Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Federal Government says education is the most potent tool for social change.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Macjohn Nwaobiala, made the declaration in Bauchi at the opening of the plenary session of the Joint Consultative Committee on Education.
Nwaobiala said that education was the most potent means of precipitating societal change.
He described the theme of the meeting, “strengthening the institutional management of education for quality service delivery”, as apt because the country was striving to achieve its goals of providing qualitative education.
FCT
The police have arraigned an Abuja-based businessman, Shaibu Usman, before a Karu Upper Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly hitting and removing Kasimu Umar’s teeth.
Police prosecutor Silas Nanpan told the court that Usman allegedly assaulted Umar of Nyanya, Panteka, Abuja, on July 23, 2012
Nanpan said that Usman attacked Umar in his shop in Nyanya.
“Umar was attending to a customer in his shop when Usman came out from nowhere and hit him on his mouth and in the process, removed his two front teeth.
Kano
The Kano State Police Command has confirmed the killing of a pedestrian by gunmen at Na’ibawa area of Kano last Monday.
The command’s spokesman, ASP Magaji Majiya, confirmed the incidence to newsmen, saying that it took place around 8.00 p.m.
According to him, some gunmen attacked a pharmaceutical shop at Na’iabawa and a passerby was shot dead while one was injured and taken to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.
He, however, said that investigations had since begun and tight security had been enforced in the affected area with restricted movement of people.
Kogi
Kogi State Deputy Governor Mr Yomi Awoniyi, has said that the state is ready to cooperate with the police to sustain the prevailing peace and security in the area.
This is contained in a statement issued by Awoniyi’s Press Secretary, Mr Michael Abu, in Lokoja.
The statement said the deputy governor made the remark when he received Mr Hilary Opara, the new Commissioner of Police posted to the state.
The deputy governor lauded the role played by the Nigeria Police in the maintenance and sustenance of peace and security in the state.
Kwara
The University of Ilorin Librarian, Dr Joseph Omoniyi, has identified laziness among students as one of the factors responsible for the poor reading culture in the society.
Omoniyi was speaking in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.
He said the problem of poor reading culture was a systemic problem that required a systemic approach to address.
According to him, the western society is a literate one, but that the African society is still predominantly oral where most people spread information through the word of mouth rather than through writing.
Lagos
The spokesman for Lagos State Land Bureau, Mr Adebisi Moshod, has appealed to those seeking Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os) to always approach the bureau with genuine documents.
Moshod told newsmen in Lagos recently that the bureau was not unduly delaying the issuance of C of O.
He alleged that many applicants presented fake documents and that some took long time to provide necessary credentials required by the state government.
According to Moshod, the issuance of C of O generally does not take long when genuine documents are presented.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Government has called on English Language teachers to address the challenge of mass failure in the subject in the secondary schools across the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Nasarawa State Ministry of Education, Hajiya Zainab Abdulmumuni, made the call in Keffi at a workshop organised for English language teachers in the state.
While lamenting the mass failure of students in English Language examinations in the state, she attributed the failure to the attitude of some teachers handling the subject.
According to her, there is need for English Language teachers to realise that English being the country’s official language must be taught with every sense of responsibility.
Ogun
A total of 30,000 jobs have been created in Ogun through the FADAMA III Agricultural Project, Dr Seemthamby Manoharan, the Head of the World Bank/ Federal Government Supervision team, has said.
Manoharan, who announced this when he led a delegation of the team to the state, said the project had recorded a huge success in many states of the country, including Ogun.
He said that this had enhanced favourable consideration of the Federal Government’s request for additional funding of the project by the bank.
Manoharan, however, appealed to defaulting states to pay their counterpart funding, saying that failure to do so could hinder the full realisation of the objectives of the project.
Oyo
A 28-year-old man, Ifeanyi Ogbonna, was last Tuesday arraigned before an Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing the sum of N116,000.
The Prosecutor, Mr Ade Adebusuyi, told the court that the defendant, being a staff of Collins Group Limited, Mokola area, Ibadan, allegedly failed to remit the money for the sales of Agricultural chemicals to the company.
Adebusuyi said the money belonged to one Vincent Okonli, and that the incident happened on December 24, 2012, at about 2:00 pm.
Osun
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, says he would create an enabling environment for peace, unity and harmonious co-existence among all religious faithful.
Aregbesola made the statement recently in Osogbo at a thanksgiving service to mark the completion of the 2012 pilgrimage to Israel..
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, urged the people to always appreciate God in any circumstances. they might find themselves.
He lauded the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Nigeria Inter-Religion Council (NIREC) for sustaining peace in the state.
Plateau
Consumers of locally brewed alcohol popularly known as “burukutu’’, risk cancer, hepatitis and others, diseases, Dr. Fabong Yildam, a doctor of family medicine, has said.
Yildam, who works with the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos, told newsmen, that the local brew “predisposes one to malnutrition, alcohol-induced hepatitis and various types of cancer’’.
“That local brew inhibits the breakdown of nutrients into usable molecules by decreasing secretion of digestive enzymes from the pancreas.
“It impairs nutrient absorption by damaging the cells lining the stomach and intestines and disabling transport of some nutrients into the blood.
Sokoto
Mixed reactions in Sokoto State have trailed the recent merger of the major opposition parties in Nigeria which led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Former Governor of Sokoto State , Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa told newsmen in Sokoto recently I am a member of the merger talks representing my party, ANPP and I support the merger .
“ The merger is not the problem but those who are trying to run the new mega party may be the problem
‘’ For the mega party to succeed, we must all set aside our selfish interests and save the Nigerian masses ,’’ he added .
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