Nation
THE STATES
FCT
The Executive Director of Conscience Nigeria (CN), Mr Tosin Adeyanju, has called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to reposition itself to fight corruption as the integrity of the judiciary is waning.
Adeyanju said in Abuja that the council’s role in restoring the integrity of the judiciary could not be overemphasised.
He explained that this was because of the composition of the council with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, as its head.
The executive director said that the menace of corruption had assumed an unimaginable proportion in Nigeria that even the judiciary widely regarded as the citadel of justice was in it.
“Unfortunately, the present reality of deep-rooted corruption or the perception of it, appears to undermine the credibility of judiciary in the eye of Nigerians.
Gombe
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last Monday said it would execute a project in one of the schools at Dukku Emirate in Gombe State as part of the bank’s intervention programmes in education.
The CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido, disclosed this during a visit to the Emir of Dukku, Alhaji Haruna Rasheed in Dukku. Lamido told the Emir to identify the school where the bank would execute the project.
“We have good news. The Central Bank of Nigeria is embarking on projects in schools this year. “We will like the emir to name a school in Dukku so that we will embark on the project,” he said.
Sanusi commiserated with the new emir over the death of his father, Alhaji Abdulrasheed and congratulated him on his appointment.
Jigawa
Chairmen of the 27 local governments in Jigawa on Tuesday donated 54 motorcycles to the policemen posted to their respective domains.
The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Salisu Ndarawa, made the presentation in Dutse on behalf of the chairmen.
Ndarawa said that the gesture was to assist the policemen to carry out their duties effectively at the grassroots.
He said the chairmen contributed money to purchase the motorcycles in order to ease the operation of the policemen deployed to their areas.
“From our calculation, each of the 27 local government areas will get two motorcycles,” he added.
Katsina
About 50 youths participated in a cycling competition organised by the Ingawa Local Government Council in Katsina State on Tuesday.
The race which covered a distance of 24 kilometres from the roundabout at Ingawa town, attracted many spectators from within and outside of the area.
Presenting prizes to the winners of the competition, caretaker chairman of the local government, Alhaji Hussaini Dambo said that the aim of the competition was to enhance unity among the youths of the area.
Dambo, who was represented by a councillor, Alhaji Lawal Murtala, also said the cycling race would enhance the physical fitness of the participants.
He called on the youth to engage in sporting activities, assuring that the council was ready to assist them in that direction.
Kebbi
The Kebbi Government has released N90 million for the payment of registration fees for indigent students studying at Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto.
The Executive Secretary of the state Scholarship Board, Alhaji Murtala Yauri, in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday that the amount would be remitted to the university.
He said that the board would also ensure payment of fees for students in other institutions to ensure their studies were not disrupted.
He said that education was free in the state “and we expect beneficiaries to justify the resources invested in them.’’
Yauri said the board would not delay the payment, stressing that each beneficiary would be paid through the banks.
He said the board had also purchased the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) forms worth N2.5million for free distribution to qualified indigent candidates.
“Only those with minimum requirement would be considered,” he said.
Lagos
A 20-year-old man, Seyi Martins, who allegedly stole a laptop and some personal effects, was on Tuesday charged before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
Martins allegedly broke into a house and stole the items worth N197, 000 according to the prosecution. The accused, who lives at Maza Maza area in Ojo on the Lagos-Badagry expressway, is facing a two-count charge of unlawfully breaking into a premises and stealing.
The prosecutor, Cpl. John Iberedem, told the court that the accused scaled the fence of Mrs Kate Ukabia’s house in her absence and gained entry into her room, where he stole a plasma TV, a laptop and a mobile phone valued at N197, 000.
Iberedem said the offences which were committed on January 22 at 1.00p.m. at No. 15, Church St. Dansa Village, Tedi-Ojo, contravended Sections 285 and 409 ofthe Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.
Nasarawa
Governor Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa State said on Tuesday that a stakeholders’ meeting would be convened to proffer solution to the lingering crisis in the state.
He stated this when he visited Barkin Abdullahi to sympathise with the people and to ascertain the level of destruction in the area.
The governor condemned senseless killings among the different ethnic groups of Agatu, Eggon and Fulani over issues which dialogue could resolve.
Al-Makura stressed the need for people to live in peace with one another, in spite of their differences.
