Nation
THE STATES
The family of Mr Kayode Ogunlusi in Ayegunle-Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Monday lost their children after taking a cassava meal prepared by the family.
Our correspondent reports that five other members of the family, who also ate the cassava meal, are now on admission at the emergency unit of the University of Ado-Ekiti Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti.
Ogunlusi, the father of the deceased children, who only regained consciousness after receiving medical attention, said the family ate the cassava meal on Sunday night as dinner.
He explained that few hours after taking the meal, two of the children started vomiting, while one became unconscious.
The father, who disclosed that the food was prepared by his wife,
Abosede, said members of the family were later taken to a private hospital in the town for initial treatment by their neighbours.
FCT
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) on Tuesday called on the federal government to address unemployment as a means of checking insecurity in the country.
Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator, HURIWA, told newsmen in Abuja that unemployment was the major cause of crime in the country.
He demanded for the establishment of a data collection unit at the Ministry of Labour and Productivity to ensure that accurate record of unemployed youths were kept.
Onwubiko added that paying unemployed youths some stipend would contribute to the fight against crime.
He urged the federal government to implement people’s friendly policies that would create the enabling environment for school leavers and graduates to be gainfully employed.
Kano
Alhaji Ibrahim Yakasai, the Kano State Commissioner for Commerce, Tourism and Industries, has advised the Council of Chambers of Commerce to collectively develop the industrial sector to achieve vision 20:20-20.
The commissioner gave the advice on Monday at the opening of the third meeting of the Nigerian Council of Chambers of Commerce in Kano.
Yakasai said Kano State as a pace setter in all aspects of human endeavour, had repositioned it’s economy in spite of the economic meltdown.
He added that a clear testimony was the prevailing peace and tranquillity in the state, adding that it was the driving force for peaceful co-existence and the development of commerce and industries.
Kwara
The Kwara Government said it had so far spent N2.5 billion on the installation of 725 transformers in various communities between 2003 and date.
The Commissioner for Energy, Alhaji Zakari Mohammed, said this in Ilorin recently while answering questions from newsmen on the activities of his ministry.
The commissioner said the purchase and installations of transformers by the state government was the highest any government had done for its communities in the country.
Mohammed said that the second phase of the government rural electrification project would commence in the next two weeks with the distribution of transformers to 105 rural communities.
Lagos
Prof. Osita Eze, the Director-General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) has advocated for capacity development of Foreign Service Officers (FSO) to enable them actualise the country’s foreign policy.
In an interview with newsmen in Lagos, Eze contended that the expertise of the officers was required to reposition Nigeria on the world scene.
“Nigerian government needs to adequately empower, train and retrain FSO to enable them discharge their assignments creditably and promote the country’s foreign policy,’’ he said.
The Director-General said that Nigeria, being the “anchor’’ of the African continent, should strive to create an environment that would enhance her leadership position.
Ogun
Absence of regular medical check-ups and stress have been identified as major causes of the upsurge in premature deaths in Nigeria.
Dr Samuel Adeloye, an Ijebu Ode-based medical practitioner made the observation on Tuesday at a symposium, organised by an NGO, “Save Lives First”.
Adeloye, who noted that most Nigerians were in the habit of working beyond their capacity without regular check-ups, said the situation had led to the untimely death of many.
He explained that the economic situation in the country had forced many to engage in desperate searches for extra income at the expense of their health conditions, describing it as “an unfortunate situation”.
Osun
The Osun Coordinator of NAPEP, Mrs Funmi Akinyemi, said on Monday that a new programme tagged Village Economic Solution had been introduced to create jobs.
Akinyemi who announced this in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo, said the programme was designed by NAPEP to assist the less-privileged.
According to her, under the programme, interested youths are expected to form a cooperative societies, to enable them to benefit from the stimulus package.
She said the federal government had provided funds for disbursement to some identified well-organised and serious minded youths as a revolving loan scheme.
Akinyemi said the scheme was different from other conventional government programmes because it was rural people-friendly and targeted at assisting young villagers with skills.
Oyo
The Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture wants 20 per cent allocation to each local government council to be used for agricultural development.
To this end, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Kunle Ishola, told journalists in Ibadan that the ministry had proposed an amendment to the bill on local government matters in this regard.
Ishola said the bill, if passed into law, would make it an offence for any council to divert money meant for agriculture to any other area.
He complained that the fees charged at the federal government’s grain silos located in the Monatan area of Ibadan were too high just as the prices of grains sold there.
Plateau
The Plateau Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikechukwu Aduba has embarked on a familiarisation tour of police formations in Jos, following the gradual return of peace in the city.
A statement signed by the Plateau Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asp. Mohammed Lerama, said that during the tour, the commissioner would meet and address officers and men of the force.
It noted that the commissioner would also meet with members of vigilance groups and the Police Community Public Relations Committee (PCRC) in the state.
The statement said that Aduba would pay a courtesy visit to important personalities in the police formations, local government chairmen and traditional rulers.
The command appealed to the public to remain calm, maintain peace and to continue to consolidate on the peaceful atmosphere so far achieved in the state.
