Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
Efforts by Alkaleri Local Government in Bauchi State to immunise 56,334 children during the on-going polio immunisation exercise are being thwarted by resistance of some parents.
Journalists Against Polio (JAP) monitoring the exercise in the area, reports that Alkaleri West and East have apparently recorded the highest cases of rejection.
The reports said that more than half of the children under five targeted for the exercise are being prevented.
The Director of Primary Health Care in the area, Alhaji Idris Dan-Asabe, decried the attitude of the parents, adding that the rejection, if not checked, could mar the whole exercise in the area.
“It is regretable to note that Alkaleri LGA is one of the four high risk polio endemic areas in the state.
“We have been experiencing such unhealthy attitudes during previous exercises in the affected areas,’’ Dan-Asabe said.
Ekiti
About 1,800 Corps members have been deployed to Ekiti State to participate in the batch “C” orientation exercise, scheduled to begin next week, an official of the state directorate of the NYSC, has said.
Mrs Funso Olusoji, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the directorate, disclosed this on Sunday in an interview with the newsmen at Ise-Emure in Ise-Orun Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
Olusoji explained that out of the 1,800 corps members, 300 corps members were deployed from Lagos State to participate in the three weeks orientation exercise.
“No fewer than 1,800 corps members, including 300 dislodged members from Lagos State have been deployed to Ekiti State for the batch “C” orientation exercise.
She gave assurance that the directorate had put in place necessary measures to ensure the safety of lives and properties of corps members deployed to the state.
FCT
A paediatrician, Dr Emmanuel Gajere, has advised mothers to look out for persistent cough, poor eating habit, shortness of breath at intervals, as well as intense nasal congestion, to promptly tackle asthma in children.
Gajere told newsmen that a lot of children in recent times had been afflicted with asthma, a chronic respiratory ailment that could kill, if not properly managed.
He said asthma in children could be caused by a number of factors including allergies, strenuous exercises, emotions, viral causes, hereditary and early exposure to drugs like aspirin.
“Early cow milk feeding and exposure to dust, smoke and even drugs like aspirin can lead to a child becoming asthmatic. “Also, a child who has brown eyes called vernal conjunctivitis suggests that the child is at risk of asthma,’’ he said.
Gajere classified asthma in three different categories, and highlighted the number of expected attacks in each class.
Gombe
The Radiation Medicine Complex at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gombe, was commissioned on Monday, with the Medical Director, Dr Aliyu Elnafaty, describing it as the most equipped and first of its kind in the country.
Elnafaty said on the occasion that the complex offered the latest technology in radiation and had been inspected by the regulatory authority and certified to meet the FMC’s compliance level.
He said the facility was long overdue, considering the prevalence of cancer-related afflictions in the North-East zone of the country.
The medical director, however, listed manpower shortage as one of the challenges facing the centre.
Commissioning the complex, Alhaji Suleiman Bello, the Minister of State for Health, commended FMC Gombe for its initiative and laudable achievements.
He said the centre was among the few hospital chosen to benefit from the Federal Ministry of Health’s Hospital Intervention Fund.
Katsina
The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, last Monday launched the Katsina State chapter of the Women for Change Initiative (W4CI), with a call on the womenfolk to improve their living conditions.
Speaking at the occasion in Katsina, Jonathan said: “I want to draw the attention of our women to the need to change their attitude socially, economically and politically.”
Jonathan, who lamented the low level of women participation in governance in the country, called on them to rise up to the challenge and change the status quo.
“This is non-negotiable irrespective of our socio-political and religious beliefs,” she said.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero, will soon begin to produce artificial chemical fertiliser, Dr Amina Abubakar, the acting Vice-Chancellor, has announced.
“The liquid Nitrogen plant will use Nitrogen from free atmospheric air for the production of artificial chemical fertiliser,” she said at the opening of the 30th Annual Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Aliero.
Abubakar explained that the plant would transform liquid Nitrogen by using cheap raw materials to produce vital by-products needed to drive the economy.
She said a liquid Nitrogen production centre had been established “to strengthen the students with practical entrepreneurship education for them to become job givers and not job seekers”.
The acting vice-chancellor said revenue generated from the sale of the chemical fertiliser would be used to improve academic work and facilities at the university.
Kwara
Any intending Christian pilgrim below 50 years will no longer be allowed to travel to Rome while on pilgrimage.
Pastor Gbenga Ogidiolu, Chairman, Kwara State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, made the announcement in Ilorin on Monday in an interview with newsmen.
He said such pilgrims would only be allowed to travel to Israel and Egypt for the religious obligations, adding that the measure was to prevent Nigerian pilgrims from using the opportunity to abscond to Europe.
Ogidiolu said: “This year, we are going to cover Israel, Egypt and Rome, but we must stress that going to Rome is not automatic.
Lagos
Some clerics on Monday called for a proper investigation of a report which alleged that arms were being imported into the country.
In separate interviews with newsmen in Lagos, the church leaders urged that those responsible for the illegal importation should be punished.
