Nation
THE STATES
L-R: Vice Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof, Ibrahim Garba, Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, his wife, Dr Bolutito Olyinka, President, Nigerian Mining and Geo-Sciences Society, Prof. Gbenga Okunola, Vice Chancellor, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Prof. Isa Funtua and Vice Chancellor, Mountain top University, Prof. Elijah Ayolabi, at an appreciation dinner of the society for the Vice Chancellors and corporate sponsors in Lagos on Saturday.
Bauchi
Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung, has
urged youth in the country not to allow themselves to be used by some selfish individuals as retrogressive tool.
Dalung made the call in an address at the close of a one-day gathering organised by “Muryan Talakawa Awareness Initiative” in Bauchi.
He urged the youth to support and protect the present government they had voted into power to enable it succeed.
Dalung further urged them to stand up against some detractors, who were voted out of power but were still hanging on the “fence” trying to use the youth to cause havoc.
He said that the present administration would accord high priority to youth empowerment to enable them contribute their quota to the development of the country.
Borno
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has com
mended the Military for their sacrifice in restoring peace in the North-East.
Shettima stated this while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri.
“ The military has recorded tremendous achievements in the past six months, we are now consolidating the emerging peace in the state.
.“It is wrong for anyone to say that the Boko Haram are in control, yes you might have pockets of them trying to foment mischief, but eventually, we shall overcome the hiccups.
“We are all living witnesses to what is happening in Borno, you and I know that in the last couple of months Ngala was liberated by the military, so also was Bama, Gwoza, Dikwa, Mafa andso many other communities that were hitherto under the terrorists’control.
FCT
President Muhammadu Buhari has extolled the virtues of
Hajiya Fati Koko, popularly called Maitalla Tara, who passed away at age of 95 years.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president.
The statement recalled that late Koko, had waited nine hours in Kebbi early 2015, to donate one million naira to Buhari as the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Buhari described her as “a woman with a good heart, who stood by her convictions, and gave sacrificially.
“Hajiya Koko had offered virtually her life’s savings to candidate Buhari then, saying she admired his honesty, discipline, and stand for truth.’’
Kano
Kano State Road Maintenance Agency (KARMA) has
warned members of the public against construction of unprofessional speed breakers along township roads in the state.
The agency was established by former Governor of the state, Alhaji Rabi’u Kwankwaso, to ensure maintenance of township roads in the 44 local government areas.
The Managing Director of the agency, Alhaji Aminu Aliyu, gave the warning in an interview with newsmen in Kano.
He said that indiscriminate dumping of refuse and digging on the roads, among others, were putting the roads into bad shape.
“Such bad practices cause environmental degradation and are harmful to vehicle owners, when left unchecked.
“When you do things unprofessionally on roads, many damages are expected to happen and such things can cause damage to vehicles,” Aliyu said.
Kebbi
The General Manager, Kebbi State Environmental Pro
tection Agency (KESEPA), Alhaji Musa Umar, has warned farmers against bush burning.
Umar gave the warning in an interview with newsmen in Brinin Kebbi.
The general manager said bush burning had negative impact on soil conditions, as it caused its inability to absorb and retain water.
“Bush burning reduces nitrogen in the soil, which slowed growth of crops. The act also causes air pollution and reduces quality of the soil,’’ he said.
Lagos
Traders at the Rauf Aregbesola Market, Iyana Ipaja,
Lagos, have appealed to the Lagos State Government to intervene in the impasse between them and Alimosho Local Government council.
The local government threatened to eject the traders to pave way for the demolition of the structures to upgrade the market.
The traders told newsmen in Lagos that this was the second attempt by the local government authorities to forcefully eject them from the market.
According to the traders, in 2012 when the market was under Egbeda/Akowonjo Local Development Authority, the council asked them to submit their allocation papers for an upgrade of the market.
They said that the upgrade was suspended when their lawyer challenged the council after an advice from the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
Ogun
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Ogun
State Command, says it has arrested over 35, 734 traffic offenders between January and December 2015, for various offences.
The Sector Commander, Mr Adegoke Adetunji, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abeokuta recently.
Adetunji said the offenders were arrested for offences such as speeding, overloading, refusal to use seat belt and making phone calls while driving.
He said others were arrested for failure to use crash helmets, reckless driving and driver’s license violation.
Oyo
The Head of Cassava Weed Management Project, In
ternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), in Ibadan, Dr Alfred Dixon, has advised farmers to avoid using blunt cutlass to cut cassava stems.
Dixon told newsmen in Ibadan that cutting the stem with blunt cutlass will damage the stem, thereby stunting the growth of tubers of the cassava.
“The edge you are putting in the soil has to be very fine such that the root will be able to come out of it.
“So, farmers need to cut with a sharp object on a soft ground; not on a stone or hard wood.
“Also, using a blunt object will destroy the point the plant will grow, thereby causing low yield, “ he said.
The cassava breeder also urged farmers to be careful with the planting measurement while planting.
Plateau
Plateau State Commissioner for Environment and Min
eral Resources, Mr Abdullahi Abbass, has lamented the pilfering of property of the state-owned Kaolin factory in Barikin-Ladi, that was gutted by fire recently.
The Commissioner, who expressed his displeasure when he visited the factory , appealed to host communities to always guard and protect government facilities.
“These facilities are in your midst and of much advantage to you, so they must be protected by you,” he told the community leaders.
Abbas was particularly angry that some hoodlums even took advantage of the incident to rush into the factory to steal some office furniture.
He expressed joy that the thieves were promptly apprehended in by the security men.
Sokoto
A member of Sokoto State House of Assembly, Alhaji
Sani Yakubu ( APC-Gudu), says he has earmarked N 800,000 for disbursement to 200 female students from his constituency who are currently studying in various boarding Secondary Schools across the state.
Yakubu stated this in Sokoto when he gave an update on his special bursary scheme for female children.
According to Yakubu, each of the 200 beneficiaries would be given N 4,000 transport money.
‘’ In the same vein, each of the female students will be given a carton of indomie noodles, a set of uniforms and a ‘hijab’ covering.
‘’ Similarly, each of them will be given a school bag, a dozen exercise books and mathematical set, among others.
Yobe
Acting Chairman, Gujba Local Government of Yobe State,
Alhaji Mai Musa, said people who fled the area due to the Boko Haram insurgency, had returned to their respective communities and engaged in irrigation farming.
Musa disclosed this in an interview with the newsmen in Damaturu.
He said residents of Wagir, Nyakire, Mutai, Buni Gari, Gujba, Katarko and Garin Itace, who fled their communities had mostly returned.
“The people have engaged in irrigation farming in most of the communities, while business activities have picked up in the village markets,” he said.
The chairman said except Buni Yadi, headquarters of the local government, most of the communities had returned and engaged in various means of livelihood.
“As you know, Buni Yadi, has since been liberated and occupied by the security but, they have yet to be authorised by the residents to return ,” he said.
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