Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Mustapha, has
given Abdul’Aziz Nyako, the eldest son of Governor. Murala Nyako the traditional title of “Sarkin Matasa”, meaning the leader of youths in Adamawa.
Speaking at the ceremony in his palace recently in Yola, Barkindo said the title was given to Nyako based on his contribution to youth mobilisation and development in the state.
The traditional ruler said that Nyako was expected to continue to mobilise youths in the area to realise their potential for the socio-economic development of the emirate.
He added that the youth leader would also serve as security adviser to the emirate.
Barkindo, also made his son, Alhaji Mohammed Barkindo, “Kauran Adamawa” at the ceremony, and called on the new title holders to see their recognition as a challenge to live up to the expectation of the emirate.
FCT
The FCT Police Command has arrested 60 commercial mo
torcycle operators for operating within the city centre.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT, Mr Aderenle Shinaba, who led the operation, said the suspects violated the ban on operating in the metropolis.
Shinaba said that 50 of the operators were arrested at Area 1, while 10 were picked up at AYA roundabout in Asokoro.
The commissioner said the raid was part of efforts to rid the city of hoodlums and criminals during the yuletide.
Gombe
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Gombe command, Mr
Nyat Jatau, has urged security agencies to bury their differences and unite to promote peace and security of lives and property.
He made the call on Saturday during an end-of-year party for security agents working in Gombe State.
Jatau noted that without cooperation, unity and the spirit of understanding, individual efforts aimed at ensuring law and order would be fruitless.
He said the Federal Government established the various security agencies and paramilitary organisations to ensure division of labour.
Jigawa
Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State last Saturday in
Hadejia commended traditional rulers for ensuring peaceful co-existence among the people of the state.
Lamido made the commendation at the celebration of the 10th anniversary on the throne of the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Maje.
He said that the traditional institution had been playing significant roles in maintaining peace and stability in the state.
“Our monarchs have been supportive and cooperative with my government for the benefit of our people,” he said.
Kano
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Kano State chapter, has called on
Christians to use this Christmas season to pray for peace and development in the country in 2013.
This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Kano by the president of the association, Chief Tobias Idika.
“We felicitate with Christians all over the world in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
“We call on all Christians and, indeed, Nigerians to use this season to reflect on the series of crises and calamities that befell Nigeria in 2012,’’ the statement stated.
Kaduna
A lecturer, Mr Usman Alhassan, has called on President
Goodluck Jonathan to assent to the National Bio-safety bill passed by the Senate.
Alhassan, who lectures at the Institute for Agriculture Research (IAR), Zaria, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The bill provides a framework to ensure the development and use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) do not negatively affect plants, animals and human health or the environment.
It would be recalled that recalls that the senate had on June 1, 2012, agreed that the bill should be harmonised with a version passed by the House of Representatives in July 2009 and sent to the president for assent.
Kebbi
The Legal Aid Council in Kebbi State has donated
relief materials to the state’s remand home to support the inmates.
The state coordinator of the council, Salisu Alhassan, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the materials included, mattresses, blankets, soap and provisions.
He said the decision to donate the materials to the remand home was to ensure comfort and to give the inmates a sense of belonging.
He said the council would ensure improvement on the donation with the collaboration of other stakeholders.
Kwara
The Kwara State Government in Ilorin has reaf-
firmed its determination to develop rural communities to curb rural-urban migration among the people.
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold made the reaffirmation while declaring open a workshop organised for liaison officers and youth empowerment coordinators from the 16 local governments of the state.
The workshop was at the instance of the Special Assistant to the State Governor on Intergovernmental Affairs, Alhaji Aro Yahya.
Gold said the government had perfected arrangements to construct more roads in rural areas, provide portable water, electricity and other social amenities and infrastructure for the people.
Niger
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike
Ihejirika says the Nigerian Army would channel resources toward providing first class training for its personnel to meet contemporary challenges.
Ihejirika, made the statement during the graduation ceremony of the 8th Basic Counter Terrorism Training conducted by the Nigerian Army Training Centre, Kontagora, for junior officers.
He said the training would enhance the capacity of the personnel to discharge their professional duties.
