Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Adamawa State Government last Monday in Yola
began the distribution of cheques for various amounts to victims of 2011 post-election violence in the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, the acting Chairman of the Post-Election Violence Committee, Alhaji Mohammed Hajuji, urged the victims to appreciate what they got from government as the gesture was to assist them but not as compensation.
He said the state government received N420 million from the Federal Government for the victims.
Hajuji, who did not give the number of victims to benefit from the exercise, said it would be done on local government basis beginning with Yola North, with 52 victims. Some of the victims expressed gratitude to the government for the support.
FCT
The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) last Saturday urged
the country’s former Heads of States to mediate in the protracted ASUU strike.
National President of the NUT, Mr Michael Olukoya, who made the call in Abuja during the celebration of the 2013 World Teachers’ Day. stressed that the lack of intervention by well-meaning Nigerians had made the industrial action to linger on.
Olukoya, however, appealed to the striking university lecturers to be sensitive to the constraints and efforts of the Federal Government and urged the Federal Government to do everything within its powers to end the protracted crisis.
He rejected plans to cede the management of primary education to local government councils, saying that such proposals portended a great danger to the development of the sector.
Olukoya commended the Federal Government for shelving its earlier idea to divest its ownership of Federal Government Colleges under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement and urged the Federal Government to initiate pragmatic efforts to restore the past glory of unity colleges and other secondary schools across the country.
Kaduna
Jema’a Local Government Council of Kaduna State has in
augurated a 25-member Committee on Peace and Security in its bid to check further breach of peace in the area.
Inaugurating the committee on Saturday in Kafanchan, the Chairman of the council, Mr Daniel Amos, urged the members to be resolute in the delivery of their mandate.
He said that the recent civil unrest witnessed in the council informed government’s decision to establish the committee with members drawn from the 12 wards.
The chairman said the committee was also expected to liaise with security agents and report suspected persons involved in the sale and consumption of illicit drugs.
Kano
The Kano State Government last Saturday pledged to de
velop orchards on 370 hectares of land to combat desert encroachment.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, said in Kano that the pilot schemes had commenced in Makoda, Danbatta and Gabasawa local government areas.
Abbas said the vegetable orchards were planted to empower the owners of the acquired lands adding that government would provide security guards to protect the orchards and forests against destruction and illegal tree felling.
The commissioner said it was the wish of the present administration to meet the African Union’s protocol on the eradication of poverty and empowerment of citizens through the reduction in desert encroachment in the Sahel.
Kogi
Members of the PDP Youths Alliance in Kogi State have
lauded the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The group acknowledged the efforts of government in the area of job creation, through which jobs had been created for some of them.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its meeting last Sunday in Lokoja, the goup said that youths across the six geo-political zones constituted the major beneficiaries of government programmes .
Kwara
The Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission
(KWASIEC), has concluded the training of 200 facilitators ahead of the local government election scheduled for October 26 in the State.
Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Uthman Ajidagba, said in Ilorin last Saturday that the training was part of efforts to achieve successful polls.
Represented by Mr AbdulRauf Ajao, the Commissioner in charge of Administration, Ajidagba added that the commission would recruit and train 3000 ad hoc staff before the election.
The leader of the facilitators and Dean Faculty of Education, University of IIorin, Prof. Adekunle Oloundare, assured KWASIEC that they would leave up to expectation in the discharge of their assignment.
Lagos
A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr
Rotimi Olowo, has said that the country will not break up as a result of the National Conference.
Olowo, who is Chairman, House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, made the assertion in an interview in Lagos last Sunday.
According to him (APC-Shomolu I), if the conference is properly handled it will bring about justice, development and fairness to the citizenry.
The lawmaker added that people must be well represented in order to carry them along to move the country forward and urged the advisory committee to see every Nigerian as one and not to treat any tribe or ethnic group as minority.
Ogun
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has said that
one person was found dead while 22 others sustained various degrees of injuries in a lone accident on the Abeokuta-Lagos expressway on Saturday.
