Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Governor Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa State, has di
rected all contractors who abandoned their contracts to return to site with immediate effect.
The governor gave the directive in Yola at a meeting with the management of Skip Engineering Nigeria Ltd, a contracting company in Yola.
He said that though his administration was not interested in digging into the past, all contractors that collected part of their contract funds and disappeared must go back to their sites.
He said that the directive became necessary to enable the people, who are the direct beneficiaries of the contracts reap the dividends of democracy.
Benue
A social critic and Finance Consultant, Mr Nath Apir,
has advised Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State to sack non-performing political appointees in his administration for efficient service delivery.
Apir gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Makurdi.
According to him, such cabinet shake-up will inject vibrancy in government, stimulate economic growth and enable political stability.
He expressed regret that most sensitive political positions in the state were given to people with neither requisite knowledge nor experience in the portfolios assigned to them.
Ekiti
Some farmers in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State
have expressed worry over delay in accessing the Federal Government’s guaranteed loan and other farms inputs.
The farmers, under the banner of ‘Congress of Farmers’, headed by Mr Ezekiel Ishola, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Oye-Ekiti . Ishola said that the farmers depended on the Federal Government’s promise to assist them with funds to boast their farming activities.
“Our members have registered under various agriculture programme of the Federal Government since 2015 and have been expecting the government to disburse the soft loans as promised. “Many of us abandoned other sources we used to access funds with the hope that the soft loan from the Federal Government would serve us better, but our expectations are yet to materialise.
Gombe
The Gombe State Commissioner for Health, Kenndy
Ishaya, says the 177 nurses and midwives serving in the state are grossly inadequate.
Ishaya spoke in Gombe when he received accreditation team from the National Council of Nursery and Midwifery
He said the nurses and midwives were working in 22 hospitals including the army, police and House of Assembly clinics.
“The workforce is grossly inadequate, considering increase in population following influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into the state,’’ he said.
Ishaya said before 2011 the College of Nursing and Midwifery in the state was graduating only five nurses and midwives, but later increased to 30 annually.
Kaduna
The Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU),
Zaria, Prof. Ibrahim Garba, says the teaching of Mathematics must be simplified, to arrest the phobia of the subject among students.
Garba made the suggestion in a message to the 53rd Annual Conference of Mathematical Association of Nigeria (MAN) held at the ABU main campus in Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State.
The Vice Chancellor said that the Federal Government must design new strategies to improve teaching methodology to make mathematics easier to comprehend by students.
He attributed the failure of the subject in WAEC and NECO to poor teaching methodology, adding that the teachers must also be retrained, to improve their teaching ability.
Kebbi
Flynas Air Services says it has successfully transported
22,435 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from seven states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Official Agent of the air carrier, Alhaji Umar Kaila, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) allocated 22,435 pilgrims to the company.
He explained that “we were allotted 22,435 pilgrims by NAHCON; the pilgrims were from Abuja, Bauchi, Kaduna, Gombe, Borno, Adamawa, Niger and Kwara states and we successfully transported them to Saudi Arabia on scheduled.”
The agent said that the company was able to accomplish the assignment on time despite the challenges it encountered in the process.
Kogi
Kogi State House of Assembly has directed the state
Ministry of Works to furnish it with list of abandoned projects in the state since its creation in 1991.
The assembly gave the directive in a resolution after debate on a motion by Sunday Shigaba (PDP-Bassa) calling on the state government to reconstruct the abandoned Oguma-Sharia Bridge, which collapsed last year.
Shigaba noted that the abandoned bridge had caused untold hardship to his constituents as it was affecting economic life of the people
He said that the immediate past government of former Gov. Idris Wada awarded contract for the reconstruction of the bridge towards the end of his tenure.
In their various contributions, Linus Eneche (PDP-Olamaboro), Godwin Osuyi (PDP-Ogori-Magongo) and John Abba (PDP-Ibaji) said reconstruction of the bridge would boost economic activities and revenue generation.
Kwara
The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its deter
mination to partner with relevant stakeholders to alleviate the sufferings of vulnerable children and physically challenged in the society.
Hajiya Ayinke Saka, the state’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, said this in Ilorin when she received members of a Non Governmental Organisation, Passionate Heart Empowerment Foundation, who paid her a visit.
Saka said that the ministry was saddled with the responsibility of catering for vulnerable children and physically challenged people in the society.
According to her, government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility, hence the need for stakeholders and relevant organisations to partner with it to improve the lives of the people.
She then sought the collaboration of the NGO to assist in attending to the needs of abandoned children at recreation centres.
Osun
An expert in peace and conflict resolution, Dr Goke
Adesiyan, has advised the Federal Government to constitute a conflict resolution panel, to end incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria.
Adesiyan, who gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo, noted that the clashes were becoming “dangerous” and needed to be tackled to ensure peaceful coexistence.
According to him, a conflict resolution panel is necessary to aggregate the diverse interests of the warring factions and set up terms of engagement to address differences.
“It is so disheartening that this is happening now, when the level of insurgency in the country is becoming more worrisome and unbearable.
Oyo
A commercial motorcyclist, Azeez Kehinde, who pleaded
guilty to the theft of a motorcycle, has been sentenced to three months imprisonment in Ibadan.
An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court said the convict should serve the term with hard labour at Agodi Prisons.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abdulateef Adebisi, who gave the verdict, said the court had no option than to sentence the motorcyclist since he had pleaded guilty.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Sunday Fatola told the court that Kehinde stole a motorcycle valued at N60, 000, property of a man, Sanya Salau, at Ajeigbe area of Challenge, Ibadan.
Plateau
The special committee set up to look into the activities
of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), says with adequate equipment, the board could generate N1.2 billion annually.
Chairman of the committee and Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Fabian Etonk, said this while submitting its report in Jos.
JMDB is a parastatal under the Housing and Urban Development ministry.
Sokoto
Sokoto State Government has concluded the transpor
tation of its 4,750 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2016 Hajj.
Our correspondent reports that the pilgrims were transported to the Holy Land through the Sultan Abubakar III International Airport, Sokoto, in ten flights.
The Director-General, Sokoto State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar, expressed happiness over the successful conclusion of the pilgrims’ airlift which began on August 10. “We had in all, conducted ten flights to the Holy land and none of our intending pilgrims had faced any problem during the security and immigration screenings, either in Nigeria or Saudi Arabia.
“All our pilgrims are conducting their hajj rites without any hindrance in the Holy cities of Medina and Mecca.”
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