Nation

THE STATES

Published

11 years ago

January 15, 2014

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji
Mohammed Ladan, has doled out N50,000 to the state police command football team for beating State Security Service (SSS) team 2-1 in a friendly match.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Mohammed Haruna, who made the disclosure in a statement in Bauchi on Saturday said that the match, played last Friday, was organised by the SSS management to foster cordial relationship between the two sister organisations.
Haruna said the commissioner commended the team for making the state police command proud and added that the commissioner had promised to organise a similar friendly match to reciprocate the SSS management gesture.

Benue

The Benue State Commissioner for Lands and Survey,
Mr John Tondo has said a restroom in his Makurdi residence was last Sunday completely burnt down by fire.
Tondo, who is also a gubernatorial aspirant in the 2015 elections in the state, however, said while conducting newsmen round the scene of the incident that the inferno had nothing to do with his political ambition.
“This has nothing to do with my political ambition. It was as a result of a problem from public power source which can happen to anybody. “The incident occurred as a result of a spark from the transformer that gutted the bushes around it and mistakenly through the air gutted my restroom. “I thank God that it has not affected the main building and nobody was hurt,” he said.
Men of the State Fire Service and some of the commissioner’s neighbours helped to put out the fire.

Borno

The Borno State Government has announced the eleva
tion of the Emir of Uba, Alhaji Ismaila Mamza and that of Gwoza, Alhaji Idrisa Timta to First Class status.
A statement issued Sunday in Maiduguri by Mr Kwapchi Pata, a Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Kashim Shettima stated that the elevation was with immediate effect.
The statement reads in part: “Gov. Kashim Shettima has approved the elevation of the emir of Uba in Askira-Uba Local Government Area (LGA), Alhaji Ismaila Mamza and the Emir of Gwoza in Gwoza LGA to First Class status.”
No reason was given for the elavation, but the statement reiterated that the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai, remains the Chairman of the State Traditional Council.

FCT

The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC),
Department of Development Control, last Sunday demolished two recreation spots, FESCO Security Gardens and Deos Gardens in Imo Crescent Area 1, Garki, Abuja.
Both spots also accommodated Churches at the time of the demolition. Deos Gardens accommodated the Redeemed Christian Church of God’s Sunday service, while FESCO Gardens accommodated the Illumination Gospel Assembly.
Coordinator of AMMC, Mr Rueban Okoya, said that the spots were removed because they engaged in illegal activities, adding that even the Churches were illegal.
Okoya said that it was not abnormal for the Department of Development Control to carry out demolition of structures on Sunday because it worked round the clock.

Jigawa

The Federal Government said last Saturday that it had
provided fertiliser and seedlings for distribution to 145,000 registered farmers in Jigawa State.
The Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Mr Akinwumi Adesina, who made this known in Auyo, Jigawa said that the farm inputs were provided to the farmers under the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) programme.
He said that the fertiliser was provided to the irrigation farmers for the current dry season and aimed at accelerating paddy rice production adding that more than 100, 000 farmers have redeemed fertiliser from the scheme in the 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons.
The minister said the government had also concluded plans to establish four agriculture equipment hiring support centres in the state and explained that the centres would be equipped with tractors, riggers and ploughs.
Kaduna

Alhaji Muttaqa Darma, a former Executive Secretary of
Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), last Sunday lamented that most Nigerian universities’ graduates were “half-baked and unemployable”.
Darma, who made the assertion in an interview in Zaria, Kaduna State, noted that the situation appeared to “get increasingly worse every day”.
He attributed the situation to “massive corruption in academic institutions”, pointing out that students gain entry into the institutions “through all kinds of means and use such means to pass examinations”.
Darma advocated for increase collaboration between universities and other systems toward building strong networks that would check wrong practice and put premium on quality.
Kano

The Kano State Government has fined three tanneries
N500,000 each for careless discharge of industrial wastes.
The Chief Executive Officers of the companies have also been summoned to a meeting with government officials.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, who made this known
said that the body found the three companies culpable inspite of several warnings.
“The three companies, Unique Leather at Sharada Industrial Area as well as Mahaza and Mamuda tannery at Challawa Industrial Area were fined by the mobile court operating under the sanitation committee,’’ he said.

