Nation
THE STATES
Governor Akinwunmi Ambodi of Lagos State (right), presenting a souvenir to the German President, Mr Joachim Gauck, during his visit to Lagos State, recently.
Adamawa
An Abuja based Non- Governmental Organisation (NGO),
Adventist-Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), is rendering support to 514 households of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Adamawa State.
The Emergency Management Coordinator of the group, Mr Peter Odiahi, disclosed this at the presentation of relief materials to some households in Michika Local Government Area of the state.
Odiahi said that the gesture was part of efforts by the organisation to assist returning IDPs to integrate them to the society.
He explained that the organisation with the support of the UN Foods and Agriculture organisation (FAO), had provided the IDPs with various agro food processing machines to improve their livelihoods.
According to him, ADRA as an International NGO, has been working in partnership with the FAO, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in providing humanitarian services to displaced persons in seven local government areas worst affected by activities of Boko Haram in Adamawa.
Bauchi
Nigerien citizens living in Bauchi State have expressed
optimism that Sunday’s general elections in their country would reflect the wishes of the electorate.
Some of them, who spoke to newsmen in Bauchi, said they were satisfied with the arrangement made by their country’s electoral body.
They were particularly pleased with the opportunity given to Nigeriens in diaspora, to exercise their franchise.
They however said the number of vehicles provided to enable them travel to designated states to cast their votes, were inadequate.
One of them, Abubakar Mohammed, said six vehicles were provided in Bauchi for them to travel to Kano, the nearest voting centre, as such only few of them could make it.
Borno
Some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Dalori Camp
II along Bama Road, Maiduguri, Borno State, have called for improved living conditions in the camp.
The IDPs made the appeal while speaking to newsmen during a visit to the camp by the UNHRC.
According to them, some of the challenges they face included inconsistent and poor feeding, poor sanitary conditions, lack of proper medical attention, deplorable sanitary condition and poor security.
The IDPs said although the government was trying, they needed improved welfare, urging the government and NGOs to take their welfare as a priority because they are Nigerian citizens who are just victims of circumstance.
Malam Abatcha Ali, the Men’s Leader of the camp, said in spite of the best efforts of government, displaced persons continue to suffer hunger and other deprivations in the camps.
Gombe
Citizens of Niger Republic residing in Gombe State, have
called on whoever emerge president of the country, to sustain the collaborative effort in the fight against insurgents.
Speaking with newsmen in Gombe, they said that the progress of Niger Republic, Nigeria and other neighboring countries depended on restoration of peace to the region.
They also admonished losers in Sunday’s general elections in the country, to exhibit spirit of good sportsmanship in defeat, while urging winners to be magnanimous in victory.
A Nigerien, Bala Buzu, said whoever would be elected president, should join hands with Nigeria and other countries in the fight against insurgents.
According to him, a lot of people in Niger, Nigeria and other countries are suffering as a result of the activities of insurgents.
Kaduna
Kaduna State Government on Sunday, tasked religious
leaders to assist monitor projects that are being executed within their areas, by ensuring that contractors give the communities value for their money.
The Director- General of Interfaith Matters, Engr. Namadi Musa gave this advice in a press statement made available to newsmen.
According to the statement in sensitisation meeting with Muslim and Christian religious leaders in the three senatorial zones, Musa urged them to report any project that is being shoddily executed to relevant authorities.
It stated that Governor Nasir El Rufa’i had started fulfilling his campaign promises with the ongoing school feeding programme, roads, hospitals and schools rehabilitation across the state.
Katsina
The Katsina State Government has set aside the sum of
N2.5 billion for the rehabilitation and upgrading of Ajiwa Water Treatment Plant to solve the perennial water scarcity faced in Katsina metropolis.
Governor Aminu Masari gave the figure while inaugurating the Association of Retired Civil Servants of the state Water Board in Katsina.
Masari said that the water treatment plant, which was constructed and commissioned in the 1970’s, was neglected by the previous administrations despite serving the Katsina State capital and its environs.
He said that the plant would not be able to provide enough water for the citizens of the metropolitan area due to obsolete facilities that had been overstretched.
The governor revealed that the rehabilitation work at the plant would include replacement of outdated equipment as well as laying of new pipes to provide additional 40 million litres of water daily to the metropolis.
Lagos
Lagos State Police command said it had begun
investigation into the death of one Afape Fatai, who allegedly committed suicide in his kitchen.
The command’s spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Oladapo Badmos, in a statement said the incident happened on Saturday at about 6 am at No. 28, Orioji Olarenwaju Close, Ijaiye in Lagos.
It stated that the deceased, whose age, marital status and occupation were not mentioned, allegedly hung himself with a rope in his kitchen.
“Police detectives from Meiran Division visited the scene, photographed and examined the corpse.
“The police later visited the scene of the crime, removed and deposited the body at Ijaiye General Hospital morgue.
Nasarawa
The National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations
(NACOMYO) has urged residents of Nasarawa State to avoid rats in order to prevent Lassa fever.
The National President of NACOMYO, Alhaji Kamal’ddin Akintunde, made the call at a one-day awareness campaign on Lassa fever organised by the Nasarawa State chapter of the organisation in Karu.
