Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa State Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) has denied sacking two magistrates.
The commission, in a statement by its Secretary, Susana Elam, made this known in Yola.
Elam said “It has come to the notice of the JSC that the judiciary sacked two magistrates and demoted one Area Court Judge.
“Nothing like that has happened. The true position is that only three lower court judges were demoted,” Elam said.
Ekiti
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has advised corps members to embrace agriculture like farming, fishery and snail farming in the absence of white collar job, in order to reduce unemployment.
Fayose gave the advice at Ise- Orun, Emure -Ekiti, during the swearing-in ceremony of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Batch B, Stream 2 deployed to the state.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissoner for Sports and Information, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi said that the state was rich in farmland and urged them to make use of it during their service year.
He also urged them to embrace the prevailing remedial strategies put in place, like War Against Poverty (WAP), Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) and Youth Innovative Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YIEDP), for self empowerment.
Gombe
Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Gombe State, Alhaji Mato Yakubu, has cautioned youth in the state to be wary of politicians planning to engage them to perpetrate violence during the forthcoming council polls in the state.
Yakubu said in Gombe that the word of caution was necessary as the February 25 date fixed for the polls drew closer.
“Youth are the most vulnerable in the society, constituting about 87 per cent of our population and politicians are targeting them for either positive or negative purpose.
“They should always be worthy members of their communities for better future, by not allowing any politician to use them as instrument of violence during the forthcoming elections,” he advised.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Chamber of Commerce, Industries Mines and Agriculture (JISSIMA), has expressed its readiness to introduce mobile banking in rural communities to enhance economic activities.
The JISSIMA’s Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Muhammad, who made the disclosure in Dutse said that the system would be introduced in all towns and villages across the state.
He said that the JICCIMA had already organised a one-day workshop on Financial Transaction for stakeholders, in collaboration with Bizi Mobile Communications, for proper take-off of the programme.
The chairman said that the gesture was to enable rural dwellers have access to banking services.
Kano
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Coordinator in Kano State, Alhaji Ladan Baba, has called for upgrade of the scheme’s orientation camp in the state.
The coordinator made the call in Kano during the swearing in of the 2016 Batch ‘B’, stream ll corps members posted to the state.
According to Baba, the camp, located in Kusalla in Karaye Local Government Area of the state, has carrying capacity of 10,000 corps members.
He called for support and encouragement from the public and the need for Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the construction of additional hostels and skills acquisition centres for NYSC members.
Kebbi
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) says it will establish a Regional Academy for Immigration Management in Kebbi State.
The Controller-General of the service, Alhaji Muhammad Babandede, made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to Governor Atiku Bagudu in Birnin Kebbi.
He said the service had contacted members of the international community over the proposed centre and that they had indicated interest in the project.
The controller-general expressed hope that the project would be beneficial to Kebbi, especially as it would have airstrip and marine patrol for its closeness to the river.
Kogi
The Kogi State Government has set aside N5 billion to pay counterpart contributions to its international development partners and donor agencies on various intervention programmes in the state.
The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Kehinde Oloruntoba disclosed this in Lokoja at a dinner for stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.
The meeting was organised by Synergos Nigeria, under the aegis of State Partnership for Agriculture (SPA) in collaboration with the Bureau for Public Private Partnership (BPPP).
The Director-General of the BPPP, Mr Bob Achanya, commended the government for making the environment conducive for the partnerships to prosper, as it would add value to the socio-economic lives of the people.
Kwara
One hundred and thirty one (131) new employees under the Federal Government’s N-Power initiative have received orientation and counselling in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The orientation was organised by the Guidance and Counselling Unit, Quality Assurance Section of Irepodun Local Government Education Authority (LGEA).
The employees were those posted to public primary and Junior Secondary Universal Basic Education (UBE)-based schools within the council area.
The orientation and counselling programme, according to the Head of the LGEA Counselling Unit, Mr Peter Aransiola, was intended to acquaint the employees with basic rudiments of their duties.