“We strongly need this unity if we are to continue to forge ahead as an indivisble entity”, he said.
Niger
The Niger/Kwara/Kogi Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has generated N451.7 million as revenue last year, the Area Controller, Alhaji Aminu Dangaladima, has said.
Dangaladima who said that the amount was about 25 per cent higher than the command’s set target of N360 million, attributed the feat to the support and co-operation of motor dealers in the states during a stakeholders meeting held in Minna.
The controller urged the dealers to impress on their customers to pay the correct customs duty for their imported vehicles before plying the roads to avoid embarrassment.
He said the command had been adjudged as the most improved command by the customs high command and was given an award for their achievement last year on its revenue collection efforts and enforcement.
Ogun
The Justice, Development and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun, disbursed N14 million micro-credit loans to farmers in the state in the last one year, an official said.
The Assistant Coordinator, the Diocesan Agricultural Development Programme of the commission, Mrs Cordelia Obi, disclosed this in an interview on Tuesday in Ijebu-Ode.
Obi said that the loan was given to the farmers to promote sustainable and improved agricultural development in the area.
She said that the loan was disbursed to 35 farmer groups in Ogun East senatorial district, adding that the department had 60 farmer groups.
Osun
The Osun State Government said it would assist pig farmers as part of efforts to promote agriculture activities.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security in the state, Mr Wale Adedoyin, made the pledge at a meeting with members of the Pig Farmers Association of Nigeria in Osogbo.
Adedoyin urged the farmers to form cooperative societies to enable them access government interventions, and said the government would provide high breed pigs to farmers as well as construct modern abattoir where the farmers would process and package pig meat.
According to the commissioner, the State Government is ready to assist pig farmers through stocking and feeding.
He directed them to present their proposals within two weeks to his office for appropriate action.
Taraba
The Acting Governor of Taraba State, Alhaji Garba Umar, has pledged to overhaul the state-owned media houses for effective coverage of the state.
He made the pledge when he met with Alhaji Abdullahi Garba, the Chairman of state’s Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Monday in Jalingo.
Our correspondent reports that the two state-owned broadcast media outfits, Taraba Television and Taraba Broadcasting Service go on air for less than two hours a day.
The Acting governor also announced donation of two 18 seater buses to the union to ease movements of journalists in the state.
He explained that the first bus would be provided by the end of February while the second would be given by the end of March.
Earlier, the NUJ Chairman appealed to the acting governor to intervene in the problem plaguing the state-owned media houses.
Ogene of Asa Asi Asaga Community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Andrew Enemuwa, has expressed gratitude to the Governor of the State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for the award of the contract for construction of Igiri- Ubimini-Egbeda-Elele road project.
Eze Enemuwa said the people of the local government are proud associating with a visionary leader like Governor Fubara whose interest in the development of his people knows no bounds.
The monarch, also the Secretary of Ogba Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Council said the unprecedented crowd of ONELGA people that attended the event shows that Governor Fubara is greatly loved and cherished by the people.
The Eze Dike Di Nu Obi of Ogbaland said the presence of the traditional rulers at the event speaks volumes.
The Okene Asa Kaka urged the people of the area to support Governor Fubara to attract more development to the local government area.
As Nigeria marks 10 years anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls, the United Nations Children Fund( UNICEF) has put the number of abducted children at different schools within the last 10 years in Nigeria at 1,680.
The organisation said this at an event it organised in conjunction with the Faculty of Media and Communications Studies in the University of Port Harcourt to mark the 10 years anniversary of Chibok girls abductions.
According to UNICEF release read by Communication officer, UNICEF Nigeria Dr Mrs Ijeoma Onuoha Ogwe, 180 children were killed within the period under review due to attacks on schools, while an estimated 60 school Staff were kidnapped,14 killed and more than 70 attacks on schools.
It urged the Nigerian Government and security agencies to intensify effort towards the rescue of the 90 remaining Chibok girls.
UNICEF described the Chibok girls saga as a wakeup call to the severe risks children face in their pursuit of education
‘Today, reflecting on this tragedy and other recent abductions, it is evident that our efforts to safeguard our children’s future must be amplified
“Given this alarming statistics, we must address not only the symptoms but also the root causes of this crisis,” it said.
