Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

July 1, 2011

Adamawa

The Adamawa government has requested for the permission of the state House of Assembly to source for about 24 million dollars loan from Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

Gov. Murtala Nyako, in a letter to the House in Yola on Wednesday, said he wanted 24.1 million dollars from IDB to finance the construction of three new science secondary schools.

Nyako said the schools would be sited in the three senatorial zones of the state.

“One will be in Madagali town to carter for 360 male students. The one in Southern Zone, also for 360 male students, is to be located in Mayo-Belwa while the one for Central Zone is to be located in Song for 600 female students.’’

Ekiti

The NDLEA Commander in Ekiti, Mr Bamidele Akingbade, says about 424 acres of land planted with Indian hemp has been destroyed in the state within the last one year.

Akingbade said this on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti at a lecture to commemorate the 2011 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The event was organised by the Psychiatry Department of the University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti.

The NDLEA boss listed Ise-Orun, Ilejemeje, Ido-Osi, Ado-Ekiti and Ikere as local government areas notorious for the cultivation of Indian hemp in the state.

He described Ekiti as one of leading states in the cultivation of Indian hemp, saying the notorious trade had become highly profitable.

FCT

Mr Stephen Frahm, Consular Chief of the U.S Embassy on Wednesday in Abuja advised Nigerians wishing to travel to that country to apply for visas at least a year ahead of time.

He said this at the embassy’s monthly briefing which had consular operations as the focus.

Frahm said the number of applicants outnumber those that can be accommodated daily, noting that this contributes to delays.

“ In Nigeria, there are a greater number of applicants than we have the ability to process. The number of people that can be processed in a given day is finite and that’s why it takes a long time in many instances to get an appointment.

Gombe

Twelve farmers were killed and nine others critically injured when thunder struck in Gelengu village in Balanga Local Government of Gombe State during a heavy downpour.

Malam Umar Ahmed, the Nigeria Red Cross Disaster Coordinator in charge of Gelengu, near Gombe, said.

Our correspondent on Wednesday in Gombe report that the incident occurred on Tuesday at around 1 p.m.

Ahmed said that the victims were on their farms when the rain started.

He said that the rains started with a storm, the victims scampered for shelter when the thunder struck.

Kaduna

As part of its efforts to protect its forest and prevent desert encroachment, the Kaduna State Government plans to plant one million tree seedlings this year.

Mr Anthony Kachiro, the Director of Forestry, state Ministry of Environment, said this on Wednesday in Kaduna in an interview with the newsmen.

He said the tree seedlings would be distributed to the 23 local government areas of the state after the launch of this year’s Tree Planting Campaign.

The campaign, he said, would be launched on Thursday in Kajuru Local Government Area.

Lagos

Mrs Amina AZ-Zubair, a former Senior Special Assistant to the President on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), says MDGs represent essential steps in tackling climate change challenges.

Az-Zubair said this in Lagos on Wednesday at the 6th Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB)/ Dr Newton Jibunoh Lecture on “Sustainable Buildings as Tool for Driving Investment”.

She was represented by Mr Oluwole Edun, a Director in the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGS.

Nasarawa

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says no fewer than 11 persons were rescued when an uncompleted three-storey building collapsed on Wednesday in Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

NEMA Public Relations Officer, Malam Yushau Shuaib , told newsmen that rescue operation was continuing to determine the actual number of casualties in the incident.

He said NEMA had been holding series of meetings on to move the victims and residents around the site to a safe environment.

Officials of the NSCDC, NEMA, FRSC, civil society groups as well as members of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) were said to be involved in the rescue operation.

Ogun

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun on Wednesday vowed to take back all the assets allegedly sold or given out on concession by the immediate past administration of Chief Gbenga Daniel.

Besides, he indicated his readiness to revoke all the state lands allegedly sold to some individuals and corporate organisations by the Daniel administration.

Amosun gave this indication while speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Abeokuta to mark one month of his administration.

Ondo

The Ondo State House of Assembly has urged the State Executive Council to take proactive measures to

prevent flooding in the area.

The speaker, Mr Samuel Adesina, made the call in Akure while commenting on the Elegbin River flooding of some areas of the state capital due to a heavy rainfall last week.

The Majority Leader, Mr Dayo Akinnsoyinu, also called on the state government to take some preventive measures to avoid natural disasters such as flooding.

Oyo

The Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON) has appealed to Gov Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State to employ more Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) to rejuvenate sanitary inspection in the state.

Mr Joseph Ayoola, the council’s representative in the state made the appeal while speaking with the newsmen on Wednesday in Ibadan.

Sokoto

Alhaji Muktari Mapia, Deputy Treasurer PDP, Sokoto State, has appealed to members of the National Assembly (NASS), to introduce legislation that will reduce poverty in the country.

Mapia told newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday that poverty and unemployment posed a serious threat to the nation.

He said time had come for the National Assembly to encourage governments to provide modern farming input to farmers at controlled prices.

Mapia explained that such equipment would enable youths to engage in farming, thereby creating job opportunities.

Taraba

Taraba House of Assembly has approved the nomination of Mr. Augustine Katakata as a commissioner and member of the State’s Executive Council.

The Tide reports that Katakata, who hails from Yorro Local Government Area, could not be screened together with his 12 colleagues due to poor health.

The Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Charles Maijankai, moved a motion that the commissioner should be allowed to take a bow and leave the chamber without answering questions, being a former member of the Assembly.

Zamfara

The Zamfara State House of Assembly has promised to tackle the high rate of maternal mortality in the state through increased funding of the primary healthcare system.

Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, the Speaker of the assembly, made the promise on Wednesday when officials of the Development

Research and Projects Centre (DPRC) visited him.

He expressed the state government’s concern over the increasing rate of maternal mortality in spite of efforts being made to control it.

The speaker said the legislature would ensure that funds allocated to the health sector were judiciously used.

He also said the assembly would ensure that funds were sufficient for quick intervention in the health needs of women and children, particularly for primary healthcare services.

Nation

Anglican Bishop Urges Politicians To Lead With Integrity

Published

2 weeks 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

2 weeks 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

2 weeks 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.