Nation
THE STATES
FCT
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is to demolish 19 villages in the territory, an official of the authority said on Thursday in Abuja.
Head of Public Relations Unit, Department of Development Control, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Mrs Josie Mudashiru, told newsmen last Thursday in Abuja.
Mudashiru said the affected villages comprised Idu, Karmo-Dape, Tasha, Gwagwa, Suburi, Zauda, Jahi, Gishiri, Mabushi, Mpape, Kuchigoro, Chika, Aleita, Piwoyi, Lugbe, Pyakassa, Tudun-wada, Dei-dei and Guzape.
She said that AMMC had begun a two-month sensitisation programme for residents of the areas. “We have commenced sensitisation programmes in Hausa, Ibo, Yoruba, Gbagi and pidgin English in the affected areas before the demolition exercise.
“We have involved chiefs, youths and other stakeholders in the sensitisation programme. We will proceed for marking after the programme, and hopefully, the demolition will commence before the end of 2012,” Mudashiru stressed.
Gombe
The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Mr Thanda Rubainu, has advised the Ashaka Cement Company to increase its production to four million tonnes annually.
Rubainu gave the advice in Gombe on Thursday when the company’s Board of Directors paid him a courtesy call, stressing that increased production would boost the company’s profile and position it better to retain the market shares.
Earlier, the Chairman, Ashaka Board of Directors, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, said they were in Gombe for the company’s 37th Annual General Meeting. He said the company was planning to increase its production from 900,000 tonnes to 1.3 million annually.
Kwairanga assured the state government of the company’s continued support to the host communities in terms of social amenities.
He said the company dug boreholes, constructed health care centres and built schools to the communities around it, and also gave scholarship to 50 Gombe indigenes studying in various universities in the country.
Kano
Animal feeds prices have increased around Kano metropolis due to scarcity of the product, The Tide’s correspondent reports.
The demand for the product had increased since the state government began the empowerment of women and youths in poultry farming.
The price of a 50 kg bag of the feed formerly sold at about N1,200 now goes for between N1,500 and N1,600, depending on the selling point.
Consumers of the product have expressed concern over the sudden increase, saying that it would also impact on the prices of chicken and eggs.
A dealer in animal feeds, Malam Habibu Balarabe, attributed the development to low production at the factories due to the rainy season.
“During the rainy season, the storage of the product is a bit difficult so people use other methods to feed their animals as the feeds easily got spoilt during this season.”
A consumer of the product, Hajiya Khadija Nura, said that the development would translate to an increase in the prices of chicken and eggs, as well as other animals.
Katsina
Fifty-four victims of food poisoning in Gatakawa village in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State have survived it.
The Chief Nursing Officer of the Kankara General Hospital, Mr Joshua Danjuma, said last Thursday in Kankara that they were brought to the hospital same day and put on admission.
He said the victims reportedly consumed a local cake prepared with treated beans meant for planting.
Danjuma said that all the victims had survived what could have been a tragedy after series of medications, stressing that they were admitted at the stage of convulsion.
He said the victims, who included school children and adults, were brought to the clinic unconscious with most of them vomiting and excreting some substances.
The Primary Health Care Coordinator of Kanakara Local Government Area, Alhaji Sani Kusada, confirmed the incident.
Kebbi
The Kebbi Government has commenced the training of female Muslim Guides to assist pilgrims in this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Nuruddeen Kangiwa, who addressed the trainees in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, said adequate provisions would be made to ensure smooth pilgrimage.
“The utmost care and guidance for the pilgrims of the state must be your priority and I urge you to shun any anti-social and illegal activities while in the Holy Land for the pilgrimage.”
The Chairman of the state Muslim Pilgrims Board, Alhaji Usman Suru, said the training of female guides was in line with the directives of the National Pilgrims Board.
“We would ensure that our pilgrims are properly guided. “Part of your responsibility is to ensure that Pilgrims especially women abide by the rules as well as conduct themselves in an orderly manner during the pilgrimage.”
Kogi
Kogi urgently requires additional 2,000 for effective teaching in its 238 public secondary schools, the acting Chairman of the State Teaching Service Commission, Alhaji Salu Aliu, said on Thursday in Lokoja.
