Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

May 23, 2011

Bauchi

The Bauchi State Government has approved N30 million as counterpart fund to boost water supply and sanitation in the state.

Alhaji Yusuf Yerima, the Permanent Secretary, state Ministry for Water Resources, disclosed this in Bauchi at a one-day workshop organised by Sustainable Water and Environmental Sanitation (SWANSA), a donor Agency,

The workshop was organised in collaboration with the Management of Zaranda Hotel, Bauchi.

Yerima said that the fund was approved for SWANSA to improve water supply and environmental sanitation in both urban and rural centres of the state.

Borno

No fewer than 15 members of Borno chapter of the National Association of Patent Medicine Dealers have been killed in their shops by unidentified gunmen at different locations in Maiduguri in the past two months.

The President of the Borno chapter, Alhaji Abubakar Villah, made this known in Maiduguri in an interview with newsmen .

He said the association was seriously concerned by the killings, noting that its members were not known to be trouble makers, but had lived in peace in their communities and contributed to the development of the state.

FCT

A PDP chieftain, Sen. Mohammed Ohiare, in Abuja called for the rotation of the governorship position among the ethnic groups in Kogi.

Ohiare, who made the call while addressing news men, said rotating the governorship position would give a sense of belonging to all stakeholders in the state.

“I strongly advocate that power should be rotated among the Igalas, Okuns and the Ebiras as well as the minority tribes to showcase their leadership talents,’’ Ohiare said.

He said since the creation of the state in 1992, “both the Okuns and the Ebiras have not tested the executive seat.’’

Jos

Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau has appointed Prof. Shedrach Best as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

A statement by Mr James Mannok, Director of Press Affairs, in Jos said the appointment was with immediate effect.

Until his appointment, Best was Special Adviser to the Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Management.

He was a former Director, Centre for Conflict Management and Peace Studies, University of Jos.

The ANPP Gubernatorial candidate, Malam Salihu Takai, has petitioned against the election of Dr Rabi’u Kwankwaso of PDP in the April general elections.

The petition, No. KN/EPT/ Gov/03/11, filed at the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, urged the panel to set aside the election of Kwankwaso as governor- elect.

The petitioner also prayed that he, Takai, be declared the winner of the election or in the alternative, a fresh election be conducted in 23 local government areas, where there were suspected irregularities.

Kogi

The ongoing upgrading of the Ajaokuta Transmission Station in Kogi, from 30 MVA to 60 MVA, has reached 95 per cent completion.

Mr Abednego Akabuko, the Lokoja Business District Manager of the PHCN, made the disclosure on Wednesday.

Akabuko told newsmen that the project which was started last year to improve the quality of power supply to the state would be completed within the next couple of months.

Lagos

The Federal High Court in Lagos upheld the fundamental human rights case filed by the former Managing Director of Intercontinental Bank Plc, Erastus Akingbola, against the EFCC.

The EFCC had through its counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu, filed the stay of proceeding to enable the commission to appeal an order of the court made on May 6.

The court had directed EFCC to immediately release Akingbola and one of his aides, Bayo Dada, from its custody.

Justice Charles Archibong had also ordered the EFCC to stay off all actions against Akingbola pending the determination of the suit before it.

Nasarawa

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Ministry of Defence Chapter, laid the foundation for a housing estate for its members.

Speaking at the ceremony, the chapter’s coordinator, Mrs Omolola Okunnu, said the funding for the estate would be sourced from the Federal Housing Loans Board.

She said the association had been working on the land for the estate since July 2010.

Osun

The police in Osun have arrested five robbery suspects and recovered four stolen vehicles.

Mr Olusegun Solomon, Commissioner of Police in the state, told newsmen in Osogbo that the suspects were arrested in connection with theft of cars.

“At Testing Ground in Osogbo at about 7 p.m., a man was reportedly attacked on his way from Oyen village when his BMW car marked GY 605 GNN had a flat tyre,’’ he said.

He said as the victim was trying to fix the flat tyre, some hoodlums emerged from the bush and ordered him and his wife to surrender their belongings.

Ondo

The Ondo State Commissioner for Environment, Chief Omolebi Adepiti, has enjoined landlords in the state to provide toilet facilities in their houses to avoid arrest and prosecution.

The directive is contained in a statement, issued by the Press Officer, Ministry of Environment, Mr Tony Adetoye, in Akure.

The statement said a landlord had been arraigned for failure to provide toilet facilities in his house, while 18 others were given 30 days to comply or be prosecuted.

Adepiti said the state government had put in place various facilities and measures for proper disposal of waste and would not allow anybody to cause an outbreak of epidemic or deface the environment.

Oyo

The Association of Cocoyam Processors and Exporters in Oyo State has decried the apparent neglect of the crop.

The Chairman of the association, Chief Amusat Olamuyegun, made the assertion while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan.

According to Olamuyegun, cocoyam is not being given the desired attention as is the case with other root and tuber crops.

He said that unknown to a lot of Nigerians, cocoyam is one of the most nutritious tuber crops in the country and worldwide.

Olamuyegun said that if governments at all levels could develop cocoyam processing, it would also be a veritable source of employment to the unemployed youths in the country.

Sokoto

Senator-elect, Alhaji Ibrahim Gobir (PDP-Sokoto East), has called on Nigerians to always be security conscious by reporting suspected characters to the nearest security outfits.

“Security matters should not be left in the hands of security officers alone, hence the need for active participation of all and sundry becomes a task that must be accomplished,” he said.

Gobir told newsmen in Sokoto that Nigerians also needed to pray for God’s guidance to enable the elected leaders succeed.

He said seeking God’s intervention in the task of ensuring good governance would ensure rapid development.

“When you involve God in your daily affairs, certainly success will be on your way,” he said.

Nation

Anglican Bishop Urges Politicians To Lead With Integrity

Published

5 days ago

April 15, 2024

The Tide

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.

Nation

Senators, Reps To Resume Plenary In Remodelled Main Chambers

Published

5 days ago

April 15, 2024

The Tide

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

Nation

Police Commence Recruitment Process In Anambra, Enugu

Published

5 days ago

April 15, 2024

The Tide

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.