Nation
THE NATION
Bauchi
The Bauchi State Government has concluded plans to construct six new hospitals in the state to further boost its healthcare services.
Governor Isa Yuguda, dropped the hint in Bauchi, while receiving a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Health, led by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Linus Aleachi.
Yuguda said that the proposed hospitals were in addition to the existing 23 hospitals in the state, which were fully-equipped with modern facilities.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Health to establish a kidney transplant unit in the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital, Bauchi considering the high number of patients with kidney-related diseases.
Ekiti
Yam farmers in Irasa-Ekiti, have said that agricultural subsidy would boost yam production and ensure the attainment for food security in the country.
Speaking with newsmen in Irasa-Ekiti, a suburb of Ado-Ekiti, the leader of the Irasa-Ekiti Yam Farmers Association, Alhaji Jimoh Audu, urged the state government to provide farmers with fertiliser, agro-chemicals and tools at subsidised rate.
According to him, members of the association are the first to harvest yam between June and August annually across the country.
He also called on the government to provide access roads to farms as well as means of transportation of agricultural produce.
FCT
The Ministries of Agriculture and Science and Technology should create the necessary awareness for greater cultivation of ‘acha’, a medicinal crop.
Mrs Funke Odeyemi, a Senior Technologist, with the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), made the call while speaking with newsmen at Kwali, FCT.
Odeyemi described ‘acha’ as a medicinal cereal crop recommended for diabetics because of its low glucose content.
She, therefore, urged the government and agricultural extension workers to create greater awareness about the crop among farmers.
According to her, the crop is currently cultivated only in Plateau state as farmers in other parts of the country are not aware of its economic importance.
Gombe
Malam Mohammed Suleiman, a sales officer with the Gombe Ministry of Agriculture, has been dragged before the Gombe State Fertiliser Distribution Monitoring Committee for allegedly diverting 300 bags of fertiliser.
The fertlisers were said to be meant for farmers in Gombe local government area.
The Councillor representing Bolari West Ward in Gombe, Malam Kabir Sakuwa, told the committee members at the Gombe Council Secretariat that the officer illegally diverted the fertiliser and sold same in the open market.
The sales officer confirmed diverting the fertiliser and selling same, but insisted that he did so because his own share was not included in the consignment being distributed.
Jigawa
Senator Ahmed Zakari, the Chairman of the Movement for the Creation of Hadejia State from Jigawa State, says the creation of the proposed state is long overdue.
Zakari said in an interview with newsmen in Dutse on Tuesday, that the agitation for the new state from old Kano State started in 1982.
He said the people made their submission to the National Assembly and the state was shortlisted before the military take-over of government in 1983.
Zakari said the people renewed their demand in 1991 but the military government at the time instead created Jigawa.
Kano
Prof. Ibrahim Garba, the Vice-Chancellor of the Kano State University of Science and Technology(KUST), Wudil, Kano State, has warned students of the institution against drug abuse.
Garba gave the warning on Tuesday, in Wudil at the opening ceremony of a workshop on “Substance Abuse”, organised by the Students’ Affairs Department of the institution.
He said, “The university is an arena for academic activities and will not tolerate drug abuse and other vices among students.”
The vice-chancellor also called for collaboration among parents, teachers and other stakeholders to fight drug abuse and other vices “in order to attain a better society”.
Katsina
The Katsina State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has advised intending Muslim pilgrims who partly paid their Hajj (pilgrimage) fares to complete the payment before July 28 or risk losing their seats.
In a statement, the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Ibrahim Ango, in Katsina on Tuesday said
the advice was necessary to enable the agency to remit the money to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Ango explained that the advice followed the recent announcement of the Hajj fares, adding that completing the payment would enable the agency to begin necessary preparations for the pilgrimage.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has appealed to the state government to immediately pay the 12.5 per cent pay hike due to teachers in the state.
The NUT Chairman in Kebbi, Mr Danlami Riba, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi.
Riba said that the pay hike was approved by the state government since last year, but was not implemented.
He said, “Teachers have been expecting the pay hike since then and hope that payment will now be made with the arrears.’’
The NUT chairman said that the government had implemented the 27.5 per cent pay hike for qualified teachers.
Riba commended the Kebbi Government for the priority it gave to the education sector.
Kwara
The Kwara State Government has said that it will curb the menace created of Nigerian beggars on the streets of Ilorin, the state capital.
The State Commissioner for Social Development, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Dele, said this in Ilorin on Monday, in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.
He said the government had opened discussions with the officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) on how to tackle the problem.
The Commissioner gave assurance that the government would enforce the law which makes street begging illegal to tackle the problem.
Niger
Governor Muazu Babangida State of Niger has urged his colleagues to invest in human capital and not on themselves as a way of securing the future generation.
He stated this in Minna at the 1st State Level dialogue and Policy Sensitisation Workshop organised by the Nigeria Governors‘ Forum (NGF) and the UNDP.
Babangida spoke while addressing his colleagues on their part in sustainable development, poverty reduction and achievement of MDGs in the country.
He said that unless his colleagues learnt to draw a line between party politics and governance, achieving sustainable development and the MDGs would remain a mirage.
He noted that some governors used fund budgeted for social development projects to service their party stalwart and political godfathers.
Ogun
An Ogun-based lawyer, Dr Oloruntoba Mamora, has advocated life jail for any convicted kidnapper.
Mamora told newsmen in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun that the punishment would likely reduce kidnappings and assassinations in the country.
He said that the issue of kidnapping had assumed a new dimension and that it needed urgent attention from the government.
Osun
The Osun State Government says it will set up an education task force that will maintain high standards in public and private schools in the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr Fatai Kola-Hassan, disclosed the plan on Tuesday, in Osogbo, at a meeting with the executive members of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Osun chapter.
He said the task force would take appropriate actions on those operating illegal private schools and put an end to difficulties encountered in obtaining licences to operate private schools.
He called on NAPPS executives to submit names of illegal private schools in the state to the ministry for appropriate sanctions.
Plateau
The people of Plateau State have began one month period of prayer and fasting to seek God’s intervention in the crisis that has engulfed the state in recent times, a statement said.
The programme was announced by Governor Jonah Jang, the statement, issued by Mr James Manok, the Director of Press Affairs, in Jos, said.
The decision by the government followed a fresh attack on Maza, a village in Jos North local government area, on Saturday.
Seven people were killed and 10 others injured in the attack, which took place at 10p.m., while a church and many other houses were burnt in the incident.
Zamfara
The Zamfara State Government has re-awarded the contract for the international cargo airport in Gusau at the cost of N10 billion, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, said.
Aliyu made this known in Gusau while conducting engineers from Sigma Construction, the firm handling the project, on a site inspection.
He said that in spite of the financial difficulties, the government attached high priority to the project because of its economic importance and promised that it would be completed on time.
He urged the construction firm to ensure that the government got value for its money, adding that the government would ensure steady funding for the project to enable the contractors to finish the job on time.
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”.
-
Business4 days ago‘Foreign Shipowners Deprive Nigeria Of $9.2bn Annually’
-
Opinion3 days ago
The Value Of Books And Reading
-
News4 days agoFubara Wants Rivers Youths To Acquire Useful Skills
-
Maritime3 days agoUnfair Treatment Of Seafarers Bothers IMO
-
Rivers4 days agoCommittee Concludes Open Verification Of MIle 1 Market Allotees
-
Education3 days agoBauchi Govt Threatens To Revoke Scholarship Of Unserious Students
-
Business4 days agoFuel Scarcity’ll Last For Two More Weeks -IPMAN
-
Opinion3 days agoOther Sides In Junior Pope’s Death