Aliu told newsmen that 3,000 teachers currently engaged in the schools were inadequate for quality teaching.
He said the situation had been compounded by the fact that many teachers would soon retire.
He blamed the predicament on the staff auditing exercise carried out by the state government in 2009 during which more than 2,000 secondary school teachers were “shown the way out of service.”
He said that the effect of the shortage was being felt badly in core subjects of Mathematics, English language and the sciences.
He said a proposal to recruit teachers to fill the vacancies had been sent to Gov. Idris Wada and appealed to the government to quickly accede to the request.
Aliu called on all stakeholders in the nation’s education sector, especially the government, teachers and parents, to come together to rescue the sector from total collapse.
Lagos
Two tanker drivers and a conductor were on Thursday charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing aviation fuel worth N4 million.
The accused — Abdulsalami Tirimisiyn, 42; Kodiri Murina, 27; and Kodiri Oladele, 21 — are standing trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing. Tirimisiyn and Murina were the tanker drivers while Oladele was the conductor.
The trio, whose addresses were unknown, however, pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Insp. Marcus Okon, told the court that the trio committed the offences sometime on June 7 and 8 at Coconut Bus Stop, Apapa.
He said the accused stole 36, 000 litres of Jet A (aviation fuel) worth N4 million, property of S-Kay Haulage and Transport Services Nig. Ltd.
“The accused stole the product while in transit from Lagos to Abuja,’’Okon said.
Ondo
An Akure Senior Magistrate’s Court on Thursday remanded a com-mercial motorcyclist, Friday David, in prison for alleged indecent assault.
The presiding magistrate, Mrs. Funke Adegoroye, ordered the remand of the 23-years-old man who is standing trial on a two-count charge of unlawful and indecent assault on a 12-years-old girl.
According to the police, the offence was allegedly committed on June 18, at Irawo Street, Akure, in the Akure magisterial district.
David was accused of unlawfully taking the girl into custody against the wish of her parents for three days, and indecently assaulted her.
Police said the accused person touched the girl’s breasts and private part and had carnal knowledge of her without her consent.
This, the police said, was contrary to and punishable under Section 222 of the Criminal Code Cap 30 Vol. I Laws of Ondo State 2006.
The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges, and told the court that the girl’s mother was actually his girl friend.
He also told the court that both the girl and her mother had spent up to three days with him, and that the mother usually sends the girl on errands to his house.
Plateau
The Plateau House of Assembly has threatened to sanction Heads of Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) that fail to furnish it with their Financial Report for the first quarter of the year.
The House had allotted a one-week grace period for accomplishment of the assignment, failing which defaulting heads would be summoned.
The Speaker, Mr John Dabwan, who issued the order on Thursday, expressed surprise that most MDAs had yet to submit their first quarter reports to the legislature as stipulated by law.
The member representing Jos-South, Mr Dalyop Mancha, had called attention of the House to lapses in its over-sight function, occasioned by the inability of the MDAs to furnish it with their quarterly financial reports.
Mancha said that the action of the MDAs had denied the various committees of their role of tracking the performance of the budget.
Sokoto
Sokoto State Government on Thursday doled out 2,300 bags of grains worth N2.5 million to the poor in the state.
Gov. Aliyu Wamakko said in Goronyo while inaugurating the distribution of the grains that each of the beneficiaries would also receive N5,000. He said the gesture was aimed at alleviating their suffering.
The governor also said that the government was spending N45 million monthly on physically challenged persons across the state.
“I have also directed the state Zakat and Endowment Committee to get the census of all those physically challenged persons not currently benefiting from the monthly gesture.
“This is with the view to bringing all of them on board to benefit from the N6,500 each receives as monthly allowance, as a way of reducing begging in the society,” he said.
Also speaking, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, commended the state government for its commitment to improving the welfare of the people.
Abubakar called for fervent prayers by the people for peace to prevail in the state and the nation.
The Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Lawal Maidoki, who is also the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Prof. Musa Maitafsir, commended the administration for giving priority to the welfare and comfort of the people.
