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Benue
A Makurdi Magistrates’ Court last Thursday ordered the remand of 35-year-old farmer, Shima Kaatyo, in prison custody over alleged criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Adama Owochio, told the court that, the case was transferred from Area Command Headquarters Gboko, to Benue State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Makurdi.
The transfer was contained in a letter with reference No: AR: 3100/BNS/GB/AC/VOL 10/470 dated Feb.22, 2017.
The letter stated that Samuel, Kobo, Lorliam Kaatyo, Daniel Kaatyo, Shima Kaatyo, and many others, whose identities are not yet known, conspired and burnt down the house of one Iortswam Gaadi.

Borno
Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, last Thursday inaugurated new caretaker committees to run the affairs of the 27 Local Government Areas in the state.
The caretaker committees were inaugurated in Maiduguri after the expiration of the six months tenure of the previous committees.
The governor said that, the inauguration was in accordance with the provision of Section 81 of the Borno State Local Government Law 2000, as amended.
Shettima, warned the new caretaker chairmen against having any links with Boko Haram insurgents.

Ekiti
Two men Bello Adedayo and Akingbade Ifeoluwa were on Thursday charged before an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly hitting a woman with a plastic bucket in the mouth and biting her.
The accused  Adedayo, 27, and Ifeoluwa, 18 are facing charges of assault and breach of the peace. Police prosecutor, Caleb Leranmo told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 19 at about 10.00 p.m. at Oke-Ila area of Ado-Ekiti. Leranmo alleged that, the accused assaulted a woman, Modupe Sunday also of Oke-Ila Street by hitting her with bucket on her mouth and biting  her.

FCT
An Osun-based, Science Teacher, Mrs Adeola Awokusibe has urged the Federal Government to rebuild Nigerian economy through science and technology education.
Awokusibe gave the advice in a telephone interview with The Tide last Thursday.
According to her, government should make science and technology education a priority in its national development strategy. She said that, science and technology education had suffered setback in Nigeria due to the low status accorded to it in general.

Kaduna
Governor Nasiru El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State, last Thursday advised Nigerians to inspire hope and encourage cancer patients to lessen their pains and enable them live happily.
The governor, gave the advice at a “Cancer Sensitisation Campaign and Book launch” held at the main campus of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
The campaign was organised by the Centre of Excellence on Department Communication (CEDC), Department of Theatre and Performing Arts, ABU.
El-Rufa’i, who was represented by Dr Paul Manya-Dogo, Commissioner for Health in the state, observed that, such emphathy would not only lessen the pains but inspire hope in the patients.
The governor, advised cancer patients not to loose hope, assuring that, the desease was not a “death sentence.”

Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government says, it will immunise three million children under the age of five years against Polio within five days. The government said, it would achieve this goal through the state Primary Health Care Development Agency (KDPHCDA) with the support of stakeholders. This is contained in a statement, signed by Malam Hamza Ikara, the Deputy Director, KDPHCDA, and the State Coordinator, Journalists Initiative on immunisation Against Polio (JAP), Mr Lawal Dagara, made available to newsmen on Thursday in Kaduna.
It said, the exercise, which would be conducted on the streets, house to house and markets, would last between March 23 and March 28.

Katsina
The Katsina State Government, has inaugurated a committee to investigate alleged misconduct by some officials of the state’s Pilgrims Welfare Board during the 2016 Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Inaugurating the committee, last Thursday in Katsina, the State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mannir Yakubu, tasked the committee to discharge their duties without fear or favour. He expressed displeasure on the report of alleged connivance by the officials of the board to shortchange some pilgrims of their Basic Transport Allowance (BTA).
The officials were also alleged to have diverted some accommodations meant for the state pilgrims at Makkah.

Kwara
The Speaker, Kwara House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad, has given cash gifts and two motorcycles to a vigilance group in llorin to improve security in their areas.
Ahmad, made the donation in his office, when members of the vigilance group from the llorin South and llorin East paid him a courtesy visit on Friday. The Speaker said the donation was to assist the group to provide adequate security in the state.Ahmad, stressed the need for organisation and individuals to support vigilance groups to boost internal security across the state.

Lagos
A Professor of political science, Femi Otubanjo, last  Thursday faulted senate’s call for resignation of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, saying that, the senate went beyond its limit.  Otubanjo, who works with the National Open University of Nigeria, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. The senate last Wednesday called for Ali’s resignation following his refusal to appear before it in customs uniform.  Senators at a plenary flayed up when the clerk of the upper legislative chamber read a letter from the Attorney-General of the Federation and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Abubakar Malami, stating why Ali cannot appear before the senate in his uniform.

Nasarawa
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has called for the release of the National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria, Mr Dickson Akoh.
The Chairman of the council in Nasarawa State, Mr Mohammed Bako, made the appeal on Thursday at news conference in Lafia.
Bako, criticised the recent attack on the headquarters of corps an by the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and Department of State Security (DSS).
He also condemned the subsequent arrest of the national commandant of the corps and other principal officers of the organisation by the security operatives.
“This ugly incident by the Nigeria police and DSS is coming on peak of the passing of the Bill of the Nigerian Peace Corps by the National Assembly. The bill is only awaiting presidential assent.

Niger
The Niger StateGovernment last Thursday inaugurated a 17-man Media and Information Management committee for effective dissemination of government programmes and activities.
The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Jonathan Vatsa, who is also the Chairman of the committee, announced this in a statement  on Thursday in Minna.
According to him, members of the committee comprises media executives and practitioners in the state with the mandate to expand the scope of media highlights of government programmes.
Members of the committee include the Director of Press Affairs, Managing Director, News-line Newspapers, General manager, Niger Radio.

Plateau
Plateau State housing commissioner, Mr Samuel Galadima, who died while jogging last Wednesday in Jos, was instrumental to re-introducing the bi-monthly exercise for executive council members.
Governor Simon Lalong, who disclosed this last Thursday, when he visited the family of the deceased in Jos, said that, the exercise was first introduced at the onset of his administration, but was later stopped.
“We started the exercise when we came in, and usually undertook it every first and third Wednesday of every month, but later stopped.
“Galadima was not happy when we stopped it and kept reminding me to re-introduce it.
“He kept reminding us, at executive council meetings, that such exercises will keep the executive council members physically fit and mentally alert.
“We eventually agreed with him and re-introduced the exercise, but little did we know that the good intention will lead to his dead,” he said.

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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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