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  • TRANSPORTERS/MOTORIST BLEEDS OVER HEAVY LEVIES/TAXES IN CALABAR

    By Joseph ETTA

    Transporters and motorist operators in Calabar are bleeding under heavy levies and taxes. They decried the extortion by Local Government officials and other government agencies.

    When Daybreak with the cross section of the operators, they said “the money we pay for ticket is too high, every day we pay N550.00 to these officials scattered around the town.”

    According to their spoke person, Samuel Emmanuel opined that, “that would not have been a problem but for the extortion of money from other agencies such as FRSC, VIO, State traffic, DOPT and the Police” Every day this people are on the way extorting money from us “this really affects our take home income.” It’s as if we are working for them”

    He disclosed that for motorist to operate on the street of Calabar, private cars register with N36,000 and still buys ticket of N550 daily, while painted taxis register with N14,000 and as well buy a ticket of N400 daily.

    Woes betide you if you don’t renew your registration at the beginning of each year, as renewal of vehicles both private and painted taxis are done on a yearly basis.

    He noted that the governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade created so many avenues called “Revenue Points” to extort money from the public, this so called “Revenue Points” are ways of compensating political thugs.

    Emmanuel who is also an official of NURTW, Etim Edem branch in Calabar South added that most of the frontlines politicians leading Legislators of PDP extract in the State House of Assembly, one of the House of Representative Member representing Calabar South in the lower chambers and other PDP Big wigs have revenue points in motor parks and major round junction and Jetty beaches scattered around Calabar and Its environs.

    When asked by Daybreak, if the revenue accruing from these revenue points actually gets to government coffers. He said “emphatically No.”

    The revenue goes to their private pockets.

    It is used as “Settlement” to party stalwarts and committed members they used during election, to rigged election for them. That is their reward. He added.

  • El-Razi University confers Honorary Doctorate Degree on Gov. Ganduje

    El-Razi University confers Honorary Doctorate Degree on Gov. Ganduje

    By Mike Oboh

    Less than a month after launching the Free and Compulsory Basic Education System from Primary to Secondary School level across the State, El-Razi University based in the Republic of Sudan has conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Science on Gov.Abdullahi Umar Ganduje at the 16th Graduation Ceremony of the University held in its Campus at Khartoum.

    According to its Chairman, Board Of Trustees, Prof.Ibrahim Ghandour while reading the citation of the Governor that the Senate of the University made history for the first time since it was established in 2001 to confer an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Science on individual who has contributed immeasurably to the development of education.

    “This is in recognition of your (Ganduje) outstanding contribution in the educational field and in appreciation of your genuine tireless efforts in supporting education and follow up of students from Kano and Nigeria in general.”

    Prof.Ghandour who also described the curriculum vitae of Governor Ganduje as interesting and stimulating, urged the graduants to emulate the way he progressed in his life.

    On his part, the President of the University, Dr.Ahmed Osman Riziq said the gathered at the occasion to celebrate the graduation of 710 students from eight faculties out of which 29 graduants from Faculty of Medicine and Surgery are from Kano State.

    He revealed that the El-Razi Hospital which is about to be completed will state functioning in the next three months.

    “The Hospital which is equipped with modern facilities will be of great benefit to the Medical Students of El-Razi University,” he said.

    Dr.Riziq also pointed out that the cooperation, support and understanding between the Staffs and students of the University contributed to the completion of semesters on schedule.

    He therefore urged the Students to be good ambassadors of the University wherever they find themselves in their future endeavours and commended Kano State Government for partnering with the University.

    Responding, Gov.Abdullahi Umar Ganduje represented by his Deputy Dr.Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna said he was humbled by the Senate of the University for conferring on him the Honorary Doctorate Degree.

    “My appreciation goes to the management of the University for the Support its rendering to Kano State Students,” he said.

    HE disclosed that Kano State Government is willing to provide an enabling environment for El-Razi University to open its campus in Kano.

    “Kano being the commercial nerve centre of the Northern Nigeria is suitable for you to establish a campus and I am assuring you we will provide a land for you,” he said.

    Gov.Ganduje also extolled the long relationship between Sudan and Kano particularly in the area of common culture which dates back to the time of Trans Saharan Trade.

