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Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State (middle), his Wife,  Mrs.salamatu Umaru-Al-Makura (7th left), with trainees of Mothers and Child Care Education Foundation (MCCEF), during their graduation in Lafia on Saturday

Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State (middle), his Wife, Mrs.salamatu Umaru-Al-Makura (7th left), with trainees of Mothers and Child Care Education Foundation (MCCEF), during their graduation in Lafia on Saturday

Bauchi
Wife of Bauchi State governor, Hajiya Hadiza
Abubakar, has said the state government was committed to reforming the health sector in the state.
Abubakar said this at the 2015 Maternal, Neo-natal and Child Health Week (MNCHEW) held in Bauchi.
She said that the flag of has clearly shown the willingness and commitment of the government towards giving priority to the sector.
She said that MNCHEW, which was aimed at reducing childhood mortality and improving maternal health, would provide various packages for women and children across the state.
“The week is a strategy to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing child mortality and improving maternal health, the programme is going on in all the 20 local government areas of the state,’’ she said.
Benue
Wife of Benue  State governor, Mrs Eunice Ortom,
has advised hospital owners in the state to upgrade their facilities with a view to screening blood samples.
Ortom gave the advice in an interview with newsmen last Wednesday in Makurdi.
She said that upgrade of blood sample facilities would checkmate the units of blood from donors with questionable lifestyles.
The wife of the governor noted that intensive screening was the only effective way to reduce the spread of hepatitis virus and other blood related diseases.
She alleged that available statistics obtained from the state ministry of health showed that many people in the state had the virus but had refused to go for testing.

Ekiti
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has said that
his administration would collaborate with the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to maintain peace in the state.
Fayose made the remark when the national executives of the union paid him a courtesy visit at  Government House in Ado-Ekiti.
He said that leaders must ensure that peace remained the hallmark of their governance, stressing that being a leader was not about driving the best cars but the number of lives impacted.
Fayose said his administration was able to resolve the issues between RTEAN and security personnel in the state by encouraging them.

FCT
Some stakeholders in the education sector have criticised
the West African Examinations Council (WAEC’s) decision to withhold the 2015 results due to debts owed by some states.
The stakeholders, who spoke with newsmen in separate interviews in Abuja on Wednesday, described the decision as insensitive and irrational.
One of the stakeholders, Mrs Perpetua Okorie, said WAEC had not considered the interest of the children in taking that hasty decision.
Okorie, a parent, said that students should not be held to ransom for any inaction on the part of government.

Jigawa
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
command in Jigawa State, says  it  has arrested two suspects for alleged theft of three motorcycles and a cell phone.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Malam Muhammad Gidado, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Dutse.
Gidado said one of the suspects, Inuwa Ali, aged 19, was arrested in Shuwarin village, Kiyawa Local Government Area.
He explained that the suspect allegedly stole one motorcycle (Daylong brand) from Jahun Local Government Area and rode it to Shuwarin village in Kiyawa Local Government Area.
The commandant added that when the suspect got to Shuwarin, he abandoned it and attempted to take another one (Boxer brand).

Kaduna
Chairman, Interim Management Committee of Zaria Lo
cal Government in Kaduna State,  Alhaji Ja’afaru Abbas, said 35 trucks of fertilisers had been procured by the council for farmers.
Abbas made this known while inaugurating the sales of fertilisers for this year’s farming season in Zaria.
The chairman said the sales of fertilisers to farmers at subsidised rate became necessary in enhancing bumper harvest during this year farming season.
He said that NPK fertiliser would be sold at a subsidised rates of N3, 750; Unrea fertiliser would cost N3,600, while SSP fertiliser would attract N2,940.
The chairman said the commodity was specifically meant for the small scale farmers and warned them against any act that could lead to diversion of the fertilisers.

Kebbi
Kebbi Maternal and Child Health Care Civil Society, an
NGO, has distributed Treated Insecticidal Mosquito Nets to 150 pregnant women in Kebbi.
Hajiya Maryam Mustapha, Chairperson of the NGO, who presented the nets to beneficiaries in Takalau community in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area, said the group would ensure that pregnant women were protected from health hazards.
“The group would sustain support that would safe guard the health of mother and child, especially against mosquito bites that is rampant during raining season,” she said.
She explained that the group was established to support efforts made by the state and local governments as well as donor agencies in reducing the rate of maternal and child mortality.
Lagos
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Fatai
Owoseni, on Thursday urged traditional rulers in the state to be “the eyes and ears” of security agencies in the fight against crime.
Owoseni made the appeal when he met with the royal fathers at the government house to brief them of his programme and his expectations.
He said the royal fathers occupied a very important position in the society since they were in better position to know and get information about individuals and their activities.
Owoseni assured them of the command’s determination to ensure adequate security in all parts of the state, adding that the command was working out new strategies on how best to make the state crime-free.
Osun
Governor  Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, says work
ers’ backlog of salaries would be paid soon.
This promise is contained in a statement issued by the governor’s media aide, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, in Osogbo.
The statement said Aregbesola made the promise when Ijesa Society, a social group, visited him.
Aregbesola, according to the statement, expresses his displeasure over the delay in payment of workers’ salaries.
The statement said every government initiative in the state represented the fulfillment of campaign promises made to the people.

Plateau
Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State has met with
leaders of Berom and Fulani herdsmen in Riyom and Barkin Ladi local governments to find solution to lingering crises in the areas.
Lalong said the meeting was to give the leaders opportunity to openly express themselves and suggest ways to stop attacks and reprisals in the areas.
The governor said he earlier met with the Beroms and Fulani herdsmen at separate occasions where they expressed themselves..
“The summary of all the meetings is that everybody is tired of crises and we all want peace. Today is an opportunity for all of us to find lasting peace in Plateau’’, he said.
The governor said the essence of governance was peace, hence the reason for the series of meetings his administration had held with various stakeholders within the last two months.
Mr Nasiru Oki, Commissioner of Police in Plateau, said the meeting was very fruitful.
Oki said a committee had been set up to look into key issues deliberated upon by the parties towards bringing the desired lasting peace.

Yobe
A Non Governmental Organisation, Advocacy Part
nership on Environment, Water and Sanitation, has urged Yobe State Government  to rescind its decision scrapping the Ministry for Environment in the state.
The NGO made the call in Damaturu when its officials visited the Speaker, Yobe House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Dala-Dogo.
Chairman of the organisation, Alhaji Sheriff Ibrahim, said retaining the ministry will go a long way to effectively fight the challenges of desertification and other environmental threats.
“Although the rationalisation of government ministries was done to save cost and improve service delivery, we wish to call on government to have a rethink on the scrapping of the ministry for environment.

Zamfara
Zamfara State Government has donated N450 million
to the Federal University in Gusau for the construction of additional lecture theatres and students accommodation.
The Acting Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Haruna Sallau, announced the donation at the First Matriculation of the university in Gusau recently.
Sallau said the donation was part of the state government’s commitments to ensuring that a concrete foundation was laid in the university, for better educational development.
He noted that the government also provided additional land at the permanent site of the university worth N700million.
Sallau added that utility vehicles were also provided for officials of the institution.
He reiterated government’s commitment to continue to partner with the university in order to ensure sustainable development of education in the state.

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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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