Category: Featured

Governors of seven states of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) met on Friday in Port Harcourt, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

According to Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant (Electronic Media) to Gov. Nyesom Wike, the meeting was attended by Govs. Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Emeka Ihedioha (Imo); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Samuel Ortom (Benue); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); and Mohammed Mattawale (Zamfara).

After the meeting, Tambuwal explained that the governors were in Rivers to commend Wike “for his sustained projects delivery’’.

He said the governors urged him to continue to deliver quality projects and sustain good governance for the development of Rivers State.

Tambuwal also said that PDP remained strongly united in friendship and brotherhood.

He said: “We are here as brothers and friends to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in the spirit of brotherhood and friendship.

“We are here to encourage and support him for the good governance he has given to the good people of Rivers State.

“The 100 days of the second term of Governor Wike is also why we are here.

“The spirit in Port Harcourt and Rivers State is that of celebration and thanksgiving and gratitude to God for such a wonderful leadership by Governor Wike.

“We are also here to join him and the good people of Rivers State in thanking God for his leadership and to thank God for giving the state a wonderful leader like him.” (NAN)

By Danzumi Ishaku

Taraba Member, representing Gashaka Kurmi and Sardauna at the Federal House of representative, Hon. David Fuoh, has advised the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to accept the judgment by the Governorship Petition Tribunal.

Hon. Fuoh gave the advice on Friday during an interview with our correspondent in Jalingo.

He urged the opposition party to join hands with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in the state to move the Taraba forward.

David Fuoh congratulated Gov. Darius Ishaku for his victory, urging him to settle down for governance.

“I am happy with the judgment and with this, the governor can settle down for the business of governance.

“I am calling on the APC in the state to accept the judgment in good faith and to join hands with Governor Ishaku to move the state forward”, Fuoh said.

By Abel Leonard

Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has assured pensioners in the state of prompt payment of their entitlements.

Sule gave the assurance on Friday when he received the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Nasarawa State Chapter, at the Government House, Lafia.

“These are people who have served the state and local governments, they deserve to rest as they retire, hence the need for the retirees to be given their allowances.

“We have been talking to different organizations especially the development partners to find out if some of them have some kind of programs for retirees and pensioners,” he said.
He promised that every issue presented by the union to the government would be looked into and addressed based on the availability of resources.

“I am hoping that I will one day in Nasarawa State see a situation where pensioners don’t worry about the payment of their monthly pensions because they have been empowered,” he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the union, Alhaji Musa Obakpa, appealed to the governor to sustain government`s augmenting of the shortfall in allocations to local governments to continue the payment of full salaries and pensions at the third tier of government.

Obakpa commended the governor for his effort to put an end to the percentage payment of pensions at both state and local government levels.

He said that the governor’s immediate compliance with the local government autonomy was a step worth commending.

He appealed for the implementation of the 12 percent and 33 per cent increase in pension of those who retired before the new minimum wage.

The chairman also called on the state government to direct the local government authorities to carry out a verification of pensioners in collaboration with the union.

He said that this would ease the identification of eligible pensioners on the pension allowance payroll.

By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/Lafia

Nasarawa State chapter of Meyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, on Thursday during a meeting, came up with a traditional method of curtailing the excesses of Fulani herdsmen in the state.

According to the association, the measure is to curtail incessant kidnapping, armed robbery, cattle rustling and grazing on the crops of farmers by Fulani cattle herders in the state.

The meeting had in attendance all heads of the association from the southern part of the state. It held at Adudu in Obi Local Government Area of the Nassarawa State.

Also in attendance was the paramount ruler of Uke kingdom, Mohammed Abdullahi Hassan, the paramount ruler of Audu and one herbalist who would administer oath on them.

Speaking during the meeting, the state chairman of Meyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Mohammed Hussani, said the meeting was in respect of kidnapping, robbery, grazing on farmers’ crops and cattle rustling ongoing in the state by the Fulani herdsmen.

By Danzumi Ishaku

The Taraba state Ministry of Education has attributed increasing number of out of school children to crisis in the state.

Mr Samson Ada, Permanent Secretary in the ministry made the disclosure on friday at the three-day Workshop for Heads of Social Mobilisation, Coordinators of Nomadic Education and Same Area Suppervisors in Jalingo.

