Nation
THE STATES
Benue
The Benue State Commissioner for Agriculture and
Natural Resources, Mr Donald Gbugho, last Thursday said the ministry would soon commence registration of herdsmen in the state.
Speaking when the Maize Association of Nigeria, led by its Chairman, Mr Sam Kwa’Na, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Makurdi, Thursday, Gbugbo said that the registration was necessitated by the incessant clashes between the herdsmen and farmers, which was having negative effects on the economy of the state.
The commissioner called on the Federal Government to open up the eight grazing reserves in the state yet to be developed since the colonial administration to expand areas of grazing for herdsmen.
Earlier, Kwa’Na had appealed to the commissioner to provide the association with land to enable it venture into dry season farming and urged the state government to reinforce existing grazing laws to restore peace between herdsmen and farmers.
FCT
The special representative of International Police
(INTERPOL) to the EU, Mr Pierre Reuland, says the operations of West African Police Information System (WAPIS) programme would receive more expertise.
Reuland said last Tuesday in Abuja that INTERPOL would use the existing tools in achieving the WAPIS objectives.
According to Reuland, the WAPIS programme is facing the challenge of building partnership and confidence between law enforcement institutions within the EU and ECOWAS countries.
He stressed the need for a legal framework of the countries involved to exist at the national and regional levels to resolve a few legal questions arising from the exchange of information.
Kano
Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State last
Wednesday charged permanent secretaries to continue to live above board in the fight against corruption.
Kwankwaso, who gave the charge at the swearing-in of two permanent secretaries in Kano, specifically charged them to join in the administration’s collective efforts to fight corruption.
The governor also urged them to see their new position as an opportunity to further uplift the state and also discharge the responsibilities of their new office without fear or hindrances.
Kwankwaso urged the families of the appointees to show understanding as their new responsibilities would demand sacrifices to the state.
Kebbi
The Kalgo Local Government Council in Kebbi State,
last Wednesday, said it spent N9 million in the construction of drains, preparatory to the rainy season and to prevent flooding.
The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Abubakar Kuka, who disclosed this in an interview Kalgo, Kebbi said the drains would allow free flow of water to prevent flood and to avoid a recurrence of last year’s flood in the area.
He said, four rural primary health centres were established to enhance healthcare delivery to the people the council had bought drugs worth N8.5 million to be distributed free to the health facilities in the council.
He commended Gov. Saidu Dakingari for executing developmental projects in the area, which included hospitals and new schools and promised that the council would continue to ensure the provision of amenities to the people as dividends of democracy.
Kogi
Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and So
cial Development, Mrs Patience Mameh, has called for the eradication of traditional practices that aid the transmission of HIV/AIDS among women and children.
Mameh, who made the call last Thursday in Mopa, at a workshop to create awareness on the HIV/AIDS pandemic said that the workshop was imperative as it would help curb the erroneous beliefs and traditions held by the people that aggravate the spread of HIV/AIDS.
She said that HIV/AIDS had assumed endemic status partly due to traditional and cultural beliefs and practices which, according to her, must be de-emphasised if not totally eradicated.gi
Lagos
Director, Shelter Watch Initiative (SWI), a non-
governmental organisation, Mr Segun Olutade has said that it would empower 3,000 youths with practical skills and vocations.
Olutade told newsmen in Lagos last Thursday that 1,000 artisans that were trained in 2013 by SWI were ready to impart some of the skills to the youths.
He said that the NGO would organise programmes to help work on the attitudes of the already trained artisans, to get them ready to pass on their knowledge.
“The primary objective of the initiative is to reshape the Nigerian society through dedicated projects and programmes targeted towards capacity building among the Nigerian workforce,’’ Olutade said.
Niger
A Minna Chief Magistrates Court last Wednesday sen
tenced two men to nine months imprisonment each for selling fuel in jerry cans.
The men Sanusi Ibrahim and Mohammed Yunusa, all of Tsauni village in Gurara Local Government Area of the state, aged 33 and 30 respectively, were jailed without option of fine.
The Prosecutor, Mr Saidu Ibrahim, a Civil Corps Assistant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) had told the court that the convicts were arrested in Tsauni village.
The convicts pleaded guilty before the court while the prosecutor prayed the court for summary trial.
The Magistrate, Alhaji Hamidu Bima, sentenced them to nine months jail term each without option of fine.
Ondo
Ondo
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has in
augurated the N2.13 billion First Bank- Alapata-Ugbe-Iboropa-Ise Road in Akoko North East Local Government area of the state.
Speaking at the occasion, the governor promised that his administration would complete all the road projects awarded before the end of his tenure.
The 23-kilometre road, which would serve communities in the council area, was awarded in 2010 while the contractor moved to site in March 2011.
