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THE STATES

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Bauchi
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in
charge of Zone 12, Mr Mohammed Gana has urged politicians in Bauchi State to exhibit high sense of responsibility while playing politics.
Addressing representatives of political parties in Bauchi state as part of sensitisation efforts in preparatory to the 2015 general elections, the AIG said that they were expected to make positive contribution for the advancement of Nigeria’s democracy.
Gana, whose zone covers Borno, Bauchi and Yobe states, said a meeting of stakeholders was necessary to discuss ways of ensuring the success of the 2015 general elections.
In his remarks, Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Ladan, also advised the politicians to shun violence in the course of their campaigns.

Borno

The Borno State Commissioner for Animal Resources
and Fishery, Alhaji Umar Kyari, has charged the Leather and Allied Products Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (LAPAN), to work toward development of the state and the country at large.
The commissioner, who gave the charge when members of the association paid him a courtesy call in Maiduguri last Wednesday noted that the state was one of the leading producers of hides and skin and also had the highest record of export of the product in the country.
He expressed the willingness of the ministry to partner with the association and urged it to reciprocate the gesture for the development of the state.
Also speaking, Alhaji Modu Mustapha, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said efforts would be made to keep adequate record of products being exported, with a view to monitoring developments in the sector.

Jigawa

The Birniwa Local Government in Jigawa State has
embarked on the mobilisation of religious and traditional leaders as change agents towards the eradication of polio in the area.
The council chairman, Alhaji Ali Diginsa, announced this recently in Birniwa at a meeting with members of the council’s polio task force committee.
Represented by Alhaji Lawal Ibrahim, Director of Administration in the council, Diginsa said that the council would focus on border communities in the fight against the disease and urged parents to present their children during the exercise to eradicate the disease in the area.
Manager, National Programme on Immunisation (NPI) in charge of Birniwa, Mr Datti Arobade, said the meeting was aimed at addressing some of the problems recorded during previous exercises.

Kaduna

The Kaduna State Government says it has spent more
than N1.2 billion in 2013 on the drilling of 754 bore holes across the state.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Mr Ado Audu, said in an interview in Kaduna State that the project was part of intervention measures to address water scarcity in various communities.
He said 680 hand pumps were provided across the 34 local government areas of the state at the cost of more than N837.1 million under the government’s constituency projects intervention programme.
Audu said each of the local councils were provided with 20 bore holes, adding that the projects were 82.9 per cent complete.
Kebbi

The Fakai Local Government Council of Kebbi State says
it has constituted a committee to liaise with neighbouring states to the prevent the spread of diseases in the area.
The Chairman of the council, Alhaji Umaru Marafa, told newsmen in Mahuta last Thursday that the committee would collaborate with Niger and Sokoto states on disease control measures.
“The council had sustained joint regular meetings as well as assistance to border communities in the other states with drugs and personnel as part of efforts to prevent the spread of polio and other diseases in our area,” he said.
Marafa said the measures ensured zero record of polio in the area, adding that the provision of a new hospital in the area by the state government had reduced hardship faced by patients, thereby boosting health care delivery as the Primary Health Centres (PHC) and dispensaries were inadequate.
Kwara

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma
Mukthar, has said the late Justice Saidu Kawu had been immortalised through his contributions to the Nigeria law reform.
The CJN revealed this last Thursday, when she paid a condolence visit to the family of late jurist at his Ikokoro family Compound, off Niger Road in IIorin.
Mukthar said that the name of the late jurist would remain indelible in the minds of those in the judiciary described him as a complete gentleman.
The CJN, who described death as inevitable, advised Nigerians to further intensify on good deeds as a way of preparing for death.
The Acting Kwara Grand Khadi, Justice Olohuntoyin Mohammed, offered special prayer for the CJN and for the repose of the soul of the deceased.

