Sokoto

The Minister of State for Information, Alhaji Ikra Bilbis has commissioned 100 computers and ICT facilities undertaken by USPF in Sokoto.

Bilbis disclosed that no fewer than 73 tertiary institutions and 500 schools across the country have benefited from the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) school access project while another set of 400 are ongoing.

Bilibis who spoke at the commissioning of 100 computers and ICT facilities at Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto said the programme was in line with 7-point agenda of the federal government aimed at providing concrete development to citizens.

He further explained that apart from this project, it has also embarked on similar projects in Usman Danfodio University Sokoto and 10 secondary schools across the state, adding that more secondary schools and two tertiary institutions would also benefit before the end of the year.

Borno

Borno state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Youth Vangaurd (NAYV) has kicked against the swearing in of Party chairmen and their executives in the state, as directed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

Members of the NAYV are not only kicking against the swearing-in of the local council party executives, they condemned the action in its entirety, saying it is null and void and against the rule of law and the constitution of the party.

Protesting the swearing-in at a press conference at the PDP headquarters Monday in Maiduguri, NAYV state co-ordinator, Ali Alhaji Modu, said the youths and women in Borno would not allow an individual politician in Abuja to rob them of their mandate in order to fulfill the political selfish interests of some politicians.

He disclosed that the planned swearing-in of the council party executive is a plot to connive with some unpatriotic politicians to disunite the PDP in the state and cause disaffection among the members.

Warning against the swearing-in, Mdou said: “As members of NAYV in Borno state are against the swearing-in of council party executives, the disunity being created by the directives of the national secretariat to swear in a parallel party executive at the local council level will give chances for the opposition parties to win the 2011 general election.”

Lagos

The Redeemed and Restored ministries int’l (more than conqueror arena), 80 Oloto Ring road, Otto, Ijanikin Lagos is set to hold its annual Shekinah song of praise/love feast beginning on Thursday 26th November at the church auditorium.

The events tagged; “The glory of his presence,” the 2009 edition of the feast which is schedule to hold from 26th to 29th November, promises God’s presence.

The church minister, Pastor Mrs. Nonye Egbujo, said the highlight of the event include: Shekinah Night of songs, Evangelism, revival, exchange of gifts and thanksgiving service among others.

Kwara

Towards making the fight against corruption in Nigeria more effective, the Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practice and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Justice Ammanuel Ayoola, has canvassed a minimum of 15-years jail term without an option of fine for any public office caught in the act.

Besides Ayoola, while proposing the speedy inculcation of the penalty in the nation’s criminal code with the severity it deserved, added that illegally acquired assets from such crime be confiscated into the state’s coffer.

The ICPC boss made the call in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital at this year’s edition of the National Conference of anti-corruption committees in Nigeria legislatures and head of anti-corruption units in government establishment organized by the commission.

Adamawa

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has opposed the application brought before the Federal High court, Maitama, Abuja, by former governor of Adamawa State, Mr Boni Haruna.

He is facing a 28-court amended charges, which border on money laundering and stealing of public Funda totaling N161 million.

According to a release signed by the commission’s spokesman, Mr Femi Babafemi, Boni Haruna is speaking the leave of the course to travel to the United States of America for medical treatment.

But counsel to EFCC, Paul Erokoro (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the application as it lacked merit.

According to the prosecution counsel, the accused person has failed woefully in providing substantial evidence before the court on why he should be granted his travel document.

Kano

British High Commissioner to Nigeria Mr, Bob Dewan has said that British government is supporting the current reform in the baking sector initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), saying the problems revealed in the nations banking sector can be addressed squarely.

Dewan, while speaking as guest speaker on British and Nigeria working transparently at the centre for democratic studies in Kano noted that the reforms will cultivate better supervision, regulations and transparency. He said Nigeria is blessed with resources particularly oil, gas and agriculture which according to him, pave way for more revenue which can be invested to develop other sectors, noting that a clean baking sector is therefore necessary.

The High Commissioner said each citizen in each country deserves public money for their benefits in terms of services such as education health, and infrastructure, stressing that as such transparency and healthy banking environment are necessary, Dewan said the precise priorities of such spending are decided through dialogue.

Ekiti

The Ekiti State government has explained that the on-going renovation of the theatre and maternity centre at the University of Ado-Ekiti Teaching Hospital accounted for the stoppage of emergency services at the hospital.

The State government’s explanation followed criticisms by the Action Congress (AC) that the Governor Segun Oni administration had failed to deliver on his electoral promises.

