Nation
THE STATES
FCT
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) last
Wednesday urged Christians and Muslims to co-exist peacefully in the interest of national unity.
Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the President of the association made the call during a one day interactive session with religious leaders, political parties and security agencies in Abuja.
Our correspondent reports that the event was organised by “Think Nigeria Christian-Muslim Movement’’, an NGO.
Oristejafor said the two main religious bodies should ensure that their members were guaranteed protection in the country.
“ We must make a commitment to each other publicly, that Christians are safe in Muslim-dominated areas and Muslims are also safe in Christian-dominated areas,” he said.
Gombe
The Director of the Lake Chad Research Institute
(LCRI), Maiduguri, Dr Oluwasina Olabanji, has said that Nigeria will produce 1.5 million tonnes of wheat by 2017 as part of efforts to reduce the importation of the commodity.
Olabanji made this known at this year’s Wheat Farmers’ Field Day at the Dadin Kowa Irrigation Dam in Yamaltu/Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Olabanji said the institute planned to cultivate 150,000 hectares of wheat using 75,000 wheat farmers in 2015/2016 season, while production would increase to 300,000 hectares in 2017.
“The wheat value chain aims at increasing productivity of wheat from two tonnes per hectare in 2013 to five tones to six tonnes per hectare by 2017and national production from the current 150,000 tonnes to 1.5 million metric tonnes in 2017 and to transform the wheat to major high income generation industrial crop for farmers.”
Kano
The Emir of Daura in Katsina State, Alhaji Farouk
Umar Farouk, last Wednesday described the newly constructed Kano city gates as monuments to be preserved and safeguarded.
He made the remark while inaugurating the gates situated at different locations in Kano.
He said, “Daura and Kano are sharing many things in common given the revered status of the former being the origin of the seven Hausa states of which the latter is a prominent member.’’
He said preservation of cultural heritage made people to remember their identity and progeny, adding that the gates were symbolic monuments depicting the city’s ancient treasures.
Kogi
A senior Medical Consultant Ophthalmologist, Fed
eral Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, Dr Osayande Osawe, has urged governments to increase awareness to prevent blindness through glaucoma.
He made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lokoja on the sidelines of this year’s World Glaucoma Week.
Osawe emphasised the need to prevent our eyes from glaucoma rather than seeking for cure, adding that glaucoma is incurable.
He said it was difficult defining glaucoma because of its complexity in the manner in which it attacked and made the eyes to become blind.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State
has reiterated his administration’s commitment to partner with non-governmental organisations in promoting infant and maternal healthcare in the state.
Ahmed restated this commitment at the inauguration of Maternity Referral Centre built by Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited in Ilorin last Wednesday.
The project was executed in partnership with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company in collaboration with Kwara State Government.
Ahmed described the project as an intervention that would give birth to hope and midwife succour, especially in rural and district communities.
The governor said the significance of the referral centre laid in the fact that child and maternal health was a major index of any efficient system.
According to him, pregnant women and infants are some of the most vulnerable in the society, especially in rural communities.
Lagos
The Arewa Traditional Institution in Lagos last
Wednesday said it was not part of its values for a Sarki to go about visiting and attending political rallies and meetings.
At a news conference in Lagos, the Sarki Hausa of Lagos, Alhaji Aminu Yaro-Dogarai, advised anyone with such an exalted position to play the role of a father and not to be partisan.
He frowned at the activities of some people he called impostors, who were trying to smear the image of the institution.
Yaro-Dogarai said it was disheartening to see people claiming to hold the exalted and highly esteemed office of the traditional Arewa institution visiting and attending political rallies and meetings wearing full traditional regalia.
“It is dishonorable for a bonafide Sarki institution to participate in active partisan politics,’’ he said, noting that it should rather act as a father to all politicians, irrespective of their political class or affiliation.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), has appealed to Labaran Maku, the former Minister of Information, to return to the party in the interest of the state.
Senator Solomon Ewuga, Director General, PDP governorship Campaign Organisation, made the appeal on behalf of the party at a media briefing last Wednesday in Lafia.
He urged Maku to jettison his governorship ambition on the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and return to the PDP which he said, ‘kept him in public service for 14 years.’
He said that the APGA governorship flag bearer should appreciate God and the PDP for the special favour bestowed on him.
Ewuga expressed dismay that Maku had made the PDP which developed his political career his enemy by using religion and ethnicity to sow seed of discord amongst the people of the state.
Niger
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration
and Control (NAFDAC) in Niger State has stopped the mop up of tomato pastes suspected to be dangerous for consumption.
It said it stopped the mop up following instructions from its national headquarters to avoid panic among the people.
An official of the agency, Mr Dadi Mullah, told newsmen in Minna last Wednesday that it was awaiting directives from the headquarters to resume the mop up.
The agency started the mop up of the suspected killer tomato pastes in circulation in the state on Tuesday.
“The management of NAFDAC is strategising on how to mop up these products without causing market panic.”
