Nation
THE STATES
Borno
The Deputy Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Zannah
Mustapha, has commended the efforts of security agencies to end insurgency in the country.
Mustapha made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri.
He expressed optimism that the insurgency would end soon “going by the successes recorded by the military in its bid to flush out the insurgents”.
Mustapha said last week’s attack on Biu by the insurgents was a sign of desperation, noting that they had failed in previous attempts to gain entry into the town, hence the use of suicide bomb attack.
He commended youth vigilantes, local hunters and members of the community for keeping vigil against the insurgents especially in Biu.
“The military has been working in concert with vigilantes and other groups in safeguarding lives and properties in Biu.
“As it is now, it is very difficult for the insurgents to carry out attacks easily, so they have resorted to using female suicide bombers,” he said.
FCT
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
has advised politicians to invest their time and resources in positive strategies of winning elections rather than buying Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from prospective voters.
The Deputy Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Mr. Nick Dazang, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja following a claim that politicians were buying cards and collecting their numbers.
Dazang said it was also advisable for politicians to use their time well in other endeavours that would help the political processes instead collecting Voter Identification Number (VIN) of registered voters.
He said buying people’s PVCs would be of no help as the cards could not be used by another person other than the original owners.
“Politicians should encourage those who have not collected to go and collect their PVCs.
“I don’t know of any implication of collecting people’s VIN numbers; they are just wasting their times,” he said.
Kebbi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),
National Commissioner, Hajia Amina Zakari, has reiterated the commission’s determination to announce the presidential and governorship elections within 48 hours after voting.
She stated this in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi, during a public sensitisation and practical demonstration of accreditation and election processes.
Zakari said that the demonstration was to enable the commission to make amendments in areas of difficulty.
According to her, the demonstration will also enable electoral officers to be familiar with the process of accreditation and smooth election.
She appealed to registered voters to ensure they were in queue on time for accreditation, assuring them that collation of votes would be done properly after voting.
Kogi
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has
again explained that the rationing of power in Lokoja and other areas of its coverage was necessitated by low volume energy available for distribution.
The Manager, Public Relations of AEDC, Mr Ahmed Shekarau, said this while fielding questions from newsmen in Lokoja.
Shekarau said that it was not the wish of the company to ration power supply in its coverage area but was being forced to do so.
“The AEDC is being allocated 11.5 per cent of total energy available daily for distribution to customers nationwide.
“This volume, which reaches 450 mega watts even at peak generation periods, is insufficient to meet the demands of the company’s customers in FCT, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States.
“The AEDC is, however, optimising its load-shedding to address part of the problem in the short term.
Lagos
A lawmaker representing Egbeda/Ona-Ara Federal
Constituency in Oyo State, Olayemi Busari, said that he donated four 500 KVA transformers to communities in his constituency on February 14.
Busari, an Accord Party (AP) member, told newsmen in Lagos that the projects were part of the promises he made to the people during his electioneering campaigns.
He said that the benefiting communities were Aba Otun Area Ward 8 and Oke- Imole in the Olunloyo area of the Ona-Ara Local Government Area.
Others were the Amosun Community Ward 7 and Ogunkola Avenue, Hope area, Alakia, Old Ife road in the Egbeda Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Busari said that he donated the transformers on Valentine’s Day, to show his love for his people, and urged them to reciprocate the love by supporting his candidacy in the March 28 elections.
Nasarawa
A nutritionist at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia,
Nasarawa State Mrs. Julie John, has advised mothers to give proper diet to their babies to avoid malnutrition.
John gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lafia.
According to her, after six months of exclusive breast feeding, mothers are expected to start introducing highly nutritious foods to their babies so as to avert malnutrition.
“From birth to six months, we encourage mothers to go on exclusive breast feeding.
“Where the problem starts is the six months that the mother is supposed to introduce other feeds to her baby. That is when most of the time we have problems of malnutrition,’’ she said.
Ogun
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said that it was
collaborating with Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) to reduce gridlocks in Sango-Ota and its environs.
The Sango-Ota Unit Commander of the FRSC, Mr Olonisaye Olufemi, disclosed this to newsmen in Ota.
He noted that heavy traffic gridlocks were being experienced at the Toll-gate, Ojuore, Sango-Ota under bridge, especially on Sundays when worshippers going to Living Faith Church, Ota, drove against the traffic.
“The worshippers contributed immensely to gridlocks between 5.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. by increasing vehicle movement to the areas,” Olufemi said.
On his part, the Zonal Commander of TRACE, Mr Adekunle Ajibade, said that it would deploy manpower to those trouble areas to assist FRSC staff to decongest traffic jams.
Ajibade said that it would also bring a tow truck that would be used to clear obstruction by vehicles, especially commercial buses.
Osun
Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori,
has ordered the closure of Government Technical College, Osogbo, and Osogbo High School, indefinitely over disturbances by the students.
Our correspondent reports that some students of Government Technical College, Osogbo and Osogbo High School embarked on a protest recently.
This is contained in a statement signed by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education Mr Lawrence Oyeniran, .
The statement said that the closure was to curtail any further disturbances in the schools.
It advised parents and guardians to warn their children and wards to stay away from acts capable of causing public disturbance.
Oyo
Oyo State Coordinator, National Agency for Food
and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mr. Benjamin Haruna, said that the agency had sanctioned more than 1,000 offenders in the state.
Haruna disclosed this to newsmen in Ibadan at a send-forth organised for him by the staff and stakeholders of NAFDAC in the state.
