Nation
THE STATES
Deputy Governor of Plateau State/Commissioner overseeing Tertiary Education, Prof. Sonni Tyoden (2nd right) inspecting the Plateau State Polytechnic Rock FM Studio, during a visit to the institution in Jos, yesterday. With him are the Rector, Mr Dauda Gyemang (right) and other dignitaries.
Bauchi
The sum of N4.66 million was realised at the Bauchi State
chapter of the Armed Forces Remembrance and launching of Emblem Appeal Week for 2016.
Our correspondent reports that the Bauchi State Government and Governor Mohammed Abubakar gave the highest donation of N2 million and N1 million, respectively.
Mr Nuhu Gidado, the Deputy Governor of the state ranked third with the donation of N250,000, while the balance came from other government functionaries, military, para-military and other sister security agencies.
Addressing the gathering, Abubakar described the retired military men as heroes who have sacrificed their lives to protect the territorial integrity of the country.
Borno
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has approved
a N20 million bonus for members of the vigilantee group working with the military in the anti-insurgency operations in the North East.
Shettima announced the donation to the volunteers, popularly known as ‘the Civilian JTF’, at a meeting with members of the group in Government House in Maiduguri.
Our correspondent reports that the governor described his gesture as an appreciation for their efforts in the war against Boko Haram.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Malam Isa Gusau, gave the details of the gesture in a statement in Maiduguri.
Ekiti
No fewer than 39,765 farmers have registered with the
Ekiti State Government in its effort to ascertain genuine farmers who would benefit from its support programmes.
Mr Olumide Fatoba, the General Manager of the State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) said this at a public forum in Ado-Ekiti.
Our correspondent reports that the figure was generated from 15 out of the 16 local government areas of the state.
Fatoba, however, said that the figure was still low, compared to active farmers who constituted close to 70 per cent of the state’s population.
Fatoba who spoke through a senior official of the ADP, Mr Yomi Ogunrinde, said Ido-Osi Local Government had the highest figure of 4,815 farmers, while Ise/Orun Local Government came next with 3,866.
Kaduna
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kaduna State
Sector Command said that the command recorded 463 road traffic accidents in the state in 2015.
Mr Francis Udoma, FRSC Sector Commander in the state, told newsmen in Kaduna that this was as against 610 recorded in 2014, indicating 7 per cent drop in crashes.
He also said that of the 3,226 people involved in the accidents last year, 329 died, as against 513 deaths recorded in 2014, representing a decrease of 16.9 per cent.
“The number of vehicles involved in road traffic crashes reduced by 7 per cent, from 610 vehicles in 2014, to 570 in 2015.
“There was also 15.4 per cent drop in the number of people involved in accidents, from 3,724 in 2014, to 3,226 last year.
Kano
A Sharia Court sitting at Sabon Gari, Kano, has, remanded
a businessman, Aliyu Abbas, 30, and a housewife, Zainab Adamu, 23, in prison custody for allegedly enticing each other.
The first accused, Abbas, was charged with enticing a married woman and intentional insult.
The Prosecutor, Cpl Ahmed Magawata, told the court that one Malam Saidu Musa of Tudun Yola Quarters in Kano reported the case at the Gwale Police Division on Dec. 29.
Magawata said Musa said that he saw his wife, Zainab, and Abbas of Gaida Quarters in his matrimonial room.
He said that on sighting the complainant, the accused even insulted Musa simply because he asked him what brought him to his house.
Kwara
The Kwara Governor, Mr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has called
on elders of Tsaragi in Edu Local Government Area and Share in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the state to be advocates of peace rather than war.
Ahmed made the call in separate interactions with the elders of the two communities on how to ensure lasting peace in the communities.
He said that the elders, as opinion moulders in their respective communities, should pass the value of unity that could endure to the youth.
He advised the elders to take advantage of their closeness to each other to bring infrastructure development to their communities rather than resort to clashes and violence.
“As a people, we are bound to find those who will want to pursue very narrow, personal agenda that do not serve general interest.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has passed the
state’s supplementary budget of N2.7 billion to Governor Tanko Al-Makura for assent.
Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe, the Speaker of the House, announced the passage of the bill during the House plenary in Lafia.
Mr Tanko Tunga (APC-Awe North), the Majority Leader of the House, had moved a motion for the speedy passage of the supplementary budget bill to enable the state government discharge its duties effectively.
He said: “My colleagues, I want to call on you to give speedy passage to this supplementary budget submitted to the House by Al-Makura for approval to enable him deliver dividends of democracy to the people.
Niger
Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State, has presented
the 2016 Appropriation Bill of N74.74 billion to the state House of Assembly.
Our correspondent reports that the recurrent expenditure stood at N39. 5 billion representing 52.85 per cent while capital expenditure was N35.2 billion indicating 47.15 per cent.
Bello said that the budget would cater for the most pressing needs of the population through the creation of jobs.
“ We budgeted to spend N4.29 billion on Education, N3.59 billion on infrastructural development, N2.61 billion on health, N2.53 billion on agriculture and rural development and N2.38 billion on water resources,” he said.
Bello said that the budget would be financed through statutory allocation, Value-Added Tax (VAT), Internally Generated Revenue and capital receipts.
Lagos
The Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria
(WEAN), an NGO, has stressed the need for life skills to be instilled in Nigeria youths, for a better society.
The Executive Director of WEAN, Mrs Angela Daniels, said in Lagos that the acquisition of life skills would aid the youths to become responsible.
She said: “There is lack of life skills amongst majority of our young people, both boys and girls, for them to grow up right.
“Life skills are those skills that are required to enable us make the most out of life; they are usually associated with managing and living a better quality of life.
“With these skills, which include good manners, communication skills, writing skills, assertiveness, soft skills, critical thinking, creative thinking, study skills and independence, our youths will do better in the society.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Independent Electoral Commission
(SIEC) has announced the postponement of the local government councils election it had earlier planned for Jan. 9, 2016.
Our correspondent reports that the Chairman of the commission, Alhaji Usman Abubakar announced the postponement at a news briefing in Sokoto.
‘’ The postponement was due to the non receipt of the card readers we wanted to borrow from our sister agency, the Independent National Electoral Commision, INEC.
‘’ This was also due to bye-election which the commission would conduct in Bayelsa on January 9, 2016.
Yobe
The Yobe State Emergency Management Agency
(SEMA) said it has concluded arrangements to get 50 internally displaced children circumcised at the Pompomari Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Damaturu.
The Executive Secretary of the Agency, Alhaji Musa Idi, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
Idi said that the 50 children would be circumcised and celebrated with cultural fanfare.
He explained that a date would soon be fixed for the event, noting that some of the children were orphans who lost their parents to the Boko Haram insurgency, while some others were living with their parents at the camp.
He said “the children are at the Pompomari Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Damaturu; the Agency organised the circumcision ceremony to uplift their physical and psychological spirits.
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