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Bauchi

The Bauchi State Universal Basic Education Board
(SUBEB), Bauchi, has distributed items worth N26 million to physically-challenged pupils spread across various schools in the state.
The Executive Chairman of the Board, Alhaji Abdullahi Dabo, said in Bauchi while distributing the items, that the effort would assist the pupils  pursue  education with little difficulties.
Dabo said 150 wheel chairs, 100 crouches, 20 sewing machines, 20 knitting machines, 20 Perkins brail machines, three brail computers, four desktop computers and sewing materials were distributed.
He said the intervention would help the pupils to learn together with other students in the same environment under the board’s inclusive education programme.

Benue
Wood carvers in Makurdi, Benue State, have decried
incessant attacks on villages in some local government areas of the state by suspected herdsmen.
A cross section of these professionals told newsmen that they no longer felt safe to go into the hinterland to fell trees for their trade.
A 70-year-old wood carver, Mr Solomon Nyamkyor, expressed concern that the herdsmen had occupied the hinterland with their cattle .
Nyamkyor added that the activities of the herdsmen had adversely affected their business as they could no longer access the big trees suitable for their business.

FCT
The Deputy Director, National Identity Management
Commission (NIMC), Mrs Mifor Udoh, says the national identity card scheme is critical to national development drive.
Udoh said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
According to her, the identity card scheme can be used to collect valuable electronic data, protect them from theft, and facilitate financial payment while it remains a universally acceptable resource for confirming identity.
The deputy director added that the current national exercise would help to actualise the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Gombe

Two policemen are feared dead following a clash be
tween them and some youths in Difa village of Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State.
A reliable source in the area told our correspondent in Gombe that the incident occurred in the night of February 16.
According to the source, some policemen on routine night patrol from Kwadon division arrested some youths in the village for allegedly being in possession of illegal drugs.
The source said that the arrest did not go down well with other youths whose protest led to violent clashes that resulted in the death and burning of the bodies of the two policemen.

Kano

Youths from the Northwest zone of the country have
agreed to table the challenges of employment, poverty and violence confronting them at the upcoming National Conference.
The Vice-Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Alhaji Jamilu Karama, made the disclosure in Kano while addressing journalists on the outcome of the council’s  meeting on February 15 in Kano.
“For a long time, youths have been left at the back stage of political development in Nigeria. We appreciate the interventions of various government policies on youths, but we feel more is needed,’’ he said.
Karama, who was nominated to the conference by youths in the zone, attributed failures of the youth to their large population without corresponding resources and facilities to cater for them.

Kebbi

The Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in
Kebbi State has said it would spend N88.5 million to maintain damaged roads linking Jega-Koko-Yauri and the border with Niger Republic.
Mr Ali Mohammed, the Maintenance Officer of the agency, said this in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.
He said that N44.2 million would be spent to rehabilitate the Jega-Maiyama and Maiyama-Yauri-Koko road, representing sections two and three of the federal highway in the state.
He explained that the 400km Kontagora-Sokoto road would be rehabilitated.

Lagos

The Lagos State Government has sealed a firm along
Adeniji Jones, Ikeja, for allegedly assaulting an official of the state’s Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).
The Head, Distrain Unit of LIRS, Mrs Folasade Coker-Afolayan, was said to have been attacked and wounded when she served a notice of tax default on the firm.
It was learnt that the incident occurred when an official of the firm ordered Coker-Afolayan and others out of the company’s premises.
The firm, it was said, allegedly owed the state government N11.5 million in unremitted personal income taxes of its workers in 2012.
Managing Director of the company, Mr Sam Osunde, however, told reporters that the company’s officials resisted the attempt to seal the company because it also served as his residence.

Nasarawa

A Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada, in Mararaba,
Nasarawa State, has ordered former lovers, Rhoda Ndukwe, 34, and Michael Agbor, 39, to steer clear of each other.
The presiding judge, Mr Albert Maga, gave the order at the resumed hearing of the case when Ndukwe told the court that she had agreed to withdraw charges against her former fiancée.
The court was told that Ndukwe, 34, of Kabayi village and Agbor, 39, of same address in Abuja, lived together.
Ndukwe said she decided to withdraw the charges on the ground that the accused had agreed never to intimidate her again.
Maga also ordered the accused to write an undertaking never to intimidate Ndukwe again and that both should steer clear of each other.

