Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
A lawmaker representing Yola North Constituency in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Sulaiman Alkali, last Saturday presented 12 cows, 80 bags of rice, cartons of spaghetti and gallons of cooking oil to party leaders in his constituency.
Presenting the items at a ceremony in Yola, Alkali, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member, said the gesture was to enable the leaders to celebrate Sallah with the electorate in their various areas.
“It is always good to assist party leaders at a time they will be hosting the electorate in their respective communities,” he said.
While wishing members of his constituency a happy Eid, the lawmaker urged them to be security consciousness during the Sallah period.
Borno
The Eid-El-Fitr festivities were celebrated peacefully in most states of the North East, as security was tightened in Borno and Yobe State, two states worst hit by the activities of insurgents.
According to reports, vehicular movements were restricted in the two states for certain period, to avert any ugly incident, especially during the congregation prayers.
Borno Police Command had announced total ban on vehicular movement during the prayer time, resulting in the closure of most roads in the metropolis.
Security personnel were also deployed to all prayer grounds to screen worshippers thoroughly at the entrance.
Some worshippers interviewed commended the security agents for their efforts in ensuring absolute security at the prayer grounds.
FCT
The Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu has called on Muslim Ummah to sustain the virtues of endurance, discipline and love imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan.
Ekweremadu made the call in his Eid el-Fitr message to the Muslim Ummah on Saturday signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Uche Anichukwu.
He said: “I congratulate the Muslim Ummah on the successful completion of the Ramadan Fast.
“It is also my hope that the virtues imbibed in the holy month are sustained beyond the Ramadan and brought to bear in our personal lives and efforts at nation building.
“Fasting in itself is a lesson in endurance, discipline, holiness, and religious adherence.
Jigawa
The Jigawa State Government has donated 18 rams and five cows to the state command of Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) for distribution to inmates in the state for Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
The NPS spokesman in the state, Mr Adam Muhammad, confirmed this to newsmen in Dutse last Saturday.
Muhammad said the animals were distributed among the 11 prisons in the state.
He added that the government also donated two cows and four rams to officers and men of the command.
He commended the Jigawa Government for the kind gesture.
According to him, it would enable the inmates and officials to celebrate the Sallah happily.
Kano
The Kano State Government has urged residents of the state to maintain a good sanitation culture with or without close monitoring from authorities.
The Commissioner for Environment, Dr Ali Makoda gave the charge shortly after inspecting the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Kano last Saturday.
The commissioner, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Sagir Wali, expressed dismay over non-compliance attitude from some motorists in the city.
“As Muslims, the people of the state are expected to develop the environment culture even without restriction.
Katsina
The Katsina State Government says it will immunise no fewer than two million children during the next round of Immunization Plus Days (IPDs).
The Assistant Health Educator, Katsina State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mr Abba Musa, made this known on Saturday in Katsina at a media focus group meeting.
Musa said that the exercise meant for children below five years, would be conducted between July 8 and July 11 across the state.
The health official said that the team of vaccinators would be going from house-to-house to administer the Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) to the targeted children in all the 34 local government areas.
Kogi
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has called on journalists to display high sense of professionalism, patriotism and discipline in their calling and avoid hate speeches and reports that tend to divide the nation.
Bello made the call at a Ramadan fast-breaking dinner with media executives and members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), last Friday night in Lokoja.
According to the governor, some reports in the media of late tend to polarise the nation.
He urged that reports that tend to sabotage unity of the nation or divide the people and undermine the corporate existence of the country should be avoided to pave way for advancement and development of the country.
Lagos
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State says efforts are being made to create additional centres for Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in 13 local government areas of the state.
The Administrative Secretary of the commission in Lagos State, Dr Mustapha Mudashiru, made this known in an interview with newsmen last Saturday in Lagos.
He said the commission had pushed for more centres, especially in 13 of the 20 council areas in the state to reduce crowd in existing centres.
He added that “we requested for additional centres, particularly for some peculiar local governments in Lagos State to further address some of the challenges facing CVR in a metropolitan city like Lagos.
Nasarawa
Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Nasarawa State Command, has taken over Sandaji Medical Centre, Lafia, to provide medical services at affordable rate to patients and improve on their health status.
The State Commandant of Corps, Mr Bala Joshua, made this known on Saturday when he took journalists and other management staff of the corps on assessment tour of the hospital in Lafia.
He said that the aim of the assessment of facilities in the hospital signified official take-over of the hospital by the management of the state command of the corps.
“We felt that we should officially notify the media and the public on the take-over of medical activities at Sandaji hospital by our command to provide health services to the people at affordable rate.
Niger
The Catholic Bishop of Minna Diocese, Bishop Martin Uzoukwu, has emphasised the need for Nigerians to live as a family and desist from inflammatory statements that could jeopardise the nation’s unity.
He said this in an interview with newsmen in Minna last Saturday, noting that the recent development of hate speeches was unfortunate.
He said “God has reason for bringing us together; we should love one another, irrespective of our religious, ethnic and political differences.”
Uzuokwu said if concerted efforts were put in place in utilising the abundant mineral resources in the country, Nigeria would be a force to reckon with in the world.
Plateau
The Police Command in Plateau State deployed 2,900 officers and men to ensure hitch-free Eid-el fitr celebration.
The Command’s Spokesperson, ASP Terna Tyopev, told newsmen in Jos last Saturday that police would mount absolute surveillance in areas considered to be flash points and other strategic positions during and after the celebration.
He said “we have also organised an operational order to maintain law and order during and after the Sallah celebrations.
“We have identified some flash points in the state, and our men will be stationed in those areas to ensure that people celebrate the sallah peacefully.
Sokoto
The Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, says it has dismissed a lecturer (names withheld), for altering students’ results.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, told newsmen in Sokoto last Saturday, but declined to mention the affected lecturer’s full details.
Zuru said “that management of the university took that drastic action to serve as deterrent to others.
“The action is to remind academic and non academic staffers of what might happen if they try such an act.
Yobe
The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Damaturu, Tarmuwa, Gujba and Gulani and Yobe, have lauded Rep. Abdullahi Kukuwa, for the construction of 10 boreholes and classrooms to facilitate resettlement in the displaced communities.
The spokesman of IDPs, Alhaji Adamu Gulani, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu last Saturday.
He said that the boreholes constructed by Kukuwa, representing Damaturu/Gulani/Gujba/Tarmuwa federal constituency, had complemented those built by the state government in the affected communities.
Adamu said that the existing water facilities in the communities were destroyed by the insurgents thereby creating water scarcity in the areas.
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.
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.”
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”.
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