Nation
THE STATES
L-R: Former Deputy Senate President, Alhaji Ibrahim Mantu, Rep. Beni Lar and Chairman, House Committee on Privatisation, Rep. Khadizah Ibrahim, during their condolence visit to Lar’s family in Abuja last Saturday.
Adamawaa
The Nigerian Air Force has expressed satisfaction with the
performance of its officers and men deployed for the operation against insurgents in the North-East.
The Commanding Officer in Charge of Tactical Command of the force, Air Vice Marshal Adeshola Amusu, told newsmen last Thursday in Yola, that the men were doing a good job.
Amusu, who was touring the zone to asses the troops, said he was satisfied with the commitment of the officers and men after the visit to Maiduguri and Yola adding that the force was working in synergy with the 7 Division, Nigerian Army to dislodge the insurgents.
Bauchi
i
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in
Bauchi State says it has trained 150 of its personnel on the handling of weapons.
The state Commandant of the Corps, Alhaji Shuayb Jibril, said in Bauchi last Thursday that the training would enhance the skills of the beneficiaries on how to protect lives and property.
He said the affected personnel, who were trained at the School of Armour, Bauchi, would start carrying arms while on duty and urged residents of Bauchi and its environs, not to panic whenever they noticed any of his men carrying weapons, especially during the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
Borno
Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) handset
sellers in Maiduguri last Thursday appealed to Borno Government to prevail on the relevant authorities for network services to be restored in the state.
Addressing newsmen in Maiduguri, Chairman of GSM handset sellers association in the state, Malam Usman Shehu, said that the measure had deprived members of his association of their source of livelihood.
Shehu revealed that members of the association had been forced by the situation, to resorted to begging as their wares were no longer marketable .
FCT
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says it has
contributed 345,000 dollars (about N55.2 million) to enhance and strengthen seeds production in Nigeria.
FAO Country Representative, Dr Louise Setshwaelo, made this known in Abuja last Wednesday at the workshop on ‘Strengthening National Seed Systems in Nigeria’.
The two-year project, in partnership with the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC), Setshwaelo said, would increase the adoption rate of improved seeds by smallholder farmers, improve income and ensure food security in the country.
Gombe
The police have assured the people of Gombe State that an
effective operational order has been made to ensure hitch-free Eid-el-Kabir celebrations on October 15 in the state.
The Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state Police Command, Mr. Fwaje Atajiri, told newsmen in Gombe lastThursday that the plan covered all the three area commands and 23 divisional police headquarters in the state.
According to him, the police will make strategy with other sister security agencies to ensure smooth celebrations.
“The operational order will be religiously followed to ensure that the Sallah celebration in the state is hitch-free.
Jigiwa
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in
Jigawa State last Wednesday arrested a 25-year-old-man for allegedly stealing a laptop computer.
The NSCDC Commandant in the state, Mr. Muhammad Gidado, in Dutse said that the corps had trailed the suspect after he stole the computer from a business centre in the area on September 21.
“Today, we succeeded in arresting a suspect for stealing a brand new laptop computer from a business centre in Dutse.
Kaduna
Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State has commended
the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for its contributions in tackling development challenges in the country.
Yero gave the commendation last Thursday at the passing out parade of 2012 ‘’ batch C ‘’ Corps members in Kaduna.
Represented by his deputy, Amb. Nuhu Bajoga, the governor noted that the scheme had impacted positively on the lives of the people, especially in the rural areas.
“People of the state are appreciative of your efforts in the education sector, healthcare delivery in rural areas, the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDs and other national development programmes,” he said.
Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government recorded 80 per cent success
during the integrated measles and polio eradication immunisation exercise concluded last Wednesday.
The state Coordinator, Primary Health Care Development Agency (KPHDA), disclosed this to the newsmen last Thursday in Birnin Kebbi that Dr Abubakar Koko the exercise was successfully conducted in 225 electoral wards, but added that 65 per cent coverage was recorded in 43 of the wards.
