Nation
THE STATES
Ekiti
A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti last Thursday sentenced 17 men to two years’ imprisonment each for attempting to plant 18 kilogrammes of Indian hemp (Cannabis) without lawful authority.
The presiding judge, Mr Justice Emmanuel Obile, however, granted each of them an option of fine of N60,000.
Those convicted included David Luke (24), Friday Nwakana (26) Lucky Onyausuma (20), Olu Sounmi (28), Godwin Ogbu (19), Akpan Samuel (40), Bolaji Aluko (32), Bassey Akanima (22) and Anselem Urama (32).
The rest are Raymond Abenu (32), Amechi Akanu (42), Saturday Ileoben (25), Mathew Okah (27) Friday Ejeh (35), Taiye Echaruku (28), Okonye Chukudi (28) and Ezekiel David.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Iliya Waji, a Senior Legal Officer with the NDLEA, had told the court that the convicts were caught attempting to cultivate 60 acres in order to plant 18 kilogrammes of Indian hemp seeds. He said that they were caught on March 6, 2012 at the Ise-Ekiti forest of Ekiti State.
The Defence Counsel, Mr Benson Nduka, had earlier pleaded with the judge to temper justice with mercy, considering the ages of most of the convicts, who could still be useful to the society.
FCT
An Abuja Magistrates’ Court, has ordered that a 23-year-old commercial sex worker, Charity Achibong, be remanded in prison for biting off her lover’s tongue.
Achibong of Jabi village, Abuja, appeared in court on a one-count charge of causing hurt contrary to section 245 of the Penal code.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Clement Egwu, said that one Mr Ephraim Okoronkwo reported the accused on July 9, at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja.
He said that the complainant and the accused had a misunderstanding and heated argument in his room on the day of the incident.
Egwu said that the accused jumped on the complainant in the midst of the argument and bit off his tongue, adding that the accused tried to run away but was apprehended by a security man nearby.
The prosecutor said that the bite caused Okoronkwo serious injury, resulting in his being admitted at the Gwarimpa Hospital, where he is still receiving treatment. The accused pleaded guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mrs Jacinta Okeke, asked that the case be suspended and that the accused be remanded in prison, while the condition of the accused was being monitored.
Gombe
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has called on the Gombe State Government to implement the 2006 Local Government Scheme of Service.
National President of the Union, Mr. Ibrahim Khaleel, made the call at the official inauguration of the state NULGE Secretariat last Wednesday.
He said most workers in the local government service in other states were already enjoying the scheme.
Khaleel also urged the governor to provide a housing programme for local government workers in each council headquarters as applied to other state workers.
The Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress in Gombe State, Mr. Ahmed Maisakala, urged the governor to pay the arrears of N18, 000 Minimum Wage owed workers in the state.
In his remark, Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo, represented by his Deputy, Mr. Tha’anda Rubainu, assured the workers that the government would look into their requests with a view to meeting them.
Jigawa
The Jigawa Government, has awarded N500 million contract for the construction of two ultra-modern mini-stadia in the state.
The Director of Sports, Alhaji Muhammad Yahaya, who disclosed this in an interview on Thursday in Dutse.
Yahaya said the projects would be executed in Dutse and Kazaure.
He said the contracts were awarded to Mandh and Lidiano construction companies, respectively, adding that the projects were designed to meet national standard.
The director said the gesture was part of the state government’s commitment toward encouraging sports development at the grassroots.
He said the state had concluded arrangements to enable its athletes to participate in the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos in November, tagged “EKO 2012’’.
According to him the athletes would compete in the male and female football, volleyball, basketball and athletics. “Our players are ready to participate and win trophies at the tournament”, he said.
Kebbi
The Kebbi World Bank-assisted Community and Social De
velopment Project will train 118 traditional rulers on ways to reduce environmental degradation, says the acting manager of the project, Mrs. Esther Jatau,.
Jatau said in Birnin Kebbi last Thursday that the project would support the government, corporate bodies and individuals to checkmate the menace of environment degradation.
