Nation
THE STATES
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State (3rd left), his Deputy, Dr Idiat Adebule (2nd left), Chairman, Lagos Civil Service Commission, Mrs Adeyinka Oyemade (3rd right), Commissioner I, Pastor Israel Alagba and other members of the commission, at the inauguration of the commission by Governor Ambode in Lagos, yesterday.
Bauchi
Acting Rector of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic,
Bauchi, Dr Suleiman Lame, said that the institution had secured the accreditation of 39 courses within nine months.
Lame, said in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi that before May 2015, only five courses run by the 27-year-old school were accredited.
“Unfortunately, even the five courses that we have then, the accreditation of four expired in February 2011 leaving only one, which is computer science.
The rector said five of the accredited courses were for Higher National Diploma.
Lame said that the state government and TETFUND had improved the school’s infrastructure, including laboratories, workshops, hostels and construction of new school of general studies, engineering, vocational and technical studies.
Benue
The Benue State Government said it had commenced
the rehabilitation of both federal and state roads across the state.
The Commissioner for Works, Transport and Power, Mr Emmanuel Manger, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi.
He said the rehabilitation became necessary due to the frequent road crashes they caused, leading to loss of lives and destruction of food and cash crops.
Manger added that both the state government would also repair its roads simultaneously with the federal government roads.
The commissioner said that the federal roads would be rehabilitated in consultation and collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.
“The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, during his visit to the state, gave the assurance that federal roads fixed by states government would be duly reimbursed,’’ he added.
FCT
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minis
try of Foreign Affairs and the National Hajj Commission, NAHCON, to negotiate with Saudi authorities on improved terms and conditions for Nigerian pilgrims performing Hajj.
This,is contained in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President Mr Garba Shehu, on Saturday in Abuja.
According to it, the decision followed the completion of talks with rulers of the Saudi Arabian Kingdom after the acceptance by its government to freely and openly discuss outstanding issues with Nigeria.
The statement said President Buhari, among others, also requested the Saudis to conclude all issues with the Nigerian Hajj Commission.
Such issues it said, included the undetermined outcome of Saudi’s investigation into the stampede at Muna in 2015 where it was believed that 274 Nigerians died.
Gombe
Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, said
recently that the state was intensifying the campaign on breast feeding.
Dankwambo said this in Dukku during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Dukku, Alhahi Haruna Rasheed in Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State.
Our correspondent reports that the Chief of Nutrition, UNICEF, Mr Argan Dewagt, said that Gombe State “is doing very poorly in the area of exclusive breast feeding.’’
The governor made an appeal to Dukku monarch to speak to his subject on the need for every mother to breast feed her child exclusively.
“It is important for every woman to breast feed her child for the maximum period of 18 months.
“It is important because the breast has all the nutrients needed by a child.
“I want the traditional and religious leaders to carry out this campaign among the people,” he said.
Lagos
A Lagos lawmaker, Mr Olushola Shokunle has urged
both the Federal and State governments to be more committed to youths development to secure a future for the nation.
Shokunle, representing Oshodi/Isolo I at the Lagos State House of Assembly made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
According to him, Nigerian youths have all it takes to change the image and fortunes of the country.
He said, “The government should take the responsibility to make our youths productive and channel their youthful energy to developmental activities.
“Government must give the youths the proper attention to make them positively productive and engaged.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has announced the re
lease of 19 inmates of Birnin-Gwari Prisons, as part of ongoing efforts to decongest prisons in the state.
This was contained in a statement issued in Kaduna by Mr Barau Emmanuel, Technical Assistant on Media to the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ruth Dyeris-Sijuwade.
It said that the prisoners were released after evaluation of their cases by the Committee on Prisons Decongestion, headed by the commissioner.
According to the statement, those released were mainly first time offenders for non-capital offences and those held for offences not found in law.
Kogi
Residents of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital have ex
pressed shock and anger over the demolition of five popular landmarks and monuments in the city on the orders of Governor Yahaya Bello.
Also affected are the Lugard Roundabout in front of the Government House, erected in memory of Nigeria’s former Governor-General, Lord Fredrick Lugard, and the popular Kogi Circle, erected to mark the creation of the state in 1995.