  • Nasarawa: Power supply will become history by December Says contractors

    By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/Lafia

    The contractor handling the stepping down of power from the 330KVA that passes from Enugu to Jos, has said they are almost done with the work and will commence test transmission soon.

    Mr Samson Johnson, site engineer with AK-AY Eletrik, the engineering firm handling the 33KV power substation in Lafia promised that they would commence test transmission by December this year.

    The site engineer made the commitment yesterday in Lafia when members of Nigerian Association of Technologists in Engineering (NATE) visited the substation.

    He said that all the equipment needed for the 330, 132 and 33 KVAs substation were installed and the facilities in the controlled room has been installed. “Major installation and construction work had already been carried out remaining minor fittings to bring the project to conclusion,” he said. He added that based on the level of work so far, test transmission would commence by December this year.

    However, Ahmed Mohammed and Gabriel Dangana, North-Central vice chairman and Nasarawa State chairman of the association respectively said “the visit was aimed at acquainting their members with the work going on at the power substation’.

    The visitors who were taken round the facilities at the substation said if completed, it would address the inadequate power problem in the state.

  • Bayelsa/Kogi Polls: YIAGA AFRICA deploys observers

    Bayelsa/Kogi Polls: YIAGA AFRICA deploys observers

    By Mike Oboh

    YIAGA Africa’s Watching The Vote project has concluded the training and deployed 48 Long Term Observers (LTO) to observe the pre-election environment in Bayelsa and Kogi States elections.

    In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Samson Itodo yesterday in Abuja, the body said in its anticipation that the elections will be keenly contested; with a lot of expectations from all election stakeholders it became pertinent to engage the process from the pre-election period.

    Itodo said that out of the 48 Long terms observers who all resident of the Local Government they are observing from, 21 are deployed in Bayelsa State 27 are deployed in Kogi State.

    He said the Long Term Observers are also expected to recruit polling unit observers from sampled polling units that will observe the governorship election on November 16th, in both states. The observers who also double as Local Government Supervisors are deployed to each of the 8 Local Government Areas in the Bayelsa State and the 21 Local government areas in Kogi State to report on events, activities and critical incidents using a specialized checklist and critical incident form.

    YIAGA AFRICA’S Watching The Vote Pre-Election observers will observe issues related to the; activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ranging from recruitment and training of ad hoc personnel, identification of polling units, meeting with stakeholders, voter education and information campaigns to the collection and distribution of Permanent Voters Card, activities of political parties like rallies and campaigns, activities relating to security agencies and incidents capable of undermining the electoral process. Pre-election observers will also observe and report Voter information campaigns by National Orientation Agency (NOA) and other Civil Society Organisations.

    “We believe and promote social justice and inclusiveness thus voter education and campaigns targeted specifically at Youths, Women and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) will be followed closely and duly reported by Observers during the pre-election period. Even as political parties launch their campaigns across the state, our election observation team are interested in campaigns and rallies associated to various political parties while also observing if youths, women and PWDs are also in anyway canvassing for votes.

    Through the Pre-Election observation, YIAGA AFRICA will track early warning signs and any form of incident that can hinder the successful conduct of the elections. In this vein, WTV pre-elections observers will observe and report issues relating to hate speech campaigns, intimidation and harassment of any electoral stakeholder and attacks on media or INEC officials. LTOs will also report government restrictions on political activities or unjustifiable military influx into the state. This will enable YIAGA AFRICA to verify and report this information to relevant authorities for proper action. Pre-elections observation findings will be shared to the public via various channels of communication including social media,” he stated.

  • Again: Tribunal rule in favour of Sule against Maku

    Again: Tribunal rule in favour of Sule against Maku

    By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/Umar Muhammed, Lafia

    The Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has recorded another victory after the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed the appeal filed by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the 2019 general election, Mr Labaran Maku.

    Justices of the Supreme Court upheld both the verdicts of the tribunal, as well as that of the Court of Appeal, affirming Sule’s election.

    A statement issued by Mr Abubakar Imam, Legal Adviser to the governor on Wednesday, said the judgment of the apex court brought to an end the legal battle over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration and return of Sule as duly elected governor of Nasarawa State, having scored majority of valid and lawful vote cast during the March 9 governorship election.

