Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Rep.Adamu Kamale of Madagali/Michika Federal Con
stituency has said that Madagali Local Government Area is the worst affected by insurgency in the state.
Kamale told newsmen in Yola that Madagali was now a ghost of its former self and needed urgent government attention, particularly in areas of security and relief supply.
He lauded the effort of the Presidential Committee on North East and other intervention groups for their effort in rebuilding areas affected in Adamawa, and called for priority to be given to Madagali.
The lawmaker said that sufficient funding was being expected in 2017 budget for rehabilitation and reconstruction work in North East.
Bauchi
The National President, Association of Muslim Pro
fessionals (AMP), Alhaji Zakariya Ajiboye, has advocated extending membership to non member states in order to impact positively on the larger community of the Muslims.
Ajiboye said this during the association’s 3rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Bauchi.
He said that through expansion of chapters, more professionals would be captured on the platform, adding that this would aid the association towards spreading the knowledge of Allah.
It also agreed that Rivers and Edo states in the South as well as Lagos in the Western region would work towards achieving this extension of membership.
Borno
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has called
for prosecution of persons who allegedly diverted 50 bags of rice meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
Shettima gave the directive in a statement by his spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, in Maiduguri.
The directive followed reports that hundreds of IDPs apprehended some officials of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency for alleged theft of food stuff meant for their upkeep.
”Four officials were said to have been arrested by the police after IDPs held them.’’
Ekiti
A housewife, Mrs Olabosede Oke, has prayed an Ado-
Ekiti Customary Court to dissolve her 20-year-old marriage over alleged constant beating by her husband.
Forty-two-year –old Olabosede, a resident of Odo-Ado, Ado-Ekiti, told the court that her husband, Segun, beat her each time she requested for feeding allowance.
She also said that Segun was not interested in the welfare of their six children.
Responding, Segun denied the allegations, saying that he had never beaten his wife.
FCT
The National Council of Women’s Societies has congratulated its own, Mrs Amina Mohammed, who was appointed the new Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.
The statement signed by the NCWS National President, Mrs Gloria Shoda, said Mohammed’s appointment should not come as a surprise to people who know her worth.
The council indicated that the appointee possesses inherent capabilities to see her through the new responsibility, adding that her record of impeccable and meritorious service to Nigeria and the United Nations also stands her out.
Shoda said that the development was a reaffirmation of the global community’s confidence in Nigeria and its commitment to enhancing the status of the female gender.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government says it has earmarked
N14 million for the conduct of the 31st Qur’anic Recitation Competition in the state.
The Executive Secretary, Islamic Education Bureau, Dr Yakubu Abbas, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the competition in Dutse.
Abbas said that the exercise was organised by the Jigawa State Ministry of Education.
He explained that 324 students were currently participating in the competition.
Kaduna
General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Enugu,
Maj-General Adamu Babayo-Abubakar has said that the Nigerian Army will continue its high academic standard in all its institutions across the country.
Babayo-Abubakar said this in an interview with journalists shortly after he represented the Chief of Army Staff at the 75 Regular Recruits Passing Out Parade at the Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, Kaduna State.
The GOC said: “We in the Army, have zero tolerance for indiscipline, just as you can see, here in the depot, those that we felt have not met up with our standard by way of deeds, discipline and character are shown the way out.
On insurgency in the North-East, Babayo-Abubakar said that the Army was doing very well in collaboration with neighbouring countries like Cameroon, Chad and Niger.
Kano
The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corrup
tion Commission, has recovered more than N1.150 billion cash, movable and immovable property between 2015 and 2016.
The Executive Chairman, Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, Malam Muhuyi Rimingado disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Rimingado said the commission has recovered several moveable and immovable property located in different parts of the state, adding that many individuals are under investigation by the commission.
According to him, the commission had received more than 1,486 complaints this year on different aspects of life that involve corruption, contractual and marital disputes.
