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THE STATES

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Borno

The Commissioner of Police in Borno State, Alhaji Lawal
Tanko, said no candidate for JAMB examination last Saturday was killed in the state.
Tanko was reacting to an online report that 200 candidates were killed in one of the centres in Maiduguri by suspected Boko Haram insurgents.
He told newsmen that, “I was directly in charge of the police operations to ensure safety of the candidates in all the examination venues in Maiduguri.
“We conducted the examination in peace without any incident in all the centres in Maiduguri.
“As I speak to you, the students are on their way back home. So, I do not know which attack you are talking about in a JAMB centre in Maiduguri.
“I do not rule out the possibility of attacks on one or two candidates on their way to the venues or back home.

Ekiti

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared in
cumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State winner of its primaries with 192,767 votes.
Chairman of the six-man national electoral panel, Senator Osita Izunaso, who announced the results in Ado-Ekiti, said the figures were generated from votes cast at Saturday’s council and state congresses.
He said Fayemi scored 22,314 votes in Oye, 21,814 in Ado-Ekiti, 8793 in Ikere, 10, 983 in Gbonyin, 10,704 in Ekiti East, 16, 848 in Ekiti South-West, and 8,801 in Ise/Orun.
Others are: Emure, 6,623, Ijero, 13,454, Irepodun/Ifelodun, 13,151, Ekiti West, 12, 198, Efon, 7,548, Ido/Osi, 10,472, Moba, 10,146, Ilejemeje, 5,157 and Ikole, 13,751.
In his acceptance speech, Fayemi said he was humbled by the solidarity displayed for him by the party members across the state.
FCT

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has
urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to always keep their surroundings clean as it will ensure good health.
The Director of AEPB, Mrs Aishat Adebayo, made the call at the quarterly meeting of FCT Residents Sanitation Forum in Abuja recently.
Adebayo said that the board decided to sustain the meeting because it recognised the role that residents played in the cleanliness of a city.
“Residents play an irreplaceable role as major stakeholders in city sanitation, which is why AEPB opens its doors to the public every quarter to carry them along.
“Some residents and business premises are doing well in the area of taking charge of their immediate environment while some others have not done too well.

Gombe

A traditional ruler in Funakaye Local Government Area
of Gombe State, Alhaji Bakura Mohammed, has urged parents to complement Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo’s gesture by enrolling their children in schools.
Mohammed, who was the immediate past Caretaker Chairman, Funakaye Local Government Council, told newsmen in Gombe that Governor Dankwambo had given much attention to the education sector.
“Therefore, his efforts need to be complemented by parents, as we should always remember that our children are the future leaders.
“The best thing we can give to them as parents is education.’’
The traditional ruler, who stressed that education was the bedrock of any meaningful development, added that “we as stakeholders, will continue to encourage school enrolment, particularly the girl-child in our constituencies and the state at large.’’
He commended Gov. Dankwambo for renovating schools and for building new ones across the state.
Kogi
The Interim Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC)
in Kogi State, Alhaji Kassim Mabo, said that the party had successfully conducted its congresses in all the 21 local government councils of the state.
Mabo made the disclosure at a news conference in Lokoja recently.
He said the congresses in all local government headquarters were devoid of violence.
He added that the peaceful conduct of the congresses was an indication that the party was a big family, whose major interest was to serve the country and the entire citizens.
The interim chairman said “with the successful conduct of the council congress, the party is ready to hold its state congress on April 28.’’
The member representing Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rep. Buba Jibril, attributed the success to patience of members during the exercise.

Lagos

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has expressed
worry over non-patronage of indigenous engineers in the execution of key projects in the country.
The Vice President (Professional Development) of NSE, Alhaji Babagana Mohammed, told newsmen in Lagos that the society had been excluded from the scheme of things by the government.
He said the contract for the Second Niger Bridge was not awarded to the NSE in spite of the fact that it designed the First Niger Bridge.
According to Mohammed, developed nations use indigenous engineers to advance their technology and economy.