Chief press secretary to the governor, Wale Ojo Lanre, said that the state government embarked on the renovation of the theatre and maternity centre to improve on the facilities.

He stressed that it was untrue that medical personnel in the hospital were on strike over alleged deplorable facilities.

Ojo-Lanre said the renovation would be completed by tomorrow and normal medical services would resume immediately at the theatre, as the state government’s motive in carrying out the works was to provide functional facilities at the hospital.

The hospital had been rejecting patients, including pregnant women due for delivery, over its alleged deplorable facilities.

Katsina

An International based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Pan African Development on Education and Advocacy Programme (PADAP), has decried the rising rate of poverty, gender in-equality maternal and infant mortality in the country; calling on stakeholders to rise up to their challenges.

Programme Director of PADAP, Dr. Tominke Olaniyan, whose organization is spear heading an awareness campaign towards proper and timely execution of MDG programmes in the worth west states of Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states made the call in Katsina.

Olaniyan said the task before the organisation is to deal with eradication of poverty, gender inequality, maternal and infant mortality, desertification and desert encroachment that endanger farms and people of North-West zone in relation to income generation.

She maintained that until governmental all levels recognize and do something about monies being diverted from MDGS and capital being wasted on elephant projects, much cannot be achieved in combating Maternal and infant morality, gender inequality, and the like.

She averred that inequality is not peculiar to Africa alone, but that when left unchecked, could lead to conflicts, continued injustice, and other hydra-headed problems, hence the need for stakeholders to rise up to the task of fighting poverty and injustices in their domain.

Ogun

The House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters has paid an inspection visit to Abeokuta where the Deputy Committee chairman Abubakar Abubakar, disclosed that the N100 million project would be completed in a few weeks time.

Kayode Amusan, a member of the committee, who spoke with journalists after the inspection, stated that the two projects are part of government’s effort to ensure free and fair elections.

Petitioners have been complaining that electoral materials were being tampered with. So these projects are part of the measure by the government to ensure free and fair elections in the state, he said.

Admusan said that when completed the I.C.T strategic data storage project would serve as storage centre for all electoral records so that nobody can tamper with them.

Abubakar corroborated Amusan’s statement by explaining that all sensitive electoral materials be kept there for security reason. He expressed displeasure about the quality of work on the N100 million project and urged the contractor, Bonny Rose Investment to effect a change. The 14 member committee had earlier paid a courtesy call on Ogun State Governor.

Abuja

The Nigerian Army has described Lt. Col. S.S Jock’s suit against president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and minister of Defence challenging his trial by court marital by the Nigerian Army as a calculated attempt to rubbish the Army.

A statement signed by director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade said the only response the Army has for Jock is that they will meet in court.

“In relation to the law suit in the various court, the legal department of the ministry of Defence is handling the matter on behalf at the defendants. So we are ready to meet Lt. Col. Jock in court. Thus, our advice to Lt. Col. Jock and only response for his petitions and publications in meet us in court!!!”, the statement said.

Olukolade said Jock’s suit was an attempt to harass and intimidate the Nigerian Army and the judiciary to accede to his requests which have no merit in law.

He also said available record show that Jock was never fine by court marital and  that he had been lawfully retired from the Nigerian Army in accordance with the extant terms and conditions of service (TACOS) applicable to the Nigerian Army.

“first, there is no record anywhere that Lt. col. Jock was tired by court martial. Additionally, our records show that Lt Col. Jock has been lawfully retired from the Nigerian Army in accordance with the extant Terms and Conditions of Service.

Kebbi

Federal Government is to wade into the incessant clashes between farmers and cattle rearers in the North Western of the country by creating another international stock route in the zone.

Kebbi state officer of the federal ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Mahmud Balarabe, who disclosed this at a sensitization meeting in Binnin Kebbi, said government had discovered that farmers in the North-West are encroaching on the present international stock route.

According to Balarabe, the survey and demarcation which will be carried out under the National Livestock Project Division  (NLPD), will run in the zone from the borders of Niger Republic and Sokoto State through Kebbi and Niger States down to Cudan Majajiya reserve in Kwara state. He said the NLPD, management has proposed a one-day workshop with all stakeholders in the state which include local governments, mujetti Allah cattle breeders, All Farmers Association at Nigeria (AFAN), traditional rulers, security agents and the state land and survey department.

Balarabe said in Kebbi state, the route will pass through zuru, Danko-Wazagu, Fakai and Sakaba local government areas.

According to him, “there is the need for another international stock route in the North West because farmers are encroaching on the present route. This international route will also prevent frequent clashes between farmers and cattle rearers and at the same time reduce loss at lives.”