Nation

THE STATES

Published

13 years ago

November 8, 2010

Bauchi

Bauchi State Police Command says it has spread its dragnet to apprehend kidnappers of an 11-year-old girl last Thursday.

The minor and daughter of former Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, was kidnapped on her way to school.

The spokesman for the Command, Mohammed Barau, told newsmen in Bauchi on Friday that the command received the information from Sadiya, mother of the girl at about 8.45 a.m. on Thursday

“On receiving the information, the Housing Estate Division of the command immediately visited the residence of Alhaji Ahmed Al-Mustafa where preliminary investigation was conducted,” he said.

FCT

The Police in the FCT say they have arrested a man (name withheld) for allegedly defrauding an Abuja-based motor company of five Toyota Prado jeeps worth N78 million.

SP Moshood Jimoh, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, who disclosed this last Friday to newsmen, said all the vehicles had been recovered from the suspect.

Jimoh said the suspect presented a “manager’s cheque” to the company to convince it that he had enough money in his account to pay for the vehicles and the company released them to him.

He, however, said that when the company discovered that there was no money in the suspect’s account, it lodged a complaint with the police.

Gombe

Mr Ado Solomon, the Director, National Orientation Agency in Gombe State, has cautioned politicians against using youths to perpetrate violence in the course of their electioneering.

Solomon gave the advice during the presentation of an award to the Chairman, Gombe Local Government, Alhaji Ibrahim Waziri, as the UN Ambassador of Peace in Gombe State.

He described Gombe as the most peaceful state in the North-East zone and called on politicians to sustain the prevailing atmosphere.

Solomom also called on the people to participate fully in the voter registration coming up soon.

Kaduna

An official of the World Bank has urged the Kaduna State government to remit the N45 million counterpart fund for Fadama III to fast track implementation of the programme.

Dr Lucas Akapa, the North-West Fadama III Task leader, made the appeal in Kaduna when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Gov. Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa.

Akapa appealed to the government to prevail on council chairmen to remit their contribution of N46 million to enhance implementation of Fadama projects.

He noted that timely remittance of funds would enhance implementation of the programme, increase the income of Fadama users and add value to their lives.

Kano

A CPC gubernatorial aspirant in Kano, retired Brig.-Gen. Lawal Ja’afaru-Isa, has regretted that cholera, typhoid, malaria and meningitis are still ravaging the population in the state.

Addressing newsmen in Kano last Friday, Ja’afaru-Isa said it was unfortunate that the diseases, which had been eradicated in some parts of the world, were still rocking the state.

He said that the diseases had been claiming lives in parts of the state and questioned the healthcare programme of the authorities concerned.

Katsina

The Department For International Development (DFID) has selected three local government areas in Katsina State for the implementation of the Sanitation, Hygiene And Water in Nigeria (SHAWN) project.

Under the programme, the selected councils are expected to achieve 100 per cent coverage in sanitation, hygiene and water supply.

Alhaji Aminu Dayyabu, the SHAWN Desk Officer in Katsina, told newsmen Friday in Katsina that the selected councils were Bakori, Kaita and Mai’adua.

Kebbi

The Border Communities Development Authority (BCDA) in Kebbi State says insecurity can be addressed effectively if local policing and welfare of security personnel could be improved.

Mr Numoipre Wills, the Executive Secretary of the authority, said this at a sensitisation workshop on Friday in Kamba, Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi.

The workshop was jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Boundary Commission, BCDA and the Kebbi State Government.

Kogi

The Project Coordinator, World Bank Assisted FADAMA III Programme, Mr Musa Dalang, says the programme is capable of winning the war against hunger and poverty but through sustained efforts.

Dalang said this while speaking with newsmen in Mopa in Kogi at the Third Joint World Bank/FGN Supervision Mission to Kabba-Bunu and Mopa-Muro Local Governments of Kogi.

The coordinator assured farmers that with the level of capacity building and training imparted on farmers so far, operators of the programme were well equipped to guarantee the victory against hunger, diseases and poverty.

Lagos

Two commercial motorcyclists, docked last Friday in Lagos for allegedly stealing a motorcycle, have been remanded in Ikoyi Prisons pending when they would perfect their bail conditions.

The accused, Umaru Abubakar, 27, and Ali Abdulahi, 26, were arraigned at the Surulere Chief Magistrate’s Court for the alleged theft of a Bajaj motorcycle, valued at N99,000.

The duo, standing trial before Chief Magistrate Mrs Abiola Soladoye, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of stealing and conspiracy.

Ogun

Suspected armed smugglers on Thursday at Idiroko Border, Ogun, killed a customs officer and left two of his colleagues seriously injured.

The deceased (names withheld) was an Assistant Superintendent serving with the Federal Operations Unit.

It was learnt that the deceased officer was run over by a vehicle in a convoy of five suspected smugglers’ vehicles that rushed through a customs barricade at Ajilete, near Idiroko Border.

Osun

As the dry season approaches, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has advised market women to guard against fire outbreaks.

Mrs Bolanle Ojo, a top official of the agency gave the advice last week Thursday, when she visited the Atakumosa Market Ilesa, to inspect 15 shops that were razed by fire.

She called on the people to always employ the services of experts for the wiring of their shops to prevent fire outbreaks.

Ojo posited that power surge due to illegal connections, might have caused the fire.

Oyo

The Registrar, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Dr Oyedele Oyediji has stressed the need for feed millers in the country to comply with international standards.

He made the call in an interview with newsmen last Friday in Ibadan.

Oyedeji identified problems hampering the effort of millers to form a viable National Feed-Millers Association as a major challenge in the country’s feed-milling industry.

“Several efforts have been made to revive the feed-millers association without much success.

Plateau

Governor Paulen Tallen of Plateau last Friday declared that she had “never insulted” her boss, Gov. Jonah Jang.

The two former political allies are locked in a fierce contest for the PDP ticket for the governorship election in 2011.

“A newspaper quoted me on Monday as declaring that I will push out Gov. Jang in 2011.

“The report quoted me as saying so many things that I could not have said; this is not fair at all.

“It is not right to pit me against my boss,” she told newsmen by telephone in Jos.

Sokoto

Former Sokoto State Governor and presidential candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in the 2007 general elections , Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, has registered as a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Bafarawa registered at the Gebe “B” ward of Isa Local Government Area of the state .

The former governor, who is also a presidential aspirant of the ACN, was registered by the chairman of the party at the ward, Alhaji Abdulrahman Dan-Amarya.

Bafarawa’s name is number one in the party’s register while his registration number is 1991801 ACN.

He later told newsmen after registering that, “ I am a founding member of the ACN because we have been discussing on the mega party issue over one year ago”.

Nation

Yahaya Bello: Senator Hails EFCC’s Probe Of N80.2bn Fraud

Published

23 hours ago

April 29, 2024

The Tide

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.

Nation

Senate Frowns Over Continued Depreciation Of Naira

Published

23 hours ago

April 29, 2024

The Tide

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.”

Nation

WIW: Banigo Advocates Legislative Impetus

Published

23 hours ago

April 29, 2024

The Tide

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”.