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THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa government has requested for the permission of the state House of Assembly to source for about 24 million dollars loan from Islamic Development Bank (IDB).
Gov. Murtala Nyako, in a letter to the House in Yola on Wednesday, said he wanted 24.1 million dollars from IDB to finance the construction of three new science secondary schools.
Nyako said the schools would be sited in the three senatorial zones of the state.
“One will be in Madagali town to carter for 360 male students. The one in Southern Zone, also for 360 male students, is to be located in Mayo-Belwa while the one for Central Zone is to be located in Song for 600 female students.’’
Ekiti
The NDLEA Commander in Ekiti, Mr Bamidele Akingbade, says about 424 acres of land planted with Indian hemp has been destroyed in the state within the last one year.
Akingbade said this on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti at a lecture to commemorate the 2011 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
The event was organised by the Psychiatry Department of the University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti.
The NDLEA boss listed Ise-Orun, Ilejemeje, Ido-Osi, Ado-Ekiti and Ikere as local government areas notorious for the cultivation of Indian hemp in the state.
He described Ekiti as one of leading states in the cultivation of Indian hemp, saying the notorious trade had become highly profitable.
FCT
Mr Stephen Frahm, Consular Chief of the U.S Embassy on Wednesday in Abuja advised Nigerians wishing to travel to that country to apply for visas at least a year ahead of time.
He said this at the embassy’s monthly briefing which had consular operations as the focus.
Frahm said the number of applicants outnumber those that can be accommodated daily, noting that this contributes to delays.
“ In Nigeria, there are a greater number of applicants than we have the ability to process. The number of people that can be processed in a given day is finite and that’s why it takes a long time in many instances to get an appointment.
Gombe
Twelve farmers were killed and nine others critically injured when thunder struck in Gelengu village in Balanga Local Government of Gombe State during a heavy downpour.
Malam Umar Ahmed, the Nigeria Red Cross Disaster Coordinator in charge of Gelengu, near Gombe, said.
Our correspondent on Wednesday in Gombe report that the incident occurred on Tuesday at around 1 p.m.
Ahmed said that the victims were on their farms when the rain started.
He said that the rains started with a storm, the victims scampered for shelter when the thunder struck.
Kaduna
As part of its efforts to protect its forest and prevent desert encroachment, the Kaduna State Government plans to plant one million tree seedlings this year.
Mr Anthony Kachiro, the Director of Forestry, state Ministry of Environment, said this on Wednesday in Kaduna in an interview with the newsmen.
He said the tree seedlings would be distributed to the 23 local government areas of the state after the launch of this year’s Tree Planting Campaign.
The campaign, he said, would be launched on Thursday in Kajuru Local Government Area.
Lagos
Mrs Amina AZ-Zubair, a former Senior Special Assistant to the President on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), says MDGs represent essential steps in tackling climate change challenges.
Az-Zubair said this in Lagos on Wednesday at the 6th Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB)/ Dr Newton Jibunoh Lecture on “Sustainable Buildings as Tool for Driving Investment”.
She was represented by Mr Oluwole Edun, a Director in the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGS.
Nasarawa
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says no fewer than 11 persons were rescued when an uncompleted three-storey building collapsed on Wednesday in Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
NEMA Public Relations Officer, Malam Yushau Shuaib , told newsmen that rescue operation was continuing to determine the actual number of casualties in the incident.
He said NEMA had been holding series of meetings on to move the victims and residents around the site to a safe environment.
Officials of the NSCDC, NEMA, FRSC, civil society groups as well as members of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) were said to be involved in the rescue operation.
Ogun
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun on Wednesday vowed to take back all the assets allegedly sold or given out on concession by the immediate past administration of Chief Gbenga Daniel.
Besides, he indicated his readiness to revoke all the state lands allegedly sold to some individuals and corporate organisations by the Daniel administration.
Amosun gave this indication while speaking at a stakeholders’ forum in Abeokuta to mark one month of his administration.
Ondo
The Ondo State House of Assembly has urged the State Executive Council to take proactive measures to
prevent flooding in the area.
The speaker, Mr Samuel Adesina, made the call in Akure while commenting on the Elegbin River flooding of some areas of the state capital due to a heavy rainfall last week.
The Majority Leader, Mr Dayo Akinnsoyinu, also called on the state government to take some preventive measures to avoid natural disasters such as flooding.
Oyo
The Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON) has appealed to Gov Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State to employ more Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) to rejuvenate sanitary inspection in the state.
