Nation
THE STATES
Ogun
Ogun State Government says it has concluded plans to establish mini power plants that will generate 47 megawatts of electricity at N7.2 billion in the first quarter of 2010.
Governor Gbenga Daniel made the announcement in Abeokuta, while receiving a Chinese delegation and officials of CSI Nimbo Electrical Company, a manufacturer of power plants.
Gov. Daniel said government had concluded arrangements to send 20 public servants, including technicians, engineers and administrators to China to acquire necessary skills in the assemblage and management of mini plants.
Gombe
Gombe State Judiciary said it has disposed-off 17, 153 civil and criminal cases while 2,733 were still pending in the state high and Area courts in the year under review.
The State Chief Judge, Mr Hakila Heman, who disclosed this during the celebration of the 2009/10 legal year in Gombe stated that a total of 19,886 cases were registered in the last legal year as against the preceding year where 19,380 cases were recorded in the state.
Justice Heman said that 2,723 cases were still pending in the state high courts and courts of Appeal Seasons were held in Gombe Dukku and Kaltungo respectively.
He also said that the yearning of establishing registry courts in the state had been taken care of as the state judiciary had obtained the license to establish courts that would oversee marriage contract agreements in the state.
Kaduna
Kaduna state government has denied claims that it is marginalising the Southern part of the state, describing statements credited to some indigenes of the area as “bizarre and mischievous.”
Addressing journalist on the issue, Deputy Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa said all the actions of Governor Namadi-Sambo, do not harbour sectional, primordial or parochial interests.
Yakowa said despite pledges to develop all sections and all sectors of the state, the government takes special interest in providing social amenities in the southern part of the state as a way of fulfilling promises made by the Governor during his campaigns for gubernatorial seat in 2007.
Bauchi
The ill-health of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who is receiving treatment in far way Saudi Arabia, has taken a toll on the act of governance in Bauchi State as the Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda now shuttles between Abuja and Bauchi a development that has slowed down activities at the Government House over last couple of weeks, investigation has revealed.
The development, according to the investigation, was caused by the fact that Yuguda, like his Kebbi State counter part, is the son-in-law to the country’s first family, a situation that is already creating anxiety in the state capital.
While that is going on, investigations have revealed that some of the major projects embarked upon by the administration as soon as it came to power in 2007 including the Ningi Buna Road, Alkakri-Futuk Road as well as the State Secretariat (press centre) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have all been abandoned.
Kwara
Kwara State Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki yesterday denied recent media reports that he was owing the sum of N8.4 billion being outstanding debt of three companies allegedly linked to him.
The governor, in a statement by his chief press secretary, Mr Mas’ud Adebimpe, described the claim as frivolous, mischievous and a calculated attempt to mislead the unsuspecting public and drag his name into the mud.
The governor was reacting to a paid advertorial sponsored by a group called Renaissance professionals in some national dailies of Monday and Tuesday December 7 and 8, 2009, respectively.
According to the governor’s spokesperson, the group had alleged that Dr Saraki owned three companies Linkers Nigeria Limited, Skyview Properties and Joy Petroleum, which all enjoyed the controversial waivers from Intercontinental Bank Plc.
“To put the records straight, it is no longer news that Dr Saraki had resigned his appointment as a director in all companies where he had interests, including the two mentioned in the paid advertorials Linkers Nigeria Limited and Skyview Properties Limited just as he is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the two companies as portrayed by the faceless group.
“Neither the governor nor any member of his family was at any time whatsoever a shareholder or director of Joy Petroleum Limited,” the statement said.
“As regards the other two companies, we wish to state that Linkers Nigeria Limited, which was alleged to be owing the sum of N1.89 billion, has paid N1.7bn, which amounted to over 90 per cent of the loan,” the statement explained.
“Regarding Skyview Properties, the purported loan was a “margin facility,” which gave the total control of the management of the said shares, for which the loan was secured to the bank in addition to the value of the shares, the company went ahead to pay N343 million.
FCT
Senate’s proposal to establish a joint monitoring board of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate allegations of corruption against the anti-graft bodies, received the disapproval of the EFCC chairman, Mrs Farida Waziri.
The monitoring board, which the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics, Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, is proposing to include in its amendment of the EFCC an ICPC Acts, according to Senator Solo Akinyede, chairman Senate Committee, would comprise secretaries of both agencies.
But speaking at a session on Wednesday, where she defended EFCC’s 2010, N7.68bn budget, Naziri stated that while she was not against being monitored, she warned that care must be taken to ensure that the proposed body does not create additional problems for the fight against corruption.”
Ogun
A lecturer at the University of Agriculture Abeokuta (UNAAB), Prof Philips Adetiloye, has urged the Federal Government to deregulate the salaries of public servants alongside the planned deregulation of oil sector.
Making the call at a news conference in Abeokuta, Adetiloye said it would amount to “dishonesty” if the government did not review the salaries and wages of the workers alongside the oil deregulation policy.
