Nation
THE STATES
Borno
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno has promised to reconstruct public schools destroyed recently by Boko Haram members in Maiduguri metropolis.
The group had taken responsibility for setting ablaze 10 schools in the city last month.
Shettima, who was inspecting one of the schools at Gwange, said the destruction of the schools was a huge set back, but pledged to ensure their quick reconstruction.
“It is hard, it is disturbing that our own sons are busy going about burning schools.
“The burning of schools can not be justified under any guise because the Prophet of Islam during his time urged Muslims to seek knowledge even in far away China.”
Shettima said burning centres of learning was unIslamic and unjustifiable.
“These schools serve many purposes; in the morning pupils take lessons, in the afternoon they serve as adult classses and in the evening women classes are held.
Ekiti
A non-government organisation, Centre for Human Development, has been rallying support for all female candidates ahead of the local government election in Ekiti State.
The executive director of the centre, Prof. Simi Afouda, said this at a meeting with artisans and other segments of the Society at Aramoko-Ekiti last Tuesday.
She urged the electorate to give woman a chance to be elected into political offices, saying that doing so would speed up development especially at the grassroots.
The CHD is being supported by the department for international development, United Nations Development programme to canvass support for more women to take elective positions.
FCT
The Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), an NGO, has called for the sensitisation of the public on their fundamental human rights to address insecurity in the country.
Mr Tony Agbor, the Assistant Programmes Coordinator of PRAWA in the FCT Zone, made the call in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said it was unfortunate that the security challenge in the country was hindering efforts at growing the economy.
“The issue of insecurity in Nigeria can be looked up from the position of people who are predisposed to violence.
“Government should look at providing basic access to information that will educate people on their rights and how to better exercise their rights.
“Government should take a look at this angle and provide capacity building in this area, creating awareness around laws that are set is vital.”
Gombe
The Magistrates’ Court number one, Kasuwar Shanu Gombe, on Tuesday arraigned one Abubakar Inuwa, 37, of Tudun Wada quarters Gombe, for alleged criminal breach of trust and cheating.
The Prosecutor, ASP Aminu Ibrahim, told the court that on January 23, the accused person collected the sum of N1.5 million from one Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed of Bajoga, Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe.
According to the prosecutor, the accused person was sent with the money to give Alhaji Sadiq Umar, a brother to Ahmed and the accused converted the amount to his own personal use, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 311 and 320 of the Penal Code.
Counsel to the accused, Mr Sunday Akporido, who cited sections 341 and 36 of the Constitution, urged the court to grant the accused person bail.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Fadama III Office says it has so far disbursed N300 million to 17,254 farming groups in the state.
The Project Coordinator, Mr Ishaku Dauda, told newsmen in Kaduna, that the group included 5,496 women.
.Dauda said that the programme had also constructed 30 kms of feeder roads, enabling farmers to transport their produce to the markets.
According to him, 100 stalls were also constructed in selected rural markets in Birnin Gwari, Zaria and Sanga Local Governments areas state.
Dauda said that the programme had also assisted Fadama User Groups with irrigation pumps, processing machines, sprayers, work bull and ox ridges, to boost their productivity.
Kano
Hotel owners in Kano State say there are experiencing low patronage due to the prevailing insecurity in the state.
Some of the operators, who spoke to newsmen in Kano said that the low level of patronage had affected their profits and the cost of maintaining facilities.
The hotel owners said the prevailing situation had prevented many people from coming into the state to do business and that the development had forced many customers to stay away from hotels.
Mr Mike Ado, a Hotel Manager, said that the situation in the state had adversely affected businesses and other social activities.
“Many customers, who come to the state from far and near including neighbouring Niger and Cameroon, for business, have stopped coming here due to the security challenge.’’
Lagos
The Chairman of Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mr Ladipo Ajayi, has promised to ensure that unlicensed intermediaries were stopped from selling insurance products.
He told newsmen in Lagos that the association was determined to stamp out quacks.
Ajayi said that some unlicensed intermediaries planned to form a cartel to monopolise products of few insurance companies.
“Now, the NIA is working to stamp out this practice.
“Every insurance company must be able to sell its products anywhere in the county.
“Anyone, who must be involved in the distribution of insurance products, must be licenced by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and be subjected to its control,’’ he said.
Ajayi said that the association was taking the measure to ensure that insurance companies got the commensurate premium to be able to pay claims when they arose.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a herdsman with 20 rounds of AK 47 ammunition and one cartridge of a single barrel gun.
The arrest followed repeated attacks on Kadarko town and environ in Keana Local Government Area of the state.
Confirming the arrest the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr Cornelius Ocholi, said that the suspect was arrested on Monday evening at Kwarra Village on his way to Giza Development Area.
Ocholi told newsmen that the suspect, in his confessional statement, said, the ammunition were given to him by one ‘Burorno’ now at large, to be taken to their kinsmen who were fighting ‘a war’ in Giza.
He said that the suspect was being detained at state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Lafia, while investigation was on to arrest more suspects following useful information given by the suspect.
Ogun
The National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has called on the Federal Government to impose stiffer penalties for rapists to serve as a deterrent to others.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its 2012 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abeokuta last Saturday.
NAWOJ also advocated for a legislation to cater for domestic violence as well as protect young girls against harmful traditional practices and molestation.
“NAWOJ is also calling on the Federal Government to domesticate the CEDAW bill and the total elimination of all kinds of violence against women,’’ the communiqué said.
The association urged the Federal Government to fully implement the 35 per cent affirmative action and commended the Inspector-General of Police for the removal of road blocks across the country.
It, however, advocated for the introduction of community policing, vigilante groups and other security structures to assist the police in ensuring the safety of lives and property.
Oyo
The Acting State Librarian in Oyo, Mrs Adetokunbo Adigun, says the State Library Board is to open its e-resource centre in April.
She told newsmen in Ibadan that the move was in line with the governor’s resolve to ensure that the library met world standards.
Adigun, who commended Gov. Abiola Ajimobi for his desire to transform the state, further said:
“The Ajimobi-led government is different. Innovative intellectuals are positioned in key sectors in restoring the state to it previous glory as a pace setter.
“The library itself is already beaming positively as reflected by the improvement in infrastructure and socio-dynamic services, and I must say, the feedback is overwhelming and encouraging.
“The icing on the cake for us will be the inauguration of our e-resource centre later in April by His Excellency, the first of its kind in the history of this state,’’ she said.
Plateau
An optometrist, Dr. Francisa Ekwuribe, has described glaucoma as a major cause of irreversible blindness in humans.
Ekwuribe, who works at the Tadam Medical Centre, Jos, told newsmen that only a few sufferers were, however, aware that they had the disease.
She explained that eye disease lacked early warning signs or symptoms in most people, a situation that usually makes it difficult for such individuals to be aware of what was happening.
“ The Optometrist described glaucoma as an eye disease that damages the optic nerve that is responsible for transmitting electrical impulses to the brain.
Ekwuribe said the damage usually occurs as a result of elevated pressure of the fluid in the eye.
According to her, such pressure is also known as “intraocular pressure’’.
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,