The FRSC Unit Commander in Ogun, Mr Fatai Bakare, told newsmen in Ewekoro that the accident occurred at about 11 a.m around Awowo village in Ewekoro Local Government Area.
Bakare said the accident involved a white Toyota Hiace passenger bus marked (Lagos) BDG 307 AG and disclosed that the occupants of the bus were family members and friends who were heading for a wedding at Ojota in Lagos State.
The commander, who attributed the cause of the auto crash to over-speeding, explained that the driver lost control and it somersaulted. ‘’One female occupant died while 14 other females and eight male occupants sustained varying degrees of injuries,” he said.
Ondo
The Chairman of Global Fleet Group, Mr Jimoh Ibrahim,
has commiserated with the Ondo State Government over the death of Mr Deji Falae, a Commissioner for Tourism in the state in a plane crash last Thursday in Lagos.
Ibrahim condoled with the government while speaking with journalists on Sunday at his Igbotako residence, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Ibrahim, the Publisher of the National Mirror Newspapers, said that the news of the crash came to him as a rude shock and a big surprise and described the late Falae, as a talented young man, whose life was cut short.
Oyo
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said
on Monday it had transported 65,151 out of 66,000 Nigerian prospective pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj ahead of the Oct. 14 Arafat day.
National Commissioner in charge of Operations, Alhaji Abdullah Muhktar, announced in a telephone interview in Ibadan on Monday that the commission transported the pilgrims in 134.
Muhktar said the deadline for transportation of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia was Oct. 9, ahead of the Arafat and assured that the remaining pilgrims would be transported to Saudi Arabia before the close of Saudi’s airspace.
The spokesperson for the Commission, Alhaji Uba Mana, said that the balance of 849 pilgrims would be transported before the close of Saudi airspace today.
Plateau
The Paramount Ruler of Mwaghavul, Mangu LGA in Pla
teau, State, Mr Nelson Bakfur, has called on the people of the area to donate race horses to boost and uplift the Mwaghavul culture.
Bakfur who made the call last Saturday in his palace in Kerang when he received a horse donated by one of his subjects, Mr Samuel Puukat, an Abuja-based businessman said the dearth of horses in the Mwaghavul during festivals was “very glaring and disturbing’’.
Earlier, Puukat said the donation was in response to the call by the leadership of the National Mwaghavul Development Association and pledged to do his best to keep and sustain the Mwaghavul culture.
The National President of the Mwaghavul Development Association, Dr Stephen Hirse, thanked Puukat for remembering his place of origin and donating the horse.
Sokoto
Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Hassan Kukah,
last Saturday called on parents to intensify the teaching of their children about sound morals, as part of efforts to promote a better society.
The cleric who made the call in Sokoto at “The Children’s Day with the Bishop’’ Forum, organised by the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, stressed that children must have good moral upbringing at a very early age.
“It is only by so doing that the children would be responsible for the common good of the society, while contributing positively to nation building,’’ he said.
Kukah also called on the children to remain steadfast in prayers for God’s guidance and for the country to overcome its current security challenges.
Zamfara
A Talata Mafara High Court in Zamfara State last Monday
sentenced one Abdullahi Abubakar, 37, to death by hanging for the murder of his step-daughter.
The convict was arraigned in August, 2008 for putting a poisonous substance, suspected to be ‘Germaline’ in his step-daughter’s food, which led to her death.
Justice Bello Gummi said the convict intentionally and with the knowledge that death or grievous bodily injury would be the probable consequence of his action, poisoned his step-daughter, whose name was given as Suwaiba.
A professor of English linguistics at the Rivers State University (RSU) Nkpolu Oroworukwu Port Harcourt, Prof. Isaac Enyi Ngulube, has advocated for better and improved funding for language centres in Nigeria, such as NINLAN Aba and Nigeria French Language Village, Badagry, for optimum value and effective local languages development.
He also called for funded research on the development of orthographies and language documents across the country to rescue local languages from extinction, as well as having a well-planned and implemented mother tongue education in all institutions in the country, from primary to tertiary.