She noted that open defecation, especially during the rainy season, had become rampant and posed a threat to human health.
Meanwhile, Mr Musa Umar, t the General Manager of the Kebbi State Environmental Protection Agency, who is also the Desk Officer on Environment in the project, said that a total 280 people would be trained.
According to him, the second category of those to be trained include Directors of agriculture in local government councils, vigilance groups, farmers’ associations, media practitioners and NGOs.
Lagos
Some residents in Lagos last Thursday said the new Lagos Tenancy Law had not made the required positive impact on tenants I8 months into the implementation of the law.
The law prohibited a landlord in the state from demanding or receiving rents in excess of six months from a sitting tenant paying monthly and one year rent from a tenant paying yearly.
Fashola signed the Tenancy Bill into law on Aug.24, 2011.
Mr Akeem Folarin, a resident in Yaba, said that he was made to pay two years rent with high commissions to secure his new apartment.
“Three of us were negotiating to rent the place; it would be stupid of me to offer to pay one year when two others were ready to pay two years.
“Some people were lucky to meet law abiding landlords that accepted one year rent, but not all the landlords are complying with the law and it is frustrating,” he said.
Mr Jolomi Ogunlana, a prospective tenant in Surulere area, said the tenancy law had not made the needed impact.
Nasarawa
Relatives of some patients last Wednesday attacked workers of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, for allegedly denying them access to patients.
A statement on Thursday by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr. Ahmed Ashuku, said the incident occurred at the maternity ward of the hospital.
Healleged that the relatives broke the burglary proof of the ward, threw food and other objects at the workers for asking them to keep to visiting hours two workers sustained injury during the fracas and had been treated.
Ashuku in the statement described the action as embarrassing and urged visitors to the hospital to respect official visiting hours.
“It should be noted that the hospital is not a social ground or a place for merriment, but a place for medical attention for the sick.”
Niger
The German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), says it has trained 86 communities in 17 local government areas of Niger State on shea butter processing and production to boost their earnings.
The GIZ Country Representative, Mr Christian Vidmann, said this on Thursday in Minna during the opening of the stakeholders workshop on pro-poor growth and promotion of employment.
Vidmann said that the community members were trained on group formation and how to increase the quantity and quality of shea butter produced in the state for sale in Nigeria and aboard.
According to him, the communities were provided with processing machines under a partnership arrangement between the state government, GIZ and some companies.
He said that the GIZ was ready to partner with the Niger government towards the attainment of its vision of becoming one of the top three most developed economies in the country by the year 2020.
Osun
The Osun Commissioner for Health, Mrs Temitope Ilori, says plans are underway to procure modern technological equipment for the use of physiotherapists in the state.
Ilori disclosed this in Osogbo on Thursday at a scientific conference organised by the Osun chapter of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy.
She noted that physiotherapy was a distinct professional practice with specialised functions in health care and medical rehabilitation services delivery.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Acting Director in the ministry, Mr Adeboye Adelowokan,said procurement of modern equipment would boost health care delivery.
Ilori charged physiotherapists to be more committed and dedicated to duty as part of their contributions toward the reformation of the state’s health sector.
Earlier, the state chairman of the association, Mr Segun Oluwafemi, called for the declaration of a state of emergency in the area of physiotherapy, stating that there was a gross shortage of professionals and equipment.
Oyo
The Managing Director, LNG Ship Manning Limited, Dr
Grant Akata, last Thursday in Ibadan said organisations must effectively deploy the mechanism to rate and reward employees.
Akata said this in a lecture he delivered at the 2012 Annual Branch Conference of Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Oyo State Chapter.
In his lecture was entitled: “Managing Performance and Reward for Organisational Success,’’ Akata, a human resource expert, said organisations must plan, ensure continual monitoring and review of performance as well as develop capacity to rate and reward performance.
He said individual and team members constitute the driving force for the delivery of organisational goals, adding that their contributions must have linkage with the team’s objectives.
Mr Sunday Adeyemi, the Registrar of CIPM, urged members to always update their knowledge, adding that the human resource remained the cornerstone of every organisation.
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