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Benue

Ex Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr Sam Ode, has
pledged to reform the Benue local government administration system for effective and efficient grassroots development.
Ode said this in Makurdi while declaring his intention to contest the PDP governorship ticket in the state.
He blamed poor institutional governance and policy leakages for the inability of the local government administration to properly play its historic role in the development process of the country.
“The local government is the closest tier of government to the generality of our people.
“Yet, due to policy leakages and poor institutional governance, the local government has not been placed to properly play its historic role in the development process of the country.”

Bauchi

The Tax Enforcement Team of the Federal Inland Rev
enue Service (FIRS) has sealed the premises of the Bauchi State Investment Company (BIC) and Abdulrashid Tyre Company over alleged tax evasion.
Our correspondent  reports that the FIRS officials, led by the Tax Controller, Mr Richard Magaji, sealed the firms in Bauchi recently.
The sealing of the companies, followed the inability of the companies to pay various sums amounting to over N22 million.
Magaji told reporters at the BIC premises that the company had an outstanding balance of N8 million to pay to the FIRS.
He said that official and personal efforts made by officials of the FIRS to get BIC to pay even part of the debt had proved abortive, noting that the FIRS had no option than to seal up the premises.

FCT

Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, has called
on Nigerians to support the Armed Forces in their fight against insurgency in the country.
Gowon made the call recently at the Church of Nigeria’s end of year thanksgiving service held at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Abuja.
He said recent happenings in the country indicated that the insurgents were not after Christians alone, stressing that all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethno-religious backgrounds, are potential targets.
“It is the responsibility of every Nigerian not only the armed forces to do whatever they need to do in order to restore peace to our country.
“Dealing with the problem of insurgency that is disturbing the country requires the cooperation of all Nigerians, whether you are a Christian or a Muslim.

Kano

Former military Head of State and APC presidential
aspirant, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has urged Nigerians to be security conscious so as to curb the activities of insurgents in the country.
Buhari made the call while speaking with newsmen shortly after he visited victims of Friday’s bomb attack at the Murtala Muhammed Hospital in Kano recently.
“There is nothing we can do about it other than for people to be more vigilant and security conscious.
“There is the need for people to be more vigilant at mosques, churches and schools, as well as wherever they may find themselves,’’ he said.
The former Nigerian leader, however, called on Nigerians to support security agencies in their bid to check the dastard acts being perpetrated by the insurgents.

Kaduna

Former Sole Administrator, Zaria Local Government,
Alhaji Umar Ibrahim-Rabagaddama, has advised politicians aspiring for different elective positions in the country to play politics without bitterness.
He told newsmen in Zaria, Kaduna State, on Tuesday that the call became imperative in view of the current political scenario in the country.
Ibrahim-Rabagaddama is aspiring to be the PDP flag bearer for House of Representatives seat of Zaria Local Government.
“I want to urge all aspirants across the country to play politics without bitterness and resort to campaign of issues which will facilitate national growth and development.
“Let me use this medium also to call on electorate to vote credible candidates with vision and mission who will provide quality and good representation,” he noted.

Kwara

Thirteen governorship aspirants on the platform of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara said they had agreed to abide by the outcome of Saturday’s governorship primary in the state.
The aspirants, who jointly signed an undertaking, promised to work for whoever emerged as the candidate for the success of the party at the poll.
A copy of the undertaking was made available to newsmen in Ilorin recently.
The Publicity Committee Chairman of PDP in the state, Chief Rex Olawoye who confirmed the meeting, said the 14th aspirant, Mr Dele Belgore, did not sign the undertaking because he was not at the meeting.

Lagos

A Federal High Court in Lagos, recently, ordered the
release of five employees of the All Progressives Congress (APC), detained by the Department of Security Service (DSS).
The employees: Chinedu Atuche, Fayemi Olaposi, Augustine Onuchukwu, Ebun Ilori, and Esther Enemy, were arrested on November 22.
The officials of DSS, accompanied by the police, had raided a building which houses the APC’s data office on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.
The DSS said the raid was informed by intelligence report that some unwholesome activities were being perpetrated within the said building.
Justice Mohammed Yunusa ordered their release while ruling on a suit filed by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) on behalf of the applicants, seeking enforcement of their fundamental rights.
Also joined in the suit is the Nigeria Police Force.
Osun

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said 94
persons were convicted for traffic offences in Osun between September and November.
The FRSC Sector Commander in the state,Mr Muhammad Hussaini, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo.
Hussaini said 43 offenders were prosecuted and convicted in September, while 51 offenders were convicted by mobile courts in November.
He said the offences include: failure to use seat belt; driving without valid vehicle particulars and licences; drunk driving; driving against traffic and dangerous driving.
The sector commander said the courts had ordered the convicts to pay fines ranging from N2,000 to N50,000, depending on the offence committed.

