Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Police Command in Adamawa State said it recorded
15 rape cases across the state in two years.
This is contained in the statistics of the cases from the command, signed by Mr Salau Usman, the command’s Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of CID in Yola last Tuesday.
The statement stated that 16 people, made up of 10 people in 2012 and six in 2013 were arrested during the period under review. It said that eight suspects were charged to court in 2012 and three in 2013.
The statistics also showed that 27 cases of house breaking and theft were also reported within the period with 12 in 2012 and 15 cases in 2013, respectively.
Borno
The Borno State Fire Service Department recorded 121
fire incidents in the state in 2013, an official said in Maiduguri last Tuesday.
The Director of Fire Service in the state, Alhaji Musa Hussaini, said in an interview that no life was lost in the incident and added that the agency was working toward protecting the lives and property of the citizens.
He said the agency had acquired 60 fire fighting vehicles to facilitate speedy response to fire outbreaks and other related incidents adding that the agency was collaborating other organisations, such as Federal Road Safety Commission and Red Cross, to save lives.
Husain said the agency had opened area offices in Bui, Hawal, Shani, Damboa, Askira Uba, Goza, Bama, Konduga and Ngala local government areas to expand its reach to local communities and appealed to the public to desist from using charcoal to warm their houses during the hamattan.
Ekiti
Any person wishing to be appointed into any public
office in Ekiti State must first ensure that he or she is qualified, with sound character and exceptional pedigree.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State made the declaration in Ado-Ekiti last Tuesday, during the swearing-in of Mr Ayoola Owolabi, the state Accountant-General as a Permanent secretary.
He said there would be no room for persons whose preoccupation was to cut corners to achieve their goals in life and restated the determination of his administration to ensure that appointment in the state civil service was based only on ability and competence, rather than patronage.
FCT
The Nigerian Army has appointed Brig.-General Olajide
Laleye as its new Director of Public Relations.
Laleye, who hails from Lagos State, was commissioned into the Nigerian Army on September 23, 1989 was until his appointment, the Commander, 1 Division Garrison, Kaduna.
He holds a B.Sc in Physics from the Nigerian Defence Academy and Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Strategy, Defence and Disaster Management from the University of Yaounde.
Speaking in Abuja at a brief handing over ceremony, Laleye said that under his leadership, the directorate would focus attention on the achievements of the various sectors in the army.
He said the directorate would key into the vision of the Chief of Army Staff “to transform the Nigerian Army into a force better able to face contemporary challenges’’.
Jigawa
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Jigawa State said it had set up monitoring team to check the activities of illegal Private Guards Companies (PGCs) in the state.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr Muhammad Gidado, said in Dutse, last Tuesday, that the move was to ensure people did not run such companies without licence.
He explained that the action was necessary to ensure proper coordination of security activities in the state and urged all other PGCs operating in the state must renew their licences for them to continue operating.
Gidado said that some of the companies operating in the state were yet to establish their offices and advised those affected to establish their offices in the state before the end of the year.
Kaduna
Former executive members of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) in Kaduna State, last Tuesday, restated their loyalty to the party, saying they were not among those who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A former zonal chairman of the party, Alhaji Maikudi Tela,who made the position of the members known in a chat with newsmen in Kaduna State dismissed the allegation that they were part of the group led by a former state PDP chairman, Alhaji Yaro Makama, who defected to the APC two weeks ago.
He assured that they were committed members of the party and would continue to be loyal to it irrespective of the current challenges.
In her contribution, a former women leader, Hajiya Hauwa Abdullahi, stressed that no woman would decamp from PDP to any party and assured that the defectors would “certainly return to the party’’.
Kano
Kano State Government said it would accommodate refu
gees evacuated from the Central African Republic whose families had not been identified.
The Executive Secretary of the State Rehabilitation and Emergency Management Board, Alhaji Bashir Nikel, said in Kano State, last Tuesday, that although people from across the state had been coming forward to claim the refugees, those whose families could not be identified “will become government’s property.”
The executive secretary said the state rehabilitation centre at Mariri would be used to accommodate the unclaimed refugees.
He, however, said that the infants and children amongst them would be taken to the children’s home and would be placed under the care of the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
About 413 refugees were on Monday transported to Kano from Abuja, most of whom women and children.
Kogi
The wife of Kogi State Governor, Hajia Halima Wada,
has donated gift items to babies delivered in the state on the first day of 2014.
The wife of the governor who donated these items through the chairpersons of the local governments to mothers of the babies in Lokoja last Tuesday, said the history of Nigeria would not be complete without mentioning Lokoja as the first seat of government in Nigeria, hence the need to celebrate the centenary babies.