Niger

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said 2.2 mil
lion children would be immunised against polio during the third round of Immunisation Plus campaign in the state.
Aliyu, who spoke at the inauguration of the campaign in Minna, said the vaccines had been sent to various cold chain stores in the state.
Represented by Alhaji Ahmed Ibeto, his Deputy, Aliyu said the personnel had been trained on how to tackle cases of rejections by parents and guardians.
He said the state government was committed to polio virus eradication through proactive measures and constant surveillance of its border areas.
“This ceremony is one of the strategies put in place to ensure that our communities are sensitised and encouraged to embrace the concept of preventive medicine in vaccination against child-killer diseases.

Ogun
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), has ad
vised motorists to be safety conscious during the forthcoming Easter celebration.
The Itori Unit Commander, Mr Fatai Bakare, who spoke in an interview with newsmen in Ota, Ogun State, advised motorists to drive with care to avoid road crashes.
“Motorists should be safety conscious by not taking excessive alcohol while driving to their various destinations during the festive period,’’ he said.
Bakare warned motorists against over speeding, saying that most of the accidents were caused by over speeding.
“Motorists should not be in hurry to get to their destinations, because whether they speed or not, they will surely get to where they are going,“ he said.
The unit commander also urged motorists to comply with all the rules and regulations, in order to ensure safety of lives and property.

Plateau

Senator Gyang Pwajok, representing Plateau North, last
Sunday, said the people on the Plateau were in prayerful mood and asking God to choose good successor to Governor Jonah Jang come 2015.
The senator made the remark in an interview with newsmen in Jos, saying many politicians were jostling to succeed Jang in 2015.
“All manners of aspirants are springing up; that is natural, but we on the Plateau, have resolved to seek God’s intervention for the right direction.
“By popular consensus, Jang has done so much to Plateau, but the governor also knows that the true test of a successful administration is successful succession.
“Much premium is usually placed on the integrity of the succeeding administration because of the need to sustain the vision and accomplishments of the exiting government, so the current administration is taking extra caution to get it right.’’
Taraba
The President of the Southern Taraba Elders Forum, Mr
Stephen Nyampuri, has sued for peace among different ethnic and religious groups in the zone to foster development.
Nyampuri made the call in an interview with newsmen in Jalingo, recently.
He said that the call became necessary following the current wave of violence in four out of the five local government areas that made up the zone.
“We have many ethnic groups in this zone for so many years but we have been living together in peace.
“The sudden outbreak of violence in Wukari, Takum, Ibi and Donga is very strange and we call on our people to eschew violence and embrace peace to foster development,’’ he said.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo (right), in a handshake with the Chairman, Tansmmission Companty of Nigeria (TCN), Mr Ibrahim  Waziri, at a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, recemtly. Photo:NAN

Vice-President Namadi Sambo (right), in a handshake with the Chairman, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr Ibrahim Waziri, at a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, recently. Photo:NAN

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HYPREP Trains Students On Petroleum Jelly, Liquid Soap Making

