Nation
THE STATES
Benue
The Benue State House of Assembly has directed a former
staff in the office of the deputy governor to retire N1.3 million back into the government’s coffers within one month or face the law. It also ordered the affected staff, Onah Iduh, to appear before it. The House which gave the directive at sitting in Makurdi, frowned at the N7.3 billion extra budgetary expenditure by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the state and warned them against further unauthorised expenditures or risk sanction. The legislators’ resolution was based on report of the audited accounts of Benue State government, which was presented by the Public Account Committee headed by James Ochojila. The House maintained that MDAs should desist from extra budgetary expenditures, as only monies captured in the year’s budget should be expended.
Bauchi
The State Security Service (SSS) in Bauchi State has been
dragged to court over the non-payment of compensation for the land acquired for its training school. Hajiya Fatimah Ali filed a suit before the Bauchi State High Court against the SSS, over fencing of the land when it is yet to pay compensation to owners. The defendants in the suit include Director of the school, Alhaji Ja’afar, Abdulrahman Yamida and Sani Abdullahi Mohammed. Counsel to the complainant, Barrister Idris Jibo, told the court that initially, the land was sold to individuals and that when the training school indicated interest to acquire it, the owners entered into an agreement with the SSS. Jibo, who said the institution started developing the plot of land without paying his clients, urged the court to restrain it from further work on the land. The judge, Justice Abdulkadir Suleiman, granted the prayer and adjourned the suit to September 17.
Borno
The Shehu of Borno State Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar
Garbai Al-Amin El-Kanemi yesterday urged Muslims in Borno State to begin a three -day fasting from today to September 6, 2014.
A statement signed by the Secretary of the Borno Emirate Council, Zanna Laisu Kazalma, quoted the Shehu as saying that the call was in view of the security challenges confronting the state and other states and the need for spiritual intervention. The Umma was equally urged to offer special prayers in all Mosques and recite Khalimat Shahada ‘La Ilaha Illallah’ continuously during the fasting period. The Shehu advised that every Muslim individually and collectively should offer Sadaqat to the needy and underprivileged, especially to the internally displaced persons in various camps. In the same vein, he urged the Christian community in the state not to relent in their continuous prayers for peace and security in Borno and Nigeria.
FCT
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jubrin
has accused oil companies of complicity in oil theft.
He spoke in Abuja yesterday while receiving the managing directors and chief executive officers of oil companies operating in the country. He said the situation had warranted mentioning names of the oil companies and other major stakeholders involved in the act. “We cannot pretend that the oil companies do not have a hand in some of these illegalities: some of the companies have left their oil wells open for years without sealing them up. “It has become very worrisome that we have not been able to check this and I personally believe that it has gotten to a point that instead of pointing accusing finger at each other, we shall be mentioning names including the major stakeholders,” he said “Why are we denting the image of this country? We must meet, discuss and curtail the oil theft. If any of my personnel is involved, he will be dealt with in accordance with the existing laws,” the Navy boss added.
Gombe
Not more than nine babies including twins have been
delivered at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Gombe by pregnant women who fled the Boko Haran crisis in Borno State. The women who delivered the babies are among the over 1, 624 displaced persons in Damboa Local Government Area in Borno State following Boko Haram insurgents attack. The Senior Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Gombe Operations office, Ali Kadiri Moses gave the figures in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi. Kadiri said: “There are a lot of pregnant women in the camp.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Director of the National Orientation
Agency (NOA), Mr Elisha Meck Sabo has appealed to residents of the state to avoid rumours of an outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in the state after the management of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria yesterday admitted that one of its students was under examination after showing symptoms similar to those of Ebola. A statement from the university’s Public Affairs Directorate on behalf of the ABU/ABUTH Joint Committee on the Ebola Viral Disease said the clarification became necessary as rumours spread on the outbreak of the disease. ”The committee wishes to categorically state that there is indeed a reported case of a student of the university who on Monday, September 1, 2014 took himself to the ABUTH Shika to complain of fever, body pains, diarrhoea and vomiting, and he had been on and off with the sickness for two weeks before. From the examination carried out on the patient it was found that all the symptoms discovered are commonly seen in patients with other medical conditions.