Also demolished are the Welcome to Lokoja Roundabout, built at the entrance of the city to welcome visitors from South Western Nigeria.
The popular NTA Roundabout and the one adjoining the Government House and the Government Reserved Area were also demolished.
Niger
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that investment
in education by his administration would begin to manifest with the passage of the 2016 budget.
The president made the remark in a message to the 25th Convocation of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna.
He said that the administration would bring about massive changes in the education sector to provide qualitative education to majority of Nigerians.
“This administration is placing high premium on education and agriculture.
Ogun
A former member of Ogun State House of Assembly,
Mrs Adijat Adeleye-Oladapo, says knowledge of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) can curb unemployment in the country.
Adeleye-Oladapo, a two term member of the Assembly, said this on Saturday while addressing the Batch nine graduands of the Motunrayo-Adeleye Free ICT Centre at Akute, Ifo Local Government Area of the state.
She urged the youths, irrespective of their socio-economic background, to embrace the principles and practices of ICT to further reduce unemployment rate in the country to its minimum level.
The former lawmaker said that the establishment of the centre was part of her efforts towards ensuring that everyone in Ifo II constituency, especially indigent citizens, acquired necessary information and communication technology skills.
Osun
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II has
officially declared Ile-Ife as a tourism zone and called on individuals, groups, government and entire Africans to support him translate the dream into reality.
Oba Ogunwusi made the declaration during a summit at the Oduduwa Hall, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
He said Ile-Ife was blessed with natural and mineral resources and endowed with tourist attractions, “and that is why I planned to use the sites to create wealth and improve infrastructure for Ile-Ife and the Yoruba land.
Sokoto
The Federal Government has restated its commitment to
bridging the gender gap in education.
The Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu, said this in Sokoto at the second steering committee meeting of the forthcoming Girls’ Education Conference.
The conference, whose date was yet to be fixed, is being jointly organised by the Sultan Foundation for Peace and Development, UNICEF and the 19 Northern state governments.
Adamu said: “The federal government will do everything humanly possible to bridge the gap between boys and girls across the nation.
“The federal government places greater emphasis on education and it is on the front burner of its policies and programmes.”
Yobe
Rep. Sabo Garbu (PDP-Potiskum/Nangere), has distrib
uted various items aimed at empowering 100 women divorcees and widows toward self reliance.
Our correspondent reports that items presented at a ceremony in Potiskum included raw materials for soap, cream and detergent making, tailoring and knitting machines as well as other complementary items.
Speaking at the occasion, Garbu advised the beneficiaries against selling the items.
The legislator said that the items were in addition to tricycles and grinding machines he had earlier distributed to youths in the area.
The Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), has asked the Nigeria Police to apologise for violating the fundamental right of the protesters to freedom of expression.
A statement by the human rights group yesterday, by its Interim Chair, Femi Falana (SAN), also accused the police of deliberately contravening Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020.
The section provides that “Where a person or organization notifies the police of his or its intention to hold a public meeting, rally or procession on a public highway or such meetings in a place where the public has access to, the police officer responsible for the area where the meeting rally or procession will take place shall mobilize personnel to provide security cover for the meeting, rally or the procession.”
The group noted that Section 36 of the Constitution guarantees the fundamental right of the Nigerian people to freedom of expression including the right to protest against policies of the government.
Many Nigerians in many states across the country trooped out on Saturday, June 12 to mark the day– Democracy Day – with protests against bad governance.
The protesters chanted ‘Buhari must go’ in apparent dissatisfaction with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government that has seen security, economy, youth employment rate and some other sectors and indices worsen.
However, there were arrests and harassment of peaceful protesters by the policex particularly in Abuja, Lagos and Cross River.
The group in the statement said, “For having the audacity to insist on their fundamental right to protest against unpopular policies of governments, teams of armed police personnel fired teargas to disperse the peaceful rallies. As if the unprovoked attack was not enough, the Police brutalised and arrested scores of protesters in Lagos, Abuja and Calabar (Cross River State capital).
