Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Rapid Response Team on Lassa Fever is to liaise with private and public health institutions in the state for quick identification of cases of lassa fever in the state.
The Chairman of the team, Dr Robinson Yusuf, told newsmen in Bauchi that there was the need to be proactive in combating the disease.
According to him, health personnel must be tutored on the signs and symptoms of the disease for easy identification and isolation of affected persons.
“We will use the primary healthcare units in all the local government areas to ensure that information on the disease are passed to the grassroots, just as we are doing in the case of wild polio virus.’’
Yusuf listed the symptoms of the disease to include fever, nausea, sore throat, back pain, abdominal pain and vomiting of blood.
Ekiti
Authorities of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti have announced fees payable by students of the institution for the 2011/2012 session.
The Public Relations Officer, Mr Adeyemi Adejolu, told newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday that “the display of fees payable in the institution had become necessary in order to avoid misinformation and mutilation of facts by students”.
He said HND I and ND I students of the School of Business Studies, except Office Technology and Management, would pay N20,350.
He also said that HND I and ND I students of the Department of Office Technology and Management, including those in the schools of Engineering; Environmental Studies and the School of Science and Computer Studies would pay N21,350.
FCT
The Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Mike Omeri, has described the current bombing in some parts of the country as the biggest threat to the nation’s security after the civil war, which ended in 1970.
He made observation on Tuesday in Abuja at a news conference organised by the Homeland Secure, a non-governmental organisation, on the strategy to combat and prevent terrorism in the country.
Omeri, who was represented by an official of the agency, Mr John Tagwai, said that since 1999 the country had passed through many crises, adding that no democracy could thrive in crises.
Omeri said dialogue was the best option to resolve contending issues, and described as timely, the proposed conference on how to combat and prevent terrorism scheduled to take place between May 28 and May 30.
Kaduna
Governor Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State on Tuesday said the state government would work with Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) towards maintaining peace and ensuring women and youth empowerment.
Receiving members of I-Care Women and Youth Initiative, led by the initiator and wife of the Vice-President, Hajiya Amina Sambo, Yakowa said the government would cooperate with other stakeholders to bring about permanent peace in the state.
The delegation was headed by the the wife of Kaduna State Governor, Mrs Amina Yakowa, representing the wife of the Vice president and the Initiator of the NGO.
The I-care NGO was established to complement government’s effort at empowering women and youths.
Katsina
The Katsina State Senior Magistrates’ Court III has fixed March 26 for mentioning of a charge of rape levelled against a former police corporal.
Abutu Joseph is alleged to have raped a cripple and her daughter inside the Katsina Central Market Police Post on December 16, 2011 while on night duty.
The prosecution said the woman and her daughter, who came from a nearby village, were lured by Joseph to spend the night at the station to avoid being harassed, while searching for accommodation in the town.
The accused person allegedly raped the duo in the night and appealed to them not to reveal the matter.
At today’s proceedings, the police prosecutor, Insp. Hashimu Musa, told the court that the accused person was charged for rape and act of indecency, offences contrary to Sections 283 and 285 of the Penal Code.
Lagos
Some clerics have voiced their concerns over the total removal of roadblocks on the nation’s highways, saying that criminals were already taking undue advantage of the situation.
In separate interviews with newsmen in Lagos, the clerics said that the checkpoints should not be removed completely for security reasons, in view of frequent robbery incidences on the highways.
Mr Femi Asiwaju, Lagos State Vice President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, said that the Lagos-Ibadan expressway has recorded many armed robbery incidents in the past one week.
“The Inspector General of Police (IGP) meant well for Nigerians by dismantling the checkpoints, but that is not the solution; it is like abandoning the highways to the armed robbers again.
Nasarawa
The Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Lafia, Alhaji Usman Bello, has identified Nasarawa as one of those with viable economy among the 36 states of the federation.
He stated this when members of the State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation, led by its Chairman, Mr Philip Gyunka, paid him a courtesy visit in Lafia.
Bello said that “between May 2011 and this February, the Lafia branch of the apex bank has mobilised N16.4 billion from the bank deposits in the state”.
