Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Heal Disability Initiative, a Bauchi State based NGO, has called for the training of healthcare workers on sign language.
The Coordinator of the NGO, Mr Ayuba Mainas, made the appeal yesterday in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi.
Mainas also advised the Bauchi State Government to train its health personnel on sign language in the area of reproductive healthcare.
He noted that women with disabilities face challenges in seeking medical attention and healthcare due to such lack of communication skills in health facilities.
“Women that are physically challenged are facing challenges of accessing healthcare service in areas of immunisation, antenatal and family planning which are vital in improving maternal and child health.
Benue
Police in Benue State say they have arrested a male primary school teacher suspected to be sexually abusing some pupils.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Bashir Makama, told newsmen in Makurdi yesterday that the teacher was in the habit of molesting pupils in school.
Makama said that three boys, all in primary five, were brought to the command’s headquarters in Makurdi, from Okpokwu Local Government Area, to substantiate the allegation against the teacher.
According to him, it was established that the teacher has been molesting the boys for some months after school hours and warned them never to tell anybody.
FCT
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) says reforms initiated by late Taraba Governor, Danbaba Suntai, to promote delivery of dividends of democracy to Taraba people would not be forgotten.
The National Caretaker Committee of the party stated this in a condolence message on the demise of the former governor, issued recently in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Dayo Adeyeye.
Suntai, 56, died last Thursday of complications from injuries he sustained when a plane he was piloting crashed on October 25, 2012, in Yola, while in office as governor.
The committee-led by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi condoled with the Gov. Darius Ishaku, the people of Taraba State and the family of the deceased former governor.
Jigawa
Not less than 220 houses and property worth millions of naira were destroyed by windstorm in Babura Local Government Area of Jigawa State, according to an official.
The official, Alhaji Sulaiman Doro, Information Officer at the local government Council, told newsmen in Dutse yesterday that the windstorm occurred on June 27.
He said that the windstorm blew off the roof of some schools and clinics in the local government area.
He said that the 220 houses destroyed by the windstorm are located in Jigawar Dan-Alli, Gurfai, Manga, Unguwar Tsamiya and Yarkirya villages.
Doro said that victims of the windstorm had appealed to the state and local governments to come to their aid.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Quality Assurance Board recently said it had trained 68 quality facilitators as part of efforts to ensure quality teaching, learning and management of primary and secondary schools in the state.
The Executive Director of the board, Mrs Maureen Wyom, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna.
Wyom explained that the 68 facilitators would be responsible for the training of evaluators who would evaluate the quality of teaching and learning in public and private schools in the state.
She said 70 head teachers from the three senatorial districts of the state would also be trained this week on effective school, class and teachers management, as well as stakeholders engagement.
Kogi
The Kogi State Government has recently commenced the distribution of 24,000 Chlorhxidine-gel for care of umbilical cord in 120 public health facilities across the 21 local government areas of the state.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Saka Audu, said at the flag-off ceremony in Lokoja that the governor in his magnanimity had made free donations of the gel to all public health facilities in the state for cord care and prevention of newborn infections.
He warned that the commodity should not be sold to patients under any circumstance, but be given to all mothers that delivered in the hospitals free of charge.
“Since the inception of the new administration led by Gov. Yahaya Bello, we have made health sector a priority and committed to reducing newborn mortality to less than 10 per 1,000 live births by 2019.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has identified community policing as an effective and efficient means of tackling various security challenges in the country.
The governor said this last Sunday while receiving the new Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Lawan Ado at Government House, Ilorin.
According to him, community policing was a feasible option in the existing battle against insurgence, kidnapping and other forms of security threats to the country’s corporate existence.
Ahmed, therefore, charged the police to strengthen existing police public relationship with communities in order to resolve issues militating against peaceful coexistence between various groups.
Lagos
The Head of Lagos State Child Protection Unit, Mrs Modupe Adebambo, last Sunday said that government should engage parents and teachers in finding lasting solutions to the high rates of child abuse in the country.
Adebambo said they would achieve this by creating awareness among the public on the evils of child abuse on their victims.
Adebambo told newsmen on the sideline of the Parent,Teacher Association (P.T.A) conference on Child Safeguarding and Protection held on Saturday in Lagos that child abuse is the physical, sexual and psychology mistreatment of innocent children by adults.
The conference attended by no fewer than 1,000 parents and teachers from schools in Lagos State was organized by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).
Nasarawa
Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State yesterday lauded the Federal Government’s economic diversification efforts via the yam export initiative.
The governor gave the commendation in Lafia through his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Ahmed Tukur.
Al-Makura said that the ongoing construction of the Lafia cargo airport would greatly enhance the yam export initiative because of its strategic location in the north-central zone, widely known as the hub of yam production in the country.
Osun
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) in Osun State, says it has endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr Ademola Adeleke, for the July 8 senatorial bye-election in Osun-West.
Secretary of the conference in the state, Mr Gbade Adelakun, made this known at a news briefing recently in Ede the State.
Adelakun said that the group endorsed the PDP candidate because it believed that he would deliver the dividends of democracy to people in the constituency.