Yobe
The new National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Col. Sambo Dasuki, said the Federal Government would give top priority to dialogue and negotiation to tackle the current security challenges in the country.
Dasuki stated this in Damaturu on Thursday, when he paid a courtesy visit on Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam, at the Government House.
He said that government was committed to working with all stakeholders to bring a final solution to the prevailing security challenges posed by insurgency.
In his remarks, Gaidam urged the Federal Government to consider the option of dialogue and negotiation to provide solution to the security challenges.
The governor called on the Federal Government to introduce special welfare packages for security men “in the event of death, injury and accidents while on duty”.
He commended the professionalism and gallantry of the Joint Task Force team during the four major attacks on Damaturu in less than one year, noting that their sacrificial efforts had succeeded in reducing casualties.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has taken prompt steps to unravel the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the overhead tank of the Gwara Water Station recently commissioned by the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal in Ogoniland, Rivers State.
This is even as the Project has restated its determination and commitment to supplying quality potable water to 65 Ogoni communities before the end of the year.
HYPREP said while addressing journalists in Port Harcourt that it has commenced an investigation into the collapse of the overhead tank at the Gwara Water Station in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The high-level committee set up by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey as an interim measure, is mandated to determine the immediate and remote causes of the incident.
The Vice Chairman of the committee, Barrister Gowon Ichibor while addressing newsmen said the committee has already swung into action, as it has visited the site of the incident to take stock and assess the situation.
Barrister Ichibor noted that the committee is firmly on top of the situation, as it is poised to carry out a painstaking investigation to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the unfortunate incident.
He further indicated that it is hasty and premature at this point, to pinpoint what might have caused the incident but promised to furnish the public with all necessary information in connection with the overhead tank collapse as soon as possible.
While assuring affected communities of HYPREP’s determination to restore the water facility as quickly as possible, he said the committee would tidy up its work in less than no time and promptly brief the press on its findings.
The committee did not, however, foreclose the possibility of recommending appropriate punitive measures and sanctions to be meted out to culprits at the end of its assignment, to prevent future occurrences.
Meanwhile, HYPREP’s Head of Communications, Dr Enuolare Mba-Nwigoh, who also lent his voice, described the incident as a temporary setback, as the Project would take appropriate and prompt actions to restore potable water supply to the affected Ogoni communities.
He also reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to upholding global best practices, standards and quality in the execution of projects, and sympathised with the affected communities over the unfortunate incident, saying, 16 water facilities have already been commissioned, which are effectively and satisfactorily serving over 40 Ogoni communities.
With the collapse of the overhead tank of the Gwara Water Station, he revealed that 40 Ogoni communities are currently enjoying potable water.
The head of communications further disclosed plans by HYPREP to provide potable water to 65 Ogoni communities before the end of the year.
While regretting the unfortunate incident, Dr Mba-Nwigoh urged Ogoni people and residents of Gwara community to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding, and eschew all forms of speculations and rumour-mongering, as the Project is on top of its game to remedy the situation.
He reeled out the achievements and milestones so far recorded by HYPREP, saying, the Ogoni cleanup programme is very much on course.
It would be recalled that HYPREP had earlier in a statement said it was deeply disturbed by the collapse of the overhead tank at Gwara Water Station, stressing that the
Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, had set up a high-level committee to determine the immediate and remote
causes of the incident.
It further noted that the committee had already visited the site and begun a detailed investigation to establish whether the collapse resulted from structural failure or possible third-party interference.
HYPREP, in a statement signed by its management, expressed concern over the incident and sympathised with the Gwara community, urging residents to remain calm as efforts are being made to restore the damaged facility and resume water supply to affected areas.
The Project assured that it remains committed to delivering quality projects that meet international standards, adding that internal and external quality control measures have been introduced, including the engagement of EcoProject as Project Consultant, supervision by the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, and oversight by water supervisors.
It noted that aside from this isolated case, 16 water stations have been commissioned across Ogoniland, providing water to over 40 communities, with some facilities operating successfully for more than two years.
The Project added that sustainability plans have been put in place to ensure continuous water supply to communities. These include the formation of Water Consumers Associations (WCA), construction of solar farms for alternative power, and training of laboratory staff.
