Nation
THE STATES
FCT
The National Population Commission (NPC) says it has
purchased 91 new vehicles worth N600 million to enhance the productivity and welfare of its workforce.
Dr Sam Ahaiwe, the Acting Chairman of NPC, said this in Abuja during the official presentation of the vehicles.
He said that 39 vehicles would be dispatched to the states, while nine Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) would be given to directors at the headquarters.
He said that 40 vehicles would be given to the Federal Commissioners, while three buses were earmarked for workers’ transportation at the headquarters.
Ahaiwe, however, said that the Hilux cars, which were formerly used by the commissioners, would be given to the State Directors to enhance their productivity.
“The current management of the commission, when it was inaugurated, was confronted with numerous challenges relating to the welfare of the staff.
“These include poor salary structure, housing problems, lingering backlog of promotions and the lack of staff buses,” he said.
Jigawa
The Malammadori Local Government Council of Jigawa
State has warned farmers against indiscriminate bush burning to check the spate of fire disaster in the area.
Alhaji Abdu Ilu, the Head of Agriculture Department (HOD), made the call when he visited Kashindila grazing reserve in Malammadori.
Ilu said the call was imperative to guard against bush burning and protect the forest resources.
‘’It is good for the farmers to eschew bush burning especially in the harmattan season.
‘’Apart from damages to the forest resources, it also results in fire disaster in the society.’’
Ilu also called on farmers to evacuate their farm produce on time, to guard against clashes between them and herdsmen.
The director said that the state government rehabilitated grazing lands and demarcated cattle routes to check incessant farmers and Fulani clashes in the state.
‘’The grazing reserve was equipped with pasture and wind pumps to enhance access to safe drinking water to humans and animals,’’ Ilu said.
Kaduna
The Coordinator of Interfaith Forum of Muslim and Chris
tian Women Association, Hajiya Amina Kazaure, has called for the protection of women against gender-based violence.
She made the call at a seminar tagged “Extremist Violence,Women and Security” holding in Kaduna.
Kazaure said women should be treated as equals in the search for peace in Nigeria as they bear the brunt of most conflicts.
According to her, the seminar is to provide an opportunity for women and top security chiefs to meet and agree on steps to promote peace in the country.
She also said that the seminar would focus on the impact the current security challenges on women, and the role women could play in ending it.
Kazuare added that women needed to be equiped to respond to extreme violence such as the insurgency in some parts of the country.
Also, Mrs Comfort Fearon, a member of the organisation, cautioned youths against all forms of negative tendencies.
Katsina
Former Inspector-General of Police (IG), Alhaji Ibrahim
Coomassie has called for amendment of the country’s constitution to make the protection of social and economic rights of citizens justifiable.
He made the remarks in Katsina in an interview with newsmen.
Coomassie said the purpose of government was not only to provide security for the people but also sustain their economic and social rights.
He added that “if government fails to provide those rights, citizens should be allowed to sue and claim for damages.’’
The former police chief said “I believed such action will compel those vested with leadership to do the right things, be more patriotic and respond to the needs of the people.
Kogi
Teens Educational Development and Information Network
(TEDIN), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has advised rural dwellers to use long-lasting insecticide-treated nets so as to reduce child and maternal mortality.
The organisation’s President, Mr Titus Alonge, gave the advice in Odo-Ere, while speaking at a public awareness programme organised for some communities in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi.
The programme was organised by some NGOs to complement the government’s efforts to reduce child and maternal mortality through structured community health programmes.
Alonge said that the best way to reduce maternal mortality, which was induced by malaria attacks, was for pregnant women to avoid mosquito bites by using insecticide-treated nets.
Lagos
A cobbler, Kunle Fashanu,32, was docked before an
Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for damaging and stealing the property of one Mr Emmanuel Omokhomon.
The accused, who resides at Festac Town area of Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of stealing and unlawful damage.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Uche Simon, told the court that the accused stole the sum of N45,000 and unlawfully damaged a jeep valued at N2 million belonging to Emmanuel Omokhomon.
Simon said that the accused committed the offences on September 29 at the same address.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravene sections 285 and 337 of the Criminal, Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Nassarawa
A Mararaba Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State, has
remanded a 27-year-old hair dresser, Ojochide Isaac of Kabayi in Mararaba, in prison custody for alleged intimidation and causing grievous hurt.
The presiding officer, Mr Habila Abundaga, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody pending final investigation of the matter after the prosecutor, Insp Joseph Ahua, had prayed the court to remand the accused.
Abundaga, in his ruling, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison till January 13, 2014, to enable the police conclude its investigations.
Earlier, Ahua had told the court that the matter was reported by Zainab Yahaya of the same address at the A’ Division Police Station on December 13.
The prosecutor said the accused assaulted Yahaya and inflicted deep injuries on her right eye with razor blade and that she was still receiving treatment at a Medical Centre in Mararaba.
He said that the offence contravened sections 397 and 241 of the Penal Code, which provide for a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, or fine or both, for anyone convicted of the offences.
Ogun
A 28-year-old man, Monday Emmanuel, has ben charged
before an Ota Magistrate’s Court in Ogun for allegedly stealing four packets of cigarettes and bottles of Alomo and Osomo drinks.
Emmanuel was also accused of stealing one radio set, four pieces of tiger battery, 40 pieces of assorted hot drinks, some sachets of Milo and milk, Schnapps and kerewa drinks.
The accused, who lives at 16 Ogunmefun St., Off Idi-Iroko Rd., Ota, is facing a one-count charge of stealing.
The Police prosecutor, Insp Olumide Awoleke, told the court that the accused committed the offence on December 13, at about 2:00 a.m. at Long Bridge, along Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, Isheri Olofin, Ota, Ogun.
Osun
A 27-year-old petrol attendant, Oladipupo Oluwasina,
was docked before an Osogbo Chief Magistrate’s Court in Osun for allegedly stealing N813, 000 from his employer.
The Police Prosecutor, Insp Isiaka Ajadi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on July 25, at about 10:30 p.m. at Mobil Filling Station, Oke-Fia in Osogbo.
Ajadi added that the accused, being a petrol attendant, stole the money which belonged to one Mrs Olabisi Ige, his employer, from her office, after the close of work.
He said the accused had, however, been on the run since committing the crime, only to be apprehended on Monday.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government, has commenced the dis
tribution of 2.5 million treated mosquito nets to households across the 23 local government areas of the state.
Dr Halliru Alhassan, the State Director, Medical Services and Public Health, disclosed this in Sokoto during a news conference.
Alhassan said the nets obtained under the National Malaria Elimination Programme, would be distributed at 854,000 designated centres in the state between December 17 and December 21.
“Net cards that entitle a household to collect at least four nets had been distributed across the state.
“Efforts were made to cover difficult areas and Fulani settlements to ensure that eligible households collect the nets,” he said.
The director said measures had been taken to prevent the nets from being sold by either the officials or the beneficiaries.
According to him, security agencies have been directed to arrest anyone one found sabotaging the effort.
Some of the 37 members of the Adamawa State Executive Council declaring for All Progressives Congress (apc), at a ceremony in Government House in Yola last Wednesday. Photo: NAN
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”.
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