A Commissioner representing Niger State in the Federal Character Commission, Maj.-Gen. Suleiman Sa’id is not dead, The Nation learnt yesterday.
This medium on Tuesday published a condolence message issued on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari by his Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.
The story was picked from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
However, information reaching this newspaper showed that Maj-Gen Sa’id was at his duty post yesterday.
The Adamawa State House of Assembly yesterday confirmed the appointment of Justice Hafsat Abdulrahaman as the substantive Chief Judge of the state.
It is the first time a woman would be Chief Judge of Adamawa State.
The confirmation of the 1st female chief judge and two others followed the consideration of a letter forwarded to the assembly by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and read by the Speaker of the assembly, Aminu Iya Abbas.
The two other judicial heads confirmed by the Assembly were Ibrahim Wakili Sudi as Grand Khadi of the state Sharia Court of Appeal, and Audu James Balami as President, Customary Court of Appeal.
Governor Fintiri had requested the assembly to confirm the three as recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The confirmation followed the consideration of the letter presented by Governor Fintiri after which the Deputy Speaker, Pwamwakeno Mackondo, moved for the confirmation.
During the consideration, the members representing Numan, Verre, Guyuk and Demsa commended Governor Fintiri for forwarding the names of the top judicial officers for confirmation.
The Speaker directed the clerk to communicate the resolution of the assembly to the governor for further action.
Plateau Governor-elect Caleb Mutfwang has pledged to run an all-inclusive and accountable government when sworn-in as the state governor.
Mutfwang made the promise while dissolving Atiku/Mutfwang Campaign Council in the state and inaugurating a transition committee.
He said his victory came from the collective effort of the great people of the state across ethnicity, religion and party affiliation.
“The victory of the PDP was a result of the collective effort of the people of Plateau and we take it with every sense of seriousness, the trust will never be betrayed.
“We will carry everybody along, we will not victimise people in local governments that we lost, this government is for all.
“We must deliver on good governance on the Plateau, this is not about individual benefits but a journey for the state,” he said.
Mutfwang added that it was time to correct the mistakes of the past and build a Plateau that the people would be proud of.
He charged elected members of the legislative arm of government to work within the context that would be beneficial to the state and not to seek personal ambitions.
He appreciated the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for giving party members the platform to contest.
He promised to continue to build the party to be more focused, law abiding and become an institution that would be respected globally.
He called on citizens to put hands together and remain united so that his administration could drive the process of governance effectively.
Mutfwang, while inaugurating the 9-man transition committee, charged them to take their duties seriously, adding that he was confident that they would do the job effectively.
Earlier, in an opening remark, the state party chairman, Chris Hassan, thanked the people of the state for trusting and voting the party during the last general elections.
Hassan prayed for the support of the people which he said was needed for the success of the administration.
He also promised that the party would carry everyone along to make the Plateau state greater.
The Director, Atiku/Mutfwang Campaign Council, Mr Latep Dabang, thanked the candidates who contested with the governor-elect for their support which he said led to the emergence of Mutfwang as governor-elect of the state.
Dabang thanked the party for the role given to him to lead the most successful and robust campaign in the state.
He appealed to the governor-elect to honour the young men and women of the state whom he said were key players that brought the victory of the PDP in the state.
Nasarawa State Government has announced the upgrading of the status of 22 traditional rulers drawn from across the state, as part of the recommendations of the recently constituted Committee on the Creation of Chiefdoms, Districts and Village Areas.
Governor Abdullahi Sule said this yesterday at the Government House, Lafia while receiving members of the Nasarawa State Traditional Council of Chiefs, on a Sallah homage.
He announced that four Second Class traditional rulers namely Osakio of Assakio Sangarin Shabu; Ohinoyi of Toto Sangarin Deddere; Sarkin Gurku and Osu Agwada, have all been elevated to First Class status.
Similarly, four Third Class chiefs namely Sarkin Ara, Sarkin Angwan Makama, Sarkin Gudi and Zhe Musha were equally elevated to Second Class status.
The Governor also announced that all Fourth Class chiefs namely Zhe Ashige, Sarkin Kanje, Sarkin Igah, Ogazi Kwara, Osu Yelwa, Sangarin Tudun Wada, Sarkin Laminga, Osuko of Agaza, Esu Kodape, Sangarin Dari, Sangarin Amba and Sarkin Sabongari, have been automatically elevated to Third Class status.
This is just as he announced that the Ministry for Local Government, Community and Chieftaincy Affairs, has been directed to commence the process for the selection of the new Aren Eggon, who will succeed the late Aren Eggon, Dr Bala Angbazo.
According to the Governor, the Eggon Traditional Council has 22 kingmakers but with only three available to select the new Aren Eggon.
He assured that his administration will not interfere in the selection of the new Aren Eggon, and urged stakeholders to shun acts capable of breaching the existing peace.
“The law empowers the Governor to use even only one kingmaker to select the new Aren Eggon. We will now use the three kingmakers to select the new Aren Eggon. I don’t even know the kingmakers and won’t even meet with them,” Sule stated.
