Nation
THE STATES
Chairman, Tribunal of Inquiry into Collapsed Buildings in Lagos, Mrs Abimbola Ajayi (left), presenting the report of the tribunal to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State last Monday.
Photo: NAN
Benue
Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State last Mon
day charged auditors to curb corruption in the country by living up to their responsibilities.
Suswam gave the charge in Makurdi at the National Conference and Annual Meeting of the Committee of Heads of Internal Audit Department in Nigerian Universities (CHIADINU).
The governor said that corruption was affecting private or public sectors, reminding them that it was only auditors that could stem the ugly trend.
He also enjoined them to evolve strategies at checking misapplication of funds in all public and private organisations. .
In his keynote address, Prof. Richard Anao, said that the prolonged ASUU strike had far-reaching implications on the country’s university system.
Borno
The Borno State Government has appealed to the
United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) to include women victims of gender violence in its humanitarian service in the state.
Governor Kashim Shettima made the appeal while receiving Mrs Victoria Achenfon, the UNFPA country representative, in his office in Maiduguri.
Shettima said the gesture would help in rehabilitating women who suffered different kinds of gender violence due to the current security challenges in the state.
“Several young women have suffered different kinds of gender violence due to the insurgency facing the state.
FCT
The Auxiliary Bishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja,
Rt. Rev. Anselm Umoren, has called on Christians to be grateful to God in spite of the challenges around them.
Umoren gave the exhortation in his homily at the Harvest Thanksgiving and Bazaar of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Gwarinpa, Abuja last Sunday.
He said the fact that they were alive was worthy of celebration, adding: “you may have food but not alive to eat.
“Let everything be an expression of all that God has given to you. If you are grateful, God will bless you for appreciating His blessings in your lives,’’ he said.
Jigawa
Thousands of youths under the umbrella of National
Volunteer for Lamido 2015 took to the streets of Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, protesting the arrest of two sons of Jigawa state governor, Sule Lamido, by officials of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), last week.
The two sons, Mustapha and Aminu Sule Lamido, were arrested last Thursday at their residences in Kano for alleged N10 billion money laundering.
Efforts by Governor Lamido and his associates to see that the EFCC released the two accused on bail proved abortive.
The state coordinator of National Volunteer for Lamido 2015, Malam Musa Gambo Guri, who addressed the crowd in Dutse, said the arrest was political, aimed at tarnishing the image of the governor.
Kaduna
Not less than 3,500 intending pilgrims from Kaduna
State will depart Kaduna for Abuja to perform this year’s Christian pilgrimage in Israel.
The Chairman, Board of Directors, Kaduna state Christian Pilgrims Board, Mr Buba Lamido, made the disclosure in Kaduna State at a sensitisation programme for the intending pilgrims.
He advised them to adhere to religious regulations in Israel, eschew extravagance and pray for Nigeria.
He said that the pilgrimage was meant to transform the moral and spiritual lives of Christians and urged the intending pilgrims to report cases of illness to the board before their departure from Abuja.
Kano
The Kano State Government has sponsored 251 senior
civil servants for the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) workshop and examination to enable them to acquire quality administrative and managerial skills.
The state’s Head of Service, Dr Umar Minjibir, disclosed this at the launch of the 19th Batch ASCON workshop and examination at the Murtala Mohammed Library, Kano, last Monday.
He also said that the state government had sponsored 10 officers from the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning to pursue a master’s degree programme at the Regional Centre for Training in Aero Space Surveys (RECTAS), Oyo State
In his remarks, the Director-General of ASCON, Mr A. A. Peters, who was represented by a Director, Dr Tahir Fagge, said that the two-week management workshop would broaden the intellectual scope of the participants.
Kebbi
The Kebbi Government has established a shelter belt
covering 140 kilometres as part of the ongoing regional Great Green Wall afforestation programme, an official said last Monday.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Katuni Sanusi, made the disclosure in Birnin Kebbi in an interview with newsmen.
Sanusi also said the programme was executed under the SURE-P projects scheme and in conjunction with the Federal Government.
He said the efforts made by the state in this regard had helped it in recording remarkable progress in the area of environmental protection.
“In addition to the established shelter belt, an additional 84 kilometres of shelter belt had been established in desert-prone areas,” the permanent secretary said.
Sanusi however advised the public against cutting down trees, in view of their long-term benefits, warning that violators would be prosecuted.
Kwara
The Kwara State University, Malete, has matriculated
1,127 new students.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, in his address, said that the new students were part of the 9,500 candidates, who applied for admission into the university.
He stressed that the university had academic excellence, institutional integrity, equity and diversity as its core values.
He said that these core values would serve as a catalyst for the intellectual growth and personal development of the students.
Lagos
No fewer than 135 buildings collapsed in Lagos in the
last seven years, the state’s Tribunal of Enquiry on Building Collapse said lastMonday.
The chairperson of the tribunal, Mrs Abimbola Ajayi, said this while presenting the tribunal’s report to Governor Babatunde Fashola in Ikeja.
The tribunal was constituted by the state government on May 20, following the spate of collapsed buildings in the state. It had a mandate to unravel the causes of the problem and come up with recommendations within three months.
Ajayi said that 130 cases were recorded before the tribunal was inaugurated while five buildings collapsed after it was set up.
Niger
The Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment
Programme (SURE-P) has set aside N15 billion to pay allowances of unemployed graduates participating in its Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS).
Head of its GIS, Mr Akubo Adegbe, disclosed this to newsmen in Minna during an interactive session.
Adegbe said each of the 50,000 participants to be recruited for the internship programme would earn N25,000 monthly.
He said the scheme was aimed at providing participants with requisite experience in various disciplines preparatory to securing jobs.
Ogun
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State last Mon
day called for proactive measures toward eradication of quackery and ethical misconduct in the media industry.
Amosun made the call in Abeokuta at the 2013 Press Week organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun council.
The governor was represented by Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy said that journalists were crucial to the national stability, good governance and promotion of democratic ideals.
Amosun advocated collaboration between leadership of NUJ, Nigeria Police and the State Security Service (SSS) in tracking down fake practitioners.
Sokoto
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Sokoto State
Chapter, has introduced a programme for the free treatment of 2,000 diabetic patients monthly.
The programme tagged: “Collaborative Community Health Programme’’ was flagged off on Sunday at Gagi, near Sokoto in Sokoto South Local Government Area.
The programme will cover the 23 local government areas in the state.
It was jointly organised by the state chapter of the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Aid Group of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam and the Minarat Science Academy, Gagi-Sokoto.
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