Kogi

The Obaro of Kabba, Dr Michael Olobayo, has appealed
to security agencies to intensify efforts toward curtailing increased bank robberies in the country.
The monarch made the appeal on Saturday while reacting to Friday’s attack on a bank in Kabba, Kogi State. He stressed the need for the Federal Government to buy police helicopters for surveillance.
“Nigeria should have advanced to the level where government should procure helicopters for all police commands in the country for surveillance. “If a chopper was stationed in Lokoja, the police would have flow it to Kabba to support their men in their confrontation with the robbers,’’ he said.
He, however, commended the police bravery in confronting the bandits and condoled with them for losing one of their men in the gun battle with the robbers.

Lagos

Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, South
West zone, Archbishop Magnus Adeyemi Atilade, called for the commencement of 31 days of national fasting and prayers to save Christians and Nigerians from imminent danger and disintegration.
Atilade, who spoke with the media in Lagos said, “Christians all over Nigeria, particular in the South west should embark on prayer and fasting commencing from Tuesday to February 14 to abate insurgencies and promote peaceful co-existence of Nigerians irrespective of our religious differences.
The Archbishop while lamenting the alarming rate, at which Christians were killed in various attacks on innocent citizens in northern part of the country, enjoined all to partake in the spiritual exercise.

Osun

Scores of residents of Osogbo, the Osun State capital,
last Saturday commended the state government on the bi-monthly sanitation aimed at improving the health of the people.
A resident of Oke-Ijetu area of the town, Mr Adelani Tijani, said the policy was a move in the right direction.
“I am personally delighted about the exercise. It has seriously changed the face of our environment and made it clean, and the metropolis is now carrying the real face of a state capital.
“It is obvious that environment determines the survival of its inhabitants. It is the number one thing to consider in human development policies as a government,’’ he said.
Also, Mrs Akinyemi Daisi, a shop owner at Ogo-Oluwa area of the town, described the initiative as a proactive approach to healthy living.
“A serious government must take as an optimum responsibility the need for a healthy environment for its citizens, as it will transform to better economic conditions,’’ she said.

Oyo

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspir
ant in Ekiti State, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye last Sunday said the party would win convincingly in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the State.
Adeyeye said in Ibadan that the party would win the election because it was the only alternative that could save the state from maladministration.
He said that the present administration in the state had failed and disappointed the people by spending so much on the purchase of four bullet-proof cars.
The Ekiti State PDP Chairman corroborated Adeyeye’s views, Chief Makanju Ogundipe, adding that the party would win the next election in the state.
essive Congress (APC) administration in the state.

Plateau

The National Provost, Catholic Laity Council of Nigeria,
Mr Boniface Gwotbit, last Saturday, urged Christians in the country to fully participate in politics.
Gwotbit made the call in a Mass at the Church of Immaculate Conception (CIC) Parish, Jos, as part of the ongoing national conference of the council with the theme; “A new Nigeria is Possible.’’
He charged Christians to take part in politics and use the spirit of God to do the right things for the good of the society.
Also, Rev. Father Dennis Kaye, the Parish Priest, CIC Jos, prayed to God to give Christians the wisdom to take decisions that would affect the Church and the country positively.

Sokoto

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Morocco, Senator Abdallah
Wali, says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will
win the 2015 general election in spite of the current challenges facing it.
Wali told newsmen last Sunday in Sokoto that the current challenges facing the party were “normal and not unexpected”.
According to him, it will be impossible for the party to lose its present control of most states in the country and three quarters of local government councils where it has solid structures.
The envoy said that the party must, however, work harder to convince Nigerians on its outstanding performances since 1999.

L-R: FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide; PDP Bot Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih; Senate President David Mark; President Goodluck Jonathan; Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha; Mother of the President, Mrs Eunice Jonathan; Secretary to the Government of The Federation, Sen Anyim Pius Anyim and the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Inter-denominational Church Service In Abuja on Sunday.

Nation

Party Chieftain Hails LG Boss’ Dev Strides

Published

6 days ago

February 7, 2025

The Tide

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

Published

6 days ago

February 7, 2025

The Tide

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

Published

6 days ago

February 7, 2025

The Tide

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.