He said that nine political parties had supported Adeleke’s candidature for the bye-election, and listed them as All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Action Alliance (AA), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Green Party of Nigeria (GPN).
Oyo
Oyo State Government, has urged residents of the state to expose suspected criminals around them to complement and sustain government’s efforts at protecting lives and property.
Executive Secretary, Oyo State Security Trust Fund (OYSTFF), Mr Femi Oyedipe, made the plea while addressing newsmen in Ibadan recently.
Oyedipe said that the government in conjunction with the security agencies in the state was synergising to arrest pockets of armed robbery incidents in some areas.
“The government and security agencies cannot do the task of protecting our community alone. We need the support of the people of the state.
“We cannot be in all the nooks and crannies of Oyo State at the same time; this is why we need the support of our people.
“We want them to collaborate with us to expose criminals in their domains and we guarantee the protection of their identities as we have been doing,” he said
Plateau
A cross section of Plateau State residents yesterday lauded the dissolution of the Local Government Caretaker Committees by Governor Simon Lalong.
Some of them, who spoke with newsmen said that the dissolution was “long overdue”.
Lalong had, on Thursday, announced the dissolution of the caretaker committees of the 17 local governments, and directed them to immediately hand over to the Secretaries of their respected areas.
According to the sacked local government officials were appoint by the governor in July 2015, after sacking the elected chairmen he met on assumption of office on May 29, 2015.
A civil servant in Pankshin, Mrs. Jessica Dakyen, said that the chairmen should count themselves lucky that they were kept in office for two years even though they were not elected.
In a bid to meaningfully engage secondary school students in Ogoniland during the Christmas holidays and beyond, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has trained them on petroleum jelly and liquid soap making.
This is even as the Project has partnered with the National Orientation Agency(NOA) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) to keep the students away from crime and other related social vices during the Yuletide, by giving them pep talks that would put them on their toes during the period.
This came to the fore as HYPREP recently organised an Ogoni Young Men Mentorship programme and life skill workshop with the theme, ‘Career Coaching: Developing The Young Minds’ at Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The beneficiaries of the programme are essentially members of environmental clubs in 13 schools in four local government areas of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme.
At the event, both NOA and NDLEA gave career talks to the students, aimed at keeping them off social vices like drug abuse and addiction as well as negative peer influences through out the Christmas holidays and beyond.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof NeinibariniZabbey said the Project deemed it necessary to invite the National Orientation Agency and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) to speak to the students in order to shield them from negative peer influences as they are preparing to go for the Christmas holidays.
He explained that the workshop would enable the students to know when the signs of the negative peer influences start coming.
Zabbey, who was represented at the occasion by HYPREP’s Head of Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs Josephine Nzidee, said the Project is not only going to train the beneficiaries but also give them the tools and skills that would grow them in the future so that they would start making money for themselves.
Also addressing the students, the Rivers State Coordinator of the National Orientation Agency(NOA), Mr Young Ayo-Tamuno expressed delight for meeting young minds, to discuss issues on values, describing it as a great opportunity.
He noted that there are seven values which constitute the role and commitment of the government towards the citizenry and another seven core values which constitute the code for the citizens.
While commending HYPREP for organising the event, Ayo-Tamuno said team work is key to making Nigeria a better place for all, as both the government and the citizens have their respective roles to play, with each staying committed and focused.
The Chief Programme Officer of NOA, Mr Henry Ayede was the one who actually mounted the rostrum and drilled the students on the seven core values embodied in the National Value Charter for citizens, and stressed the need for them to imbibe them and put them to practice as they grow up.
Ayede listed the values to include discipline, duty of care, leadership, tolerance and respect, transparency, environmental awareness and resilience.
He also underscored the need for the students to imbibe the spirit of hard work and dignity of labour, contending that while hard work and dedication contribute to success, every job can contribute to national development.
According to him, dignity in labour is the foundation of success.
On his part, Mr Bill Ebiokpo of the Media/ Advocacy Unit of NDLEA, who represented the Bori Area Commander of the agency, advised the students to guard against drug abuse and addiction, which he said have far reaching consequences.
The Principal of the Senior Secondary of Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Barrister Bob Agbozi thanked HYPREP for organising the programme, which he said enriched his knowledge and that of the students on the core values guiding the society, saying inculcating such values in young people and teaching them practical skills have contributed immensely to the greatness of advanced countries and even countries like Rwanda in Africa.
He noted that the career coaching would change the behavioral pattern of the students particularly during the Yuletide.
He also thanked NOA for the career talks and urged it to replicate the programme in other places, not only in schools but also in market places.
The training of the students on petroleum jelly and liquid soap making was anchored by an expert, MrsLekpa Abel, with HYPREP workers lending a helping hand.
It was, indeed, a practical session with the students, who came face to face with the production materials of the products.
Donatus Ebi
It was celebration galore as the people of Isu Community in Etche Local Government Area of River State held a civic reception in honour of the Council Chairman, Dr Uzodinma Nwafor .
