Nation
THE STATES
Borno
Three teenage female suicide bombers were last Wednesday night killed in Maiduguri, Borno State, when they attempted to attack a military outpost popularly called “Gontanamo” along Muna Garage.
According to a press statement by the spokesman of the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), Abdulkadir Ibrahim, the three teenage female bombers detonated the explosives strapped on them so as to avoid being arrested.
Ibrahim said a security officer, who was among those who intercepted the three teenagers, was injured.
The statement read,“Yesterday (Wednesday) night 3/5/2017, at 10:05pm, three female teenage suicide bombers attempted to attack military outpost popularly known as ‘Gontanamo’ along Muna garage.
“They were sighted, trying to gain access to the premises and were shot by the securities leading to the detonation of their concealed explosives, which killed all three of them and injured one of the security personnel.”
FCT
A Bill for a law, to provide N100, 000 fine for people who distort the country’s national flag, passed second reading at the House of Representatives last Thursday.
Sponsor of the bill, Rep. Sam Onuigbo (Abia-PDP), in the debate, said the bill sought to amend Flag and Coat of Arms Act 2004 and would make further provisions to preserve the country’s national heritage.
He said, there had been surreptitious effort to change the national flag as many public and private offices constructed the Coat-of Arms on it.
Onuigbo said that, the offices even included official photographs of governors, ministers, and even national assembly members in the designs.
According to him, it is important to declare that any addition, subtraction or superimposition outside the version designed by Pa Michael Akinkunmi in 1959 is not the Nigerian flag.
Kano
Former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Dr Maitama Sule has called on Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption.
Sule, made the call last Thursday, during the unveiling of NIPOST Anti-Corruption stamps at the Coronation Hall, Kano.
He said that, the anti-graft crusade launched by the present administration should be seen as a collective aspiration by all Nigerians and not necessarily Buhari’s individual struggle.
“The fight against corruption is a collective one. We are grateful to have a courageous president who said enough is enough,” Sule noted.
The one-time UN envoy expressed the hope that the Buhari administration would change Nigeria’s battered image abroad and curb corruption.
Katsina
Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, has accused senior civil servants in the state of sabotaging government activities.
Masari, made this known at a special dinner organised for labour leaders in Katsina State last Monday, to mark the May Day.
“Some senior civil servants have been indulging in acts that are against the progress of government programmes and policies.
“We are aware that some of the senior civil servants that we inherited from the previous administration have not been assisting the present government to implementing certain programmes.
“The present government believed that, civil servants are the engine room of the government but some senior civil servants are sabotaging our efforts.
Kebbi
The Senate has called on the Federal Government to assist Ngaski Local Government in Kebbi State, which recently lost 26 people in a boat mishap in River Niger, to blast stones and fell trees that hinder safe navigation.
This followed a motion by the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, at plenary on Thursday.
The senate urged the government to assist the affected communities in the area with modern 50-seater boats to alleviate the transportation needs of the communities.
The Upper Chamber, also urged the Ministry of Transport through the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), to immediately conduct a survey into the stretch of River Niger in the area to put navigational aids in place.
Kogi
The Vice-President, National Cashew Association of Nigeria (NCAN), Alhaji Mohammed Chapi-Emgali, has called on government at all levels to evolve deliberate policies to promote cashew production, processing and marketing in the country.
Chapi-Emgali made the call at a forum of stakeholders on Cashew and the association’s Dinner/Award Night at Anyigba in Dekina Local Government of Kogi last Saturday.
He called on the need for a revolution in the agriculture sector through cashew production and processing in the country.
He said that the product had impacted on the economy of Kogi East Senatorial District resulting in an urban to rural migration.
Chapi-Emgali urged Nigerian farmers to seize the advantage of the high exchange rate, and return the country to the era of agricultural boom and massive youth employment.
Also speaking, Mr Gabriel Aduku, former Minister of State for Health, called for greater attention to the agriculture sector in view of its multi-dimensional importance to national growth and development.
Lagos
The Catholic Archbishop Emeritus, Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Okogie has advised the country’s leadership to give special attention to the security of Nigerians.
Okogie in Lagos last Thursday, urged the government to have the courage and the political will needed to protect Nigerians.
He said in a statement that, a sizeable percentage of the budget was officially allocated to security.
“We have the security and intelligence agencies but the simple fact is that, they are not established to protect the people.
“They are established and operated to protect political actors. If the state does not protect us, can we truly say we have a nation,’’ he said.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has pledged to work with the executive arm to ensure even distribution of development projects at the grassroots.
Mr Mohammad Odege-Okpoku, Chairman, House Committee on Works and Transport, made the promise while inspecting projects in Akwanga Local Government Area of the state, on Thursday.
Odege-Okpoku, who led members of the committee on the exercise, lauded Governor Tanko Al-Makura for releasing funds, for the construction of culverts and bridges across local government and development area councils in the state.
Ogun
Over 700 pensioners in Ogun State, were screened during the first day of physical verification of pensioners conducted by the government, Babatunde Agbaje, Permanent Secretary, Bureau of State Pensions, has said.
Agbaje, who made the disclosure last Thursday in Ijebu-Ode, said the exercise would help to save funds for the government.
He said that, the exercise was also aimed at establishing credible and authentic data base of pensioners in the state.
The permanent secretary added that, the exercise was conducted to update the record of the pensioners in the state and restore payment of monthly pension to genuine pensioners.
Ondo
The Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH), Okitipupa last Thursday, warned that, it would no longer tolerate disobedience to the rules and regulations of the university by the students.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Sunday Ogunduyile, gave the warning in Okitipupa, during the institution’s 7th matriculation ceremony where 706 students were matriculated for the 2016/2017 academic session.
Ogunduyile listed ills such as cultism, examination malpractice, indecent dressing, hooliganism and willful destruction of the university properties in which the institution would exercise zero tolerance.
Sokoto
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), last Thursday said, it had received 2,000 doses of meningitis vaccines donated to it by Sokoto State Government.
The state’s Coordinator of the scheme, Alhaji Musa Abubakar, disclosed this in Sokoto at the passing out ceremony of the 1,697 corps members deployed to the state under the 2016 batch “A”, stream two.
Abubakar said, the scheme had consequently commenced mass vaccination of corps members across the state, as well as its staffers. He said, “vaccination started on May 1 and we plan to vaccinate more than 5,000 corps members and staffers.
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