Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa House of Assembly says it has set up a committee on how to generate 30 megawatts of electricity for the state.
The committee chairman, Mr Wafari Theman (ACN, Hong) told newsmen in Yola that the low power supply to the state was worrisome.
Theman said that the committee had visited PHCN and other stakeholders because power supply to the state was fluctuating between 20 and seven megawatts.
He said that the committee had visited the state Special Energy Department and the Gongola Basin Energy Development Commission
He said that the panel had also visited Laddo Dam in neighbouring Cameroon Republic and Kiri Dam in Adamawa.
He said that the purpose of visiting the establishments was to ensure they generate additional electricity power to the state.
Bauchi
Bauchi State has detected three new cases of Polio Virus between January and March.
The WHO Consultant in-charge of Gamawa, Zaki and Itas Gadau, Mr Emmanuel Katuga, disclosed this on Saturday in Kari-kacaf, in Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
Katuga told newsmen that one case each was recorded at Kari-Kacaf, Dagaleri and Taranka, all in Gamawa Local Government Area.
He explained that the case of Kari-Kacaf and Taranka had been confirmed to be the “Wild Polio Virus” while that of Dagaleri had been sent to Maiduguri Laboratory for test.
Katuga attributed the new cases to uncompleted dosage of Polio immunisation within the affected areas.
The consultant said that his team had introduced weekly immunisation in spite of the routine ones within the affected areas to ensure that the virus was eradicated in the area.
Borno
The wife of Borno State Governor, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, has called on traditional and community leaders to work collectively to wipe out the polio virus from the country.
Shettima, who made the call in Maiduguri when she launched the National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs), urged wives of the Chairmen of Local Government Caretaker Committees to ensure mass mobilisation of parents at the grass roots for the exercise.
She said that the state government had instituted an award for best local government council in immunisation coverage to encourage better performance.
“I want the wives of the caretaker committees chairmen to compete with one another in the area of mass mobilisation of parents on polio immunisation.
“Each one of you must strive hard to ensure that her council becomes the best so you can win the state government award for the best performing council in immunisation coverage,” she said.
FCT
Chairman House Committee on Gas Resources Rep. Bassey Ewa, says stopping gas flaring in the country requires the political will of the Federal Government.
Ewa told newsmen in Abuja that there was also the need for the Federal Government to collaborate with multinational oil companies to end gas flaring.
He said the committee was determined to ensure that the gas master plan was implemented to the letter.
“On the issue of gas flaring, my committee is putting necessary things in place to ensure the issue is finally put to rest.
“The Federal Government has a gas master plan and as the chairman of the committee on gas resources, it is my desire to ensure that the plan is implemented to the letter,’’ he said.
Gombe
President Goodluck Jonathan has condoled with Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe over the death of his four-year-old daughter, Hajara.
The president who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Mike Oghiadome, said in Gombe on Saturday, that he (Jonathan) and the good people of Nigeria sympathised with the family of Dankwambo.
Jonathan noted that death was inevitable and called on the governor to take it as an act of God because “every soul must pass through it.”
“This is because God gives and takes, we have no right to question Him,’’ he said.
Kano
Kano State Government has concluded plans to construct 56 new courts in the 44 local government areas of the state, our correspondent reports.
The Public Relations Officer of the state High Court, Malam Baba Jibo made this known to newsmen in Kano.
Jibo said that the government had kick- started the construction of 23 of the courts in its first phase, pointing out that the second phase would be inaugurated soon.
He said the project was part of the government’s determination to ensure that the people of the state had access to justice by bringing justice to their door steps.
Katsina
Herdsmen in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State have called for increased government commitment to animal vaccination.
Alhaji Ardo Abubakar, the leader of herdsmen, made the call during the launch of the 2012 animal vaccination.
Abubakar expressed the appreciation of the herdsmen to the state government for its policies on animal production, saying that the “huge investment ” would ensure the good health of animals.