He explained that the training was organised for junior officers because of the deficiency in professional conduct bordering on indiscipline, negligence in performance of duties and illegal duties.
Ondo
The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr
Danladi Mshelbuala, has assured the people of the state of adequate security before, during and after the yuletide.
Mshelbuala, who gave the assurance in Akure told newsmen that the people had no cause to express fear of insecurity as they celebrate the yuletide.
He advised the people go about their lawful activities during the period.
He said the police had put in some security measures in compliance with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police to check criminal activities in the country during the celebrations.
Osun
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State says peace
ful coexistence among Nigerians irrespective of their religion and ethnic groups is vital for national development.
Aregbesola who made this known on Saturday at the grand finale of the 2012 Iwude festival in Ilesha, urged Nigerians to live in peace and harmony for the country to witness rapid development.
He expressed regrets over the insecurity and chaos in some parts of the country and called on community, religious leaders and all stakeholders in the affairs of the nation to preach peace.
He, however, commended the Yorubas for allowing peace to reign in the region, urging the people to continue to imbibe the spirit of tolerance and love for one another.
Plateau
The Special Task Force (STF) maintaining peace in
Plateau State, says it has put in place some security measures to ensure hitch-free Christmas and New Year celebrations in the state.
In a statement by its media officer, Capt. Salisu Mustapha, the task force said security operatives would be deployed to churches and strategic areas throughout the period.
“STF would increase the temporary checkpoints throughout the festive period as well as intensify vehicular search at checkpoints,’’ it said.
It said vehicles had been banned from entering premises of recreation centres during the period, adding that STF men would be posted to the centres to complement efforts of local security operatives.
The Chairman of Malumfashi Local Government Council of Katsina State, Maharazu Dayi, has been impeached.
Maharazu Dayi was impeached yesterday by 11 out of 12 councillors, barely two days before the local government elections in the State.
The councillors reportedly took action following allegations of misconduct and poor governance against the chairman after a dispute over the distribution of the council’s Paris Club funds.
The development has sent shock waves across the local government area, especially as the impeached chairman is among those who failed to secure the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest in the forthcoming election.
The Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association, Mile 1, Port Harcourt, has urged the state government to utilise the available spaces within the area to build phase 3 of the Rumuwoji Market in order to solve the ever increasing needs of traders.
The association, which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, also described as a welcomed development the decision by the state Governor to open the phase 2 of the market for business.
According to the association, “We consider it as an answer to the various cries of the people, because he is a man on a mission who is out to place the interest of Rivers people first. It is a dream come true for the first time for the market to be dully allocated and open for business”
Chairman of the association, Hon Godspower Wobo, who briefed the press shortly after a meeting of the association in Port Harcourt, also urged the public to disregard the activities of some persons whose stock in trade is to cause disaffection in the market.
He said the attention of the association was drawn to the activities of some strange fellows who went about misforming the people about situation in the market, stressing that apart from his association, no other group exists in the market except subdiary unions.
Wobo also tasked the reallocation committee to tread with caution so as to avoid being deceived by any group.
According to him, time has come for the state government to engage in robust discussion with aggrieved shop owners who went to court and those who paid monies to the state coffers and issued with allocation certificates for the overall interest of peace.
He also advised the public to deal directly with his association, stressing that the meeting was to review activities for the last year as well as unveil their new Constitution.
Also speaking, former Chairman of the association, Deacon Kenneth Eze urged the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to open the phase 2 of the market, as it is long overdue.
Eze who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the association also urged the public to do business with only the Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association as it is the only union recognised by the traders.
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has debunked reports linking him with the race for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.
Reacting to the report on his X handle yesterday, following a recent interview with Arise TV, the AfDB boss said his quotes were misrepresented and misinterpreted in several Nigerian media reports.
However, the AfDB president denied the media reports, stating that he never said that he wanted to contest for President.
“A segment of my recent interview on @Arise TV has been both misinterpreted and misrepresented in several Nigerian media outlets. What I said was, “I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including my own country.”
“A listen to the substantive and robust interview, which is available online, will show this to be the case. For clarity and for the record, I did not say that I am running for the office of President of Nigeria,” Adesina said.