The epoch- making ceremony which took place recently at the community ancestral home saw the attendance of the political class, the clergy, opinion leaders, the academia, youths, women, elders and chiefs gather to honour their brand new chairman.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Etche Local Government Council, Dr Uzodinma Nwafor expressed gratitude to the people for according him such honour, saying it shows their unwavering support to the development of Etche.
Nwafor announced the readiness of his administration to embark on electrification of Ozuzu clan including Isu community.
The Etche council boss also said the market at Isu will be reconstructed to improve the economic life of the people.
He revealed that the two projects will commence in January as efforts are on to mobilise the contractors.
Nwafor told the mammoth crowd that his major concern remains, peace and unity of the entire Etche, saying security of lives and property remains top on his agenda as no meaningful development can thrive in an atmosphere of violence.
He urged parents to encourage their wards and children to refrain from violence and embrace peace. “Let us allow Etche to be at peace .Don’t allow any body to use you set Etche ablaze. Parents advise your children to stay away from crime .We must stay in peace and unity. Our children must shun violence ,it can’t take us anywhere as a people ,” he declared.
He thanked the people for their support as well thank their son, former commissioner for Energy ,Okey Amadi for being a Pilar of his political sojourne.
Earlier, the Isu opinion leader and Principal, Community Secondary School, Mgbosomini in Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area, Mr Chijioke Amadi said the honour done Etche chairman was a collective division of his people.
Amadi described the council boss as an illustrious son who has contributed immensely to the wellbeing of the community.
He declared that his community and the entire Etche will keep supporting him because he is doing well.
Amadi urged the people to keep praying for him and the Rivers State Governor to succeed in delivering dividends of democracy.
Senate has set up an adhoc committee to investigate the demolition of buildings in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT by the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, just as it summoned the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to appear before it to explain the reasons behind the demolitions, which have left many residents stranded
The resolutions followed a motion by Senator Ireti Kingibe ( FCT), who expressed concern over the illegal demolition of structures in the nation’s capital and called for an immediate stop to further demolitions.
The Red Chamber particularly ordered the FCDA to halt ongoing demolitions of property in the Territory within the next two weeks pending the report of its adhoc committee constituted to probe the issue.
The adhoc committee, to be chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, has the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru; Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Tahir Monguno, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, Senator Sahabi Ya’u, Senator Victor Umeh, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Idiat Adebule and Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, as members.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who announced the composition of the committee, gave it two weeks to submit its report.
Akpabio while reading the resolution of the Senate, said: “The Senate urges the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to stop further demolitions of structures, except those ordered by courts of competent jurisdictions, until the adhoc committee constituted by the Senate to ascertain the propriety or otherwise of the exercise concludes its investigation and interface with the FCT administration within the next two weeks.”
Kingibe in her lead debate said that in recent times, the demolition exercise in the FCT was no longer based on reasons that necessitated the demolition.
She urged the Senate to be further concerned that the current demolition in the FCT was not in line with due process of court orders to demolish.
“As such, a cross section of individuals had suffered untold hardships occasioned by massive demolition, which has led to a loss of properties worth billions of naira.
“Also concerned that at the moment, an estate by name, Messrs Paulosa, for which late Colonel Paul Osakpawan Ogbebor is the chairman, is currently under revocation and demolition. And from reliable information, the said plot of land was allocated to him in 1984 with requisite title document.
“And further concerned that the owner of this estate was a patriotic Nigerian who served the nation meritoriously and one of the first intakes of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, with registration Number 001,” Kingibe said.
She urged the Senate to accordingly resolve to urge the FCT administration to halt the ongoing revocation and demolition of the said property, “as it does not fall within the purview of the reasons for the massive demolition being carried by the FCDA.”
Senator Kingibe also advocated thatall demolitions should follow due process while the Senate set up a committee to investigate the matters arising from the demolition.
However, Senator Sunday Karimi ( Kogi West) in his contribution said the Senate needs to hear from the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, before ordering a halt to the demolitions.
“If you look at this motion, the presenter said, a specific land allocation was mentioned belonging to one Paul Ogbebor.
“We don’t know anything about this thing and we are just coming because of this to tell the minister to stop?
“There is need to investigate this matter before giving any directive. We must hear from the minister. But we have to hear before we say stop demolition.
“Let’s hear from the Minister. You cannot shave a man’s head at his back. We need to hear from the Minister,” Karimi said.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), however disagreed with Karimi, saying that the request that the Senate should call on the FCT minister to halt further demolitions was in order.
He said: “Mr. President, with respect I disagree with Mr. Karimi. I think we need to be fair to everyone. There is before us an allegation that says certain steps are to be taken which will culminate in demolition. Are we saying that we should allow the place to be demolished while we are trying to look into it?”
In his response, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio agreed with the chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters, saying “my thought is in line with yours. If we just say, continue the demolition, and then we start investigation, what are we then investigating?”
He, thereafter, read the resolution of the Senate calling on the FCT Minister to halt further demolitions of property in the FCT pending the investigative report of its adhoc committee chaired by the Deputy Senate President.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi