The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria newspaper

  • ‘Zamfara, FG to generate 30mw electricity from Bakalori Dam’

    ‘Zamfara, FG to generate 30mw electricity from Bakalori Dam’

    The Zamfara Government says it is working in partnership with the Federal Government to generate 30 Megawatts of electricity from the Bakolori Dam.

    Alhaji Lawal M-Liman, the Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, on Wednesday in Gusau, said that the partnership was to boost power supply to the state.

    M-Liman, who is the Chairman of the State Projects Monitoring Committee, said that the partnership was part of issues discussed at the September meeting of the National Council on Power, held in Jos.

    According to him, the federal government has promised to provide technical support under the National Energy Support Programme, for the actualisation of the project.

    “We are already discussing with some power generation firms, to achieve the target,” the commissioner said.

    He also spoke on the state government effort to link more communities to the national grid, saying 100 towns and villages have been connected.

    “You will recall that the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, visited the state twice when he inaugurated various electrification projects executed by the state government,” he said.

    According to him, the zamfara state government has also reconstructed various federal roads with the agreement that it would get reimbursement of funds spent on the projects from the federal government.

    “When the present administration in the state came on board in 2011, almost all the roads in the state including the state and federal government-owned were in a state of dilapidation.

    “Despite the economic challenges faced by the state, we spent billions of naira to provide the roads including the federal highways in the state, to address the problem of poor roads network.

    “We have achieved a great success in this partnership of road projects, because a large percentage of the roads are almost completed,” M-Liman said.

    NAN

  • Monkey Pox: 7 patients recover fully in Bayelsa

    Monkey Pox: 7 patients recover fully in Bayelsa

    Seven out of the 13 monkey pox patients on admission at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri in Bayelsa have fully recovered, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, has said.

    The commissioner said in a statement on Wednesday in Yenagoa, that the seven patients had been discharged from the hospital.

    The contagious disease broke out three weeks ago in Agbura area of Yenagoa following reports that a family manifested symptoms of monkey pox after eating monkey meat.

    He said the six other patients under medical surveillance at the teaching hospital were responding positively to treatment.

    “The government has been able to successfully contain the spread of the disease as no new case has been reported in the last few days.

    “With the way and manner government deployed its machinery and with the team of dedicated health and medical personnel, monkey pox will soon be fully kicked out of Bayelsa state,” he added.

    Iworiso-Markson commended the state Ministry of Health and National Centre for Disease Control for their efforts in containing the disease.

    The commissioner also appreciated people in the state for taking preventive measures against further spread of the disease and urged them to maintain healthy lifestyle, environmental and personal hygiene.

    According to him, feedback received from various channels in the state indicates that public enlightenment campaign, especially in local languages, have succeeded in alerting people to avoid actions that would further spread the disease.

    NAN

  • Gunmen kill former Plateau HoS, two others

    Gunmen kill former Plateau HoS, two others

    Gunmen on Tuesday attacked Wereh village in Barkin-Ladi, Plateau State, killing former Plateau Head of Service, Moses Gwom, and two other persons.

    Sources from the village indicated that the assailants invaded the village at night, shot many people, and ran into the bush.

    “The attack lasted about 10 minutes or so,” the source told the on Wednesday in Jos.

    Mr Terna Tyopev, the Public Relations Officer ( PPRO ) of the Plateau Police Command, who confirmed the incident, said that it took place “around 8 pm on Tuesday”.

    “The incident took place on Tuesday, that I can confirm. Another thing I can confirm is that a former Head of Service was killed and many others were injured,” he said.

    He said that investigation had begun toward unraveling the mystery behind the killings.

    The recent attack is the third in the last few weeks in Plateau.

    Last week, gunmen killed Alhaji Mohammed Suleiman, the Village Head of Gyangyang in Jhar Chiefdom of Kanam Local Government. Twenty-five others had been killed at Ncha village in Miango, Bassa Local Government, a week earlier.

    NAN

  • PDP candidate warns against smear campaign in Anambra guber poll

    PDP candidate warns against smear campaign in Anambra guber poll

    Mr Oseloka Obaze, the governorship candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra has warned other PDP candidates, political parties and their supporters to eschew politics of bitterness and campaign of calumny.

    Obaze made the call in a statement made available to newsmen in Awka, the state capital, on Tuesday.

    He decried the alleged smear campaigns targeted at discrediting his person and the process of his emergence as the PDP candidate in the upcoming election in the state.

    He said that although political parties and their candidates enjoyed the right to freely sell their manifestoes to the electorate, others reserved the right to seek redress whenever they felt slandered under the guise of campaign.

    He said: “My attention has been drawn to various malicious reports on social media platforms aimed at tarnishing my image and credibility as the candidate of the PDP in the forthcoming election.

