Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BARUWASSA) says it has spent over N480 million in providing 300 water and sanitation facilities in the state in the last four years.
The Programme Manager of the agency, Malam Garba Magaji, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi last Monday.
According to him, the projects, funded by UNICEF, have been provided in 50 primary schools each in Dass, Kirfi, Darazo, Giade, Zaki and Dambam Local Government Areas of the state.
He explained that the projects involved the provision of 50 water and sanitation facilities in each of the six benefiting local governments.
Ekiti
Farmers in Ekiti State have appealed to the Federal Government to ban the importation of rice as part of efforts to boost local production of the commodity.
The farmers, under the aegis of the Association of Small-Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSPIN), made the appeal on Monday in Ado-Ekiti at the inauguration of the state chapter of the group.
Mr Mabinuori Adeleke, National Vice-President of the association, insisted that placing a ban on rice importation would encourage local rice farmers to boost production.
He said that rice farmers in the state were contemplating sponsoring a bill at the National Assembly to outlaw the importation of rice.
FCT
The FCT Fadama office has so far disbursed N94.2 million to community farming associations in the territory, for assets acquisition, input support and capacity building.
Mr Usman Adangara, the Information Officer, FCT Fadama III Project, disclosed this on Monday in Gwagwalada in an interview with newsmen.
He said the office had also registered 732 Fadama User Groups (FUG) and 61 Fadama Community Associations (FCA) in the territory.
According to him, 41 out of the 61 FCA have developed their Local Development Plans(LDPs), adding that 22 of the plans had been approved by the Local Fadama Committees (LFCs), headed by the area council chairmen.
Gombe
The Radiation Medicine Complex at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gombe, was commissioned last Monday, with the Medical Director, Dr Aliyu Elnafaty, describing it as the most equipped and first of its kind in the country.
Elnafaty said on the occasion that the complex offered the latest technology in radiation and had been inspected by the regulatory authority and certified to meet the FMC’s compliance level.
He said the facility was long overdue, considering the prevalence of cancer-related afflictions in the North-East zone of the country.
“Before, patients with cancer had to travel to the National Hospital in Abuja or the Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital in Zaria for such services.
Kaduna
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday appealed to prospective pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to be worthy ambassadors of the country.
Its Deputy Director in Kaduna, Mr Dennis Nwosu, told newsmen that the agency was undertaking an inspection at the airports to stop pilgrims from leaving the country with uncertified products.
He said only prescribed drugs for those on medication were allowed, and reminded the pilgrims that food and grains were prohibited.
“People can use this opportunity to smuggle illicit drugs which, when discovered, may tarnish the image of our country,” he said.
Kwara
A 38-year-old man, Tunde Isah, was last Monday arraigned in Ilorin for allegedly stealing a generator set worth N18,000.
The accused, of No 7, Ode Ajada, Agbaji area of Ilorin, was docked before an Ilorin Magistrate’s Court presided over by Mr Abdullahi Bello.
Isah pleaded not guilty to the one count charge of theft.
The magistrate granted him bail in the sum of N10,000 with two sureties in like sum.
According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), a complainant, Kehinde Ibrahim, of Olorunsogo, Gaa- Akanbi, Ilorin, reported the case to the police on October 17.
The report alleged that the accused came to the complainant’s shop to steal the generator worth N18,000.
Lagos
A motor spare parts importer, Osaretin Ehiogie, was yesterday arraigned in Lagos for allegedly defrauding a foreign-based Nigerian of automobile parts valued N6.2 million.
Ehiogie, 50, is standing trial before Chief Magistrate, Mrs Oyindamola Ogala of the Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The prosecutor, Insp. Eshiet Eshiet, told the court that Ehiogie had a business deal with one Roland Lawrence, based abroad, to supply him (accused) motor parts for sale in Nigeria.
Eshiet said the accused collected the vehicle parts at the Apapa ports and sold them, but refused to remit the proceeds to the complainant.
The accused pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The case was adjourned till November 15 for further hearing.
Nasarawa
The Federal Government has been called upon to provide orphans and vulnerable children with free education from the primary to secondary school levels.
