Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Dry season famers in Adamawa State have predicted poor harvest in the state following the hike in the price of petrol.
President Goodluck Jonathan has announced a new fuel pump price of N97 as against the deregulated price of N141.
The announcement of the deregulation of the petoleum downstream sector triggered a six-day strike by the organised labour and the civil society groups, to protest the policy.
The state chairman of the Dry Season Farmers Association, Alhaji Adamu Dan Wazam,told newsmen in Yola that the high cost of fuel was threatening dry season farming.
Dan Wazam, who is also the chairman of vegetable dealers in the state, said that some farmers were no longer paying adequate attention to their farms due to their inability to fuel their water pumps to irrigate their farms.
“Many vegetables, fruit, rice and maize farms have been affected and about 90 per cent of our dry season farmers who depend on small petrol water pumps to irrigate their farms, were also affected.
“Report reaching us from our members across the state is that some of the farmers are losing interest in the business.”
Bauchi
A North-East based political pressure group, Democrats for Good Governance (DFGG), has unanimously endorsed former Bauchi State Governor Adamu Mu’azu for the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This is contained in a communiqué signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the group, Yusha’u Bala and Chief A D Musa respectively on Monday in Bauchi.
The NGO urged Nigerians to begin to look at the past and positive track records of performance of their leaders to enable them select a credible leader.
The group commended the first Prime Minister of Nigeria, late Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and host of others from the North-East, for their contribution to the development of the country.
It urged members of the party and the North East region to give Mu’azu, who it described as “the only aptly qualified person to hold the post of PDP National Chairman,” another chance.
Benue
The Benue Police Command has paraded 39 suspected armed robbers, car thieves and cultists accused of terrorising innocent people in the state.
Parading the suspects in Makurdi, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Ibrahim, said the suspected criminals were arrested at different locations within the state in the last one month.
Ibrahim, who commended the police for making the arrests, assured Benue citizens that no stone would be left unturned in their resolve to rid the state of criminals.
He said that three of the suspected robbers, who allegedly attacked and robbed a catholic priest of the sum of N340,000 at Katsina Ala on December 26, 2011, were arrested.
The deputy commissioner said that the police were committed to flushing out all armed gangs from the state.
Ibrahim, therefore, called on the people to support the police in tracking down criminals by volunteering information that would lead to their arrests.
Ekiti
Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has defended his decision to appoint indigenes of the state from abroad into his cabinet, saying it was aimed at facilitating the transformation agenda of his administration.
“I will continue to search for Ekiti people wherever they may be to help in the transformation agenda of the administration.”
Speaking while administering the oath of office on two Special Advisers, Messrs Olufemi Tolani (Public Private Partnership), and Dare Tolulope (Legal Matters) on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti, Fayemi advised critics of his administration to stop describing such appointees from abroad as foreigners.
He said every community in the state had “excellent and great people” in top positions across the globe in the private sectors, who would be brought to the state “to foster robust governance and deliver dividends of democracy to the people”.
FCT
The Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) has appealed to the National Assembly to ensure that the Nigeria Police is provided with all its logistic requirements.
PCRC Chairman, Gwagwalada Abuja Branch, Prof . Chikwendu Williams, made the appeal on Monday in Abuja in an intreview with newsmen.
He said that Police Area Command, Gwagwalada, lacked patrol vans, noting that the cammand could not respond to emergencies.
Williams said that vehicles currently in use by the command, needed to be serviced, while their tyres required replacement.
He said that the police needed to be properly equipped, especially during this period of great security challenge in the country.
Williams appealed to individuals and corporate organisations to assist solve the mobility problems of the police.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State House of Assembly has began the assessment of the performance of the 2011 budget, the House Committee Chairman on Information, Yakubu Yusuf has said.
Yusuf told newsmen in Kaduna on Wednesday that the legislators would not pass the 2012 budget proposal if they were not satisfied with the performance of last year’s budget.
He explained that the budget assessment was a constitutional requirement for the legislature before considering the current budget estimates.
According to him, all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and projects will be visited to enable members to have first hand knowledge of their performance in 2011.
Kogi
A non-governmental organisation, the National Youth Leaders’ Forum of Nigeria, has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the step he took in reviewing the petrol pump price from N141 to N97.
The forum’s president, Mr Ben Oduntoye who gave the commendation in Lokoja on Monday, said it was quite courageous of Jonathan to have fixed the price at N97 after due consultations.
He therefore appealed to Nigerians to embrace peace by accepting the federal government’s position in the best interest of the masses.
“We have to do this, because there were neither winners nor losers in the negotiation,’’ Oduntoye said.
Lagos
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said that it had arrested a 32-year-old man with 7.1 kg of liquid cocaine at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.
In a statment by its spokesman, Mr Mitchel Ofoyeju, NDLEA said that the drug was intercepted during the screening of passengers that arrived on an Emirate flight from Brazil, en route Dubai on Monday.
Niger
Niger government, on Wednesday assured victims of the recent violence which erupted in Minna over the removal of fuel subsidy, that it would offer adequate compensation to them.
Chairman of the 13-man committee set up by the government to investigate the matter, Alhaji Yahayah Dansallau, gave the asurance in Minna after visiting some of the victims.
“We have seen government and private properties that were destroyed, including individuals who sustained injuries.
“The responsibility of our committee is to assess what has happened and make recommendations to the state government, and our assessment is on-going.
“After our recommendations the government will take a decision on how to come in and compensate the victims, including the public institutions affected’’, he said.
Ogun
Sellers of sachet water in Abeokuta are recording a boom due to the scarcity of water in the Ogun capital, our correspondent reports.
Our correspondent, who monitored the development on Monday, reports that most residents have resorted to the use of sachet water to cook, bath and for other domestic chores.
The situation has increased the demand for sachet water and consquently the price.
Some residents, who spoke to newsmen, attributed the development to the inability of staff of Ogun Water Board to function, due to the sit-at-home strike declared by the NLC.
Mrs Adeola Adeyemi, a trader, said, “I now buy pure water at N10 per sachet instead of N5.
Ondo
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has in Akure released N58 million to 52 farmers executing projects under the Fadama III programme.
The farmers were drawn from the various Fadama Community Associations in the 17 local government areas of the state.
The cheques were presented to the beneficiaries in Akure by Mr Ademola Olorunfemi, the Commissioner for Agriculture, who represented the governor.
Mimiko said that the government had so far released N224 million for the scheme, noting that 97 Fadama Community
Associations and Fadama Users Group, had earlier received N166.5 million from the state government.
Sokoto
The Sokoto Zonal office of the Department of Petroleum Resources ( DPR), has closed down 11 filling stations in Sokoto metropolis for selling petrol above the approved price of N 97 per litre.
The Controller, Alhaji Umaru Moriki, told newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday that, two of the filling stations were owned by major marketers while the nine others belong to independent marketers.
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