According to Mimiko, 49 road projects with a total length of 731 kilometres had been completed and put to use since the inception of his administration adding that 36 new projects covering 244.20 kilometres were currently ongoing in the three senatorial districts in the state.
Plateau
The nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of
Research Institutions (ASURI) has paralysed activities at National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, near Jos.
The national body of ASURI recently embarked on a nationwide indefinite strike to compel the Federal Government to implement the agreement it had signed with the union.
NVRI Branch Chairman of ASURI, Dr Isaac Ogo, said in Jos that the industrial action was total and that no member of the union would work.
Ogo said that the union wanted immediate release of conditions and schemes of service by the government, which was negotiated with relevant ministries and agencies for nine years.
Sokoto
An All Progressives Congress’ (APC) Chieftain in
Sokoto State, Alhaji Muktari Mapia, has urged politicians to demonstrate high sense of decorum to ensure peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections.
Mapia said in Sokoto last Wednesday that: “members of the political class must mobilise their followers on the need for maturity in order to ensure peaceful conduct of political activities.’’
He said that politicians, especially those seeking elective positions, must sensitise their followers to desist from political violence and intolerance.
Mapia also called on the security agencies to provide a platform that would enable the politicians to conduct their activities in a peaceful atmosphere state that the provision of a level-playing ground by security agencies would go a long way to ensure peaceful conduct of political activities.
Taraba
The Taraba State Police Command on Wednesday said
it had arrested four suspects in connection with alleged possession of firearms and ammunition.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Joseph Kwaji who disclosed this in an interview in Jalingo said the suspects were initially arrested by a vigilant group at Karofi area of Jalingo and were handed over to the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).
Kwaji said that one Ak 47 with 45 rounds of live ammunition, one Pump Action Gun with 26 round of cartridges and nine rounds of K2 live ammunition were recovered from the suspects.
The PPRO commended the vigilant group for complementing the efforts of the police in the state and urged members of the public to always provide useful information to the security organisations for effective crime prevention.
Nation
Party Chieftain Hails LG Boss’ Dev Strides
Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwuche has extolled the sterling leadership being provided by the Chairman of the council, Hon Iyeko Okporo, describing it as unprecedented.
Hon Chukwuemeka described the council chairman as God-sent, considering his achievements in just 100 days in office.
The PDP chieftain said the chairman has rekindled the hope and trust of the people in grassroots governance.
He expressed gratitude to the Governor for enabling his people to have his replica at Akinima.
He explained that the solar water project, the Late Eze Ekpeye Logbo 11 palace fencing, generator house rebuilding and town hall, all in Odiereke Ubie Community can best be described as the hallmark of true leadership.
He said the projects have direct bearing on the basic needs of the people who have suffered untold hardship and bad governance until the saviour came into office.
“ It is thunderous, as you can see the organic support and show of love to the performing chairman. Our people are overwhelmed seeing one of their own touching lives in a special way. As a community ,we have been in the past years without drinking water, but just two months in office, the chairman has provided not just drinking water, but a well-treated solar water project. Okporo is God-sent, no wonder he is nicknamed such. We have compared notes with other chairmen in the past and came to the conclusion that what he is doing in 100 days is overwhelming. Governor Fubara has made us proud by allowing a level playing field that necessitated the emergency of the chairman. You can see the women, men, youths and traditional rulers all saying one thing. God bless Governor Fubara for giving us our own. We owe him prayers and unwavering support,” he said.
In her welcome address, the Ward 9 councillor, Hon Catherine Uriah showered encomiums on the chairman for addressing the basic needs of the people in just 100 days in office.
Hon Uriah also thanked the Governor for allowing the will of the people to prevail in the just concluded local government elections which produced the God fearing chairman.
She said the people of Ward 9 as well as Ahoada West are pleased with the chairman because he is doing well.
She said the people will go to length to show support to him in his determination to redefine governance at the grassroots.
Nation
Group Plans Pilot Farm Programme For 50 Schools
A community-based non-governmental organisation, The Peoples Encouragers Initiative, is planning a pilot farm project for 50 schools in both Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Executive Director of the organisation, Chukwuma Abraham disclosed this at the recent International Human Rights Day celebration at Ahoada, headquarters of Ahoada East Local Government Area.
Abraham said the proposed programme which gulps the sum of N45million was intended to bring the youths back to the land and make them self-reliant.
“We hope to mobilise the factors of production inherent in all the schools through this programme to achieve two basic objectives of building self reliant youths and to create a viable and sustainable stream of income for our schools,” he said.
He said the programmme will also keep the youth busy and impact farming skills, stressing that each of the participating schools is expected to nominate at least two members of staff to coordinate and supervise the programme while10 students will be elected as executive members to administer the programmme on a day to day basis in their various schools.
