Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The College of Education, Hong, in Adamawa State,
has been shut down and students directed to go home following alleged threat by members of the Boko Haram sect to attack the school.
The Provost of the college, Dr Johnson Pongri, who confirmed the closure in a news conference in Yola, said the move was based on the advice of the Military Task Force in the area.
Pongri said the school had been receiving threat letters by unknown persons who claimed to be members of the Boko Haram.
In another development, Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State has visited Michika and Shuwa towns to sympathise with victims of recent attack by insurgents.
FCT
Vice President Namadi Sambo said every Nigerian
who had contributed or is still contributing to nation-building is a winner in the centenary celebrations.
Sambo stated this in Abuja in a welcome address at the centenary awards and dinner chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Vice President said while 100 people had been selected for the centenary awards, many more Nigerians are deserving of it.
“They are by no means not only the people to be celebrated, there are many more Nigerians.
“But, as the saying goes, many are called, few are chosen, he said.
Jigawa
Residents of Dutse in Jigawa State have expressed
surprise over the first rainfall recorded in the state.
Our correspondent reports that the heavy downfall, which started 6.10 p.m. lasted for one and half hours.
Rabiu Shehu, a resident of the town said that he was surprised when he noticed heavy cloud in the sky and did not believe it would rain.
He said that the state used to record its first rainfall in the month of May.
Kogi
Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State said that the
state would intensify efforts toward ensuring
that the state remained polio free.
Wada made the pledge at the launch of the March 2014 National Immunisation Plus Days at Okpo, in Olamaboro Local Government Area of the state.
The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, described the immunisation exercise as a critical aspect of government’s effort to reduce communicable diseases.
He expressed delight that the state remained polio free and assured the people that the government’s programmes were designed to put smiles on the faces of vulnerable groups in the state.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has urged
civil servants to always offer useful advice to politicians in order to attain the laudable goal of transforming the society.
Ahmed made the call at the opening of the 38th Meeting of the National Council on Establishments in Ilorin recently.
The governor, represented by his Deputy, Elder Peter Kisira, said the civil service was a veritable tool for attainment of the growth and development of the nation.
Earlier, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Aji, called on heads of service across the country to develop a system which would improve the capacity of civil servants across the nation.
Lagos
The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, said
the Federal Government had created an atmosphere of freedom for the media to operate.
Maku spoke at the 30th Memorial of the late Founder of the Punch newspapers, Chief James Aboderin, which held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos.
He said the Federal Government would continue to support the media, stressing that there was no reason for any news medium not to prosper.
“If you look at the writings, I believe the Nigerian press is one of the freest in the world today and that is the best the government can do not to suppress other views”, he said.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji
Ibrahim Idris, has advised politicians against “do-or-die politics.’’
The commissioner gave the advice at an interactive session with leaders of the APC and PDP, ahead of the state’s Local Government polls, slated for March 22.
“Politicians must avoid acts that portray them as desperate, they must avoid being selfish.’’
Idris admonished the leadership of the two parties to enlighten their followers on the need to be orderly during the election, vowing to deal decisively with anybody or group, that might want to foment trouble.
Niger
The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Technology
(FUT) Minna, Prof. Musbau Akanji has inaugurated the new management board of the university’s Search FM 92.3 Radio Station.
Speaking during the inauguration, the Vice Chancellor charged the members to nurture the station and enforce the ethics of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).
Akanji congratulated them and urged them to keep up the standard of the radio station.
He urged the board members to ensure that the station served as a training medium and provide exposure to students in media-related courses of the institution.
Osun
A group, Advocacy for Advancement of Peace and
Harmony in Africa Initiative, has advised Nigerians to use the centenary celebrations to reflect on how to build a better nation.
The group in a statement in Osogbo, urged Nigerians to reflect on the virtues of tolerance, justice and other values that would uphold the status of Nigeria as a leading nation.
The statement, signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Mrs Olayinka Ojomo, challenged Nigerians to reflect and evaluate the past so as to take a better stock of the present.
Plateau
The Sultan of Sokoto, Ahaji Sa’ad Abubukar, has
urged traditional rulers and other Nigerians to unite to collectively fight extremism and terrorism.
Abubakar made the appeal on Saturday in Jos, when he visited the Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba.
The sultan said that Nigerians, irrespective of religious leanings, had a common problem in terrorism.
“We have common problems in this country – religious extremism, terrorism, poverty, unemployment, strikes, dearth of basic infrastructure, among others. “These problems have no religious or tribal colour, and we must unite and defeat them so that God Almighty, who created us, will bless us.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government is to establish more
micro-finance banks to promote economic empowerment of the masses.
Governor Aliyu Wamakko announced this in Sokoto State at the 2013 Bankers’ Committee Dinner and Award Night.
According to the governor, micro-finance has proven to be a vibrant tool to improve the living standards of the people, especially those at the grassroots.
“The few ones operating in Gwadabawa, Yabo, Sokoto and Goronyo, among others, are really helping in revamping the rural economies’’, Wamakko said.
Taraba
The Taraba State Police Command said it had
arrested seven suspected cult members.
Addressing newsmen in Jalingo, Mr Joseph Kwaji, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), said they were arrested in a forest opposite Federal Government College Wukari on the Jalingo road recently.
He said the suspects would be charged with criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly and unlawful possession of fire arms.
He said that they were nabbed following information provided by members of the vigilance group in Wukari Local Government Area.