Osun
The Osun State House of Assembly has directed the
State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) to conduct a referendum on the proposed creation of additional 27  Local Council Development Areas.
The Speaker of the Assembly,  Mr Najeem Salaam, gave the directive during plenary  in Osogbo.
It would be recalled that Gov. Rauf Aregbesola had on Dec. 16, 2013, presented a bill to the House for the creation of the councils.
The bill, which had scaled through  second reading,  would increase the number of local governments and local council development areas  to 57  if passed  into law.

Oyo

A housewife, Mrs Rachael Adekanmi, has  urged  an
Oyo State High Court to dissolve her 10-year-old marriage to  her husband, John, alleging abandonment.
The complainant said that her husband had abandoned her and their  two children  in the last five years.
She said that the family had resided at No. 2, Ade Festus Way, Gbodofu area of Osogbo  before her husband left.
The complainant, who  told the court that she got  married to her husband on Feb. 20, 2004, added  that her husband had already married  another wife.

Plateau
The Commissioner of Police in Plateau, Mr Chris Olakpe,
has set up a joint Police/ Traditional Rulers Security Committee, to curtail violence in the state.
Olakpe announced the formation of the committee during a one-day interactive session with traditional and religious leaders in Jos.
“The committee will be holding security meetings every end of the month, to trash out grey areas, through intelligence information sharing.

Taraba

The Coordinator, Examination Ethics International,
Alhaji Ahmed Muhammed, has  described the lingering examination malpractice in the country as “poisonous and a threat to the future of Nigeria”.
Muhammed told newsmen in Jalingo that some parents, teachers and students had “almost legalised the illegal practice” of examination malpractice.
“They say money is the root of all evils, but examination malpractice is the greatest evil we have in Nigeria.
“We have cases of building collapse, bad governance, corruption and other negative acts. These are being perpetrated by products of examination malpractice,” he said.

L-R: Afenifere chieftain, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Chief Ayo Adebanjo, during the preliminary meeting of the Yoruba Committee on National Conference in Ijebu last Monday. Photo: NAN.

L-R: Afenifere chieftain, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Chief Ayo Adebanjo, during the preliminary meeting of the Yoruba Committee on National Conference in Ijebu last Monday. Photo: NAN.

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Monarch Hails Fubara Over Road Project

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Ogene of Asa Asi Asaga Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Andrew Enemuwa, has expressed gratitude to the Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for the award of the contract for construction of Igiri- Ubimini-Egbeda-Elele road project.
Eze Enemuwa said the people of the local government are proud associating with a visionary leader like Governor Fubara whose interest in the development of his people knows no bounds.
The monarch, also the Secretary of Ogba Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Council said the unprecedented crowd of ONELGA people that attended the event shows that Governor Fubara is greatly loved and cherished by the people.
The Eze Dike Di Nu Obi of Ogbaland said the presence of the traditional rulers at the event speaks volumes.
The Okene Asa Kaka urged the people of the area to support Governor Fubara to attract more development to the local government area.

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1,680 Children Abducted In Nigeria -UNICEF

