Nation
THE STATES
Victims of flood disaster and insurgency in Bauchi State
presently have cause to smile and temporarily forget their pains and distress. The Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation recently came to their aid after it flagged off the distribution of relief materials to victims of flood, insurgency and communal clashes in the state.
The beneficiaries who hail from 10 Northern states of Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, Benue, Kaduna, Katsina, Gombe, Nasarawa, Plateau and Yobe profusely expressed appreciation to the committee for the timely intervention in cushioning their hardship through the donation of relief materials such as rice, soaps, wrappers, blankets, noodles, salts, palm oil amongst other items.
Shortly after the flag off of the ceremony, the Chairman of the committee, Dr Sani Abubakar Lugga, led a delegation of the committee members on a courtesy visit to Governor Isa Yuguda, at the Government House in Bauchi.
He said the committee decided to extend its humanitarian gesture not only to victims of flood disaster, but also those of insurgency, communal clashes and cattle rustlers adding that the committee went beyond the scope of its mandate to purchase food and non-food items worth N750m to cushion the losses of victims of insurgency and communal clashes in the 10 states.
Jigawa
Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State last Monday as
sured non-indigenes living in the state that their rights as Nigerian citizens would be protected.
Lamido who gave the assurance when he received the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sunusi, who paid him Sallah homage in Dutse explained that all non- indigenes living in the state were there as a matter of ‘right’ not ‘privilege,’ hence would not be discriminated against.
The governor said that Nigerians were free to live wherever they chose without any undue harassment by any individual or government, stating that those asking Nigerians to register in their own country were sending a wrong signal that was not healthy for the unity of the country.
Earlier in his remarks, the Emir of Dutse, Sunusi, had thanked the governor for transforming the state in the past seven years of his administration. He said that both indigenes and non-indigenes had been living peacefully in the state, promising that efforts would be made to sustain the status-quo.
Kano
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido, has urged Mus
lims in the state to imbibe the spirit of tolerance and sacrifice.
The emir who made the call last Sunday while addressing Muslims after the Eid-El-Fitr prayer at the Kofar Mata ground in Kano, appealed to them to emulate Prophet Muhammed’s life, stressing that the one month fasting should be seen as a period of cleansing and atonement.
“After the Ramadan, we should be more determined to live in the path of Allah as true believers. We should also continue to emulate the exemplary attributes of Islam which are love, tolerance and peaceful co-existence”, he said.
The monarch also called on the people to continue to pray for peace, unity and progress of the state and the country.
Earlier in his sermon, Sanusi, who led the prayer, stressed the need for Muslims to fear God and continue to use all the lessons of the Ramadan to foster unity in the state and country.
Kwara
Former Kwara State Governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, urged
Nigerians yesterday to pray for the peace and stability of the country ahead of next year’s general elections. Dr Saraki made the call in his Eid-el-Fitri message to Nigerians.
Saraki, the senator representing Kwara Central, said: “Ahead of 2015, I want to use this annual occasion to implore Nigerians not to give up in the quest for a better nation. Let’s not give in for a leadership based on sympathy and the monetary value we stand to gain but on the ground of competence and a strong will to take Nigeria to a greater height.
“Let’s ensure we stay very united and indivisible by religious, ethnic, moral or political lines, because unity is a strong weapon for a better nation. Even as I urge Islamic leaders – from the Emirs to Sheiks and Imams – to further emphasise the core themes of Islam to their followers after Ramadan. I also urge us to let our fervent prayers for Nigeria exceed Ramadan season. Let’s continue to pray for peace, restoration and stability in Nigeria, particularly as 2015 is approaching.
“The holy month of Ramadan affords us the golden opportunity of renewal in thoughts and deeds towards our creator and humanity by prioritising core themes of Islam, which include peace, boundless love for one another, sincerity, holiness and respect for humanity.
“Importantly, the aforementioned themes should not end with the month of Ramadan. They should be effortlessly demonstrated after Ramadan to ameliorate Nigeria’s plight and make her into a better society where her current challenges of insecurity, disrespect for rule of law, corruption among others will become things of the past.”