Lagos

The Lagos State Chapter of the National Union of Road
Transport Workers (NURTW) has solicited the state government support to eliminate miscreants from the popular Oshodi Motor Park.
The Union Treasurer, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, who made the appeal in Lagos said that miscreants were threatening the peace of the community.
He  said,  “Some boys from nowhere nowadays use to attack and disturb our peace; we have tried to work with a taskforce to stop their nefarious activities.
“These boys are usually many and their menace has constantly resulted in snatching of people’s bags, stopping of vehicles at night and other nefarious activities.
“We want the government to help the union to dislodge these miscreants from this area and stop them from advancing in their operations,” he added.

Ondo

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone B, has
expressed concern over the spate of industrial actions in the country.
The Vice-president of the zone, Mr Dele Atunbi, in Akure in a statement observed that “the industrial actions are pointers to the fact that the industrial atmosphere is cloudy.
“The havoc that industrial action has wreaked on the county’s economy is enormous, particularly the six-month-old ASUU strike, ASUP strike and the just concluded health workers three-day warning strike. “It is, therefore, necessary for the employers and the employees to deliberately create a conducive atmosphere for industrial harmony to reign in the country through equity, justice and fair play,” it said.

Osun

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives
Alliance (APC) last Saturday in Osogbo pledged to shun thuggery and rigging in the forthcoming 2014 and 2015 elections in Osun.
While the gubernatorial election is scheduled to hold in Osun in 2014, the people of the state will join the rest of Nigerians for the Presidential and National Assembly election in 2015. The Osun gubernatorial election is slated to hold on August 9.
Mr Diran Odeyemi said that the PDP would play its part towards ensuring that the elections were peaceful and devoid of malpractice.
Also speaking, Oyatomi, who is the APC Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, said the party had zero tolerance for thuggery, stressing that Governor Rauf Aregbesola believed in the rule of law and attached premium to the conduct of peaceful and hitch-free elections.

Oyo

A Lecturer and Consultant Obstetrician and
Gynaecologist at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Dr Nike Bello, said breast cancer is the greatest women killer world-wide.
Bello says in an interview in Ibadan  that one out of eight women in Nigeria developed breast cancer monthly, described the disease as a silent killer which should be controlled.
The gynaecologist defined breast cancer as an uncontrolled growth of breast cells stated  that the cells occurred due to mutations or abnormal changes in the genes responsible for regulating the growth of cells and keeping them healthy.
According to her, breast cancer can be treated and managed successfully if detected early and advised women of reproductive age to always examine their breasts immediately after their menses.

Plateau

The Executive Director of Ittijihad Islamic Foundation in
Jos, Alhaji Yusuf Yahaya, has appealed to the Plateau Government to establish almajiri schools in the state.
Yahaya said in Jos last Thursday that establishment of the schools would go a long way in providing basic education to many children.
He said that the foundation decided to establish the schools so that they could contribute their quota in providing education to the children and make them responsible citizens.
Yahaya appealed to corporate organisations, non-governmental organisations and well- meaning Nigerians to support the foundation with learning and teaching equipment.

L-R: Governor  Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, Governor  Lamran Yero of Kaduna State, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Governor  Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State after the turbaning of Katsina State Governor as Sarkin Fulani Katsina 1. by  the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman in Katsina last Saturday.

L-R: Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, Governor Lamran Yero of Kaduna State, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State after the turbaning of Katsina State Governor as Sarkin Fulani Katsina 1. by the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman in Katsina last Saturday.

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Yahaya Bello: Senator Hails EFCC’s Probe Of N80.2bn Fraud

