Nation
THE STATES
Borno
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno has promised to reconstruct public schools destroyed recently by Boko Haram members in Maiduguri metropolis.
The group had taken responsibility for setting ablaze 10 schools in the city last month.
Shettima, who was inspecting one of the schools at Gwange, said the destruction of the schools was a huge set back, but pledged to ensure their quick reconstruction.
“It is hard, it is disturbing that our own sons are busy going about burning schools.
“The burning of schools can not be justified under any guise because the Prophet of Islam during his time urged Muslims to seek knowledge even in far away China.”
Shettima said burning centres of learning was unIslamic and unjustifiable.
“These schools serve many purposes; in the morning pupils take lessons, in the afternoon they serve as adult classses and in the evening women classes are held.
Ekiti
A non-government organisation, Centre for Human Development, has been rallying support for all female candidates ahead of the local government election in Ekiti State.
The executive director of the centre, Prof. Simi Afouda, said this at a meeting with artisans and other segments of the Society at Aramoko-Ekiti last Tuesday.
She urged the electorate to give woman a chance to be elected into political offices, saying that doing so would speed up development especially at the grassroots.
The CHD is being supported by the department for international development, United Nations Development programme to canvass support for more women to take elective positions.
FCT
The Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), an NGO, has called for the sensitisation of the public on their fundamental human rights to address insecurity in the country.
Mr Tony Agbor, the Assistant Programmes Coordinator of PRAWA in the FCT Zone, made the call in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said it was unfortunate that the security challenge in the country was hindering efforts at growing the economy.
“The issue of insecurity in Nigeria can be looked up from the position of people who are predisposed to violence.
“Government should look at providing basic access to information that will educate people on their rights and how to better exercise their rights.
“Government should take a look at this angle and provide capacity building in this area, creating awareness around laws that are set is vital.”
Gombe
The Magistrates’ Court number one, Kasuwar Shanu Gombe, on Tuesday arraigned one Abubakar Inuwa, 37, of Tudun Wada quarters Gombe, for alleged criminal breach of trust and cheating.
The Prosecutor, ASP Aminu Ibrahim, told the court that on January 23, the accused person collected the sum of N1.5 million from one Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed of Bajoga, Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe.
According to the prosecutor, the accused person was sent with the money to give Alhaji Sadiq Umar, a brother to Ahmed and the accused converted the amount to his own personal use, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 311 and 320 of the Penal Code.
Counsel to the accused, Mr Sunday Akporido, who cited sections 341 and 36 of the Constitution, urged the court to grant the accused person bail.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Fadama III Office says it has so far disbursed N300 million to 17,254 farming groups in the state.
The Project Coordinator, Mr Ishaku Dauda, told newsmen in Kaduna, that the group included 5,496 women.
.Dauda said that the programme had also constructed 30 kms of feeder roads, enabling farmers to transport their produce to the markets.
According to him, 100 stalls were also constructed in selected rural markets in Birnin Gwari, Zaria and Sanga Local Governments areas state.
Dauda said that the programme had also assisted Fadama User Groups with irrigation pumps, processing machines, sprayers, work bull and ox ridges, to boost their productivity.
Kano
Hotel owners in Kano State say there are experiencing low patronage due to the prevailing insecurity in the state.
Some of the operators, who spoke to newsmen in Kano said that the low level of patronage had affected their profits and the cost of maintaining facilities.
The hotel owners said the prevailing situation had prevented many people from coming into the state to do business and that the development had forced many customers to stay away from hotels.
Mr Mike Ado, a Hotel Manager, said that the situation in the state had adversely affected businesses and other social activities.
“Many customers, who come to the state from far and near including neighbouring Niger and Cameroon, for business, have stopped coming here due to the security challenge.’’
Lagos
The Chairman of Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mr Ladipo Ajayi, has promised to ensure that unlicensed intermediaries were stopped from selling insurance products.
He told newsmen in Lagos that the association was determined to stamp out quacks.
Ajayi said that some unlicensed intermediaries planned to form a cartel to monopolise products of few insurance companies.
“Now, the NIA is working to stamp out this practice.
“Every insurance company must be able to sell its products anywhere in the county.
“Anyone, who must be involved in the distribution of insurance products, must be licenced by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and be subjected to its control,’’ he said.
Ajayi said that the association was taking the measure to ensure that insurance companies got the commensurate premium to be able to pay claims when they arose.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a herdsman with 20 rounds of AK 47 ammunition and one cartridge of a single barrel gun.
The arrest followed repeated attacks on Kadarko town and environ in Keana Local Government Area of the state.
Confirming the arrest the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr Cornelius Ocholi, said that the suspect was arrested on Monday evening at Kwarra Village on his way to Giza Development Area.
Ocholi told newsmen that the suspect, in his confessional statement, said, the ammunition were given to him by one ‘Burorno’ now at large, to be taken to their kinsmen who were fighting ‘a war’ in Giza.
He said that the suspect was being detained at state Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Lafia, while investigation was on to arrest more suspects following useful information given by the suspect.
Ogun
The National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has called on the Federal Government to impose stiffer penalties for rapists to serve as a deterrent to others.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of its 2012 National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abeokuta last Saturday.
NAWOJ also advocated for a legislation to cater for domestic violence as well as protect young girls against harmful traditional practices and molestation.
“NAWOJ is also calling on the Federal Government to domesticate the CEDAW bill and the total elimination of all kinds of violence against women,’’ the communiqué said.
The association urged the Federal Government to fully implement the 35 per cent affirmative action and commended the Inspector-General of Police for the removal of road blocks across the country.
It, however, advocated for the introduction of community policing, vigilante groups and other security structures to assist the police in ensuring the safety of lives and property.
Oyo
The Acting State Librarian in Oyo, Mrs Adetokunbo Adigun, says the State Library Board is to open its e-resource centre in April.
She told newsmen in Ibadan that the move was in line with the governor’s resolve to ensure that the library met world standards.
Adigun, who commended Gov. Abiola Ajimobi for his desire to transform the state, further said:
“The Ajimobi-led government is different. Innovative intellectuals are positioned in key sectors in restoring the state to it previous glory as a pace setter.
“The library itself is already beaming positively as reflected by the improvement in infrastructure and socio-dynamic services, and I must say, the feedback is overwhelming and encouraging.
“The icing on the cake for us will be the inauguration of our e-resource centre later in April by His Excellency, the first of its kind in the history of this state,’’ she said.
Plateau
An optometrist, Dr. Francisa Ekwuribe, has described glaucoma as a major cause of irreversible blindness in humans.
Ekwuribe, who works at the Tadam Medical Centre, Jos, told newsmen that only a few sufferers were, however, aware that they had the disease.
She explained that eye disease lacked early warning signs or symptoms in most people, a situation that usually makes it difficult for such individuals to be aware of what was happening.
“ The Optometrist described glaucoma as an eye disease that damages the optic nerve that is responsible for transmitting electrical impulses to the brain.
Ekwuribe said the damage usually occurs as a result of elevated pressure of the fluid in the eye.
According to her, such pressure is also known as “intraocular pressure’’.
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