The Secretary, Association of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (AOVC), Nasarawa Chapter, Mr Ibrahim Samaila, made the call in Lafia on Monday.
He said the state governments should make a special financial commitment to enhance the activities of the association.
Presenting a paper entitled “Overview of Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in Nigeria” at a workshop, Samaila said that OVC constituted 31 per cent of the children population in Nigeria.
He said if nothing was done to curtail the situation, the number may double by the end of this year as projected by the UNICEF.
Samaila commended Gov. Akwe Doma for ensuring that such children were given hope and support in the society.
Osun
The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo last Monday remanded two persons, Kasim Adegbite, 24, and Dele Johnson, 35, for allegedly dealing in Indian hemp.
Adegbite and Johnson were arraigned for unlawfully dealing in 330g and 6.8kg of cannabis sativa, popularly known as Indian hemp respectively.
Plateau
The Dutch government is “very concerned” about the peace and security situation in Nigeria, the Royal Netherlands Embassy said yesterday.
Mr Bert Ronhaar, the Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria, made the remark during a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Sunny Tyoden.
“The Dutch government has a policy of promoting peace and security across the globe and we are particularly interested in peace in Africa and our major concern is Nigeria.
“That is why we spend tax payers’ money to fund peace and security projects in Nigeria by facilitating the functions of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Management and Peace Building in the University of Jos,” he said.
Sokoto
Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, the Sokoto State Governor, has urged the Federal Government to revive the nation’s agricultural sector.
Wamakko made the appeal in Sokoto last Monday when he kicked off the distribution of a N1 billion agricultural loan scheme, under the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme, the CBN-CACS of the Federal Government.
“The Federal Government has the wherewithal to revive the sector. This is being done in other parts of the world.
Yobe
Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe said last Monday that his administration would collaborate with religious groups to combat the escalating incidences of cholera in the state.
Speaking at the launch of a N20 million education appealed fund in Damaturu, Gaidam said the role of religious leaders was significant and necessary in creating awareness on hygiene.
He said the outbreak of cholera in the state was caused by peoples’ ignorance about cleanliness and non-compliance with environmental laws.
Earlier, the leader of Islamic group that organised the launch, Sheik Haruna Gashua, said it was organised to expand mosques and provide opportunities to educate the people.
He appealed to Muslims to assist the government in ensuring peace and stability in the state.
Zamfara
A suspected cholera outbreak in Government Girls Secondary School (GGASS), Gusau, has killed at least two students of the school.
The infected students were kept in an isolated area within the premises where they received treatments from medical personnel from the state ministry of health.
Gov. Mahmud Shinkafi paid a sympathy visit to the school last Monday.
Addressing the staff and students, Shinkafi wished the patients quick recovery and prayed to God to avert future occurrence.
He also prayed for the repose of the souls of the dead.
The Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Niger Delta, Dr Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, has called on Nigerians, especially those in positions of authority to uphold moral standard and integrity.
Oko-Jaja said this at a thanksgiving service to mark the 90th birthday of Prof. Sylvanus Cookey at Saint Paul Anglican Church in Opobo Town, Rivers yesterday.
The Tide’s source reports that Cookey was the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in 1982.
Oko-Jaja advised political leaders to always be self-aware and avoid actions that could damage their reputation.
“In today’s Nigeria, hardship has changed how the people behave, as lies have become more popular than the truth.
“We now live in a country where injustice is now celebrated and lowering moral and social standard have become the new normal.
“Leaders must follow the exemplary legacies set by our forebears by becoming upright and live a life that would not bring shame to their family and community,” he said.
He attributed the country’s current economic challenges and declining living standards to leaders failing to prioritise the well-being of citizens.
“The younger generation should emulate the virtues of our predecessors like Prof. Cookey, who prioritised integrity over material gain.
“Good reputation was the norm back then, and I hope that God will restore it to Nigeria, where leaders’ goal will be to have good names.
“If anyone wants to commit evil, they should remember that their actions can bring a bad name to their family and community,” he cautioned.
