Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Nigeria’s High Commissioner in South Africa Buba Marwa says aside the people’s yearnings, his credentials as a former Governor prompted his aspiration to govern Adamawa come 2011.
The retired Brig-General and one time military administrator in Borno and Lagos states is seeking the office of governor on the PDP ticket for next year’s general election.
Marwa told newsmen in Yola that he was a tested and trusted person with track record.
“I have been tested. People believe that Marwa has done it before and he will do it again in all aspects of governance at the state level,” Marwa said.
He said that in spite of his posting to South Africa, he was in constant touch with the people, contrary to beliefs in some quarters that he had been cut off from the people.
Marwa said he was fully in touch with home and could feel the yearnings and frustration of the people of Adamawa who asked him to come and run for governorship.
The aspirant promised free education and healthcare services to the people if elected governor in 2011.
Bauchi
The National Assembly has vowed to ensure the completion of all road projects executed up to 80 per cent, the House of Representatives Committee on works has said.
Rep Sani Abdullahi, the team leader of the committee, said this in an interview with newsmen at Headquarters of Shira Local Government Council of Bauchi State.
Abdullahi spoke after the inspection of the Yana-Shira-Azare 35 km road rehabilitation project.
He said that the National Assembly would vire funds from road projects whose execution were still in their early stages to attend to those about to be completed.
According to him, the measure is aimed at saving cost, time, as well as ensuring quality and legality of the various contracts.
Abdullahi observed that road construction was capital intensive and spanned beyond the country’s annual budget of four to five years.
“If you are building a contract of say N15 billion and you are financing it based on the annual budget which each ministry is tied to an envelop; you are only appropriating between N1.2 million or N1.5 million”, he said.
FCT
Mr Labaran Maku, the Minister of Information and Communications, has said that Nigerians abroad constitute a precious national resource.
The minister said this on Saturday in Abuja at a cocktail party organised by the New Nigeria Initiative (NNI) in Diaspora for Development.
Maku conceded that a major problem confronting Africa and Nigeria was that of good governance.
He said that there was a need to repair the structures of governance in the country.
He, however, said that Nigerians living abroad could never be comfortable anywhere in the world until they were able to participate in rebuilding the country.
“A nation is propelled by the values its leadership professes and not by its resources,’’ he said.
Maku described Nigerians living overseas as the country’s emissaries, urging them to return home and participate in nation-building activities.
Kaduna
The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) says it disbursed more than N3 billion loan to facilitate mega agricultural projects within the last nine years.
In a brief on its activities made available to newsmen in Kaduna last Friday, the bank said the loan was distributed to 16 mega projects in 14 states.
The benefitting projects, the brief stated, included poultry feeds, vegetable oil processing, arable crops production, tea production, agro processing, natural rubber production, cassava production and processing and flour mill.
The bank said it had also disbursed more than N2 billion loan to facilitate micro-arable and pineapple production in 12 states of the federation within the period under review.
“BOA had collaborated with reputable agencies, NGOs, governments and international agencies to make the loan available to 75,073 beneficiaries,’’ the brief stated.
Kano
Bayero University, Kano (BUK) will soon begin a Masters Degree programme in Public Relations, Malam Sule Yau has said.
Yau, the chairman of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Kano State chapter, said in a lecture in Kano yesterday, that BUK would run the programme in conjunction with the Institute.
He said that the decision to introduce the programme was informed by the commitment of the institute and BUK to enhance the practice of public relations in the country.
“We hope that by the next academic session, the Mass Communication Department of the Bayero University, Kano, will in conjunction with our Institute, start Masters Degree programme in public relations,” he said.
He disclosed that the Mass Communication department had already dedicated a classroom, which he said the Institute would furnish for the successful take-off of the programme.
The chairman further stated that the Institute and the department had worked out a curriculum for the course.
Katsina
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) says it has trained and empowered 50 physically challenged persons in Katsina State in various skills under its ‘jobs-stimulus package in 2010.
The NDE coordinator in the state, Mr Yakubu Mani, who disclosed this at the graduation ceremony of the trainees on Saturday in Katsina, said that 25 youths and 10 vulnerable women were also trained and empowered on ICT and assorted trades.
Mani said that the trainees were part of the 4,790 jobs stimulus package launched by the directorate this year.
He said that apart from the training, the trainees would also collect resettlement items as loans, to enable them to start their respective business.
According to him, the physically challenged persons and women were trained in shoe, bag and pomade and bead making, while the 25 youths received training in ICT.
Lagos
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Akande, announced on Saturday that government had purchased 112 new Toyota Corolla cars for distribution to magistrates.
She made the announcement at a special end of year meeting with the magistrates.
“I can confirm that each and every one of you will soon have a brand new Toyota Corolla as your official car,” she said.
Akande said the magistracy occupied a prime position in the judiciary, and urged them to reciprocate the gesture by being loyal and committed in the discharge of their duties.
“There is need for you all as members of the Lower Bench to exhibit and maintain a high sense of discipline and responsibility in line with the ethics of our noble profession,” she added.
Nasarawa
The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has embarked on the construction of three new sub-stations in Lafia, Nasarawa State, to boost power supply in the state.
The PHCN Business Manager Lafia, Malam Abdulganiyu Isa, disclosed this at the fourth quarter customer consultative meeting in Lafia on Saturday.
Isa also said that power supply to Nasarawa State would soon rise from 10-15 megawatts to 20 megawatts at the completion of a new 450 MVA direct line.
The line, he added, was being injected into the Katampe transmission station in Abuja which has its supply source asKainji.
Isa told the meeting that of the three new sub-stations, two injection sub-stations: 33/11KV at Shendam road and Mararaba-Akunza in Lafia were almost 90 per cent completed, adding that they would soon be in operation.
He said that approval was being awaited for the construction of a transmission sub-station in Akurba a suburb of Lafia, to tap from a 330 KVA transmission line from Jos to Makurdi.
Plateau
The police in Plateau State are set to arrest the CPC governorship aspirant in Bauchi State, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, following an order by a Jos Federal High Court.
The Court, on Wednesday, ordered the arrest of the aspirant for allegedly refusing to appear before it after several summons and adjournments.
Adamu is the owner of Solid Unit Nig. Ltd, a mining company, sued for trespass by another company, Geotess Nig. Ltd.
Justice Bilkisu Aliyu, who ordered the arrest, expressed shock that the accused had not bothered to appear before the court at the adjourned sitting on December 15.
“I hereby direct that he should be arrested on sight, detained and brought to court on January 11, 2011, the adjoined date for the hearing of the case,’’ he declared.
The court, however, took steps to implement the order by taking the arrest warrant to the Plateau Police Commissioner, Abdulraman Akano.
Zamfara
Alhaji Abdulkakdir Tsafe, a PDP aspirant for House of Representatives in Gusau/Tsafe Federal Constituency, has said that PDP will emerge stronger after its primary elections.
Tsafe told newsmen in Gusau that the current crisis over zoning and its “unprecedented number of contestants” were manifestations of popularity of the party.
“I am optimistic that such differences bordering on individual interests would be amicably resolved at the party level and the party will come out of its primaries stronger to face the 2011 elections,“ he said.
The aspirant said the corporate interest of the party to win the 2011 elections was more important than individual’s interest, as such, members should unite to ensure the success of the party.
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