Our correspondent reports that they were drown from 16 Local government areas on Better Education Service Delivery (BESDA) Grassroots Implementers on Out of School Children in the state.

The permanent secretary, who was represented by Alhaji Iliyasu Kirim, Director of Primary and Secondary Education in the ministry appealed to all the waring factions to embrace peace.

According to him, children could aquire education only in a peaceful environment
Ada said that the trend where children were roaming the streets without education became worrisome to the present administration in the state.

He announced that the state was among the first 17 states that would benefit from the programme in Nigeria.

He said that Gov. Darius Ishaku has accorded priority to ensure by construction, rehabilitation and renovation of both primary and secondary schools in the state.

He also said that the administration has procured and distributed instructional materials, furniture, set of computers and drilling of boreholes in schools in the state.

The permanent secretary also said secondary that the administration has employed 3,000 teachers to boost manpower for primary and secondary schools in the state.

He expressed the determination of the ministry to support the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), ensuring that BESDA was a success in the state.

He also commended the World Bank for their role in ensuring that basic education was accessible to all Nigerian children.

Earlier, Dr Yakubu Agbaizo, Executive Chairman of the SUBEB in the state said that basic education objective has suffered from low and inequitable access.

Agbaizo said that the primary school age population that was out of school in Nigeria was very alarming.

He noted that the trend would continue if aggressive measures were not taken to stem the tide.

He also said that the Northern Nigeria had the overwhelming majority of the out of school children.

He urged participants at the workshop to work hard to ensure mobilisation of out of school children within their domains.

“The fact that Nigerian primary age out of school population is so large reinforces the urgency of addressing the problem.

“As otherwise, the ranks of the lower secondary out of school population will swell a few years down the line.

“It is also another comman fact that overwhelming majority of the out of school children are in the Northern Nigeria.

“And the rates are higher among girls in rural areas and among the poorest in the society.

“I therefore, urge all of you to work hard to ensure mobilisation of out of school children within your areas of operations.

The executive chairman commended the state government for it priority on basic education.

He gave assurance that the board would not deviate from the vision and mission for providing basic education to children in the state, He said.

Our correspondent reports that, BESDA is a World Bank funded programme with the objective of providing inequitable access to out of school children and improving litteracy to focus states.

The Commissioner of Police in the state said that the police is fully prepared for the judgment

By Abel Leonard Nzwanke/ Lafia

The tribunal had fixed Saturday for judgement in a petition filed by PDP and it’s Governorship candidate, Mr David Ombugadu, challenging the victory of Gov. Abdullahi Sule in the March 9 governorship election.

The Commissioner of Police in the state,Mr Bola Longe, made the statement know to press men in Lafia today that the police was fully prepared for the judgment.

“Officers have been placed on red alert and will be proactive to prevent any kind of violence or demonstration in the state.

“We will , however , want to urge people of the state to maintain law and order and go about their lawful businesses without fear or intimidation , ” Longe said.

Daybreak news report that the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Mr David Ombugadu, had challenged the victory of the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Gov. Abdullahi Sule at the tribunal siting in Lafia.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on March 9 declared Sule as the winner of the election.

By Danzumi Ishaku

Taraba State Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Ibrahim El-Sudi, has announced that the central part of Taraba would soon be connected to the national grid.

El-Sudi made this know on Friday while speaking to newsmen in Jalingo.

The APC chairman, recalled that the new Minister of Power Engr Sale Mamman had promised him that the zone would be linked to the national grid.

He said the minister, who is from the state assured him that some communities in the state would benefit from solar power transmission from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The chairman noted that the zone has suffered neglect in the past due to non provision for sustainable power transmission in the entire zone.

El-sudi commended President Muhammadu Buhari for awarding gaigantic projects that would impact positive on the people of Taraba in particular and the country at large.

He also said that the movement of construction materials to Ibi in recent time was another pointer that the Wukari Ibi road project and the bridge would commence in earnest.

The chairman eulogised the president for appointing an indigene of the state when the Mambila Hydroelectric Power Project was crucial to national power generation drive.

He expressed hope that the work would be executed with much commitment in anticipation that the people of the state would form the front line beneficiaries of the project.

