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 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,