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THE STATES

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Adamawa

Three persons have been reported dead and many still missing
in flood caused by the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon Republic.

“The incident occurred following the release of water from
Lagdo Dam by the Cameroon Republic on Saturday,’’ Mr Shadrack Barub, the
Secretary of Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said.

He added that “during assessment tour by the agency in some
of the affected areas, the agency received three death cases, so far, while
many are still missing and thousands of people have been rendered homeless.”

Barub said that the most-hit areas included Fufore,
Girei,Yola South, Yola North, Demsa, Numan, Lamurde, Sheleng, Michika, Guyuk
and Ganye local government areas.

 

FCT

The National Youth Desk Coordinator, Presbyterian Church of
Nigeria (PCN), Rev. Akin Mbeh on Sunday called on youths to start to build a
new Nigeria on the “ruins and rubbles ‘’ of what remained of the once
prosperous and glorious nation.

In a goodwill message presented to the youth in All
Presbyterian Church on the occasion of the Youths 2012 Sunday in Abuja and made
available to our correspondent, Mbeh said “If we are not truthful to ourselves
, we will never admit any lost glory of our life .’’

’’Youths and all Nigerians should be both builders of new
things and builders of damaged treasures,’’ he added.

“Therefore, we must think well before we build, know what we
want to build , how to build, for who we are building, why we must build and
our end reward or penalty .’’

 

Jigawa

The Jigawa Government said on Sunday in Dutse that it haS
spent N2. 5 billion on different scholarship programmes for its students from
2007 to date.

Prof. Haruna Wakili, the Commissioner for Education, said
this during the inauguration of the new site of Dutse Model International
School.

Wakili explained that between 2011 and 2012, no fewer than
307 students from the state were sponsored abroad to study Medicine,
Engineering, ICT and Islamic studies.

He said government’s spending on students studying in the
country had increased from N43 .5 million in 2007 to N734 .5 million in 2011.

The commissioner said tertiary institutions also received a
boost as government recently earmarked N1.1 billion for the establishment of
College of Remedial Studies in Kafin-Hausa.

 

Katsina

No fewer than 100 houses and 146 farms have been destroyed
by flood in Kofa and Tofani villages in Kusada Local Government area of Katsina
State.

The Tide also gathered that eight persons sustained injuries
during the flood which occurred on Friday in the two villages.

The injured persons were said to be receiving treatment at
various hospitals including Katsina General Hospital and Kankia Hospital, with
three treated and discharged.

The flood was said to have destroyed 85 houses and 95 farms
in Kofa village and 15 houses and 51 farms in Tofani village.

 

Kaduna

A Zaria-based agrochemical dealer, Alhaji Kasimu Iliyasu,
has won CPC’s primaries to be the party’s flag-bearer for Zaria by-election
into Kaduna State House of Assembly.

Declaring the result after the primaries held in Zaria on
Sunday, the Returning Officer, Senator Mohammed Garba, said Iliyasu polled 59
votes to defeat eight other contestants.

Garba said other contestants were Mohammed Ibrahim, who
scored 29 votes, Abass Hassan, 17 votes, Umar Sani, 13 votes, while Aliyu
Ja’afaru, Mohammed Tukur and Hussaini Usman got five, three and two votes
respectively.

The Tide reports that immediately after the declaration of
the result, all the contestants rallied round the winner indicating acceptance
of the outcome of the primaries.

 

Kogi

Some residents in Lokoja in Kogi State on Tuesday expressed
mixed feelings on the proposed currency restructuring by the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN).

The Tide reports that while some residents said it would
have positive effects, others said that it would not have desired effects on
the economy.

Mr Bayo Adeyemi, the Manager of Saklad Wine Shop, told our
correspondent that the currency restructuring policy was necessary now to
improve the economy.

He said it would be easier to move funds to banks after
daily sales if N5, 000 notes were part of the nation’s legal tender.

 

Kwara

Prof. Shehu Jimoh, Chaiman, Governing Council of Kwara
Polytechnic, Ilorin, has urged tertiary institutions in the country to
emphasise the teaching of science and technology courses in their institutions.

Jimoh told The Tide in Ilorin on Tuesday that the emphasis
was needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

According to him, concentrating on the disciplines will also
help move the country forward.

“There is need to place more emphasis on science and
technology, just as they do on cultism, examination malpractice and other
related issues.

