Connect with us

Nation

THE STATES

Published

on

Adamawa
The Igbo community in Adamawa State says agitations for Biafra Republic is unnecessary.
The leader of the community in the state Chief Godwin Onemaka, said this in an interview with newsmen in Yola last Thursday.
Onemaka urged the agitators to consider the consequences of plunging Nigeria into chaos by divisive activities, citing the devastating impact of the civil war.
“Biafra agitation has failed and there is no need to restart it; the agitators should consider the interests of the Igbo in other parts of the country.
“We, the Igbo in Adamawa, kick against the agitations for Biafra and we view it as unnecessary capable of plunging the nation into crisis.

Ekiti
Six middle-aged men were last Thursday brought before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged membership of a secret cult.
They were however, released on N1.2 million bail.
The accused are Adewale Akosile, 30; Jimoh Lukman, 25; Amusa Jamiu, 25; and Timothy Thomas,23.
Others are Sefun Akinola, 26 and Ojo Akinola 20.
Police Prosecutor, Caleb Leranmo, told the court that the accused committed the offence at 10.00 a.m. in Omuo Ekiti.
According to him, the men paraded themselves openly as members of Ashanti secret society, a platform they used in terrorising the community.
The offence contravened Section 4(1) of the Secret Cult (Abolition and Prohibition) Laws of Ekiti State 2006.

FCT
A Federal Capital Territary (FCT) Area Court in Karmo has sentenced a 36 year-old driver, Obum Nwokoro to six months in prison for concealing a crime.
Nwokoro of Dako village in Abuja was convicted after he pleaded guilty to the one-count charge.
The court however gave him an option of N20, 000-fine after he pleaded for leniency.
The judge, Abubakar Sadiq, who gave the judgment last Thursday, said the conviction would serve as a deterrent to others.
The prosecutor, Mr Dalhatu Zannah, had earlier told the court that on September 12, one Olusegun Olusola of Shippers Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, reported the incident at the Utako Police Station.

Kaduna
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged the media to support ongoing efforts to contain alarming substance abuse in the North-West.
NAFDAC’s North West Coordinator, Mr Sabo Adamu made the appeal when he paid a courtesy call on the Zonal Manager, Kaduna, Malam Maharazu Ahmed.
“We are concerned about the alarming rate of drug abuse in the zone and will require the support of the media to drastically reduce the menace.
“North-West zone has high rate of drug addiction that even housewives are not left out.
“Our youths are getting more and more into drugs everyday and we must stop it, as it portends great danger to the survival of our society,” he said.

Kano
Kano State Government, says it has uncovered a salary fraud amounting to N12.7 million in two parastatals in the state.
A statement by the Public Relations Officer, office of the state Head of Service, Malam Mustapha Fagge, said the fraud was uncovered in the State Hospital Management Board and Senior Secondary Schools Management Board.
According to the statement, the discovery followed an investigation ordered by the Head of Civil Service, Alhaji Muhammad Na’iya.
“As a result of the investigation, a case of alleged connivance involving some Computer Centre staff and two others on posting from the office of the Auditor-General was discovered”, he said.

Kebbi
Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State has called on stakeholders in the education sector to come up with new solutions to address illiteracy in the country.
Bagudu made the call when he received the stakeholders, led by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu in his office last Thursday.
The stakeholders were in Kebbi State to commemorate the 2017 International Literacy Day.
The day is celebrated every September 8. In Nigeria, the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formation Education said.

Kogi
Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasir Ajanah has advocated cordial working relationship between the Police and the Judiciary to ensure effective prosecution of the fight against crime in the state.
Ajanah who disclosed this when the new Commissioner of Police for Kogi State command, Mr Ali Janga, paid him a courtesy visit last Wednesday in Lokoja described the fight against crime as a herculean task.
He said that the fight required the cooperation of all stakeholders, adding that there was need for the police and Judiciary to collaborate in the fight against crime in the county.
“We have always had a robust relationship and have always cooperated with the police because we know that the fight against crime is a herculean task,” Ajanah said.

Kwara
Offa Local Government Catholic Relief Services (CRS) says it will distribute 64,000 long lasting insecticidal nets to residents of the community.
The CRS, Social Mobilisation Officer, Mrs Jemilat Yusuf told newsmen last Thursday in Ilorin that cards had been distributed to recipients.
Yusuf said that the exercise would commence on September 29, adding that all residents cooperate with the service to ensure a successful outing.
She said the residents should come out en masse for collection of the nets to eradicate malaria and other related diseases in the society.

Lagos
A 61-year-old man, Solomon Atuegbu who allegedly drove his vehicle recklessly and killed a 29-year-old pedestrian, John Odufele was last Thursday in Lagos granted a N500,000 bail.
Atuegbu who resides at Mile 2 area of Lagos State is facing a two-count charge of dangerous driving and manslaughter.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
An Apapa Magistrates’ Court which gave the ruling said Atuegbu should provide two sureties as part of the bail condition.
The Senior Magistrate, Mr M.A Etti said the sureties should be gainfully employed and they should also show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Nasarawa
FCT Chief Judge, Justice Ishaq Bello has urged judges and magistrates in the territory to be diligent in the discharge of their duties.
He gave the charge during an assessment visit to the Medium Security Prison, Keffi Unit, Nasarawa State last Wednesday.
He said judges and magistrates must be diligent to preserve the integrity of the justice system, adding that it must be done to repose public confidence in the system.
He added that he was aware of 27 inmates who had been in prison custody without proper signing of their detention warrant, noting that there should be proper warrant for detention before anybody was detained.
Bello said he had been ordered by the Controller-General (CG) of the Nigeria Prison, Mr Ja’afaru Ahmed to investigate the matter.

Niger
The Child Rights Protection Agency in Niger State last Thursday vowed to uncover  the killers of three children during an attack on Yakpa village, Shiroro Local Government Area of the state.
The Director-General of the agency, Mrs Mairam Kolo, who visited families of the deceased at Gwada Hospital where one survivor was receiving  treatment, described the killing as “wicked and heartless”.
Our correspondent reports that unidentified gunmen attacked a Fulani community in Yakpa on September 15 and killed three children aged between three and five.
Kolo said that the agency would work with relevant security agencies and volunteers to ensure that the perpetrators were arrested and prosecuted.
She directed the immediate transfer of the survivor to Minna General Hospital for proper medical care, pledging that the agency would settle the medical bill.

Plateau
The Plateau State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) last Thursday promised to support young people to run for various offices in the forthcoming local government polls in the state.
Chairman of the party in the state, Latep Dabang, said this at a three-day town hall meeting with political parties in Jos.
Our correspondent reports  that the forum is organised by the Plateau State Coalition on Electoral Reform and Good Governance (PLASCER).
The meeting was supported by the Community Action for Popular Participation (CAPP), Actionaid Nigeria, UKaid and BBC Media Action.
PLASCER is a coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community Based Organisations (CBOs), among others.
The meeting had representatives from the PDP, APC, ADP, INEC, CBOs, NOA, among others.

Continue Reading

Nation

Rivers Deputy Governor Hails PH City One Love For Humanitarian Gesture

Published

on

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

Continue Reading

Nation

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

Published

on

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
Continue Reading

Nation

SheVentures Open Zero-interest Loan Applications for Women Entrepreneurs

Published

on

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.

 

Continue Reading

Trending