    “Such reckless postings constitute fake news, hate speeches and inciting words,” Obaze said.

    According to him, “the malicious reports range from allusions that I fraudulently won the PDP primaries, which was nationally televised, to my going to take an oath of allegiance in a shrine and, of late, that I was admitted in a psychiatric hospital overseas.

    “Rather than focus on campaign issues, they resort to campaign of calumny,” he said, adding that there were acceptable limits to propaganda.

    The PDP governorship hopeful further said that he remained committed to issue-based campaign, in spite of the fact that he had access to damaging information about other contestants.

    “I hereby reiterate my commitment to run a campaign free of fake news, hate speech and calumny. I will dismiss anyone on my team who engages in such unacceptable conducts.

    “I hope other governorship candidates will publicly make a similar commitment,” Obaze said.

    NAN

  • Katsina releases N350m for treatment of malnourished children

    Katsina releases N350m for treatment of malnourished children

    The Katsina State Government has released N350 million as its contribution to UNICEF for the purchase of Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic-Food ( RUTF ) for treatment of malnourished children in the state.

    The Special Adviser to the governor on Budget and Planning, Alhaji Abdullahi Imam, disclosed on Tuesday in Katsina, while signing the agreement on behalf of the State Government.

    Imam said that was part of the state government commitment toward improving the living condition of the malnourished children.

    “The government is committed to the plight of malnourished children, it will continue to provide its support towards addressing malnutrition in the state,’’ he said.

    Imam assured that the government would double its contribution to the programme in 2018 budget.
    He stressed the need for the state House of Assembly to ensure speedy passage of 2018 budget whenever it was presented before it to enable the government save lives of malnourished children.

    In her remarks, the UNICEF Field Officer in charge of Katsina and Kano States, Padmavathi Yedla, announced that Children Investment Fund Foundation ( CIFF ) has pledged to support the programme with equal grant of N350 million, thereby raising the total amount of RUTF to be purchased in the state to N700m.

    She said that malnutrition needs collective collaboration from all sectors like Education, Agriculture, Water Resources and Health, adding that attitudinal changes are vital in dealing with malnutrition.

    Following the signing of the agreement, about 30,000 cartoons of RUTF are expected to be delivered to the state for treatment of malnourished children in 15 local government areas of the state.

    NAN

  • Abia to partner FG on rural electrification

    Abia to partner FG on rural electrification

    Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of  has expressed the willingness of the state government  to support  the Federal Government to actualise its  proposed electricity project in Ariaria market.

    Ikpeazu made this known on Tuesday when officials of  Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria paid him a visit in Abia Government Lodge in Aba.

    The governor said that the decision of the Federal Government project aimed at providing steady power supply in Ariaria market was commendable.

    According to him, steady power supply is an important resource required to drive economic growth in the state and the nation.

    He said that the state government would support the Federal Government’s efforts to  ensure that the project was a huge success.

    Ikpeazu said that the entire Ariaria market community would be happy with the project if it was eventually realised.

    Earlier, Mrs. Camilla Ogunbiyi, the Managing Director of the Agency, said that the agency was in Aba to provide energy solution to the power challengs of Ariaria market.

    Ogunbiyi said that the agency had identified the energy needs of Ariaria market, and disclosed that the power supply project would be run with sustainable  natural gas solution,

    She said that a few thousands of shops in Ariaria market would be used for a test run of the steady electric power supply  project.

    NAN

  • Udom urges youths to remain patriotic

    Udom urges youths to remain patriotic

    Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has called on NYSC members and other Nigerian youths to remain patriotic, especially in this period some sections were clamouring for restructuring.

    Emmanuel made the call while he declared open the NYSC Pre-Mobilisation Workshop for 2017 Batch “B” Corps members in Uyo on Tuesday.

    The theme of the workshop is “Consolidating the Gains of the NYSC Online Integrated System through Best Practices in Mobilisation Process.”

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo, said that NYSC had played tremendous role in the evolution of the country.

    He said that the scheme was established to restore the robust belief in one united Nigeria, which he said was fatally shattered by the 36-month civil war.

    “I wish to acknowledge that NYSC has indeed played a tremendous role in the evolution of our nation as a stabilising factor.

    “All Nigerians must ensure that the National Youth Service Corps, which is a signpost of our unity and progress, remains one of the binding chords which keep us together as a nation.

    “This is the time to hearken to the clarion call for patriotism and let it resonate in your minds,” Emmanuel said.

    Udom noted that the workshop would serve as a clearing house for all critical stakeholders in the mobilisation process for corps members, nationwide.

    The governor stressed the need for harmonious working relationship between the NYSC Coordinators in the state and their host ministries.