“It is obvious now that the development of any nation
depends largely on science and technology and our tertiary institutions should
rise up to the challenge,” he said.

 

Lagos

Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),
Ahmadu Giade has vowed to put an end to the abuse of narcotic drugs and
unconventional substances in some parts of the country.

This was contained in a statement signed by the agency’s
spokesman, Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, which was made available to newsmen in Lagos.

Giade noted that substances like rubber solution, petrol,
lizard dung and pit toilet were regularly abused in some parts of Nigeria,
particularly in Kano State.

“We are determined to stop the abuse of narcotics and
unconventional substances such as rubber solution, petrol, lizard dung and pit
toilet, all in a bid to get high. All hands must be on deck to protect lives
from destruction.

 

Nasarawa

Academic activities have been paralysed in three tertiary
institutions of Nasarawa due to strike by lecturers.

The institutions are the College of Education Akwanga, the
College of Agriculture and the Nasarawa State Polytechnic, both in Lafia.

Chairman of the Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions in the
state, Comrade Ibrahim Bako, told newsmen in Lafia on Tuesday that it was a
warning strike to press the state government to meet their demands.

According to him, the government has failed to pay the 18
months outstanding salary arrears to staff of the three institutions.

 

Niger

The Niger Disaster Management Agency has called on the
Federal Government to hasten the repair of the Wuya Usman bridge across the
River Kaduna to avert its possible collapse due to erosion menace.

The Agency’s Director General, Alhaji Mohammed Shaba, made
the call on Tuesday in an interview with newsmen in Minna.

He said that the repair works must be carried out to prevent
the bridge from collapsing and cutting off the northern parts of the country
from the south on the Bida-Ilorin route.

Shaba, however, said the state government had begun some
repair works around the base of the bridge, adding: “but the Federal Government
must move fast and carry out the repairs so it will be permanent and avoid the
disaster’’.

 

Ogun

Ten passengers of a commercial bus died on Tuesday at
Obada-Oko in Ogun when their bus collided with an articulated vehicle.

Mr Fatai Bakare, the Itori Unit Commander of the Federal
Road Safety Commission, said the accident occurred along the Abeokuta-Lagos
expressway at about 12 midnight, adding that 11 people were involved.

Bakare gave the registration number of the bus as LAGOS CZ
269 MUS, while the articulated vehicle was marked LAGOS 208 XB.

“All the deceased had been deposited at Federal Medical
Centre (FMC), Abeokuta and Ifo General Hospital. The only survivor is
critically injured and receiving treatment at FMC.

 

Osun

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the ruling party in
Osun, said on Sunday that it had put the state on the path of growth.

A statement by Mr Kunle Oyatomi, the party’s local Director
of Publicity, Research and Strategy in Osogbo, said that Governor Rauf
Aregbesola’s administration had made life meaningful for the people.

According to the party, as Osun marks its 21st anniversary
on August 27 it has been able to execute meaningful programmes two years after
it assumed power.

The party said that the rainy season that used to be a
period of grief due to poor drainage network was no longer so.

 

Sokoto

The Chairman of Shagari Local Government in Sokoto State,
Alhaji Abdullahi Maigwandu, said on Tuesday that the council spent about N100
million to construct 10 motorised boreholes in different parts of the area.

Maigwandu told newsmen in Sokoto that the council spent N10
million on the project in each of the 10 wards.

He said that the projects were undertaken to ensure the
supply of potable water for both human and animal consumption.

He explained that the council would continue to initiate
policies and programmes that would have direct bearing on the lives of the
people in the area.

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Rivers Deputy Governor Hails PH City One Love For Humanitarian Gesture

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Rivers state Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Nma Odu has commended “The Port Harcourt City One Love,”a Port Harcourt based humanitarian orgnisation For it’s commitment towards alleviating the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in the society.

Professor Ngozi Nma Odu said this while speaking at this year’s edition of “operation feed the needy” a yearly outreach program of “The Port Harcourt City One Love ” in Port Harcourt.
The Deputy Governor said by feeding more than sixty thousands hungry people within the past six years, the Port Harcourt City One Love Movement has distinguished itself as a club that cares for the less privilege in the society.

She commended the , organization for listing eleven thousand persons to be fed in the current exercise.

Meanwhile The Port Harcourt City One Love  has planned a permanent solution to the problem of feeding the poor in the state.

