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THE STATES

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Adamawa
The Adamawa State trained over 700 youths and women in various skills under its Poverty Alleviation Programme (PAP) in 2016.
The state coordinator of the programme, Mr Ayuba Audu, told newsmen in Yola that the training was organised to tackle poverty and unemployment.
He said that the programme was organised in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and ‘Simba’ an Indian firm.
Audu said that the beneficiaries of the programme were selected from the 21 local government areas of the state.
“The aim of the training is to assist youths and women. We want to support them to become entrepreneurs in the hope that this will reduce the rate of poverty among them.
“It will surely bring about security and stability in the state,’’ Audu said.
He said that the beneficiaries were trained on tricycle repairs, jewelry and bead making, how to repair cell phones and electrical appliances.

Bauchi
Chairman, Bauchi State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Hashimu Gital, says that the state government owed retirees N15 billion in accumulated gratuity.
Gital said this in an interview with newsmen in Bauchi last Sunday.
“The problem here is the accumulated gratuity amounting to almost N15 billion.
“We have achieved that of normalising payment of salaries where government does not owe any salary arrears in Bauchi State but the issue of gratuity remains a problem.
“We are always knocking at the door of the state government and there is assurance that government is also making efforts to ensure that the outstanding gratuity is paid,’’ the NLC chairman said.
He refuted insinuations that retirees in the state were being owed pension arrears.
Gital said that the state government was also making efforts to actualise the contributory pension scheme in the state.

FCT
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),  Hon. Sani Zorro, has disclosed Nigeria’s government plan to issue United Nations passport to people at risk of being stateless.
Zorro made this known during an interview with newsmen, last weekend, in Abuja, marking the second anniversary of Nigeria ratifying the Abidjan Declaration to end statelessness.
He said that the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs (NCFRMI) and the National Immigration Department are engaged in a process called refugee status determination.
He explained that this process would help to ascertain stateless persons that are eligible for the UN passport, a document they can hold on to before their respective cases are resolved.

Gombe
Gombe State Coalition for Political Parties has rejected Saturday’s council polls in the state, threatening to take legal action if Chairmen or Councillors were inaugurated.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday in Gombe, Alhaji Idi Barde, Acting Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, said in spite of the assurances given by the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC), it had failed to conduct the election.
He alleged that there was no election material taken to any polling unit in the state, and that no accreditation of voters took place for the conduct of the election.
Reacting to the allegation, Chairman of GOSIEC, Mr Caleb Maina, who spoke through Mr Kalagar Kudi, GOSIEC Commissioner in charge of Public Affairs, said election took place.

Kano
The Kano State Hisbah Board has advocated for a comprehensive blueprint to address lingering societal problems.
The Commander General of the board, Malam Aminu Daurawa made the suggestion when  he received a delegation of the Association of Hausawan Africa led by Sardaunan Agadaz, Dr Abdulkadir Koguna, in Kano yesterday.
According to him, the blueprint will serve as official guide in addressing the myriads of socio-economic problems facing the society and encourage education, skills acquisition among others.
Daurawa urged the association to be cautious in selecting and training its members to avoid security implications.

Katsina
An NGO, Daura Progressive Youths Initiatives, has empowered 253 women in Daura with vocational skills to earn a living.
The Secretary of the group, Alhaji Sabiu Tazarce, told newsmen in  Daura yesterday  that the women acquired the skills over the last two years in tailoring, poultry farming, knitting, and jelly, perfume and soap making.
He said that the decision of the NGO to commence the training was informed by its desire to eradicate poverty and generate employment.

Lagos
The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Saleh Dunoma, has instructed engineers to begin repair works on all facilities at the Murtala Muhmmed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, with immediate effect.
Dunoma gave the directive after inspecting the facilities at the airport on Sunday in Lagos.
It would be recalled that the directive is coming after the unscheduled inspection visit made last Thursday to the airport by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has advised the chairman and members of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), to be “very prudent” in the management of resources.
The law makers also tasked the board to strive towards boosting enrollment and quality of primary schools.
The legislators gave the advice  yesterday in Lafia, shortly after confirming members of the board.
The Speaker, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, challenged the board members to use their experiences to add value to the educational sector.
“You will be handling the most crucial stage of education, the primary school; work very hard to improve on what is on ground,” he said.

Niger
The Children’s Government of Nigeria, a Non Governmental Organisation, has called on the federal and state governments to close Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the North-East.
Its National Coordinator, Mr Patrick Ikpeme, made the call in Minna, during a courtesy visit to the Niger State Development Company.
He said that the camps should be closed down “immediately” because they had a negative effect on women and children.
“Many of the women in the camps live irresponsible lives with nobody to check them; if they return to their various communities, they will be more careful.
“The children also live carefree lives due to the absence of parents or guardians. They are denied even basic means of livelihood. When they get desperate, they can jump into bad things,” he said.
He stressed the need for government to resettle the IDPs back to their various communities where they could restart their lives with communal support.

Taraba
The National Coordinator of ‘PDP Loyal Group 100 per cent’ ,Mr Denis Shima, yesterday advised Taraba youths not to see politics as a dirty game.
Shima gave the advice at a Thanksgiving Service organised in his honour by the Catholic Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) of St Peter’s Catholic Parish in Jalingo.
He said politics was rather one of the best ways to bring development to humanity if  practised according to the rules.
Shima challenged the youth to join politics with a view to channelling their youthful energy into enhancing political reforms that would deepen the country’s democracy for rapid development.
“I advise all of you not to stay away from politics due to the belief by many that it is a dirty game.

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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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