silame local governments of the state.
Mohammed disclosed this in Silame shortly after inspecting five boreholes rehabilitated under the project at the cost of N340,000.
“The projects are to be jointly executed by the six local governments . They will provide the
needed funds while the NGO will provide technical assistance and tools,’’ he said.
Mohammed also said that all the rehabilitated boreholes had been abandoned for nearly two years .
‘’ That was why there was an acute shortage of portable water in the areas before their repairs with all the attendant consequences ,’’ the USAID –funded RTI-LEAD Nig. official added .
Also speaking the Chairman of Silame Local Government Area, Alhaji Garba Sanda, commended the organisation for selecting the area as a beneficiary.
“The project has really helped in solving the problems of the people and it has re-awakened the conscience of the officials of the champion local governments towards effective service delivery,’’
Zamfara
Governor. Mahmuda Shinkafi of Zamfara has appointed Alhaji Haliru Andi as the Director-General, Media Affairs, of his campaign organisation ahead of the April elections.
Andi, who had lived a quiet life in the last three and a half years, was the media and publicity strategist of former governor, Ahmad Yarima.
A statement by Sani Lawal Bakura, a Director in the Office of the Head of Service of the state, said that Andi’s appointment took immediate effect.
It further said Shinkafi had approved the appointment and posting of nine other Directors General.
Governor Shinkafi had appointed four commissioners, scores of Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants early in January.
The appointments filled vacant positions created by the resignation of some political appointees who were standing for elections.
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