He also commended the president for the massive infrastructural development projects ongoing nation wide, stressing that it would impact significantly on the economic well-being of the people.

While congratulating the president and the APC for it’s victory at the Presidential petition Tribunal, El-Sudi called on Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the PDP to join hands with Mr president to move Nigeria forward.

1. After going through major upgrades, China’s deep-sea manned submersible Jiaolong completes its first test dive in east China’s coastal city of Qingdao on February 28, 2019. Photo by Zhang Jingang

2. The world’s longest 3D printed concrete bridge is unveiled in the Wisdom Bay Innovative Park in Baoshan district, Shanghai, on Dec.8, 2018. Photo by Yan Daming

3. The “5G Global Innovation Port”, the world’s first comprehensive 5G application demonstration and joint innovation platform, is officially put into operation in the North Bund area of Hongkou district, Shanghai, on September 10, 2019. Photo by Wang Gang

4. Photo shows the highway-railway bridge over the Yangtze River in Tongling city, east China’s Anhui province. Photo by Chen Chen

5. Photo shows a model of the Chang’e-4 probe. Photo by Long Wei

6. A Fuxing bullet train runs on the Zhangjiakou-Hohhot high-speed rail in Ulanqab, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, June 21, 2019. Photo by Tang Zhe

7. Photo shows the Wuhan Yangsi Port Yangtze River Bridge in central China’s Hubei province. Photo by Zhao Guangliang

8. Children watch a robot demonstration in a community of Yanshan University in Haigang district, Qinhuangdao city in north China’s Hebei province, Feb 15, 2019. Photo by Cao Jianxiong

9. Children watch robots dance at a science and technology museum in Nantong, Jiangsu province, Sept. 7, 2019. Photo by XuPeiqin

10. Technicians assemble an eight-axis multi-purpose UAV on August 5, 2019. Photo by GengYuhe

11. The Three Gorges Dam (shot by UAV) is in stable operation in Zigui county, Yichang city, central China’s Hubei province on July 13, 2019. Photo by Wang Gang

12. A Long March-2C carrier rocket carrying a group of new remote sensing satellites lifts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China’s Sichuan province, on July 26, 2019. The satellites, belonging to the Yaogan-30 family, then enters the planned orbits. Photo by Zou Sen.

By Jennifer Y Omiloli

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to depart Abuja on Sunday for New York, United States to participate in the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA74) which opened on Tuesday, September 17.

The President’s participation at this year’s gathering of world leaders is particularly significant as it coincides with Nigeria’s Presidency of UNGA.

Recall that on June 4, 2019, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, was unanimously elected as the President of UNGA74 – an indication of the country’s high esteem in global reckoning.

This marks the second time Nigeria would be occupying that prestigious position following late Maj-Gen. Joseph Nanven Garba’s election during UNGA44 in 1989.

The theme for UNGA74 is, “Galvanizing Multilateral Efforts for Poverty Eradication, Quality Education, Climate Action and Inclusion.”

The General Debates will kick off on Tuesday, September 24 during which leaders of delegations will present their National Statements as well as speak to the theme of the session.

President Buhari is scheduled as Number Five Speaker on the first day of the debates – another plus for the country as most world leaders will be listening in the General Assembly Hall while the global audience watches on live television.

The President is expected to underscore his administration’s commitment to building on the achievements of its three-point agenda following the renewal of his electoral mandate by majority of Nigerians.

While in New York, the Nigerian leader and members of his delegation are expected to participate in the Climate Action Summit with the theme, “A Race We Can Win. A Race We Must Win,” convened by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres; the High-Level meeting organized by the President of UNGA74 on Universal Health Coverage with the theme, “Moving Together to Build a Healthier World”; UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development; High-Level Dialogue on Financial Development as well as High-Level Meeting to Commemorate and Promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

The Nigerian leader is also billed to hold bilateral meetings with some leaders of other delegations; chief executive officers of big companies keen to invest in the country; Aliko Dangote and Bill Gates on sustaining the polio-free campaign as well as issues on human capital projects and development.

Before returning to Abuja at the conclusion of his engagements, President Buhari will meet with a select group of top America-based Nigerian businessmen and potential investors.