Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The lack of improved toilets in households and public places in Mubi-North local government area of Adamawa, is a major threat to public health in the area, an environmentalist, Mr Jika Hayatu, has said.
Hayatu, an Assistant Director, Health Education and Women Affairs in the council, told newsmen in Mubi on Monday, that the lack of adequate toilet facilities in households exposed residents to diseases.
He expressed concern over the indiscriminate disposal of waste and defecation in open places in the area.
“The rate of defecation in open places is alarming and a major health problem,” Hayatu said.
He said the council had embarked on an enlightenment campaign to sensitize communities on the need to build improved latrines and to ensure proper waste disposal.
He said that 10 health educators and sanitary inspectors had been deployed for the exercise.
Bauchi
Security personnel on Thursday night, rescued a seven-year old girl, Jamila Ahmed, kidnapped two weeks ago in Bauchi.
The suspected captors of the girl, four men and two women, along with their two babies, were arrested by the security agents.
Briefing newsmen on the rescue operation, the Bauchi State Director of the State Security Service (SSS) said on Thursday night in the state capital, that SSS operatives, soldiers and the police undertook the mission.
Jamila is the daughter of a former Executive Secretary of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Alhaji Ahmed al-Mustapha.
She was kidnapped while being conveyed to her school, the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University International School, Bauchi, two weeks ago.
The SSS director, who refused to disclose his name, said his men initiated the operation while the military and police gave them cover.
Ekiti
The University of Science and Technology, Ifaki-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Tuesday, banned male and female students from cohabiting.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Oye-Bamidele,
announced the ban while addressing a forum of parents at the institution’s temporary site in Ifaki-Ekiti.
He said investigations conducted by the authorities showed that some students had formed the habit of abandoning hostel accommodation on campus in preference for rented apartments in the town.
According to him, the male and female students live together off-campus to engage in unhindered sex.
The VC said such practices were contrary to the state government’s ideals of making the institution a world class university.
He maintained that the university would not allow children from different sexual and parental backgrounds to live together in the same room for any reason.
FCT
President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday in Abuja, urged the African Development Bank (ADB), to give greater support to the development of public infrastructure in Nigeria.
Jonathan, made the appeal at a meeting with the President of ADB, Mr Donald Keburuka and other senior officials of the bank, at the State House.
Jonathan said that the Federal Government, would particularly welcome ADB’s support for improvements in Nigeria’s power sector.
He commended the ADB for making support for the development of critical infrastructure in African countries the main focus of its operations.
Keburuka assured Jonathan that ADB would support his administration’s efforts to boost economic growth and development in every possible way.
According to him, the bank recognises the fact that Nigeria is the main driver of economic development in the West African sub-region.
He praised efforts being made by the Federal Government to achieve better management of Nigeria’s oil resources.
Gombe
The National Environmental Standard Regulation and Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has called on the people to be alert and report suspicious dumping to law enforcement agencies.
Dr Williams Arabs, the North East Zonal Director of NESREA made the appeal in Gombe recently.
This followed the discovery of 20 jute bags containing rotten fish deposited in Wuroyoli village of Akko local government area of Gombe State on November 13.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has attributed the scarcity of water being experienced in some parts of the state to insufficient power supply from the national grid.
The government also identified the current rehabilitation at some water works across the state as also one of the reasons for the shortage.
The General Manager of the Water Board, Malam Hassan Mohammed, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Kaduna on Sunday.
Mohammed was reacting to complaints by the residents on the scarcity of water supply in various parts of Kaduna Metropolis.
He said the rehabilitation work resulted in the under utilisation of facilities to adequately provide water to the residents.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State-owned radio and television stations have reopened after RATTAWU and NUJ called off their three-day warning strike over improved remuneration.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) had called the strike on Monday, demanding an increased salary package due to the hazardous nature of the profession.
Malam Abubakar Chika, the Kebbi State Chairman of RATTAWU, told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday that the call-off was sequel to a directive from the national headquarters of the union.
Chika warned members who failed to resume duty immediately that they “will have themselves to blame”.
He said the union had signed an agreement with the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission on the implementation of enhanced salary for members.
“The NUJ, RATTAWU, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity as well as the commission have signed an agreement for salary increment and members have resumed duty,” the chairman said.
Kwara
Chief Bode Oyedepo, the sole administrator of Kwara State Road Maintenance Agency (KWARMA), has pledged the organisation’s commitment to the reconstruction of all deplorable roads and drains in the area.
He made the pledge on Tuesday in Ilorin, in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.
Oyedepo said that Governor Bukola Saraki was concerned about the deplorable condition of roads in the state, adding that officials of the agency were currently on an inspection tour of the roads to determine the urgency of the repairs needed.
He promised that the roads would be rehabilitated to boost economic activities in the state.
Oyedepo said some of those already identified for urgent rehabilitation in the next few weeks included Adewole Kano Road, Sawmill Garage Road and Adabata Road in Ilorin.
Lagos
The Chief Executive Officer, Ijodee Dance Centre, Laidi Adedayo, said on Tuesday that dance could be used to promote unity in Nigeria and the world.
Adedayo told newsmen at the venue of the 5th edition of TRUFESTA in Lagos that, “dance provides interpersonal peace, unity and a sense of purpose in the society.’’
TRUFESTA is an annual dance festival which features training of dancers as well as workshops for professional dancers from Nigeria and abroad.
Ogun
Chief Theophilus Adenaike, President, Ijebu-Ode Grade II Customary Court, has advised parents to rededicate themselves to the task of ensuring proper parental care and upbringing of their children.
He gave the advice in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen stressing that proper upbringing of children would stabilise the society. Adenaike explained that the only way parents could do this was by staying together and resolving their differences amicably, rather than seeing divorce as the last option to any marrital disagreement.
He observed that many children had become wayward due to the lack of proper training and care by parents who, in most cases were already separated.
Adenaike noted that divorce always had negative effects on children’s upbringing, asserting that “a better society can only be achieved when children are brought up by both parents”.
“Divorce destabilises the society. When a marriage is dissolved, children from such union will not have access to proper parental care because they will be left with one of the parties, which is not good, he declared.
Osun
The First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, has urged states which have yet to implement the National Gender Policy, to do so without further delay.
The President’s wife made the plea during the launch of her project, Women for Change Initiative (W4CI) in Osun.
She noted that although Osun produced the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as having a female deputy governor, women were still under-represented in the state.
She said: “I must point out that Osun State is among the six states in Nigeria with a female deputy governor. This is heartwarming and most commendable. However, women are still under represented in the state.
“Osun State has no female representation in the Senate and it has only one female member in the House of Representatives and one in the State House of Assembly. In summary, the state is yet to implement the National Gender Policy on 35 per cent representation for women in governance, the first lady.”
Plateau
Representative Joseph Gumbari, an aspirant to the Senate, has promised to work towards more Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Southern Kaduna, if elected in 2011.
“The economies of China, India and the so-called Asian Tigers were the same with Nigeria’s economy in the 1960s. In fact, Nigeria’s economy was better than those economies.”
“But such countries had since gone past Nigeria because they embarked on deliberate policies that developed their MSMEs, they also made sure that such policies were sustained to fruition,’’ Gumbari said on Monday.
He spoke at the launch of a Women Traders’ Cooperative Society formed by a group of petty traders of Southern Kaduna origin in Plateau.
Gumbari promised to advocate a strong state policy toward an autonomous MSMEs commission empowered to seek local and international funds to establish strong enterprises.
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