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As Nigeria marks 10 years anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls, the United Nations Children Fund( UNICEF) has  put the number of abducted children at different schools within the last 10 years in Nigeria at 1,680.
The organisation said this at an event it organised in conjunction with the Faculty of Media and Communications Studies in the University of Port Harcourt to mark the 10 years anniversary of Chibok girls abductions.
According to UNICEF release read by Communication officer, UNICEF Nigeria Dr Mrs Ijeoma Onuoha Ogwe, 180 children were killed within the period under review due to attacks on schools, while an estimated 60 school Staff were kidnapped,14 killed and more than 70 attacks on schools.
It urged the Nigerian Government and security agencies to intensify effort towards the rescue of the 90 remaining Chibok girls.
UNICEF described the Chibok girls saga as a wakeup call to the severe risks children face in their pursuit of education
‘Today, reflecting on this tragedy and other recent abductions, it is evident that our efforts to safeguard our children’s future must be amplified
“Given this alarming statistics, we must address not only the symptoms but also the root causes of this crisis,” it said.
UNICEF also said that the threat of abduction of students is severely affecting children’s learning.
“As at 2021, over one million children were afraid to return to school and in 2020, around 11,500 schools were closed due to attacks”, it said.
It called on the government and the international community to ensure that all schools have the resources and tools to fully implement the minimum standards for safe schools, focus on the most vulnerable regions and address critical gaps in safe schools infrastructure.
UNICEF also called for preparedness for natural disasters, conflicts and comprehensive approaches to violence against children.
Others include, strengthening law enforcement and security measures to protect educational institutions and communities from attacks and abduction, prioritising education and child protection in national policies and budget allocations to create a safer, more inclusive environment for all Nigerian children and ensure the continuity of education and learning when schools are shut through multiple learning pathways such as radio and TV programme and through digital platforms the Nigerian learning Passport.
Ogwe said UNICEF is working with the Nigerian Government to ensure that every child can access safe learning environment.
“The agency has supported the inauguration of state safe school steering committees and the drafting of state costed implementation plans for safe schools in 13 States.
“It also provides school grants, safety kits training and awareness raising to accelerate the implementation of the minimum standards for safe schools.
“As we remember the Chibok girls and all children whose rights to education have been compromised, let this somber anniversary serves as a catalyst for change”, UNICEF said.
Speaking with The Tide, Dr Nwachukwu Ginikanwa said the anniversary should serve as a wakeup call to the authorities to take the issue of security seriously.

John Bibor

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Fubara Has Rekindled Rivers Hope-Former Envoy

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As the one year anniversary of the Governor Siminalayi Fubara administration in Rivers State draws closer, a former Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, Amb.Oji Ngofa, says the Governor has rekindled the hope of Rivers people.
Amb. Ngofa said within the one year of the administration, the Governor has shown a sense of connecting the people and the government unlike the immediate past administration led by Chief Nyesom Wike.
The former Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) explained that within one year, Rivers people are seeing a visionary leadership whose imagination is essentially focused on the desire to improve the lives of the people, with the sole aim of creating an economy where everyone can participate.
Speaking in an interview in Port Harcourt, the forrmer Ambassador said Governor Fubara has been able to engage relevant stakeholders and sectors of the State which, according to him, remains the hallmark of leadership.
He emphasised that with Governor Fubara, no doubt, Rivers State is in safe hands, saying with Governor Fubara, there is the likelihood that the State would be greater than other States.
He noted that the Governor’s vision to develop and give capacity to the people in order to participate in the economy as well as creating the enabling environment for business to flourish in the State, coupled with his peaceful nature, have all combined to endear him to the people.
Amb Ngofa said real power comes from how well one is connected with the people through good leadership, and the people on their own voluntarily surrender to you just as Governor Fubara has demonstrated within the past one year, stressing that that has informed his decision as an astute politician just like all well-meaning Rivers people to align with the Governor in order to move the State forward .
He described Governor Fubara’s milestones in infrastructure, human capital development, health and agriculture as monumental.
Amb Ngofa urged the Governor to ensure his revitalisa- tion programme on Songhai Farms extends to Buguma and Andoni fish farms and Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), and expand on the initiative, as it is critical in job creation for the teeming youths of the State.
“ In his one year in office as governor, Rivers people have seen the difference in terms of governance and total departure from self. Now Rivers people are having easy access to their governor. His focus is on policies and programmes that are capable of revitalising the economy aimed at improving the wellbeing of Rivers people, not just one man. Projects are springing up in all parts of the State, not necessarily in Port Harcourt and Obio,/ Akpor. All in just one year despite the distractions”, he said.

The Port Harcourt ring road loan to small skill medium businesses are one of the biggest achievements of his administration
Aleto- Woji road abandoned by the last administration had been carried on by a government that has interest of the people at heart
Despite the destruction ,he had demonstrated sense of focus on his primary duties as a governor
We are not just seeing monumental projects ,Rivers people are seeing total commitment to create an economy that will enable Rivers people to have a hold on there lives especially with projects like revitalizing Shonghai ,plaintain farms .
It is critical focusing on human capital development .I am aware of his programme of revitalising the economy ,state owned industries through public private partnership
Rivers people hope had been rekindled and those of us who are critic to the governor Wike led administration had been vindicated
Urging Eleme people to support the administration of governor Fubara to achieve their common dream which is development.

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