She said that the presentation of the gift items was to give the state its rightful place in the event and to celebrate the babies delivered during this period.
Earlier, the Director of her office, Mrs Susan Oguche, commended the governor’s wife for carrying every one along in her activities, and prayed that God would give her more grace to continue the good works.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State last Tuesday, said the state government would give priority to youth entrepreneurship in 2014.
Ahmed said at the graduation of Skill Acquisition programme organised by Dynamix Industrial Training Institute in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development. He charged the 25 graduates drawn from the 16 local governments in Ilorin to take advantage of the opportunity to develop themselves and become employers of labour.
Represented by Special Assistant on Youth Empowerment, Saka Babatunde, Ahmed said his administration would continue to focus on youth development because they constituted the largest percentage of the country’s population.
Lagos
The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and
the Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development lastTuesday, signed an agreement to enhance exchange of research on Africa’s continental relations.
Signing the agreement in Lagos State, NIIA’s Director-General, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, said it was imperative for the institutes to come together and contribute to the continent’s development.
He said, “We have realised that Africa’s relationship with the rest of the world has been vertical. We strongly believe that through our partnership, we can promote African renaissance and intra-African cooperation.
Nasarawa
The Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, Mr Umar
Shehu, said that the command recovered a total of 40 stolen vehicles and 50 motorcycles in 2013.
Shehu, who was briefing newsmen in Lafia yesterday on the efforts of the command to combat crime in 2013, also said that 136 armed robbery suspects were arrested and prosecuted within the period under review.
He noted the crime rate in the state in 2013 reduced significantly compared to previous years as only 234 criminal cases were recorded in the year under review as against 307 cases in 2012.
Shehu said that 92 of the cases were successfully investigated, prosecuted and the suspects convicted while 22 were still under investigation.
Ogun
The Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Suraj
Adekunbi, in Abeokuta last Tuesday said the state government would continue to partner with civil servants.
Adekunbi, who gave the assurance shortly after a New Year special prayer session, said this would enhance the delivery of democracy dividends to the people of the state.
He said workers remained the engine through which the government functioned, and government had remained consistently proactive to ensure improved welfare for the workforce.
Nation
Party Chieftain Hails LG Boss’ Dev Strides
Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwuche has extolled the sterling leadership being provided by the Chairman of the council, Hon Iyeko Okporo, describing it as unprecedented.
Hon Chukwuemeka described the council chairman as God-sent, considering his achievements in just 100 days in office.
The PDP chieftain said the chairman has rekindled the hope and trust of the people in grassroots governance.
He expressed gratitude to the Governor for enabling his people to have his replica at Akinima.
He explained that the solar water project, the Late Eze Ekpeye Logbo 11 palace fencing, generator house rebuilding and town hall, all in Odiereke Ubie Community can best be described as the hallmark of true leadership.
He said the projects have direct bearing on the basic needs of the people who have suffered untold hardship and bad governance until the saviour came into office.
“ It is thunderous, as you can see the organic support and show of love to the performing chairman. Our people are overwhelmed seeing one of their own touching lives in a special way. As a community ,we have been in the past years without drinking water, but just two months in office, the chairman has provided not just drinking water, but a well-treated solar water project. Okporo is God-sent, no wonder he is nicknamed such. We have compared notes with other chairmen in the past and came to the conclusion that what he is doing in 100 days is overwhelming. Governor Fubara has made us proud by allowing a level playing field that necessitated the emergency of the chairman. You can see the women, men, youths and traditional rulers all saying one thing. God bless Governor Fubara for giving us our own. We owe him prayers and unwavering support,” he said.
In her welcome address, the Ward 9 councillor, Hon Catherine Uriah showered encomiums on the chairman for addressing the basic needs of the people in just 100 days in office.
Hon Uriah also thanked the Governor for allowing the will of the people to prevail in the just concluded local government elections which produced the God fearing chairman.
She said the people of Ward 9 as well as Ahoada West are pleased with the chairman because he is doing well.
She said the people will go to length to show support to him in his determination to redefine governance at the grassroots.
Nation
Group Plans Pilot Farm Programme For 50 Schools
A community-based non-governmental organisation, The Peoples Encouragers Initiative, is planning a pilot farm project for 50 schools in both Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Executive Director of the organisation, Chukwuma Abraham disclosed this at the recent International Human Rights Day celebration at Ahoada, headquarters of Ahoada East Local Government Area.