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In a bid to meaningfully engage secondary school students in Ogoniland during the Christmas holidays and beyond, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has trained them on petroleum jelly and liquid soap making.
This is even as the Project has partnered with the National Orientation Agency(NOA) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) to keep the students away from crime and other related social vices during the Yuletide, by giving them pep talks that would put them on their toes during the period.
This came to the fore as HYPREP recently organised an Ogoni Young Men Mentorship programme and life skill workshop with the theme, ‘Career Coaching: Developing The Young Minds’ at Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The beneficiaries of the programme are essentially members of environmental clubs in 13 schools in four local government areas of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme.
At the event, both NOA and NDLEA gave career talks to the students, aimed at keeping them off social vices like drug abuse and addiction as well as negative peer influences through out the Christmas holidays and beyond.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof NeinibariniZabbey said the Project deemed it necessary to invite the National Orientation Agency and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) to speak to the students in order to shield them from negative peer influences as they are preparing to go for the Christmas holidays.
He explained that the workshop would enable the students to know when the signs of the negative peer influences start coming.
Zabbey, who was represented at the occasion by HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee, said the Project is not only going to train the beneficiaries but also give them the tools and skills that would grow them in the future so that they would start making money for themselves.
Also addressing the students, the Rivers State Coordinator of the National Orientation Agency(NOA), Mr Young Ayo-Tamuno expressed delight for meeting young minds, to discuss issues on values, describing it as a great opportunity.
He noted that there are seven values which constitute the role and commitment of the government towards the citizenry and another seven core values which constitute the code for the citizens.
While commending HYPREP for organising the event, Ayo-Tamuno said team work is key to making Nigeria a better place for all, as both the government and the citizens have their respective roles to play, with each staying committed and focused.
The Chief Programme Officer of NOA, Mr Henry Ayede was the one who actually mounted the rostrum and drilled the students on the seven core values embodied in the National Value Charter for citizens, and stressed the need for them to imbibe them and put them to practice as they grow up.
Ayede listed the values to include discipline, duty of care, leadership, tolerance and respect, transparency, environmental awareness and resilience.
He also underscored the need for the students to imbibe the spirit of hard work and dignity of labour, contending that while hard work and dedication contribute to success, every job can contribute to national development.
According to him, dignity in labour is the foundation of success.
On his part, Mr Bill Ebiokpo of the Media/ Advocacy Unit of NDLEA, who represented the Bori Area Commander of the agency, advised the students to guard against drug abuse and addiction, which he said have far reaching consequences.
The Principal of the Senior Secondary of Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Barrister Bob Agbozi thanked HYPREP for organising the programme, which he said enriched his knowledge and that of the students on the core values guiding the society, saying inculcating such values in young people and teaching them practical skills have contributed immensely to the greatness of advanced countries and even countries like Rwanda in Africa.
He noted that the career coaching would change the behavioral pattern of the students particularly during the Yuletide.
He also thanked NOA for the career talks and urged it to replicate the programme in other places, not only in schools but also in market places.
The training of the students on petroleum jelly and liquid soap making was anchored by an expert, MrsLekpa Abel, with HYPREP workers lending a helping hand.
It was, indeed, a practical session with the students, who came face to face with the production materials of the products.

Donatus Ebi

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Community Organises Civic Reception For LG Boss

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It was celebration galore as the people of Isu Community in Etche Local Government Area of River State held a civic reception in honour of the Council Chairman, Dr Uzodinma Nwafor .
The epoch- making ceremony which took place recently at the community ancestral home saw the attendance of the political class, the clergy, opinion leaders, the academia, youths, women, elders and chiefs gather to honour their brand new chairman.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Etche Local Government Council, Dr Uzodinma Nwafor expressed gratitude to the people for according him such honour, saying it shows their unwavering support to the development of Etche.
Nwafor announced the readiness of his administration to embark on electrification of Ozuzu clan including Isu community.
The Etche council boss also said the market at Isu will be reconstructed to improve the economic life of the people.
He revealed that the two projects will commence in January as efforts are on to mobilise the contractors.
Nwafor told the mammoth crowd that his major concern remains, peace and unity of the entire Etche, saying security of lives and property remains top on his agenda as no meaningful development can thrive in an atmosphere of violence.
He urged parents to encourage their wards and children to refrain from violence and embrace peace.  “Let us allow Etche to be at peace .Don’t allow any body to use you set Etche ablaze. Parents advise your children to stay away from crime .We must stay in peace and unity.  Our children must shun violence ,it can’t take us anywhere as a people ,” he declared.
He thanked the people for their support as well thank their son, former commissioner for Energy ,Okey Amadi for being a Pilar of his political sojourne.
Earlier, the Isu opinion leader and Principal, Community Secondary School, Mgbosomini in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area, Mr Chijioke Amadi said the honour done Etche chairman was a collective division of his people.
Amadi described the council boss as an illustrious son who has contributed immensely to the wellbeing of the community.
He declared that his community and the entire Etche will keep supporting him because he is doing well.
Amadi urged the people to keep praying for him and the Rivers State Governor to succeed in delivering dividends of democracy.