Kano
Suspected killer of late Kano hotelier, Alhaji Ganiyu Akanbi
Bello, has arraigned before a Kano State Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting at No Man’s Land. The suspect, Abubakar Abdurrahman Sadiq, 26, resident of Badawa quarters in Nassarawa Local Government Area of the state was accused of killing Alhaji Ganiyu Bello, owner of GAB Centre for Excellence Hotel on June 5, at his residence. The accused person, who once worked as a receptionist in one of the deceased hotels, was said to have gone into Alhaji Ganiyu’s residence to steal. It was further alleged that before the suspect could carry out the act, the deceased woke up and engage him in a fight. Source said that it was during the fight that the accused stabbed the deceased. The accused was charged with criminal trespass, armed robbery and culpable homicide, offences contrary to Sections 348, 298 and 221 of the Penal Code. Police prosecutor, Haziel Lidapuwa, said the accused person pleaded guilty to all the three-count charges preferred against him. Presiding judge, Chief Magistrate Hassan Ahmed ordered that the accused person be remanded in prison and adjourned the case to October 10.
Niger
The Zungeru Hydroelectric Dam Community Relations
Committee (CRC) has called on communities hosting the ongoing dam project to cooperate with the federal government to ensure completion. Spokesperson of the committee, Salman Yusuf, in a statement said efforts are on to tackle cases of omission of names and underpayment of compensation to owners of land acquired for the project. “We are appealing to the host communities for their understanding and cooperation as the authorities have noted with seriousness the observed cases of omission of names, underpayment and delay experienced in the banks in the compensation exercise. We are assuring the beneficiaries that the issues will be looked into with a view to making needed amendments,” he said.
Plateau
National Chairman, Council of Ulama of Jammatul Izalatul
Bidia Wa Ikamatus Sunnan (JIBWIS) Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir has said that education is a critical tool for revolution
Jingir, who spoke yesterday in Jos, when he presented prizes to winners from Plateau State of the just concluded Quranic competition organized by JIBWIS, said education is the foundation of any positive change and develop-ment in the society.
Jingir said education and dis-cipline are the best legacies that parents and guardians can give to their children.
“Whoever invests in the education of his children has double rewards; first reward is for making your children responsible and development of the society. Secondly, Almighty Allah will reward you. I urge all parents to provide sound Islamic and western education to their children,” he said.
Sokoto
Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Senator
Umaru Tambuwal has lost his mother, Hajiya Fatima Attahiru yesterday at the age of 97 after a protracted illness.
Fondly called Mama Ashibi, the late Hajiya Fatima is survived by three children, many grand and great grandchildren. She was buried in Tambuwal after funeral prayers attended by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Others dignitaries included Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar and others. Wamakko and the sultan prayed Allah to grant her eternal rest and give members of her family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Yobe
There were fears in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital yes
terday following information reaching the town that Boko Haram insurgents had encircled it.
There was no security confirmation to that effect but residents of villages and towns around the city said they saw the insurgents in some strategic locations.
Our correspondent reports that residents of Damaturu were confident of security measures earlier put in place by the Soldiers Special Operation team. But with the annexation of southern Yobe and the growing rife in Bama, Gwoza and other parts of the states, fear has taken over the town.
A resident from Sassawa, a few kilometers Northeast of Damaturu said the insurgents were freely carrying out activities in the area.
“They preach, extort and kill anyone who resists them, there is no security in the area. And they always threaten that we should stay in the village or else they would meet us in Damaturu”, he said.