Prof. Ngulube made with these assertions while presenting his inaugural lecture at the university’s 121st inaugural lecture with the topic “The Career of Rough Beats: Language, Literature and the Development of our Common Humanity” held in Port Harcourt, Wednesday.
The erudite scholar, in the lecture, stressed that the study of English language, linguistics, and literature is very broad, large, and difficult, adding that he overcame the rough roads through resilience and determination.
He described language as “a purely human and non-instinctive means of communicating ideas and emotions,” noting that “the word is a fundamental need in language; you cannot study language without the use of language.”
He urged parents to be cautious with their utterances, warning that “what they refer to their children as is what they will automatically end up becoming.”
He recommended a branded English language for every profession or course of study, stressing that embedding oral literature in the teaching of students from primary to tertiary level will enable them to know their traditions and roots of origin.
“Tell them the folk stories and moonlight tales; you are sending them back to their people. You must be a human being first before becoming a medical doctor, engineer, or anything else,” Ngulube said.
He also called for better and improved production of quality language and literature teachers, provision of modern teaching/instructional materials, improved welfare packages for teachers, and provision of better infrastructure at both primary and secondary school levels.
He used the opportunity to appreciate the Vice Chancellor for the approval of the Department of English Language and Literature, adding that it had been his long-held dream for the university.
In his speech, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, while highlighting the lecture, opined that the lecturer x-rayed the lecturer’s journey into the study of English language, linguistics, and literature, describing the field as broad, large, and difficult, but with determination and focus, he was able to defeat the beasts he encountered on his way.
Zeb-Obipi agreed with the lecturer’s recommendations on ways to improve indigenous languages in the country and directed that modalities be worked out for the university to have the Department of English Language and Literature, among others.
He highlighted RSU’s recent victory in the Bilingual Community Project organized by the French Embassy, describing it as proof of the university’s rising excellence in language studies.
The Federal Government through the implementation of the various projects of the Ogoni cleanup programme is demonstrating a strong commitment to national peace and the development of Ogoniland.
The Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP), Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made this assertion at a two-day training on Mechanism for Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR) and other Peacebuilding Techniques for Community Leaders In Ogoni, held in Port Harcourt, said through the ongoing environmental restoration effort, potable water provision, livelihood restoration, public health interventions, and the Ogoni Power Project, HYPREP is contributing to national peace and development.
He explained that by improving the living conditions in communities and creating new opportunities for young people, the Project is also reducing the social pressure that often fuels conflict, stressing that the Project is proud of this service to the Ogoni people and the nation.
Describing traditional leaders and stakeholders as peacebuilders and guardians of community harmony, Zabbey noted that the workshop would strengthen their capacities and reinforce the Ogoni dialogue process, which HYPREP continues to support in line with its mandate on peacebuilding.
He said HYPREP is actively promoting ADR alongside other mechanisms across its project sites and other areas of operation aimed at fostering unity, fairness, mutual respect and faster dispute resolution, stressing that these are qualities necessary for the future of Ogoni people and their communities.
He further indicated that the Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP’s Governing Council, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal is disposed to promoting peace and stability across Ogoni communities and HYPREP project sites.
The Project Coordinator, therefore, charged Ogoni leaders to be mindful of their actions, words and body language, as what they say or do can either promote peace or fan the embers of conflict.
Continuing, he stated thus,”We must always ask ourselves: Is my position on this matter in the people’s interest? Does it promote unity and progress? Will it enhance development?”
The Project Coordinator assured the participants that HYPREP is working tirelessly in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the accelerated implementation of the Ogoni cleanup programme and ensure that its benefits reach the grassroots where they are needed most.
Stressing the need for Ogoni leaders and stakeholders to explore communication and trust options to prevent disputes from degenerating into violence, the Project Coordinator noted that it was time for all Ogonis to be united for development, leaving behind perceptions that do not serve collective progress.
Similarly, the Director of the Centre for Peace and Security Studies of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Chioma Daisy Onyige, said the workshop is a strategic platform aimed at strengthening the capacity of traditional institutions and community leaders to sustain peace, foster dialogue and promote non-adversarial engagements in the implementation of the Ogoni cleanup programme.