The clergymen, who were reacting to a report published in a national daily on Saturday, pointed out that arms proliferation would threaten the 2011 general elections, if unchecked.
According to the report, the National Taskforce on Illegal Importation of Goods and Light Weapons recently alerted the Nigeria Customs Service on the arrival of a vessel KOTAR NAZAR with voyage number VOYNZR017 laden with small arms and other contrabands.
The Anglican Bishop of Afikpo in Ebonyi, the Rt. Rev. Paul Udogu, told newsmen that the church had been persuading its members to vote for candidates of their choice in 2011, but would not want the members to fall victims of violence.
“The Federal Government should investigate this report and the people involved should be punished.
“If the report is true, we condemn the act outright and ask the government to act immediately to forestall any ugly action,” he said.
The Primate of the African Church Bethel, Most Rev. Emmanuel Udofia, urged proper training and equipment of security operatives at Nigeria’s borders and ports to enable them to detect arms proliferation.
Niger
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (NCPP) in Niger State has commended the efforts of Governor Babangida Aliyu in developing the state.
Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, the CNPP Secretary, made the commendation while speaking with newsmen in Minna.
“There is no doubt that the present leadership of Aliyu has created new national consciousness and patriotic re-awakening in the minds of Nigerlites through the recent activities tat marked Nigeria at 50.
“The intangible values may not be seen as physical development area; the core essence of governance that the nation has been lacking over he years”, he said.
He said that the recent establishment of Independent Square by Aliyu’s administration was a clear testimony of an historical artifact for both the present and future generation to learn.
The secretary said the government’s gesture of employing non-indigenes into the civil service and not on contract bases was also worthy of emulation by other state governments.
Ogun
The Association of Small-Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSPIN) has canvassed for 10 per cent budgetary allocation to the agricultural sector by governments at all levels.
Mr Mabinuori Adeleke, the National Vice-President of the association in the South-West Zone, made the call on Tuesday in Ijebu-Ode in an interview with newsmen.
Adeleke said that the current 3.5 per cent of budgetary allocation to the sector was not adequate to engender sustainable development.
Plateau
Plateau is to receive 1,600 NYSC members for the 2010 Batch “C” orientation programme, scheduled to start on Wednesday, a statement said on Monday.
The statement, issued by Mr Sam Nwopara, Head, Public Relations of Plateau NYSC Directorate, in Jos, said the orientation would hold at the NYSC temporary camp in Zang Secondary Commercial School, Bukuru.
It further said that the state chief judge, Justice Lazarus Dakyen, would administer the oath of allegiance on the corps members.
The NYSC appealed to the people of Plateau to accord the corps members the usual hospitality they were known for.
Sokoto
Alhaji Ibrahim Gobi, a Senatorial aspirant on the platform of PDP in Sokoto State, has charged INEC to meet the expectations of Nigerians by conducting free, fair and credible elections in 2011.
Gobi told newsmen that it was only through transparent elections that the desire of Nigerians would be met.
He said that the commission must put in place a formidable framework that would ensure full participation of eligible Nigerians in the election process.
Gobi, who is contesting for Sokoto East Senatorial Zone, added that it was only through credible elections that good leaders would emerge for the political growth of the country.
Gobi called for full participation of stakeholders in the election process to enable the commission perform its constitutional responsibility.
Nation
Party Chieftain Hails LG Boss’ Dev Strides
Acting Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwuche has extolled the sterling leadership being provided by the Chairman of the council, Hon Iyeko Okporo, describing it as unprecedented.
Hon Chukwuemeka described the council chairman as God-sent, considering his achievements in just 100 days in office.
The PDP chieftain said the chairman has rekindled the hope and trust of the people in grassroots governance.
He expressed gratitude to the Governor for enabling his people to have his replica at Akinima.
He explained that the solar water project, the Late Eze Ekpeye Logbo 11 palace fencing, generator house rebuilding and town hall, all in Odiereke Ubie Community can best be described as the hallmark of true leadership.
He said the projects have direct bearing on the basic needs of the people who have suffered untold hardship and bad governance until the saviour came into office.
“ It is thunderous, as you can see the organic support and show of love to the performing chairman. Our people are overwhelmed seeing one of their own touching lives in a special way. As a community ,we have been in the past years without drinking water, but just two months in office, the chairman has provided not just drinking water, but a well-treated solar water project. Okporo is God-sent, no wonder he is nicknamed such. We have compared notes with other chairmen in the past and came to the conclusion that what he is doing in 100 days is overwhelming. Governor Fubara has made us proud by allowing a level playing field that necessitated the emergency of the chairman. You can see the women, men, youths and traditional rulers all saying one thing. God bless Governor Fubara for giving us our own. We owe him prayers and unwavering support,” he said.
In her welcome address, the Ward 9 councillor, Hon Catherine Uriah showered encomiums on the chairman for addressing the basic needs of the people in just 100 days in office.
Hon Uriah also thanked the Governor for allowing the will of the people to prevail in the just concluded local government elections which produced the God fearing chairman.
She said the people of Ward 9 as well as Ahoada West are pleased with the chairman because he is doing well.
