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THE STATES

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Adamawa

Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board (ADSUBEB) has commenced distribution of motorcycles to head teachers of the 800 rural primary schools in the state.

The Executive Chairman of ADSUBEB, Dr Salihu Bakari, made this known in an interview with newsmen  in Yola.

Bakari said the measure was aimed at checking transportation challenges facing the head teachers in the rural areas, adding that the development would make them more effective teachers and managers of their respective schools.

Bakari said already head teachers of 300 schools had been provided with motorcycles in the first batch of the programme while the remaining 500 would get their own soon.

“There is a very serious problem of transportation which is affecting our managers of rural schools and that is why we decided to start by providing motorcycles to head teachers of “extremely rural areas’’

 

Benue

Clerics in Makurdi have urged youths to shun immoral behaviour and violence as they celebrate St. Valentine’s Day last Tuesday.

St Valentine’s Day is observed on February 14, for lovers to express love for each other, present flowers, offer confectionery and send greetings.

The clerics told newsmen in Makurdi on Tuesday that they were more concerned about youths because they are the ones mostly involved in the celebration.

Rev. Fr Titus Igyese of St. Gabriel’s Mission, Makurdi said that the love which St. Valentine stood and died for was divine and not physical.

Igyese urged youths to refrain from indulging in immoral acts under the pretext of Valentine’s Day.

 

FCT

The National Secretary, Democratic People’s Alliance (DPA) Mr Sam Onimisi, has urged the Federal Government to strengthen security at the country’s borders to address trans-border crime.

He made the charge on Tuesday in a telephone interview with newsmen  in Abuja.

Onimisi said the security agencies must live up to the task by ensuring that the nation’s borders were secure.

“Government should make sure that movement of illegal migrants into Nigeria is restricted and I believe this would help a lot in alleviating the security problems in the country.

“The Nigeria immigration service should ensure that foreigners do not enter Nigeria without valid papers.

 

Kano

The Kano State Government has relaxed for the second time the curfew it imposed on the state by four hours.

Our correspondent  recalls that the state government imposed the curfew on Jan. 20 as a result of the multiple bomb explosions which rocked the Kano metropolis.

The state Commissioner for Information, Dr Umar Faruk, said in a statement in Kano on Tuesday that the curfew would now hold from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Faruk explained that the decision to relax the curfew followed the improved security situation in the state.

He, however, stated that commercial motorcyclists were not affected by the new order as they were expected to operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 

Kebbi

Suru Local Government of Kebbi  has spent N3.5 million on the purchase of 2,800 goats to be distributed to women on loan as part of efforts to reduce poverty in the area.

The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Sahabi Dan-Baba, told newsmen in Dakingari on Tuesday that widows, divorcees and less privileged persons would benefit from the scheme.

He said 1,300 beneficiaries would receive between two and three goats to rear and generate  income for their families.

Dan-Bababa also said the council planned to expand the scheme and sustain it.

 

Kogi

The Kogi State office of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has confirmed that 61 people lost their lives in 485 road crashes recorded in the state in January this year.

The state’s Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Michael Olapade, who confirmed the figure while speaking to newsmen on Tuesday in Lokoja, said that the crashes which occurred in different parts of the state involved 123 vehicles.

Olapade said that a total of 385 persons were involved in the accidents with 324 of them sustaining varying degrees of injuries, attributing the accidents to dangerous driving, speed limit violation, tyre burst and bad state of roads.

The statistics also indicated that 10 out of the 28 children victims of the accidents were among the dead with the Lokoja-Abuja highway accounting for most of the deaths.

Olapade said that the commission would continue to pay special attention to the road, charging motorists to comply with traffic rules to reduce carnage on roads in the state.

 

Lagos

Head, Lagos State Voluntary Blood Donation Organisation, Dr Temilola Alayande,  has advised Nigerians to develop a more positive attitude towards donating blood voluntarily, as this could help save lives.

Alayande said this in Lagos on Tuesday at a workshop organised by the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee on “Blood donor recruitment and retention“. It was for youths in the state.

She said that the aim of the workshop was to recruit voluntary blood donors among the youths, as it had been observed that there was an enormous lack of adequate blood in blood banks in the state.

Alayande added that one of the major impediments to having adequate blood was the lackadaisical and nonchalant attitude of Nigerians towards voluntary blood donation.

 

Nasarawa

Governor  Umaru Almakura of Nasarawa State has said that government is to embark on the demolition of illegal structures on government’s lands in the state soon.

Al-makura made the announcement on Monday in Lafia during the inauguration of 13 newly appointed Special Advisers.

He noted with dismay the trend whereby persons and groups converted government’s property and land to personal use, especially at Government Reservation Areas (GRAs) in Akwanga, Keffi, Nasarawa and Lafia.

“It is for this reason that all those who are in the habit of indiscriminately acquiring such property do so at their own peril”, he warned.

“Accordingly, government warns that it will soon embark on reclaiming of its lands as well as demolition of illegal structures within government’s lands,” he said.

He called on the people of the state, irrespective of political differences, to safeguard public property and work toward the overall development of the state.

 

Ogun

The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, has freed 47 prison inmates in the last one week, according to the Chief Registrar of the state’s High Court, Mr Sikiru Owodunni.

Owodunni told newsmen in Abeokuta on Tuesday that the exercise began on February 7 and February 14 and the released inmates were drawn from Abeokuta, Ilaro, Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode.

She said the judge made the release after a scrutiny of the list of the prisoners and their different case files as submitted by the prisons services.

He said some of the inmates were charged for offences ranging from murder, robbery, stealing, kidnapping and unlawful carnal knowledge among others.

 

Osun

Some educationists have urged the Federal Government to make Yoruba language one of the compulsory subjects required for admission into tertiary institutions by students from Yoruba speaking areas of the country.

They told newsmen  in separate interviews on Tuesday in Osogbo that the measure would improve the study of Yoruba language at the tertiary level.

An official of Osun State Ministry of Education, Miss Odunayo Olawore, said Yoruba language should be made a course to be taught and spoken from primary to tertiary levels in South West geo-political zone.

She suggested that all private schools in Yoruba land should be required to have classes in Yoruba language from nursery to secondary school levels.

 

Plateau

The Plateau Government has donated relief materials to victims of the protracted violence in Damaturu, Yobe, who fled the violence-wrecked state to take refuge in Jos.

Governor  Jonah Jang of Plateau, who donated the items worth more than eight million naira, said that more than 400 persons were taking refuge in the state.

Also offered to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were drugs and temporary accommodation at Tati Hotel, Jos.

Among the items donated to the IDPs are 100 pieces of mattresses, 100 bags of rice, 80 bags of maize, 100 pieces of wrapper and 250 pieces of blankets.

 

Zamfara

Four months after the armed banditry incident at Lingyado Community in Dansadau area of Zamfara, the state’s police command has arrested one Muhammadu Bugge, suspected to be among some bandits terrorising the area.

Bandits attacked Lingyado Village last November in a night raid, killing 19 persons.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police in Zamfara, Mr Saidu Madawaki, told newsmen in Gusau on Tuesday that Bugge was arrested by a police anti-crime patrol team at Mashaya Zaki Village also in Dansadau area.

Madawaki said that Bugge and one unidentified accomplice, now at large, were intercepted on a motor cycle by the patrol team on January 31.

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HYPREP Trains Students On Petroleum Jelly, Liquid Soap Making

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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

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Community Organises Civic Reception For LG Boss

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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.

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Senate  Summons Wike Over Demolition Of Houses …Set To Investigate  FCDA Activities 

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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

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