He said 1,031 teams of 3,000 personnel were engaged to immunise 500,000 children across the state and commended the contributions of UNICEF, Rotary Club International, the state and local governments, which ensured the success of the exercise.
Kano
The Kano State Government last Wednesday sealed a pri
vate clinic, Tiga Clinic and Maternity, in Fagge Local Government Area for alleged unethical practice.
A statement from the state Ministry of Health in Kano stated that the closure was ordered by the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Private Health Institutions.
The Special Assistant, Dr Salisu Ibrahim, said that the clinic lacked qualified personnel with only one nurse on duty whose service to the patients was below standard.
Kogi
The Kogi State Government has signed an agreement with
the UN Habitat and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to redevelop Lokoja into a modern city.
Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony in Lokoja, the state’s Deputy Governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, said that the urban renewal programme would entail structural and urban re-planning of the city.
The deputy governor stated that the agreement was preceded by series of meetings in Kenya and Nigeria and he expressed hope that the initiative would improve the quality of life of the people.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has in Ilorin
expressed concern over the 10.5 million Nigerian children said to be out-of-school.
Ahmed expressed the concern last Thursday while declaring open the 32rd Annual National Conference of the Nigerian Association of Educational Administration and Planning.
Ahmed, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Peter Kisira, noted that the incessant strike by lecturers of tertiary institutions had distorted academic calendars in higher institutions.
Nasarawa
A group, Youth for Peace and Development, has embarked on
peace campaign to mobilise youths in Nasarawa State to eschew chaos and embrace peace.
National President of the group, Mr Bala John, announced this last Wednesday during the group’s peace advocacy meeting at Farin-Ruwa Development Area of the state.
“The group has set the machinery in motion to create awareness amongst all the different ethnic groups and religions in the state. “The essence of the peace advocacy campaign is to uncover why communities, which were hitherto living together in peace, are now rising up against each other,” John said.
Niger
The Northern States Governors’ Forum has described the
death of Chief Solomon Lar, the first civilian governor of old Plateau State, as a devastating loss to the citizens of the state and the country.
The Forum’s Chairman, Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger, said that with the death of Lar, “Nigeria has lost a patriot of uncommon courage’’.
Osun
The Osun State House of Assembly Committee on Lands,
Physical Planning and Urban Development has urged the newly constituted board of the state Property Development Corporation to ensure efficient service delivery.
Chairman of the Committee, Mr Johnson Ojo (APC-Ede South), made the appeal when the board members visited the committee last Thursday in Osogbo.
Ojo, who noted that the existence of the corporation was very important to the growth and development of the state, said the board members should justify their appointment.
Earlier, the acting General Manager of the corporation, Mr Oluyemi Olanrewaju, said the visit was to seek the committee’s cooperation for the progress of the corporation.
Plateau
Prices of rams in Jos and its environs, have increased,
some days to the Eid El-Kabir celebration. A survey showed that the increase was due to inadequate supply of animals to the livestock markets in the state .
According to the survey, an average ram that sold for N20,000 last year, now costs N30,000, while that of N30,000 then, now sells for N40,000. In the same vain, a ram above average in size, that costs N50,000 some months ago, now attracts N60,000
The survey also reveals that some species of rams being imported from neighbouring countries ,are selling at prices higher than the local breed.
A three-year old Sudanese ram is selling for N120,000 and above, depending on the size, while those from Niger Republic, referred to as “parrot head“, cost between N140,000 and N150,000 each, also depending on the size.
Taraba
Fishermen in Taraba State lastThursday decried the rapid
decline in fish production and expressed worry that this might cause economic problems if not checked.
Some fishermen, who spoke with newsmen in Donga Local Government Area, called for urgent actions to address the situation.
One of the fishermen, Mr Awual Sani, said that fish production was always on higher side during September and October every year, adding that “this year is a different and sad experience’’.
Sani decried the impact of the situation on the economy of the fishermen, adding that many fish farmers were already finding it difficult to pay the school fees of their children.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commemorated the 15th anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the environment and improving the livelihoods of affected communities.
In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.
The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.
According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.
Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.
In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.
The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.
Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3