Nasarawa
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has charged the newly sworn in Batch B, Stream 2 corp members posted to the state to actively engage in community development projects to better the lives of the people in their host communities.
Al-Makura gave the charge during the swearing in ceremony of the Batch B corp members at the Dan Yamusa Orientation camp in Keffi Local Government Area of the state.
The governor, who was represented by Nasarawa State Commissioner of Youth and Sports, Alhaji Ishaq Galadima, said community development projects has more impact on the lives of the poor people, adding that it also helped to foster healthy relationships.
Niger
The Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced the deployment of its armed plain-clothed security personnel on foot patrols in areas notorious for cattle rustling in the state.
The State Commandant, Mr Philip Ayuba,made this known in an interview with newsmen in Minna.
Ayuba said the measure would help in arresting rustlers,kidnappers and other criminals.
He said that already officers concerned had been briefed on security methods to be adopted in apprehending the criminals.
Ogun
The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Saleh Dunoma has sued for the support of aviation stakeholders to enhance profitability in the sector.
Dunoma made the call at the 2nd Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Air Transport Senior Staff Services Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
Dunoma said the industry was facing multiple challenges which needed the support of all and sundry.
Ondo
The National Palm Producers Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), has applauded the Federal Government for stopping import duty waivers on some locally cultivated agricultural products.
The President of the association, Chief Bolarinwa Adetula, gave the commendation in Akure during a courtesy visit to the Publicity Secretary of APC in Ondo State, Mr Abayomi Adesanya.
Adetula said that the gesture would encourage more investments, economic growth, job creation, food security and reduce the demand for foreign exchange.
He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to retain his policies on agriculture, especially the import restrictions in order to build sustainable agricultural base for the nation.
Osun
Justice Kudrat Akano of Osun State High Court, has in Osogbo sentenced a 38-year-old man, Ndubusi Okonkwo, to death by hanging, for armed robbery.
Okonkwo was tried on two-count of conspiracy and armed robbery.
The prosecutor, Mr Abiodun Alarape, told the court that Okonkwo was found in possession of dangerous weapons and a Mercedes Benz car on August 5, 2014 at about 10.30 p.m. at Isida Street, Ilesa.
Alarape, state counsel in the Ministry of Justice, said the vehicle had a registration number AAA 75 C and other particulars which the convict was unable to give account of.
Plateau
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has commended corps members’ efforts at executing rural community development projects over the years.
“Corps members posted to Plateau have always executed community developments in the rural areas; I want to say thank you for such efforts because my people have found them very beneficial,” Lalong said in Mangu.
Represented by Youth and Sports Commissioner, Mr Danladi Mang, at the official opening ceremony of the 2016 Batch “B” stream 2 orientation exercise, Lalong said that most of the projects were in the areas of education, infrastructure and healthcare delivery.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government says it will establish more agro-allied industries in 2017 to create more employment and boost internally generated revenue.
The state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Bello Aminu disclosed this in Sokoto.
He spoke when officials of the ministry appeared before the State Assembly’s Committee on Commerce and Industry to defend the ministry’s budget proposals for 2017.
Similarly, the Director-General of Sokoto Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SOSMEDA), , Hajiya A’ishatu Hassan said that the state government would also establish an entrepreneurial training centre this year.
Zamfara
The Zamfara State Hajj Commission has inaugurated a five-man Pilgrims Registration Committee to monitor and supervise the ongoing registration of intending pilgrims for the 2017 exercise.
The Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Abubakar Danko, who inaugurated the committee in Gusau, said that the committee would monitor and supervise the exercise and ensure hajj-free operations in 2017.
Danko directed the committee to ensure that indigent persons were not denied the opportunity of performing the hajj.
He said that in the past outsiders were allocated hajj seats from the state through official collaboration, warning that anyone caught in any shoddy deal would be dealt with.
The chairman added that the commission was currently doing its best to ensure the comfort of the state’s pilgrims to 2017 year hajj.
He warned officials of the commission to desist from collecting the deposit of intending pilgrim as the pilgrims were expected to pay their deposits personally at designated banks.
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.