Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa House of Assembly has commenced moves to pass a law that would enhance sanitation in the state.
The bill entitled: “A Law to establish the Adamawa State Waste Disposal Board” to put in place a modern, environmentally safe waste management system in the state.
The bill, which is also meant to provide for matters incidental thereto, had passed its second reading.
The bill sponsored by the state government, when passed into law has provisions for fines or imprisonment for individuals or organisations that commit sanitation offences.
Such offences include improper dumping of refuse and failure to clean side walks, drains and gutters, among others.
The fines range from N500 to N50,000 and three months imprisonment depending on the offence.
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA) says it has deployed some of its staff and constituted a mobile court to facilitate the decongestion of the Muda Lawal Market .
Alhaji Waziri Jalam, the BASEPA Permanent Secretary, disclosed this in an inter disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi.
Jalaam said that the exercise would ensure that all roads in the market were cleared for the benefit of people who patronise the market and in accordance with the master plan.
He said that the exercise, scheduled for Monday, would be carried out jointly by BASEPA and the traders association officials.
Alhaji Mohammed Jauro, the association’s Chairman, said that the exercise became necessary to rid the market of traders who blocked access roads with wheel barrows laden with goods.
According to him, the blockage sometimes leads to accidents.
FCT
A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), ‘Bread of Life Development Foundation’, has urged the Federal Government to ensure that Nigerians, especially the urban and rural poor, have access to safe water supply and good sanitation services.
The Executive Director of the organisation, Mr Babatope Babalobi, gave the advice in a statement to mark Thursday’s celebration of the 2012 World Water Day
In the statement, made in Abuja, Babalobi said that Nigeria was one of the 122 countries that signed the UN Resolution of July 28, 2010, on the right to water.
He urged the Federal Government to domesticate this policy in its national water supply and sanitation laws.
“We expect the Nigerian Government to accord the highest priority to the provision of improved water and sanitation services to the people.
Jigawa
The Chairman, Buji Local Government Council in Jigawa State, Alhaji Isa Gwadayi, has charged the council’s newly-appointed secretary, Alhaji Abdu Kafin-madaki to abide by the oath of office he took.
Gwadayi gave the charge during the swearing-in of the scribe on Thursday in Buji.
He said the appointment of Kafin-madaki was based on his track record and contribution in uplifting the socio-economic well-being of the local government area.
The chairman pledged that he would give the necessary support to the new scribe for the development of the state.
Responding, Gwadayi said that he would not condone absenteeism and late coming to work.
He pointed out that anybody found engaging in such acts would be shown the way out.
Kaduna
Members of the Kaduna State House of Assembly has advised Gov. Patrick Yakowa to respect due process in the appointment of a substantive vice chancellor for the state-owned university (KASU) “to avoid litigation.”
Dr Shehu Usman Danfulani, the Minority Leader of the House, gave the advice while addressing newsmen in Kaduna on the appointment of Prof. Barnabas Quirix as the new VC of the institution.
He said the appointment should be reviewed in line with current global trends in the operations and management of academic institutions.
Danfulani added that if the appointment did not follow due process and the statutes establishing the university it would injure the integrity of the institution.
“Such hasty appointment could invalidate the university’s certificates.
“We do not have anything against the appointee because he is qualified and competent, but we demand for the respect of rule of law and due process,’’ he said.
Kwara
The Qadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullahi Owolabi, has appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action on the dialogue process with the Boko Haram sect.
He told newsmen in Ilorin that only constructive engagement with the sect could offer solutions to the security challenges in the country.
“ To the best of my understanding, when there is a problem with the people, government should make it a point of duty to have dialogue with those involved like they did with Niger Delta group,’’ he said.
He also advised the Federal Government to demonstrate commitment to the talks by ensuring that all stake holders were carried along in the negotiation process.
“ The so-called Boko Haram should also allow opportunity for negotiation without pre-condition because in the history of Islam, Prophet Mohammed did not insist that you must give a condition even when those conditions were not favourable.
Lagos
The National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria on Thursday praised the Federal Government for its efforts at reviving the country’s textile industry.
The President of the union, Mr Reginald Agulanna-Uwa, told newsmen in Lagos that some moribund textile mills had been revived through the government efforts.
He explained that companies that had not been able to start operations were reluctant to take the loans because of the fear that the influx of foreign textiles would affect their investment.
He said, however, that despite intrigues in the sector, some operators had given the assurances that business would improve with effective government policy.
Agulanna-Uwa said that the current fad of using local fabrics (ankara) as uniform during festivities, would encourage investors and boost the textile industry in the country.
Ogun
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State says his administration has spent N4 billion to purchase four Armoured Personnel Carriers(APCs), 145 vans and other security gadgets to fight crime.
Amosun made this known in Abeokuta on Thursday when he received the management team of ECObank PLC.
Our correspondent recalls that robbery attacks had been on the increase in some parts of Ogun since December 2011, forcing banks and other financial institutions to close shop.
According to the governor, the purchase of APCs, vans and other gadgets was to complement the Federal Government’s efforts in combating crime.
He said socioeconomic development could only take place in an environment that was peaceful and where security was guaranteed.
Amosun also commended the bank for donating N75 million to the state’s security trust fund, saying all the money received would be judiciously utilised.
He further called for more support from banks and companies operating in Ogun toward ensuring a crime-free state.
Oyo
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has vowed that neither he nor any of his aides would demand bribe from any contractor handling various projects in the state.
The governor said this in Ibadan during the flag-off of the reconstruction of Apete and Ayeye bidges.
He had earlier on Wednesday flagged off the reconstruction of the Bodija/Secretariat Road and Ogbere Babanla bridges.
The governor also vowed that his administration would not compromise on the standard and quality of any project that would be executed in the state during his tenure.
“We have many substandard projects in the state because contractors had given bunches of the money to government functionaries as reward or gratification for getting the jobs.
Sokoto
Former chairman, Illela Local Government, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, last Thursday called on PDP delegates to exhibit political maturity to ensure credible leaders emerged at the party convention.
Aliyu told newsmen in Sokoto that it was only by electing leaders that had the interest of the party that its growth would be sustained.
“ Delegates must show maturity as members of the largest party in Africa, respect the wishes of the supporters in the task of having reliable, honest and credible leadership,” he said.
He said political maturity was required at this material time to ensure the development of the party.
Taraba
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Taraba has registered over 11,000 candidates for the 2012 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The State Coordinator of the Board, Mrs Veronica Ayuba, disclosed this in Jalingo, while speaking with newsmen.
She said the candidates would sit for the examination in 22 centres of Jalingo, Bali, Wukari and Sardauna Local Government Councils.
Ayuba said preparations for the commencement of the examination which was scheduled for Saturday had reached an advanced stage in the centres across the state.
Zamfara
The ANPP Government of Zamfara has pledged to carry along all registered political parties in the state in major decision making and delivery of dividends of democracy.
The state Secretary of the party, Alhaji Salisu Dangulbi, made the pledge in Gusau during an interactive session of all the political parties on Thursday.
Dangulbi said the state government had made it a policy to embrace political parties as equal partners in the project of developing Zamfara.
He said that election had come and gone and as such politics should be put aside.
According to him, politicians should join hands with the state government to provide the necessary guidance that can facilitate speedy development of the state.
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,