Ogun

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) said one
person died and 14 others sustained various degrees of injuries in an accident that occurred along the Toll-Gate at Sango-Ota in Ogun recently. The Sango-Ota Unit Commander of the FRSC, Mr Omatu Sunday, told newsmen in Sango-Ota that the accident occurred at about 9:50 a.m., due to alleged carelessness of a Dangote Group driver.
Sunday said the accident involved five vehicles, including an Acura Jeep with registration number GGE-447BJ, a commercial bus with registration number KSF-537 XK, Toyota Jeep with registration number YAB-103 RU, a Dangote trailer with registration number XA 364-GKP and IVECO truck with registration number KTU-394 XJ.
He said that the brake of the Dangote trailer that was heading to Lagos failed and ran into four vehicles which resulted in the death of a conductor in a commercial bus while 14 others sustained various degrees of injuries.

Sokoto

A former board member of the News Agency of Nigeria
(NAN), Alhaji Sa’idu Gumburawa, has said that the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 will sustain the success of the ongoing transformation agenda.
‘’ So, the endorsement of Jonathan as the sole presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) is a welcome development and a good omen for the party, Nigerians and Nigeria,’’ Gumburawa told newsmen in Sokoto recently.
Gumburawa, who represented the Kware/Wamakko Federal Constituency in Sokoto State on the platform of the PDP, also expressed happiness that the party is waxing stronger at all levels.
The former lawmaker, who is now a chieftain of the PDP in Sokoto State, further expressed optimism that Jonathan was capable of surmounting all the current challenges plaguing Nigeria, including security.

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto (right), presenting Rice and Cash to the needy in Sokoto, recently.

Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto (right), presenting Rice and Cash to the needy in Sokoto, recently.

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Monarch Hails Fubara Over Road Project

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Ogene of Asa Asi Asaga Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Andrew Enemuwa, has expressed gratitude to the Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for the award of the contract for construction of Igiri- Ubimini-Egbeda-Elele road project.
Eze Enemuwa said the people of the local government are proud associating with a visionary leader like Governor Fubara whose interest in the development of his people knows no bounds.
The monarch, also the Secretary of Ogba Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Council said the unprecedented crowd of ONELGA people that attended the event shows that Governor Fubara is greatly loved and cherished by the people.
The Eze Dike Di Nu Obi of Ogbaland said the presence of the traditional rulers at the event speaks volumes.
The Okene Asa Kaka urged the people of the area to support Governor Fubara to attract more development to the local government area.

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1,680 Children Abducted In Nigeria -UNICEF

