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THE STATES

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Adamawa

The Adamawa State Government is disturbed by the daily
influx of displaced persons from Borno to some parts of the state due to insurgents’ attacks.
The Commissioner for Border Integration, Alhaji Hamza Bello, made the government’s position known during a condolence visit to Bitiku-Valti Village in Madagali Local Government Area to sympathise with victims taking refuge in the area.
Bello said the Adamawa State Government was worried about the frequent influx of the displaced persons now taking refuge in Madagali area of the state.
Consequently, he said, Gov. Murtala Nyako of Adamawa had inaugurated a committee that would take care of the displaced persons.
Borno

The wife of Borno State Governor, Hajiya Nana Kashim-
Shettima, recently, distributed 100 rams to widows, orphans and other less privileged residents of Maiduguri.
Represented at the distribution ceremony by, the Chairman of her foundation, Support for Widows, Orphans and Tsangaya Pupils (SWOT), Alhaji Mohammed Bello, said the gesture was to ensure that the beneficiaries were not left out in the forthcoming Eid-El-Kabir celebrations.
She said “as a woman and a mother, I deem it necessary to assist women and the less privileged in the state through the SWOT foundation.
“That is why we are distributing 100 rams to widows, orphans and other less privileged members of the society to enable them to celebrate the Sallah festival like other people in the society.’’

Ekiti

Governor  Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State said his admin
istration was still committed to bringing unprecedented development to every community in the state.
The governor gave the commitment at the 2013 Ikole National Day celebrations.
Fayemi, who was represented by his Special Adviser, Governor’s Office, Mr Abiodun Akin- Fasaye, said his administration recently approved the rehabilitation of eight kilometres of township roads in Ikole.
“This was done alongside other projects in some parts of the state,’’ he said.
The governor then advised the people on peaceful co-existence and the need to engage in activities which would improve their community.

FCT

Stakeholders in disaster management have urged gov
ernments at all levels to sustain the current efforts at preventing flood disaster in the country.
This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The statement signed by NEMA’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Ezekiel Manzo, said the stakeholders made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of the 3rd South-South Emergency Management meeting held in Asaba.
It stated that the stakeholders advised government to undertake regular dredging of rivers, canals and creeks to minimise frequent occurrence of floods.

Gombe

Low patronage has forced a drop in the prices of rams in
Gombe metropolis.
A survey conducted in different markets across the metropolis, indicated about 16 per cent drop in prices.
It showed that a ram that cost N60,000 last week, now sells for N50,000 while that of N30,000, had its price tag dropping to N25,000.
The survey also indicated a drop in the price of small rams, from N11,000, to N8,500.
Secretary of Livestock Dealers Association, Pantami Livestock market branch in Gombe metropolis, Malam Abubakar Yellow, told newsmen  that the drop in prices, was anticipated as there was a general problem of cash squeeze in the state and the country.

Kano

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kano State
said says it has deployed 600 officers and men to various parts of the state to ensure accident-free Sallah celebrations.
The FRSC Sector Commander in the state, Malam Mohammad Garba, gave the figure while answering questions from newsmen in Kano.
He said the measure was part of the strategies mapped out by the command to ensure accident- free Eid-el-Kabir celebrations across the state.
“The 24-hour patrol will be a continuous process throughout the ‘ember’ period in the state,’’ he said.

Kwara

The Bishop of Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Anglican
Communion, Omu-Aran in Kwara State, The Rt. Rev. Phillip Adeyemo, has advised religious leaders in the country to exhibit a high level of integrity in a bid to command true followership.
Adeyemo gave the advice in a message to the first session of the second Synod of the Diocese held in the church on Saturday with the theme: “Integrity.’’
According to him, lack of integrity on the part of leaders led to the reformation of the early church.
Adeyemo stressed the need for church leaders in the country to embrace virtues such as honesty and integrity to avert revolt among their followers.

Lagos

Dr Frederick Fasehun said that the Unity Party of Nige
ria (UPN ) was waiting for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to invite it to receive its certificate of registration.
Fasehun, the interim chairman of the yet-to-be registered party, told newsmen in Lagos that the party had “fulfilled the conditions for registration as contained in the nation’s constitution.”
“It is the prerequisite of INEC to register us within 30 days but there is an electoral law that says if within 30 days the commission fails to write to us, such a party should deem itself registered. “So what we are doing now is, we are not just waiting for registration, we are waiting to be invited for our certificate,’’ Fasehun said.

Nasarawa

Prices of rams, vegetables and clothes are on the in
crease in Nasarawa, Nasarawa state, two days to the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, the reports say.
Eid-el-Kabir is the Muslim festival which marks the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca known as Hajj. It is also known as the “Feast of Sacrifice’’ commemorating Abraham’s faith and devotion to God.
According to a survey conducted in Nasawara LGA and Ara village prices of rams ranged from N25,000 to N80,000 as against N10,000 to N50,000 some months ago.
Osun

Prices of rams have risen in Ile-Ife and Modakeke in Ife,
Osun, few days to the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, reports say.
A survey conducted at the ram markets in Ile-Ife and Modakeke, indicated an increase of about 15 per cent to 20 per cent.
The Chairman of the Goat and Cow Sellers Association at Sabo market, ile-Ife, Mr Francis Oladosu, said a big ram, which cost about N80,000 few weeks ago, now attracts between N90,000 and N95,000.
Oladosu said the price of medium size ram rose from about N50,000, to N60,000, while small rams that sold for N18,000 each , now cost N20,000.
He blamed the hike on the prevailing security challenges in some parts of the Northern states and the increase in the cost of transportation.

Oyo

The National President, Ansar-ud-deen Society (ADS),
Alhaji Lateef Okunnu, has urged politicians to concentrate more on delivering democratic dividends than overheating the polity.
Okunnu made the appeal in his Eid-el-Kabir message made available to newsmen in Ibadan recently.
“I appeal to our politicians not to overheat the polity unnecessarily as the 2015 general election is still far.
“Everybody from the president downwards who is involved in governance in this country should concentrate on delivering on his or her campaign promises such that this country once again can flourish, “ he said.

Plateau

The Plateau Government says it spent over N42 million to
purchase some items which were distributed to some Muslims in the state as Eid-el-Kabir gifts.
Malam Idi Waziri, the state’s Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Jos.
He said this while presenting some of the items to inmates of the Jos prison and some disabled persons at the city’s central mosque, which is otherwise known as “Masallachin Juma’a’’.
The commissioner said the donation to the Muslim faithful was a clear indication that the Gov. Jonah Jang administration has the interest of all Muslims residing in the state at heart.

Sokoto

The police command in Sokoto State has banned the
transportation of more than one passenger on a motorcycle, its Spokesman, DSP Al-Mustapha Sani, said.
Sani told newsmen in Sokoto that the ban followed the prevailing security situation in the country “and we should not be complacent in Sokoto.
“Motorcyclists have been banned from carrying more than one passenger. There should always be two people on a bike, consisting of the rider and one other passenger.

L-R: Chairman, Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (Neiti), Mr Ledum Mitee; President Goodluck Jonathan; International Chairman, Neiti, Mrs Clare Short and Executive Secretary, Neiti,  Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, during their visit to the President in Abuja on Monday      Photo: NAN

L-R: Chairman, Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (Neiti), Mr Ledum Mitee; President Goodluck Jonathan; International Chairman, Neiti, Mrs Clare Short and Executive Secretary, Neiti, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, during their visit to the President in Abuja on Monday Photo: NAN

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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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