Mr Joseph Ayoola, the council’s representative in the state made the appeal while speaking with the newsmen on Wednesday in Ibadan.
Sokoto
Alhaji Muktari Mapia, Deputy Treasurer PDP, Sokoto State, has appealed to members of the National Assembly (NASS), to introduce legislation that will reduce poverty in the country.
Mapia told newsmen in Sokoto on Wednesday that poverty and unemployment posed a serious threat to the nation.
He said time had come for the National Assembly to encourage governments to provide modern farming input to farmers at controlled prices.
Mapia explained that such equipment would enable youths to engage in farming, thereby creating job opportunities.
Taraba
Taraba House of Assembly has approved the nomination of Mr. Augustine Katakata as a commissioner and member of the State’s Executive Council.
The Tide reports that Katakata, who hails from Yorro Local Government Area, could not be screened together with his 12 colleagues due to poor health.
The Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Charles Maijankai, moved a motion that the commissioner should be allowed to take a bow and leave the chamber without answering questions, being a former member of the Assembly.
Zamfara
The Zamfara State House of Assembly has promised to tackle the high rate of maternal mortality in the state through increased funding of the primary healthcare system.
Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, the Speaker of the assembly, made the promise on Wednesday when officials of the Development
Research and Projects Centre (DPRC) visited him.
He expressed the state government’s concern over the increasing rate of maternal mortality in spite of efforts being made to control it.
The speaker said the legislature would ensure that funds allocated to the health sector were judiciously used.
He also said the assembly would ensure that funds were sufficient for quick intervention in the health needs of women and children, particularly for primary healthcare services.
The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on the Management of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to embark on the water projects in Buguma city in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Rivers state
The Group called on the Rivers state government to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
On the water project in Buguma, MOSIEND said the population of Buguma has increased tremendously as the residents need more water projects to enhance the daily livelihood of the people
The Group also appealed to the Chairman of the council to assist in making the project a reality and attracts more developmental projects to the city
This call was on Rhythm 93.7 FM Port Harcourt, Radio program, Talk of the Town, by MOSIEND Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn alongside Mark Ojuka,Chairman of Buguma and Hon Sandra Owunari JP Chairman Obuama and monitored by our correspondent
Comrade Ojuka also called on the Management of Liquidifed Natural Gas NLG to embark on a free medical outreach in all Kala bari communities to improve their health status
He appealed to LNG to award scholarship to indigens of Kalabari communities in tertiary institutions to better their education, noting the company is doing same in Bonny, abandoning Kalabari communities
“We need contracts, free medical, scholarships and employment including skill acquisition programs for our teeming youths in Kalabari extractions ”
On Security, Mark Ojuka said security in Buguma is at zero level with the help of the Ama Ma soldiers the city is more peaceful and investors friendly as the youths of area have cordial relationship with the security agencies in the area
“Security is very secured in Buguma clan”
He called on the Rivers state to revamp the Buguma fish farm to create employment for the teeming youths
“The youths are asking for human capacity building in the area to reduce unemployment”
“The revamping of the Buguma fish farm will also reduce youth violence”
Also Speaking, Eastern Zonal Coordinator of MOSIEND Half Hour Comrade Tammy Bruce Longjohn called for more improve in infrastructures in Kalabari community, especially in electricity
There is little improvement in terms of electricity in Buguma city
He decried the deplorable condition
of Buguma Health Centre, saying that the hospital is near functional
“Our sisters that are pregnant and our sick parents can not access the health centre for a better treatment ”
Describing the Health Centre as an eye saw, he called on Rivers state government and Buguma Local Government chairman Hon William to improve on facilities in the centre and make it more medically accessible to the sick persons in the area
Buguma, Tammy Bruce said is the spiritual headquarter of Kalabari people as such deserve more modern facilities from the government to improve lives
The Coordinator called on government, stakeholders and oil companies to assist and improve the poor infrastructural facilities in area
“We need first class hospitals, qualified medical doctors and nurses in the health centres and hospitals”
On the oil spilled in Obuoma Chairman MOSIEND Obuoma, Hon Sandra Owunari said the spill destroyed their crops and Rivers even polluted their only source of drinking water
She expressed displeasure that Rivers state government did not send any relief materials to the people in the affected community
On Chieftaincy title to women in Obuama, Hon Sandra Owunari said the community do not install Chieftaincy title to women, saying that Chieftaincy title is only reserved for men only in the community
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