He said that the new Aren Eggon is expected to emerge on May 5.
The Governor used the opportunity of the meeting to appeal to traditional rulers in the state to support the process leading to the conduct of a successful national population and housing census.
“We are relying heavily on our royal fathers for the success of the 2023 census. As you are aware, Nasarawa State is one of the states short-changed over a long period of time on this issue of census.
“That is the reason why we pleaded with the NPC to take a local government from Nasarawa State during the trial census and they picked Karu LGA. From the numbers that we have seen from the trial census, Karu Local Government Area is more than the population they have always given us as a state. We strongly believe we are truly short-changed. I am calling on all our royal fathers to assist and support the census exercise that is coming up,” he said.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains under the aegis of the North Central APC Forum, has initiated prayer sessions for the successful inauguration of the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on May 29.
Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Saleh Mandung Zazzaga, said the prayer sessions have become necessary following the imagined and unforeseen threats against the success of the ceremony.
He said the forum’s Muslim members, including himself, who just returned from the lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia, commenced a preliminary prayer sessions for the country generally and the smooth transition process, while their Christian members back at home were equally observing their own prayers.
However, he said, the official commencement of the prayer sessions would be on Saturday, April 29, which would be exactly one month to the inauguration.
“Prayers for a hitch-free transition process and the eventual inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, come May 29 has become imperative following forces and other perceived threats working against it. For instance, there are several suits against Tinubu which mischief-makers are trying to use to obstruct the occasion.
“Again, there is the threat from several quarters calling for an interim government, and the security agencies themselves have acknowledged such threats. With all these threats and unforeseen others, we have decided to commence these prayer sessions among the adherents of the different faiths so that the inauguration will be successful and the new government can take off on a sound footing,” he said.
Zazzaga pointed out that with prayers, Tinubu will also have divine direction in his administration, particularly in the area of selecting the lieutenants to work with, as making wrong appointments is the fastest thing that could mar his administration.
The forum urged the President-elect to pick the Director-General of his presidential campaign, Governor Simon Lalong, as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
This, the group said, will ensure equity and fairness.
Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, yesterday, swore in 15 new judges who were appointed to the various courts in the state.
Those sworn in include seven State High Court Judges, five Khadis for Sharia Court of Appeal Judges, and three Customary Court of Appeal Judges.
The High Court Judges are, Bashir Shitu Yusuf; Yakubu Badamasi; Abdullahi Isyaka; Joyce Asabe Aka’ahs; Nana Fatima Muhammad; Ambi John Aku and Buhari Mohammed Balarabe.
Those sworn in as Judges for the Sharia Court of Appeal are; Aminu Ahmad Jumare, Nuhu Mahmud, Murtala Nasir, Abdulrahman Ibrahim and Suraj Mahadi Mohammad.
The Customary Court of Appeal Judges include; Dorothy Sim Inwulale, Dorcas Thabita Antung and Yusuf Yakubu.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board said it will commence medical screening for the 2023 Hajj intending pilgrims from May 5 to May 7.
The Director of the Board, Malam Abubakar Evuti, announced this in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the board, Malam Muhammad Aliyu, yesterday in Abuja.
Evuti said that the inoculation exercise for all the intending pilgrims would be conducted from May 15 to May 17, 2023, in line with the procedure for the trip to Saudi Arabia.
He advised intending pilgrims to participate in all activities earmarked by the board for proper guidance to get value for their money without any hindrance.
The director, however, warned all intending pilgrims who are yet to return their completed application forms or submit their International Passports to do so.
This, according to him, will enable the board to fast track the process of obtaining their travel documents in good time before the commencement of airlift to Saudi Arabia.
Evuti said the board would commence the second phase of education and orientation exercise for intending pilgrims on April 29 to April 30.
The director explained that activities have been outlined to actualise the success of the operation and ensure that intending pilgrims are well prepared for the spiritual journey to the holy land of Saudi Arabia.
He assured that intending pilgrims would get the rudiments of performing Hajj in order to have value for their hard-earned money paid to perform the religious obligation.
Evuti said intending pilgrims who paid through Abaji, Kwali and Gwagwalada Area Councils as well as those who registered through the Hajj Saving Scheme would be trained on April 29.
“While those who registered through the Headquarters, Bwari, Kuje and Abuja Municipal Area Councils would have their orientation exercise on April 30 at the Permanent Hajj Camp located at Bassan Jiwa, close to the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja.
He said Islamic scholars and relevant stakeholders have already been mobilised for the exercise scheduled to take place on April 30.
He added that the phased orientation exercises would enable the intending pilgrims get enlightened on the Hajj rites as well as guidelines and new policies introduced for this year’s Hajj by the Saudi authorities and National Hajj Commission of Nigeria
The Federal Government through the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has established an agriculture and minerals resources International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification laboratory in Abuja.
The aim of the ISO lab is to analyse agro and mineral resources produced in accordance with international standards for exportation.