He noted that many nomads had been mobilised to submit their animals for the vaccination, adding that the exercise would improve the health of cows and other domestic animals in the area.
According to him, not less than 6,000 cows have been targeted for vaccination in the two-week programme.
Kebbi
Kebbi Governor-elect State Alhaji Saidu Dakingari, has said that the fresh mandate he received in Saturday’s election was an indication of his acceptance by the people of Kebbi.
The Media Adviser to Dakingari, Malam Alhassan Musa, told newsmen that the new mandate was an indication of the popularity of the governor-elect’s policies and programmes over the years.
He promised to bring the opposition on board in efforts to develop the state.
“In this election, there is no victor or vanquished. The PDP will carry everyone along in major decision making and progarmme implementation,’’ he said.
Dakingari urged the people to expect development, especially in the areas of agriculture, rural development, education and health.
Lagos
Five-time World Boxing Champion, Evander Holyfield, is visiting Badagry, Lagos State, to reconnect with his African roots and seek the possibility of investing in the country’s tourism industry.
The Alabama, U.S.-born retired pugilist believes he is of African descent.
He visited the historic town of Badagry on the invitation of Mr Yomi Ajose, a former Senior Special Adviser to the Badagry Local Government Council.
Holyfield, who visited the traditional ruler of the town, Wheno Aholu Meno Toyi I, the Akran of Badagry, said that he was visiting to trace his African roots.
Niger
The Niger House of Assembly has approved the appointment of Alhaji Abdullahi Kagara as its new Clerk.
Members of the Assembly had unanimously approved the appointment of Kagara following his recommendation by the Assembly Service Commission.
Majority Leader Mohammad Dada moved the motion for the approval and it was unanimously adopted by members.
The Speaker, Alhaji Mohammed Tsowa, commended Kagara’s contribution to the legislative activities of the Assembly, especially the committees assignments.
He directed the acting clerk to convey the approval to the Assembly Service Commission for it to issue a letter of appointment to the new Clerk.
Kagara, who was born in 1964 in Kagara, obtained a degree in Mass Communication from Bayero University Kano, 1988.
He started his career as a reporter with the Newsline newspaper in 1990 and joined the Assembly service in 1992 as its Public Relations Officer.
Ondo
The Ondo State House of Assembly has called for the establishment of “Obafemi Awolowo Academy of Ideology’’ to promote political and economic ideals of the late premier of the defunct Western Region.
The Majority Leader of the House, Mr Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, who moved the motion in Akure, said, the proposed academy would immortalise Awolowo and facilitate access to his political ideas and leadership qualities.
“The late sage, a nationalist, in his books and essays propounded a robust ideology for governance, which, he called, “Social Democracy”.
“Late Awolowo, who was described as the best president Nigeria never had, came up with major tenets of his political ideology in his books, publications, lectures for our political emancipation,’’ Akinsoyinu said.
The majority leader pointed out that the Yoruba leader’s approach to politics was devoid of violence and that the idea had distinguished his character as far as the game of politics was concerned.
Mr Victor Akinwe, representing the people of Odigbo Constituecy I, said the academy would serve as an instrument of reconstruction for prospective and serving politicians in the country.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Urban and Regional Planning Board on Thursday began the demolition of illegal structures in Sokoto and its environs.
Our correspondent reports that the board demolished illegal structures in Sokoto old market and the state’s School of Developmental Studies, an arm of the state university.
The Permanent Secretary of the board, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed, said the action was to rid the state capital and its environs of all illegal structures.
‘’We will not allow any person or group of persons to tinker with the master plan of the state capital, no matter how highly placed the person is.’’
Mohammed said the owners of the illegal structures were given a month notice to remove them or face sanctions but they allegedly refused to comply.
Nation
Council Boss Impeached 48 Hours To LG Polls In Katsina
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.
Nation
Association Tasks Fubara On Rumuwoji Market Phase Three
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.
Nation
AfDB President Denies 2027 Presidential Ambition
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.
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