He said that the call had become imperative due to the effects of Lassa fever on human health and the socio-economic development of the country.
“First and foremost, I want to commend the state chapter of NACOMYO in organising this awareness campaign in Kube, Beti, Kare and Kugwaru, among other communities of Karu.
Ondo
The Ondo State Government says it will sanction any
household that has no registered waste bin and prosecute anyone caught dumping refuse indiscriminately in the state.
The Chairman, Ondo State Waste Management Board, Mr Shina Fadamitan, told newsmen in Akure that the move would ensure cleanliness in the state.
“It is an offence for any household not to have a registered waste bin in Ondo State and anybody caught dumping refuse will be prosecuted according to the laws of the land.
“We have made this decision because we have noticed that there is an increase in the number of illegal dumping sites across the state.
Oyo
Dean, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof.
Juwon Arotiba, has called for the introduction of Bio-Medical Engineering courses in more tertiary institutions in the country.
Arotiba made the call in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan.
He said if more tertiary institutions would introduce such courses, the problems of inadequate and ineffective medical equipment in Nigerian hospitals would be resolved.
Arotiba defined Bio-Medical Engineering as biological or medical application of engineering equipment.
“It is the application of biological techniques (as genetic recombination) to create modified versions of organisms (as crops), especially.
Plateau
The Catholic Bishop of Pankshin Diocese, Most Rev. Michael
Gokum, has urged Christians to support the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-Eastern part of the country.
The Bishop said this during the launch of the 2016 Lenten Campaign of the diocese in Pankshin, Plateau State.
He said that this year’s campaign was to raise funds to support IDPs, less privileged and the destitute in the society.
The theme of the campaign is: “the Right to Security and Sustainable Development Goals.’’
‘’We are all God’s creation brought into existence by one living God, so there is the need to extend support to the have-nots.
“In our world today, there are many who can’t afford a single meal in a day, others don’t have where to lay their heads, while very many don’t have what to wear.
“A lot of people in our society, especially those in the north-eastern part of our country have fled their places of abode because of the incessant attacks by Boko Haram; these people need support.
Yobe
Chairman, Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Yobe, Alhaji
Umar Kukuri, has urged the state government to conduct elections into the 17 local government councils as required by law.
Umar made the call in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu while reacting to the inauguration of local council caretaker chairmen appointed by Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam.
“IPAC was expecting the state government to conduct election into the local councils after the expiration of the former councils in December last year,” the IPC chairman said
He said political parties in the state had commenced preparations for a new election before the appointment and inauguration of the new caretaker chairmen.
“The council wishes to remind the state government of the constitutional provision which recognises elected officials for local government councils.
“As a state under the national ruling party, we hope the provisions and sanctity of the constitution will be respected and protected,” he said.
The Chairman of Malumfashi Local Government Council of Katsina State, Maharazu Dayi, has been impeached.
Maharazu Dayi was impeached yesterday by 11 out of 12 councillors, barely two days before the local government elections in the State.
The councillors reportedly took action following allegations of misconduct and poor governance against the chairman after a dispute over the distribution of the council’s Paris Club funds.
The development has sent shock waves across the local government area, especially as the impeached chairman is among those who failed to secure the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest in the forthcoming election.
The Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association, Mile 1, Port Harcourt, has urged the state government to utilise the available spaces within the area to build phase 3 of the Rumuwoji Market in order to solve the ever increasing needs of traders.
The association, which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, also described as a welcomed development the decision by the state Governor to open the phase 2 of the market for business.
According to the association, “We consider it as an answer to the various cries of the people, because he is a man on a mission who is out to place the interest of Rivers people first. It is a dream come true for the first time for the market to be dully allocated and open for business”
Chairman of the association, Hon Godspower Wobo, who briefed the press shortly after a meeting of the association in Port Harcourt, also urged the public to disregard the activities of some persons whose stock in trade is to cause disaffection in the market.
He said the attention of the association was drawn to the activities of some strange fellows who went about misforming the people about situation in the market, stressing that apart from his association, no other group exists in the market except subdiary unions.
Wobo also tasked the reallocation committee to tread with caution so as to avoid being deceived by any group.
According to him, time has come for the state government to engage in robust discussion with aggrieved shop owners who went to court and those who paid monies to the state coffers and issued with allocation certificates for the overall interest of peace.
He also advised the public to deal directly with his association, stressing that the meeting was to review activities for the last year as well as unveil their new Constitution.
Also speaking, former Chairman of the association, Deacon Kenneth Eze urged the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to open the phase 2 of the market, as it is long overdue.
Eze who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the association also urged the public to do business with only the Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association as it is the only union recognised by the traders.
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has debunked reports linking him with the race for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.
Reacting to the report on his X handle yesterday, following a recent interview with Arise TV, the AfDB boss said his quotes were misrepresented and misinterpreted in several Nigerian media reports.
However, the AfDB president denied the media reports, stating that he never said that he wanted to contest for President.
“A segment of my recent interview on @Arise TV has been both misinterpreted and misrepresented in several Nigerian media outlets. What I said was, “I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including my own country.”
“A listen to the substantive and robust interview, which is available online, will show this to be the case. For clarity and for the record, I did not say that I am running for the office of President of Nigeria,” Adesina said.