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Borno

The National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) has  presented relief materials to hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in six satellite camps in Monguno, Borno State.
Alhaji Muhammad Kanar, the NEMA North-East Zonal Coordinator, presented the materials to the IDPs at a ceremony in Monguno, headquarters of Monguno Local Government Area.
Kanar said that the gesture was aimed at providing succour to the IDPs who were rescued by the military from suspected Boko Haram hideouts.
He urged them to consider their predicament as an act of God and utilise the items judiciously.
Kanar said the exercise would continue as more people were expected to be rescued by the military in their current war against terrorism.

FCT

The President of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) has accused state governments  of  neglecting state universities established by their predecessors.
ASUU President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, levelled this accusation while briefing newsmen in Abuja recently.
Ogunyemi noted that the general problem of under-funding of Nigeria’s public universities was very alarming in state-owned universities.
According to him, many states have failed  to fully implement the 2009 agreement in which they participated.
“State governments have been neglecting universities that they established and some state governors are going ahead to establish new ones while those brought to life by their predecessors in office are neglected to rot and die,” he said.

Jigawa

The Jigawa State Government says it treated
30,141 severely malnourished children in 12 local government areas of the state between January and June this year.
The State Deputy Nutrition Officer, Malam Saidu Adamu, disclosed this at a Mid-Year meeting with UNICEF Bauchi office and State Government  in Dutse recently.
Adamu explained that the figure of those cured with malnutrition represented 75 per cent, defaulters rate was 15 per cent while death rate of 10 per cent was recorded within the period under review.
He said that 120 health workers had been trained on Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) in six months.

Ogun

A 31-year-old, Rotimi Adekunle, who allegedly
stole a Samsung Galaxy phone worth N22,400 from a woman’s bag at a bus stop, is facing trial at an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court.
The accused, whose address is unknown, is standing trial on a charge of stealing.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Augustine Ozimini told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 2 at about 9.30 a.m. at Camp Junction in Abeokuta.
“Adekunle was caught in the act by an official of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, who was on duty at the junction.”
Ozimini alleged that some phones were also found on him when he was apprehended.

Kaduna

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
has arrested an imposter claiming to be a Lt. Col. and Commander of the Nigerian Army School of Artillery, Kachia in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Orndiir Terzungwe, Public Relations Officer, Kaduna state Command of NSCDC, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna.
“We received a distress call from our personnel who was on duty at WATCON factory located around Gamji Gate,” he said.
Terzungwe said on getting the report, NSCDC personnel visited the scene and got one suspect who gave his name as Obi Gerard, male, 50 years.

Kano

The Federal Government says it has commenced the re
view of the cost profile of all its revenue generating agencies.
Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, made the disclosure at a two-day National Revenue Retreat in Kano.
The retreat was organised by the Ministry of Finance as part of government’s effort to brainstorm on how to shift emphasis from oil to non-oil revenue.
Adeosun said that the measure was necessary in order to ensure that maximum operating surpluses were declared and remitted in compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
She said that the ministry had commenced a number of audits of a range of agencies that would provide the government improved visibility into the revenue and cost profiles.

Lagos

The Agege Local Government Administrator in Lagos
State, Mr Gbenga Abiola, said skills acquisition, good environment and security remained his cardinal agenda.
Abiola told newsmen in Lagos that protection of lives and property, skills acquisition, as well as quality and affordable education would be given attention.
The sole administrator, appointed in June by the state government, said he intended to make the council area “livable.”
“When you have a conducive environment business will thrive. When we have healthy people, then we will have people to govern. We must make the environment of Agege livable”.
Nasarawa

An educationist, Mr Nze Uchendu, has appealed to Ni
gerians to protect indigenous languages from extinction.
Uchendu made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Mararaba, Nasarawa State.
He decried the neglect of indigenous languages for foreign ones, a situation, which he said was incompatible with the nation’s multi-cultural setting.
“Nigeria as a country is blessed with over 300 languages, but because of colonisation the English language from another continent, has become the official language of the country.
“Many Nigerians have started to see themselves as English people and see it as a crime to speak Nigerian indigenous languages.

Ondo

An Ore Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State  has remanded
a 32-year-old driver, Muisi Ishola, in prison for allegedly knocking down a Federal Road Safety Corps marshal.
The Magistrate, Mr Banjo Ikusika, gave the order following the inability of the accused to meet his bail conditions.
The accused, who is standing trial on a two-count charge of dangerous driving and attempted manslaughter, was granted bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
The court also ordered that the sureties must be civil servants on grade level 12 with a year’s tax clearance and reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Ibrahim Ogundeyi, told the court that the accused had on July 12 along Ore-Lagos Expressway driven a Suzuki Zubaru car marked BDG 976 DJ dangerously.

Plateau

The wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari has do
nated materials worth millions of Naira to more than 500 less privileged persons in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau.
The beneficiaries include widows, orphans and the physically challenged who gathered in the council for the materials.
Our correspondent  reports that some of the materials donated include bags of Semovita, Wheat Flour and cartons of Spaghetti and Indomie noodles as well as cash presentation.
Represented by the Council’s Chairman, Mr Stephen Jings, the wife of the president explained that the gesture was out of her desire to alleviate sufferings of the less privileged in the country.
“This Government is not ignorant of the plights of the less privileged in the country and as such it has decided to reach out to them in its own little way”.

Yobe

A community leader in Yobe State, Alhaji Zannah
Babagana has  called for government’s support in the rehabilitation of the over 120 women and children rescued from insurgents by security operatives in Gwargware and Kur villages in Borno.
Zannah is the village head of Kukareta community in Yobe.
He made the call when the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), donated tarpaulin, foodstuff and clothes to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kukareta.
The community leader said that the women and children who were rescued from Gwargware and Kur villages in Damboa Local Government Area of Borno bordering Yobe, were now taking refuge in Kukareta village.
“Government and other NGOs must supplement the efforts of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency in feeding the IDPs.
“Some of the displaced persons in the self-established camp have returned to their communities.
“But the arrival of these women and children rescued from the two villages has created more feeding challenges in the camp,” 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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