Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo last Saturday in Yola, reinstated the commitment of the Federation Government to keep one, indivisible Nigeria.
Osinbajo made the commitment while speaking at the reception in Yola in honour of the new President of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), the Most Reverend Musa Filibus.
The vice-president, therefore, urged Nigerians to sustain the unity which he said was the dream of the fore fathers of the country.
According to him, Christians are encouraged to pursue justice and reconciliation with people of other faith.
While congratulating Filibus for being the first Nigerian and second African to emerge President of LWF, Osinbajo urged him to work toward uniting the church and promoting peace and love.
Benue
The Senate Committee on Works has asked the Federal Government to revoke the N3.2 billion contract for the reconstruction of Wannue-Yadev road in Benue, citing alleged incompetence by the handler.
Reports that the 19-kilometre road contract, awarded in 2013, had a completion period of 24 months.
Its chairman, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, told newsmen in Gboko that his committee was “greatly disappointed” that not much had been achieved in the execution of the project four years after it was awarded.
“We have gone round several portions of the road; we have asked questions and made observations. Our conclusion is that the contractor lacks the capacity to handle the job.
Borno
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on Boko Haram sect to stop the recruitment and use of children as suicide bombers in the North-East.
UNICEF also called on all parties in the conflict to respect international child right laws.
The UNICEF’s Country Representative, Mr Mohamed Fall, made the call after the official signing of Action Plan Agreement against recruitment of children between the organisation and Borno State Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
Reports that the Action Plan Agreement was signed by the UNICEF, Borno State Government and CJTF, in Maiduguri.
Fall noted that the increase in the use of children in the conflict in the North-East was a source of concern to the UN and it must stop.
FCT
The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said the Senate would meet with security chiefs to chart a path for resolution of contentious issues engendering tension in the South-East.
He said that the meeting, expected to hold shortly, would address the tension in the South-East and the skirmishes in Plateau State.
Saraki said in a statement last Sunday in Abuja that security agencies, political and religious leaders must work for the promotion of dialogue as means for tackling agitations, to ensure peace in the country.
In the statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, he urged all Nigerians to maintain peace and avoid statements or actions capable of aggravating the tension in parts of the country.
Kaduna
Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board last Saturday said a total of 2,842 pilgrims from Kaduna had returned home after performing 2017 hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The Board Public Relations Officer, Yunusa Abdullahi, made this known in a telephone interview with newsmen in Kaduna.
Abdullahi said that the pilgrims returned by Medview and Max Air in six flights.
He said Medview transported 1,786 pilgrims while Max Air transported 1,078 pilgrims.
“The 6th batch with 542 pilgrims will return on Saturday via Max Air airline.
Kogi
The World Bank-sponsored Kogi State Integrated Financial Management Information System (SIFMIS) is to commence operation in October.
Mr Aminu Ibrahim, the Manager of the project, disclosed this while speaking at a presentation of the integrated system during a seminar for journalists in Lokoja last Wednesday.
Ibrahim said that the system would ensure efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and transparency in public finance as part of the requirements for reform agenda of the Federal Government and the National Economic Council.
He said that project contract agreement was awarded in April and signed by the state Public Sector Governance Reform Development Project and the contractor, Messrs Counterhouse Consultants Ltd.
Lagos
The Consul-General of Germany in Lagos, Mr Ingo Herbert on Saturday enjoined more young Nigerians to begin to engage themselves in vocational programmes that would make them employable.
Herbert gave the advice in Lagos at the graduation ceremony of 19 young Nigerians that benefited from the German Dual Vocational Training (DVT) Partnership with Nigeria.
The Consul-General, who was represented by the Consulate’s Commercial, Political, Cultural and Press Attaché, Mr Sebastian Polzin said that Germany had always encouraged DVT for young men and women.
“We want to also see more young Nigerians engage themselves in vocational training; this way, unemployment would be reduced.
Nasarawa
Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has appealed to the Federal government to gazette the state-owned Lafia-Kwandere-Keffi road as a federal road.
He made the appeal in Lafia last Saturday when members of the Senate Committee on Works, led by its chairman, Sen.Kabiru Gaya paid him a courtesy visit.
The governor said the call became necessary to speed up the completion of the road for the benefit of travelers.
“Basic infrastructure starts and ends with roads, road being the most flexible infrastructure gives every citizen the opportunity to link up from one place to another.
Niger
A cross section of Minna residents last Saturday lauded Governor Abubakar Bello for prompt deployment of armed security personnel in and outside the metropolis.
Mr Innocent James, a resident of Saukahuta told newsmen in Minna that the quick intervention of the governor has avoided unnecessary tension.
“Miscreants have started looting shops and threatening residents at Chanchaga, Saukahuta, Bosso and city gates.
He said that the deployment of security personnel in strategic locations in the metropolis has calmed nerves.
Osun
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is to organise a workshop on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) for secondary school girls in Osun, Kano and Enugu to identify the challenges with the condition and ameliorative measures.
The UNICEF Coordinator of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) Mr Femi Aluko, in Osun, told newsmen Sunday in Osogbo that stakeholders would gather to address the challenges facing MHM such as taboos and poor hygiene among female school girls.
NAN reports that menstruation is a normal biological process and a key sign of reproductive health, yet in many cultures it is treated as a negative, shameful or dirty condition.
A study from UNICEF revealed that one out of three girls in South Asia knew nothing about menstruation prior to getting it while 48 per cent of girls in Iran and 10 per cent of girls in India believe that menstruation is a disease.
Plateau
Rev. Fr Philip Jamang of Church of Assumption, Chongo-Pyel in Jos, has charged Nigerians, especially Christians, to eschew violence and imbibe the virtues of love and forgiveness.
Jamang, in his sermon in Jos last Sunday, said that the two virtues were key to the harmony and stability craved by all Nigerians.
He said that unity would be enhanced if Nigerians were quick to love and forgive each other as one people bound by the same destiny.
The cleric attributed most of the challenges threatening the country to bitterness bottled up in the minds of Nigerians, saying that growth and prosperity would continue to elude the nation if that continued.
Zamfara
The Eze Igbo in Zamfara state, Igwe Egbuna Obijiaku has commended the South East Governor’s Forum for banning the activities of the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).
Obijiaku, who gave the commendation last Saturday while speaking to newsmen in Gusau , said that Igbos in Zamfara were not in support of the activities of IPOB.
He urged the Igbo community in the state to disregard the Biafra agitation by members of the IPOB.
According to him, the IPOB agitations for Biafra nation apart from its threat to national unity, peace and stability is also a big threat to Igbo economic stability.
“We are solidly behind our leaders and governors in this regard, we are also in support of the decision of the Forum of Igbo traditional leaders of all the 19 Northern state,” he said.
“If we look at the entire population of Igbo community, only 40 per cent are living on Igbo land, about 40 per cent are living in the Northern parts of Nigeria, almost 15 percent are living in South Western parts of the country and the remaining five per cent are living abroad.
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