Yobe
The National Directorate of Employment in Yobe has trained 150 widows, orphans and vulnerable persons on various vocations for self-employment.
The Coordinator, Alhaji Adamu Ba’ aba made the disclosure on Monday in Damaturu during an interview with the newsmen.
He said, the directorate had trained 30 people in rural agricultural development, 50 in sewing, 10 in waste management, 50 in ICT and 10 in interior decorations.
“The graduates in agricultural development have been given loans totalling N2.9 m for livestock farming in cattle, goat, sheep rearing and fish farming,’’ he said.
Adamu noted that, the widows trained in weaving, sewing, shoe and beads making had been given working tools worth N1.9m for the take off of their business ventures.
An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre is set to be established in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The initiative is being championed by the Omoku People’s Forum, a global association of Omoku elites, under the leadership of its President-General, Dr. George Ada Ubah.
As part of efforts to ensure the successful execution of the project, a prominent son of Omoku, Chief (Barr.) Dennis Masi, has been appointed by the Forum as the Chairman of the ICT Centre Project Committee, entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating and driving the initiative to fruition. Upon completion, the ICT Centre is expected to serve as a major hub for the training and empowerment of youths in digital and technological skills, equipping them to actively participate in the increasingly technology-driven global environment.
The project is also widely regarded as a significant step towards positioning Omoku as an emerging ICT hub within Rivers State, fostering innovation, digital literacy, and economic development in the region.
Concerned Rivers Chiefs For Peace And Development has said it formation was not politically motivated or has any links to political parties or candidates.
The group which said this at a media briefing at Abuloma in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area said it’s formation has nothing to do with politics.
According to the text for the briefing jointly signed by Chief Boma Kele Oyika it’s chairman and Chief Inemo T Ikama Deputy Secretary General said the organization is expected to focus on conflict Resolution, community engagement, collaboration with government and private sector actors
‘it mandate also includes promoting peace building initiative, supporting local economic empowerment programms and strengthening traditional institutions in our state and beyond as partners in governance ”
It said the body is led by a team of respected traditional leaders serving as trustees
“Their collective leadership reflects a blend of experience cultural authority and grassroots connection
“Key elements considered vital for addressing long standing,socio economic and security challenges in the region”
The release further says ” the formation of this organization comes at a time when communities in Rivers state continue to navigate between issues ranging from youth unemployment, environmental concerns and intermittent conflicts amongst the traditional rulers and beyond
“By bringing together influential traditional figures under a unified platform, the group aims at serving as stabilizing force while advocating for inclusive development policies ” it said
It also described its emergence as a new chapter in grass roots leadership and regional development
Earlier, chairman of the body, Chief Boma Kele Oyika said the organization will work with relevant authorities to promote peaceful coexistence in the state, reduce crime and promote economic development.
He said it is open to all Chiefs from the 23 local government areas.
The Chairman of The Nigeria Delta Chamber of Commerce, Trade, Mines and Agriculture NDCCTMA,Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) Dr Samuel Ogbuku have challenged Niger Delta entrepreneurs to close the gap in Gross Demostic Products (GDP) differences between the region and that of the South Western part of the country by coming home to invest.
The two leaders spoke at a business round table organized by NDDCTMA in Port Harcourt
Chairman of NDDCTMA Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, said to close the gap between the south west region which he said has a GDP seize of about #59 trillion and that of the Niger Delta which is about #34 trillion was to massively invest in the region.
He said no other persons can do this except sons and daughters from the region.
“For me I believe in statistics,I believe in data and everyday I looked at the data concerning development in Nigeria and from the GDP point of view, the South West has #59 trillion, that is the seize of the south west region economy, the second region following them is the Niger Delta region with GDP seize of #34 trillion,so there is a yearning gap of #25 trillion that separates the south west and the Niger Delta region, that is why we are here”
Ogan said the region has the capacity to close the gap and even surpassed it but regretted that indigenes of the region have chosen to ignore it in terms of investment.
“We need to close that gap .If we close that gap and even surpassed it,all the negative problems of militancy and unemployment will automatically erase “he said
Ogan said the event was organized to remind the people that past efforts of militancy and agitations have not led the region to any where
“That is why we are gathered here in this room “he said.
Also speaking Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission( NDDC) Dr Samuel Ogbuku urged indigenes of the region not to use the problem of insecurity as an excuse to continue to deny the region of investment as every part of the country have in one time or the other experienced crisis.
Ogbuku said most indigenes have displayed high level of unpatriotism towards the region by taking investments that would have benefited the people to either Lagos or Abuja.
“With little threat we have left the city,we have gone to Lagos,we have moved our families to Abuja and Lagos
“If you go round GRA all the property, you will see,”to let to let”most of them are now empty “he said.
The NDDC MD said despite the fact that people from the region are doing well in the oil and gas, banking and other sectors, its impact are not being felt at home because they are stationed outside the region.
He said time has come for potential investors from the region to have a change of heart by coming home to invest.
John Bibor