Nation

THE STATES

Published

9 years ago

March 27, 2015

Gov. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State (left) with Catholic Archbishop of Jos Diocese, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, at the Funeral Mass in Honour of 2nd Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Bauchi, Late Bishop John Malachy at St. John Catholic Cathedral in Bauchi yesterday.

Adamawa

The Adamawa State command of the Nigeria Immi
gration Service last Wednesday, met with the leaders and representatives of ECOWAS and other African nationals in the state over Saturday’s elections.
Addressing the leaders, the Comptroller, Mr Ubi Nkanu, urged them to warn their members to steer clear of the elections.
Nkanu said any foreigner caught trying to vote or participate in the election would be dealt with, adding that some illegal aliens were recently caught with voters’ cards and had since been deported.
He said that the command had mobilised its men to ensure that no foreigner voted during the elections.
Nkanu said Nigeria’s borders would remain closed during the elections and urged everyone to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding.

Benue

The Benue State Police Command has denied ar
resting innocent citizens ahead of the March 28 and April 11 elections.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Austin Ezeani, made the denial in an interview with newsmens in Makurdi.
The spokesman, who was responding to complaints by residents over alleged arbitrary arrest by the police, said the raid was targeted at criminals and not to victimise anybody.
According to him, the raid is based on privileged information and innocent persons would be released after thorough screening.
“The operations has yielded positive results as the police have recovered arms and illicit drugs, especially cannabis sativa, charms and stolen vehicles”.

Borno

Senator Mohammed Ndume has expressed optimism
that the military will liberate Gwoza from Boko Haram insurgents very soon.
Ndume (APC-Borno South) stated this during a chat with newsmen in Maiduguri.
He said the military had demonstrated high sense of patriotism in its recent anti-terrorism war.
“In the last five weeks, the military had performed creditably by reclaiming 22 communities from the insurgents.
“I believe that the remaining communities will be reclaimed in the shortest possible time.
“Gwoza, which is the strong hold of the insurgents, will be reclaimed any moment from now, going by recent developments.
“I think that the soldiers deserve commendation for what they are doing’’, Ndume said.

Ekiti

Ahead of the elections, traditional rulers in Ekiti on
Wednesday assured NYSC members to be used as INEC ad-hoc staff of their safety.
The monarchs gave the assurance when a team of the NYSC management led by the State Coordinator, Mr Chidube Ibeh, visited some of the monarchs.
Our correspondent reports that NYSC team visited the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, Arinjale of Ise-Ekiti, Oba Adetunji Ajayi, and the Elemure of Emure, Oba Adebowale Adebayo.
Other monarchs visited were the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye, and the Regent of Ikere-Ekiti, Ayooye Adegboye.
Addressing the team in their palaces, all the monarchs visited described Ekiti people as peace-loving who would never do anything that would endanger the lives of the corps members.
FCT

Director-General, Nigerian Meteorological Agency
(NiMet), Dr Anthony Anuforom, said the agency was committed to building climate knowledge required for action through the automation of its climate observatories.
Anuforom said this while addressing newsmen during activities marking the 2015 World Meteorological Day with the theme, ‘Climate Knowledge for Climate Action’ in Abuja, recently.
He said that NiMet had embarked on the automation of its observatories around the country, to enable it to provide climate knowledge for climate action, with six locations currently on the test run.
Anuforom said the theme of the year was timely and apt, following the completion and inauguration of NiMet’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) centre.

Gombe

The Minister of Transport, Sen. Idris Umar, has called
on the electorate in Gombe state to eschew violence in the upcoming elections.
Umar made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in Deba, headquarters of Yamaltu/Deba local government area of the state on Wednesday night.
He advised the electorates to conduct themselves orderly to have peaceful polls.
“Well, we thank God, the elections are here on Saturday the 28th of March this year and of course, on the 11th of April of this year.
“My message to the people of Gombe state and Nigeria as a whole is that we should conduct ourselves orderly during the elections so that have peaceful conduct of the elections,” he urged.

Lagos

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, has urged
voters not to make trouble as they wait behind to defend their votes after casting their ballots.
Fashola spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally in Somolu area of the state.
He emphasised that there was no law prohibiting the electorate from staying behind at the polling units after voting.
“Some people have said that you should not stay near the polling units after voting; that is untrue.
“Let me tell you something, election is governed by law; I am saying this because I am not just a lawyer but a leader in the legal profession.
“There is nothing in the electoral law that stops you or prohibits you from staying at the polling units to defend your votes.

Ogun

A 23-year-old taxi driver, Tosin Olayinka, has been arraigned before an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing the belongings of his passenger and a tyre.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Sunday Eigbejiale told the court that the accused committed the offences on February 26 and on March 4 at 66 Majekodunmi Street, Iberekodo, Abeokuta.
He said the accused stole the handbag of one Felicia Obasa containing N58,000 when she (Obasa) boarded Olayinka’s taxi on her way to Moshood Abiola Polytechnic.
Eigbejiale said the accused also stole the front tyre of a taxi owned by one Dauda Fasasi.
He said the tyre cost N8, 000.
The prosecutor said: “the accused is a habitual criminal who disguises as a taxi driver; he is fond of carrying passengers to different destinations after assessing their belongings.

Plateau

The Pankshin local government council in Plateau said
it had executed projects worth more than N500 million since its inception last year.
The Supervisory Councilor of Works, Mr. Emmanuel Danboyi said this in an interview with newsmen in Pankshin.
“I assure the people of this area that with more funds, the council would execute more projects, “ Danboyi said.
He listed some of the projects to include: a Township Stadium; boreholes/hand Pumps and roads/culverts.
Others are: 23km Mile V-Nyelleng-Wuseli road; 10 km Llankan-Abwor Dyis road and Wuseli and Tal bridges.

Sokoto

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in
charge of Zone 10, Alhaji Bala Hassan, has said that the police are ready to provide security during Saturday’s presidential election in the zone.
The zone comprises Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Hassan told newsmen in Sokoto that an effective operational order on how to provide security at each of the polling units had since been made and issued to the commissioners of police in the area.
He said that the police commands had embarked on “operation show force” with other security agencies to show their preparedness for the elections.

Nation

Yahaya Bello: Senator Hails EFCC’s Probe Of N80.2bn Fraud

Published

3 days ago

April 29, 2024

The Tide

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.

Nation

Senate Frowns Over Continued Depreciation Of Naira

Published

3 days ago

April 29, 2024

The Tide

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.”

Nation

WIW: Banigo Advocates Legislative Impetus

Published

3 days ago

April 29, 2024

The Tide

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”.