Kogi
Kogi State Coordinator of Small Scale Women Farmers
Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) Hajia Safiya Yahaya, has urged the Federal Government to provide adequate security to check raping and killing of women farmers by herdsmen and militants.
Yahaya, who made the call at the 2016 Annual Women Farmers Forum in Lokoja, said there was need for government to ensure security as well as provide trauma healing programmes for women farmers in crisis affected areas.
She said that the call had become necessary now because, “any moment from now the Anchor Borrowers Programme will start but what has the government done to address the menace of herdsmen who rape and kill our women on the farms.”
Kwara
An lslamic Cleric, Shekh Muritala Agaka, has advised Nige
rians to be more prayerful so that the nation could overcome the economic recession currently being experienced in the country.
Agaka gave this advice while delivering a lecture at the Maoulud Nabbiy for Prophet Mohammed organised by Nuru Shuadahi Society of Nigeria in llorin.
The event, which took place at Salman Saruq Onilu Mosque in Oko-erin, featured special prayers for the nation, sermons and rendition of various lslamic songs.
He urged Nigerians regardless of religious inclinations, tribe or ethnicity to further intensify prayers for the country to overcome its problems.
Lagos
No fewer than 25 industrial unions have elected Mr Joe
Ajaero as President of a new labour centre, United Labour Congress (ULC).
The unions elected Ajaero, the general secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), at the ULC maiden delegates conference in Lagos.
The new labour centre emerged after a two-year internal crisis that split the Nigeria Labour Congress.
Ajaero, who was elected unopposed, said that ULC would fight for the interest of workers and ensure a more equitable Nigeria where workers’ dignity and the work place would become less prone to impunity.
Nasarawa
A member representing Doma South Constituency in the
Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Mr James Dangana, has distributed clothing materials worth N1.8 million to his constituents for Christmas/New Year celebration.
Dangana (APC), who is also the chairman, House Committee on Information, said the gesture was to assist the people celebrate the two festivals.
According to him, giving arm to the people will go a long way in improving their standard of living during and after they yuletide for the overall development of the communities.
He also said that 20 cows had been bought to be slaughtered and distributed for the enjoyment of the communities during the period.
Niger
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has as
sured Nigerians of adequate security before, during and after the Christmas and New Year festivities.
Idris spoke at the 8th annual Nupe Day celebration in Bida, headquarters of Bida Local Government area of Niger.
He said that already, operational order had been issued to the commissioners of police in the 36 states and FCT on how to provide protection for the citizenry during the period.
The I-G urged Nigerians to assist the police with necessary information that would help in checkmating crime during the celebrations.
Osun
Osun State Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Ojo, has freed 16
inmates of both Ile-Ife Prisons and Ilesa Prisons awaiting trial.
Three inmates regained freedom at the Ile-Ife Prisons while 13 inmates from the Ilesa Prisons on grounds of overstaying in prisons, ill-health and minor offences.
The released inmates from Ilesa Prisons were Monday Effiong, Tunde Olalekan, Adekunle Idowu, Abu Bello, Gbenga Aroko, Lateef Bamidele and Raphael Akinlabi, 80-year-old Oyedeji Aisha, Ezekiel Igwe, Adebare Monsuratu, Aliu Ishaka and Samuel Olaoye.
Oyo
An early morning fire outbreak has razed some parts of
Araromi Market at Agodi Gate, Ibadan, where used tyres and motor parts worth over N10 million were destroyed.
Mr Abdul Azeez Ojo, Chairman of the market, said that the inferno began at about 5.30 a.m. last Sunday.
According to him, the Fire Service was alerted and they responded promptly.
Ojo, however, said a sizeable number of shops equipped with tyres and other goods were razed before the arrival of the fire fighters at about 6 a.m.
Nation
HYPREP Marks 15 Years Of UNEP Report, Highlights Major Cleanup Milestones
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commemorated the 15th anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the environment and improving the livelihoods of affected communities.
In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.
The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.
According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.
Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.
In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.
The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.
Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3
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