Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, has
commenced a special education programme for 21 Chibok girls under its scholarship programme.
The President of the university, Dr Margee Ensign, said this in an interview with newsmen in Yola recently.
Ensign said the specialised intensive programme was to prepare the girls to do well in their JAMB examination that would enable them commence full academic programme in the university. She also said that the university’s Peace and Community Development Programme had been very effective in promoting peaceful coexistence and giving assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
“ Our peace initiative is beginning to get international recognition. I was asked to brief some United States policy makers on the initiative,” she said.
FCT
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre
(CISLAC) said it would train about 50 Journalists on the reportage of the 2015 general elections.
The Programme Officer of the group, Mr Salawudeen Hashim, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Hashim said that the journalists would be drawn from different media outfits, including social media across the country. He said the two-day training programme would commence in the first week of February.
He said the event would feature in-depth reportage of the elections and avail participants of the opportunity to share experience.
Katsina police warn candidates, supporters against inflamatory statements
Katsina
The Commissioner of Police in Katsina State, Alhaji
Muhammed Hurdi, has warned candidates and political party supporters in the state to desist from making inflammatory statements during and after the forthcoming elections.
Hurdi gave the warning during a meeting with political parties, candidates, security agencies and party supporters in Katsina. He said the police would deal decisively with any person no matter how highly placed, if found disrupting the peace. “The command advises the politicians to call their boys to order and make them behave as gentlemen.
“We have been monitoring the campaign activities and we are not happy with the utterances of many politicians in the state.
Kaduna
The presidential candidate of the All Progressive
Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, t has pledged to bring about positive change in Nigeria within two years in office, if elected.
Buhari, who made the pledge while addressing his supporters in Kaduna, said the APC administration would reverse the current state of economy, insecurity, unemployment and corruption in the country.
“We pledge to you, that if given the mandate, we will bring about positive changes in the lives of Nigerians within two years,” he said.
“Our desire for change has not diminished, that was why in all the elections we participated we never asked people to take the law into their hands.
“We have always pursued our grievances over the elections at the tribunal.
“I believe in democratic governance, and as long as I am alive, I shall continue to struggle for the good of all Nigerians,” he said.
Kwara
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji
Abubakar Baraje has chided Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State over alleged inflammatory comments on the health status of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
Baraje in a statement made available to newsmen in Ilorin said the governor’s comments were capable of igniting crisis in the country. He called on the Inspector General of Police, INEC Chairman, SSS and other security agents to take appropriate action to stop such “inflammatory statements originating from Fayose.”
Baraje, a former national chairman of PDP, described the statement credited to the governor as “not only reckless, uncalled for, but a statement that can cause anarchy and crisis in the country.
He noted with dismay that the comments were made few days after President Goodluck Jonathan and the APC presidential candidate signed a non-violence peace agreement.
Lagos
A tourism lecturer, Mr Wale Odeyemi, has urged par
ents and guardians to ensure that indigenous languages were spoken in homes for children to have basic understanding of their languages.
Odeyemi, who is the Zonal Head, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Lagos Campus, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
The lecturer, who said that indigenous languages were on the verge of extinction, added that “most parents do not speak their indigenous languages at home; some believe the language is inferior to English.
“In as much as parents try to expose their children to civilised standard of living, it will be wiser to teach the children the indigenous languages to inculcate their cultural identity in them.
“Language is the cultural identity of a people which must be guided, no matter one’s social status. Our indigenous language gives us a sense of belonging.
Niger
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has pledged to
tackle economic woes bedeviling the people of Niger State.
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the APC Presidential Candidate, made the promise his campaign at rally in Minna.
“Niger state is known as the power state because of its dams that provide electricity to the country. “These are also resources that will be used to revive the agricultural sector of the state and its neighbours. We will address transport, rural health, education as well as unemployment,” he said. “It is the responsibility of the government to provide security for all its citizens. We will discourage corrupt practices as well as prudently manage available resources.
Osun
A medical practitioner, Dr Kayode Oyebode, has
warned Nigerians to guard against an outbreak of Bird Flu.
Oyebode, who gave the warning in an interview with newsmen said cases of the epidemic had been recorded in some states, including Lagos and Kano.
“To prevent the spread of such epidemic, our people must be careful with the way they eat chickens and other birds to avoid being victims of the deadly disease.
‘’Bird Flu is a deadly disease mostly contracted from birds. The disease, which could be contracted from eating chickens, kills as fast as Ebola disease.
‘’ People must be enlightened on the danger of eating birds with such a disease and also be informed on ways to prevent an outbreak of such a disease,’’ Oyebode said.
Oyo
The Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) solicited the support of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, in its bid to conduct free, fair and credible elections. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Amb. Rufus Akeju, made the call for support at the palace of the monarch in Oyo during an advocacy visit.