Prof Onyige noted that the Ogoni leadership structure commands deep respect and legitimacy, and strengthening their capacity in ADR methods such as mediation, negotiation, dialogue, facilitation, and consensus building means strengthening the foundation of peace in the region.
Participants, comprising traditional rulers and key stakeholders in Ogoni, commended HYPREP for the initiative, and assured it of their continuous support to the Project by providing an enabling atmosphere for the smooth implementation of the cleanup project in Ogoniland.
Resource persons who presented thought-provoking lectures at the workshop included the Dean of the Faculty of Postgraduate Studies of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof Kinikanwo Anele; Prof Olariwanju Lawal; Prof Chioma Daisy Onyige; and Dr Gbenemene Kpae; among others.
With significant achievements recorded across thematic areas of the Ogoni cleanup programme being executed by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the Project Coordinator of the Project, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has said that all these are enabling pathways to the development of Ogoniland.
This is coming on the heels of milestone achievements in the following areas and their impact on Ogoni communities. They are mangrove restoration which is 94 percent complete; shoreline remediation which stands at 67.1 percent; and the phase 2 land remediation progressing to 36.55 percent.
Moreso, HYPREP has constructed 14 water facilities, providing potable water to 40 communities. With the commissioning of the water schemes in Bane and Gwara communities, the number of communities with access to clean and safe drinking water will be 45. The process of operationalising the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) which is at 92 percent complete, is ongoing. The same for the Ogoni Power Project which is progressing with wayleave compensation and construction works at Bodo and Wiiyaakaara substations ongoing
Similarly, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital and Buan Cottage Hospital are at 76.8 percent and 98.7 percent respectively.
This is alongside other public health interventions and the Human BioMonitoring Survey also in progress.
Under the livelihood
programme, over 7,000 direct jobs have been created for Ogoni women and youths, while over 5,000 have been trained in multiple skills and provided start-up kits, workshops, education grants, scholarships and other empowerment programmes. This quarter, training will commence in other demand-driven skill areas, such as cybersecurity, full-stack development, mud logging, software development, commercial diving, and underwater welding.
Zabbey had reeled out these achievements, during the third quarter interactive session between the Project Coordination Office engagement with Ogoni youths in Port Harcourt on Friday, in line with HYPREP’s strategic stakeholders policy to provide an interface opportunity to abreast Ogoni youths on the Project’s activities, while garnering their feedback.
Zabbey noted that, “This
quarterly engagement was,therefore, designed as an inclusive strategy to ensure that youth voices are heard, concerns are addressed, and progress updates are provided transparently. Also, it reflects our firm belief that a project of this magnitude must be people-centred, accountable, and participatory”.
” I am delighted to inform you that the Project remains on course to achieve its mandate as outlined in the UNEP Report on the Ogoni environment and the official gazette establishing HYPREP. HYPREP is committed to transparency and accountability in the implementation of the cleanup projects and activities”, he said.
He stressed that HYPREP’s achievements are pathways to a better Ogoniland, assuring that the Project’s goals are aimed at benefiting all categories of Ogoni youths, whether in business, farming, advocacy, education, entrepreneurship or community development.
”This Project belongs to all of you, and its success depends mainly on your participation, unity and constructive engagement. And with your support, we are confident that all challenges will be addressed in the overall public interest,” Zabbey said.
The Project Coordinator urged Ogoni youths to continue to support the Project by promoting peace, discouraging misinformation, and collaborating with project teams working in the communities, and address challenges through dialogue, rather than confrontation.
Prof Dinebari Badey, a Professor of Development Sociology in the University of Port Harcourt, delivered the keynote address, linking the nexus between HYPREP and youths in the development of Ogoniland through unity of purpose while Engr Solomon Akere, gave a talk on Ogoni youths in business.
Participants raised questions concerning the maintenance of the water projects, remediation efforts, and compensation for the Right of Way (RoW), among others.
In attendance were management staff of HYPREP who provided responses to the interventions.