    The legal adviser described the Supreme Court judgement as not only a victory for democracy but for the state and the All Progressive Congress family.

    “This is another victory for the Governor and the All Progressive Congress. We his legal personnel’s have done it all, it is a Victor for Nasarawa people and democracy, it shows that our client did win the march 9th 2019 governorship election.’

  • 720 youths from poor vulnerable households to be train by World Bank, Federal and Taraba Govts in Jalingo

    720 youths from poor vulnerable households to be train by World Bank, Federal and Taraba Govts in Jalingo

    By Danzumi Ishaku, Jalingo

    Both the World Bank and the Federal government of Nigeria as well as the Taraba state government were said to have pooled resources together to conduct a skill training programmes for no fewer than seven hundred and twenty youths from poor and vulnerable households in the state.

    The Director General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) ,Dr. Nasiru Ladan Mohammed Arugungu who made this known Wednesday at the orientation ceremony of first cycle of Skills for Job (S4J) training under the Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) at the Jalingo campus of the state polytechnic.

    Dr. Nasiru Ladan Mohammed Arugu said the S4J component of YESSO which kicked off with the first cycle train about two and half years ago “has being working in conformity with international best practices. ”

    Represented by the State coordinator of the directorate, Alhaji Adebisi Aderem the DG said
    “it is indeed encouraging to have the World Bank believing in. the management of National Directorate of Employment to lead the implementation of S4J in the participating states. ”

    “The capacity of the NDE as the leading federal government agency in skills acquisition, job creation, empowerment generation and poverty reduction in Nigeria “according to him “has once again been demonstrated across the sixteen states that currently participating in S4J Pilot training “stating that “Taraba state is inclusive. ”

    Urging the beneficiaries to maximize “this uncommon privileged so that you can have a hope of a better life at the completion of your training “the Choice of the polytechnic environment, as stated by him “is not by chance but because of their fulfilment of adequacy for the first level skills training. ”

    On his part, the State coordinator, through his deputy, Albert Olorunniyi, said over five thousand trainable members of poor households were identified and registered across the state for skill for jobs stating that the State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU) of Youth Empowerment Social Support Operation (YESSO) has made available the single register from where seven hundred and ninety eight were mined adding that “NDE skill for Jobs officers were on the field where they verified seven hundred and twenty for the training.

    Stating that the government at the National level and state levels “have deep concern for the unemployed because they are their citizens who deserves decent living which is only through decent jobs ” this he said has made “our leaders explore all avenues to provide means of livelihood commiserate with great Nigerian citizens. ”

    Overwhelmed by the development, the Rector of the polytechnic, Ayuba I. Abarshi, said relevant security measures have been put in place by the School authority in order to enable the beneficiaries carried out their trainings effectively.

    He charged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the the opportunity by “not only coming out to be self reliance but also as employers of labour. “

  • PHARMACIST MARKED PHARMACIST DAY IN A CARAVAN LIKE MANNER IN CALABAR

    By Joseph ETTA

    Pharmacist in Calabar, Cross River State added colour to the event to commutate this year’s Pharmacist day by introducing Gospel band with singers followed by members of Nigeria Pharmacy council, Calabar branch joining to move around the streets of Calabar distributing health awareness leaflets.

    Today September 25th is a day set aside every year Globally to mark “World Pharmacist Day”. This year’s Theme is:- SAFE AN EFFECTIVE MEDICINE FOR ALL. According to Pharmacist Obi Oyeka, the day is set aside to let people know about the Pharmacy and the services they render to the society and it’s relevant in the community.

    Pharmacist Oyeka, who has practiced the profession for more than 40 years disclosed that the day is aimed at sanitizing the society on the need to use right professionals.

    There is hazard people going through pratrimizy quacks” people go to patient drugs sellers who gives them four different drugs treating the same thing. When you take the drugs, the pain will go but there is a side effect, he noted that to every drug there is a side effect. Those who know that are cautious about it but to the roadside chemist, his major interest is the pain must go.

    He pointed out that to every drug you used, there is curative but at a certain level it can be vital, which may lead to death.