The leader of the group Mr Idaere Gogo Ogan who said this in an interview with newsmen during the distribution of food items to the poor and vulnerables in Port Harcourt said the organization is planning a permanent food kitchen where poor and vulnerable persons can work in anytime and get fed.

Idaere Gogo Ogan said more than sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons across Port Harcourt City and environs have been fed since the inception of “The operation feed the needy” program six years ago,adding that so far sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons have beneffited.

 

He described the group as a platform to promote friendship, brotherhood, community development empathy and feeding the less privilege and hungry people
“That’s what we are doing today here,so we started the exercise six years ago”.he said.

Ogan said the effort was a private sector driven initiative but added “it also involves people in Government because the platform does not recognize any division,we bring everybody together in unity , friendship and brotherhood”he said.

He said the effort will go along way in alleviating hunger especially following the prevailing hunger in the country.

According to him “you know the country is very tough, people are hungry people are starving, there is a whole lot of economic hardship,so for us, this is just our own way of reaching out, our own social contribution to what is very difficult”he said.

Over eleven thousand persons were fed in the just concluded exercise.
Areas of coverage include, Isaac Boro park, Port Harcourt prison/Macoba, Borokiri/Enugu waterside Bundu areas Waterlines and others.

Some of the beneficiaries including an 80 years old widow commended the movement for the annual programm and urged other organizations to emulate them

 

John Bibor,/Esuuk Oyet/Suotor Memoye /Jeremiah Hannah

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We’ll Partner Private Sector to Industrialize Rivers State – Fubara …Hints Revitalization of Ahoada, Trans Amadi Industrial layout

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Rivers State Governor , Sir Siminialayi Fubara says the industrialization of the state remains a key drive of his administration.
Speaking through Director General of the Rivers  State Investment Promotion Agency, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside at the Shell Gas Limited and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN) Investors Forum held in Port Harcourt, Fubara stressed that public /private partnership is key to revive production in the state.
“We are ready to partner Shell Gas Limited to revive manufacturing in Rivers State at Ahoada Industrial Park, and the new Port City project, including the proposed Bonny Industrial Park which will grow industries along the Bonny corridor” he declared.
Part of the scheme, he further stated is to collaborate with Shell Gas Limited and the private sector to transform Rivers State into a major manufacturing hub in the South of Nigeria.
Commending Shell and MAN for leading the frontline, Sir. Fubara said,” the time to act is now  and thank God Shell is taking the lead to prioritize gas.”
The governor opined that the gas sector provides huge investment opportunities to drive the state economy as the world is gradually shifting towards gas and other environment friendly energy, while urging stakeholders to evolve an actionable gas policy for the state.
Earlier in his remarks, Shell Gas Limited Head of Gas Distribution, Mr. Chukwuka Amos-Ejesi said it is high time the state utilized its huge gas resource.
“Today gas offers investors opportunities and raises the value chain as it boosts production for industry users,” Amos-Ejesi said.
The Shell Gas Distribution executive said the company seeks to support manufacturing by adopting a user friendly approach that allows manufacturers to grow profitably with affordable cheaper energy.
He explained that natural gas provides huge potentials and aligns with federal government  policy of gas utilization.
Chairman of MAN Rivers and Bayelsa Branch, Elder Vincent Okugu described gas as the backbone of manufacturing.
He said the forum has become timely and key to address the pressing energy provision to boost production in the sector, as he lamented the high costs borne by manufacturers in sourcing energy alternatives.
In her remarks, Chairperson of  the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture, Dr. Chinyere Ngozi Nwoga commended Shell for the forum which she described as a bridge to reduce gap of energy provision for manufacturers.
Ngozi Nwoga said the transition to natural gas has become imperative, stressing that pipeline gas offers cheaper and smooth energy provision for industries.
Former MAN chairperson for Rivers and Bayelsa States, Mrs Emilia Akpan was of the view that the quest to provide cheap energy should be driven with technical manpower, as she emphasized  need for Rivers State to recreate its economy.
By Kevin Nengia
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SheVentures Open Zero-interest Loan Applications for Women Entrepreneurs

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First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to N10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.
The facility provides loans ranging from N500,000 to N5 million under a general category, and N5 million to N10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.
Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB),  Yemisi Edun,  said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively. Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

“This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs”, Edun said.

Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo said access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs.

 

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