It also stated that one of the key features of the HYPREP water projects is the establishment of laboratories to ensure that water supplied to communities meets the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.
HYPREP reaffirmed its commitment to quality service delivery and assured that all necessary steps are being taken to address the situation and prevent future occurrences.
The Project has also set up a technical sub-committee over the collapse of the overhead tank of the Gwara Water Station, to foster and promote accountability in the implementation of projects.
As the Ogoni cleanup programme being implemented by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) continues to record significant milestones across thematic areas, the Federal Government says such gestures further demonstrate President Bola Tinubu’s commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda to environmental sustainability and ensuring the Project brings benefits to Ogoni people.
The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, who made this assertion during the commissioning of the Bane and Gwara water schemes in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, in line with HYPREP’s mandate to provide potable water to Ogoniland, said the provision of potable water is a critical step towards improving public health, reducing waterborne diseases and enhancing the overall quality of life.
The latest commissioning brings the water stations to 16, providing access to potable water to 45 Ogoni communities , a development the Minister explains as part of President Tinubu’s commitment to peace ,environmental justice and socio-economic empowerment in Ogoniland, a beacon of hope for communities long affected by environmental degradation.
Lawal noted that the latest commissioning is restoring hope and dignity to the communities long deprived of this essential resource .
”The provision of potable water is a critical step towards improving public health, reducing waterborne diseases and enhancing the overall quality of life. It also signifies a renewed commitment to ensuring that the people of Ogoniland reap the full benefits of environmental remediation efforts.We
will continue to ensure that communities in Ogoniland have access to clean, safe and sustainable drinking water. With this initiative, we are not just commissioning infrastructure but restoring hope and dignity to the communities long deprived of this essential resource”, he said.
While commending the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, development partners, stakeholders and traditional rulers, among others for their relentless commitment towards the actualisation of these projects, he urged communities to protect and take ownership of the projects, emphasising that their longevity and effectiveness depend on their collective efforts of maintaining and protecting them for posterity.
In his speech at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey maintained that the Project remains resolute in its resolve to ensure that it completes and delivers all projects initiated within the time frame for the use and benefit of Ogoni people in line with the directives of the Governing Council and under the leadership of the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal.
To achieve this, Zabbey explained that “We
continue to work closely with community leaders, youth and women, contractors and other stakeholders to ensure solutions are identified and implementation continues smoothly.
”We remain guided by the principle of partnership, dialogue, transparency and accountability, knowing that sustainable progress is best achieved through collaboration and mutual understanding. That is the hallmark of HYPREP,” he said.
He appealed to the people to continue to reinforce peace and understanding, using dialogue as a vital tool for resolving disputes, especially around project sites and within communities, noting that the concurrent implementation of over 100 projects across Ogoniland reflects the seriousness and dedication of HYPREP, a momentum that must be sustained through mutual trust and collaboration.
For the Project Coordinator, the event was an ideal opportunity to provide a project status update to Ogoni people, as he excitedly announced the milestone achievements recorded so far to include environmental remediation-94 percent completion in Phase 1 of mangrove restoration; shoreline at 67.1percent; Phase 2 land remediation at 36.55 percent; potable water-14 completed water facilities inaugurated, supplying potable water to 40 Ogoni communities, while the commissioning of the Bane and Gwara water facilities last Saturday increased the number of communities with access to clean and safe water to 45.
Other milestones are the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) at 92 percent complete and the processes of operationalising the Centre has begun with the just concluded colloquium, while the Ogoni Power Project is progressing steadily with wayleave compensation and construction works at Bodo and Wiiyaakara substations ongoing. The Ogoni Specialist Hospital is at 76.8 percent with 98.7 percent achieved in the Buan Cottage Hospital. The Ogoni public study being conducted by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC); over 7,000 women and youths have benefited from various employment opportunities, while over 5,000 have been trained in multiple skills and provided start-up skits, among other programmes.
Zabbey further hinted of the commencement of some demand-driven skills areas this quarter, which include cybersecurity, full-stack development, mud logging, software development, GIS and commercial diving.