Nation
Gombe Opens Bid For Construction Of Three-Arm Zone Project
Gombe State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation has opened bids for the construction of three arms zone complexes within the Gombe Capital Special Development Zone which held at the Ministry’s conference hall.
Speaking while presiding over the bid opening proceedings, the Commissioner, Engr. . Usman Maijama’a Kallamu assured the bidders that the bid opening would be carried out using procurement process which is based on specific regulations that are credible, fair, and transparent.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alh. Idris Yambiu Buba said that the Ministry will continue to align itself for optimal results in the implementation of government policies and projects in line with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to bringing development to the State.
While assuring the bidders of a transparent process, the SSA to the Governor on Special Project, Arch. Yakubu Mamman thanked Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his foresight in infrastructural development of the State, adding that government is committed to ensuring that all bidders had an equal chance to participate and compete based on merit to maintain standards and specifications.
Nation
Gov Mbah Signs Bill To Establish Teaching Hospital In Enugu
Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, yesterday, signed the Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Teaching Hospital Bill 2024 into Law, promising to expedite action to actualise the teaching hospital immediately to provide quality training and healthcare services in the Enugu North part of the State and the State in general.
Mbah, while commending the Enugu State House of Assembly for accelerating action on the processing and passage of the Executive Bill, said that establishing SUMAS Teaching Hospital was in line with his manifesto.
He said, “What we have done by signing into law the Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences Teaching Hospital Bill is that we now have in place a legal framework to immediately begin to put in place all that is required to upgrade SUMAS to a teaching hospital. This is part of our campaign promises and we are committed to delivering on that expeditiously.
“We believe that the importance and significance of siting a teaching hospital in our Enugu North zone can never be lost on us. So, we are not going to spend any time in making sure that everything that is necessary and required to upgrade and get the teaching hospital operational is put in place. With this Law, we are going to redouble our commitment and our efforts to achieve that.”
He assured the Governing Council and the Management of SUMAS of his continued support, adding that his administration would equally be counting on their pedigree and contacts to bring the teaching hospital to fruition in record time.
“We are going to continue to support you and we are also going to continue to count on your experience, network, and profile in raising resources to actualize the project.
“This year alone, we are going to spend 33 per cent of our budget on education. This underscores the importance of education to this administration. So, be sure to come to us whenever there is a need. We are going to support you because we are interested in education and we are investing heavily in it,” he said.
On his part, the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, who also spoke at the Bill signing witnessed by the Chairman of SUMAS Governing Council, Msgr. Obiora Ike, and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. James Ogbonna, and top hierarchies of the institution, commended Governor Mbah’s speed and faithfulness in delivering on his campaign promises. He assured that the House of Assembly was ever ready to fast-track every executive bill that would impact positively on the state and its people.
“We promised we are going to support this administration by doing our job expeditiously to ensure that there is no delay in your delivery of democracy dividends to our people. Therefore, the SUMAS Teaching Hospital Bill received expedited hearing and today you have the signing of the bill into law,” he stated.
Nation
Ododo Applauds Security Agencies Over Rescue Of 43 Bus Passengers
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has applauded security agencies in the State for their efforts in the rescue of 43 bus passengers.
The Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah disclosed this in a statement yesterday.
The statement noted that the governor welcomed the news of the release of the abducted bus passengers in Okehi Local Government Area of the State and called for sustained collaboration between security agencies and local communities to improve intelligence gathering and prevent crime and criminality in all parts of the state.
Ododo commended the caretaker chairman of Okehi LGA, Mr Amoka Eneji, the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Professional Hunters, Ebira Local Hunters Group and other security agencies for their intervention, which led to the rescue of the passengers who were abducted outside the state.
“Governor Ododo also commends the response of security agencies to the robbery incidence in Felele area of Lokoja and called for more urgency in addressing cases of insecurity in any part of the state.
“The Governor reassured the people of the state that his administration will not relent in its efforts in deploying maximum resources to ensure that all communities in the state remain unsafe for criminal elements.”
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