Nation
THE STATES
Minna
The Niger State government has set aside N7.5 million to provide steady water supply for people living in Minna and its environs.
The commissioner for water resources, Dr Isah Votsa said this to newsmen in Minna shortly after inspection of facilities. Dr Vatsa said that N225 million was spent on the dredging of Tagwa Dam while an additional N190 million is being spent on dredging the Changaya Channel of the dam.
He said that an additional N300 million was spent to reinvigorate the state water board, adding that work has passed 50 per cent completion stage, in cleaning reservoirs at the place as four of the eight reservoirs are already cleaned and are in full operational state.
Vatsa said that before the end of this year more than 60 per cent of people living in Minna and its environs will have frequent water supply, saying that it will be rationed to pave way for all to get water at least 12 hours a day.
Zamfara
The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has been commended for the frequent repairs on federal roads across the country.
The special adviser to the Zamfara State Governor on Local Government Projects, Alhaji Musa Garba said the repairs had not only improved qualities of transportation on the affected roads, but will go a long way to save lives.
He said the repairs, especially in the pot holes filled Gusau-Zaria road will improve socio-economic activities among people of Zamfara, Katsina and Kaduna states, which the road passes through.
According to him, motorists and other road users will now feel more comfortable riding the roads considering the fact that dangerous portions of the road, hitherto left unattend to, have been fixed.
Ibadan
Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Professor Taoheed Adedaja has expressed decline in the gradual decline in the standard of education in the state.
In his address at the inauguration of Volunteer Supervisors Scheme in the state, Adedoja commented that only 30 per cent of the SSS3 students in public schools passed NECO examinations last year, while above 17 per cent passed the WAEC examination in the same year.
He said that the conduct of the students did not commensurate with the huge expenses of the government on education which included the payment of N250 million for WAEC examinations for the public schools’ students.
He stated that the idea of volunteer supervisors scheme came up in order to boost quality of education in the state and bring back the days of schools inspection which he noted had faded away.
The commissioner told the supervisors who are mainly retired school principals that the need for enduring quality of assurance stemmed from the contemporary reforms in education occasioned by the provisions of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the goals for Education For All (EFA).
Kaduna
The Chartered Instituted of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria has lost its bid to remain the sole regulatory body for the practice of purchasing and supply management in the country.
A federal high court sitting in Kaduna, Friday, dismissed a suit brought by the institute and contended that Act No 21 of 2007 which created the institute did not state that it was the only body that has the power to regulate the practice of purchasing and supply management in the country.
Delivering judgement in the matter, Justice Mohammed Lawal Shuaibu, who described the case as “mere waste of time”, said that the law does not also stipulate that one must be a member of the institute before one can be appointed to head the Bureau of Public Procurement.
“The application by the institute was a mere waste of time and an academic exercise since its existence cannot deny other bodies from existing or coming into existence,” Shuaibu said, adding that “it will be out of place to accept the application.”
The institute had gone to court seeking a declaration that no person is qualified to practice without being registered or enrolled with it in accordance with the Act.
It equally asked the court to make a declaration that it was the only body with the jurisdiction and empowered to train, educate and examine all persons in Nigeria desiring to become professional procurers and another declaration that only qualified members registered with the institute are qualified to be appointed to head the Bureau of Public Procurement.
Akure
Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) has appointed some state commanders. They include Capt S. G. Jiyah (rtd), Niger State, Capt. B. Y. Golen (rtd), Plateau State and Mr Sayikanmi Titus Daisi, Ondo State. Also appointed are O. A. Yakubu, deputy commander, operations and Hassan Isa Adejo, deputy commander, admin/finance. A statement by Alhaji Abubakar Sule, public relations officer, VGN, said the appointments take immediate effect, adding “VGN group has always been part of the social, cultural and political security systems all over the world. It was formed to help the Nigerian police and other security operatives to create a better society.”
Katsina
Amalumfashi Sharia Court in Katsina has sentenced two women Aisha Abdullahi and Rashidi Musa to two months imprisonment for stealing an international passport.
The convicts were however given an option of N3000 fine each. Abdullahi, 52 and Musa 28 of Bakin-Kasuwa and Hayin Majidadi in Malam Fashi town respectively, were convicted for stealing an e-passport belonging to one Lami Abubakar in her house in the community.
The police prosecutor Capt. Garba Magaji had earlier told the court that the Abubakar kept her handbag containing to the passport.
Magaji said that Abubakar went out among the two women in the room adding that when she returned, she discovered that her passport has been stolen.
The prosecutor said that she alerted the police who arrested the women and charged them to court for criminal conspiracy and theft.
He said the alleged offences contravened sections 120 and 135 of Shariah laws of Katsina State.
Abuja
Following the kidnapping of the 78 year old father of the gubernatorial candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, Fourteen governorship aspirants on the platform of the party have denied that the abduction was politically motivated.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on behalf of the fourteen aspirants, Chief Chuma Nwafor said that rather than point accusing fingers at their leader, Chief Chris Uba, Soludo should be called by the police for questioning on the whereabouts of his father.
According to him, there was no proof before Uba was accused. Other aspirants at the news briefing are Emeka Eze, Amachukwu Ezeike, Nkoli Imoh, Volt Ozigbo, Ebe Lovina and Kete Egwa.
The rest are Victoria Nwankwo, Chinyere Agagbo, Ossy Ezenwa, Mike Nkwocha, Oyigba Okoli, Bertrand Dim and Basil Iwuoba.
