Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA) says over 2,000 Internally Displaced children were enrolled into Safe School initiative programme in the state.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Mr Haruna Furo, told newsmen in Yola last Sunday that the initiative was part of the Federal Government’s special education package for IDPs children nationwide.
He said many displaced children were sent to various Unity Colleges across the country under an exchange school Programme.
Furo said there were four ongoing categories of education programmes for IDPs children in the state.
Ekiti
An Ado-Ekiti High Court last Wednesday sentenced a local government worker, Ojo Ayodele, to life imprisonment for abducting and raping a 15-year-old girl.
A report says that Ayodele abducted the minor in Ijero-Ekiti and took her to a secret location in the town where he subjected her to continuous sexual assault for 21 days.
Justice Oluwatoyin Abodunde, in her judgment, found Ayodele guilty as charged and sentenced the accused to life jail.
The judge, who also found Ayodele guilty of abduction, sentenced him to seven years for the offence.
The jail terms are, however, to run concurrently.
FCT
The police last Thursday arraigned Prince Eze in a Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, charged with duping his fiancee of N150,000.
The defendant, of Jikwoyi, Abuja, is facing a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating.
The prosecutor, Joshua Ayanna, told the court that the matter was reported by Joyce Ohamsi of Area 1, Garki, Abuja, at the Apo Police Station on March 10.
He said the plaintiff bought a plot of land worth N350,000 owned by Shepherd House Church in Karshi village, Abuja in November 2012.
Katsina
The Border Community Development Agency (BCDA) has handed over a Veterinary Clinic worth N25 million it constructed at Hui community of Baure Local Government Area of Katsina State.
An official of the agency Mrs Atarhe Akpohwaye-Abu,who handed over the facility to the officials of Katsina State Government on Wednesday, said the project was part of the efforts of the agency to bring development to rural communities.
Akpohwaye-Abu said the project was strategically located especially considering the fact that the area was predominantly an animal rearing community.
She said the clinic would immensely promote livestock production as well as consumption of hygienic meat in the area.
She further said, the agency considered Katsina State very important and strategic due to the large international boarder markets and economic activities in the area.
Kwara
The Lions Club International said last Wednesday that it had spent $1 billion globally on humanitarian services in the 100 years of its existence.
An International Director of the club, Mr Kumar Raju, disclosed this at a news briefing in Ilorin to herald its 12th Multiple District Convention in Nigeria.
Raju noted that Africa took the larger part of the club’s grant for humanitarian services.
According to him, about $50 million grant is donated annually by members of the club across the world to pursue various projects.
He explained that aside meeting humanitarian needs, the club had also assisted in the area of disaster relief, saving sight and serving the youths.
Lagos
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, said it had arrested 120 suspected pipelines vandals in the state between January and May 2017.
The State Commandant, Mr Tajundeen Balogun, made this disclosure on Monday, in Lagos, while receiving the Head of Lagos Editorial, Mr Mike Mbonye, who paid him a visit.
Balogun said that the suspects were arrested in different parts of the state, particularly in Ikorodu and Badagry, noting that the suspects had been sabotaging the nation’s economy.
“Ikorodu axis has been very challenging for us due to the type of terrain.
“So sad, that almost all security agencies have lost their men in Ikorodu; we have equally lost five men in the area.
Nasarawa
Pathfinder International Nigeria and Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health (PACFaH), NGOs, have said that only 171 out of 808 public health facilities were providing Family Planning (FP) services in Nasarawa State.
Pathfinder Consultant, Dr Yemi Osanyin, made this known last Wednesday in Lafia during a one-day dissemination of the findings of Family Planning Situation Analysis in the state, organised by the group in collaboration with the state government.
He explained that the aim of the workshop was to present a draft report on the FP situation in the state with the view of encouraging women and girls to embrace FP programmes, considering its enormous benefits.
Ogun
Police in Ogun State have arrested a 20-year-old man for allegedly killing his 27-year-old roommate, Friday Michael.
The police spokesman in Ogun State, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi, said in a statement that the incident happened last Friday at Mamu area of Awa-Ijebu.
“The suspect came in around 6.30 a.m. and shot the deceased, who was sleeping, with a locally-made pistol.
“The sound from the gun attracted other occupants of the house to the scene and they quickly alerted the police.
“The DPO of Awa-Ijebu Division led his men to the scene and the suspect was promptly arrested,’’ said the police spokesman.Oyo
Osun
A 30-year-old man, Olajide Adeshina, was last Thursday sentenced to seven years imprisonment by an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court for burglary.
Adeshina was convicted of the three charges of burglary, theft and fraud brought against him.
The convict, who pleaded guilty, had no legal representation.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Fatimoh Sodamade, did not give Adeshina any option of fine.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Fagboyinbo Abiodun, had earlier told the court that the convict committed the offence on October 19, 2016 at about 12:00a.m at Ofatedo area in Osogbo.
Oyo
The Elders Consultative Forum for Shariah in Nigeria, Oyo State branch, last Sunday, distributed more than N2 million Zakat (obligatory charity in Islam) to 122 indigent persons in Ibadan.
Zakat is one of the five obligatory pillars of Islam and it is an annual deduction from every wealthy Muslims’ income, assets, savings or farm produce.
The Chairman of the forum, Alhaji Lasun Sanusi, said in Ibadan after the distribution that the intention was not only to empower the jobless, poor or ailing Muslims, but to enhance the holistic development of Muslims in the state.
Sanusi added that the money distributed would go a long way in alleviating the suffering of the beneficiaries.
He explained that the distribution of Zakat by the forum started five years ago and since then, different items and cash were given to the needy annually.
Plateau
The Corps Marshal and Chief Executive, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, says speeding accounts for 60 per cent of road crashes recorded in the country.
Oyeyemi said this last Sunday at a thanksgiving service to mark the 4th United Nations Global Road Safety Week at the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) in Gigiriing, Jos, Plateau.
The global event has “Managing Speed” as its theme.
Oyeyemi represented by the Zonal Commanding Officer, Jos zone, Mr Oludare Fadogba, said speeding remains the most prevalent cause of road crashes in Nigeria and across the globe.
“Speeding is one of the most prevalent causes of road collision and attendant fatalities in Nigeria and even globally.
“The risk of crashes occurring is greater as speeding gets higher.
“Statistics show that speeding and the involvement of commercial vehicles consistently accounts for about 60 per cent of road traffic crashes in Nigeria.
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