Lagos
History will be made in Lagos State next month when
Justice Funmilayo Atilade succeeds her sister Justice Ayotunde Pillips as the new Chief Judge. Justice Phillips bowed out last Saturday on attaining the mandatory retirement age of 65. Justice Phillips and Justice Atilade are daughters of the late Justice James Williams, who was a judge in Lagos.
It was learnt that Justice Atilade may be sworn in before the new legal year 2014, which begins on September 2, to mark her first major official assignment and outing. Justice Atilade will become the 15th Chief Judge of Lagos State and the fifth woman to occupy the post.
Justice Atilade was born in London on September 24, 1952. She attended Ladi-Lak Institute in Yaba, Lagos Mainland; Anglican Girls Grammar School, Surulere, 1965 and 1969 and Queens College, 1970 and 1971. She proceeded to the University of Lagos in 1972 and graduated in 1975 with a Law degree. She passed out of the Nigerian Law School in 1976.
Justice Atilade was State Counsel, Federal Ministry of Justice between 1977 and 1979; Principal Legal Officer, Nigerian Ports Authority 1979 to 1981; and a Senior Magistrate Grade 1, 1981 to 1996. She was appointed a judge on July 19, 1996.
She became the Head Judge in June 2012, also occupied by her sister, Justice Phillips before her elevation as the chief judge. She is a member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), International Bar Association (IBA) and Ikoyi Club 1938.
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Nasarawa
Associates of Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa
State, have, said the governor has put together a seven-man team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) to defend him at the investigative panel set up by the state’s Chief Judge, Umaru Dikko, to probe allegations of fraud and gross misconduct against him.
Speaking with newsmen on the development, Professor Gyewadu noted that Al-Makura’s travails are as a result of bad leadership, even as he insisted that the impeachment process was a right step in the right direction. “The law makers are the true representatives of the people and whatever they do is in the collective interest of all and sundry,” he said.
Before the panel on Al-Makura was set up last Friday, the Special Adviser to the governor on Public Affairs, Abdulhamid Kwara, who addressed a press conference in Lafia last Tuesday, said the governor was putting everything together to appear before the panel at the appropriate time to exonerate himself. The panel is scheduled to commence sitting on Wednesday after the Eid-e-Fitri celebrations.
In the wake of the impeachment process against his friend, a former deputy governor of the state and professor of Law, Onje Gyewadu, had asked the governor to toe the path of resignation, which he said would be more honourable.
Niger
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
in Niger State, has announced that political parties, civil societies organisations and security agencies in the state have agreed that the commission should conduct the bye-election for Niger East senatorial district on Saturday, August 16, 2014.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Emmanuel Onucheyo, stated this last Friday, during a stakeholders meeting, where the commission proposed the date.
Onucheyo further explained that by law, notice of the election would be made public not later than 14 days to the election, adding that the National Assembly informed the commission of Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta’s death on July 17, 2014.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner said the tenure of the current Assembly expires in June, 2015, saying that “Section 76 of 1999 constitution mandates the commission to conduct bye election to fill this vacant seat, within one month, from date of formal notification”
Ogun
Five persons suspected to be robbers were killed in a
shoot-out by the Police Anti Crime Team attached to Agbado Division of Ogun State, on Saturday.
The police were said to have responded to a distress call from residents of Oluke, Okegbolu and Onireke areas, when the robbers, numbering 12, unleashed terror on them.
One of the suspected robbers was arrested with weapons, while other members of the gang escaped with bullet wounds.
Items recovered from the robbers included five locally made guns, 30 live cartridges, 12 expended cartridges, three laptops, a cash sum of N85,000, jewelries, five unregistered motorcycles, cutlasses and charms.
The arrested suspect, 26-year-old Oladeinde Rasheed, is a resident of Ijoko Ota area of the state.
Oyo
Former Oyo State Governor Senator Rashidi Ladoja has
dissociated Accord Party from the purported plan by the state House of Assembly to impeach Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
The former governor, who was fielding questions from journalists shortly after observing the Eid-el-Fitri prayer at the University of Ibadan Central Mosque, said the party had instructed its members in the Assembly to distance themselves from any attempt at plunging the state into crisis and chaos.
He noted that there was no reason for the House to wake up suddenly with accusation against the governor over any misconduct towards the end of his administration and challenged the House to publish whatever was the misconduct of the governor for people to see.