Addressing the celebrant, the King of Opobo Kingdom, HRM Dandason Jaja, praised Cookey for his impact on society and described him as a mentor and philanthropist.
He said that the celebrant was a distinguished academic, who had impacted numerous youths through vocational training, leading to their successful employment in different sectors.
Speaking earlier, Cookey expressed gratitude to God for attaining 90 years and acknowledged the support of his family and friends.
Reflecting on his contributions to the country, he encouraged leaders to leave behind positive legacies for future generations to celebrate.
Nineteen months after federal lawmakers movement to temporary chambers, the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives would finally resume sittings in their newly remodelled main hallowed chambers tomorrow
Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi Jnr, and the Clerk to the Senate, Barrister Chinedu Akubueze confirmed the planned movement to the main chambers in separate written announcements made penultimate week on the change in resumption date by lawmakers from their ongoing recess.
Hon. Rotimi, who is the chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, in the official announcement dated April 4, 2024 to the honourable members, cited the need to resume plenary at the renovated and reconfigured main chamber, as reason for the postponement in line with the general wish of the lawmakers.
“The House of Representatives wishes to inform the public and stakeholders of the rescheduling of the resumption date from the ongoing recess, originally slated for Tuesday, April 16, 2024, to Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
“This adjustment is necessary to accommodate the completion of renovations to the main chamber of the House of Representatives to ensure its readiness for plenary sessions, henceforth,” he stated.
Two days after, the Clerk to the Senate also issued a statement, postponing resumption of plenary by the Senate from April 16 to 23, 2024.
Akubueze ‘s statement reads in part: “Distinguished Senators are hereby invited to note that the resumption of the plenary sitting of the Senate, which was scheduled for Tuesday, 16th April, 2024, has been postponed to Tuesday 23rd April, 2024”
It would be recalled that ahead of the projects delivery, the Site Engineer of Visible Construction, Tajudeen Olanipekun, had early last month informed journalists covering the Senate, that the two main chambers, would be ready for use by both the Senate and the House of Representatives in April this year.
Olanipekun’s assurance on delivery of the fully transformed and reconfigured hallowed chambers to management of the National Assembly, coincided with call by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to the Clerk to the National Assembly, CNA, Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal that both the Senate and the House of Representatives, want to move to their main chambers as soon as possible after close to two years of using temporary ones.
In carrying out the subtle marching order, the construction firm in the last five weeks has carried out the required finishings on
the upgraded and reconfigured hallowed chambers fixed with state-of-the-art chairs, parliamentary equipments, appliances and extended sitting terraces.
Physically, the entire ambience of the space in and around the hallowed chambers have been transformed, just as barricades used to restrict movements at the foyer have been removed.
The Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, had in March 2021 awarded a N30billion renovation contract to Visible Construction Limited to rehabilitate critical segments of the National Assembly complex.
The law makers had in September 2022 vacated the main chambers to enable the Contractors; handle the renovation work of both chambers
Some of the critical segments are the office buildings housing the office accommodation for the senators and honourable members, watertightness of the roof of the complex, the cooling system, replacement of lifts that are inoperable in the White House as well as in the House of Representatives and in the new Senate Wing among others.
By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
The Zone 13 of the Nige- rian Police Force, comprising Anambra and Enugu States, has announced the venue and time for both General Duty and Specialist Constable recruitment medical screening in the two States.
This is contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Ihunwo, yesterday in Enugu.
Ihunwo said that prospective candidates from Zone 13 should note that the exercise would take place at Police Hospital, Awka.
She said that the medical screening would commence simultaneously nationwide on Tuesday, April 16, and end on April 30, 2024.
“Candidates are advised to visit the recruitment portal: https://apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng to know their status, specific time, date and other mandatory requirements.
“So also, qualified applicants are to appear in clean white T-shirt and short with the following requirements;
“National Identity Card/Slip; Print Out of Medical Examination Slip and all necessary documents.
“The Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 13 Command, AIG Godwin Aghaulor, wishes all prospective candidates success as they embark on this exercise,” he said.
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