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Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has commended the efforts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) to apprehend and prosecute the immediate past governors of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud.
This is just as she also hailed the EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, for ceding 14 properties that were initially forfeited to the federal government to the government and people of Enugu State.
Reacting to Bello’s excuse for not honouring the EFCC’s invitation, the lawmaker emphasized the need for the commission to investigate other corrupt public officials to avoid the impression that their actions against former governor were meant to witch hunt him.
In a now-viral video, the EFCC chairman had claimed Belloh told him that a female senator (name withheld) allegedly gathered journalists to humiliate him anytime he was at the agency’s Abuja office for interrogation.
“I called Yahaya Bello, as a serving governor, to come to my office to clear himself. I shouldn’t have done that. But he said because a certain senator had planted over 100 journalists in my office, he would not come.
“I told him that he would be allowed to use my private gate to give him a cover, but he said my men should come to his village to interrogate him,” Olukoyede was quoted as saying.
But Senator Natasha in a statement signed by her Chief Press Secretary, Arogbonlo Israel and issued at the weekend in Abuja, reminded Yahaya Bello of the importance of respecting Nigeria’s laws and constitution, given his former position as the chief security officer of Kogi.
“I was surprised to hear that Yahaya Bello evaded the invitation from the EFCC, despite having served as Kogi’s former chief security officer. As a former governor, he should understand the importance of respecting Nigeria’s laws and constitution.
“It’s a well-known fact that ‘he who comes into equity must come with clean hands’. As such, I advise him to honour the invitation and clear his name while he still has the chance.
“I’d also like to take this moment to appreciate the diligence of the EFCC in handling the case so far. No Nigerian is above the law, and therefore the agency must see this case through to the end if they are to gain the trust of both Nigerians and the international community in the fight against corruption,” she said.

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Senate  Frowns Over Continued Depreciation Of Naira

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Worried over the  latest depreciation of the Naira against major foreign currencies, the Senate through its Committee on Finance, has  stated that the Legislature  is  exploring a range of policy options to mitigate the impact of Naira depreciation and foster economic stability in the country.
These, according to the committee, in a statement signed by its chairman, Senator Sani Musa (APC Niger East) and released yesterday, includes robust oversight of fiscal policies, engagement with key stakeholders, and the formulation of targeted interventions to support key sectors of the economy.
Senator Musa said the statement became necessary “to address the current state of the economy and the need for concerted efforts at tackling the instability and continuous depreciation of the Naira.”
This is even as he hoped that the “economic managers will adhere strictly to the norms and standards set by this administration to ensure that we achieve the desired outcomes in taking Nigeria to its economic growth and prosperity”, pledging the support of the National Assembly to the executive arm of government to achieve the set goals.
He, however, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and resilient as they navigate these uncertain times, saying “together, we can overcome the challenges facing our economy and chart a path towards prosperity for all.”
The statement titled: “State of the Nation Economy and Naira Depreciation’, reads “The Nigerian economy is facing significant challenges, exacerbated by both internal and external factors.

“Despite efforts to stabilize and bolster economic growth, the numerous initiatives and bold but necessary steps and policy decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, the persistent depreciation of the Naira against major foreign currencies has become a pressing concern.

“The recent depreciation of the Naira underscores the need for proactive measures to safeguard the stability and resilience of our currency.

“The Senate Committee on Finance is closely monitoring the situation and is committed to working collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to implement effective policies and strategies.

“It is imperative that we address the root causes of Naira depreciation, including but not limited to fluctuations in global oil prices, fiscal deficits, and structural imbalances in the economy.”

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WIW: Banigo Advocates Legislative Impetus

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The Senator, representing Rivers West Senatorial District at National Assembly Sen.Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo has advocated for legislative backings to enforce immunisation as a pre-condition for admission into nursing, primary and secondary schools in Nigeria.
Banigo made the assertion recently in a statement to commemorate this year’s week-long immunisation campaign in line with the World Health Organisation advocacy.
Banigo, a Harvard-trained Public Health personnel, explained that such legislation would strengthen the National Immunisation Policy in the administration of vaccines, saves lives, helps in the child normal growth, prevents serious illness and disabilities such as poliomyelitis .
The former Deputy Governor of Rivers State who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), noted that Nigeria must attain at least, 90 percent vaccine coverage for all childhood and adolescence; stressing that a fully vaccinated child should have received BCG, Mussels and three doses of DTP and Polio .
She emphasised the need for collective efforts by stakeholders in the campaign against preventable diseases .
The theme for this year’s World Immunisation Week is “Humanly Possible: Saving Lives Through Immunisation” while the national theme is “Vaccine Works For All”.

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