    The University of Life trained pharmacist disclosed that the pharmacist day is also meant to test for medicine rapid diagnostic kit, mark the program that the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated to be marked as the World Pharmacist Day.

    He observed that one of the services rendered to the public today to mark the day is to let people know what sickness they are suffering from by giving them definite drugs for the treatment.

    Oyeka who owns Bez Pharmaceutical, one of the leading pharmaceutical stores in Calabar, deliver free test for BP, Malaria RDT and Sugar (Fbs) to people living at Eta Agbor road and its environment and also to the student of the University of Calabar.

  • Social media on fire after Tacha got disqualified

    Social media on fire after Tacha got disqualified

    By Jennifer Y Omiloli

    Social media is on fire after Mercy got strikes and Tacha got disqualified

    Barely two weeks since Big Brother magnanimously forgave house infringements and lifted the strikes, Tacha has gotten herself disqualified while Mercy has gotten two Strikes as a result of the fight they both had earlier today.

    Recall that they engage in a fight and Tacha got disqualified.

    See the street of twitter roaming in fire below:

  • Tacha gets disqualified as Mercy is issued double strike

    Tacha gets disqualified as Mercy is issued double strike

    Tacha gets disqualified as Mercy is issued double strike.

    Barely two weeks since Big Brother magnanimously forgave house infringements and lifted the strikes, Tacha has gotten herself disqualified while Mercy has gotten two Strikes as a result of the fight they both had earlier today.

    Tacha was accused of losing her temper which led to her pushing, shoving and pulling of Mercy’s hair which is considered violence. Big Brother found her guilty of breaking the House rule of physical violence and intent to harm the moment she shoved Mercy, and the moment she pulled her hair on 2 separate occasions. Biggie deemed that such physical violence has no place in Big Brother’s house.

    Recall Tacha and Mercy’s fight earlier today?

    In the case of Mercy, Biggie found her guilty of breaking the house rule of provocation, not stepping away from a volatile situation and of non-physical violence. The moment she flicked her hair on Tacha, she only made the situation even worse and was issued two strikes. This means, one more strike and she will be disqualified from the Big Brother house.

    The rule book clearly states in Article 18 sub-section 1 that, other types of violence including provocation, goading, bullying and victimisation may be punished by Big Brother in any way Big Brother chooses.

    With this new development, the Housemates are now down to eight following Cindy’s earlier Eviction.

  • Nasarawa FA league starts

    Nasarawa FA league starts

    By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/lafia

    The 2019/20 Nasarawa State FA League will kick-off on Thursday, September 26, 2019.

    A total of 31 clubs have been paired in four groups of A to D to battle for the coveted trophy.

    According to draw released Monday, the kick-off match of between Water Corporation FC Vs Winda Force FC on Thursday at the Lafia City Stadium by 4pm.

    Group A
    Black Stars FC Agbashi
    FC DunomoFC Lafia
    Eggon Warriors FC Nasarawa-Eggon
    Shooting Stars fc – Lafia
    11 Brothers – Agyaragu
    FC Ninety – Doma
    Agyaragu Stars – Agyaragu

    Group B
    Water Corperation FC – Lafia
    Winda Force FC – Nasarawa-Eggon
    Golden Boys – Lafia
    Sharks FC – Lafia
    Bright Stars FC – Awe
    AYD feeders FC – Doma
    Dubagari FC – Lafia

    Group C
    Jakada FC – Nasarawa
    Traffic Challengers FC – Wamba
    Gudi Selected – Gudi
    Akwanga Selected Fc – Akwanga
    Pioneers fc – Wamba
    Young Unity FC – Uke
    Makama Dogo fc – Nasarawa
    Kokona Selected fc – Garaku
    Jihasu FC – Masaka

    Group D
    Shabu United – Shabu
    Trackers FC – Lafia
    Ogene FC – Doma
    Greater Tomorrow FC – Lafia
    Keana Selected FC – Keana
    Stallions FC – Nasarawa-Eggon
    Awe Selected FC – Awe
    The Opening Ceremony match is going to be between WATER CORPORATION FC vs WINDA FORCE FC to be played at the Lafia township stadium along JOS road Lafia.by 4pm prompt.