Akeju, who told the monarch that the advocacy visit was to sensitise the public on the need for peaceful elections, said.
“We need your help to deliver credible, free and fair elections to the people.
“You are the one that will mobilise the voters to come out to vote.
“We also need you to help tell the voters not to engage in violence and rigging and to comport themselves during the polls.’’
Taraba
The Acting Governor of Taraba, Alhaji Sani Danladi,
said the state government would pay over N300 million as outstanding salary arrears to the lecturers of Taraba University, Jalingo “within the shortest time possible”.
Danladi said this in Jalingo at the commissioning of Taraba University staff quarters.
He said the payment was necessary to boost the morale of the lecturers for effective service delivery.
“I am aware that there are still some outstanding financial commitments to academic staff and other organisations. Government will redeem these commitments within the shortest time possible,“ he said.
Nation
Gombe Opens Bid For Construction Of Three-Arm Zone Project
Gombe State Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation has opened bids for the construction of three arms zone complexes within the Gombe Capital Special Development Zone which held at the Ministry’s conference hall.
Speaking while presiding over the bid opening proceedings, the Commissioner, Engr. . Usman Maijama’a Kallamu assured the bidders that the bid opening would be carried out using procurement process which is based on specific regulations that are credible, fair, and transparent.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alh. Idris Yambiu Buba said that the Ministry will continue to align itself for optimal results in the implementation of government policies and projects in line with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to bringing development to the State.
While assuring the bidders of a transparent process, the SSA to the Governor on Special Project, Arch. Yakubu Mamman thanked Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his foresight in infrastructural development of the State, adding that government is committed to ensuring that all bidders had an equal chance to participate and compete based on merit to maintain standards and specifications.
Nation
Gov Mbah Signs Bill To Establish Teaching Hospital In Enugu
Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, yesterday, signed the Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Teaching Hospital Bill 2024 into Law, promising to expedite action to actualise the teaching hospital immediately to provide quality training and healthcare services in the Enugu North part of the State and the State in general.
Mbah, while commending the Enugu State House of Assembly for accelerating action on the processing and passage of the Executive Bill, said that establishing SUMAS Teaching Hospital was in line with his manifesto.
He said, “What we have done by signing into law the Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences Teaching Hospital Bill is that we now have in place a legal framework to immediately begin to put in place all that is required to upgrade SUMAS to a teaching hospital. This is part of our campaign promises and we are committed to delivering on that expeditiously.
“We believe that the importance and significance of siting a teaching hospital in our Enugu North zone can never be lost on us. So, we are not going to spend any time in making sure that everything that is necessary and required to upgrade and get the teaching hospital operational is put in place. With this Law, we are going to redouble our commitment and our efforts to achieve that.”
He assured the Governing Council and the Management of SUMAS of his continued support, adding that his administration would equally be counting on their pedigree and contacts to bring the teaching hospital to fruition in record time.
“We are going to continue to support you and we are also going to continue to count on your experience, network, and profile in raising resources to actualize the project.
“This year alone, we are going to spend 33 per cent of our budget on education. This underscores the importance of education to this administration. So, be sure to come to us whenever there is a need. We are going to support you because we are interested in education and we are investing heavily in it,” he said.
On his part, the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, who also spoke at the Bill signing witnessed by the Chairman of SUMAS Governing Council, Msgr. Obiora Ike, and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. James Ogbonna, and top hierarchies of the institution, commended Governor Mbah’s speed and faithfulness in delivering on his campaign promises. He assured that the House of Assembly was ever ready to fast-track every executive bill that would impact positively on the state and its people.
“We promised we are going to support this administration by doing our job expeditiously to ensure that there is no delay in your delivery of democracy dividends to our people. Therefore, the SUMAS Teaching Hospital Bill received expedited hearing and today you have the signing of the bill into law,” he stated.
Nation
Ododo Applauds Security Agencies Over Rescue Of 43 Bus Passengers
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has applauded security agencies in the State for their efforts in the rescue of 43 bus passengers.
The Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah disclosed this in a statement yesterday.
The statement noted that the governor welcomed the news of the release of the abducted bus passengers in Okehi Local Government Area of the State and called for sustained collaboration between security agencies and local communities to improve intelligence gathering and prevent crime and criminality in all parts of the state.
Ododo commended the caretaker chairman of Okehi LGA, Mr Amoka Eneji, the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Professional Hunters, Ebira Local Hunters Group and other security agencies for their intervention, which led to the rescue of the passengers who were abducted outside the state.
“Governor Ododo also commends the response of security agencies to the robbery incidence in Felele area of Lokoja and called for more urgency in addressing cases of insecurity in any part of the state.
“The Governor reassured the people of the state that his administration will not relent in its efforts in deploying maximum resources to ensure that all communities in the state remain unsafe for criminal elements.”
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