The Deputy Director, Engineering Design, Development and Technical Assistant to the Director General (DG) of the Council, Engr. Obassi Ettu said the lab was created to curb the short-changing of exporters by other investors.
Ettu disclosed this in Abuja while taking the media on tour of newly constructed facilities of the Council which he attributed to the achievements of the DG, Prof. Hussain Ibrahim.
He said, “The laboratory is part of RMRDC’s response to the nation’s requirements for quality infrastructure.
“Exporters can short-change themselves by exporting their raw materials raw, what you need is value addition and it can be done by knowing what is inside the raw materials.
“It is done when the laboratory provides you with a characterization of what is contained in the raw materials and with it the raw materials’ value rises.
“For instance, lead zinc exporters who simply sell raw zinc are given anything because they need money but after analysing the lead zinc, you would find silver, copper, lead and zinc leading to the value of the material, which would be listed out in the ISO certificate and lead to an added value in the market.”
On his part, the Assistant Director, Head Pharmaceutical Materials Division, Dr. Fortune Alabi, said the laboratory is ISO certified and whatever result it presents, is accepted worldwide as a well certified analysis.
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She also said the essence of the lab is to test the natural raw materials available in the country, carry out research on the raw materials gotten from the mineral resources and agro resources, which serves as inputs to the industries we have.
The guided media tour also included an inspection of RMRDC’s resource and demonstration centers which contained over 21 pilot plants for the manufacturing of different products.
The Deputy Director, Public Affairs and Corporate Services Department, Chukwuma Ngaha added that the tour was to tell the world that RMRDC is still fulfilling its mandate as the one-stop-shop in the raw materials sourcing, development and vitalisation industrially in Nigeria.
He also said, “We have a lot of pilot plants at the demonstration center doing really well, the equipment are locally designed, fabricated and installed, they are all operational.
“As we speak, we have a plant that produces the artesunate tea which is well sought after because of the potentials in combating the scourge of malaria.
“It is a beverage that can serve medicinal purposes, we have the shea butter/ essential oil plant, water-borne paint production plant, castor oil plant, caustic soda equipment plant, and soap noddles plant.
“These are producing critical raw materials that have been lacking and causing a lot of investors to either import or close up.
“We also have the facility that produces Lovastatin, a drug used in the reduction of cholesterol in the body.
“The raw materials is sourced from oyster mushrooms or red yield rice for the care of cardiovascular diseases.”
A pro-democracy group, Coalition for a Better Nigeria, has enjoined Nigerians to embrace peaceful co-existence as the nation prepares for a new administration on May 29.
In a statement signed by its Convener and Pro-June 12 activist, Comrade Awa Bamiji, the group also urged all citizens to ensure their communities are secured.
The pro-democracy group said it was time insecurity came to an end in the country.
The statement reads: “We must embrace peaceful co-existence anywhere we find ourselves and all hands must be on deck to ensure that our respective communities are totally secure. It’s high time we said enough is enough for insecurity in this country.
“We pray for the incoming administration of the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to be raised and fully empowered by divine wisdom throughout his tenure so that we, Nigerians, at the end of the day, would have cause to thank Almighty God, for giving us the right person as our president.”
Meanwhile, the group has sympathised with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, the Board, Management and entire staff of Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS) over the fire incident.
It prayed that God would forestall a recurrence of such an incident.
The Coalition also rejoiced with former Publicity Secretary, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) Kunle Famoriyo; Isaac Omodewu, Oyo State APC Chairman, and Senator -elect for Oyo South Senatorial District, Sharafadeen Alli on the occasion of their 70th, 60th and 60th birthdays respectively.
A humanitarian group, Save the Children International (SCI), has appointed a Nigerian journalist, Kunle Olawoyin, as its Regional Media Manager for West and Central Africa.
Regional Director for Advocacy, Campaigns, Communications, and Media in West and Central Africa, Vishna Shah announced the appointment in a statement at the weekend.
Shah said Olawoyin will operate in the capacity for six months and will officially join the SCI’s regional office in Dakar, Senegal on April 28.
The statement reads: “Being a former media practitioner and an adequately trained expert in the field, Kunle, no doubt brought added value to SCI Nigeria’s vision of becoming the foremost campaigning organization with, and for children and the recognized voice for their rights to survive, learn, and be protected.
“He successfully led the design and implementation of the SCI Nigeria Media and Communications Strategy, with a special focus on enhancing the quality and frequency of internal and external communication products and media engagement.
“Kunle has acquired, developed organizational knowledge, and enriched his skills, and competencies over the years with SCI and I know he will do an excellent job over the next 6 months as the Regional Media Manager for WCA.”
Olawoyin joined Save the Children, Nigeria country office in 2018 as the information and communication coordinator and was later assigned as information and external communication specialist.
He rose to become the media and communications manager of the organisation in Nigeria in 2021.
Olawoyin joined the humanitarian and development world in 2008 and has worked with local, national, and international non-governmental organisations.