The former governor said he had suffered impeachment as a person before and got justice from the Supreme Court and would never support any such plan.
He said, “I cannot understand the basis of anybody in the House of Assembly suddenly waking up to nurse any impeachment ambition against Governor Ajimobi. In any case, Accord is not a party to it. I cannot understand why they will wake up and say there is misconduct. Let them publish it for people to see. But as far as I am concerned, our party is not part of any purported plan to impeach Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
L-R: Alhaji Lamidi Ajadi, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his SSG, Alhaji Ismael Olalekan-Alli, at the Agodi Eid prayer ground during the Eid-el-Fitr prayers in Ibadan last Monday. Photo: NAN
Strategic regulators and other stakeholders have expressed satisfaction with the pace, quality and magnitude of work carried out by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Ogoniland, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In their separate speeches at the 2025 4th quarter key regulators / asset owners meeting held in Port Harcourt, the strategic stakeholders commended HYPREP for the significant milestones achieved with excellent efficiency and transparency, demonstrating capacity and commitment to sustaining collaboration with development partners for the overall success of the Project.
The regulators particularly lauded HYPREP for the landmark success in the implementation of the land and shoreline remediation, mangrove restoration, provision of reticulated potable water, the various sustainable livelihood programmes, donation of ambulances to health facilities in Ogoni, the construction of Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, as well as the ongoing Ogoni Power Project, adding that their independent field reports have shown proofs of HYPREP driving even beyond its mandates.
The goodwill messages were made by representatives of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Centre for Environment and Human Rights Development (CEHRD), Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA), Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), and Federal Ministry of Environment. Others are the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the Rivers State Ministry of Health, the National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Rivers State Ministry of Power, the Rivers State University, the Rivers State Ministry of Water and Rural Development, and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
Following the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit’s presentation on the status of HYPREP projects, participants offered feedback on areas of concern. They reassured HYPREP and the people of Ogoni of their continued support for the Project’s success. They also suggested that the quarterly review meeting be sustained as it enables them to report, evaluate and proffer solutions to areas of concern.
Participants also commended HYPREP for improved community and stakeholder engagement and for adding to what they saw the previous time. “We commend HYPREP for the quality work done at sites. The progress is phenomenal, because HYPREP is scoring good grades, above average,” Prof. Iyenemi Kakulu from Rivers State University said.
In his speech at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who was represented by Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, Director of Technical Services, commended the regulators and asset owners for their cooperation with the Project, and for making themselves available for fieldwork and the regular review meetings.
Prof Zabbey reiterated HYPREP’s commitment to best practice in waste management, particularly waste generation and disposal, calling on the Regulators for adequate logistics support, saying HYPREP’s priority is to focus on the core recommendations by UNEP, especially, remediation(soil, shoreline) mangrove restoration, provision of potable water, interventions in public health care services and sustainable livelihood for the people.
The Project Coordinator further highlighted the status of the Project, the successes achieved across all thematic areas, and assured that HYPREP will soon complete most of the ongoing projects and roll out others. He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review the progress of the Ogoni cleanup, ensure quality control, and foster effective collaboration.
Consequently, the quarterly key regulators/asset owners meeting is HYPREP’s strategic stakeholder management model, further underscoring the Project’s commitment to transparency, partnership for development, and accountability, all of which are harbingers of effective project delivery.
Speaking to newsmen, HYPREP Project Support Lead and representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr Ehioze Igbinomwanhia, described his involvement with HYPREPas an encouraging and insightful experience, saying, the Project is implementing a wide range of projects across Ogoniland, spanning immediate remediation works as well as livelihood support initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of affected communities.
Engr Igbinomwanhia emphasised that Renaissance Africa Energy remains fully committed to supporting the objectives of the Ogoni cleanup project, noting that the company has a long history of collaboration with HYPREP.
He added that the partnership has been characterised by continuous learning, adaptation and a willingness to respond to observations and recommendations aimed at improving outcomes.
He further emphasised the importance of safety in all project operations, particularly given the challenging terrain and operating conditions in Ogoniland.
He noted that safety is treated as a critical priority and that contractors are continually reminded to maintain high safety standards, stressing that lessons learnt from previous operational challenges like the collapse of the water tank in Gwara Community are being applied to strengthen safety practices and overall performance.
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
