Nation
THE STATES
Abuja
A neurologist, Prof. Sunday Bwala, says migraine sufferers are twice likely to have heart attacks as people without the disorder. Bwala told newsmen that migraines were as a result of chemical imbalance in the neurons of the brain.
Our correspondent reports that migraine is a common type of headache that may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. In many people, a throbbing pain is felt only on one side of the head.
Bwala explained that women with occasional migraines have a higher risk of heart disease, while those with more frequent headaches are primarily at increased risk of a stroke.
“Heart disease is caused by an inflammation in the heart, an immune process that causes blood vessels and other tissues to set off emergency alarms throughout the body and migraine attacks trigger the inflammatory process,” he said.
He said that the disorder is most common between the ages of 25 and 55 and women are affected three times more than men. “It occurs more in women, it is genetic and has a gender predisposition.”
He said that although there were trigger factors such as intake of chocolates, sweet tasting food and pepper, it could also be caused by abnormalities in sleep patterns such as too much sleep or inadequate sleep.
Adamawa
Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa has emerged winner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primaries, winning all the 854 votes cast.
His only opponent, Dr Umar Ardo, did not show up at the venue of the primaries in Yola and had no vote.
Declaring Nyako winner, the Returning Officer, who is also the Minister of State for Education, Mr Ezenwo Wike, said that 863 votes were cast, out of which nine were invalidated. He added the 854 valid votes were cast for Nyako.
In his acceptance speech, Nyako thanked the delegates and officials of the party for conducting peaceful, free and fair primaries. ‘We thank almighty God and the officials of the PDP for their maturity over the years.’’
Nyako also commended his opponent, Ardo, for ensuring that the election was conducted peacefully.
Over 2,000 security men were stationed at the venue of the election to avert breach of the peace.
Bauchi
The Bauchi State government on Monday signed a N7.99 billion contract for the construction of 3.4 kilometre Runway of the Bauchi International Airport.
The state Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaji Bappa Azare, said that the company, Triacta Construction Company Nigeria Ltd, was selected from various firms during a bid exercise.
Azare said the firm had been paid 70 per cent down payment out of the N7.99 billion approved by the state executive council to fast track the completion of the project within 18 months.
He said that the state government had paid compensation to all farmers, whose farmlands were affected by the project and assured that the project would be completed in April, 2013.
Earlier, the Managing Director of Triacta Construction Company Nigeria Ltd, Elie Abu-Jarhat, explained that the Bauchi airport was longer and bigger than that of Gombe International Airport in terms of area and volume of traffic.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government has declared that it would not pay the N18,000 minimum wage because it was not captured in the state’s 2011 budget.
Governor Sule Lamido, who disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Government House in Dutse, said that the N18,000 minimum wage was not provided for in the 2011 Appropriation Bill.
“The minimum wage was not captured in our 2011 budget and no provision for minimum wage there-in. “We can not source funds outside the budget to pay new salaries and if we do that, it will amount to illegality,” he said.
Lamido said that the state workers were not wage earners, but stakeholders and partners that were ready to render services for the development of the state.
Kano
A total of 76 international companies are participating in the 32nd Kano International Trade Fair holding between November 19 and December 4 in Kano.
The Deputy President of Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA), Alhaji Nasidi Yahaya said this at a news conference in Kano.
He said that of the companies expected, 40 would come from the Republic of China while the remaining 36 would come from India.
According to him, companies from Niger Republic, Ghana and other African countries have also indicated their interest to attend the fair.
“We expect participants from all over the world, especially from the new economic giants like China, India and the rest of them.
All necessary contacts have been made and the 2011 trade fair will be better than that of 2010,” he said.
Yahaya said that the chamber had made adequate arrangement to ensure security of lives and properties before, during and after the fair.
Kogi
Secondary school teachers in Kogi have expressed support for the state government’s decision to hand over the conduct of JSSC examinations to the National Examination Council (NECO) as from 2012.
The Chairman of the state chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Mr Ranti Ojo said that the decision would ultimately augur well for the future of education in the state.
Ojo spoke with newsmen in Lokoja
He stated that the state which was recently removed from the list of educationally disadvantaged states required drastic steps to arrest the yearly dismal performance of pupils in public examinations.
Kwara
An Ilorin Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday remanded in prison a 34-year-old woman, Chizoba Godfry, for allegedly abducting some children for forced labour.
The accused, who resides at Asa Dam Area of Ilorin, was arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and abduction.
The Police Prosecutor, Cpl. Sanni Abdullahi, alleged that the accused kidnapped some children and took them to Mokwa, Niger State, for forced labour. He said the accused was arrested by the police following a complaint by Mrs Rosemary Uche of Saw-mill Area, Ilorin, that the accused took her children away without her consent. Uche, according to the prosecutor, told the police that her daughters, Mercy Chukwu, 17, and Chioma Chukwu, 12, were missing.
The complainant also alleged that in the process of searching for them, it was discovered that the accused kidnapped them and took them to an unknown destination.
She said the accused and her daughters were later sighted in a shop at Mokwa, Niger, working for one Isaac now at large.
Lagos
Stakeholders in Lagos have warned that the proposed removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government might worsen the country’s security challenge.
The stakeholders gave the warning at the Fourth Annual Law and Social Develoment Lecture organised by a Lagos-based law firm, Bamidele Aturu and Company.
Our correspondent reports that the lecture was entitled “Security and Welfare of the People: The Historical Disconnect in Nigeria’’.
The speakers, who gave the warning included constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay and Prof Yomi Akinyeye, a Professor of History and Strategic Studies at the University of Lagos.
Also featured at the lecture were Mr Fred Agbaje, a lawyer and human rights activist, Dr Dele Seteolu of the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University (LASU) and Mr Bamidele Aturu, amongst others.
Sagay said Nigeria was currently ranked as the 142nd country globally in terms of welfare provisions for its citizenry, despite occupying the 42nd position in respect of national wealth.
Seteolu argued that the government should stop introducing neo-liberal policies such as the removal of fuel subsidy, adding that Nigerians had not benefitted from such policies in the past.
On his part, Agbaje urged the government to focus on the provision of basic infrastructure for Nigerians before attempting any removal of the subsidy.
Speaking in a similar view, Akinyeye said there was an intertwined relationship between the provision of welfare and security, stressing that insecurity thrives when there is absence of social welfare.
Niger
Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu has said that his administration remained committed to reducing poverty, unemployment and underdevelopment in the state.
Aliyu made the remark while inaugurating the 20-member Niger Investment Promotion Council in Minna.
He said efforts would be geared towards making the state evolve among the most three developed economies in the country by the year 2020.
“You will recall that during my second inaugural address on May 29, I said that the repositioning and resuscitation of the state’s economy for the attainment of our collective vision of 3: 2020 will be one of the key priorities of this administration.
Ogun
The Ogun Government is to distribute textbooks worth N1.8 billion to pupils and students in all public primary and secondary schools in the state.
The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Segun Odubela, made this known in Abeokuta on Monday at a news conference.
Odubela, who said the exercise would cut across the 20 councils in the state, added that the textbooks would be on English Language, Mathematics and other core subjects curricular.
“ Every library must have books. I can assure you that there is no pupil in any of our primary and secondary schools that would not have textbooks,’’ he said.
The commissioner also assured the schools that the books would be supplied within the next 14 days by selected publishers.
Odubela said no fewer than 368, 087 primary school pupils and 143,043 Junior Secondary School students would benefit from the scheme.
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