Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Police Commissioner, Malam Lawal
Shehu said last Saturday that one suspect had been arrested in connection with Friday’s attack on an hotel in Bauchi metropolis.
Briefing newsmen on the arrest made, Lawal said that the suspect was being interrogated and efforts intensified to apprehend his accomplices that fled.
He urged members of the public to be security conscious and observe happenings within their immediate environment and advised the general public to pay special attention to persons and objects, particularly at motor parks, market places, schools, places of worships, shopping malls, eateries and hotels.
“They should report any suspicious persons or objects within their neighbourhood, to the nearest police station for prompt response, using these numbers – 08151849417 and 07013490795, he said.
FCT
The National President, Defence and Police Officers
Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Mary Badeh, has reaffirmed the commitment of the association to support barracks community.
Badeh made the pledge in Abuja on Saturday at a send-off party organised for Mrs Aminat Ibrahim, the former president of the association and four coordinators who served during her tenure.
“Let me use this medium to reaffirm the commitment of DEPOWA to continue to provide the necessary support and encouragement to the families of our members and the barrack community.
“I will not fail to acknowledge the support of the former Chief of Defence Staff and his successor to the aspirations of DEPOWA,’’ she said.
She added that the association also honoured Ibrahim for her kindness within and outside the barracks community, and
Some of the achievements of the former president to include the successful hosting of DEPOWA Week and the rehabilitation and restructuring of its secretariat building.
She also commended Ibrahim for the purchase.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State government spends N110 million
monthly on refuse disposal, the Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Kasimu Abubakar, has said.
Abubakar who made the disclosure last Saturday while addressing newsmen in Hayin Banki community in Kaduna when he visited the area to inspect the monthly sanitation exercise said the government engaged the services of 91 refuse disposal companies to dispose refuse across the state.
He said the companies employed 2,700 sanitation workers to dispose refuse adding that the government was consulting with private organisations and individuals to set up recycling plants in the state that would use the refuse to produce fertiliser.
The commissioner urged the people of the community to observe the monthly sanitation exercise by staying at home and cleaning their environment.
Kano
The Kano State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation
realised N352,200 from fines imposed by mobile courts on 144 defaulters of the June edition of the monthly clean-up exercise in the state.
The Commissioner for Environment and Chairman of the task force, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, announced this on Saturday in Kano while monitoring the conduct of the exercise in the metropolis that the defaulters were apprehended and tried for non-compliance and violation of the order on restriction on movement of people during the exercise.
Abbas told newsmen that the courts operated at 10 designated centres in the metropolis, adding that government would soon inaugurate the task force in each local government area to ensure proper compliance.
Kogi
The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Mr Yomi Awoniyi,
has urged Mostems to pray for an end to the security challenge in the country during Ramadan period.
In a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Mr Michael Abu in Lokoja last Saturday. Awoniyi enjoined Muslims to use the holy month to maximise the spiritual and physical benefits inherent in it.
He identified good intention, prayers and firmness of purpose in the pursuit of good deeds as conditions for reaping the benefits of the holy month.
Awoniyi said Ramadan was one of the five pillars of Islam and urged Muslims to be proactive in their decisions and actions that would ensure their participation in the fasting.
He called on preachers to guard their utterances during the fasting period, urging them to preach the true teachings of Islam rather than engage in mutual accusation.
Kwara
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has
urged Mostems to use the Ramadan as a period of reflection and pray for peace to reign in Nigeria.
A statement signed by Mr Kunle Oyatomi, the party’s Director of Publicity, Strategy and Research last Saturday in Osogbo.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr Bukola Saraki, also urged Muslims to use the opportunity of Ramadan to pray for the restoration of peace in the country.
“I give thanks to Almighty Allah for keeping us alive and healthy to witness and partake in another Month of Ramadan; the month of forgiveness, mercy and abundant blessings. “I urge the Muslim to use the opportunity of this month’s divinity to get closer to Almighty Allah and wish them a successful Month of Holiness’’, he said.
Osun
The Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Mr Najeem
Salaam has urged Muslim faithful to use the Ramadan period to offer special prayers for the country’s peace and unity.
Salaam made the appeal in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Goke Butika, Sunday in Osogbo.
According to the statement, the holy month of Ramadan is a period dedicated to seek the face of Allah and urged Muslims to use the occasion to pray for peace and tranquility in the country.
Salaam said with fervent prayers, he believed that the current security challenges threatening the country would be surmounted.
The speaker, however, appealed to clerics to lay emphasis on peace and harmony among Nigerians in their teachings.
Oyo
Former Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala has
urged Mostems in the country to use the Ramadan fasting period to pray for the nation’s development.
Alao-Akala, who made the call in Ogbomoso last Saturday, urged Muslims to be steadfast in prayers.
He said Ramadan was a symbolic month meant to move closer to God and called on the Muslims to pray very hard for the nation and that the progress recorded so far was a pointer that the nation would soon attain the enviable position it desired. .
The former governor, who wished Muslims smooth and successful fasting for the next 30 days, urged them to emulate the life and ways of the holy Prophet Muhammed.
Sokoto
The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) in Sokoto State
said last Sunday that it would wrest power from the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC) in the state in 2015.
The newly-elected Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma, told newsmen in Sokoto that the party is intact and united. There will be no retreat or surrender until we take over the government in 2015.”
According to him, the leadership of the party in the state will ensure that the choice of candidates for the various elections is respected.
“The choice of the people will prevail. There will be no imposition of candidates and we will do everything humanly possible to ensure free, fair and acceptable polls,” Milgoma said.
Milgoma said that PDP was blessed with members who were experienced enough in electioneering campaigns.
“This experience will come to bear during the upcoming elections and the party will emerge victorious at all levels.”
Taraba
The police in Jalingo confirmed that unknown gunmen
last Saturday trailed and killed 13 Fulani herdsmen who were returning from village markets in Garba-Chede and Maihula.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the police command in Taraba State ASP Joseph Kwaji, made the disclosure on Sunday in Jalingo.
He said the herdsmen were waylaid and killed by unidentified group of armed youths along a bush path in the outskirts of Maihula in Bali Local Government Area of the state.
He added that it was not clear why the incident took place but further investigation would be able to reveal the reasons for the attack and the people behind it.
The Chairman of Bali Local Government Area, Mr Andrew Yerima, said the herdsmen were trailed by the armed men from Garba-Chede market where they were believed to have gone to sell their cows.
Wife of the former Governor of Lagos State, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (middle) with other apc chieftains after a meeting with her in Lagos, yesterday. Photo: NAN
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.
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.”
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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