Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
INEC National Commissioner in-charge of Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba States, Dr Nuru Yakubu, said INEC would build on the experience gained from the Adamawa governorship poll in conducting future elections.
Answering questions from newsmen in Yola recently, the Commissioner said the Adamawa exercise was one of the best conducted polls in the country.
He said that based on the assessment of his colleagues and people of the state, the election was not only free and fair, but also very peaceful.
“Based on assessment that we undertook in the company of other National Commissioners, reports were the same all over the state that the conduct of the election was peaceful.
“INEC deployed four National Commissioners as well as many resident commissioners from neighboring states to monitor the election.
“I can say that based on my experience, this is one of the freest elections ever conducted and I think the result reflected the wish of the people.’’
Benue
Benue State House of Assembly has directed the Logo Local Government to commence negotiations with the banks being owed to enable them to cancel the debts.
The House gave the advice last Thursday during a plenary session in Makurdi.
The decision arose from deliberations on the volume one of the report of its Committee on Public Accounts on the activities of Local Government Areas.
Speaker of the House, David Iorhemba, further urged the council to abide by the guidelines provided by the Financial Memorandum in preparing financial records.
Iorhemba also called on Logo council to complete all abandoned projects before embarking on new ones.
He charged the council to have budgetary estimates in its yearly financial transactions to enhance performance.
FCT
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Bwari chapter, has stressed the need for adequate enlightenment on the introduction of the Growth Enhancement Programme (GEP) by the Federal Government.
The acting Chairman of the association, Alhaji Isa Labba, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Bwari.
Labba said that the call became necessary as the Federal Government was no longer involved in direct procurement and sale of fertiliser to farmers.
According to him, in view of this development, farmers are in a dilemma on how to access inputs for the 2012 farming season.
He urged the Federal Government institute a standard structure to replace the former fertiliser procurement arrangement.
Our correspondent recalls that the Federal Government had announced that the procurement and distribution of fertiliser had been handed over to interested private individuals.
Gombe
The Gombe State House of Assembly has confirmed the reappointment of Alhaji Abdulmajid Adamu as member of the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC).
The confirmation followed a letter sent to the House by Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo.
In the letter, Dankwambo said the reappointment of the member was based on the powers conferred on him by section 198 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He said the nominee was eligible for the reappointment having served for five years in the first appointment.
Moving the motion, the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Mamman Alkali, urged his colleagues to confirm the nominee based on his wealth of experience.
Alhaji Buba Mohammed Bajoga, representing Funakaye South Constituency, seconded the motion and was unanimously approved.
Kaduna
Japanese government has provided 2.53 million US dollars for the take-off of the “Access to Justice for the Poor Project“ in Kaduna state.
The Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Ryuichi Shoji, made this known in Kaduna on Thursday at the launch of the three -year project, to be managed by the World Bank.
According to him, the project is aimed at providing the less privileged access to free legal services in line with the Millennium Development Goals.
He noted that the project would also assist those deprived of fair hearing in matters affecting them by using the services of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.
He commended the federal government for the adoption of the Legal Aids Act 2011, saying that it would strengthen the legal framework relating to access to justice by the poor.
Katsina
The Police in Funtua, Katsina State, have killed one suspected armed robber and apprehended another after a shoot out in the early hours of Thursday.
The suspects, who were on a motorcycle, had engaged a police patrol team in a shoot out after failing to stop when flagged down along Katsina road in the town.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Muhammad Abubakar, confirmed the incident, saying his men were on the trail of the third suspect who fled.
“The three suspects were on a motorcycle and when police stopped them, they refused to stop, consequently the police pursued the suspects who engaged the law officers in gun battle.”
Kebbi
The Kebbi Primary School Teachers Pension Board has so far verified 1,293 retired teachers during its annual headcount.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Hajiya Halima Dikko,told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday that the execise was geared towards eliminating wastage of public funds.
According to her, ascertaining the actual number of pensioners as well as determining their monthly entitlements will go a long way in checking dubious practices.
“The number of retirees increases periodically but the monthly subvention to the board has not been increasing; the pensioners need to be patient.
Kogi
The Kogi Central Media Practitioners Association (KOCEMPA) has urged the Acting governor of the state, Alhaji Abdulahi Bello, to use his short tenure to ensure peace and growth by uniting the various ethnic groups in the state.
The President of the association, Alhaji Abduikareem Abdulmalik, gave the advice in a statement issue in Lokoja on Sunday.
The statement urged the action governor not to be bothered by the mild drama that preceded his inauguration, saying that it was one of the dynamics of politics.
Lagos
The Cargo Defence Fund (CDF) says it is handling more than 27 cases of unpaid proceeds of Nigerian exports.
The Secretary of the fund, Ms Azuka Ogo, said in a statement on Thursday in Lagos that the non-payments were due to breach of trust by the foreign buyers.
CDF, a project of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, is to assist importers and exporters in the pursuit of claims and legal remedies.
Ogo appealed to small-time exporters to always ensure the appropriate steps were taken in their transactions with foreign buyers.
According to her, the Open Account System of payment for international trade transactions which the Nigerian exporters contracted is based solely on trust.
Ogun
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP) has pledged its commitment to the success of its partnership with the Republic of Benin to facilitate the implementation of its mandate.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, made the pledge in Abeokuta on Thursday at the end of the 9th Nigeria/ Benin Joint Technical Committee meeting on Trafficking in Persons.
She said the partnership would help both nations to achieve the objective of phasing out human trafficking and increase “the dignity of man”.
A communiqué issued at the end of the four-day meeting was jointly signed by Jedy-Agba and Emile Ekpinse, the Deputy Secretary-General, Ministry of Family and Social Affairs, Republic of Benin.
Plateau
The Plateau State Government has approved the award of various road contracts worth more than N3 billion in its bid to improve on infrastructural development.
The state government has also purchased 500 units of tricycles worth N285 million in addition to 100 taxi cabs and 15 units of 18-seater buses to alleviate the transportation challenges following the increase in fuel pump price from N65 to N97.
The Commissioner of Information, Mr Abraham Yiljap, told newsmen in Jos after the State Executive Council meeting on Thursday that the wellbeing of the people was foremost in the agenda of the government.
He explained that contracts for the construction of five-kilometre road projects in Wase Local Government Area was re-awarded at the cost of N437 million.
Sokoto
A lecturer at the Department of Mass Communications, Abdu Gusau Polytechnic, Gusau, Mr. Agabas Apelugun, has expressed optimism that the on going reforms by President Goodluck Jonathan will transform the country for optimal goal.
Apelugun told newsmen in Sokoto on Tuesday that the President’s commitment to improve power supply would boost the socio-economic and political base of the country.
Apelogun explained that security agencies could not be everywhere all the times but relevant information from citizens would help in tackling the menace of criminals.
The lecturer appealed to traditional and religious leaders to complement the efforts of the government by sensitising their followers on the need to be security conscious.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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