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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

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

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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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