In their separate goodwill messages, the member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Dumnamene Deekor; Chairman,Great Green Wall, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Ogoni Trust Fund Incorporated, Hon Emmanuel Deeyah; Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, Mr Nwizug Gordon; representative of the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and General Manager, Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr Igo Weli; former Secretary to Rivers State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani; and former Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Prof Roseline Konya; all commended the Minister of Environment and HYPREP for their commitment to the Ogoni cleanup programme.
Earlier, the Minister and his entourage had paid a courtesy call on Mene Bua Kenwigbara, King D.Y Barile, at his palace, where the former was conferred a chieftaincy title of Mene Anua Le Maa 1 of Ken-Khana Kingdom; and the Project Coordinator of HYPREP as Mene doo Letam 1 of Ken-Khana Kingdom.
Also decorated were the Chairman of Ogoni Trust Fund Incorporated, Hon Emmanuel Deeyah; and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mahmud Kambari.
Highpoints of the event were the formal commissioning of the Bane and Gwara water facilities by the Minister and the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr Tony Attach,represented by Mr Igo Weli; the symbolic issuance of education support Items;and the visit to the Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Park for symbolic tree planting by the Minister; the Project Coordinator; BoT Chairman; Senator Abe; Igo Weli; Director General, NEASRA, Prof Innocent Barikor; and Zina Wiwa, the daughter of the legendary environmentalist; and the visit to the CEER.
In two years, the Minister of Environment, has visited Ogoniland five times to commission 16 water stations, supplying potable water to 45 Ogoni communities and ensuring that other projects get equal attention, a clear demonstration of his unflinching commitment to the accelerated implementation of the Ogoni cleanup programme in line with Priority 3, Deliverable 3 of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and driven under the visionary and passionate leadership of Prof Nenibarini Zabbey as Project Coordinator.
A professor of English linguistics at the Rivers State University (RSU) Nkpolu Oroworukwu Port Harcourt, Prof. Isaac Enyi Ngulube, has advocated for better and improved funding for language centres in Nigeria, such as NINLAN Aba and Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, for optimum value and effective local languages development.
He also called for funded research on the development of orthographies and language documents across the country to rescue local languages from extinction, as well as having a well-planned and implemented mother tongue education in all institutions in the country, from primary to tertiary.
Prof. Ngulube made with these assertions while presenting his inaugural lecture at the university’s 121st inaugural lecture with the topic “The Career of Rough Beats: Language, Literature and the Development of our Common Humanity” held in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.
The erudite scholar, in the lecture, stressed that the study of English language, linguistics, and literature is very broad, large, and difficult, adding that he overcame the rough roads through resilience and determination.
He described language as “a purely human and non-instinctive means of communicating ideas and emotions,” noting that “the word is a fundamental need in language; you cannot study language without the use of language.”
He urged parents to be cautious with their utterances, warning that “what they refer to their children as is what they will automatically end up becoming.”
He recommended a branded English language for every profession or course of study, stressing that embedding oral literature in the teaching of students from primary to tertiary level will enable them to know their traditions and roots of origin.
“Tell them the folk stories and moonlight tales; you are sending them back to their people. You must be a human being first before becoming a medical doctor, engineer, or anything else,” Ngulube said.
He also called for better and improved production of quality language and literature teachers, provision of modern teaching/instructional materials, improved welfare packages for teachers, and provision of better infrastructure at both primary and secondary school levels.
He used the opportunity to appreciate the Vice Chancellor for the approval of the Department of English Language and Literature, adding that it had been his long-held dream for the university.
In his speech, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, while highlighting the lecture, opined that the lecturer x-rayed the lecturer’s journey into the study of English language, linguistics, and literature, describing the field as broad, large, and difficult, but with determination and focus, he was able to defeat the beasts he encountered on his way.
Zeb-Obipi agreed with the lecturer’s recommendations on ways to improve indigenous languages in the country and directed that modalities be worked out for the university to have the Department of English Language and Literature, among others.
He highlighted RSU’s recent victory in the Bilingual Community Project organized by the French Embassy, describing it as proof of the university’s rising excellence in language studies.