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 Adamawa
The 23rd Amoured  Brigade chapter of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), last Wednesday distributed personal breast cancer examination kits to some women in the barracks after an enlightenment campaign.
The NAOWA Coordinator of the brigade, Mrs Magaret Akinroluyo, said in Yola that, the gesture was part of the association’s efforts to enhance the well being of the families of officers and soldiers as well as those of the surrounding communities.
Akinroluyo said that, the decision to concentrate on breast cancer was due to its dangers and ignorance about the dangers by many women.
“The ignorance on the effects of cancer in our society has done more harm to people due to lack of adequate awareness on the dangers of the disease.
“It is against this background that we decided to organise an enlightenment and education programme on cancer for our women in the barracks to ensure that they take preventive measures against the disease.

Borno
Brig.-Gen. Garba Audu has assumed office as the Commander of the 21 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Bama, Borno State.
Audu took over from Col. Adamu Laka, who is proceeding on strategic course at the National Defence University, Pakistan.
The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Department, Lt.-Col. Samuel Kinsley said this in a statement in Maiduguri.
According to Kinsley, Audu is a member of the 37th Regular Course of the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy and commissioned into the Nigerian Army Amour Corps.
Until his appointment, he was Deputy Director, Safety at the Department of Standard and Evaluation, Defence Headquarters Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division Nigerian Army, Brig.- Gen. Victor Ezugwu has organised a farewell luncheon in honour of the former commander according to the statement.

FCT
Mr Musa Dikko, Chairman of Bwari Area Council, FCT, last Thursday, promised to increase traditional rulers’ monthly stipends by one hundred per cent.
Dikko, who led the council executive to the 10 political wards in the area, made the promise during his inspection visit to Ushafa community, in Bwari.
The wards visited were, Igu, Kawu, Usuma, Kuduru, Dutse, Ushafa, Bwari central, Kubwa, Byazim and Shere.
He said, the failure by past administrations of the area council to integrate and empower the traditional institutions, in their quest for development, was responsible for the lack of visible development in the communities.
Dikki, therefore, promised to review upwards, the monthly stipends of N10, 000 paid traditional rulers to N20, 000 with the aim of encouraging them to key into the council’s development efforts.

Gombe
The Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), has urged the Inspector General of Police, Idris Abubakar, to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the killers of Mr Famou  Giobaro, a broadcast journalist  in Bayelsa State.
The union made the request in a communiqué issued yesterday, at the end of the NUJ National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held in Gombe State.
The communiqué was signed by the NUJ National Secretary, Malam Shuaibu Leman.
Recall that, on April 16, some unidentified gunmen  had killed Giobaro, a staff of Bayelsa-owned Glory FM 97.1, in his residence at INEC Road, Kpasia in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Kano
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kano State, said it had deployed 220 staff for Continued Voter Registration (CVR) commencing on Thursday.
The Administrative Secretary of the commission in the state, Alhaji Bala Shittu, disclosed this, at a stakeholders’ forum last Tuesday in Kano.
He said that, the meeting was to brief the stakeholders on the commission’s preparations and purpose of the exercise.
He said that, INEC had concluded all the necessary arrangements to ensure success of the exercise, adding that, five staff would be used in each of the 44 local government areas of the state.
Shittu said that, the 220 officials were presently undergoing training, stressing that, the purpose of the exercise was to enable citizens who had turned 18 years since after the last exercise in 2014, to register.

Kwara
An evangelist, Mr Olayiwola Abegunde, last Thursday advised politicians to promote tolerance and peaceful co-existence, to ensure peace, progress and political stability in the country .
Abegunde, gave the advice during a special prayer in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara.
He said that, tolerance and peaceful co-existence would also ensure smooth transition in 2019.
We recall that the prayer tagged: ‘Omu-Aran For Christ’, was organised by the UK/Northern Ireland chapter of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC).
The prayer, third in the series, was held at the palace of the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Charles Ibitoye and was to seek divine intervention in the socio-economic development of the community.

