Nation
THE STATES
L-R: Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, Governor Muhammed Abubakar of Bauchi State and Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State, during the National Economic Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday.
Adamawa
Alhaji Kabiru Mijinyawa, the Speaker, Adamawa State
House of Assembly, has dismissed alleged plans to impeach Governor Muhammadu Jibrilla.
Mijinyawa, during a special sitting of the House in Yola, described the alleged plan as “malicious’’.
“The attention of the House is drawn over false publication that members of the House are gathering signatures to impeach the sitting governor.
“The publication was purely a mischief from the enemies of the state who always wish us bad luck,” Mijinyawa said.
Similarly, the Chief Whip of the House, Mr. Hassan Burguma, condemned the allegation.
Burguma, at a news conference in Yola last Monday, also said that the House had never signed any document to impeach the governor.
Bauchi
Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi
State, Rev. Vincent Bature,said Bauchi State Government has sponsored 185 of its members to Israel in 2015.
Bature made this known in Bauchi when state officials of the association paid a courtesy call on Governor Mohammed Abubakar of the state.
He commended the governor for the gesture which according to him “has become an annual event for the state government to give our members tickets.”
He called on the governor to fulfil some of his campaign promises especially his promise that Christian teachers would be recruited to teach moral lessons in primary schools in the state.
The secretary further called on the governor to appoint members of the association into vital positions when setting up his cabinet.
Ekiti
An hairdresser, Mrs Tina Agada, has approached an Ikole
Customary Court seeking for dissolution of her 6-year-old marriage to John Agada, over alleged brutality and lack of care.
In a suit filed before the court Tina alleged that the defendant was in the habit of beating her and always threatening to kill her.
She said the defendant who had not paid her bride price since they married six years ago, had no regard for her and the two children of the union.
She told the court that her husband never cared about the wellbeing of the two children nor paid their school fees.
Tina further said Agada always threatened to kill her whenever she refused to allow him to sleep with her.
FCT
A 37-year-old man, Samuel Uromi has been arraigned in a
Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, on a three-count charge of mischief, extortion and stealing.
Uromi, a member of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), however, pleaded not guilty to the three- count-charge levelled against him.
The prosecutor, Mr Uromi, said that the accused committed the offences on December 11 at Area 1 Roundabout, Abuja.
He told the court that the complainant, one Jonah Agocha, reported the case against the accused at the Garki Police Station.
The prosecutor said that Uromi extorted money from Agocha, a commercial cab driver and robbed him of his belongings.
“The accused claims to be a member of the NURTW. He forcefully collected the car keys of the complainant and ran away with it to an unknown destination.
“The accused later returned to steal the car and N7, 200 inside it as well as damage the passenger side of the car while trying to escape,’’ Out said.
Kano
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi, has ad
vised religious institutions and other organisations to refrain from acts capable of promoting violence in the country.
He gave the advice while receiving some members of the Shi’ite Islamic sect who visited him at his Palace in Kano on Monday.
The emir stressed the need for all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious or political inclinations, to desist from anything which could breach the peace in the country.
“The advice is necessary, especially now that the country is fighting insurgency,’’ he said.
The traditional ruler, who described the recent violence in Zaria as unfortunate, called on the people to always exercise restraint in order to ensure peace and unity in the country.
Katsina
All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker represent
ing Katsina Central Senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Ibrahim Kurfi has earmarked N10 million for the provision of free-eye treatment to no fewer than 5,000 less-privileged in Katsina State.
Kurfi spoke through his Personal Assistant, Alhaji Muntari Dabo, at the opening ceremony of the exercise held at the Katsina General Hospital, Katsina on Monday.
He said that some of the beneficiaries would be provided drugs and medicated glasses at the hospital.
The senator said that some would have to undergo surgery before they would regain their sights.
Kurfi said that he would provide feeding, transportation and accommodation for those that would undergo eye operations.
Lagos
The Federal Fire Service Controller in Lagos State, Mr
Aderemi Olusola, says the service saved property worth more than N26.4 billion from fire in the first half of this year.
Olusola also said that during the period, properties estimated at more than N10.7 billion were lost to fire incidents.
He told newsmen in Lagos that the estimate of saves and losses were based on information supplied by the property owners.
He said that between January and November 2015, the service responded to 247 fire incidents, adding that three lives were lost to the incidents.
The controller said that one person was rescued, while two of the fire service men sustained injuries.
Olusola said that fire incidents had been high during the “Ember’’ months due to excessive heat and harmattan.
Nasarawa
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has an
nounced the appointment of Dr. Shehu Usman-Yamusa as Emir of Keffi.
Al-Makura made the announcement at a meeting with the state’s traditional council in Lafia following the death of the occupant of the stool, Mohammed Chindo-Yamusa on December 4.
He said the appointment was with effect from December 14.
He explained that the new emir, who is the son of the deceased, was appointed by the king makers of Keffi Emirate Council.
He added that the appointment came after a seven-day notice of the demise of the emir in line with extant laws and guiding instruments of the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
He said Usman-Yamusa of the Abdul-Zanga royal family scored five votes during the selection, while his opponent Mohammed Suleiman scored two votes.
Osun
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has presented
a budget proposal of N150.7bn for 2016 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.
The Permanent Secretary, Budget & Economic Planning, Mr Segun Olorunsogo, presented the proposal on behalf of the governor.
He said the financial document was in line with the six point integral plan of the government.
Olorunsogo told the House that N113.1bn was for recurrent revenue, and N37.5bn was for capital receipts.
He said that personnel cost would take N33. 3bn while N12. 2bn and N37.1bn would be spent on overhead cost and consolidated revenue fund charges respectively.
Oyo
A Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan has dissolved the
43- year-old marriage between one Disu Onifade and his wife, Sherifat, over the latter’s quarrelsomeness.
Mr Ademola Odunade, the President of the court, stated that he was merely carrying out the wishes of the couple as an amicable settlement could not be made.
“In the interest of peaceful co-existence, the union between both of you has ceased to be henceforth.
“Onifade shall pay N2,000 to enable Sherifat pack her belongings,” he ruled.
Earlier in his petition to the court, Onifade said that his wife was quarrelsome even after divorcing and accepting her again.
Plateau
The United Nations (UN) said that it was partnering
Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN) Limited and some institutions in the country to train 500 insurgency victims on vocational skills.
Mr Matthew Alao, Conflict Prevention and Peace Building Analyst of UN Development Programme (UNDP) disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Jos.
Alao said the UN was carrying out the skills acquisition programme in big and standard institutions in the country to give the beneficiaries quality training which would enable them to begin new lives.
“Basically, we advertised for any available facility within the country where we can train these beneficiaries.
Sokoto
Authorities of some Federal Government institutions
in Sokoto say the schools have adopted proactive security measures against any threat to lives and property in the institutions.
A Principal of one of the schools told newsmen in Sokoto that the measures were necessary because of threats by some miscreants to attack the schools.
The Principal, Federal Science College, Sokoto, Mrs Rhoda Shekarau, said that the Federal Ministry of Education had directed all federal schools across the country to be on the alert.
Shekarau said that the college had responded to the government’s directive and established a well-coordinated security network, to avert any eventuality.
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,