Abraham said the proposed programme which gulps the sum of N45million was intended to bring the youths back to the land and make them self-reliant.
“We hope to mobilise the factors of production inherent in all the schools through this programme to achieve two basic objectives of building self reliant youths and to create a viable and sustainable stream of income for our schools,” he said.
He said the programmme will also keep the youth busy and impact farming skills, stressing that each of the participating schools is expected to nominate at least two members of staff to coordinate and supervise the programme while10 students will be elected as executive members to administer the programmme on a day to day basis in their various schools.
“Every school has a sizeable portion of arable land to carry out the programme of establishing a functional farm in their chosen area of interest. We are hoping to mobilise an estimated N45 million to enable us set up the pilot farms across the 50 schools within Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas,” he said.
He said the celebration was to draw attention of both the Nigerian government and the international community to the issue of human rights violation, adding that findings by the organisation has shown that insecurity and youth unemployment worsened over the past few years as a result of the insecurity that engulfed the Orashi region of the State. We also found out that the high level of cultism and social unrest within our environment is mostly fuelled by the high use of illicit drugs among the youths. This programme will afford us the opportunity to take a tour through the universal declaration of human rights and reinforce on our youths the understanding that substance abuse can lead to crime, crime can lead to jail term and criminal record can blight their future dreams and life for ever,”he said.
Also speaking, the representative of the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Ikporo Freedom urged the students to shun all forms of anti-social behaviours especially during the holiday season.
He also warned them against joining bad groups and stressed the need for the organisation to include private schools in the programme.
The Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Council, Hon Ezu R .C . Hezekiah represented by his Deputy, Hon Ununuma Odoi pledged the support of the council to the programme.
He also urged other groups in the area to emulate The Peoples Encouragers Initiative by organizing programms that will impact on the lives of the people.
John Bibor
Nation
NCSU Flays Police Take Over Of Rivers PDP Secretariat
The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has condemned the take over of the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Rivers State by the police, saying the action is against the tenets and principles of the rule of law.
This is even as the union has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to call to order the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike for allegedly orchestrating and instigating the crisis rocking the PDP in the State.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who made the condemnation in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the police have no right to take over the PDP secretariat, as a ploy to provide cover and protection for members of the state executive of the party loyal to Wike, who were recently sacked by a court of competent jurisdiction in the State.
According to him, the action of the police is in clear defiance of a court ruling sacking the party executives at all levels in the State, instead of taking steps to enforce same.
He regretted that the police have consistently been showing that they are not appreciative of the logistic support Governor SiminalayiFubara has been extending to them, by openly demonstrating their bias, loyalty and allegiance to Wike and his supporters, contrary to their rules of engagement, which uphold and recognise absolute neutrality.
He said the Minister is wasting his time if he thinks that he could destroy the State by orchestrating and instigating needless crisis that is capable of making the State ungovernable, and appealed to President Tinubu to call him and his supporters to order.
Commenting on the fate of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in the State, who defected from the ruling PDP to the All Progressives Congress(APC), Osumah said their fate is apparently sealed, as the Supreme Court had already given judgment in a similar case, saying, Wike is merely wasting his time by using the lawmakers against Governor Fubara, and causing unnecessary problem in the State.
He said if the Minister and his supporters do not retrace their steps and give peace a chance, the NCSU would have no choice than to mobilise all civil servants in the State, to troop out to the streets and protest against them.
The labour leader stressed the need for the police to vacate the PDP secretariat along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, and respect the High Court ruling which declared the congresses of the party in the State null and void.
While reiterating the need for President Tinubu to call Wike to order, Osumah said the President cannot continue to fold his arms and watch the Minister continuously make frantic efforts to destroy his State.
He also carpeted those blaming Governor Fubara administration for the recent gruesome murder of a Chief Security Officer(CSO) and his son in Igwuruta Ali community, saying those making such insinuations and attributing the sad incident to security lapses on the part of the state government, are missing the point.
He noted that by empowering the police in the State with several operational vehicles and other logistics, it was expected that the police would reciprocate the gesture, by living up to their constitutional obligation of protecting lives and property in the State, contending that Governor Fubara has been playing his part of guaranteeing security in the State.
He said the State is generally peaceful and safe, and challenged those criticising the Governor to cast their minds and attention to what is happening in other parts of the country, where killings and other social vices have become the order of the day.
Osumah cited as an example the recent killings in Ebonyi State by Fulani herdsmen as well as incidences of kidnapping and banditry in several other States of the federation, and wondered if Governor Fubara could be held responsible for such anomalies.
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