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Senate  Summons Wike Over Demolition Of Houses …Set To Investigate  FCDA Activities 

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Senate has set up an adhoc committee to investigate the demolition of buildings in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT by the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, just as it summoned the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to appear before it to explain the reasons behind the demolitions, which have left many residents stranded
The resolutions followed a motion by Senator Ireti Kingibe ( FCT), who expressed concern over the illegal demolition of structures in the nation’s capital and called for an immediate stop to further demolitions.
The Red Chamber particularly ordered the FCDA to halt ongoing demolitions of property in the Territory within the next two weeks pending the report of its adhoc committee constituted to probe the issue.
The adhoc committee, to be chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru; Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, Senator Sahabi Ya’u, Senator Victor Umeh, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Idiat Adebule and Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, as members.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who announced the composition of the committee, gave it two weeks to submit its report.
Akpabio while reading the resolution of the Senate, said: “The Senate urges the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to stop further demolitions of structures, except those ordered by courts of competent jurisdictions, until the adhoc committee constituted by the Senate to ascertain the propriety or otherwise of the exercise concludes its investigation and interface with the FCT administration within the next two weeks.”
Kingibe in her lead debate said that in recent times, the demolition exercise in the FCT was no longer based on reasons that necessitated the demolition.
She urged the Senate to be further concerned that the current demolition in the FCT was not in line with due process of court orders to demolish.
“As such, a cross section of individuals had suffered untold hardships occasioned by massive demolition, which has led to a loss of properties worth billions of naira.
“Also concerned that at the moment, an estate by name, Messrs Paulosa, for which late Colonel Paul Osakpawan Ogbebor is the chairman, is currently under revocation and demolition. And from reliable information, the said plot of land was allocated to him in 1984 with requisite title document.
“And further concerned that the owner of this estate was a patriotic Nigerian who served the nation meritoriously and one of the first intakes of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, with registration Number 001,” Kingibe said.
She urged the Senate to accordingly resolve to urge the FCT administration to halt the ongoing revocation and demolition of the said property, “as it does not fall within the purview of the reasons for the massive demolition being carried by the FCDA.”
Senator Kingibe also advocated thatall demolitions should follow due process while the Senate set up a committee to investigate the matters arising from the demolition.
However, Senator Sunday Karimi ( Kogi West) in his contribution said the Senate needs to hear from the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, before ordering a halt to the demolitions.
“If you look at this motion, the presenter said, a specific land allocation was mentioned belonging to one Paul Ogbebor.
“We don’t know anything about this thing and we are just coming because of this to tell the minister to stop?
“There is need to investigate this matter before giving any directive. We must hear from the minister. But we have to hear before we say stop demolition.
“Let’s hear from the Minister. You cannot shave a man’s head at his back. We need to hear from the Minister,” Karimi said.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), however disagreed with Karimi, saying that the request that the Senate should call on the FCT minister to halt further demolitions was in order.
He said: “Mr. President, with respect I disagree with Mr. Karimi. I think we need to be fair to everyone. There is before us an allegation that says certain steps are to be taken which will culminate in demolition. Are we saying that we should allow the place to be demolished while we are trying to look into it?”
In his response, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio agreed with the chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters, saying “my thought is in line with yours. If we just say, continue the demolition, and then we start investigation, what are we then investigating?”
He, thereafter, read the resolution of the Senate calling on the FCT Minister to halt further demolitions of property in the FCT pending the investigative report of its adhoc committee chaired by the Deputy Senate President.

 

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi

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