Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), says it will partner with the private sector to fast-track the development of historical and social monuments in the country.
The Director-General of the commission, Malam Yusuf Usman, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen.
He said the participation of the private sector would complement government’s funding towards the maintenance of the monuments.
Usman explained that government was providing the enabling environment that would make the private sector to take the maintenance of monuments and museums as a social responsibility.
“It is true that there is no much money that is provided for the maintenance of monuments across the country. But what government does is to provide some funding – that is seed money, to be able to generate interest among the private sector who can come in to participate in the maintenance of this important national edifices.
“So, we are hopeful that the private sector will join us to do this especially where it can be a form of their social responsibility since private sector is about profit and our monument and heritage resources are not for profit in terms of naira and kobo but in terms of the value that they add to our wellbeing as a people.’’
Benue
President Goodluck Jonathan has commissioned N2.6 billion water plant in Otobi, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue.
In his speech at the occasion, the President commended Governor Gabriel Suswam for establishing water projects in the state.
He said such projects would not only assist in reducing the incidence of water borne diseases, but would also address the water and health needs of the cluster communities they were meant to serve.
“More than 30 per cent diseases are water borne and by the construction of this water project, you have solved not only the water needs of the people, but also taken care of their health needs,” Jonathan said.
Earlier, Gov. Suswam, who conducted the President round the site of the project, said the construction of the water plant was in fulfillment of his campaign promises to the people.
FCT
Chairman, Abaji Area Council of the FCT, Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed on Thursday advised residents to ensure clean environment by evacuating waste and materials that could harbour rats in their houses.
Mohammed gave the advice in Abaji at the opening of a community awareness sensitisation programme on the prevention of Lassa fever organised by the council.
The council boss, who was represented by Dr Basil Magaji, Head of Health Department, said the awareness programme became necessary following reported cases of outbreak of Lassa fever in some parts of the country.
He said the programme was part of the council’s commitment to ensure clean environment and healthy living among residents.
Mohammed called on residents to take advantage of health facilities across the wards in the council, meant for routine immunisation to prevent the six child-killer diseases.
Kaduna
The Polio Technical Consultant to the Northern Governors’ Forum (NGF), Dr Zikrullah Giwa, said last week that Nigeria recorded four cases of wild polio virus in the past 10 weeks
Giwa who made this known at a meeting in a forum in Kaduna, said the cases were recorded in Kaduna, Sokoto, Borno and Zamfara states.
“In 2012, Nigeria has four cases of wild polio virus in four states compared to four cases in three states for the same period in 2011.’’
According to him, the current National Epidemiology the country recorded 62 cases of the wild polio virus in 2011 in eight states.
Giwa stated that the total number of “circulating vaccine derived polio virus’’ (cVDPV2) was 35 in 10 states of the federation in 2011.
“In 2012, Nigeria has zero cVDPV2 compared to five cases in four states for the same period.”
Kebbi
A prominent member of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Kebbi, Alhaji Adullahi Muslim, has returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Muslim was registered along with 1,500 supporters on Thursday at the Nasarawa Ward by the PDP Ward Chairman, Alhaji Bande Mainama.
Muslim was a member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the PDP between 1999 and 2011and later defected to the CPC.
He said his decision to return to the PDP was due to lack of internal democracy in CPC.
“I was disowned by CPC through a court affidavit.”
He explained that he was back into the PDP in order to contribute his quota to the socio- economic development of the state.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has promised to effectively use the excess crude oil funds to develop the infrastructure in the state.
Represented by his Deputy, Mr Peter Kishira, the governor made the promise at the flag-off of the 2012 Excess Crude Oil Funds projects held at Share.
He said that the funds would be channeled to priority areas of need “for the sustenance of our people and communities’’.
According to the governor, the funds would also be utilised to reposition all the local governments areas and to develop water project, power generation, schools, health, road networks, youth empowerment, agriculture, scholarship and traditional institution.
Kogi
The immediate-past Chief Whip of the Kogi House of Assembly, Alhaji Suleiman Babadoko, has denied hatching plots to impeach the Speaker, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello.
Addressing newsmen in Lokoja last Babadoko, who represents Lokoja 1 Constituency, dismissed as unfounded, the allegation that he held discussions with four principal officers of the house to perfect plans for the removal of the Speaker.
He explained that his meeting with the principal officers centred on how to rally support for the state governor, Capt. Idris Wada, to stabilise the new administration.
The lawmaker said he took the step to ward off plans by the opposition to pressurise INEC to conduct fresh governorship
Lagos
Some lawyers in Lagos have called for the involvement of more women in the judicial activities.
The lawyers made the call as part of the activities marking the International Women‘s Day.
The Day is marked worldwide on March 8 every year, to celebrate the political, social and economic achievements of women.
Nasarawa
The traditional ruler of Doma in Nasarawa, Alhaji Ahmadu Aliyu-Ogah, has urged the people of the area to cut down on the amount of bride price on their daughters to encourage young suitors.
He gave the advice recently while addressing Imams in Doma and its environs
“The minimum amount payable as bride price is N7,660, which is most blessed in the sight of Allah,’’ he declared.
Aliyu-Ogah, who is the Andoma of Doma, said most young men of marriageable age were scared of approaching ladies for marriage because of the high price being demanded by their prospective in-laws.
Niger
Former INEC Chairman, Prof Maurice Iwu has called on the National Assembly to ensure the quick passage of the bill that sought to protect traditional medicine and regulate access to genetic resources.
Iwu, who is the Chairman of the Bio-resources Institute of Nigeria, made the appeal during a mini national stakeholders forum on the draft legal document on the Act.
The Act is to provide for “The Protection of Traditional Knowledge Regulation of Access to Genetic Resources and Related Matters”.
He said if the bill was passed into law, it would ensure proper regulation of trado-medicine practice in the country, thus leading to the creation of jobs for millions of Nigerians as well as wealth creation.
Ogun
The Ogun Government says it will provide loans for women to make them financially independent.
Mrs Elizabeth Sonubi, the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, said this at the 101st International Women Day celebration in Abeokuta last Thursday.
“Government has set up loans, empowerment kits and programmes to help empower our women so as to reduce hunger and poverty,” Sonubi said.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his wife, Mrs Olufunsho Amosun, attended the programme.
The programme had as theme: “Uplifting Women: Empowering Rural Women to End Hunger and Poverty.’’
Plateau
Local Government workers in Plateau have accepted to collect half of the N18,000 minimum wage owing to paucity of funds, according to Mr Jibrin Bancir, the state’s Nigeria Labour Congress Chairman.
Bancir told newsmen last Thursday in Jos that the Local Governments have, however, agreed in principle to pay the new wage.
“We have seen the monthly subventions of the councils from the federal allocation and have noticed indeed that the money is not enough to pay the minimum wage.
“What we have agreed with the council managements and the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs is that the councils should be paying 50 percent of the increment pending when their revenue status gets better.”
Nation
HYPREP Trains Students On Petroleum Jelly, Liquid Soap Making
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
Nation
Community Organises Civic Reception For LG Boss
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.
Nation
Senate Summons Wike Over Demolition Of Houses …Set To Investigate FCDA Activities
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.
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