Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Hawkers of various commodities, including food and hard currency are now making brisk business at the Yola International Airport due to ongoing airlift of pilgrims.
An intending pilgrim, Mr Usman Ibrahim, told our correspondent on Thursday in Yola, that the pilgrims were happy about the activities of the hawkers.
Ibrahim said that the hawkers of assorted goods were able to meet the needs of the pilgrims, as well as the needs of their friends and relations that came to see them off.
“However, one has to be vigilant, as some hawkers can give someone fake currency and that is why you need a guide, who can distinguish between fake and genuine currency,” Fatima added.
Bauchi
Senator Iliya Audu, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Bauchi State, on Wednesday, urged journalists to expose underage persons wanting to register as voters during the voter registration.
Audu made the call at the opening of a two-day sensitisation workshop for journalists, organised by Bauchi State Television Corporation in Bauchi.
The REC, who appealed to the media to be positive in reporting election issues, called on all stakeholders to assist in ensuring credible elections in 2011.
Borno
The Police in Maiduguri on Wednesday, confirmed the killing of a Police Inspector by hoodlums suspected to be Boko Haram Sect members.
“We witnessed another ugly incident yesterday, when a police inspector, Mr Kashim Bukar, was shot dead by hoodlums suspected to be members of the Boko Haram sect”.
“Bukar, an officer with the CID was trailed by the killers to his house at the Jajeri Ward, Maiduguri, shortly after closing from work before he was shot on the head severally,” Mr Lawal Abdullahi, Police Public Relations Officer, said.
Abdullahi said that the officer was in mufti when he was shot by the killers in front of his house.
Ekiti
The U.S. Consul-General in Nigeria, Mr Joseph Stafford, has promised to collaborate with the Ekiti State Government to provide development projects for the people.
Stafford told newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, at the end of his tour of Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states, that the assistance would span through political and economic sphere.
“The consulate, in conjunction with the American Embassy, is ready to provide assistance to Ekiti State in the areas of political and economic developments through the U.S. intervention agencies,” he said.
FCT
The FCT Chief Judge, Justice Lawal Gummi, on Wednesday, inaugurated the FCT Family Court to entertain both civil and criminal matters involving children.
Gummi said the court, which is located in Apo District of Abuja, was a specialised court dealing with all matters relating to the enforcement of the rights of the child.
In addition, he said, the court would deal with other matters relating to a child, including monetary claims of N50,000 and above.
According to Gumi, the court will deal with the divorce and custody of the child and entertain appeals from the Family Court at the Magistrate’s Court level.
Jigawa
The Jigawa Government has set aside N624 million for the electrification of 28 towns and villages in the state.
The Commissioner for Rural Infrastructure and Community Development, Alhaji Abdulkadir Jinjiri, said in Dutse on Thursday, that contract for the electrification of the town had been awarded.
Jinjiri told newsmen that 17 contractors would be involved in the execution of the projects, adding that the projects were captured in the 2010 budget.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government is to procure drugs and consumables worth N530 million for the treatment of pregnant women and children under five years.
The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Saidu Adamu, made the announcement while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State’s Executive Council Meeting on Wednesday in Kaduna.
Adamu said that over N400 million would be spent to purchase injectables and consumables for women and children.
Katsina
Alhaji Muntari Dandutse, the Chairman of Funtua Local Government Council of Katsina State, has emphasised the need for politicians to work for the interest of the people.
Dandutse made the call in Funtua at the swearing-in of Alhaji Haruna Suleiman, the new Supervisory Councillor in charge of Water and Sanitation Department of the council.
He enjoined public office holders to work for the people, saying that the people should in turn pray for their leaders and shun negative comments.
Dandutse also urged the people to register and obtain their voters’ cards, saying that they needed them to vote in the right candidates during elections.
Kogi
The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasir Ajanah, has condemned the practice of giving judgement to the highest bidder by the lower courts
“I discovered that some of our judges, particularly at the lower courts, were giving judgment to the highest bidder.’’
He said this at a special court session to mark the beginning of the 2010/2011 Legal Year in Lokoja, on Wednesday.
The chief judge said 33,750 of the cases recorded from the 208 courts across the state were disposed of, leaving 17,125.
He said 2,337 cases were registered at the state High Courts, out of which 1,867 were disposed of, with 470 outstanding.
Lagos
President, Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), Mr Bode Adediji, wants the Federal Government to set up a body that would oversee land matters.
Adediji told newsmen on Thursday, in Lagos, that the body was necessary in view of the National Assembly’s delay in the review of Land Use Act 1978.
According to him, several bills on housing had been sent to the National Assembly and none had received attention in the last 12 years.
Nasarawa
The Guards Brigade of the Nigeria Army in Keffi on Wednesday, began a three-day field training with other security agencies tagged“exercise sting ray“.
The exercise, which started at the Shittu Alao Barracks, Keffi, was a routine training to test the responsiveness of the brigade to civil strife.
Our correspondent also reports that the exercise was in collaboration with the Nigerian Police and other para-military agencies like the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigerian Immigration Service and the State Security Services (SSS).
Ogun
The Ogun State Government has approved free distribution of 830,000 cocoa seedlings to cocoa farmers in the state.
Chief Moyo Owotomo, Director, Extension Services, Ogun Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP), made the announcement on Thursday in Ijebu-Ode in an interview with newsmen.
He said the distribution of the seedlings was part of government’s effort to assist cocoa farmers to boost cocoa production in the state.
Owotomo urged farmers who had yet to receive the seedlings to contact the state ministry of agriculture for collection.
Sokoto
Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State has advised intending Muslim pilgrims to pray for peace and stability of the country during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
Wamakko gave the advice in Sokoto, on Wednesday, at Sir Abubakar International Airport while addressing those from Shagari and Kebbe local government areas before their departure.
The governor emphasised that the nation was in need of prayers for God’s intervention in all the activities going on in the country.
“You should embark on special prayers for God’s guidance, so that the desire of Nigerians to conduct a credible election will be a reality.
Taraba
The National Association of Fulani Fulaku, has urged nomads in Taraba State to come out en-masse to register in the forthcoming voter registration exercise.
The Representative of the association, Ahmed Liman, gave the advice on Wednesday in Iware Town in Taraba while addressing thousands of Fulanis.
The Fulanis converged on the town for the sensitisation exercise on the oncoming voters’ register.
He said that failure of the nomads to obtain voters’ registration cards would prevent them from voting for positive change in the 2011 general elections.
Liman urged nomads who attended 18 years and above to go and exercise their civic responsibility, stressing that any eligible voter who refused to vote had relinquished his rights.
Yobe
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3rd Armoured Division, Maj.-Gen. Sunday Idoko, says the military is ready to deal decisively with any threat to the nation’s internal security.
He gave the assurance on Wednesday in Damaturu when he paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe.
Idoko said the military was ever ready to deal with the challenges posed by the rising cases of banditry, kidnapping and other civil unrests, promising that the army would maintain a high sense of professionalism in the discharge of its duties.
Responding, Gaidam said that the combined efforts of the army, police and vigilante groups “have changed the status of Yobe from a state reputed for high incidence of highway banditry to one that is most peaceful and secured in the federation”.
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