L-R: Lagos State representatives at the National Confab, Prof. Tunde Samuel, Prince Rabiu Oluwa, Chairman, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, Mr Supo Sasore (San), Mr Waheed Ayeni and Mrs Olufunmi Oshinowo-Bashorun, during their meeting with Governor Fashola in Lagos last Monday. Photo: NAN
The Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Niger Delta, Dr Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, has called on Nigerians, especially those in positions of authority to uphold moral standard and integrity.
Oko-Jaja said this at a thanksgiving service to mark the 90th birthday of Prof. Sylvanus Cookey at Saint Paul Anglican Church in Opobo Town, Rivers yesterday.
The Tide’s source reports that Cookey was the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in 1982.
Oko-Jaja advised political leaders to always be self-aware and avoid actions that could damage their reputation.
“In today’s Nigeria, hardship has changed how the people behave, as lies have become more popular than the truth.
“We now live in a country where injustice is now celebrated and lowering moral and social standard have become the new normal.
“Leaders must follow the exemplary legacies set by our forebears by becoming upright and live a life that would not bring shame to their family and community,” he said.
He attributed the country’s current economic challenges and declining living standards to leaders failing to prioritise the well-being of citizens.
“The younger generation should emulate the virtues of our predecessors like Prof. Cookey, who prioritised integrity over material gain.
“Good reputation was the norm back then, and I hope that God will restore it to Nigeria, where leaders’ goal will be to have good names.
“If anyone wants to commit evil, they should remember that their actions can bring a bad name to their family and community,” he cautioned.
Addressing the celebrant, the King of Opobo Kingdom, HRM Dandason Jaja, praised Cookey for his impact on society and described him as a mentor and philanthropist.
He said that the celebrant was a distinguished academic, who had impacted numerous youths through vocational training, leading to their successful employment in different sectors.
Speaking earlier, Cookey expressed gratitude to God for attaining 90 years and acknowledged the support of his family and friends.
Reflecting on his contributions to the country, he encouraged leaders to leave behind positive legacies for future generations to celebrate.
Nineteen months after federal lawmakers movement to temporary chambers, the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives would finally resume sittings in their newly remodelled main hallowed chambers tomorrow
Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi Jnr, and the Clerk to the Senate, Barrister Chinedu Akubueze confirmed the planned movement to the main chambers in separate written announcements made penultimate week on the change in resumption date by lawmakers from their ongoing recess.
Hon. Rotimi, who is the chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, in the official announcement dated April 4, 2024 to the honourable members, cited the need to resume plenary at the renovated and reconfigured main chamber, as reason for the postponement in line with the general wish of the lawmakers.
“The House of Representatives wishes to inform the public and stakeholders of the rescheduling of the resumption date from the ongoing recess, originally slated for Tuesday, April 16, 2024, to Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
“This adjustment is necessary to accommodate the completion of renovations to the main chamber of the House of Representatives to ensure its readiness for plenary sessions, henceforth,” he stated.
Two days after, the Clerk to the Senate also issued a statement, postponing resumption of plenary by the Senate from April 16 to 23, 2024.
Akubueze ‘s statement reads in part: “Distinguished Senators are hereby invited to note that the resumption of the plenary sitting of the Senate, which was scheduled for Tuesday, 16th April, 2024, has been postponed to Tuesday 23rd April, 2024”
It would be recalled that ahead of the projects delivery, the Site Engineer of Visible Construction, Tajudeen Olanipekun, had early last month informed journalists covering the Senate, that the two main chambers, would be ready for use by both the Senate and the House of Representatives in April this year.
Olanipekun’s assurance on delivery of the fully transformed and reconfigured hallowed chambers to management of the National Assembly, coincided with call by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to the Clerk to the National Assembly, CNA, Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal that both the Senate and the House of Representatives, want to move to their main chambers as soon as possible after close to two years of using temporary ones.
In carrying out the subtle marching order, the construction firm in the last five weeks has carried out the required finishings on
the upgraded and reconfigured hallowed chambers fixed with state-of-the-art chairs, parliamentary equipments, appliances and extended sitting terraces.
Physically, the entire ambience of the space in and around the hallowed chambers have been transformed, just as barricades used to restrict movements at the foyer have been removed.
The Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, had in March 2021 awarded a N30billion renovation contract to Visible Construction Limited to rehabilitate critical segments of the National Assembly complex.
The law makers had in September 2022 vacated the main chambers to enable the Contractors; handle the renovation work of both chambers
Some of the critical segments are the office buildings housing the office accommodation for the senators and honourable members, watertightness of the roof of the complex, the cooling system, replacement of lifts that are inoperable in the White House as well as in the House of Representatives and in the new Senate Wing among others.
By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
The Zone 13 of the Nige- rian Police Force, comprising Anambra and Enugu States, has announced the venue and time for both General Duty and Specialist Constable recruitment medical screening in the two States.
This is contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Ihunwo, yesterday in Enugu.
Ihunwo said that prospective candidates from Zone 13 should note that the exercise would take place at Police Hospital, Awka.
She said that the medical screening would commence simultaneously nationwide on Tuesday, April 16, and end on April 30, 2024.
“Candidates are advised to visit the recruitment portal: https://apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng to know their status, specific time, date and other mandatory requirements.
“So also, qualified applicants are to appear in clean white T-shirt and short with the following requirements;
“National Identity Card/Slip; Print Out of Medical Examination Slip and all necessary documents.
“The Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 13 Command, AIG Godwin Aghaulor, wishes all prospective candidates success as they embark on this exercise,” he said.
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