    He said that the state government would continue to support the scheme and ensure adequate protection of corps members posted to the state.

    Earlier in his address of welcome, the Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, said that the scheme would continue to provide platform to aggregate and accommodate suggestions for better outcome.

    Kazaure said that the workshop was usually held at the commencement of every new mobilisation cycle to introduce to stakeholders, new measures and guidelines put in place for hitch-free mobilisation.

    He assured that NYSC would leave no stone unturned in training and re-training of its members of staff on handling of mobilisation process, both within and outside the country.

    “Let me therefore implore all participants at this workshop to see their invitation as an opportunity to contribute to the proceedings, acquire requisite information and knowledge for better performance.

    “Your role is not only critical but also germane to the success of the 2017 Batch “B” mobilisation process,” he said.

    The director-general commended Akwa Ibom Government and the people for the support and cooperation the scheme had enjoyed in the state.

    NAN

  • INEC deploys 6,000 card readers in Anambra

    INEC deploys 6,000 card readers in Anambra

    Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) said on Tuesday that it had deployed over 6, 000 card reader machines to ensure smooth conduct of the Nov. 18,  Anambra governorship election.

    Mr Charles Mbanaja, INEC Administrative Secretary in Anambra, made this known in an interview  in Awka.

    Mbanaja said that out of the machines provided 5,000 had been tested and found to be in good working condition.

    The secretary assured stakeholders of the readiness of the commission to provide a level playing ground to in all candidates participating in the election and urged politicians to play by the rules.

    He said INEC had embarked on public enlightenment to sensitise the people on the electoral processes, especially the voting system to address re-occurring cases of invalid votes and other related electoral shortcomings during the election.

    Mbanaja said that the commission had also organised a voters’ education forum, which was attended by stakeholders in the electoral process in a bid to ensure smooth conduct of the polls.

    He called on the people of the state to cooperate with the INEC to ensure that the election was hitch free, free, fair and acceptable.

    NAN

  • Sokoto Assembly suspends two members

    Sokoto Assembly suspends two members

    The Sokoto State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended two of its members, Sani Yakubu (APC- Gudu) and Malami Galadanchi (APC- Sokoto North I).

    The two lawmakers were suspended for unethical conduct.

    The assembly had set up a special committee to investigate the conduct of the two members during the recent impeachment of the Deputy House Leader, Kabiru Ibrahim.

    The Committee, headed by Habibu Modachi (APC- Isa), in its report, said the two members had pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

    According to the report, the conduct of the members on Aug. 15 in the legislative chamber was “unethical” and contravened the house standing rules.

    Subsequently, the assembly accepted the report and suspended Yakubu for 40 legislative days while Galadanchi was suspended for 30 legislative days.

    The two were also told to submit separate letters of apology to the Assembly.

    The Speaker, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji, presided over the House sitting.

    NAN

  • I’m happy working with Super Eagles – Rohr

    I’m happy working with Super Eagles – Rohr

    A Franco-German tactician, Gernot Rohr, has expressed pleasure working with the Super Eagles, following the three-time African champions qualification for Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup on Saturday.

    Nigeria became the first African country to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia after defeating Chipolopolo of Zambia on Saturday in Uyo.

    The current Super Eagles re-enacted the feat of the Super Eagles’ class of 1997 that qualified for the France’98 World Cup with a match to spare.

    Rohr, in a statement by Ademola Olajire, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)’s spokesman on Tuesday, said that he was happy working with the team.

    Rohr said, “I am very excited to be working with this team, a blend of the experienced and the young and ambitious ones.

    “They are a delight to be with at all times, and I believe we are on to great things.

    “At the beginning of the qualifying series, many people said we were going to be chased out.

    “We sat down together and we promised ourselves that we would go all out and get the ticket.”

    The 64-year-old coach, who was employed 15 months ago, led the team to a 1- 0 defeat of Tanzania in Uyo in September 2016; 2-1 defeat of Zambia in Ndola in October, 2016.

    Also, at the start of the 2018 World Cup race, the coach led the team to a 3-1 defeat of Algeria in Uyo in November 2016; a 3-0 defeat of Togo in a friendly match in Paris in June 2017.

    His victories also include a 4-0 bashing of Cameroon in Uyo in September 2017 and a 1- 0 defeat of Zambia in Uyo in October 2017, which guaranteed the World Cup ticket.

    The only loss was against the South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in Uyo, at the start of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in June 2017.

    Rohr said, “The match was a big wake-up call for us. Now that we have the World Cup ticket, we will go all out for the AFCON ticket and get it.

    “When you have a team that has so much self-belief, a lot of things are possible.

    “Age is, but a number. I feel young and able and willing to go on working with this group.’’

    NAN