He said the branch has also paid N2.3 billion to 17 deposit banks, which translated to N69 million withdrawals per week.
According to the CBN Branch Controller, the deposits have grown to N480 million per week.
Ogun
The wife of Ogun Governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, has advocated a paradigm shift to entrepreneurship education as an essential ingredient in accelerating economic growth and national development.
Mrs Amosun made the call on Tuesday in Abeokuta at the launch of Nigeria’s chapter of the Federation of Business Women Entrepreneurs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
According to her, most developed countries always encourage small and medium scale enterprises leading to increase in their Gross Domestic Products (GDP).
“Our youths and women should be encouraged to acquire one vocational skill or the other, irrespective of their educational qualifications.”
“Most of our children and women may not necessarily hunt for white collar jobs if they can acquire a vocational skill in order to earn a living.
Sokoto
A lecturer in Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto, Dr Shehu Sidi, has called on the Federal Government to initiate policies and programmes that will modernise farming methods in the country.
Sidi told newsmen in Sokoto that the use of modern farming inputs would ensure massive food production in the country.
He said that the country was blessed with vast land needed to produce various crops for local consumption and export.
He pointed out that, the current security challenges facing the country would be a thing of the past if government invested in Agriculture.
Taraba
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administra-tion and Control (NAFDAC) in Taraba says it will henceforth register water-sachet factories within 48 hours, its Coordinator, Mr Nnaja Nnaja, has said.
Nnaja said this in Jalingo on Tuesday at a news conference.
He said the accelerated registration was aimed at encouraging the people to invest in water manufacturing.
The coordinator explained that most of the brands of sachet water consumed in the state were manufactured outside Taraba, adding that the agency could only monitor the production of foods and drugs within the state.
“So, it is risky to buy sachet water produced in other states because we cannot monitor the production. Our mandate is Taraba and that is why we are encouraging citizens to produce water locally.”
Yobe
The Yobe State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, said on Tuesday that his administration has awarded N19.7 billion worth of contracts for the construction of road networks across the state in the last nine months.
He made this known in Damaturu at an interactive meeting with state’s elders, saying that the session was to inform the stakeholders about government activities.
Gaidam said that government also awarded N1.1 billion contract for the completion of Damaturu Regional Water Scheme as a panacea to water scarcity in the metropolis.
“The construction of 200-bed hospital in Damaturu has been completed. Similarly, the construction of 40-bed capacity amenity ward at the Specialist’s Hospital, Damaturu, has been completed at the cost of N140 million.”
The governor said that N700 million had been expended on school fees while all outstanding bursary allowances have been settled.
The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
South East Caucus of the Senate has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu considering his commitment to achieving a practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly angered by the Senate’s rejection of the need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent 1993 elections stormed out of the Senate Chambers and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South), as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .
Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says the Nigerian Military is committed to facilitating sustainable food security in the country through the establishment of farms.
Musa said this in Abuja yesterday during the unveiling of the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products Logo.
He noted that the agricultural sector played crucial role in guaranteeing food security which was requisite for sustainable national security.
He said that the adverse impact of climate change, environmental degradation and conflict across some parts of the country had continuously threatened food security with dire consequences on national security.
According to him, to address this, the Defence Headquarters in May 2023, conceptualised the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products initiative.
“This is with the aim of keying into the federal government’s efforts at addressing food security challenges in the country.
“The initiative which aligns with the ‘People Centric’ policy thrust of my leadership concept is aimed at creating job opportunities and enhancing rural infrastructural development while significantly contributing to food security in the Country.
“Considering the extensive consultation, planning and preparation made by the committee thus far, I am optimistic that the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products initiative will have a positive transformative impact on host communities while enhancing national security.
“With similar initiatives replicated across the country, I envision a future characterised by modernised farming techniques in which the agricultural sector significantly contributes to economic growth and national development.”
The CDS enjoined all members of the Armed Forces and the general public to embrace the initiative and maximise its associated gains.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, for his sterling leadership and relentless pursuit of national peace, security and economic prosperity.
He also appreciated the efforts of members of the committee who worked assiduously to actualise the initiative.
Earlier, the Chairman, Defence Farms Committee,