“Every school has a sizeable portion of arable land to carry out the programme of establishing a functional farm in their chosen area of interest. We are hoping to mobilise an estimated N45 million to enable us set up the pilot farms across the 50 schools within Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas,” he said.
He said the celebration was to draw attention of both the Nigerian government and the international community to the issue of human rights violation, adding that findings by the organisation has shown that insecurity and youth unemployment worsened over the past few years as a result of the insecurity that engulfed the Orashi region of the State. We also found out that the high level of cultism and social unrest within our environment is mostly fuelled by the high use of illicit drugs among the youths. This programme will afford us the opportunity to take a tour through the universal declaration of human rights and reinforce on our youths the understanding that substance abuse can lead to crime, crime can lead to jail term and criminal record can blight their future dreams and life for ever,”he said.
Also speaking, the representative of the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Ikporo Freedom urged the students to shun all forms of anti-social behaviours especially during the holiday season.
He also warned them against joining bad groups and stressed the need for the organisation to include private schools in the programme.
The Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Council, Hon Ezu R .C . Hezekiah represented by his Deputy, Hon Ununuma Odoi pledged the support of the council to the programme.
He also urged other groups in the area to emulate The Peoples Encouragers Initiative by organizing programms that will impact on the lives of the people.
John Bibor
Nation
NCSU Flays Police Take Over Of Rivers PDP Secretariat
The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has condemned the take over of the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Rivers State by the police, saying the action is against the tenets and principles of the rule of law.
This is even as the union has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to call to order the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike for allegedly orchestrating and instigating the crisis rocking the PDP in the State.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who made the condemnation in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the police have no right to take over the PDP secretariat, as a ploy to provide cover and protection for members of the state executive of the party loyal to Wike, who were recently sacked by a court of competent jurisdiction in the State.
According to him, the action of the police is in clear defiance of a court ruling sacking the party executives at all levels in the State, instead of taking steps to enforce same.
He regretted that the police have consistently been showing that they are not appreciative of the logistic support Governor SiminalayiFubara has been extending to them, by openly demonstrating their bias, loyalty and allegiance to Wike and his supporters, contrary to their rules of engagement, which uphold and recognise absolute neutrality.
He said the Minister is wasting his time if he thinks that he could destroy the State by orchestrating and instigating needless crisis that is capable of making the State ungovernable, and appealed to President Tinubu to call him and his supporters to order.
Commenting on the fate of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in the State, who defected from the ruling PDP to the All Progressives Congress(APC), Osumah said their fate is apparently sealed, as the Supreme Court had already given judgment in a similar case, saying, Wike is merely wasting his time by using the lawmakers against Governor Fubara, and causing unnecessary problem in the State.
He said if the Minister and his supporters do not retrace their steps and give peace a chance, the NCSU would have no choice than to mobilise all civil servants in the State, to troop out to the streets and protest against them.
The labour leader stressed the need for the police to vacate the PDP secretariat along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, and respect the High Court ruling which declared the congresses of the party in the State null and void.
While reiterating the need for President Tinubu to call Wike to order, Osumah said the President cannot continue to fold his arms and watch the Minister continuously make frantic efforts to destroy his State.
He also carpeted those blaming Governor Fubara administration for the recent gruesome murder of a Chief Security Officer(CSO) and his son in Igwuruta Ali community, saying those making such insinuations and attributing the sad incident to security lapses on the part of the state government, are missing the point.
He noted that by empowering the police in the State with several operational vehicles and other logistics, it was expected that the police would reciprocate the gesture, by living up to their constitutional obligation of protecting lives and property in the State, contending that Governor Fubara has been playing his part of guaranteeing security in the State.
He said the State is generally peaceful and safe, and challenged those criticising the Governor to cast their minds and attention to what is happening in other parts of the country, where killings and other social vices have become the order of the day.
Osumah cited as an example the recent killings in Ebonyi State by Fulani herdsmen as well as incidences of kidnapping and banditry in several other States of the federation, and wondered if Governor Fubara could be held responsible for such anomalies.
-
Politics2 days ago
LG Autonomy: NBA To Host Talks On S’Court Verdict Implementation
-
Education2 days ago
Council Boss Charges Corps Members To Promote Peace
-
Sports2 days ago
LASG Tasks Officials, Athletes On Maintenance Of Upgraded Sports Facilities
-
Oil & Energy2 days ago
Benue To Pioneer Gas Production From Coal – NGEP
-
Rivers2 days ago
Crisis Looms In Emohua Over Land Grabbing Allegation On Awuse
-
News2 days ago
Gunmen kidnap Youth Council President
-
News2 days ago
Ogoniland Varsity’ll Heal Historic Wound, Says TDF
-
Politics2 days ago
APC Chieftain Hails Tinubu For Sacking Suspended INEC RECs