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THE STATES

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Adamawa

Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr
Babachir Lawal says he is not nursing the ambition to become governor of Adamawa State.
Lawal told newsmen in Yola that the speculation was baseless, adding that at his age and position as SGF, it was not proper for him to think of serving as state governor in the future.
“At over 60 years of age and my position as SGF, I should not be thinking of being a governor, governorship should be left for younger people”.
Lawal also said he was not planning to sponsor a candidate for governorship of the state.
“The whole thing is funny, they are even saying that I favour my own tribe of Kilba in federal appointments because Bos Mustapha was recently appointed the Managing Director  of Nigeria Inland Waterways Agency.
“People need to know that Mustapha is not only well qualified for the job but also a chieftain of the party who actively participated as an official in Buhari campaign organisation.
“Buhari knows Mustapha’s capacity and Buhari’s appointments are always based on merit.

Bauchi

About 12 persons have been reportedly killed in an auto
crash along Bauchi, Kano road.
Witnesses report that the victims were operatives of a popular local security outfit, Danga Security, heading back to Bauchi from Ningi, a town about 70 kilometres away.
The commandant of the Danga Security outfit, Yusuf Hassan who was in another vehicle behind the one involved in the crash, said the accident occurred about 5p.m. at Kafin Liman Village, along Bauchi Ganjuwa road in Ganjuwa Local  Government Area of the state.
“Nobody is expecting that to happen, we were returning from Ningi to Bauchi, I was in my car and the Hilux that had an accident was conveying my personnel.  It was four kilometers ahead us.  It collided with a tanker that lost control and rammed into our Hilux killing all the 11 personnel”.

Benue

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has commended
the operatives of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigating the Speaker and other members of the State  House of Assembly for allegedly misappropriating N750 million meant for purchase of official cars.
The governor said his government would not condone any act of criminality or defend anyone who had a hand in fraud.
I would recall that the Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Terkinbi Ikanyga, his Deputy, James Ikefe, the majority leader, Benjamin Adanyi, Deputy majority leader, Nick Eworo, the minority, leader, Sule Aulu and ten other members were recently arrested and detained in Abuja by EFCC.
It was gathered that though they were left off the hook via bail after spending three days in detention, seven other members had been summoned to appear before the commission for questioning.

Borno

Soldiers have recorded successes in their operations
in parts of the North-East and North-West, killing several Boko Haram insurgents and three armed bandits respectively.
The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman in a statement said the troops 118 Taskforce Battalion,  8 Taskforce Division on blocking position at Garere Junction ambushed Boko Haram insurgents at Gudumbali, northern part of Borno State, while they were crossing to another location with some logistics items.
Usman said that during the operation the troops killed two and ambushed one of the terrorists.
He said the troops also recovered a truck earlier stolen by the terrorists in Kangarwa.
Ekiti

Some members of Esure Ekiti in Irepodun-Ifelodun Local
Government Area of Ekiti State have told Governor Ayo Fayose not to pardon the seven persons convicted of rioting and malicious damage in the community in 2014.
The seven persons were convicted in 2014 after a bloody feud between two quarters of Ilomu and Anyinshin in the town.
A letter of Appeal dated June 29, 2016 written on behalf of Ilomu quarters by their counsel, Dr A. D. Adebayo said the town had remained peaceful since the accused persons were convicted, pointing out their pardon might jeopardise the peace.

FCT

The General Overseer of Deeper Life Church, Pastor Wil
liams Folorunsho Kumuyi has  urged Nigerians not to lose hope in President Muhammadu Buhari because God is on the throne.
He said he was hopeful that Buhari-led administration was on the right track to reposition Nigeria’s economy.
“Although the country might be passing the ‘best of times’, there are strong reasons not to lose hope on  Muhammadu Buhari, because God is on the throne; He will turn things around for Nigeria. There is always light after the tunnel”.

Lagos

The Senate has reiterated its commitment to remove any
form of monopoly that will impede the development of private and public free trade zones in Nigeria.
Speaking after inspecting facilities at Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL), members of the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment led by its chairperson, Senator Fatimat Rayi-Resaki said the fact-finding tour would enable the senate gather useful information to aid its review of existing laws.
According to Raji-Rasaki who was accompanied by Senators Effiong Nelson and Yusuf Abubakar.  The senate has shown commitment towards creating a conducive environments that would move the economy of the nation forward by strengthening the laws governing  the operation of the trade zone.
She added that the committee would also visit similar projects in Calabar and Kano.
The chairman of LADOL, Mr Bedi Jadesimi while thanking the committee for the visit said he hoped that it would convey a different perception that  Nigerians were capable of doing and pleaded with the legislators to create a conducive business environment devoid of policy somersault that could send wrong signal to investors.
Ogun

The rift between the Ogun State Government and the
Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ogun State council is yet to be over as the union has challenged the government to publish details of how it expended the bailout fund from the Federal Government.
The union faulted the state government’s claim that the bail-out fund was used to service the outstanding arrears of salaries/deductions of local government workers, describing it as mere political propaganda.
The NULGE leadership had accused the Ibikumle Amosen-led government of diverting N9.1 billion bail-out funds meant to pay salary arrears of the state government employees, including those of 20 LGAs for other purposes.
The union disclosed that the administration did not settle the outstanding arrears of salaries and deductions of local government workers with the bailout fund.
This is contained in a statement siged by the union President, Comrade Olatunji and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital.

Oyo

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has
called for a thorough investigation into the murder of a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr Gideon Aremu (Dorelope-LP).
This is contained in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Publicity and Strategy, Mr Olewale Sadare in Ibadan.
The statement described the death of Aremu who was the chairman, State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Public Relations and Security as brutal and disturbing.
“We received the news of the killing of Hon. Gideon Aremu with utter disbelief and rude chock.
This is in view of the fact that such nasty development and political violence have become history the state since 2011 when the current administration took the mantle of leadership of Oyo state”, it said.

Plateau

The Plateau State House of Assembly has witnessed a
rowdy session as members of the People’s Democratic Party protested the extension of the tenure of the transition chairman of the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
Governor Simon Lalong had written a letter to the lawmakers, requesting that the tenure of the local government transition chairmen be extended by six months instead of the original two months.
The chairmen were appointed following the sacking of the chairmen who were elected into office by former Governor Jonah Jang.
But the 10 PDP lawmakers led by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Yusuf Gagdi protested the move, saying that it was against the agreement reached with the lawmakers when the chairmen were elected last year.
He said that the chairmen’s tenure had been extended by two months in the former exercise since they were appointed earlier this year.

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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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