Lagos
In a major re-jigging of the Nigeria Customs Service for effective and efficient service delivery, the Comptroller General, Col. Hammed Ali (rtd), has approved the  redeployment of 48 Comptrollers.
A statement   signed  by  the service spokesman, Deputy Comptroller,  Joseph Attah and made available  to our correspondent in Lagos said, the redeployment which is inline with the ongoing  reforms moved Comptroller Madugu, M.J. from Sokoto/ Kebbi/Zamfara to Ogun State Command,  Comptroller  Udo-aka, EA from Investigation  to Oyo/Osun Commands  and Comptroller . Isiyaku K from Tariff  and Trade to Port-Harcourt  1, among  others.
Similarly, the Comptroller General’s compliance team has been disbanded and a new team reconstituted .
The new compliance team is divided into three which comprise   Team A for Western Axis, B for Northern Axis and C for Eastern Axis.
They are to complement the Federal Operations units in order to vigorously crackdown on all forms of smuggling activities  nationwide  with particular focus on the enforcement of no importation of rice and vehicles through the land borders.

Nasarawa
Nasarawa State Government has approved over N32 million for school feeding and other logistics for the 29 boarding secondary schools in the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Malam Aliyu Tijjani, made the statement last Thursday in Lafia, at a meeting he held with principals of secondary schools from the southern senatorial district of the state.
Tijjani, who was represented by Aliyu Abdullahi-Agwai, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, said that, the monthly allocation for the school feeding programme was N20 million.
“However, the state government decided to increase the allocation by over N12 million due to some inadequacies and other basic needs in the schools in view of the free education policy,” he said.
The commissioner said, the gesture was in line with the government’s quest to re-position the education sector.Niger

Niger
A university teacher, Malam Bashir Yankunzu, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for suspending two key functionaries in his administration over allegations of involvement in corrupt practices.
On April 19, Buhari suspended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachair Lawal and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mr Ayodele Oke.
Lawal, was suspended over corruption allegations in the award of contracts in the Presidential Initiative for the North East.
Oke was suspended in connection with the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The suspension of the two principal officers appears to have given a clear signal on the renewed determination of the President to stamp out corruption in the country.

Ogun
A 29-year-old man, Dotun Akande, who allegedly stole N935,000 of his employer, was on Tuesday brought before an Ota magistrates’ Court in Ogun
Akande, who lives at No. 28 Ayantunde St., Iyana-Iyesi, Ota, is facing a charge of stealing.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Chudu Gbesi, told the court that the accused committed the offence sometimes in May to August, 2016, at Orisun Microfinance Bank, Sango-Ota.
He said the accused, who was the staff of the Microfinance Bank, collected N935,000 from customers and refused to remit the money to his employer.

Plateau
Over 400 Fulani Christian converts have been tasked on preaching the gospel of peace to their kindred in order to reduce the prevailing crises in the country.
Rev. Copper Sebok, Reverend in charge of COCIN Church Panyam, gave the charge yesterday at the end of a 3-day conference organised for all Fulani converts of all denominations across the country.
Reports that, the conference was aimed at awakening the need for preaching peace to their fellow brothers and sisters across the country.
“The conference is also a re-union service for all Fulani converts regardless of their denominations and to share experiences and encourage one another in the propagation of the gospel of peace.

Yobe
Governor  Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State, has appealed to the Federal Government to intensify the mop-up operations against Boko Haram remnants in the North-East to save lives and property.
Gaidam, made the appeal in Damaturu on Thursday, while declaring open a two-day National Sensitisation Workshop on the Implementation of the National Counter Terrorism Strategy organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
“I wish to make a passionate appeal to the Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser to intensify the mopping up of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East in conjunction with the vigilance groups,” he said.

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Rivers Deputy Governor Hails PH City One Love For Humanitarian Gesture

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Rivers state Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Nma Odu has commended “The Port Harcourt City One Love,”a Port Harcourt based humanitarian orgnisation For it’s commitment towards alleviating the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in the society.

Professor Ngozi Nma Odu said this while speaking at this year’s edition of “operation feed the needy” a yearly outreach program of “The Port Harcourt City One Love ” in Port Harcourt.
The Deputy Governor said by feeding more than sixty thousands hungry people within the past six years, the Port Harcourt City One Love Movement has distinguished itself as a club that cares for the less privilege in the society.

She commended the , organization for listing eleven thousand persons to be fed in the current exercise.

Meanwhile The Port Harcourt City One Love  has planned a permanent solution to the problem of feeding the poor in the state.

