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THE STATES

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Benue

A Makurdi Magistrate’s Court has remanded nine
people in prison custody on charges of criminal conspiracy, attempted culpable homicide, inciting public disturbance and belonging to an unlawful society.
The Prosecuting Officer, Inspector James Zungwe, told the court that the case was transferred from ‘C’ Division Police Station in Northbank, Makurdi to the State Criminal Investigation Department on October 21 through a letter.
According to  the letter, one Mujahid Garba, had reported at the station that some cult boys, numbering about 10, armed with cutlasses, knives and other dangerous weapons attacked him, his brothers and friends.
The complainant stated that one of the suspects, Tersoo Avine, gave him a deep cut with a knife on his head and the rest inflicted all kinds of injuries on his brothers and friends.
Borno
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
said on Monday that it had presented relief materials to the 233 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, Kukareta Barracks in Damaturu.
It would be recalled that the barracks was affected by the Boko Haram attacks in October.
NEMA North East Information Officer, Mallam Abdulkadir Ibrahim, stated this in a statement in Maiduguri.
Ibrahim said that the gesture was to fulfil the agency’s mandate of providing succour to victims of disasters in the country.
He said that the materials were presented to the battalion during a visit by a team of NEMA officials led by the Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Kanar.

Ekiti
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA),
Ekiti State chapter said it would fight all forms of violence against women.
The FIDA President, Mrs Rita Ilebere said this in Ado-Ekiti at the FIDA week tagged: “Violence Against Women’’.
Ilebere said that the association had helped to reduce cases of rape in the state.
She said that victims of rape, child abuse and all assaulted women could now come out to report such cases without any reservation.
She urged them not to be afraid of coming out because of  stigmatisation.
Ilebere said that the association was also helping to employ such people and make them useful to the society.

Gombe
A Pantami Magistrate’s Court in Gombe State has re
manded an 18-year-old man, Umar Abdullahi, in prison for insulting Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State on facebook.
The Magistrate, Alhaji Bello Sheriff, who ordered that Abdullahi of Tudun-Wada Quarters, Gombe metropolis, be remanded in prison, adjourned the case to November 26 for further mention.
Abdullahi, charged with defamation of character of the governor, had pleaded guilty to the charge after the First Information Report (FIR) was read to him.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Sardauna Wukuma, had told the court that the accused posted some abusive words in Hausa Language against the governor on facebook.

Jigawa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
in Jigawa State said it arrested a drug-suspect in Gumel Local Government Area of the state.
The Commandant of the corps, Mr Muhammad Gidado, told newsmen in Dutse that the suspect was arrested on Monday at Bakin Kasuwa quarters in the local government area
Gidado said that the suspect, a 25-year old man, was believed to be involved in the distribution of prohibitive drugs in the area.
He said that when the suspect was arrested, he was in possession of Tramol capsules, Diazerperm, Exzol and D5 tablets.

Kano
The Managing Director of the Kano State Refuse Man
agement and Sanitation Board, Alhaji Abdullahi Bichi, says the government has begun a 24-hour refuse disposal and environmental clean-up.
Bichi told newsmen in Kano that the system was to ensure that high environmental health standard was maintained in Kano municipality.
The managing director said that staff of the board had been stationed at various strategic locations to work on two shifts.
‘’The administration is committed to an unalloyed and total eradication of all old harmful habits of refuse disposal and sanitation among its citizens, to have a healthy environment.
Katsina

Vice President Namadi Sambo led the Federal Govern
ment delegation to condole with Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State over the death of his father, Alhaji Shehu Shema.
The deceased died on Monday in Abuja after an illness at the age of 86.
He was buried in Katsina in accordance with Islamic rites on Monday at about 2.30p.m.
The Vice President was accompanied on the visit by Governor Mukhtar Yero of Kaduna State and his counterpart, Alhaji Sa’idu Dakingari of Kebbi.
Sambo prayed to Almighty God to grant the deceased eternal rest and the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Kogi

Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, has
called for a cross border cooperation initiative to prevent conflict among states.
Awoniyi said this in a statement by his Press Secretary, Mr Michael Abu, and made available to newsmen in Lokoja.
He explained that the policy had the capacity to strengthen and develop good neighbourliness among border communities.
Awoniyi stated this at a two-day National workshop on Cross Border Cooperation held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

Lagos

A businessman, Hebrew Adis, 34, has been  charged
before an Apapa Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for defiling a 14-year-old girl.
Adis is facing a six-count charge of forceful penetration on virginity, causing grievous harm, having sexual intercourse without the victim’s consent, sexual assault, forceful dragging and deceiving the victim.
The accused, of Maracana Area of Olodi Apapa, Lagos, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Soji Ojaokomo, told the court that Adis committed the offences on October 8, at about 7:00 p.m. at No. 15, Rabiu Str., Maracana, Olodi, Apapa, Lagos.
Ondo
The Ondo State Commissioner for Education,  Mr  Jide
Adejuyigbe, says  the present administration is committed to putting in place adequate  infrastructure in public schools.
Adejuyigbe made this known  in Akure at  a workshop  tagged: “  Training of Education Managers.’’
“I wish to reiterate this administration’s commitment to building good infrastructure in schools.
“We are also committed to building formidable young ones who will later take the mantle of leadership in the Sunshine State in years to come,” he said.

Taraba

The Taraba State House of Assembly has screened and
approved six commissioner-nominees sent to the House by the Acting Gov. Garba Umar.
Acting Governor Umar on Monday submitted the names of Hajiya Batulu Mohammed, Musa Tende, Mathias Danazumi, Iliya Ali, Ate Sale, and Sa’adu Shehu to the House for screening and ratification.
The nominees were collectively screened and cleared for appointment as commissioners by the legislature.
The Speaker, Mr Josiah Kente, urged the nominees to be diligent and upright in carrying out their responsibilities to the people of the state.

Yobe
A cross section of Damaturu residents  have appealed
to authorities in Yobe State to relax the 12- hour curfew imposed across the state.
Security agencies reviewed the restriction of movement order three weeks ago following renewed attack by insurgents on Damaturu.
A 24-hour curfew was initially imposed on the state capital and later relaxed to 12 hours from 6.00 p.m to 6.00 a.m
Alhaji Musa Audu, a commercial motorist, told newsmen in Damaturu that the curfew had affected commercial activities generally in the state.

Zamfara
The Zamfara Government says that it has established 41
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centres in public primary schools across the state.
The Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Murtala Jangebe,  said this at a workshop on ICT for primary school teachers organised by the board in Gusau recently.
He stressed that the centres would expose the teachers and pupils of the schools to the global best practices in basic education, considering the low quality of computer literacy in the schools.
Besides, Jangebe said that the workshop would train over 100 primary school teachers across the state in various computer skills so as to further upgrade the teachers’ professional development.

L-R: Executive Director, Services, Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (krpc), Dr Idi Mukhtar; Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State, Mr Olufemi Adenaike and Managing Director, dialogue group, Dr Shehu Mahdi, at the Nigeria's Democracy and emerging security challenges conference and award ceremony in Kaduna, yesterday.                Photo: NAN

L-R: Executive Director, Services, Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (krpc), Dr Idi Mukhtar; Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State, Mr Olufemi Adenaike and Managing Director, dialogue group, Dr Shehu Mahdi, at the Nigeria’s Democracy and emerging security challenges conference and award ceremony in Kaduna, yesterday. 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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