According to him, the offences ranged from series of unregistered products, sales of outright fake products, parallel importation and unsatisfactory factory productions.
Haruna said that the agency would not relent in its effort to combat unwholesome and fake products.
Yobe
The National Council of Women Society (NCWS) has
urged women in Yobe to aspire for more elective positions to ensure that their voice was heard in the democratic process.
The state President of the society, Hajiya Halima Joda, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu.
“I want to use this medium to call on all women in Yobe State to mobilise both rural and urban women to take active participation in the political process.
“Considering our numerical strength if we properly harness our potential, we can aspire for more elective positions and win,’’ Joda said.
Joda said that active participation of women in politics would eliminate all forms of marginalisation and intimidation against women seeking elective positions in the state.
The president said that when women hold elective positions it would enable them to mainstream gender issues in government policies.
She noted that women were underrepresented in the state despite their proven abilities as leaders and agents of change, and their right to participate equally in democratic governance.
L-R: Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State; Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, at the turbaning of Governor Muhtar Yero of Kaduna State as Dallatun Zazzau in Zaria, Kaduna State recently.
An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centre is set to be established in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema /Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The initiative is being championed by the Omoku People’s Forum, a global association of Omoku elites, under the leadership of its President-General, Dr. George Ada Ubah.
As part of efforts to ensure the successful execution of the project, a prominent son of Omoku, Chief (Barr.) Dennis Masi, has been appointed by the Forum as the Chairman of the ICT Centre Project Committee, entrusted with the responsibility of coordinating and driving the initiative to fruition. Upon completion, the ICT Centre is expected to serve as a major hub for the training and empowerment of youths in digital and technological skills, equipping them to actively participate in the increasingly technology-driven global environment.
The project is also widely regarded as a significant step towards positioning Omoku as an emerging ICT hub within Rivers State, fostering innovation, digital literacy, and economic development in the region.
Concerned Rivers Chiefs For Peace And Development has said it formation was not politically motivated or has any links to political parties or candidates.
The group which said this at a media briefing at Abuloma in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area said it’s formation has nothing to do with politics.
According to the text for the briefing jointly signed by Chief Boma Kele Oyika it’s chairman and Chief Inemo T Ikama Deputy Secretary General said the organization is expected to focus on conflict Resolution, community engagement, collaboration with government and private sector actors
‘it mandate also includes promoting peace building initiative, supporting local economic empowerment programms and strengthening traditional institutions in our state and beyond as partners in governance ”
It said the body is led by a team of respected traditional leaders serving as trustees
“Their collective leadership reflects a blend of experience cultural authority and grassroots connection
“Key elements considered vital for addressing long standing,socio economic and security challenges in the region”
The release further says ” the formation of this organization comes at a time when communities in Rivers state continue to navigate between issues ranging from youth unemployment, environmental concerns and intermittent conflicts amongst the traditional rulers and beyond
“By bringing together influential traditional figures under a unified platform, the group aims at serving as stabilizing force while advocating for inclusive development policies ” it said
It also described its emergence as a new chapter in grass roots leadership and regional development
Earlier, chairman of the body, Chief Boma Kele Oyika said the organization will work with relevant authorities to promote peaceful coexistence in the state, reduce crime and promote economic development.
He said it is open to all Chiefs from the 23 local government areas.
The Chairman of The Nigeria Delta Chamber of Commerce, Trade, Mines and Agriculture NDCCTMA,Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC ) Dr Samuel Ogbuku have challenged Niger Delta entrepreneurs to close the gap in Gross Demostic Products (GDP) differences between the region and that of the South Western part of the country by coming home to invest.
The two leaders spoke at a business round table organized by NDDCTMA in Port Harcourt
Chairman of NDDCTMA Ambassador Idaere Gogo Ogan, said to close the gap between the south west region which he said has a GDP seize of about #59 trillion and that of the Niger Delta which is about #34 trillion was to massively invest in the region.
He said no other persons can do this except sons and daughters from the region.
“For me I believe in statistics,I believe in data and everyday I looked at the data concerning development in Nigeria and from the GDP point of view, the South West has #59 trillion, that is the seize of the south west region economy, the second region following them is the Niger Delta region with GDP seize of #34 trillion,so there is a yearning gap of #25 trillion that separates the south west and the Niger Delta region, that is why we are here”
Ogan said the region has the capacity to close the gap and even surpassed it but regretted that indigenes of the region have chosen to ignore it in terms of investment.
“We need to close that gap .If we close that gap and even surpassed it,all the negative problems of militancy and unemployment will automatically erase “he said
Ogan said the event was organized to remind the people that past efforts of militancy and agitations have not led the region to any where
“That is why we are gathered here in this room “he said.
Also speaking Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission( NDDC) Dr Samuel Ogbuku urged indigenes of the region not to use the problem of insecurity as an excuse to continue to deny the region of investment as every part of the country have in one time or the other experienced crisis.
Ogbuku said most indigenes have displayed high level of unpatriotism towards the region by taking investments that would have benefited the people to either Lagos or Abuja.
“With little threat we have left the city,we have gone to Lagos,we have moved our families to Abuja and Lagos
“If you go round GRA all the property, you will see,”to let to let”most of them are now empty “he said.
The NDDC MD said despite the fact that people from the region are doing well in the oil and gas, banking and other sectors, its impact are not being felt at home because they are stationed outside the region.
He said time has come for potential investors from the region to have a change of heart by coming home to invest.
John Bibor