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As Nigeria marks 10 years anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls, the United Nations Children Fund( UNICEF) has  put the number of abducted children at different schools within the last 10 years in Nigeria at 1,680.
The organisation said this at an event it organised in conjunction with the Faculty of Media and Communications Studies in the University of Port Harcourt to mark the 10 years anniversary of Chibok girls abductions.
According to UNICEF release read by Communication officer, UNICEF Nigeria Dr Mrs Ijeoma Onuoha Ogwe, 180 children were killed within the period under review due to attacks on schools, while an estimated 60 school Staff were kidnapped,14 killed and more than 70 attacks on schools.
It urged the Nigerian Government and security agencies to intensify effort towards the rescue of the 90 remaining Chibok girls.
UNICEF described the Chibok girls saga as a wakeup call to the severe risks children face in their pursuit of education
‘Today, reflecting on this tragedy and other recent abductions, it is evident that our efforts to safeguard our children’s future must be amplified
“Given this alarming statistics, we must address not only the symptoms but also the root causes of this crisis,” it said.
UNICEF also said that the threat of abduction of students is severely affecting children’s learning.
“As at 2021, over one million children were afraid to return to school and in 2020, around 11,500 schools were closed due to attacks”, it said.
It called on the government and the international community to ensure that all schools have the resources and tools to fully implement the minimum standards for safe schools, focus on the most vulnerable regions and address critical gaps in safe schools infrastructure.
UNICEF also called for preparedness for natural disasters, conflicts and comprehensive approaches to violence against children.
Others include, strengthening law enforcement and security measures to protect educational institutions and communities from attacks and abduction, prioritising education and child protection in national policies and budget allocations to create a safer, more inclusive environment for all Nigerian children and ensure the continuity of education and learning when schools are shut through multiple learning pathways such as radio and TV programme and through digital platforms the Nigerian learning Passport.
Ogwe said UNICEF is working with the Nigerian Government to ensure that every child can access safe learning environment.
“The agency has supported the inauguration of state safe school steering committees and the drafting of state costed implementation plans for safe schools in 13 States.
“It also provides school grants, safety kits training and awareness raising to accelerate the implementation of the minimum standards for safe schools.
“As we remember the Chibok girls and all children whose rights to education have been compromised, let this somber anniversary serves as a catalyst for change”, UNICEF said.
Speaking with The Tide, Dr Nwachukwu Ginikanwa said the anniversary should serve as a wakeup call to the authorities to take the issue of security seriously.

John Bibor

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Fubara Has Rekindled Rivers Hope-Former Envoy

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As the one year anniversary of the Governor Siminalayi Fubara administration in Rivers State draws closer, a former Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, Amb.Oji Ngofa, says the Governor has rekindled the hope of Rivers people.
Amb. Ngofa said within the one year of the administration, the Governor has shown a sense of connecting the people and the government unlike the immediate past administration led by Chief Nyesom Wike.
The former Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) explained that within one year, Rivers people are seeing a visionary leadership whose imagination is essentially focused on the desire to improve the lives of the people, with the sole aim of creating an economy where everyone can participate.
Speaking in an interview in Port Harcourt, the forrmer Ambassador said Governor Fubara has been able to engage relevant stakeholders and sectors of the State which, according to him, remains the hallmark of leadership.
He emphasised that with Governor Fubara, no doubt, Rivers State is in safe hands, saying with Governor Fubara, there is the likelihood that the State would be greater than other States.
He noted that the Governor’s vision to develop and give capacity to the people in order to participate in the economy as well as creating the enabling environment for business to flourish in the State, coupled with his peaceful nature, have all combined to endear him to the people.
Amb Ngofa said real power comes from how well one is connected with the people through good leadership, and the people on their own voluntarily surrender to you just as Governor Fubara has demonstrated within the past one year, stressing that that has informed his decision as an astute politician just like all well-meaning Rivers people to align with the Governor in order to move the State forward .
He described Governor Fubara’s milestones in infrastructure, human capital development, health and agriculture as monumental.
Amb Ngofa urged the Governor to ensure his revitalisa- tion programme on Songhai Farms extends to Buguma and Andoni fish farms and Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), and expand on the initiative, as it is critical in job creation for the teeming youths of the State.
“ In his one year in office as governor, Rivers people have seen the difference in terms of governance and total departure from self. Now Rivers people are having easy access to their governor. His focus is on policies and programmes that are capable of revitalising the economy aimed at improving the wellbeing of Rivers people, not just one man. Projects are springing up in all parts of the State, not necessarily in Port Harcourt and Obio,/ Akpor. All in just one year despite the distractions”, he said.

The Port Harcourt ring road loan to small skill medium businesses are one of the biggest achievements of his administration
Aleto- Woji road abandoned by the last administration had been carried on by a government that has interest of the people at heart
Despite the destruction ,he had demonstrated sense of focus on his primary duties as a governor
We are not just seeing monumental projects ,Rivers people are seeing total commitment to create an economy that will enable Rivers people to have a hold on there lives especially with projects like revitalizing Shonghai ,plaintain farms .
It is critical focusing on human capital development .I am aware of his programme of revitalising the economy ,state owned industries through public private partnership
Rivers people hope had been rekindled and those of us who are critic to the governor Wike led administration had been vindicated
Urging Eleme people to support the administration of governor Fubara to achieve their common dream which is development.

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