“Since the protesters who were arrested during the peaceful rallies did not commit any offence, they have since regained their liberty. But the police authorities ought to apologise for violating the fundamental right of the protesters to freedom of expression.
“More so that the Police had deliberately contravened Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020 which provides that ‘Where a person or organization notifies the police of his or its intention to hold a public meeting, rally or procession on a public highway or such meetings in a place where the public has access to, the police officer responsible for the area where the meeting rally or procession will take place shall mobilise personnel to provide security cover for the meeting, rally or the procession.’
“While commending the protesters for conducting the themselves in a matured and peaceful manner, we condemn the official lie that the protesters were teargassed to prevent hoodlums and miscreants from hijacking the peaceful rallies. Since the Police admitted that protesters committed no offence whatsoever why were some of them arrested? Why were the so-called hoodlums and miscreants who wanted to cause mayhem and unleash violence on the protesters not arrested?
“Or were they treated like sacred cows because they had been hired to disrupt the peaceful rallies of the protesters? Why were the scanty pro-government protesters who were reported to have fought openly in Abuja over their booty not arrested for breach of the peace in the Federal Capital Territory?
Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has described the late Chief Moshood Abiola, widely believed to have won the June 12, 1993 presidential poll, as “the most acceptable democrat cherished by Nigerians”.
Mohammed said this in Gamawa Local Government Area (LGA) of the state during the distribution of empowerment items to youths and women under the Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme (KEEP).
He said the empowerment scheme historic as it coincided with Democracy Day which he described as an unforgettable day in the history of Nigeria.
The governor, who was full of praises for the late business mogul, said Abiola provided the country with a lot of empowerment programmes without considering the tribe, language and geographical location of the beneficiaries.
“Our launching of this empowerment programne today is historic and passionate; we remember today is democracy day and we decided to do it on this day.
“This is because Chief Moshood Abiola, who we are celebrating, empowered several people.
“He did that across board without considering the religion, language and origin of those that benefited from the gestures.
“Abiola will remain in our memory as the most acceptable democrat or politician in Nigeria.
“We all voted for him and that is why myself, my deputy and the government decided honour to him this day by coming to Gamawa and Zaki to empower the people,” he said.
Mohammed noted that democracy day meant remembering people who had empowered the masses, adding that the late Abiola was in that category.
The gesture, he said, was also to show appreciation to the people who brought his administration to power, adding that his government had a lot to offer to the people.
President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, on his 79th birthday, joining family members and friends to celebrate with the iconic leader.
The president’s congratulatory message is contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja yesterday.
Buhari noted that Abubakar’s legacy of setting the country on the path of democracy and good governance, and passionate pursuit of peace had continued to yield results.
He congratulated the General for another age, appreciating his patriotism and visionary leadership style of always advocating unity, projecting maturity and wisdom on national discourse, and providing a rallying point for the future of the country.
The president noted the goodwill that the former Head of State had continued to attract to the country, both at national and international levels.
He particularly lauded him for sacrificing his time and resources to reach out to individuals and institutions on the need to work for the growth of Nigeria.
Buhari prayed for increase in wisdom, strength and long life for the former military leader that midwifed return of democracy to the country in 1999.
Similarly, Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger has felicitated former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (Rtd), on his 79th birthday.
Sani-Bello, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mrs Mary Noel-Berje, last Saturday in Minna eulogised Abubakar and described him as a “complete gentleman”.
According to him, the former head of state is a patriot who has remained “consistent and significant” in the progress and development of the country.
He said Niger and the country were indeed lucky to have an outstanding leader and statesman who had consistently remained on the path of promoting national unity and integration, as well as pursuit of global peace.
“Undoubtedly, your resolve to rededicate yourself to the service of our fatherland and humanity in general is a clear testimony of your statesmanship and influence which cuts across the length and breadth of the country,” Sani-Bello said.
He noted that at 79 years, Abdulsalami had remained a reference point for good governance, diplomacy and conflict resolution.
He prayed Allah to grant him sound health, many more years of wisdom, courage and determination to continue to offer selfless service to the nation and humanity.
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