He argued that the only antidote to corruption in the public service and institutions was the payment of justifiable wages and salaries to workers.
Borno
The federal government has been accused of paying lip service to the proposed reform of the Nigerian Police even as the insecurity of lives and properties in the nation has been hinged on the need to have a “new” police.
This was the view expressed at the workshop organised by a pro-human rights group, Cleen Foundation in Maiduguri where the federal government was advised to be more committed to the proposed reforms of the Nigeria Police as the only alternative to move the force from its conventional policing to scientific one.
At the workshop which was to enlighten policemen on issues bordering on human rights, the deputy-executive director of the foundation, Oluwakemi Okonyodo said government ought to be serious and committed to the reforms of the police.
Lagos
In its bid to ensure a clean and healthy environment, the Lagos State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Konsadem Consortium to develop the 1st Modern Integrated Solid Waste Management System in Lagos.
The Integtrated Solid Waste Management site according to the governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), located in the Epe area of Lagos will be designed to accept a maximum 900 tons municipal waste daily.
Accordingly, the system to be established comprises of a material recovery facility where glass, plastics, paper and metal are processed for recycling.
In addition, a composting facility for the conversion of food scraps and green waste such as wood and foliage, into organic soil conditioners and a bale fill facility for storing all residual waste in an environmentally friendly manner.
Oyo
It was a weekend of sadness and agony in the camp of former Oyo State governor, Rasidi Ladoja as 19 persons believed to be his supporters perished along Ado-Awaye-Okeho road on their way to a funeral ceremony.
The victims included, former women leader of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mrs Bose Adedigba, Hakeem Adokola, Tajudeen Afolabi, Toyin Adeyemi among others.
The former governor, devastated by the incident hurriedly returned home from a social outing and cancelled all forms of meetings and appointments in sympathy and condolence with the fallen aides.
Osun
Federal Government has mapped out a ten-year education plan as part of the commitment to restructuring and repositioning the educational sector in response to some identified challenges.
Speaking Saturday at the 37th Convocation of Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ile Ife, President Musa Yar’Adua, who was represented at the occasion by the Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu, noted that the federal government will soon come out with strategies.
According to the president, the strategies which has been initiated was aimed at making the universities in the country globally competitive, and also make it more liberal and affordable.
Yar’Adua said in the short term, in addition to the increased statutory allocation of funds to education in the national budget, it has streamlined the educational Trust Fund to achieve enhanced focus on the education sector.
With significant achievements recorded across thematic areas of the Ogoni cleanup programme being executed by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the Project Coordinator of the Project, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has said that all these are enabling pathways to the development of Ogoniland.
This is coming on the heels of milestone achievements in the following areas and their impact on Ogoni communities. They are mangrove restoration which is 94 percent complete; shoreline remediation which stands at 67.1 percent; and the phase 2 land remediation progressing to 36.55 percent.
Moreso, HYPREP has constructed 14 water facilities, providing potable water to 40 communities. With the commissioning of the water schemes in Bane and Gwara communities, the number of communities with access to clean and safe drinking water will be 45. The process of operationalising the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) which is at 92 percent complete, is ongoing. The same for the Ogoni Power Project which is progressing with wayleave compensation and construction works at Bodo and Wiiyaakaara substations ongoing
Similarly, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital and Buan Cottage Hospital are at 76.8 percent and 98.7 percent respectively.
This is alongside other public health interventions and the Human BioMonitoring Survey also in progress.
Under the livelihood
programme, over 7,000 direct jobs have been created for Ogoni women and youths, while over 5,000 have been trained in multiple skills and provided start-up kits, workshops, education grants, scholarships and other empowerment programmes. This quarter, training will commence in other demand-driven skill areas, such as cybersecurity, full-stack development, mud logging, software development, commercial diving, and underwater welding.
Zabbey had reeled out these achievements, during the third quarter interactive session between the Project Coordination Office engagement with Ogoni youths in Port Harcourt on Friday, in line with HYPREP’s strategic stakeholders policy to provide an interface opportunity to abreast Ogoni youths on the Project’s activities, while garnering their feedback.
Zabbey noted that, “This
quarterly engagement was,therefore, designed as an inclusive strategy to ensure that youth voices are heard, concerns are addressed, and progress updates are provided transparently. Also, it reflects our firm belief that a project of this magnitude must be people-centred, accountable, and participatory”.
” I am delighted to inform you that the Project remains on course to achieve its mandate as outlined in the UNEP Report on the Ogoni environment and the official gazette establishing HYPREP. HYPREP is committed to transparency and accountability in the implementation of the cleanup projects and activities”, he said.
He stressed that HYPREP’s achievements are pathways to a better Ogoniland, assuring that the Project’s goals are aimed at benefiting all categories of Ogoni youths, whether in business, farming, advocacy, education, entrepreneurship or community development.
”This Project belongs to all of you, and its success depends mainly on your participation, unity and constructive engagement. And with your support, we are confident that all challenges will be addressed in the overall public interest,” Zabbey said.