Ogun
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ogun
State chapter, yesterday commended the Federal Government for reducing electricity tariff by 50 per cent.
The President of the association, Mr Wale Adegbite, told newsmen in Ota that the “step was a welcome development’’.
Adegbite said that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had finally listened to the complaints of manufacturers.
“But, what the NERC has done is to reverse the increase the commission did in January, so it is not really a reduction,’’ he said.
Adegbite said that there was need for the Federal Government to create enabling environment like provision of stable electricity, good roads and adequate security.
R-L: Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State; Yoruba Leaders, Senator Femi Okunrounmu, Prof. Dupe Olatubosun and Dr Frederick Fasehun, at a post National Conference Summit in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN
An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre is set to be established in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The initiative is being championed by the Omoku People’s Forum, a global association of Omoku elites, under the leadership of its President-General, Dr. George Ada Ubah.
As part of efforts to ensure the successful execution of the project, a prominent son of Omoku, Chief (Barr.) Dennis Masi, has been appointed by the Forum as the Chairman of the ICT Centre Project Committee, entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating and driving the initiative to fruition. Upon completion, the ICT Centre is expected to serve as a major hub for the training and empowerment of youths in digital and technological skills, equipping them to actively participate in the increasingly technology-driven global environment.
The project is also widely regarded as a significant step towards positioning Omoku as an emerging ICT hub within Rivers State, fostering innovation, digital literacy, and economic development in the region.
Concerned Rivers Chiefs For Peace And Development has said it formation was not politically motivated or has any links to political parties or candidates.
The group which said this at a media briefing at Abuloma in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area said it’s formation has nothing to do with politics.
According to the text for the briefing jointly signed by Chief Boma Kele Oyika it’s chairman and Chief Inemo T Ikama Deputy Secretary General said the organization is expected to focus on conflict Resolution, community engagement, collaboration with government and private sector actors
‘it mandate also includes promoting peace building initiative, supporting local economic empowerment programms and strengthening traditional institutions in our state and beyond as partners in governance ”
It said the body is led by a team of respected traditional leaders serving as trustees
“Their collective leadership reflects a blend of experience cultural authority and grassroots connection
“Key elements considered vital for addressing long standing,socio economic and security challenges in the region”
The release further says ” the formation of this organization comes at a time when communities in Rivers state continue to navigate between issues ranging from youth unemployment, environmental concerns and intermittent conflicts amongst the traditional rulers and beyond
“By bringing together influential traditional figures under a unified platform, the group aims at serving as stabilizing force while advocating for inclusive development policies ” it said
It also described its emergence as a new chapter in grass roots leadership and regional development
Earlier, chairman of the body, Chief Boma Kele Oyika said the organization will work with relevant authorities to promote peaceful coexistence in the state, reduce crime and promote economic development.
He said it is open to all Chiefs from the 23 local government areas.
The Chairman of The Nigeria Delta Chamber of Commerce, Trade, Mines and Agriculture NDCCTMA,Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) Dr Samuel Ogbuku have challenged Niger Delta entrepreneurs to close the gap in Gross Demostic Products (GDP) differences between the region and that of the South Western part of the country by coming home to invest.
The two leaders spoke at a business round table organized by NDDCTMA in Port Harcourt
Chairman of NDDCTMA Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, said to close the gap between the south west region which he said has a GDP seize of about #59 trillion and that of the Niger Delta which is about #34 trillion was to massively invest in the region.
He said no other persons can do this except sons and daughters from the region.
“For me I believe in statistics,I believe in data and everyday I looked at the data concerning development in Nigeria and from the GDP point of view, the South West has #59 trillion, that is the seize of the south west region economy, the second region following them is the Niger Delta region with GDP seize of #34 trillion,so there is a yearning gap of #25 trillion that separates the south west and the Niger Delta region, that is why we are here”
Ogan said the region has the capacity to close the gap and even surpassed it but regretted that indigenes of the region have chosen to ignore it in terms of investment.
“We need to close that gap .If we close that gap and even surpassed it,all the negative problems of militancy and unemployment will automatically erase “he said
Ogan said the event was organized to remind the people that past efforts of militancy and agitations have not led the region to any where
“That is why we are gathered here in this room “he said.
Also speaking Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission( NDDC) Dr Samuel Ogbuku urged indigenes of the region not to use the problem of insecurity as an excuse to continue to deny the region of investment as every part of the country have in one time or the other experienced crisis.
Ogbuku said most indigenes have displayed high level of unpatriotism towards the region by taking investments that would have benefited the people to either Lagos or Abuja.
“With little threat we have left the city,we have gone to Lagos,we have moved our families to Abuja and Lagos
“If you go round GRA all the property, you will see,”to let to let”most of them are now empty “he said.
The NDDC MD said despite the fact that people from the region are doing well in the oil and gas, banking and other sectors, its impact are not being felt at home because they are stationed outside the region.
He said time has come for potential investors from the region to have a change of heart by coming home to invest.
John Bibor