According to Nwafor, the aspirants find it difficult to accept the authenticity of the story, as some people have tried to politicise the incident by accusing Chief Chris Uba as being involved in the act.
Makurdi
Benue State government has released N2 billion to the 23 local government councils in the state. The money accrues to the councils, from the excess crude accounts.
Special adviser to the state governor on local government and chieftaincy affairs, Mr Sam Ode, made the disclosure in a meeting with local government council chairmen in Makudrdi.
Ode noted that government’s decision to inject the money into the councils was premised on its decision to ensure meaningful development at the tier of government.
He implored the local government council chairmen to key into the state government’s policy of fiscal discipline, accountability and zero tolerance for corruption which, according to him, has remained the guiding principle of the Government Gabriel Suswam-led administration.
Lagos
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris has said that, more than four million people die every year from pneumonia.
Dr Idris who said that at a press briefing in Lagos also said that half of the deaths are children.
The commissioner said that to effectively combat the acclaimed childhood killer disease, the policies guiding the management of pneumonia must be revitalised.
According to him, the death rate is high in Lagos, “statistics shows that pneumonia kills more than four million people every year and half of these deaths are children under five years, that is, every 15 seconds, a child is lost to pneumonia, 5,500 everyday and an unbelievable two million every year.
“An estimated 98 per cent of children die in developed countries while more than 2000 children die in developing countries.
He also said that the disease causes needless sufferings through illness and hospitalisation, while contributing significantly to the vicious cycle of poverty.
Nation
Gombe Opens Bid For Construction Of Three-Arm Zone Project
Gombe State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation has opened bids for the construction of three arms zone complexes within the Gombe Capital Special Development Zone which held at the Ministry’s conference hall.
Speaking while presiding over the bid opening proceedings, the Commissioner, Engr. . Usman Maijama’a Kallamu assured the bidders that the bid opening would be carried out using procurement process which is based on specific regulations that are credible, fair, and transparent.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alh. Idris Yambiu Buba said that the Ministry will continue to align itself for optimal results in the implementation of government policies and projects in line with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to bringing development to the State.
While assuring the bidders of a transparent process, the SSA to the Governor on Special Project, Arch. Yakubu Mamman thanked Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his foresight in infrastructural development of the State, adding that government is committed to ensuring that all bidders had an equal chance to participate and compete based on merit to maintain standards and specifications.
Nation
Gov Mbah Signs Bill To Establish Teaching Hospital In Enugu
Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, yesterday, signed the Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Teaching Hospital Bill 2024 into Law, promising to expedite action to actualise the teaching hospital immediately to provide quality training and healthcare services in the Enugu North part of the State and the State in general.
Mbah, while commending the Enugu State House of Assembly for accelerating action on the processing and passage of the Executive Bill, said that establishing SUMAS Teaching Hospital was in line with his manifesto.
He said, “What we have done by signing into law the Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences Teaching Hospital Bill is that we now have in place a legal framework to immediately begin to put in place all that is required to upgrade SUMAS to a teaching hospital. This is part of our campaign promises and we are committed to delivering on that expeditiously.
“We believe that the importance and significance of siting a teaching hospital in our Enugu North zone can never be lost on us. So, we are not going to spend any time in making sure that everything that is necessary and required to upgrade and get the teaching hospital operational is put in place. With this Law, we are going to redouble our commitment and our efforts to achieve that.”
He assured the Governing Council and the Management of SUMAS of his continued support, adding that his administration would equally be counting on their pedigree and contacts to bring the teaching hospital to fruition in record time.
“We are going to continue to support you and we are also going to continue to count on your experience, network, and profile in raising resources to actualize the project.
“This year alone, we are going to spend 33 per cent of our budget on education. This underscores the importance of education to this administration. So, be sure to come to us whenever there is a need. We are going to support you because we are interested in education and we are investing heavily in it,” he said.
On his part, the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, who also spoke at the Bill signing witnessed by the Chairman of SUMAS Governing Council, Msgr. Obiora Ike, and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. James Ogbonna, and top hierarchies of the institution, commended Governor Mbah’s speed and faithfulness in delivering on his campaign promises. He assured that the House of Assembly was ever ready to fast-track every executive bill that would impact positively on the state and its people.
“We promised we are going to support this administration by doing our job expeditiously to ensure that there is no delay in your delivery of democracy dividends to our people. Therefore, the SUMAS Teaching Hospital Bill received expedited hearing and today you have the signing of the bill into law,” he stated.
Nation
Ododo Applauds Security Agencies Over Rescue Of 43 Bus Passengers
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has applauded security agencies in the State for their efforts in the rescue of 43 bus passengers.
The Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah disclosed this in a statement yesterday.
The statement noted that the governor welcomed the news of the release of the abducted bus passengers in Okehi Local Government Area of the State and called for sustained collaboration between security agencies and local communities to improve intelligence gathering and prevent crime and criminality in all parts of the state.
Ododo commended the caretaker chairman of Okehi LGA, Mr Amoka Eneji, the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Professional Hunters, Ebira Local Hunters Group and other security agencies for their intervention, which led to the rescue of the passengers who were abducted outside the state.
“Governor Ododo also commends the response of security agencies to the robbery incidence in Felele area of Lokoja and called for more urgency in addressing cases of insecurity in any part of the state.
“The Governor reassured the people of the state that his administration will not relent in its efforts in deploying maximum resources to ensure that all communities in the state remain unsafe for criminal elements.”
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