The leader of the group Mr Idaere Gogo Ogan who said this in an interview with newsmen during the distribution of food items to the poor and vulnerables in Port Harcourt said the organization is planning a permanent food kitchen where poor and vulnerable persons can work in anytime and get fed.

Idaere Gogo Ogan said more than sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons across Port Harcourt City and environs have been fed since the inception of “The operation feed the needy” program six years ago,adding that so far sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons have beneffited.

 

He described the group as a platform to promote friendship, brotherhood, community development empathy and feeding the less privilege and hungry people
“That’s what we are doing today here,so we started the exercise six years ago”.he said.

Ogan said the effort was a private sector driven initiative but added “it also involves people in Government because the platform does not recognize any division,we bring everybody together in unity , friendship and brotherhood”he said.

He said the effort will go along way in alleviating hunger especially following the prevailing hunger in the country.

According to him “you know the country is very tough, people are hungry people are starving, there is a whole lot of economic hardship,so for us, this is just our own way of reaching out, our own social contribution to what is very difficult”he said.

Over eleven thousand persons were fed in the just concluded exercise.
Areas of coverage include, Isaac Boro park, Port Harcourt prison/Macoba, Borokiri/Enugu waterside Bundu areas Waterlines and others.

Some of the beneficiaries including an 80 years old widow commended the movement for the annual programm and urged other organizations to emulate them

 

John Bibor,/Esuuk Oyet/Suotor Memoye /Jeremiah Hannah

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We’ll Partner Private Sector to Industrialize Rivers State – Fubara …Hints Revitalization of Ahoada, Trans Amadi Industrial layout

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Rivers State Governor , Sir Siminialayi Fubara says the industrialization of the state remains a key drive of his administration.
Speaking through Director General of the Rivers  State Investment Promotion Agency, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside at the Shell Gas Limited and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria(MAN) Investors Forum held in Port Harcourt, Fubara stressed that public /private partnership is key to revive production in the state.
“We are ready to partner Shell Gas Limited to revive manufacturing in Rivers State at Ahoada Industrial Park, and the new Port City project, including the proposed Bonny Industrial Park which will grow industries along the Bonny corridor” he declared.
Part of the scheme, he further stated is to collaborate with Shell Gas Limited and the private sector to transform Rivers State into a major manufacturing hub in the South of Nigeria.
Commending Shell and MAN for leading the frontline, Sir. Fubara said,” the time to act is now  and thank God Shell is taking the lead to prioritize gas.”
The governor opined that the gas sector provides huge investment opportunities to drive the state economy as the world is gradually shifting towards gas and other environment friendly energy, while urging stakeholders to evolve an actionable gas policy for the state.
Earlier in his remarks, Shell Gas Limited Head of Gas Distribution, Mr. Chukwuka Amos-Ejesi said it is high time the state utilized its huge gas resource.
“Today gas offers investors opportunities and raises the value chain as it boosts production for industry users,” Amos-Ejesi said.
The Shell Gas Distribution executive said the company seeks to support manufacturing by adopting a user friendly approach that allows manufacturers to grow profitably with affordable cheaper energy.
He explained that natural gas provides huge potentials and aligns with federal government  policy of gas utilization.
Chairman of MAN Rivers and Bayelsa Branch, Elder Vincent Okugu described gas as the backbone of manufacturing.
He said the forum has become timely and key to address the pressing energy provision to boost production in the sector, as he lamented the high costs borne by manufacturers in sourcing energy alternatives.
In her remarks, Chairperson of  the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture, Dr. Chinyere Ngozi Nwoga commended Shell for the forum which she described as a bridge to reduce gap of energy provision for manufacturers.
Ngozi Nwoga said the transition to natural gas has become imperative, stressing that pipeline gas offers cheaper and smooth energy provision for industries.
Former MAN chairperson for Rivers and Bayelsa States, Mrs Emilia Akpan was of the view that the quest to provide cheap energy should be driven with technical manpower, as she emphasized  need for Rivers State to recreate its economy.
By Kevin Nengia
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SheVentures Open Zero-interest Loan Applications for Women Entrepreneurs

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First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to N10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.
The facility provides loans ranging from N500,000 to N5 million under a general category, and N5 million to N10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.
Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB),  Yemisi Edun,  said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively. Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

“This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs”, Edun said.

Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo said access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs.

 

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