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FCT
The Chairman, Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria
(CDGN), South-South and South-East chapters, Mr Sele Sele, has urged film makers nationwide to always choose appropriate costumes for their movies to enhance its quality.
Sele told newsmen in Abuja that selecting the appropriate costumes would go a long way in the marketing of the movies.
He regretted the challenges encountered by creative designers in accessing basic government facilities in their profession.
“For instance, if you want to do an action movie, you require guns and uniforms but when you go to the police station, nobody is ready to assist you.
“If you want to shoot a movie at an airport, getting an airport is difficult. These are the kinds of challenges we encounter.
“That is why you don’t see most movies with such story lines; the major challenge is that we don’t have film shops.

Gombe
Governor  Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has been
elected as the gubernatorial flag bearer of the PDP in the 2015 general Elections.
Our correspondent  reports that Dankwambo was elected through an affirmation poll held at the PDP secretariat on Monday in Gombe.
The governor polled 492 votes out of the 504 delegates, while eight votes were invalid and four delegates were absent.
Announcing the result, the Returning Officer and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Na’Abba, said the delegates had affirmed Dankwambo as the gubernatorial flag bearer of the party in the 2015 elections.
“Delegates have today given the mandate to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, to contest on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party for a second term.”

Kaduna
Senator  Ahmed Makarfi the senator representing
Kaduna-North Senatorial District, has been returned as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag-bearer in the 2015 senatorial election.
Our correspondent  reports that Makarfi was adopted as sole candidate after his rival, Umar Faruk withdrew from the contest following consensus arrangement made a day prior to the party’s primary in Kaduna state.
Declaring the result, Alhaji Ahmed Tahir, Chairman, PDP electoral committee said: “Makarfi is the only contestant, however, based on PDP requirement, an election must hold to fulfil such requirement.
Having counted all the votes cast; Makarfi got 333 votes indicating that he polled all the votes cast which gives him the opportunity to become the flag-bearer of PDP.

Katsina
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Repre
sentatives aspirant, Mr Emmanuel Udende, has commended his co-aspirants for stepping down for him to enable him continue with his developmental programmes.
Udende gave this commendation in an interview with journalists in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, Benue.
Our correspondent  reports that Udende was presently representing Katsina-Ala, Logo and Ukum Federal Constituency at the house of representatives.
He further appreciated them for their show of maturity and understanding which had paved way for his emergence as a sole contender for the seat.
He stated that they were not coerced before they withdrew from the race, adding that they withdrew willingly.

Kogi
The Kogi High Court sitting in Koton-Karfe  has nulli
fied the May 4, 2013 Local Government Elections conducted in the state by the State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC).
The judgement was delivered in two hours, eight minutes by Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye.
The court issued a consequential order for the council chairmen in the 21 Local Governments to handover the affairs of the councils to the most senior directors.
Omolaye-Ajileye affirmed the contention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the commission was not properly constituted to conduct the election.
It referred to the suit with the State Government, KOSIEC and seven others as co-defendants.

Kwara
Residents of Okuta in the Baruten Local Government
Area of Kwara  State have on Tuesday cried out for help over the perennial water shortage in the border community.
A cross-section of the people who spoke with newsmen urged governments at all levels to urgently alleviate their plight .
Malam Aliyu Umar, the Gunubero of Okuta, told  newsmen that the waterworks in the community had not been operated in the last three years, to supply it with pipe-borne water.
This, according to the traditional ruler, is due to its network of pipes, which have gone bad.
“Our major problem here is the distribution network, which has gone bad. The pipes have become broken in the last three years and nothing has been done about restoring the network.

Kano
A former governorship candidate of the defunct All
Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the 2011 elections in Kano State, Alhaji Salihu Takai, has won the PDP governorship primary election in the state.
Takai scored 1, 226 votes to defeat three other contestants, while two others withdrew shortly before the exercise began.
Announcing the results yesterday the Chairman of the Election Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Gusau, said Alhaji Abba Murtala Muhammed, son of late Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed, got 144 votes.
Gusau said Mansur Ahmed got 106 votes, while Alhaji Sani Gwarzo scored 24 votes.
According to him, Dr Hakilu Indabawa and Alhaji Mohammed Abacha withdrew from the contest before the commencement of the election.

Kebbi
The Senator representing Kebbi Central, Alhaji Atiku
Bagudu on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is to contest for the state’s governorship position on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Bagudu, who presented his nomination form at the APC secretariat in the state on Saturday, said that he defected following advice from his associates and supporters.
“I am acting in tandem with advice from supporters, followers and political stakeholders in my constituency,” he said.
The senator said that he was optimistic of clinching the APC governorship ticket in the state but would abide by any decision of the party.
Bagudu, who was accompanied by his supporters to the APC secretariat, appealed to members of the party to give him the opportunity to serve the people.

Nasarawa
Alhaji Yusuf Agabi, winner of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) governorship primary election in Nasarawa State, has called on other aspirants to rally round him, to win the general elections next year.
Agabi made the call in an interview with newsmen in Nasarawa.
He said the victory at the primary was not for him alone but for  all the members of the party, adding that it would take a collective effort to make the objective of reclaiming the state from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 to be actualised.
Agabi promised to tackle the security challenges facing the state, if given the mandate in next year’s general elections.

Ogun
The Police in Ogun State have  arraigned a 27-year-old
man, Abiodun Bamidele, before an Ota Magistrates’ Court, for breaking into a house and stealing goods worth N371,000.
Bamidele, who resides at No.17, Akinola Street, Awela-Ilogbo, is being tried on a three-count charge of stealing, conspiracy and burglary.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Itaita Ebibomini, told the court that the accused and others now at large, committed the offences on November 26, at Plot 8, Block D, John Olawose Layout, Kuta Onigbongbo Atan,in Ota.
He said that the accused and others at large broke into the house of one Mr and Mrs Adeyemi and stole a Laptop valued at N240, 000 and other valuable goods worth N371, 000.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 390(9), 413 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Revised Law of Ogun State, 2006.

Deputy Governor of Jigawa State,  Alhaji Ahmed Mahmoud (left) with the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Maje, during his sympathy visit to the Emirate over flood disaster recently.

Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Ahmed Mahmoud (left) with the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Adamu Maje, during his sympathy visit to the Emirate over flood disaster recently.

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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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