UNICEF also said that the threat of abduction of students is severely affecting children’s learning.
“As at 2021, over one million children were afraid to return to school and in 2020, around 11,500 schools were closed due to attacks”, it said.
It called on the government and the international community to ensure that all schools have the resources and tools to fully implement the minimum standards for safe schools, focus on the most vulnerable regions and address critical gaps in safe schools infrastructure.
UNICEF also called for preparedness for natural disasters, conflicts and comprehensive approaches to violence against children.
Others include, strengthening law enforcement and security measures to protect educational institutions and communities from attacks and abduction, prioritising education and child protection in national policies and budget allocations to create a safer, more inclusive environment for all Nigerian children and ensure the continuity of education and learning when schools are shut through multiple learning pathways such as radio and TV programme and through digital platforms the Nigerian learning Passport.
Ogwe said UNICEF is working with the Nigerian Government to ensure that every child can access safe learning environment.
“The agency has supported the inauguration of state safe school steering committees and the drafting of state costed implementation plans for safe schools in 13 States.
“It also provides school grants, safety kits training and awareness raising to accelerate the implementation of the minimum standards for safe schools.
“As we remember the Chibok girls and all children whose rights to education have been compromised, let this somber anniversary serves as a catalyst for change”, UNICEF said.
Speaking with The Tide, Dr Nwachukwu Ginikanwa said the anniversary should serve as a wakeup call to the authorities to take the issue of security seriously.
John Bibor
As the one year anniversary of the Governor Siminalayi Fubara administration in Rivers State draws closer, a former Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council, Amb.Oji Ngofa, says the Governor has rekindled the hope of Rivers people.
Amb. Ngofa said within the one year of the administration, the Governor has shown a sense of connecting the people and the government unlike the immediate past administration led by Chief Nyesom Wike.
The former Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) explained that within one year, Rivers people are seeing a visionary leadership whose imagination is essentially focused on the desire to improve the lives of the people, with the sole aim of creating an economy where everyone can participate.
Speaking in an interview in Port Harcourt, the forrmer Ambassador said Governor Fubara has been able to engage relevant stakeholders and sectors of the State which, according to him, remains the hallmark of leadership.
He emphasised that with Governor Fubara, no doubt, Rivers State is in safe hands, saying with Governor Fubara, there is the likelihood that the State would be greater than other States.
He noted that the Governor’s vision to develop and give capacity to the people in order to participate in the economy as well as creating the enabling environment for business to flourish in the State, coupled with his peaceful nature, have all combined to endear him to the people.
Amb Ngofa said real power comes from how well one is connected with the people through good leadership, and the people on their own voluntarily surrender to you just as Governor Fubara has demonstrated within the past one year, stressing that that has informed his decision as an astute politician just like all well-meaning Rivers people to align with the Governor in order to move the State forward .
He described Governor Fubara’s milestones in infrastructure, human capital development, health and agriculture as monumental.
Amb Ngofa urged the Governor to ensure his revitalisa- tion programme on Songhai Farms extends to Buguma and Andoni fish farms and Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), and expand on the initiative, as it is critical in job creation for the teeming youths of the State.
“ In his one year in office as governor, Rivers people have seen the difference in terms of governance and total departure from self. Now Rivers people are having easy access to their governor. His focus is on policies and programmes that are capable of revitalising the economy aimed at improving the wellbeing of Rivers people, not just one man. Projects are springing up in all parts of the State, not necessarily in Port Harcourt and Obio,/ Akpor. All in just one year despite the distractions”, he said.
The Port Harcourt ring road loan to small skill medium businesses are one of the biggest achievements of his administration
Aleto- Woji road abandoned by the last administration had been carried on by a government that has interest of the people at heart
Despite the destruction ,he had demonstrated sense of focus on his primary duties as a governor
We are not just seeing monumental projects ,Rivers people are seeing total commitment to create an economy that will enable Rivers people to have a hold on there lives especially with projects like revitalizing Shonghai ,plaintain farms .
It is critical focusing on human capital development .I am aware of his programme of revitalising the economy ,state owned industries through public private partnership
Rivers people hope had been rekindled and those of us who are critic to the governor Wike led administration had been vindicated
Urging Eleme people to support the administration of governor Fubara to achieve their common dream which is development.
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