She said the people will go to length to show support to him in his determination to redefine governance at the grassroots.
Nation
Group Plans Pilot Farm Programme For 50 Schools
A community-based non-governmental organisation, The Peoples Encouragers Initiative, is planning a pilot farm project for 50 schools in both Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
Executive Director of the organisation, Chukwuma Abraham disclosed this at the recent International Human Rights Day celebration at Ahoada, headquarters of Ahoada East Local Government Area.
Abraham said the proposed programme which gulps the sum of N45million was intended to bring the youths back to the land and make them self-reliant.
“We hope to mobilise the factors of production inherent in all the schools through this programme to achieve two basic objectives of building self reliant youths and to create a viable and sustainable stream of income for our schools,” he said.
He said the programmme will also keep the youth busy and impact farming skills, stressing that each of the participating schools is expected to nominate at least two members of staff to coordinate and supervise the programme while10 students will be elected as executive members to administer the programmme on a day to day basis in their various schools.
“Every school has a sizeable portion of arable land to carry out the programme of establishing a functional farm in their chosen area of interest. We are hoping to mobilise an estimated N45 million to enable us set up the pilot farms across the 50 schools within Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas,” he said.
He said the celebration was to draw attention of both the Nigerian government and the international community to the issue of human rights violation, adding that findings by the organisation has shown that insecurity and youth unemployment worsened over the past few years as a result of the insecurity that engulfed the Orashi region of the State. We also found out that the high level of cultism and social unrest within our environment is mostly fuelled by the high use of illicit drugs among the youths. This programme will afford us the opportunity to take a tour through the universal declaration of human rights and reinforce on our youths the understanding that substance abuse can lead to crime, crime can lead to jail term and criminal record can blight their future dreams and life for ever,”he said.
Also speaking, the representative of the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Mr. Ikporo Freedom urged the students to shun all forms of anti-social behaviours especially during the holiday season.
He also warned them against joining bad groups and stressed the need for the organisation to include private schools in the programme.
The Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Council, Hon Ezu R .C . Hezekiah represented by his Deputy, Hon Ununuma Odoi pledged the support of the council to the programme.
He also urged other groups in the area to emulate The Peoples Encouragers Initiative by organizing programms that will impact on the lives of the people.
John Bibor
Nation
NCSU Flays Police Take Over Of Rivers PDP Secretariat
The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has condemned the take over of the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Rivers State by the police, saying the action is against the tenets and principles of the rule of law.
This is even as the union has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to call to order the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike for allegedly orchestrating and instigating the crisis rocking the PDP in the State.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who made the condemnation in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the police have no right to take over the PDP secretariat, as a ploy to provide cover and protection for members of the state executive of the party loyal to Wike, who were recently sacked by a court of competent jurisdiction in the State.
According to him, the action of the police is in clear defiance of a court ruling sacking the party executives at all levels in the State, instead of taking steps to enforce same.
He regretted that the police have consistently been showing that they are not appreciative of the logistic support Governor SiminalayiFubara has been extending to them, by openly demonstrating their bias, loyalty and allegiance to Wike and his supporters, contrary to their rules of engagement, which uphold and recognise absolute neutrality.
He said the Minister is wasting his time if he thinks that he could destroy the State by orchestrating and instigating needless crisis that is capable of making the State ungovernable, and appealed to President Tinubu to call him and his supporters to order.
Commenting on the fate of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers in the State, who defected from the ruling PDP to the All Progressives Congress(APC), Osumah said their fate is apparently sealed, as the Supreme Court had already given judgment in a similar case, saying, Wike is merely wasting his time by using the lawmakers against Governor Fubara, and causing unnecessary problem in the State.
He said if the Minister and his supporters do not retrace their steps and give peace a chance, the NCSU would have no choice than to mobilise all civil servants in the State, to troop out to the streets and protest against them.
The labour leader stressed the need for the police to vacate the PDP secretariat along Aba Road in Port Harcourt, and respect the High Court ruling which declared the congresses of the party in the State null and void.
While reiterating the need for President Tinubu to call Wike to order, Osumah said the President cannot continue to fold his arms and watch the Minister continuously make frantic efforts to destroy his State.
He also carpeted those blaming Governor Fubara administration for the recent gruesome murder of a Chief Security Officer(CSO) and his son in Igwuruta Ali community, saying those making such insinuations and attributing the sad incident to security lapses on the part of the state government, are missing the point.
He noted that by empowering the police in the State with several operational vehicles and other logistics, it was expected that the police would reciprocate the gesture, by living up to their constitutional obligation of protecting lives and property in the State, contending that Governor Fubara has been playing his part of guaranteeing security in the State.
He said the State is generally peaceful and safe, and challenged those criticising the Governor to cast their minds and attention to what is happening in other parts of the country, where killings and other social vices have become the order of the day.
Osumah cited as an example the recent killings in Ebonyi State by Fulani herdsmen as well as incidences of kidnapping and banditry in several other States of the federation, and wondered if Governor Fubara could be held responsible for such anomalies.
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