Nation
THE STATES
L-R: Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja 11, wife of the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Melva Perez De Trejo, Ambassador of Cuba, Carios Trejo Sosa and Deputy Ambassador, Miriam Morales Palmero, during a reception organised by the Ooni for African Ambassadors and other countries that claim Yoruba Descent, at the Cuban Embassy in Abuja on Thursday.
Bauchi
Eighty inmates of Bauchi Prison have completed a train
ing programme on preparation of detergents and cap washing, organised by a corps member, Mr Sani Imam.
Speaking with newsmen at a ceremony organised for the inmates to display their new-found talent, Imam said the aim of the skills acquisition programme was to make the inmates productive upon release from prison.
“It is not easy for even graduates to secure employment now, talk-less of those released from prison.
“The little skills acquired here can make them to be self-reliant and they can also impart same knowledge on others after leaving the prison.
“Cap washing is a flourishing trade, especially in the far North, where the mode of dressing of most people is gown and cap,” he said.
In his remarks at the occasion, Bauchi State Co-ordinator of NYSC, Malam Musa Abubakar, noted that the trades were not capital intensive for any beginner and as such affordable to delve into.
FCT
The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Com
mission (NCPC), Mr John-Kennedy Opara, said that the commission recorded an increase of 65 per cent in pilgrimage self-sponsorship in 2015.
Opara said this when he featured the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum, the flagship programme of the agency in Abuja.
He said that Christian pilgrimage operations had hitherto been sponsored 100 per cent by the Federal and State Governments, adding that the withdrawal of government sponsorship made the commission to emphasise self-sponsorship.
According to him, even though there has been a steady decrease in terms of the total number of pilgrims, the commission has been recording increase in terms of the number of self-sponsored pilgrims.
Kaduna
The United States of America has commenced training
exercise of at least 750 soldiers selected from various units of the Nigerian Army, battling Boko Haram.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the 145 Battalion training, at the Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI), Jaji, the U.S. Ambassador James Entwistle, emphasised the need for other nations to join Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.
He said the training was a right step and the best approach to addressing the prolonged Boko Haram attacks in the north-eastern part of Nigeria.
”Nigeria, U.S. partnership extends beyond immediate gains, we need to work together to rebuild the North-East. We are two great democracies and we do many great things together,” he stressed.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, said “the excellent relationship has led to several joint initiatives one of which is the commitment of the United States and her military to assist Nigeria in professionalising our security forces.K
Kebbi
The All Progressives Congress(APC) in Kebbi State has
announced the suspension of a member of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Sani Idris (Zuru constituency).
The APC Public Relations Officer in the state, Alhaji Sani Dododo, made this known to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi recently. Dododo said that the suspension was for alleged insubordination and disrespect to the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Samaila Yombe. Dododo, who is also a member of the Central Working Committee of the state APC, said the suspension was sequel to a report of the Zuru Local Government executive council on the incident.
He said the party would not tolerate any incident bordering on disrespect to leaders and elders of the party in the state.
“The party will not condone indiscipline and disrespect to leaders and duly constituted authority”, he said.
Lagos
Two Eko Hotel and Suites staff and a cab driver, have
been charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos over alleged theft of chickens worth N55, 000.
The accused were, however, granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with two sureties in like sum.
Olabode Jacob, 40, a steward, Sunday Ossoua, a gardener, 40 and Rapheal Addoho, a cab drive, 42 are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Ingobo Emby, told the court that the accused committed the offences on February 12, at Eko Hotel and Suites, No. 14/15, Adetokunbo Ademola St., Victoria Island, Lagos.
He said that the accused allegedly conspired and stole the chicken, property of Eko Hotel and Suites.
“The accused were nearly lynched when they were caught and that would have been breach of peace,” he said.
Emby said that the offences contravened Sections 285 (7), 166 (d) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
“The Magistrate, Mr W. A. Balogun, ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and their addresses verified.
He adjourned the case to March 10 for mention.
Oyo
A total of 4,117 students have matriculated at The Poly
technic, Ibadan, for the 2015/2016 academic session.
A breakdown of the figure indicated that 2,500 were admitted for the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) while 1,617 were admitted for the Higher National Diploma (HND) in the five faculties. The Faculties are Engineering, Communication Studies, Environmental Studies, Financial Management Studies and Sciences. The Rector of the institution, Prof. Olatunde Fawole, said that 59, 254, candidates made the polytechnic either their first or second choice for the OND while 6, 379, sought admission for HND. “ Out of this staggering number of applicants, only very few candidates were admitted, “ he said. Fawole admonished the newly admitted students to keep away from associations that would tarnish their image and that of their families.
Ogun
The Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) has called on the Fed
eral Government to rescue the nation’s economy from collapse, due to the dwindling revenues of government.
The Chairman of the YUF, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Gbonigi, made the call at a meeting of the group, held at the country-home of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Ikenne-Remo in Ogun.
Gbonigi said that the unofficial devaluation of the naira at the foreign exchange market was a pointer to the urgent attention the economy needed to arrest projected inflation.
He said that millions of jobs were already under threat, due to forex downturn and fall in crude oil price.
The chairman, therefore, urged the Federal Government to formulate policies to restore investors’ confidence in the Nigerian economy.
Plateau
Fire has gutted the female section of the Jos Central Mosque.
Our correspondent, who visited the scene of the inci
dent, observed that large flames had swallowed most parts of the entire Mosque.
The flames and smoke also covered houses and shops in the vicinities.
Mr Emmanuel Abu, spokesman of the Plateau Police Command, described the fire as “very serious and unfortunate”.
He said that a vehicle parked beside the Mosque caught fire and it spread to the Mosque.
“For now, we can confirm that no one was caught in the fire, but we have despatched our men to the scene to protect property.
“Once an incident like this happens, there are miscreants always taking that as an advantage to steal.
“We want to make sure that such did not happen,” he said.
Sokoto
The World Bank has earmarked over 100 million dollars
for girl child education in five northern states in Nigeria, Dr Tunji Adekola, an official of the bank, said.
Adekola disclosed this in Sokoto at the inauguration of the state chapter of the Nigeria Partnership for Education Project.
He listed the benefitting states as Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna.
Adekola said that the four-year project was aimed aimed at improving access to and quality of basic education, especially for the girl-child in the states.
“The project is also aimed at improving the issue of equity in education as well as ensuring uniformity in access for all to education.
“This is the bring back the out of school children to schools and also improve gender parity between boys and girls,” he said.
Zamfara
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State says he has never spent public funds on any foreign trip, challenging critics to prove him wrong.
The governor, who spoke through his Information and
Culture Commissioner, Ahaji Umar Jibo Bukkuyum, also explained that what he had done and was still doing, was to move the state forward developmentally.
He said instead of spreading unfounded rumours, people, should pray for the leaders to succeed in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The commissioner added that contracts for a number of roads to be constructed in the state had been awarded by the government in addition to the ones that had been completed, stressing that recently over N1 billion was released for payment of WAEC and NECO for students.
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,