The Project Coordinator urged Ogoni youths to continue to support the Project by promoting peace, discouraging misinformation, and collaborating with project teams working in the communities, and address challenges through dialogue, rather than confrontation.
Prof Dinebari Badey, a Professor of Development Sociology in the University of Port Harcourt, delivered the keynote address, linking the nexus between HYPREP and youths in the development of Ogoniland through unity of purpose while Engr Solomon Akere, gave a talk on Ogoni youths in business.
Participants raised questions concerning the maintenance of the water projects, remediation efforts, and compensation for the Right of Way (RoW), among others.
In attendance were management staff of HYPREP who provided responses to the interventions.
Members of the Association of Community Health practitioners of Nigeria (ACHPN),Rivers state Chapter have marked the 2025 Community Health week with a call for the state government to employ more community health practitioners to mann the various health centres across the 23 local government areas of the state .
The theme of one week event “strengthening the Nigerian healthcare system,the role of community health practitioners in reducing maternal and under _five mortality in line with sustainable development goals”attracted community health practitioners across the state.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event held at the conference hall of the state primary healthcare office in port Harcourt, the state chairman of the Association,Dr Justina Onuwa appeal to the state governor,Sir Siminalayi Fubara to approve the employment of more community health practitioners in other to effectively mann the primary health centres in the state.
Onuwa stated that the call become imperative following the decline in community health practitioners in the civil service and the need to ensure that the people in rural communities have more access to primary healthcare services in their localities.
The state chairman of ACHPN averred members of the association were not captured in the employment scheme during last employment of medical health workers by the state government.”our people need to be employed like other health care service providers”
She appeal to the state government to provide vehicles and office secretariat for its association and as well ensure that their members are promoted as at when due.
Also speaking,the state Health Educator,Dr Babbo Diana who represented the commissioner for health and Executive secretary RSPHCMB while congratulating them on their celebrations called them to partner with the state government to build more efficient healthcare services in the state.
She urge them to be passionate with their work, stressing that all hands must be on deck and everyone must play their roles in other to ensure the success of government primary healthcare services in the state.
In his good will message,the representative of the state Director of Health planning Research and statistics, Dietician Buduzhi Gift Oguzor described members of the association as foot soldiers of health services care providers in the state.
He called on them to be more dedicated in their responsibilities especially in the areas of infrastructure development, noting that the state of infrastructure under their custody are in a detoriating conditions despite the huge of resources released to them by the state government.
Earlier in her lecture on the theme “strengthening the Nigerian healthcare system,the role of the community practitioners in reducing the under _five mortality in line with the sustainable development goals”prof Alice Nte urge them to review their association curriculum in other to upgrade their profile and become more relevant and attend to the optimum value in the profession.
She opined that the WHO according to the Nigerian Demography survey didn’t included members of the association as stillbirth attendant, adding that they should restrategise and look into their curriculum and see where it can be updated.
The climax of the week long celebrations ended with road work,free medical care services and church thanks service.
Akujobi Amadi
The President of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Bldr. Daniel Abimbola Kolade, FNIOB, has called on Nigerian builders to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship as key drivers for addressing the nation’s housing deficit.
Speaking at the inaugural council meeting of the Institute held at its National Secretariat in Abuja in his speech themed, “Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Key Driver to Housing Delivery,” the NIOB President said the Institute is poised to lead transformative change in the nation’s housing delivery system.
Bldr. Kolade described the meeting as a strategic platform for redefining NIOB’s policy direction for the next two years, stressing that the housing challenge presents both a national problem and a professional opportunity.
“We, as custodians of building production management, must reposition ourselves not only as technical experts but as innovators, entrepreneurs, and national solution providers,” he stated.
He emphasized that innovation must now be embedded in the professional DNA of builders, urging practitioners to embrace sustainable technologies, research-based construction methods, and digital project management tools.
According to him, the Institute will promote innovation through research collaborations, innovation labs, and pilot projects that showcase emerging construction techniques.
On entrepreneurship, Bldr. Kolade noted that competence alone was no longer sufficient, and that builders must evolve into enterprise creators capable of driving employment and economic growth through construction-based ventures.
He further outlined the Institute’s five key policy pillars for the next two years, to include innovation
and research; entrepreneurial
development; professional regulation and ethics; advocacy
and policy influence;
capacity building and youth empowerment.
The NIOB President also paid tribute to past leaders of the Institute for laying the foundation upon which the current administration will build, saying leadership must go beyond preservation to purposeful expansion.
“If we can harness innovation, embrace entrepreneurship, and strengthen our professional unity, we will not only close the housing gap — we will redefine the standards of housing delivery in Africa,” he affirmed.
He called on builders nationwide to view themselves as not only craftsmen but nation builders, visionaries, and entrepreneurs committed to delivering sustainable housing and national development.
The NIOB President earlier led the National Council members to a site visit to the NIOB construction site at Idu, Abuja.
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